Pepper is a local that has been in Victoria a long while. I have met him on several occasions. He seems to be harmless. There are a lot of supposed stories about Pepper floating around out there. I know the singing on you tube is true. I know he used to pray towards the east a lot. As far as him being in the service...There is no reliable proof of that to my knowledge, nor of him beating up the gorilla in front of Tom's vacuum. I have heard others say that if you went to one of the local bars here; he would ask if he could watch your car for 5 to 10 bucks. However, if you did not pay him, your car would somehow get broken into. I personally think he is on drugs. An obvious sign is his teeth and skinny physical appearance. As "cute" and harmless as he may seem; he is nothing more than a wanderer of the area asking for handouts for drugs IMO.

Ok, does anyone know how to get in touch with the lady on the three wheeled bike that collects cans. I collect all my cans and would like to let her have them. It's not much maybe 2-3 trashbags full (crushed) a year. Been keeping my eye out but I haven't seen her in awhile.

Who is this Pepper everyone is talking about?

About the lady with the Tiarra, from older relatives I have in the Victoria area. They said she was a former Miss Victoria or Queen Victoria. I have seen her and her son walking and have stopped and talked with them. Her car has broke down has does not have money to fix it. I will say this I dont think she is playing with a full deck. And the outfit well it needs changing but she is harmless, you can catch her at the library downtown most days. She stays there while her son works downtown. Hope this info helps everyone.

So Gabe has anyone decided who to do a story on? Better yet why not do a story on all of the suggested people and run a series.

Pepper served in the military and saw to much that he could handle.We should respect him for serving our country..He's harmless and yes I do think he has been to jail a time or two..Nothng major cus he's still walking the streets..He is also a wonderful singer...http://www.myspace.com/famous_pepper

Pepper has a criminal background? What did he ever do but ask folks for money or cigarettes?

He seems harmless. Odd, but harmless.

I think Pepper is a incrediable person. I remember when I used to work @ Detar After Hours and Dr. Wendt would let pepper come in and sleep in one of his rooms. We even bought him lunch a couple of tims. Hey, pepper has a mysace page and he is a great singer!

SmarteePantz - I don't know about that woman with the tiarra and her spandex pants and tube top.. Lordy Lordy. If i were to roam the streets looking like that. I am not trying to be mean but something about that lady.

Great suggestions, everyone. Thanks -- Gabe

I am continually fascinated by the lady who wears the black tube top and spandex pants, and a tiarra.

I have never seen her in anything but that garb, no matter the weather.

She used to drive around town, but now I just see her walking.

does anyone know the true story of Pepper?

Ahh ok. Then my vote goes toward Francis. That story sounds great! I would love to know about her if she were in the armed forces and still manages to save fuel and recycle at 80!

Matt, your Aggie friend would be a great person to be featured! TAMU is a great college.

Grifter: I had seen the man you were speaking about -- he had a tent out in the field there and would stand at the parking lot entrance of Wal Mart. I gave him some money a few times, but haven't seen him lately!
I hope nothing bad has happened to him.

I believe Ms Brandon is perfectly capable of writing an article that would not make fun or exploit anyone. If you will notice, when Ms Brandon writes these humorous articles, the person she is poking fun at is more often than not, herself! I also don't believe that Mr. Cobbler would allow an article on Pepper that would exploit him or be detrimental.

Itsallfunny -- that "little old man" on the 3-wheel bike IS Ms Francis Adlehardt! She was one of the first women to serve in the Armed Forces. She's written many letters to the Editor that are extremely thought provoking and very well written. She is also over 80 years old and still rides around many miles a day on her bike and collects cans. (Although I have not seen her recently.)

Mr. Ocker - I don't find anything interesting or fastinating about paying large sums of money to stalk and kill an exotic animal, having it stuffed and put on display... There is MUCH explotation in that arena.

The alcohol issue with the dj and Pepper -- I have never heard of this Egon fellow, but I personally know Gary Moses. He would NEVER have stood for someone to do that! Mr. Moses, despite what some may think, is a kind, decent Christian man who does so many good things for folks, even though it's not always reported on.

A friend of mine served in Vietnam in the same group of guys as Oliver North and has even been mentioned by name in Ollie's books. They still keep in touch to this day. That's interesting.

Why not show case Pepper and both the bike riders?

Does anyone know what happened to the guy living in the wooded area between Wal-mart and Lowes? The area seems to have been cleared and now there are no trespassing signs up.

I don't fear, dislike, or even know Pepper. I have never had any contact with him. If you say he's a nice guy, wouldn't harm anyone, that's fine...I beleive you.

I do, however, know who he is. I do know that when many people see him, it's like they are at a zoo, watching him, waiting for him to do something entertaining so they can have a laugh. Then they go on with their lives, and Pepper goes on with his. He served their purpose...for awhile.

I have nothing against Pepper. What I am opposing is nominating a mentally unstable person, with a criminal history, as being fascinating or interesting enough to write about.

As I said before, there are many, many other people in the Crossroads area who have stories to tell. Matt Ocker suggested one....here's another one....how about a story of a military veteran, maybe someone who participated in the D-Day invasion or flew over "The Hump". These men have very interesting stories to tell, and there are not many of them left. I sure other people may have more (and better) suggestions.

If the Advocate does write about Pepper, Aprill should NOT be the one who writes the article. She'a a talented person, but consideringt the type of articles she usually writes, I can imagine all the "funny" stuff she would include about Pepper.

My thoughts. And that's all I will write on the subject.

CityObserver: If the alcohol thing is true, then I have to agree with you that it is shameful on the part of this Egon Barthels.

I would pick the Frances lady or the little old man that rides around with the 3 bike too. Please do not pick Pepper. He pointed a fake gun at a friend of mine who was just crossing the street to get to work and said bang. Luckily it was fake, but what if it hadn't been? Does Pepper have the mental stability to know otherwise? Pick someone who tries to help the community whether it is recycling aluminum cans or picking up trash. Do not showcase a man who might "live", but makes that living bumming off of other people.

KCi: Pepper is at risk at being exploited, yes, but I have to trust the Advocate writers to have integrity to not do so, should they choose to write about him. If the VidAd can do a SERIOUS article on Pepper and his life, then I wholly support it. If they do one making fun of his situation, I do not support it.

I'll clarify my reasoning for picking Pepper just a tad:

Mental illness is not cured by pity. I wouldn't be surprised if some of Pepper's criminal history is due to his "mental instability," honestly. However, the law has apparently found him to be non-threatening to society, thus far, seeing as he's not being "put away" right now. Taking the steps to at least coping with, and perhaps eventually CURING, mental illness requires ACTION and KNOWLEDGE, NOT PITY, on both the part of the person with the illness and the part of his or her society.

Mental illness needs to stop being vilified so much, not just for myself, but for the families of people that have a mentally ill member.

If you stop vilifying it and expose the fact that not all the mentally ill are threats to society, more people would be less inclined to shun it and start learning about it, leading to more people going into the fields looking into ways of living with it, and also making those with problems less afraid of getting help. The first step in action should be exposing the truth of mental illness, so that people like myself and their families don't needlessly suffer anymore.

Treating a problem like it isn't there doesn't always solve the problem.

Trust me, if pity made everything all better, Mr. T would be considered a god walking amongst mere mortals.

kci, what is it about Pepper that you fear? I've lived in Victoria for several years, and other than the mechanical monkey at Tom's, haven't heard of him hurting anyone!

I don't believe that he would be exploited by anyone who works for the Advocate...

KCi maybe it's just me but you seem to have a dislike for Pepper

t3hMalk...I beleive it would be exploitation of Pepper just to satisfy people's curiousity by writing about him.

fatboy...the Advocate article itself (probably) won't make fun of Pepper, but there is no control over the people who post comments. The Advocate's enforcement of their "rules" is sometimes lacking, and not always timely. A hurtful comment can be out there for a long time before it gets removed.

I think the idea of having a series of articles of "interesting" people is great. But, I also beleive there are plenty of other individuals with stories to tell. There is no need to write about Pepper.

Now, having said that, do I think the Advocate will listen to me? No, they won't. Especially since it was their own reporter who suggested him.

Pepper Should have his own section on the front freaking page! If your even remotely familiar with Victoria, then you are bound to know Pepper!

WE WANT PEPPER!!!!!!!!!! WE WANT PEPPER!!!!!!!!!! WE WANT PEPPER!!!!!!!!!! WE WANT PEPPER!!!!!!!!!! WE WANT PEPPER!!!!!!!!!! and we want Aprill to do the interview : )

a homeless guy nearly won a Austin council seat or mayor race a few yrs ago. Image that.

If you choose a Pepper, dont do it to make fun of him.

Aubrey: Aw, shucks, you're making me blush and the people around me are looking at me all quizzical-like! In all seriousness, thank you! And please, call me Malk! :D I think why some people are calling me t3 might be because they have the Terminator movie on the brain. :P

darlins: I've never seen this Frances Adlehart you speak of, but perhaps it's just coincidence that I haven't seen her around yet. You make her sound like she's got quite a story! I'm intrigued, to say the least. :)

I like the idea of interviewing Pepper. He is definitely a character! I was unaware, though, that he had a criminal background. For the most part, I find him harmless.

I have a nominee, though. Her name is Frances Adlehart. She is the one you see riding the 3-wheeled bike, collecting aluminmum cans. Anyone seeing her might be put off by her appearance, but take the time to talk to her, as I did several years ago, and you'll find a facinating and remarkable woman!

Hey, next time you're on you tube, search "pepper"+ "victoria".oh and check out "burp queen, Victoria texas".(my kid, we're sooo proud. lol)

Grim: THAT'S IT! Thanks for reminding me what it was he sung for!

KCi:

"What is is about a mentally unstable person, with a criminal background, that makes him so interesting or fascinating??"
Well, I know that I speak for myself when I say this, but I find him fascinating because, despite his mental instability and criminal background, he shows me that not everyone has the fortune to live "well," yet he still manages to live nonetheless.

"Why would you want to feature such a person on the front page of the Advocate??"
Because he, just like you and I and your neighbors, is still a person. And people sometimes need to see that there is no one, set way to live.

That's my take on it, in short.

The comment was about fascinating people, and you don't get more fascinating than Pepper.

BTW, he sang for a cigarrette.

What is is about a mentally unstable person, with a criminal background, that makes him so interesting or fascinating??

Why would you want to feature such a person on the front page of the Advocate??

I have to agree that Pepper is by far one of the most fascinating people I've come across 'round here.

I had the pleasure of hearing and seeing him sing once (in return for something simple that he asked of another person, which I don't remember exactly what it was). He's got quite a voice and the enthusiam behind it to make it great!

I didn't know he was put on the radio before. I wish I could listen to that!

Everyone knows Pepper!

Pepper. Hands down.