5-11 Howevalley

MOTHER’S DAY. I hope all mothers have a wonderful day today. SPECIAL FRIEND. When I went to work at my former job in 2005, I met a special lady who later became my friend. Her name was Linda Misiak. I thought she had the sweetest smile and I nicknamed her “smiley.” She recently lost her battle with cancer. She fought it real hard. It saddened me to hear she passed away. She often spoke to me about her beloved cat “Mr. Whiskers.” She was heartbroken when he died last year. She also had a special friend, Faye Lafollette, who went with her often when she needed treatments. She was saddened also by Linda’s death. Rest in peace our special friend. CHURCH NEWS. Vertrees Baptist Church will have an all day Vacation Bible School from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 7. The theme will be country focusing on “Sowing a Seed.” There will be lessons, crafts, music, entertainment and food for all ages of young people. Registration begins at 6 p.m. on June 6, with a cookout to follow. Everyone is welcome. For more information, please contact Brother John Boone, 736-9190, Cindy Wright, 862-3045, or any church member. BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS. A birthday dinner was held at Donnie and Marcella Martin’s house on May 4 in Eastview in honor of Howard Goodman’s 85th birthday. There were several family members and friends there to help him celebrate. Thirty-five family and friends gathered at the home of Ella Garner and Charlie Ray on April 27 to celebrate five family members’ birthdays. Those celebrating birthdays were Bennie Parrett on April 2; Sandy Helm on April 12; Patty Parrett on April 15; Billy Parrett on April 25 and Judy Harlan on April 27; Ella had prepared a delicious meal and a cake also was served. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Happy birthday wishes to Kathy Doolan on May 15; Steve Hayden on May 16; Pam Ford on May 19; Carl Ash on May 20; Harold Daughtery and Sebastian “tiny man” Saelen (3 years) on May 21; Cody Noe (3 years), Billy Dowell (21 years) and Chiamenta Smith on May 22; Katie Williams on May 23 and Brother Paul Frederick on May 24. GET-WELL WISHES. Get-well wishes to Jeanetta Chappell; Ashley Ray; Mr. Vermillion; Donnie Hair; Brad Wickersham; Junior Cundiff; Gary McDowell; Shortie Holbert; Wilma Jean Cundiff; Richard Pearsall; Sue Saelen; Cathy Morgan; Lynn and Jeff Butler; Theresa Drumgold; Thelma Dunn; Shane Horne; Ella Garner; Charlie Ray; Richard Nall; Richard and Leslie Goodman; Zach Wiseman and Greg Watson. I saw Ashley Ray on May 3 at mamaw Ella’s and papaw Charlie’s house. She is doing good, but is facing another surgery this month. She had stayed overnight with them. Papaw Charlie fried her some bacon for breakfast, which she loves. Hope my friend Sue Saelen is better after a few days in Hardin Memorial Hospital. SYMPATHY. Sympathy is extended to the family of Rosie Mae Ferguson. Her daughter, Carolyn, and son-in-law, Bobby Cecil, live in Irvington. CHAT TIME. I spoke by phone with my friend “little” Faye Lafollette on May 4. We spoke about the passing of our friend, Linda, and got caught up on other things going on in our lives. I spoke with Aunt Sheila Lucas on May 2. She is doing better and getting out a little bit. SOFTBALL. Wanted-female softball players (16+) for slow-pitch league in Elizabethtown. League season June through July (approximately 10 games) on Monday nights. Also needed are a couple of coaches. For information, please call 737-5924 and leave your name and phone number. BENEFIT.A benefit will be held for Harold and Maudena Reed on May 17 at Pole Bridge Baptist Church (located on Salt River Road, Hwy. 920, take a left at Fields Grocery off of Hwy. 86 in Vertrees). A cornhole tournament and horseshoe pitch will begin at 3 p.m. Children’s activities also are planned. A meal of chili, vegetable soup and cornbread will be served beginning at 5 p.m. Baked goods also will be sold for a donation. Immediately following the meal, a gospel singing will be held featuring “First Little Rock Baptist Singers” and many others. Everyone is welcome. Donations are appreciated to benefit the family. POC: 735-3255. 2008 GRADUATES. If you know of someone in the community and want them on my graduating list, please call 234-3298 (spell the name slowly on voicemail and their school name) or e-mail by May 18. Graduates can be from high school or college. I only have a few on my list, so please call this week. BACK IN THE DAY. Neighbors. Back in the day people knew who their neighbors were. You visited, borrowed things, exchanged Christmas cards and even babysat for each other if needed. Nowadays, we just don’t know who our neighbors are. It’s a shame we are so caught up in our lives we just don’t make the time to get to know them. I have had some wonderful neighbors over the past years such as Larry and Debbie Light, Marie Kessinger, Delores Hobbs and George and Virginia Highbaugh, Arvadis and Ray Barnes, Beatrice Goodman and Tommy and Eula Smallwood. LAUGH LINE. A guy was bothered by his neighbors’ many dogs that would sometimes bark. He had more than just a few. The neighbor got so fed up by the barking pets that he finally got out his water hose and reached it over the fence and showered the dogs real good. Now keep in mind this was a privacy fence and he couldn’t see what was actually on the other side. Later the next day he told his neighbor what he had done. The neighbor said he knew because he was on the other side of the fence and got soaked. NEWS ITEMS. Call and leave on voicemail or e-mail your news items to me at mona31@bbtel.com by Sunday evening. If you have any updates on birthdays, anniversaries or names needing to be removed, please let me know. Have a great week.