The saga of the mule contin ues. A note this week from

Karen Stubbs reminds me that “a mule is either a male or a female animal. However, these offspring of a male donkey and a female horse are unable to reproduce; they are sterile hybrids.” Karen also said she is looking forward to Mule Day at Callaway Plantation on October 8.

Ramona Newsome King of Fletcher, N.C., really enlightened me about mules! She was born and reared in Aonia here in Wilkes County. She and her husband, Jerry King, raise mules and sell them at auction. Ramona says, “You can, indeed, have males and females. Male mules are usually called horse mules and female mules are usually called mare mules. Mules are derived from breeding a mare horse to a jack. In order to get the desired qualities of a good riding animal, most people look for a good quarter horse mare and breed to a Mammoth Jack, to get the size and confirmation that you would want for a saddle mule.” She also said that one popular choice today is the gaited mule, obtained through breeding with gaited horses. Good saddle mules are the ‘hot thing’ in the equine business these days. Ramona and Jerry conduct two auctions a year in June in two Western states. The auction is entirely for quality saddle mules. The top selling mule at the Colorado auction this year brought $13,500.00; and the one in Wyoming went for $14,750.00. I thought this statement was very interesting: “Because of the placement of their eyes on their heads, mules are able to see all four feet and as a result, are more careful.” That explains why we’ve always heard that mules are “surefooted.” In addition to owning an auction company, Ramona and Jerry also have an outfitting business and take clients on three-day camping trips in the National Forest surrounding the Great Smoky Mountain National Park – using mules . . . . She had a lot of other interesting things to say, and the entire letter is included in the Letters to the Editor section of this paper. So, don’t write me off as completely crazy for writing about mules. We’re talking big business!

The Community Blood Drive last week saw 72 donors come through with their life-saving gifts. Eleanor Blackmon, co-chairman with Cathy Stackhouse, on behalf of the Wills Memorial Hospital, sponsor of the drive, says that that is the most donors since shortly after 9/11. She also says the need is still critical and the holidays are fast approaching.

The Washington Little Theater is in need of a fiddler for the production of Smoke on the Mountain coming up in October. This is for a fiddler, not a violinist. Call Jo Randall at 678-2083 if you are a fiddler or if you know of one.

Get ready! The Red Hat Ladies will be back in town Saturday – 120 of them. They are always interesting and fun to watch and talk to – and they spend a little money, too.

Tena’s Jewelry and Gifts in Downtown Washington celebrated its 40th anniversary last week with a big sale. It was in 1965 that Tena and Gene Corry founded the gift shop in what is now part of the building housing Kettle Creek Sporting Goods. The store served a real need in Washington-Wilkes at that time and was a success from the beginning. After the death of Tena and Gene’s son in Vietnam, they sold the store and lived in their house on Clark Hill Lake. They sold the store to Amy Reville (later Howard) in 1977. Amy and her daughters – Debbie Jackson, Sandra Brown, and Jeana Worley – were all involved in the store, expanded it, and moved to the present location. Amy subsequently established stores in Elberton and Hartwell, and bought Hendricks Florist here in Washington. Following Amy’s death, Debbie now manages the store in Washington; Sandra, in Elberton; and Jeana, in Hartwell. They have always had quality merchandise and have given quality service. I’m proud to know them.

Pam McCarty and Angie Strother are embarking on new careers as Downtown Washington shop owners. They hope to open their gift store October 1. It will be located in the old Busy Bee Café building (more recently Wicker and More) on the west side of The Square. Their name – Bee Southern – honoring the historic Busy Bee. One of the special features will be monogramming – towels, pocketbooks, linens, all kinds of things. They will have dresses, jewelry and “other wonderful gifts.”

It’s not too early to alert your outof town friends and relatives that the annual Christmas Tour of Homes will be Friday and Saturday, December 9 and 10. More information can be obtained and reservations made by calling the Chamber of Commerce at 678-2013.

The Washington High School Class of 1955 will have a reunion on Saturday, September 24, at The Fitzpatrick Hotel. A note from Barksdale Thomas Boyd, a member of the class, says that they would love to have members of other classes join them. You can call Barksdale at 706-563-7339; or email her at barksdaleboyd@ bellsouth.net

Scott Lewis says that Phil Rothman, who hails from New Jersey, bought some grits recently to use with his Holly Court Inn Bed and Breakfast. For two weeks now, Phil has been bragging everywhere that he has the best grits to be served anywhere. Scott says he’s going to have to get a taste of these grits and see if Phil knows what he’s talking about or if it’s just the result of a New Jersian’s first taste of our Southern grits.

After four years as writer of Tignall Topics and the Tignall news, this week will be the last time that Eudora Huyck will be doing this feature of The News-Reporter. She has some family situations to attend to and feels that she doesn’t need this responsibility at this time. We will miss her writing and wish her well. . . . If you know of someone who would be interested in writing the Tignall news, please let us know.

Hill Street in Washington has had 2.3 inches of rain from last Monday through Monday, August 22. Total thus far for August is 4.35 inches.