The Office Cat

Jeffrey Roth is a hometown boy who has made it "big time!"

When he graduated from WWCHS in 2004, he knew that he wanted to be associated with NASCAR racing and he began to pursue that career. After nearly two years of training, Monday at the Golden Corral 500 at Atlanta Speedway, he got his chance. He was a member of the No. 49 pit crew, something he has been working for since graduation. He was the rear tire carrier for the crew and this was his first pit stop for the Nextel Cup Team which made seven or eight pit stops. . . . When the race was postponed Sunday because of rain, all his family got to visit the pit and see how everything works and got to take Jeffrey out to supper. They had ringside seats on Monday for the actual race. Jeffrey is the son of Darrell and Sonya Roth, and his sisters are Bonnie and Betsy. I know we're going to be seeing more of Jeffrey.

In recent months, we have heard a lot about Emily Ray and her jewelry which is available in Washington Wilkes. Emily Ray herself will be in Washington Wilkes Thursday, March 23, at Tena's Jewelry and Gifts, so those who appreciate her beautiful jewelry will get to meet her. The business was begun in 1993 partially in memory of her mother whose life was claimed by cancer. The jewelry is made in Spartanburg, S.C., by professional craftsmen.

This weekend is our last chance to cleanup before the Tour of Homes. It looks like the weather is going to cooperate and if each one of us cleans up our own little space, everything should be ready come tour time.

If you tuned in last week to Channel 12, Augusta, to see the Tour of Homes featured on Mary Morrison's program at noon, and thought you missed it or got the wrong date, that's okay. I was given the wrong date. You can see Dean Mansfield and Trevin Burriss on the program Tuesday, March 28, at noon.

We were also given the wrong date for the Sharon-Raytown Wild Game Supper. It's this Saturday - March 25.

Mildred Hackney took her first flight on a commercial airline a couple of weeks ago when she flew to Pegola Springs, Colorado, with her son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Shawn Hackney, and grandsons, Adam, Alex, and Austin. You would think that Mildred would be a "seasoned" flyer, being the daughter of the late Cicero Lucas, who had his own plane and was a pilot in the 1940s and 1950s. But Mildred says she flew one time with her dad and got sick over Union Point and never flew again. She caused quite a stir twice in airports when she set off the alarm going through the checkpoints. She has had knee replacement surgery and that was the culprit setting off the alarm. She says she didn't do any skiing or snowmobiling but really enjoyed the snow and beautiful scenery. She especially enjoyed a train trip they took to Durango and Silverton, up a mountain, with the river below and the wintry scenery.

Do you remember that the Washington Wilkes FFA has a greenhouse at the high school? They do, and they will be having a flower and plant sale Thursday, March 29, from 3:15 until 4:30 p.m. They have hanging baskets, Boston ferns, pepper plants, Impatiens, Petunias, Zinnias, Geraniums, Begonias, Vinca, and a lot of other things.

Judge Jim Burton's dog, whose name is Little Dog, has been missing since March 13. Little Dog is a special dog and has survived extensive surgery at the veterinary school in Athens. He's a house dog who is cared for very carefully. He and his companions were "let out" of the house at 6:30 a.m. that morning to take care of their early morning things just as they do every morning. His friends came back on time, but not Little Dog. His home is on the Greensboro Road with Jim and Jane. He's a Beagle. If you've seen him, call Jim, call us, call the Animal Shelter.

Kay Nelms has had a hummingbird already, at Hummingbird Hill, her home in Logan Woods. She put her feeders out on Tuesday, and the hummer appeared a few days later. So, get your feeders out and get ready for the summertime show.

Dr. Phillip Thomas writing in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution says that by the year 2010, "This is going to be the first generation in the history of mankind that's going to have a lower life expectancy than their parents." He attributes it all to obesity in children, which he says is out of control. "It's like the plague is in town and nobody is interested," he says. It's sad.

The annual Tour of Homes is a big event of next weekend, but there are two other significant things coming up on that Sunday and Monday, April 2 and 3. On Sunday, we change to Daylight Saving time for the summer months. On Monday, April 3, we have to remember that to dial local telephone calls we have to dial the 706 in addition to the regular seven numbers - 706-6782636.

The churches in town will be open for both the Day Tour and Candlelight Tour. The Presbyterian Church will be having organ music from six to eight o'clock during the Candlelight Tour. The only organist presenting music that I know of so far is Laura Baldwin. There may be others by next week.

Bonnie Bounds won the GISA state championship in Spelling for the second consecutive year at the literary meet last week at Valdosta State University. Do you know how to spell "hartebeests? How about "shillelagh," or "knickknackatory? Bonnie spelled 95 out of 100 words to win. She's Cindy and Lincoln Bounds's daughter and Hazel Russell's granddaughter.

We all waited patiently for the rain that was predicted first for Friday, then for Saturday, and then for Sunday. It was supposed to be "heavy at times" and finally arrived just before midnight Monday. It rained enough that it came in around a door at The News-Reporter. Various areas of the county and state got a variety of inches. Norris got 1.25 inches on Hill Street; and at Sandtown, 1.7 inch was recorded.

This is the weekend for the production of Camelot by the Briarwood Academy Choral Department. There are many more Wilkes County students taking part than I named last week. Joseph Baldwin has the lead as King Arthur, and this will be his final role of many during his years at Briarwood. He graduates this year. Davis Griffin and Brittany Ray will portray Lancelot and Guenevere. Others are Blake Stitcher, Ali Dyson, Olivia Lyons, Angela Kirkland, Jackson Lyons, Emily Henderson, Ryan Pritchett, Brandy Ray, Lizzie Keen, Adam Hardy, and Grace Blackmon-Hughes. Bonnie Bounds and Liz Grand are serving as assistant sound designers.