The drought is one of the biggest topics of conversation lately. It is scary, just like a lot of things we hear about nowadays. It has been so hot and I know we are so lucky for what we have. The gardens started out good, but they just can't survive without any rain. The cows are suffering, too, and some farmers are having to feed them hay because there's not enough grass. It is raining all around us, but somehow it misses us. We did finally get a little rain which we are very thankful for. Vacation Bible School for the children is going on this week at Sardis Baptist Church with good attendance. Friday evening at 6 p.m. a hotdog supper will be given and the parents and other guests can come and have fellowship and see the accomplishments of the children and join in a brief worship rally. Birthday wishes go out to Mablean Sherrer and Martha Jones, cousins, who share the same birthday on July 1. Some other July birthdays that I know about are Kim Winfrey, 5; Bonnie Boatwright, 6; Tina Boatwright, 10; James Barrow, 13; Ethan Armour, 18; Sherri Standard, 21; and Angie Williford, 28. Mrs. Ruby Arnold and Mrs. Dorothy Callaway recently visited Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Armour in Washington. We are glad Blanche has

been able to come back to her church at Rock Methodist. J.W. and Bonnie Boatwright joined some of Bonnie's classmates to attend the visitation and funereal service of one of their classmates Tuesday afternoon at Lord and Stephens Funeral Home East in Athens. We were so sad to learn last week of the passing of Lessie Graham Reynolds of McDonough, formerly of Crawford. Other classmates and their spouses attending and sitting together behind the family with J.W. and Bonnie were Charlie Hayes, Jacob and Thelma Day, Jimmy and Bonnie Coile, Syble Murray Holloman, Carole Morgan, and Martha Holloman Fortson. Lessie will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Guests of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Smith have been Mary Burt of Washington; Charlie and Linda Arnold of Athens; and Bobby and Sandra Arnold of Winterville. Ruby Arnold, Dorothy Callaway, and Mary Grace Owen went to visit with friends and family of James Grady Johnson at Williams Funeral Home in Milledgeville Sunday evening. Graveside services were held at Bethesda Cemetery Monday afternoon in Flatwoods. Faye Johnson came from Gray to visit Ruby and attend the funereal. Nell, Dorothy, Faye, and other family members were at the home of Ruby. Billy and Doris Walker, Mablean Sherrer, and Jake and Linda Buff went over to Hartwell Saturday where they met about 20 family members and friends at the Swamp Guinea to celebrate the birthday of Bill Edmonds, husband of their sister Lucile. Their other sister, Louise, twin to Lucile, and her husband of Anderson, S.C., were also there. Their other sister, Mildred, was unable to come due to the serious illness of her husband, Luther Berryman who is in Regional Hospital in Athens and will have surgery later on this week. Barry and Dana Echols of Ball Ground visited Fred Corbett Wednesday. Other visitors during the week have been Dann and Beverly Corbett, Robbie and Shawn Turner and Amber, Rev. Jim Edwards, Richard and Betty Byrd, J.W. and bonnie Boatwright, Melvin Crawford and Ruth Flynt. Penny Vaughn of Martinez spent the weekend with Mrs. Annie Blanche Vaughn. Rodney and Betsy Shedd, Mil, Matt and Morgan enjoyed eating Sunday dinner with Johnny and Kathryn Shedd. Ethan Armour spent Wednesday through Sunday in West Monroe, Virginia, at the American Chiangus Heifer National Junior Show. He won showmanship class, heifer class main division, reserve champion, and second overall in livestock judging contest. Brent and Deanna Sherrer attended the reunion of Wilkes Academy Saturday evening. Many others who went to the Academy from Rayle also enjoyed going and enjoying seeing all their schoolmates. It was a joyous occasion with lots of fun and laughter. Mrs. Bobby Armour carried Mrs. Mozelle Casey and Mrs. Frances Fendley to Crawford one day to see Mrs. Melvie Esco at Quiet Oaks Nursing Home. George and Ann Wideman had William Hester of Covington spent the weekend with them. Watson Wideman also spent Saturday and Sunday, and James, David, and Mathew. Gene Winfrey and Tom Hardy also visited. William and Ann went to Washington to Wilkes Health Care to visit their mother, Mrs. Laura Hester. They also visited Mrs. Mary Wright, Mrs. Dot Hardy, Mrs. J.T. Thornton, and Sue Lee. Ann also visited Mrs. Buster Winfrey one day. Kim Frankel, Zachery and Kyle of Crawford spent the day Sunday with Clyde and Sandy Whittington. David and Margie Randall and James enjoyed going over to the Lions Club Saturday where they enjoyed a delicious barbecued chicken dinner. Please be in prayer for my greatnephew, Seth Stewart, who has a growth on his neck and is going for a biopsy Wednesday to determine what it is and what to do about it. He lives in Watkinsville and is the grandson of my sister, Frankie Jones. Kristy Booth has been in Athens Regional Hospital with a blood clot, but is now at home under a doctor's care. Our thoughts and prayers are with her for a full recovery for a good recovery. Please keep close in prayer, Sharon Smith, Joe Jones, Luther Berryman, Gary Rogers, Stephanie Chapman, Kathryn Padgett, Seba Williamson, Jason Thrasher, Jonathan Grier, Bobby Parton, Ellie Frey, Hubert Spivey, Dorothy Callaway, Martha Williford, Sherry Newsome, Doris Walker, Mike Webb, Thomas Bunch, Kristy Booth, all the sick and shut-ins, the servicemen and women, and all the veterans. Bonnie Boatwright visited Lamar and Kay Berry and Trey last Sunday afternoon. Brooke Berry and Kaitlyn and Bryson of Washington were also visiting. Little nine month old Bryson had gotten his very first haircut with his grandpa Lamar doing the honors. Both of my tests (carotid artery and colonoscopy) came out good last week and J.W. and I were so glad. We went to Michaels in Thomson to eat breakfast after the test and I was glad to get to eat after fasting all day Thursday because I was hungry. Johnny Boatwright and Kay Berry visited J.W. and Bonnie Boatwright on Fathers Day. We hope everyone in News-Reporter land will have a wonderful and safe Fourth of July holiday with plenty of barbecue and other good food and will get to enjoy fireworks somewhere. I will not be gathering any news next week because of the holiday coming up and The News-Reporter folks and I need a vacation, but please keep all your news for the next week. Thank you.