Washington-Wilkes Community Night at the Augusta Green Jackets Game is Friday night. The first pitch is at 7:05 p.m. The Washington- Wilkes Chamber of Commerce has a chartered bus available for those who would like to travel to the game in a group. As of late Monday, the game was almost sold out, so if you plan to go you'd better act fast. The bus can carry 55 maximum.

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From reports that I have heard about the fireTuesday night of last week that destroyed the home of

Amanda and Lee Hiland at the corner of Liberty Street and South Alexander Avenue, the firemen from the Washington Fire Department did a superb job of getting the fireunder control quickly and protecting the two adjacent homes. Fire Chief Alan Poss says the house was "fully involved" in firewhen the 18 firemen arrived. Flames were already in the wrap-around front porch ceiling, had spread to the attic, and were coming out the roof. All windows were blown out. Temperatures that day had been over a hundred and even though it was 11 p.m., temperatures at that time were around 85 degrees. Add to that the heat of the fireand I don't know how the firemen could stand it. Four teams of firemen were "in and out" during the approximately five hours the firemen were on the scene. At one time they were pouring 700 to 800 gallons of water per minute on the fire. They used a new piece of equipment which they have acquired. It's a camera designed to look for hidden fires. I commend every one of the firemen for what they did. They're great.

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Something at the firestation on Court Street had puzzled me for several weeks. At six o 'clock in the morning when I was doing my walking for the day, I would see firemen with heavy clothing on, carrying heavy equipment, and wearing the traditional firehats, walking 'round and 'round the firestation. Occasionally they would stop and take a big heavy hammer and pound on a big tractor tire. I asked Chief Poss about this and he said they were in a physical fitness program and were doing their physical training in preparation for upcoming testing. They ought to be in terrific shape!

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Angie Paul had a real shock early one morning last week when she went in to get ready for her Pre- Kindergarten classes at the First Baptist Church. As she came in the door from outside, a young man was asleep on the floor. Needless to say, Angie got out in a hurry. She was joined shortly by Birder Mae Bridges, custodian of the church, who also arrives early. They were joined shortly by Chris Townsend and Benjie Edwards, church members who were out doing their morning walk. The police were called but no charges were filed against the young man. Sure enough, the next morning, there he was again. But church member Jerry Stover was on hand early to call police. The homeless young man said nobody had ever told him he couldn't go in and sleep on the floor. He was told and sent on his way.

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Washington-Wilkes will be prominently featured in the September issue of The Surratt Courier, a monthly newsletter published by the Surratt Society, Clinton, Maryland, and The Maryland-National Capital Park & Planning Commission, Washington, D.C. Dr. Mark Waters was contacted by Laurie Verge, director of the Surratt House Museum, Clinton, Maryland, to write an article about what happened to the Confederate treasury. Mark is a life member of the Surratt Society and had told Laurie about the treasury ending up here. The article is titled "Confederate Treasury -- the Final Disposition" and is seven pages. The Surratt Courier is circulated both nationally and internationally to members. I saw the initial draft before Mark sent it to Laurie and can say it will definitely put Washington-Wilkes on the map.

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The Washington-Wilkes Historical Foundation has taken over the project of the DVD production of "Memories of Wilkes," which was formerly sponsored by New South Productions. The interviews are currently being edited and will probably be available to the public in late October.

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Late Friday afternoon, two ladies were riding in their Toyota up Lexington Avenue when a huge oak tree in front of Washington Plantation B&B split and fell across their car. They were not injured but I'm sure they must have been very frightened. Traffic was stopped for quite some time while the tree and car were cleared from the road.

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At about that same time a storm blew through the Glenn Road area between Philomath and Rayle (closer to Rayle), blowing down many trees, a barn, a well house, and doing other damage. Electrical power was off for a while but personnel from Rayle Electric Membership Corporation (REMC) soon had it back on.

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Michael Horgan is hosting a "mix and mingle" summer social for the Toombs Judicial Circuit Bar Association. The event will be held Thursday, August 23, at the Court Street Livery and Washington Farmers Market. Pam and Newton Gunter will be the caterers and music will be by the Friends Band.

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The Frank Jackson Jr. who lives on the Sandtown Road and is closely associated with the Wilkes County 4-H program is not the Frank Jackson Jr. who was listed in the Grand Jury report of True Bills last week. Unfortunately, there are two Frank Jacksons in the county and it caused some confusion.