Silent Auction raises $3,000+
I visited the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce on the day after Thanksgiving and was impressed. It's a facility we can be proud of, tastefully decorated, and functionally efficient. If you get a chance, visit and see for yourself. I took the time while there to look at the guest register and was surprised at the hometowns of the visitors. They came from Baton Rouge, La.; Baltimore, Md.; Rome, Ga; Cincinnati, Ohio; Sloughton, Maine; Flowery Branch; Bay City, Michigan; Canada; Fort Worth and Dallas, Texas; Nebraska; Connecticut; White Bear Lake, Michigan; Cambridge, Massachusetts; LaCrosse, WI; San Antonio, Texas; Tucson, Arizona; Lancaster, Canada; Suffolk, Va.; Waterborough, N.Y.; Asheville, N.C.; Lyons, Ga.; Higgins Lake; Olean, N.Y.; Ellijay, Ga.; Berlin, New Hampshire; and other places. In the space provided for visitors to indicate how they found out about Washington-Wilkes, most of them said from travel books and television programs; the internet; state parks visitors centers; and from friends.

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The Silent Auction held on December 8 to benefit the Washington- Wilkes Animal Shelter raised more than $3,000 for those homeless dogs and cats. The officersand members of the Association appreciate the

Lions Club letting them use their building free of charge. It was a fun day.

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The drawing for six beautiful strands of freshwater pearls which were raffledby the Wills Memorial Hospital Auxiliary was held on December 8 at the hospital. Winners were Kay Nelms, Cindy Bounds, KatherineSanders, Joan Geddings, Linda Anthony, and Donna Berry. Proceeds will benefit Wills Memorial Hospital.

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The grand re-opening of the newly-renovated Liberty Street Playground was held last week (December 11.) Already there is damage to the equipment. The Bee was damaged, apparently by someone very much overweight and really not eligible to be riding on it. The lesson from this is, if you're not a child, don't be riding or sitting on the playground equipment.

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Carol Bobo Grooms, who grew up in Tignall and graduated from Washington-Wilkes High School, has been named System Teacher of the Year for Calhoun City Schools for 2008-2009. Carol is the sister of Graydon Bobo Jr. and Jean Bobo Sayer of Tignall.

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Chris Townsend, Minister to Students at First Baptist, gave one of Miss Fanny's tour groups (a bus load) a tour of the church Tuesday morning. As usual, Chris found somebody with some connection to either himself of Washington- Wilkes. This time it was a lady from Decatur who lived in the same neighborhood that Chris had grown up in. She lived on Timberland Road and Chris lived two streets over on Beaver Road. They graduated from the same high school -- 20 years apart.

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John and Beth (Bell) Conard have a five-month old little son. Last week, several of John's relatives from the Green Bay, Wisconsin, area came to spend Christmas with John and Beth and Jonathan. They stayed at The Rider House on Court Street (and with John and Beth on Upton Mill Drive) where they had plenty of space to enjoy the holidays together.

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Several years ago I saw the following selection on a program for the funeral of Annie H. Gresham. I like it. Maybe you will too. It says, "I have worked in the fertile earth and planted a garden, so I know what faith is . . . I have listened to the birds caroling in the morning and at dusk, so I know what beauty is. . . . I have sat before a wood firewith old friends, I know what companionship is. . . . I have walked the path of quietness along the forest floor, so I know what peace is. . . . I have dwelt in the valley of remembrances on the hills of home, so I know what love is. .. . I have seen the miracles of spring, the fruition of summer, and the beauty of autumn, followed by the repose of winter, so I know what life is. . . . And because I have perceived all of these things, I know what God is. God is love."

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This issue of The News-Reporter is being printed on Friday, December 21, for distribution on Thursday, December 27. We did not have much time between getting the December 20 issue done and getting this one done, so I'm a little short this week. Please call me during the holidays at 706-678-7781; or at The News- Reporter on Monday, December 31, -- 706-678-2636 -- with items for next week's column or you'll be bored with what little I will have to write about. . . . Thanks for all your help during this past week. I plan to be still writing this column next year this time.

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