OMI (Operation Management Inc.) representatives from all over the state converged on Washington- Wilkes last Thursday, Friday and Saturday for an annual conference and workday. They filled up the

Fitzpatrick Hotel and probably other places and had their meetings at The Pope Center. Saturday morning was a workday in Fort Washington Park (behind the Courthouse) and the Booker Playground in Whitehall. Among other things they cleaned the parks and set some park benches in strategic places. Visit the sites and see what they did. Under direction of John Scott, OMI has operated the City of Washington's water system for many years.

ƒ

By the time you read this, the election will be over and we will know who is to be our next President and who the winners are in our Wilkes County offices. I hope we all voted "right" and the best man won. If not, then God help us. God help us anyway, because whoever is elected -- good or bad -- to lead our county and nation for the next four years is going to need God's help and ours too.

ƒ

Now that the election is over, every politician, except the ones in runoffs, needs to remove all political signs from roadsides and everywhere else. And won't it be nice not to have them jamming up the television.

ƒ

Last week in this column I asked for anyone who had old-fashioned galoshes to call Jo Randall. The galoshes were needed for the upcoming Washington Little Theater Co. production of "Sanders Family Christmas." The News-Reporters were "on the street" at four o'clock Wednesday and by 4:30 Jo had received a call from Sarah Lamar saying she has some. That was quick. Anybody else got any?

ƒ

We have not had any rain during the past week, but the October totals reported are interesting. According to Norris Ware on Hill Street, the total for October this year is 2.85 inches. In 2007 he recorded only .45 of an inch for the whole month. Out from Tyrone, Sonny Johnson recorded 4.24 inches for October 2008; but just .4 of an inch for 2007. . . . I guess Tyrone paid the preacher this year.

ƒ

I'm sure the trees in the mountains are putting on their fall show, but we're real pretty right here in Washington-Wilkes, too. By the time you read this, the perfectly shaped maple tree at the First Baptist Church will be at its peak and it's a beautiful sight. . . . There is also an outstanding maple at the home of Kathy and John Overstreet on East Robert Toombs Avenue; and at the home of Hal and Nancy Farris (Fortson Hill) on Spring Street. . . . Inez Winfrey's gingko on Spring Street is already dropping its leaves making a colorful carpet as well as tree. . . . Poplar Corner's poplar tree on Liberty Street is sporting its yellow leaves and carpet; and the huge tea olive tree in the yard is blooming and putting out its sweet aroma. . . . My yard on Lexington Avenue is very pretty. We have so many varieties of trees that we get quite a variety of color. The maples, gingkos, walnuts, dogwoods, sassafras, oaks are dressed in all their finery. If the hickories would just go ahead and finish putting on their beautiful deep yellow jackets, it would be something else to see. . . . There are lots of other colorful places around, I'm sure. I just haven't had time (or gas) to check them out. If you know of an especially pretty tree or area, call me. The number is still 706-678-2636.

ƒ

It's homecoming week at Washington Wilkes Comprehensive High School and as usual there are many activities going on. The annual bonfire will take place Thursday night at Tiger Stadium; and the parade will leave the school at 4 p.m. Friday, go north on Spring Street to The Square, and then to Tiger Stadium. Homecoming activities will take place during halftime of the Tigers' game with Aquinas at 7:30.

ƒ

Other activities for the weekend include the popular Rotary Club Pancake Supper at Washington- Wilkes Elementary School Friday night; and the Lions Club chicken barbecue Saturday morning. . . . The

Fall ArtFest gets underway on The Square at 10 a.m. Saturday morning. It will also be open on Sunday. . . . The Washington Presbyterian Church will have an interesting series of services Friday and Saturday nights and Sunday morning.

ƒ

Lindsey Guin, a senior at Washington Wilkes Comprehensive High School, has been named Channel 6's Scholar Athlete of the Week. Lindsey is the daughter of Belle and Bob Guin, and granddaughter of Cornelia H. Johnson. Staff members and photographers from Channel 6 came to Washington Wednesday of last week and interviewed her. The clip they made of the presentation of the award should be on Channel 6 news one of the next three Thursdays, so we'll have to tune in every Thursday until she appears. Lindsey was nominated for the award by Coach Russell Morgan, and Dr. Sloan, the AP counselor at the school, wrote the recommendation. Channel 6 interviewed both of them and also Becky Wilson, Lindsey's softball coach; Amy Wheatley, tennis coach; and Lindsey's mom, Belle, who is also a teacher at the school. Lindsey plays softball and tennis; is editor of the school's yearbook; a member of this year's homecoming court, and is involved in many other activities at her school.

ƒ Carolyn Burnam's grandson, Eric Burnam, was featured on the front page of Monday's Athens Banner-Herald. Eric is the son of

Tim and Kae Burnam, former residents of Washington-Wilkes. He is a member of the Oglethorpe County High School Marching Band which plays for football games and participates in band festivals. That's not unusual for a 14-year-old student, but it is for Eric. He has cerebral palsy and as a result he has some visual and physical impairment. Since he was a toddler he has attended band competition in which his sisters -- Shelby (17) and Lauren -- have participated. He loves music and began trombone lessons with Oglethorpe band director Terry Kenney. Last year was his first time to march with the band. A younger member of the band leads Eric as the band members move from formation to formation. He has to begin practice early in the summer to learn the music for fall participation. He memorizes every piece, committing the slide positions of the trombone to muscle memory. Eric is a University of Georgia football fan. He wants to be a radio broadcaster when he gets older, calling football games with gusto like famous Bulldog announcer Larry Munson.

ƒ

Last week, I told about two visitors to Washington-Wilkes who had attended services at the Washington Presbyterian Church. One of the visitors was Joe Wingarde who writes a column for The Star-News in Andalusia, Ala. Rev. Glen Kohlhagen, pastor of our Presbyterian Church, brought me a copy of the column Wingarde wrote when he returned to Alabama. Before I looked at the names in the column, I looked at the heading which said "What will Mrs. Grundy Say? Personals by Mrs. C.R. Grundy." Included on the head was a silhouette of a Victorian lady, complete with wide-brimmed hat and umbrella. I assumed the column was written by "a little old lady." I was surprised to find that Joe Wingarde writes the column. Glen had told me that the first few paragraphs "sounded like The Office Cat." . . . Wingarde said that he learned that Alexander H. Stephens, vice-president of the Confederacy, had been a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church and that Woodrow Wilson had worshipped here when his father, a Presbyterian minister, had supplied the pulpit. Wingarde and his cousin,

Jo Driggers, left Washington and went to visit the Stephens home and park in Crawfordville. He wrote a lengthy account of the visit. In fact, the whole column was lengthy. It must have filled a page and a half in the Andalusia paper. It was a fun thing to read.