That loud boom about five o'clock last Wednesday has still not been identified, according to city personnel who are "in the know." The boom occurred about 5 p.m. and was felt very strongly as far out as the Tignall Road. Several people have reported that they were outside and that it shook the ground. Some have speculated that it was bricks falling at a house on South Alexander Avenue, but that is absolutely not a possibility. Whatever it was might have shaken more bricks down, but according to neighbors the bricks have been "sluffing" off for months. . . . Others have attributed it to an "explosion" from an item in trash on Garland Avenue. . . . "The truth of the matter," says Washington Fire Chief Alan Poss, "is that nobody knows what it was, but we are still investigating." We will let you know when and if we find out.

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Nick Reville, a freshman at Washington Wilkes Comprehensive High School, is one of the privileged ones who has been in Washington, D.C., this week to attend all the inaugural festivities. He left Washington- Wilkes Saturday for the trip and will be returning at the end of this week. Nick has been a member of the Congressional Youth Leadership Council for several years and is making the trip with other members. He attended the opening ceremonies Sunday; enjoyed a River Cruise Saturday; and will be meeting with some of the dignitaries during the week. He is the son of Amy Long. . . . Mayor and Mrs. Willie Burns have been in the big city for the inaugural ceremonies.

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Bobbie Sue Johnson has been on stand-by with the Veterans Administration Emergency Management System to be called as a member of one of the medical teams serving during the presidential inauguration activities this week. As of Monday night Bobbie Sue had not been called.

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George and Aileen Rodriguez, former Wilkes County residents who have lived in Florida for a number of years, renewed their subscription to The News-Reporter this week, and included this note, "We really do enjoy The News-Reporter". . . . We're glad, and hope you continue to enjoy it.

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Albert Huyck has served as chairman of the Wilkes County Unit of the Salvation Army for the past 10 years. At the January meeting of the Unit, he resigned that position. The Wilkes County unit had record collections from its Christmas kettle ministry from Thanksgiving until Christmas, but is still in need of funds because the needs of the unit keep rising. Albert says that it has given him much satisfaction that the Salvation Army has been able to help many individuals and families who were in terrible need, but it has also been frustrating that they could not help more. Albert has been battling an ongoing problem with a herniated disk for several months and was to see a new doctor Tuesday with hope that he can help him. . . . Dr. Randy Clayton is the new Salvation Army unit chairman.

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Do you suppose it runs in the family? Ulysses Eaton, son of Pamela and Rodney Eaton of Washington- Wilkes, has been sworn in as a member of the Guyton City Council. His mom has been a member of the Washington City Council for many years. Ulysses is also a member of the Guyton Planning and Zoning Board. He and his wife Linda and children, Arcadian and Artemis, live in Guyton, 25 miles northwest of Savannah.

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We did get that super cold 14-degree weather over the weekend and now (Monday night) the forecast calls for snow flurries Tuesday morning. We'll see. . . . Rain for the past week was not much, but both

Norris and Sonny reported "a little over two-tenths of an inch."

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The Fun in the Son Children's Ministry of the First Baptist Church is hosting a World Premiere of the new Veggie Tales movie, "Abe and the Amazing Promise," on Friday, February 6, at 7 p.m. in the church fellowship hall. The movie will not be released to the public until later in the month, but with a special license, First Baptist is able to show it before public release. Seating is free, but anyone planning to attend is asked to call the church at 706-678-2912 to let the staff know they are coming. Concessions will be available that evening.

ƒ John and Suzanne Carter of Tignall have Wilkes County tomatoes grown in their hothouse on their farm. I've had some and they are delicious.

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Priscilla Maxwell, our community correspondent for the Tyrone area, is finally home from the hospital. Priscilla has had one surgery after the other since August and hopes she has had the last one. We wish her well.

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The annual Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce Banquet will be held Thursday at The Pope Center. Awards will be given for big business, small business, volunteer, and citizen of the year; and the Pioneer award. . . . The 229th anniversary of the founding of the City of Washington will be recognized Friday, January 23, at 12:30 p.m., in front of the Wilkes County Courthouse on The Square.

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