Irvin Cheney told me an interesting bit of news this week. Irvin says that in the last 90 years, Wilkes County has had only two County Clerk. Irvin's dad, the late Ben Irvin Cheney (B.I.), was named clerk in July 1919. He was only 20 years old at the time and had to have the late Jim Griffith to sign his bond. Mr. Cheney served until 1974, a total of 55 years. . . In 1974, the present clerk, David Tyler, was initiated into the job, and will mark a career of 35 years in that capacity in September. Both have fine reputations of holding tight reins on the county's affairs, and serving their county well.

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Irvin also told me that he and his wife Carol will be leaving Washington Wilkes after 21 years here. They will be moving in August to the Pickens County area of the state to be near a daughter and her family who live in that area. We will miss them.

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Gas prices continue to soar. From west to east, prices on U.S. 78 through Washington are $2.37, $2.34, $2.39, $2.29, $2.35, and $246. These prices are as of Monday.

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While driving down Pecan Grove Road a couple of Sundays ago, Polly Fievet found a very nice NIV Rainbow Study Bible. If you lost it, you can claim it at The News-Reporter. It smells as if a woman has been handling it.

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Three more high school graduates have indicated their plans for "after graduation." All are honor graduates of Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School. Evan Harrison will be going to Georgia Tech in Atlanta, majoring in Aero Space Engineering. Blake Rogers will be a student at the University of Georgia, majoring in Math Education or Bio-chemical Engineering. Lindsey Guin will be a Math Education major at North Georgia College in Dahlonega. . . . Graduates, parents, or grandparents, please call and tell us of your plans.

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A reception on Monday, June 15, will honor Joyce Williams as she retires as Superintendent of Wilkes County Schools. Joyce came to Washington-Wilkes from Valdosta in August 1981 when her husband, Curtis Williams, became an assistant coach for the Washington- Wilkes Tiger Football Team. She taught in the Washington-Wilkes Primary School and Elementary School and was principal of the Middle School before being named Superintendent of Schools in 2005. Her last day with the school system is June 30.

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Steve and Eleanor Blackmon and their daughter, Myra Blackmon of Athens, attended the high school graduation of Anna and Ben Blackmon in Littleton, Colorado. Anna and Ben are twins of Jeffrey and Nancy Blackmon, and grandchildren of Steve and Eleanor. The twins were one of eight sets of twins in their class of about 500 students.

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Friday, June 12, is when 1,700 bicycle riders and hundreds of their friends are expected in Washington- Wilkes for the 2009 Bicycle Ride Across Georgia (BRAG). They will be camping at Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School, and filling motels, the hotel, and Washington's Bed and Breakfast locations for the weekend. Other events are planned during the weekend.

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Della Bailey of Aiken, S.C., called last week looking for information on her uncle and aunt, the late Henry Dubose Hill and Mary McKenzie Hill. She said she had been to Washington-Wilkes looking for information but did not find anyone who remembered them. I remember them well. Mr. Henry, who died in 1954, had an automotive repair shop on Court Street across the street from the Rider house where I grew up. As little girls, my sister and I were coming home from a Girl Scout meeting in the basement of what is now the Washington Historical Museum. We were riding double on a bicycle -- a no-no but we were doing it anyway -- when the driver lost control. My sister wasn't hurt, but the next thing I knew I was in Washington General Hospital with

Joann Jared, a classmate and special friend, pounding on my arm and telling me to wake up. Mr. Henry had been the one who picked us up after the accident and got us some help. Joann was visiting her mother who was a nurse at the hospital. A good many years later, Joann became the mother of Chip, Joni, and Ken Hardin, all Wilkes County residents today. . . . Miss Mary was a favorite school teacher at the high school and was my math teacher. She also was a gifted storyteller who charmed students at school and at Vacation Bible Schools.

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It's summertime and I know you readers are doing many interesting things. Please call, write, or e-mail me and tell me about what you are doing. . . . Look for a "snake story" next week.

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We might as well have not had any rain last week. Sonny Johnson says he barely got .472 inches on Memorial Day; and a few drops before daylight Friday. . . .