Salvation Army still needs ringers

Julius Rousey will be 87 years old on Thanksgiving Day (November 26). Julius is a master barber who began his career 60 years ago with Ben Jones' Barber Shop on The Square. The shop was located about where The Sandwich Shop is now. I have heard some of Julius' customers say that the price of a haircut is a real bargain because it includes assorted information, education, entertainment, and advice (if asked for). Long before Rogaine was on the market, Julius declared that he had learned the only thing that was 100 percent guaranteed to stop falling hair. Pressed for the miracle answer, he seriously replied: "The floor." Before the effects of age took his best game away, Julius earned a reputation as an excellent golfer. He recalls in every detail the first time he beat the late Amos Martin, and that in itself was quite an accomplishment. Respecting his ability, his golfing buddies dubbed him simply "The Barber." We hope he has a happy birthday.

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I have a very old picture of Ben Jones and a small boy standing in the doorway of the shop on The Square. (He also cut hair for some little girls.) Ben Jones (we never called him anything but "Ben Jones") lived with his mother, Mrs. Lula Jones, on Court Street next door to The Rider House. She had a "boarding house" and served noonday meals to downtown businessmen in her dining room. Ben Jones also had a sister - Nell Jones - who was a talented pianist.

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We had a little bit of rain during the last week. Most of it was on Sunday - .7 of an inch in Washington; and .82 of an inch in Tyrone.

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Most Southern Baptist Churches are involved every November and December with the Samaritan's Purse Shoebox collection for underprivileged children all over the world. First Baptist in Washington is the collection point for all the churches in this area. Chris Townsend, Minister of Students, delivered 859 boxes to the regional center in Athens Monday morning. I asked Chris what churches were included, and he said from Union Point to Lincolnton and inbetween.

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Fall is my favorite time of the year. I like springtime, too, but I like the fall because it's so serene and peaceful, and cool, unlike spring which is "bursting out all over." Fall a time for reflecting, especially on blessings, which we think about during the Thanksgiving season. As a child, it was a time in school to draw and color pumpkins and turkeys, and to try to draw Pilgrims and Indians. . . . It has been several years since I have used the poem of my favorite fourth-grader in 1938.

Miss Annie Sue Wynne was his teacher and his poem was published in The News-Reporter in November of that year. His mother had cut it out of The News-Reporter with pinking shears and saved it. My sister "decoupaged" it for me during those years when that form of crafts was popular. . . . It's titled:
THE FOUR SEASONS
The autumn is here,
and well I know,
Because the leaves turn brown,
and away I go,
I see the rabbit and dog
and then I know,
That the autumn is here,
And away I go.
Then winter comes,
and well I know,
Because I see
the ice and the snow
And with a joyful face
away I skip,
Myself and my dog
whose name is Nip.

Then spring comes
and off I go,
Because the birds are singing
goodby to the snow;
And if I am living all the while,
I will face life with a smile.
Then summer comes
and the sun blazes,
The cow is in the lane
and there she grazes;
The sun is hot and
to the branch I go,
And with a great plunge,
under I go.
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The first verse reminds me of

Andrew Grimaud who loves to see his Beagles run rabbits. . . .

Willard Lance has another litter of purebred Beagles - just in time for Christmas.

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Don't miss seeing the lighted Christmas tree and snowman atop Bee Southern on The Square. Todd Blackmon, who lives in the apartment over Master's Wildlife, is the creative young man who put them there.

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While browsing through last year's bound copy of the 2008 News- Reporter, I noticed that by this time last November we had already had two visits from Old Jack Frost. . . . The forecast for the Downtown Candlelight Shopping was 20 to 23 degrees.

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The Salvation Army is still in need of bellringers for the Christmas kettles located at Bi-Lo and Ingles from now until Christmas. Call Dot Harris at 706-678-2818 to sign up for a time to ring.

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Franklin West, Bobby West's seeing-eye German Shepherd, died last week and it was a sad time for Bobby, his family, and a lot of other people, too. Bobby was blinded during the Vietnam War and depended on Franklin for his mobility. Franklin was 13 years, nine months old, and Bobby had had him for the past 11 years. It was such a devastating experience for Bobby that he says he doesn't know if he will get another dog or not. Franklin was a popular figure around town as he led Bobby from his home on Lexington Road to town to run errands and he seldom missed a Lions Club meeting, taking his place under Bobby's chair. Franklin and Bobby became a familiar twosome as they served as grand marshalls for the annual Fourth of July Parade in downtown Washington from its beginning 11 years ago until this past Fourth of July.

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