Dr. Elizabeth (Lizzie Newsome) Holmes found herself in the role of a Good Samaritan last Thursday night. This was the night when snow and freezing rain were predicted for our area, making it hazardous to be traveling. She had been invited by Elizabeth and Adam Bohler of Wilkes County to speak to the Classic South Equine Association meeting in Thomson on equine dentistry at 6 p.m. She left Thomson after the meeting to try to get back to her home in Athens before the roads were iced. Just outside of Thomson, she saw a horse trailer on the side of the road with a man and woman apparently in trouble. Seeing that a horse was involved, she stopped and asked if they were all right. They explained to her that they had left Aiken, S.C., with a sick horse in terrible pain and they were trying to get to the University of Georgia Veterinary School of Medicine Hospital in Athens. The Aiken veterinarian had given the horse a sedative as they left Aiken, but it had worn off and the horse, in all his pain, had tried to get out of the trailer, but was hung over a bar inside. Lizzie told them that she was a “horse vet” and she would try to help them if they would let her. They were grateful and followed her instructions. She managed to get the horse back in position in the trailer. Because she does equine dentistry for patients all over the area, she carries her medicine and tools in an attached “vet box” on the back of her vehicle. She sedated the frantic horse again and got him calm, then followed the couple (in their 60s or so) to the UGA veterinary hospital in Athens. On the way, she called the hospital to see who was on call and found that her good friends and colleagues were assigned to the case. She explained the horse’s condition to them and they were ready for him when they got to the hospital. Lizzie stayed with the couple and their horse until he was diagnosed as having (in people language) “a twisted colon” and would need surgery. He had the surgery right away and as of Monday morning was recuperating just right.

The Office Cat ƒ

If fans at a football game can celebrate and "go wild" when their team makes a touchdown, screaming and hollering, and jumping up and down, why can't the team celebrate without getting a 15-yard penalty?

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I heard on the radio that a 30 second spot during the Super Bowl will cost the advertiser from $1.5 million to $1.8 million. . . . A 30 column- inch advertisement in The News-Reporter costs the advertiser $157.50. Well, I guess a Super Bowl commercial does reach a few more people.

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Mark Waters, always a source of information for this column, says “You have to be computer literate these days to find stuff you’re looking for.” He’s probably right. Mark tells about how he and Emilie had bought a set of Waterford “Great Room” iced beverage glasses here because they matched their Christmas dishes “to a tee.” One was broken before Christmas. A replacement was not available in Washington-Wilkes. They searched the internet over several days for the discontinued pattern with no luck. Mark took four pictures of the glass from different angles and made measurements and sent them to “Replacement Ltd.” in North Carolina. With over 300,000 items, they didn’t have any. They decided to email their three daughters and son-in-law (all information technology literate) and issue a “search challenge,” sending them the four pictures and measurements. Much to their surprise they got a cell phone call from Laurie, their youngest daughter in Waynesboro, Penn., in less than six minutes. She had found a set of four for sale in Kansas City on eBay and they were an exact match.

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School Teacher Gail Duggan wowed all the boys and girls (and their parents) Saturday at Garston Townsend’s birthday party celebrating his seventh birthday. She brought all kinds of gadgets and supplies to give a great science demonstration using household items to make bubbles and smoke, changing colors, and all kinds of things. She taught the children about acids and bases with her demonstrations. Gail is with RESA now and teaches adults. She says she really misses teaching children.

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Gas prices are on the rise again. On US 78 through town, from east to west, they range from $2.61 per gallon to $2.67, $2.74, $2.69, and $2.73

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The Little Theater STARZ awards will be presented Friday night at seven o’clock at the Bolton Lunceford Playhouse. Trophies will go to the best actor, best youth actor, best director, and best show for 2009. We’re all invited – no admission charge – and there will be refreshments.

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When the celebration of the University of Georgia's 40 years of offering a study abroad program in Cortona, Italy, ends in February with an exhibition featuring works by faculty of the University of Georgia's Lamar Dodd School of Art, the work of a Wilkes County man will be included. Kinzey Branham’s sculpture will be one of the art forms exhibited. Kinzey was born in Wilkes County and is the son of Dot Stevens Branham and the late Henry Branham. The exhibition will take place January 16 through February 27 in the Gallery at the Chastain Arts Center in Atlanta. An opening reception – which is free and open to the public – is set for 7 p.m. January 16.

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