I don’t like to write about snakes; I don’t even want to think about snakes; but we’ve had reports of snakes on the move in Wilkes County, so I thought I’d better mention them. . . . We had the picture of Henry McAvoy in last week’s News-Reporter holding a rattlesnake he had killed . It was over five feet long and about four inches in diameter with 13 rattles and a button. . . . Tim Wolfe ran over a four-foot rattlesnake near Ruth Harris’ property at the corner of Hospital Drive and Spring Street. Neighbor Dr. Carlton Hearn came and identified the snake as a canebrake or timber rattlesnake. He said that an article in a recent Augusta Chronicle said that a canebrake rattler is passive unless disturbed and that this one was so gorged that he probably had had a rabbit to eat although usually they eat rodents and small birds. The same article said that this kind of rattler is one of the area’s largest snakes, often reaching six feet. . . . The snake was in an area that has enjoyed numerous black snakes, of king snakes, which they welcome, but never has had a rattler before. It’s near the nursing home garden which was a concern of the neighbors. I’ve heard of another rattler being killed on the Lundberg Road but don’t have any information. Now I know more than I want to know about rattlesnakes and I’m afraid to let my Beagle out by himself, not that I could be much help if we encountered one.

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Now for something more pleasant. Alice and Buddy Lindsey and Rebecca and James Echols have an interesting family situation. Their granddaughter, Jesse Echols, is a freshman at Washington-Wilkes Comprehensive High School this year and is a majorette in the Tiger Marching Band. Jesse’s mother,

Jane Lindsey Echols, was a majorette at W-WCHS when she was a band student. Jesse’s dad is Glen Echols. Their oldest daughter, Jordan, is a junior at W-WCHS this year and is the Tiger Marching Band drum major. Glen’s sister, Becky Wilson, was drum major when she was in high school; and still another Lindsey daughter, Lisa Isham, was Tiger Band drum major when she was a student. Is that clear? Or have

made it like mud?

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Victor Linares (out of Lima, Peru,) and David Wideman (out of Rayle) are City of Washington employees who keep The Square and the downtown area in tip-top shape. They are on The Square by 7 a.m. every morning cleaning, trimming, planting, pruning, and all the other things required to keep the area looking great. One morning last week, a very large limb from a pecan tree had fallen across the street at the corner of Court and Jefferson streets. They came upon it about the same time that I arrived on the scene and immediately went back to their “office” to get a chainsaw and other supplies to dispose of it. When I came back around about an hour later, the area was so clean I couldn’t even tell that there had been a mess a short time before. Imagine what they have to do after a Fourth of July celebration or other downtown events. Of course, they have helpers but for the most part, “they are it.” I thank them.

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The painting that was begun on the outside wall of Miss Fancy Plants in the downtown area needs some attention. It is a good idea to have it there, but it would be so nice to have it finished and touched up a bit. I’m not sure who is in charge of the painting, but it’s not Louise and Pete Grimaud, owners of Miss Fancy Plants.

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There was not much rain recorded in August. I don't have any way of getting an accurate measure of the rainfall because it has been so "spotty." One area will get a couple of inches while at the same time a nearby area gets .2 of an inch or none. The day we got more than two inches in a very short time here at The News-Reporter, I didn’t get any just a mile up the road. But nevertheless, it was a dry month.

Norris Ware got just .2 of an inch on Hill Street in the surprise shower Friday night; while Sonny Johnson at Tyrone got none. On Lexington Avenue, I got .4 of an inch. Norris’ total for August was 4.85 inches; and Sonny’s was 2 1/2 inches for the month. Sonny says his total for August 2009 was 4.2 inches.

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Monday, September 6, is the Labor Day holiday. Don't forget that we will need your help on early deadlines for The News-Reporter that week. Deadlines for all classified and legal advertisements, society news, and retail advertising will be Friday, September 3, at 5 p.m. Community correspondents are asked to slide their news under the door by 11 a.m. Monday morning (Labor Day). Deadline for all other news is Tuesday, September 7, at noon.

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The First United Methodist Church will begin a new ministry on September 12. “The Well on Spring Street” will begin a new worship experience at 9:45 a.m. in the fellowship hall. This service, according to the pastor, Rev. Gale Seibert, will be a contemporary praise and worship service. The service will be coordinated by David Jones, minister to children and youth at the church.

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After Labor Day, community activities pick up quite a bit as we approach the October, November, and December holiday period. Some of these September activities include the Cruise-In on The Square, September 12; The NASA fund-raiser and Faith In Action Spaghetti Supper on September 17; the Lions Club chicken barbecue on September 18; and the program honoring former coach Charlie Davidson and the naming of Tiger Stadium, September 24.

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Former Tiger football players who played for Coach Davidson are reminded of that special ceremony, just before the Oconee County game, when the football field will be named in his honor. Special guests will be the teams of 1960 (his first state championship) and 1940 but anyone who played for Coach Davidson is encouraged to attend.