The “Carat Cupcake” fundraiser sponsored by Wills Memorial Hospital Auxiliary with Tena’s Fine Jewelry and Gift Shop last week was a tremendous success. They sold all 750 tickets and had some extras. Amy Johnston claimed the prize for selling the most tickets. The cupcakes with the two diamonds were bought by Tracy Holder who works at the Mary Willis Library; and Karen Chafin who works at Rayle EMC. Nine-year-old Wesley Pope found three of the “precious jewels” in the cupcakes his grandmother, Susan Pope, bought for him and was so proud of them. Grandma made him look up information on the jewels in the encyclopedia when they got home.

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The annual John Duggan Scholarship Dinner will be held Monday evening, February 13, at the Washington Woman’s Club. The speaker for the evening will be well-known Augusta Chronicle columnist Bill Kirby. It should be a fun evening of entertainment. Tickets are available from members of the Woman’s Club.

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A postage stamp for a first class letter is now 45 cents. While cleaning some desk drawers at home last week, I found a letter to me from my Daddy when I was a student at Georgia State College for Women. It was written and mailed in 1952, and the stamp cost 3 cents.

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A resident of Aonia tells us that new state road signs on Highway 17 for Aonia read "Aoina Community.” Tooooo bad. I wonder if they will replace them.

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Another one of the late Andy Rooney’s “I’ve learned” sayings reads: “I’ve learned that when your newl y-born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you’re hooked for life.”

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The same person who sent me the Andy Rooney sayings also sent me some of the findings of a physics teacher in high school. The teacher was shopping for a wastebasket and found some made in China for $6.99. She didn't want to pay that much for them so she asked a saleslady and she showed her where to find them for $2.50 made in the USA. The teacher also said she doesn't buy cards at one of the leading card stores because they are made in China. She buys them at Dollar Tree for 50 cents each and they are made in the USA. When she found out that her favorite candy is made in Mexico she stopped buying it even though it was her grandson's favorite candy. She also switched from her favorite toothpaste when she found out it was made in Mexico. And there were many others. The teacher says we need to read about what we buy.

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We were all shocked and saddened to learn of the death of Sandra Rogers who was shot and killed in the line of duty with the Aiken (S.C.) Police Department Saturday. Sandy has a lot of relatives in Wilkes County. Her dad, Jack Rogers, is one of seven sons and one daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Rogers, and like all of them, he grew up here and graduated from Washington High School. Only two others of those brothers are still living – Ernie Rogers of Washington, and Wendy Rogers of South Georgia. The deceased ones are Llewyn, Allen, Quinton, and Grady; and the sister, Helen. All the boys were good football players and active in the community before their deaths.

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The February issue of the Georgia Electric Membership magazine has some Wilkes County items in it. On the page featuring snapshots of "Sweethearts" celebrating Valentine's Day there is a picture of David Martin and Rachel Smith who met on the Washington Youth Tour last year and have been dating ever since. David is the son of David and Joy Martin of Tignall, and Rachel is the daughter of Joey and Julie Smith of Thomaston. ... The Rayle EMC float was pictured as it participated in the Washington-Wilkes Christmas Parade of Lights and won honorable mention. The float was designed and built by EMC employees and featured strings of Christmas lights depicting power lines which hung from power poles made from PVC pipe with real insulators and PVC transformers. Children and grandchildren of Rayle EMC employees rode on the float.

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Rainfall is hardly worth reporting. Hill Street got .1 of an inch last week and a total of 2.65 for the month, compared to 4.6 inches last year. Tyrone got .8 of an inch last week and a total of 2.6 inches for the month. Last year the January total was 3.6 inches.

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Don't forget the fish fry fundraiser for the Villagorda family Saturday, 5-7 p.m., at the Catholic Church.

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At Saturday's STARZ Awards program at the Bolton Lunceford Playhouse, one play for 2011 took first place in every category but one. That one first place was the Best Youth award which went to Michael Bowen for his performance in “A Christmas Carol.” The hilarious farce, “See How They Run,” won the Best Play award; Buzzy Randall, Best Director; Tina Lewis, Best Actress; Tom Duggan, Best Actor. Other members of the play’s cast were Jeannie Collins, Troy Nickels, Diana Hall, Cliff Hargrove, Scott Lewis, Jim Caddell, and Jim Newsome.