Bicycle cops fight high gas prices
Laura and Dave Toburen have returned from a fabulous trip to Canada and Alaska. In their RV, they drove the 2000-mile Alaska Highway beginning in Dawson City, British Columbia, Canada, to Delta Junction in Alaska. Laura says the highway was built during the World War II years by American forces to give access to strategic locations. Being church-goers, on Sunday morning Laura and Dave searched for a church they could attend in Dawson City. They found a small Baptist Church that was just beginning to get established and attended the service. In talking to various ones in the congregation -- wouldn't you know? -- Washington-Wilkes came up and they discovered that our Kevin Madden, who is a church planter had started this church and had been there with them just the week before. Kevin has been in Canada for several years establishing and pastoring churches.

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On Tuesday of last week I went to the Post Officeto mail some letters. I planned just to drive through and put my mail in the outside boxes for collection. When I drove up to what used to be three boxes, there was just the Metered Mail box. So I thought, I guess the post officeis cutting back some more on expenses and removed the boxes, so I drove around and went inside to deposit my mail. . . . Later in the day I found out that a woman driving under the influence (DUI) had entered through the exit and run into the other two boxes, demolishing them. The boxes were replaced by mid-week.

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There's a sign in the window at

Petal Pushers in Downtown Washington that says "Business for Sale." That's all I know right now.

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Peggy Barnett's book review (on page 4) this week is by one of our own Wilkes County young ladies. The title of the book is The Unicorn Girl and it is written by Melissa LeGette, daughter of Charles and Sandy LeGette. The book is a fantasy and Peggy's review makes me know that it's just what I want to read. Check it out.

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One of our readers stopped to tell me that she had read in the Augusta newspapers that several towns and cities are trying to combat the high price of gas by putting their policemen on bicycles instead of in cars. She thinks it might be something for Washington-Wilkes to try.

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Six members of the Washington Police Department are receiving their master's degrees in Criminal Justice Saturday. Troy University has been providing instruction for the fiveofficersand after a year of hard work they will be awarded their degrees Saturday. They are Chief Mike Davis, Captain Theodosia Glenn, Lt. Robert Roca, Lt. Joe Nelson, Deputy Jamie Bridges, and Cpl. Sallie Tanksley.

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Samille and James Sherrer were traveling on Highway 17 in the Tignall area on a recent Saturday when they saw a blimp in the sky. James said they thought at first it was a helicopter but then realized it was a blimp. He said it appeared to be just hovering or standing still, but then it pulled on off to the right out of sight. He didn't see any writing on the side of it and it wasn't pulling a banner.

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The Washington Little Theater Drama Camp will be presenting The Wizard of Oz to conclude its 2008 camp program. The show will be presented Friday, Saturday, and Sunday this weekend at the Bolton Lunceford Playhouse. After working only two weeks, the 52 children and teenagers in the camp will be presenting the results of their hard work. The camp is directed by Libby Foster, assisted by April Shelton, Teresa Davis, and Zena Zarahn. You will probably want to call for a reservation.

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On the heels of this summer production, announcement is made of the summer production of Boeing, Boeing, directed by Emma Collins. Performance dates are July 31, August, 1, 2, 3.

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It's time to be getting out your flags, and all your red, white, and blue paraphernalia. The Fourth of July is just around the corner. There will be parades and a big celebration on The Square in Downtown Washington.

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Georgia's Great Places, a neat little publication by the "Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites," has a nice article about 11-year-old Thomas Morgan of Washington-Wilkes. The article has a picture of Thomas sitting in one of the rocking chairs at the Robert Toombs House State Historic Site. The text begins, "A love for history, an eagerness to learn and unbridled enthusiasm make Thomas Morgan a treasured volunteer at the Toombs historic site." Thomas is the son of

Tanya and Russell Morgan (Coach Morgan of the Washington-Wilkes Tigers). He began volunteering at the Toombs House in August 2005 after touring the site, and since then he has volunteered once a week for at least an hour at a time, absent only because of illness. He was a history buff before he began volunteering. During the spring and Christmas living history programs, Thomas memorizes lines for characters that he plays, and dresses in costume to perform his role. In December he was host for "A Christmas Carol," greeting visitors and handing out programs. More than 200 visitors enjoyed the entertainment. The Toombs site won the Georgia DNR's "Most Innovative Program at a Historic Site" award for the Dickens program.

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The Hummers are staging a comeback. After apparently leaving when we had an unusually cold snap after they arrived in early spring, hummingbirds seem to be returning. Some of those reporting seeing the beauties in the last week include Anna Gunter, Louise Burt, Jim Caddell, Kay and Pug Nelms, and Cindy Bounds. We may have a good hummingbird summer yet.

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Wildlife Action had a wildlife cookout Saturday at the location on Harris Road. They had all kinds of wildlife available for tasting and eating, including elk stir-fry, bear stew, catfish,alligator, and who knows what else. Sponsors included the Lions Club and the National Wild Turkey Federation.

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I'm pretty old, but even I don't remember June 10, 1913. I don't know of anybody in the county that old -- even Mary Wright Blue! But I do remember a man who wrote a letter on that day to another Wilkes Countian living in Atlanta. Stephanie Macchia at the museum called to tell me that she had found a letter dated June 10, 1913, from Russell Cofer. Stephanie was surprised when I said that I remembered him. I didn't know him in 1913, but growing up in Washington-Wilkes I knew Mr. Russ when he worked at the A&P Food Store and when he lived on South Jefferson Street, between what is now the home of Bobbie Sue and Lloyd Johnson and the present Wilkes Telephone and Electric building. He had a daughter named Mary Claire who was a very good friend of the late Olive Boline Wills. . . . In the letter, Mr. Russ tells his friend that they closed the store early that day because freezing rain, sleet, and snow were forecast for the evening. He said he had built a nice fireand was anticipating the next day which would be a fineday for tracking rabbits. . . . Stephanie and I are wondering if it actually did sleet and snow that day and we're working on finding out. . . . "Chief Meteorologist" Mark Waters is also working on the project.

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Thank you to all of you who tell me interesting things for this column. It makes my writing easier and the column more interesting to readers. . . . I already have several good things for next week and am looking forward to getting it all together.

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