Cheerleaders selling DHS shirts

Betty Hayes

Published Friday, August 29, 2008

I hope most of you remembered to vote in our local election two days ago. I also hope your candidates won! Regardless, we must get behind our elected officials and give them support and cooperation. Remember, success takes an entire village. One of my favorite scriptures is Proverbs 28:2, “When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily; but with honest, sensible leaders there is stability.”

DHS News: The Beauty Ball is TOMORROW AND SATURDAY NIGHTS, August 29 (10th, 11th, & 12th grades) and August 30 (7th, 8th & 9th grades) at 5:00 p.m. in the auditorium. Admission is only $5. There will be lots of parents and grandparents in the audience with cameras, I’m sure. Winners will be announced next week.

The Gingko Manor on Columbus Street is gaining momentum. Several groups have held events there, and the word is spreading around town and beyond. This beautiful antebellum house has all the amenities needed for memorable and fun times. Owner Cheryl Haggery is to be commended on the amount of gorgeous renovation and decoration she has achieved, with the help of Carol Tarpley and other talented friends.

A class reunion for the DHS Class of 1958 was held at the manor on August 9th with about forty in attendance. The class President, Bill Ponder, says there were 36 in the graduating class and most of them were at the reunion, with a few spouses.They had a wonderful evening, eating, drinking and walking down memory lane. The filet mignons prepared by Laeman Butcher “melted in your mouth” and the evening was a total success.

Another successful event at Gingko Manor was the wedding of our own Rebekah Davis to Jonathan Baker on August 23. Reverend Brian Wyatt performed the ceremony, and even the rainy weather couldn’t dampen the spirits of this young couple, their families and friends. There were about 150 people at the wedding, according to the bride’s mother, Danette Davis. Rebekah and Jonathan actually dated for eight years before getting married. Isn’t that most unusual and sweet? They were high school sweethearts at DHS who must be soulmates, and now they’re roommates! They will be living at Fort Stewart, Savannah, GA, while Jonathan serves in the Army. My blessings to you both, another of my favorite DHS Key Clubbers from years past.

If you have a special event coming up, please contact Cheryl Haggerty at 825-4532 and arrange for a tour of the Gingko Manor. It’s the perfect place for you and your group, believe me.

The music played by our DHS Sound of Gold Band last Thursday was terrific! This was at the “Meet the Tigers” pep rally and the music was by the Beach Boys. Our new band director, Mr. Chapel McCullough, is doing a great job with the SOG and the band members and their parents really like him a lot. That’s good. I’ll stop by to meet this young man one of these days.

Congratulations to the newly selected senior couple nominated by the teachers, and chosen as the winners by the student body. They are “Miss DHS”, Cynteria Jones, and “Mr. DHS” Andy Clark. It is an honor to be nominated by the faculty for this award, and I want to name the OTHER girls and boys included in the nomination. Girls: Alli Bullard, Lindy Jennings, Alaina Thweatt, Brandi Ray and Darciss Crouch. Boys: Will Coker, Will Gulledge, Corderius Shealey, Chris Kizziah, and Jordan Moran. Congratulations to all of you! Being nominated by your teachers for this honor is great and you’re all winners in my book!

DHS T-shirts are still being sold to support the DHS Cheerleader program at Lil Lambs & Ivy (telephone 825-9415). Just $12 each, all sizes, black and gold of course, with football schedule on the backs. Stop by and get some shirts. Peggy Bullard is juggling a dozen or more fundraisers to help the school and other organizations, AND SHE’S ALWAYS HAPPY TO GREET CUSTOMERS!

DHS Majorettes are still selling drawstring bags for $12.00. Colors are lime green, orange, navy blue, pink, black and purple. You can carry books, makeup, cell phones and whatever in them!

Last week’s Kiwanis speakers, brought by R.N. Vickie Lux, were two Medical Doctors from Russell Medical Center: Dr. Christopher Jahraus and Dr. Terry Murphy. Dr. Jahraus is an Oncologist, while Dr. Murphy is a Hemotologist. Both are part of the Cancer Center at Russell Medical Center and both were excellent, skilled speakers. It was impressive to hear about their latest technologies for cancer treatment. Aren’t we fortunate indeed to have a center of this quality, staffed with the best, in our vicinity? I pray most of us don’t need to become patients there, but many of you have probably been exposed to the cancer center within your family and/or friends.

Today’s speaker at Kiwanis, invited by program host Phil Evers is Ms. Maiben Beard, Director of Auburn University’s Center for Arts and Humanities. Should be a most interesting program and we’d love to have you join us! If you can, call me ASAP at 750-0883 or 825-5555. Thanks.

Repeat News: Don and Nancy Carlisle have moved to Springville, Alabama to be closer to their children. FYI:Their new address is 127 Vickie Drive, Springville, AL 35146. When last week’s column was “jumped” from one page to another within the D’ville Record, part of this address was lost. Sorry.

Ms. Mary Rose Prather has moved again. Her new address is: Gardens @ Calvary; 7595 Moon Rd., Room 220, Columbus, GA 31909. Her telephone is 706-323-0614. I’m sure she would love to hear from her friends.

More Repeat News: On Saturday, September 13, from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. A day of teaching, music, worship and fellowship will be held at the First United Methodist Church (the Arbor) in Alex City. Tickets are required, but admission is free. This event is called “Extraordinary Women 2008” and sounds wonderful. The flyer lists the names of the teachers: Karen Kingsbury, Thelma Wells, Carol Kent and Angela Thomas, as well as musicians Charles Billingsley and Richie McDonald. For more information, call the church at 234-6322.

Spending last Sunday morning at the Methodist Church was quite enjoyable. Another “packed house”, so our new pastor, Baxter Chism, seems to be filling up the church nicely. His sermon was “In the Name of Jesus”, which drew several “Amens” from us. The highlight of the service for me was seeing some of my dearest former DHS Key Clubbers back for a visit, the Reed daughters of Barry & Tamar Reed, Anna and Emily. I enjoyed the hugs and camaraderie very much. Emily is back in college to get her R.N. degree and Anna is happily married (with a child) to the very handsome young man sitting beside her. Anna surprised us with a beautiful solo titled “I am.” I haven’t heard her sweet singing voice in a few years and enjoyed it a lot. This is one musical family, folks!

Upcoming events at BRHS in Alex City are performances scheduled by the Alex City Arts. First show is set for September 18 at 7:30 p.m., called “Three on a String” a trio of musicians who know how to entertain and want to share their good time show. For more information, call Beverly Thomas at 234-9922.

Upcoming events in Sylacauga: The Brown Bag Series at B.B. Comer Memorial Library will resume with eight programs beginning each Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. for light refreshments (or bring your own) and programs follow at noon. Working people are encouraged to come by on their lunch breaks to enjoy the lectures. All programs are FREE and open to the public. Put the first one on your calendars: September 10, a lecture of “Long Live the King: The rags to riches story of Elvis Presley” presented by Chris Phillips, The Director of Worship and Arts, Methodist Church in Sylacauga. Should be an interesting presentation, especially for fans of the King. I will describe each of the series just before it occurs. For more information, call the library at 256-249-0961.

Important help needed: The Tallapoosee Historical Society desperately needs two filing cabinets! They don’t have to be beautiful, just functional. President Charles Farrow asks if anyone has two cabinets they’re not using, could the historical society have them? We have lots of important historical information to store and keep safe. If your answer is YES, please call Bill Ponder at 825-4492. Thanks.

Keep our military personnel and their families in your prayers continuously. They have volunteered to protect our freedom and are doing so willingly, even if it means losing their lives. Continue to pray for our political candidates and pray that the winner will be the best one to lead us into the 21st century. (The terrorists are watching closely.)

Thought for Today: Why did Kamikaze pilots wear helmets?

See y’all next week!