Hello Everyone – Hope you had a wonderful week!

Our sympathies go out to the Jack Isbell, Bryant, Hambright and Strathers families who recently suffered tragedies.  Mary’s brother, Tim and wife Rita (Hambright), lost their 8-year-old grandson, Shane Strathers, in a car accident.  Gerrod Strathers, the boy’s father, was seriously injured and remains in a Birmingham hospital in critical condition.  The accident happened in Montgomery as the family was returning from a family vacation.  Shane’s mother, Kristy, and her 7-year-old sister, Addy Bryant were only slightly injured.  As their car was entering Montgomery, one of their tires blew and the car turned over.  The Strathers are residents of Trussville where Gerrod is a Trussville fireman and a Kimberly police officer.  Kristy is a 911 operator with the City of Pell City.  The Mayor of Kimberly announced on television today that a fund has been set up to help the family with expenses.  Two days later, Jack’s niece was killed in an auto accident in Texas.  The Isbell’s drove to Texas to attend the funeral.  Please remember these families in your thoughts and prayers.

Mrs. Vera Bowman will be honored with a birthday party on Saturday, August 20th, at the Pell City Center.  The party will begin at 1:00 PM.  Mrs. Bowman is turning 80 years old and this is her first birthday party.  It was her wish to have an 80th birthday party.  Mrs. Bowman is the widow of Troy Bowman, a lifetime logger.  She was a stay-at-home mom who loved to sew and crochet.  Her children are Wanda Bullard, Dennis Bowman, Doyle Bowman, Danny Bowman and the late Johnny Bowman.  Daughter Wanda invites all of her friends and relatives to come and bring a covered dish.

As you go inside the City Hall to pay your water bill, please take notice of the lovely quilts displayed on the back wall.  These are the handiwork of clerk, Tracy (Mitchell) Smith.  Mrs. Smith says she enjoys quilting and sewing.  For her, it is a great stress reliever.  A quilt usually hangs in the water department about a month, and then is changed out with a different one.  I really enjoy seeing the beautiful “pieces of art” hanging on the wall.  The quilt hanging this month is an unusual piece of art and was made by Tracy’s friend, Faye Smith, and given to Tracy as a gift.  Tracy and her husband, Tim, and children Krystin and Thomas are Eden residents.  Tracy has worked at the water department for two years.

Some folks having birthdays recently are Charles Smith, Chastity Capps, Larry Bowman, Carolyn Hall, Marie Goodwin, Laura Campbell and Brenda Lee.  Happy birthday to these and to any not mentioned.

Congratulations to Larry and Judy Braden, Michael and Renae Barber, Kevin and Mickey Ferguson on their recent wedding anniversaries.

Did you know?

Disneyland had its opening day in Anaheim, California on July 17, 1955.

August 8, 1922: Hattie Hooker Wilkins of Selma becomes the first woman to win a seat in the Alabama legislature.

August 12, 1959: An earthquake centered in Huntsville, and felt over a 25-mile radius, causes minor damage.

On August 13, 1961 – The Berlin Wall came into existence after the East German government closed the border between east and west sectors of Berlin with barbed wire to discourage emigration to the West.  The barbed wire was replaced by a 12 foot-high concrete wall eventually extending 103 miles (166 km) around the perimeter of West Berlin.  The wall included electrified fences, fortifications, and guard posts.  Presidents Kennedy and Reagan made notable appearances at the wall accompanied by speeches denouncing Communism.  The wall was finally opened by an East German governmental decree in November 1989 and torn down by the end of 1990.

August 14, 1935 – President Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act establishing the system, which guarantees pensions to those who retire at age 65.

August 15, 1841:  Julia Tutwiler was born in Tuscaloosa.  Tutwiler, president of what later became the University of West Alabama, worked to secure the admittance of women to the University of Alabama, to reform Alabama’s prisons, and to expand educational opportunities for women.

August 16, 1977 – Elvis Presley was pronounced dead at the Memphis Baptist Hospital at 3:30 PM at age 42.

August 17, 1909:  With a unanimous vote by the legislature, Alabama becomes the first state to ratify the 16th amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  When the amendment went into effect on February 25, 1913, it gave Congress the power to collect income taxes.

Remember, please buy “Made in the USA” whenever you can.  If every American spent just $64 more than normal on USA made items this year, it would create something like 200,000 new jobs!  Simply look on the bottom of every product you buy, and if it doesn’t say made somewhere in the USA, try to find one that does.  Especially don’t buy it if it says “Made in China” or “PRC” (and that now includes Hong Kong).  You will be amazed at how dependent you are on Chinese products, and you will be equally amazed at what you can do without.  The Chinese, knowingly and intentionally, export inferior and even toxic products and dangerous toys and goods to be sold in American markets.  One person stated that she was buying food the other day at Wal-Mart and on the label of some products it said, “From China”.  She checked her regular brand of mandarin oranges and it stated “From China”.  For a few more cents she bought the Dole brand, which was from California – better for us and the country.  Give it a try and see if you can’t find the food you like that is “From USA”.

Great burn tip from my friend, Laurie Tipton.  A young man using pesticides wanted to check the contents of the barrel to see how much pesticide remained in it.  He raised the cover and lit his lighter; the vapors inflamed and engulfed him.  He jumped from this truck, screaming.  His neighbor came out of her house with a dozen eggs, yelling: “bring me some eggs!”  She broke them, separating the whites from the yolks.  The neighbor woman helped her to apply the whites on the young man’s face.  When the ambulance arrived and when the EMTs saw the young man, they asked who had done this.  Everyone pointed to the lady in charge.  They congratulated her and said: “Young have saved his face.”  By the end of the summer, the young man brought the lady a bouquet or roses to thank her.  His face was like a baby’s skin.  The treatment of burns was included in teaching first aid to beginner fireman.  First spray cold water on the affected area until the heat is reduced and stops burning the layers of skin.  Then, spread egg whites on the affected area, allowing it to dry to form a protective barrier.  Egg whites are natural collagen and full of vitamins to help heal the skin quickly.

Call me at 338-7746 with your news and gatherings.  I’d love to hear from you.  Have a blessed week.