Today's Feature

Detective Williams to Retire.

Carthage Police Department Detective LaVerne Williams will be retiring on December 31, 2008 after 31 years of service to the City as a police officer and detective.

In a news release announcing the retirement, Captain Randee Kaiser said the following of Williams;

"...There are few people in our community that have had more of a positive impact on its citizens, especially the children."

Detective LaVerne Williams is responsible for establishing the annual Underprivileged Children’s Christmas Party 30 years ago. The party is made possible through the donations from the community, and serves more than 600 underprivileged children. This year’s party will be on December 20 at 10:00 a.m. in Memorial Hall.

Williams is also responsible for the school Halloween coloring contest which includes participation from every elementary school child in the City of Carthage. The contest was started 22 years ago.

Through the Child ID project, Detective Williams has volunteered hundreds of hours fingerprinting children throughout the City, and has also volunteered time top help put on bicycle rodeos for children.

Captain Kaiser said that in addition to these projects Williams has also had an outstanding career as a detective, having focused primarily on juveniles.

"He has become a resource for parents to call when they have concerns about their troubled kids," said Kaiser. "He has always gone above and beyond to lend an ear, or offer some advice to parents through the years, and has helped countless children in a variety of ways.

"I can not stress enough how much our community has benefitted from his hard work and dedication."

A retirement party for Detective Williams will be held on December 31 at 2:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 326 Grant Street.

Mornin'
When my mom got really upset with somebody, she sometimes said that she’d like ta really rub their nose in it.

Now you’d figure "it" to be the mistake somebody had made or a truth that had finally come out. You’d figure it was that, unless ya saw the hand gestures that went along with the tone a voice she used when she said it.

Now, there weren’t any obscene gestures or anything as crude as that. She’d make a motion like she had a young pup by the back of the neck, firmly showin’ the dog the meanin’ of bein’ housebroke.

Ever’one in the family was well aware that we never wanted to have our noses rubbed in it, even if it was for our own good. ‘Specially if it was Mom doin’ the rubbin’.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Some will consciously pass up the carrot tray on the Christmas buffet. Some might be so bold as to say that carrots don’t even deserve a place at the table! Why would we want to eat carrots when we can have an extra dose of gravy? Who then could even think that carrots could be a treasure at the feast of the season?

In defense of the carrot it really isn’t even rabbit food as some see it. Wild rabbits, which may come to surprise Bugs Bunny fans, don’t even eat carrots. Did you know that one pound of carrots gives a normal man enough energy to raise 64 tons 1 foot in the air? And three carrots gives you enough energy to walk three miles? Not that these points of trivia will be impressive enough to convert those who prefer to reach past the carrot tray for the gravy spoon and then stretch out on the couch for a long festive nap.

We really must give the carrot some credit. After all, it is famous for adorning the face of every classic snowman this time of year. Furthermore, according to French popular wisdom, eating carrots makes people nice. And there must be some serious enthusiasts to warrant The Annual Carrot Festival in Holtville, California! All this and more from the innocent orange stick that contains a goldmine of nutrients such as calcium, glutathione, copper, iron, sulphur, phosphorous, magnesium, potassium, Vitamins A, B1, B2, C and E. So go ahead and enjoy your gravy, but please pass me the carrots!

Yours in good health…Naturally,

Leesa I. Robinson, NHP

artCentral
Art Notes from Hyde House
By Sally Armstrong, Director of artCentral

The great Christmas exhibition of paintings by Charleston artist Glenda Manche is completed, and we thank all those who visited during this show and especially those who made purchases!

Altogether, seven framed and several unframed paintings were sold. Tuesday I moved a nice group of the holiday themes pieces to our Atrium Gallery at the Sirloin Stockade for other members of the public to enjoy for the remainder of the holiday season, so if you missed seeing Glenda’s things at the gallery, take a look at the work at the Atrium. All hanging there are originals, and I think very attractively priced if you are in need of a last minute Christmas gift! I want to also thank Patricia Moline for the nice paintings that she allowed us to hang in the Atrium during November until now. Now that the gallery is closed officially for 2008, there remains the end of the year chores, cleaning of the gallery, book work, and taxes (ugh!), and attention to next year’s calendar and schedule. Most importantly will be the beginning of the annual Membership Campaign for 2009, so please expect to hear from us if you are not currently an active member of artCentral. Every year we try to reach additional patrons for membership, and retain those who are already on our roster, and both of these endeavors present challenges. I trust you members will grace us with your renewals this new year. When your letter arrives in the month of your renewal coming due, please remember that it is only through the generosity of our members’ dues that we can continue to operate. I thank each of you members in advance for the gift of membership during this year of 2008, and hope that it will be extended to us in 2009. A very Merry Christmas to all of you, and a Happy New Year in behalf of the artCentral board and all of us at Hyde House Gallery!