About Lake Oconee news. (Greensboro, GA) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Dec. 15, 2017)
Friday, December 15, 2017 Lake Oconee News Page A5 Letters to the Editor Letters must be signed and include your full address and phone number for verification; only name and town are printed. Submissions may be edited for content and length. The deadline is 1 p.m. Monday. Send to news@lakeoconeenews.us Jerry was a Dog Fighter Campaign to Eliminate Polio Continues During the 1950s, polio reached epidemic propor tions here in the USA. I’m sure that anyone from that era can recall that the threat was real,or perhaps knew someone who contracted the disease. I’m also sure that there are some in our area who suffered from polio and could tell their stories, if asked. Beginning in 1985, Rotary and its partners have worked tirelesslyto eradicate polio in the world, not just reduce it, but eradicate it. Recently, Rotary announced its Countdown to History Campaign, whose goal is to achieve 36 consecutive months without a case of polio. To date this year, there Rotary C\uh#f GREENE PUTNAM COUNTIES have been only 10 reported new cases. Backin1985, there were 1,000 new cases ofpolio each day. Only one disease has ever been eradicated (smallpox), and polio will be the second. The final push is on, and we can see the end of polio in our lifetime. Informed estimates are that it will take $1.5 billion to finish the job. Commitments of $1.2 billion have already been made, and we are working hard to fill the remaining gap. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt suffered from polio and used Georgia’s famous Warm Springs for treatment. Golfer Jack Nicklaus and actress Mia Farroware among those who have suffered from polio. Please share your per sonal recollection of the polio epidemic in our country. Send to The Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties: 2901 Reynolds Walk Trail, Suite 201, Greensboro, GA 30642. Sharing your experience will help build awareness of polio during our Countdown to History Campaign and may be used in an upcoming pub lication. Join Rotarians from around the world with your support so that no child will ever be crippled by this horri ble disease, no matter where he or she lives. Go to Rotary, org and click on the “donate” button, or contact a local Rotar ian right here in Greene and Putnam Counties. The mothers, fathers and children of the world thank you. Margie Eddy Forbes, Past Rotary District Governor and Polio Plus Champion for Rotary International District 6910, a member of The Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties Stories from Georgia's historical past Residents of Georgia’s Lake Country have apassion for localhistory as evidenced by their support for area museums and attendance at historical presentations. The publication of history books about our region and state, however, now seem fewer and farther between. And I’m afraid this has a lot to do with the overall decline ofthepublishingindustryin general. One of the best research ers in our area was the late Katherine Bowman Walters (1919-1993), a long-time Putnam County High School history teacher who studied under Dr. James C. Bonner at GSCW in Milledgeville. Bonner (1904-1984) taught J Hank Segars Lakelife Associate Editor for many years and was nationallyrecognizedforhis articles andbooks about our state’s compelling history. While teaching and even in retirement, Walters conducted serious research and authored a popular tome entitled “Oconee River: Tales to Tell,” pub lished for the Eatonton- Putnam Historical Society in 1995. Her book is filled with intriguing stories about Native Americans, Revolutionary War partic ipants, the Civil War, the Great Depression and his torical events that affected our region. Similarly, William Rawlings of Sandersville currently writes engaging books that focus on histor ical events in Georgia. This author, a part-time physi cian and sixth-generation resident of Washington County, attended Emory and Johns Hopkins, and holds graduate degrees from Mercer and Tulane. He has traveled to many parts of the world and last spring presented a fasci nating program at the Old School History Museum in Eatontonthatfocusedonhis book with the unusual title of “A Killing On Ring Jaw Bluff: The Great Recession and the Death of Small Town Georgia.” This book is a 1920s story involving two inter twined tales — the crash of Georgia’s cotton economy and an infamous murder that involved a prominent member of the author’s own family. This important era of Georgia’s history can SEE HISTORY » A8 Little Feet I never tire of the patter of little feet, especially at Christmastime. Makes you excited that the season is right around the corner. Little feet bring warmth to the heart, a lift to the spirits, joy to the soul—a constant reminder that we should always try to make little feet happy feet. The first memory was when the children came along, and then it was the grandchildren. I'm a long way from great grandchil dren, but I'll welcome that scene when it comes along. Happy little feet confirm that the holiday season is all about kids. When you wake up early in the morning, start a fire, and enj oy that first cup of coffee, you give thanks for the good that there is in his world. With soft Christmas music in the background and apenetratingfiretodecorate the atmosphere, you forget the troubles reflected in the morning headlines. Then you hear those steps. Little feet on the floor racing to greet you as your heart races, too, overwhelmed with humility as you welcome the little one who is aboutto liven up the household. Little feet always have a bounce to their step. The bumping along of little feet on the floor reminds you that when it comes to enjoying life, nothing is more Loran Smith Columnist important that being in the company ofhappy little ones. Little feet mean that there is energy, love, and laughter about. Little feet bring about heightened feel-good emotions. Little feet cause joyful noises. “Look Gammie, I have a present for you. Do you have one for me?” Later, ‘Will you play with me?” Little feet race to the tree to see what Santa has left. Little feet are the graphic expression of innocence. Those connected to little feet don’t know the world is goingto hell in ahandbasket. Those with little feet thank fully don’t worry about the prime rate, the rise and fall of the stock market or war in the Middle East. Little feet belong to those who believe in Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and the ToothFairy. Littlefeet belong -S-HARMONY CROSSING M ANIMAL HOSPITAL I - 1 Scott Richter, DVM Scott Gibson, DVM Practice Limited To Small Animals 1013 Lake Oconee Pkwy. Suite 102 • Eatonton, GA31024 706-923-1456 to those who speak memo rable words which remain indelible in memory banks (“I wuv you.”). Littlefeet remindyouthat, as their feet grow so shall their awareness of a cynical world out there to confront them—and not always with open arms. There will be rejection, jealousy and envy in all too many cases as they emerge from innocence to reality. Will it be a cruel world for them? Unfortunately, that is thewayitisfortoomanykids. At this time of the year, we should remind ourselves of the benevolent activities in our community and the good people doing good things. Those who do for others, including those with little feet. The Salvation Army. The Food Bank. Churches. Those who have kind words. Those who share. Reality reminds us that there are little feet belonging to chil dren who are abused and in need of tender loving care. Most depressing are the little feet of children who are hungry. Can you imagine a hungry child at Christmas? Regrettably, that is the case in many communities across the world. As you enjoy the forth coming holidays, thinkabout making some little feet happy feet with a generous gift to a local charity, which works to make kids happy. As we get ready for the big holiday, I like to quote a lady named Lillian Katz who said, “Each of us must come to care about everyone else’s children. We must recog nize that the welfare of our children and grandchildren is intimately linked to the welfare of all other people’s children. After all, when one of our children needs lifesaving surgery, someone else’s child will perform it. If one of our children is threatened or harmedby violence, someone else’s child will be responsible for the violent act. The good life for our own children can be secured only ifagoodlifeis also securedfor all other people’s children.” m Mm f s m Pets of the Week BMANE I0CIETV CHARLIE. This sweet little pup is 6 wks. Just weaned from Mom (shown above w/Santa) Lite beige w/cream ears. Pekingese. GORGEOUS, long hair, Tan/Grey, blue eyes, RAPHAEL. Male Ragdoll, 2 yrs. old. Declawed !! MUST be indoor only cat. Sweet as can be. SANTA HAS GATHERED UP ALL OUR DOGS & CATS & WILL HOLD ANY ADOPTIONS FOR PICK UP BY 21st. Please be sure that any adoptions to be given as a gift will be gladly accepted by the receiver. These lives are a lifelong commitment. They deserve to have a loving forever home. Have a safe, happy holiday season. Don't forget the pets that are outside. Give them a warm, dry place with food & water during these cold nights. It was the greatest job any college freshman could hope to have. In 1983, shortly after starting classes atthe University of Georgia, I landed a job working at Green Hills Country Club making $5 per hour flip ping burgers and renting golf carts. And a country it was. Located in the sticks, near the muddybanks ofthe Oconee river and close to the Clarke/Oconee/Oglethorpe county lines, Green Hills was a non-irrigated, nine hole, bermuda and dande lion sodded golf resort desti nation for the working man. It's small membership was a consortium of plumbers, well diggers, security offi cers, insurance salesmen, college professors and the like who all wanted an affordable place to wager, drink and have a few laughs while chasing a little white ball with a stick. They did not have to ask me twice if I wanted the job. Onceonthejob,Jerrywas one of the first members I met. Kind of short and a little round, he was always wearing glasses and a golf cap. He mumbled a bit, yet was one of the funniest guys I had ever met. Jerry was retired from some state job and was enjoying every minute of it. He and a bunch of other retirees and semi-retirees met every morning at 8 a.m. for their standing tee time. About a dozen of them in all, they called themselves the Dog Fighters. Jerry was their ringleader. Every weekday morning they would grab a cup of coffee and go straight to the first hole. An hour and half later they would start making it back to the clubhouse for a quick bite or bathroom break after completing the first nine. Getting back on the course as quickly as possible, they would play the same nine holes again and be done by noon. It was like watching the Daytona 500 of golf. Upon completion of the round, they would then proceed to the parking lot to settle up and have a few drinks. They all would gather at the open lift gate of Jerry's Toyota Corolla station wagon. Itwas always parked right next to the clubhouse and Jerry kept a well stocked bar in it. On weekdays, they would be done by 4:30 p.m. On week ends they would play until they had to use a cigarette lighter to figure which golf ball belonged to who in the dark. It was a spring morning during start of the Member - Guest Tournament, when an obnoxious fellow from Ohiocamethroughthedoor running his mouth about everything he saw. "What kind of grass is that?" "In Dayton, we use electric carts - cheaper to maintain.” "Is this the clubhouse? Is doesn't look like a clubhouse" on and Mark Smith Jr. General Manager on. He paid me his green fee and cart rental and was paired with a group of Dog Fighters. There was a wel come silence as they all left the clubhouse and headed downtothenumberonetee. This was short lived. Five minutes later the fellow from Ohio came running back up to the clubhouse. He burst into the doorandshouted "Someone call the cops, that guy just attacked me!" He was holding his groin, his glasses were all jacked up and he was bleeding from the bridge of his nose. "That guy, Carroll, he punched in the face and kneed me in the [colloquial word mean ing testicles]!" He wanted his money back, which I refunded and the guy left for the parking lot. "He is crazy, someone needs to call the cops on that guy," he said going out the door. Carroll was one of the regu lar Dog Fighters and it was well known he had a short temper. When Jerry's group came up the fairway from playing the front nine, I went out to tell Jerry about what had happened. He had already heard about it. He laughed a little bit and said, "That guy was a real jackass, he wouldn't shut his mouth while folks were teeing off. If Carroll didn't beat his [colloquial wordfor posterior], I was going to.” They did not call them Dog Fighters for nothing. Jerry was always there at opening time, he even had his own key to the gate. He used white golf tees exclu sively. He knew which carts ran the fastest and always made sure I had the coffee ready when the rest of the guys got there. Being a small time operation, Jerry even filled in as the club manager (gratis) duringthe many times Green Hills was between managers. It was Jerry who showed me the lion on a pack of Camels. Everybody loved Jerry, yet no one (including Jerry) knew why they called him Jerry, when his real name was George. A couple of years went by, and I had not been fired. I outlasted three differ ent managers. Manager number four was intro duced to us as Mike Merola. Mike was retired educator and coach from New Jersey. He also played defensive end for the University of SEE JERRY » A8 Restore Putnam County Habitat For Humanity We need your donations! Call for more information about pickups. • Washers/Dryers • End Tables • Mirrors Sofas / Furniture • Chairs • Dishes Thursday and Friday 10:00am to 4:00 pm Saturday 10:00 am to 3:30 pm aaj . s(\r\ 1027 Lake Oconee Pkwy., Eatonton, Georgia 31024 (across from Goodwill)
