The Herald-gazette. (Barnesville, Ga.) 1981-current, October 15, 2024, Image 4

Georgia Historic Newspapers

The Herald-gazette., October 15, 2024, Image 4

About The Herald-gazette. (Barnesville, Ga.) 1981-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 2024)

Page of 10

Prev Issue Next Issue

Text PDF JP2 (3.0 MB) Clip/Print Image

Page of 10

Prev Issue Next Issue

Return to Top

Newspaper Page Text4A ®jje 1) eralb <©a?ette Tuesday, October 15,2024 Opinions Sean of the South: The unmistakable Otis Campbell SEAN DIETRICH Dogs know stuff. Yes, I know they’re just ani mals. I know their brains are only about the size of tan gerines. But I’m telling you. Take my dog Otis Campbell. 1 don’t often write about him, but 1 should. Because he’s our main dog. Our other dogs are his supporting actors. Otis is the alpha of our family pack, ranking just below my wife. I am ranked somewhere near the rear of the pack. 1 eat supper last. I wish you could see Otis right now. He is half awake, half asleep, sort of standing watch over me. That’s what he does whenever 1 write. He watches me, without moving. And I’ve always wondered how dogs can remain deathly still, watching you, without falling asleep. It reminds me of a guy my father once knew. The man could sit on the front porch without mov ing a muscle for days. The only way you knew he was alive was by his cigarette—it moved oc casionally. Rumor was, the man had been told by doctors to drink spirits to steady his nerves. It worked. Sometimes he got so steady he couldn’t move. That’s who Otis reminds me of. So that’s who we named him after. Otis is a good dog. He has witnessed every random emotional event we’ve ever undergone in this household. He has been present for our entire lives. It’s hard to believe it’s been nearly six years since Otis came to us from an adoption center. We found him when a local pet shelter had a meet-and-greet. The place was a circus. You couldn’t hear what any of the volunteers were saying because of the collective noise. Each kennel had a fanciful poster with the dogs’ name emblazoned in theatrical letters. Some of the puppies were dressed in little costumes to look like lion tamers and tiny Little Bo-Peeps. The volunteers referred to these costumes as “curb appeal.” My wife and 1 split up and zeroed in on dogs we couldn’t live without. My wife selected the sickest and most health- compromised puppy in the room. Meanwhile, 1 had selected a dog with a severe case of diarrhea. Still, none of these dogs turned out to be The One. You’ll know The One when you meet it. There is a soul-mate-dog for every dog lover. In fact, owning a dog is a lot like being married, the only difference being that hus bands don’t get treats for peeing in the backyard. After a full day of loving puppies, we still hadn’t found The One. We were about to leave when, on our way out, we noticed a kennel against the rear wall. Inside the cage was a black-and-white puppy lying with his paws be neath his chin. It was the classic “I’m So Lonesome 1 Could Cry” pose. The volunteer glanced at her clipboard and said, “This puppy doesn’t have a name. They found him wandering the streets of DeLuniak.” He didn’t wag his tail when we came near, he never nuzzled our hands. It was as though he knew nobody wanted him. “Why bother?” he was probably thinking. But when a volunteer opened the kennel door, the rest was history. Otis has been in our family ever since. And I’ll never forget when we arrived home from burying my wife’s mother, one of the first to greet us at the door was Otis. He sprinted straight for my wife. Instinct led them directly to her— somehow he knew she was grieving. Otis show ered my wife with kisses. He gleefully tackled her and wedged his body so tightly against hers that she had no choice but to love him. And when she began to cry, I saw him clean salty tears from her face until she started laughing. It was genuine laughter, too. The first smile I’d seen on her face in weeks. And it was put there by him. I still don’t know how he pulled off such a feat. But I’m telling you, dogs know stuff. Sean Dietrich is a columnist, and novelist, known for his commentary on life in the American South. He has authored seven books. Letters from Home The past is always present here ANN MANN City of Barnesville: Downtown lights The past is always present here. October is a month filled with memories for me. October 13 marks what would have been my beloved husband Kim’s birthday. Just two days later, on October 15, we would have celebrated our 41st wedding anni versary. Kim passed away two years ago, on August 18, 2022, yet even as I try to move forward, the past is always with me. It always will be. But alongside the weight of that past, are the beautiful memories we made. Memories that carry me, that remind me of the love and life we shared, and the love that remains. I reflect often on the beautiful things in my past with Kim, on our shared life, our family, and the many traditions that marked our time to gether. We always loved celebrating Christmas and birthdays. I praise God for all the pictures we took of those pre cious family times. Lor Kim, Auburn football was another tradition, though I’m sure he wouldn’t be thrilled with the season they’re having this year! I grew up rooting for the Univer sity of Alabama. When I married Kim, of course I cheered for his team. But I also followed the Tide, and love watching both teams, even now. (I love watching the Dawgs, too.) And when I pass a “Lor Sale” sign in front of a home, I think about how much he loved helping people find their forever homes. It also reminds me of the friends and family who didn’t give him the chance to help them, something that hurt his feelings deeply. Even so, we pressed on, finding joy in helping those who blessed us with that opportunity. Kim was my partner in both life and ministry. Every church we ever served probably felt sor rier to see him go than me. He was so giving, so kind, always ready to jump in and help wherev er needed. He could sing and play the piano. He joked that his ability to fill in as pianist and play the perfect host made him a great “preacher’s wife.” We would laugh, but it was true. One of his deepest joys was helping the youth at our church in Marietta start a youth praise team. Stepping away from that when we entered full-time min istry was hard for him, but he understood that I couldn’t do what I was called to do without him by my side. Pastoring a church re quires a deep emotional investment, especially when it comes to walk ing with friends in their last days. Kim’s support helped me withstand the emotional strain that comes with pastoral care. When I came home after a tough hospital visit or a difficult day, he was always there with a hug. I miss those hugs. Though remembering our past can be bitter sweet, it is a past I will always treasure. Even now, as I look to the future, I carry it with me, the love, the memories, the lessons. I hold close the moments we shared with our children, Bret- son and Lynde and their partners, and now with our grandson JJ. There is still so much to cherish, so much to look forward to. The scripture that soothes my soul as I remember life with my beloved are these verses from Ecclesiastes 3. “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die... a time to weep and a SEE LETTERS FROM HOME 5A Earlier this year, the City of Barnesville made the difficult decision not to light the trees down town. We were advised to remove the lights from the trees and allow the trees to grow for a year. We plan to get training on the pruning of these trees to allow them to fill out. We wanted the trees to flourish and get a fuller shape so next year the lights would poten tially be more beautiful than before. We know that the people of Barnesville love our Christmas lights. The Lamar County 4-H program has after school opportunities available to students. The new 4-H Bug Club, open to 7th-12th graders, will offer students an oppor tunity to learn some cool things about insects. Stu dents will start an insect collection, be involved in insect photography and design a pollinator garden to attract ben eficial insects. This free club will be led by UGA certified volunteer leader Roy Morris. Information can be found at https:// tinyurl.com/LC4-HBug- Club. The link is open now and will close on Oct. 30 or when the 10 spaces have been filled. The 4-H Canvas Kids Art Club will return with Becky Patterson as the We had meetings over the last few months with different organizations to get ideas to help keep Christmas alive down town this year. We intend to bring back the hanging baskets full of greenery. We are wrapping the poles with lighted garland and plac ing other decorations in the downtown area. We are arranging events throughout the Christ mas season. I had a meeting with the downtown business owners to discuss ideas and how we can work certified leader. There is a $25 fee for this club. The fee includes a youth membership to Lamar Arts and the cost of materials. The club is for students in grades 4-6. Information and registra tion for this club can be found at https://tinyurl. com/4-HCanvasKids. The link will open on Oct. 21 at 5:30 p.m. and will close on Oct. 25 or when the eight spaces have been filled. The 4-H Science Kids Club members will have fun learning about wildlife this year. This free after-school club will be led by certified leader Nicole Brock with fun, educational activities led by 4-H wildlife ambassa dor Lilia Brock. The club is open to 5th and 6th together. They decided to hire a specialist at their expense who would wrap the trees loosely to prevent stifling their growth. This was not request ed by the city. This was the business owner’s decision. So, please thank the downtown business owners for the Christ mas lights this year by visiting our wonderful downtown area. Thank you, TAMMY YORK Acting City Manager grade students. Informa tion and registration be found at: https://tinyurl. com/4-HScienceKids. The link is open now and will close on Oct. 28 or when the 10 spaces have been filled. 4-H Sew Fun is a new club that is open to 4th-8th graders. Kristin Truitt, a certified volun teer, will lead this club. There is a $20 fee. The fee includes the cost of materials. Information and registration for this club can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/4- HSewFunClub. The link will open on Oct. 21 at 5:30 p.m. and will close on Oct. 25 or when the 10 spaces have been filled. For additional informa tion, e-mail ojackson@ uga.edu. LAMAR FLASHBACK Oct. 13-19 10 years ago Longtime local scouting leader Betty Smith Crawford died at her home Oct. 11. She was 88. She led troops of local Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and was a trainer for other scouting leaders. She has also done a stint as a teacher at the old Aldora School. 25 years ago Barnesville was planning three days of activities for Halloween weekend with the main event on Thomaston Street set for Saturday, Oct. 30. Events were planned at the armory, Heritage Inn, Depot and First United Method ist Church. Also on tap was the library’s big book sale. 50 years ago Special prices at the used car and truck sale at Davis-Cooper Ford: 1971 Mercury Comet, 302 HP V8, stick shift with GT package and AM radio: $1495. 1969 Plymouth Roadrunner, V8, automatic transmis sion $1695. 120 years ago It is with great regret that the people of this city learn that Mrs. Helen Perdue, who has been ill for sometime, lies at the point of death at the home of her son, Dr. G.H. Perdue on Thomaston Street and they extend their profoundest sympathy to the family. 24/news; bamesville.com 4-H announces after school programs barnesville.com 770.358.NEWS P.0. Box 220 Publisher Staff SUBSCRIBE DEADLINES 509 Greenwood Street Walter Geiger Nolan George $35 per year in Lamar and sur- The deadline for public notices Barnesville, Ga. 30204 Rachel McDaniel rounding counties; $50 outside is noon Thursdays; news and 770-358-NEWS General Manager Tasha Webster the local area. advertising before noon Fridays. barnesville.com E-mail: news@barnesville.com Missy Ware Includes 24/7 access to barnesville.com Early submission is appreciated.