To us at the Journal-Record, every issue is special. We work hard to bring you community news, feature stories, good photos, sports coverages, and provide an avenue for advertising for businesses, as well as event publicity for area interests.
Yet, sometimes, there are issues that are even more special than usual. And this edition is one of those extra special publications. There are multiple reasons why.
One reason is because this issue holds our softball and baseball special section. Everyone here in the office contributed greatly to this project, especially P.J., our boss; Luke, our sports editor; and Erin, our ad manager.
This special section would not have been possible without all the businesses, city governments and other advertisers who helped sponsor the cost of extra pages to print the information and photos on.
I hope all our athletes and their parents and families enjoy this issue and treasure it as the keepsake it is. Please take note of the sponsors and let them know you appreciate their help, if you can.
We also had a lot of help behind the scenes with coaches and school staff--thank you all, as well.
I’m delighted to see many baseball and softball team members whose parents played sports against my own son many, many years ago, or who I knew when they were “knee-high to a grasshopper.”
Another reason this issue is special is because we were finally able to publish our veteran photos from an event late last year. We weren’t able to get this in before, but in God’s timing, we are able to print this in color, where we wouldn’t have been able to do so previously.
Our veterans are some of the most valuable members of our community, and I’m so glad they can be shown in the red, white and blue colors they deserve. Thank you, dear veterans, for your service. We love you dearly--every single one of you!
We loved visiting with you at this event, hope to see you at more events during the year and look forward to our special veteran section later this year. And if you aren’t already in that section, you can submit your photo and information at any time. Family members of deceased veterans may submit their photos and info, as well.
I’ve made friends with many veterans through events like this one, and also when writing stories about them. Some are nearer and dearer, but they are all beloved to me.
One of my very best friends for about 15 years was World War II Veteran Marvin Cecil Rye and his wife, Virginia. What an honor to have been his friend, to have been able to love him so dearly and to have been loved as a daughter by him in return.
I’m also close to several veterans who reside at County Place Senior Living in Hamilton. I love them and all the residents.
They’re a great crew over there and a joy to be around.
Some other veterans in this issue are our Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association® Chapter 28-4 members who are promoting their Spaghetti Supper on Friday, April 4, from 3-8 p.m.
I know I’ll be there and grab a spaghetti plate to take home. I’ve gone in the past, so I can truly say it’s delicious, and it’s for a great cause. “Veterans helping Veterans” is their motto, and I hope everyone takes advantage of this great opportunity to support them, area veterans and enjoy some fantastic food.
I had fun taking their large group photo to promote the event. I’d also taken a group photo of them before, but this time we had a few more members able to travel to join in the photo shoot.
Firefighters are also in this issue. Although most of the great photos were taken by Hamilton Fire Department Firefighter Bryant Rye, I did get one good photo, too.
Besides veterans, I have a soft spot for firefighters, also. I was actually a firefighter/paramedic WAY back in the day, and it definitely stays in your blood. I thought their temporary training tower looked like a lot of fun, and recalled my days of repelling, although I did not try to replay those times.
Yet, I did do some ladder climbing for a photo in our last issue when I made the panoramic shot of the new track in Hamilton. When I was first asked if I wanted to climb on top of the press box, I replied, “No, I better not.” But I guess the inner child (and inner firefighter) got the best of me.
I felt more alive the rest of that afternoon than I have in months! Maybe sometimes getting out of your comfort zone can be good for you. I know it was for me.
Another story in this issue I’d like to promote a little bit more is the grant writing workshop on April 21. Please read this article and remind anyone you know who could benefit to attend this meeting and get help writing a grant. There are so many schools, non-profits and organizations who could be helped. These grants have been called “easy to write” by previous recipients, and there is money to be had. Go get it!
Also please let any high schoolers and their parents know about the online dual enrollment meeting on April 1. I went to technical college the last year I was in high school, and I would have loved to take advantage of this opportunity! There is so much more being offered now. Why not earn credits for high school AND college at the same time?
There are other great stories in this issue, as well. And there are lots of great events in our “Calendar of Events” section.
There’s a great car show and bike rally coming up this Saturday on the Bevill State campus from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. They’ll even have a special military class award in honor of National Vietnam War Veterans Day, which is March 29. The sponsors are Hope Alive and all proceeds go to their church building fund. They’ll have concessions. Take the family, and check out some of the classic vehicles members of our community work extremely hard to restore and beautify.
There are just so many special people and events in this issue, there’s not room to recognize them all. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a newspaper filled with the children and grandchildren of so many people I’ve known, as well as get to mention Country Place, where the parents and grandparents of so many others I’ve known--as well as a few who’ve touched my own family’s life--reside. I’m just surrounded on all sides by wonderful people.
Marion County is truly a great community to live and work in. We are blessed! Thank you for reading. To God be the glory!
See complete story in the Journal Record.
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