Features

The winter of ’54 was very cold and blustery in Southington, Conn.  We were nearly buried in snow.   Sliding (sledding) and ice skating were nearly impossible, and the town’s children didn‘t get to play much that particular winter.  I was a wee lad of 13.

 The town of Southington owned and operated the “Town Farm,” a place for homeless old men who could get room and board free if they did work on an actual, small farm next to the square, brick building that housed them.

By MIKAILA WHITE

First Place Winner

It was a cold and stary night. The moon sat high and full in the sky. I was walking through a cornfield when suddenly I ran into a scarecrow. It had very big spooky eyes and  a nose like Shrek.

Watching the movie “Annapolis” a second time a few nights ago reminded me of what I believe is a fundamental truth one must digest in order to find hope, happiness and thanksgiving in one’s life.

Jake Huard, the main character in the movie, is a young man recently out of high school and working at a shipyard in Baltimore.  He receives an appointment to Annapolis, the naval academy, shortly after the academic year had begun because others in their first year there had just dropped out.

Paul and Connie McLendon of Quincy and Tom and Vicki Hayford of Bonifay are pleased to announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of their children, Carrie Marie McLendon and Harold Jason Hayford.

The wedding is set for Dec. 19 at 4 p.m. at the home of Earl and Faye Dawkins. No invitations will be sent and all are invited to attend

The fledgling mentoring  initiative in the Gadsden County School District is off and running – but more mentors are needed.

Originally the brain-child of Erica Starling, director of personnel and staff development for the district, the program began as a way to prevent the more than 300 students at Carter-Parramore Academy from feeling separated from the rest of the district’s students and to enable them to return to their own schools and be academically successful.

The Gadsden County Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the grand opening of the new El Potrillo restaurant located at 1951 West Jefferson St. in Quincy (just before Chevrolet Buick of Quincy on Highway 90).

The chamber and El Potrillo will host a ribbon cutting ceremony Nov. 20 at 4 p.m.  Area residents and businesses are invited to attend the celebration and get a head start on enjoying their weekend. A local band, Mariachi Jaliscience, will be on hand to play favorites such as “Cielito Lindo” and “La Bamba.”

In 1943, fresh out of New Orleans, Clarence Morgan joined the Navy. He wanted to become a sailor and see the world, he said, sitting in a comfortable chair in the St. Hebron Community home that he shares with his wife, Bobbie.

"When you talk to him you have to speak a little loud because he's hard of hearing. It happened because of the explosion," she explained.

"Let me tell you at the start, I'm no hero and I don't have any big war stories to tell. I was just a sailor but I'll share with you what I remember," said 89-year-old Morgan.

Wyoma Durden of Sneads is proud to announce the engagement and forthcoming marriage of her daughter, Brandee Yon. Yon's children, Autumn, Shane and Peyton Yon, are also pleased to announce the nuptials.

Yon will wed Brian Godwin of Quincy Nov. 20 at the Gadsden County Courthouse at 1 p.m. The ceremony will be followed by a reception at the home of the groom's parents in Quincy.

The bride-elect is the granddaughter of the late Hinton Hatcher and Jeannette Barber of Chattahoochee, and is employed at Florida State Hospital.

Why is it so difficult for a veteran, proud of his service to his country, in good physical and mental condition, and able to fit into his up-to-date, authorized uniform, to find a Veterans Day parade to march in?

In the past I have actually shown up for a parade in uniform and early enough to be given a spot somewhere in the parade to march and ended up watching as a spectator.  I have felt embarrassed and like I was a military hero wanna-be.