Established in 1937, the Randolph County Public Library is busier today than ever. Under the direction of Brenda Davis, the library offers so much more than books for people to check out and read. They offer all kinds of materials to read, resources to help the public and events and activities for patrons to enjoy.
Who doesn’t enjoy receiving a fresh bouquet of flowers on a special occasion? Flowers traditionally are given for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, anniversaries, and other special events. While a beautiful bouquet can make a lovely gift, fresh flowers have finite lasting power.
February 14 may be just Valentine’s Day to some people, but to Kevin and Carrie Barnes of Pocahontas, it is the day their lives changed forever by two simple words; I do. “We met in 2013 at his old sign shop,” said Carrie, “I was having some things done to my son’s truck.” Kevin recalls the day quite well and laughs when he says the two didn’t really click when they first met.
Keiko Chutaro Love means someone is always there for you. Harper Emmons Love means you really like someone or something and you trust them.
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler was the first African American woman to become a physician in the United States. Dr. Crumpler studied at the New England Female Medical College in Boston and was awarded a degree in medicine in 1864. The school accepted its first class of 12 women in 1850, making it a pioneer in furthering the medical careers of females. Dr. Crumpler would be the school’s only African American graduate, as the college closed its doors in 1873. To put Dr. Crumpler’s accomplishment into perspective, by 1860, statistics indicate there were only 300 female physicians in the country. Dr. Crumpler joined Dr. James McCune Smith, who earned his medical degree in 1837 to become the first male African American doctor in the United States.
“One killed; two injured, thousands of dollars loss in city’s worst blast” (The following article appeared in the February 26, 1948 issue of the Star Herald). One person killed instantly, one critically injured; and another less seriously injured.
If it’s too cold and uncomfortable outdoors for you, the owner, it’s probably too cold for your dog too. Varying factors such as breed, age, coat length, overall health and activity levels should be considered, but when the wind starts blowing and sleet and freezing rain start falling, it’s time to bring your dog indoors. In fact, it’s probably past time!
MIKE: I didn’t know a group of cats is called a clowder. ME: Did you know a group of zebra is a dazzle? MIKE: No ME: Did you know a group of crows is a murder? MIKE: No.
It was a Valentines weekend get away, another couple and us, sweethearts still young enough, well still young enough! It had been a long day, and then a long drive to Branson, I wasn’t feeling so good when we got there. We had rooms rented at The Victorian Hotel it had been real nice, as we entered there was a sweeping staircase up to the second story, a Baby Grand Piano off to the right side and a beautiful Chandelier (just in case, there was any swinging to be done) hung from the second story ceiling. We got rooms with Romeo and Juliet balconies, just big enough for two, oh where for art thou my Romeo! We were up on the third floor, and soon all settled in, we’d all met back in the lobby. Hungry we went out to have a lovely Valentine Dinner with talk of sweet days gone by, these guys could after all be romantic! We had enjoyed all the sight seeing and lights and we were soon back to the hotel, and off to our rooms, but not before they said I felt warm and they could feel me shaking when they laid their hands on my arm, overly tired was my self diagnosis, nothing sleep wouldn’t cure, for there had been a big day full of fun planned for tomorrow! I chose my side of the bed and then My Valentine’s big surprise had been slipped into the bedside table drawer, while Red was gone to the bathroom. We literately fell into bed, he asked me how I was feeling, then took my hand, for we had always held hands going to sleep each night (which lasted for many years and still) his head would scarcely hit the pillow before he was fast asleep, asleep and snoring! In earlier days I would beg him to let me go to sleep before him, because with his snoring, for me sleep became a hard place to drift off too. When the snoring began in earnest, it was safe to proceed with his special surprise, quietly I slipped them from the drawer, opening the plastic bag I quickly sprinkled the whole contents across Red, me and the bed, barley able to hold in the laughter choking it back. Then with visions of what Red would think floating through my mind I finally drifted off to sleep. Sometime in the wee hours, Red awoke and he said he laid his hand on my thigh, feeling something he’d ran his hand down the length of my leg, knowing that I hadn’t felt good, he just knew I had broke out with something all over, now at this point I am still dead to the world, YET! Quickly he’d jumped out of bed throwing the covers back and ran to turn on the light, I am awake now! What are you doing you crazy thing you, I ask looking at him through bleary eyes? I just reached over and touched your leg and thought you were all broke out with something, bewildered his eyes now spirals sees all those hearts, confetti hearts in three sizes in shades of reds and pinks even. Happy Valentines Day I tell him, he stands there a few minutes taking the whole thing in, then leaves a happy trail of red and pink hearts all the way into the bathroom! I collapsed back into sleep, morning came way too early for sure, there were hearts sparkling in the sunlight where the sun had crept into our room, to be sure I am a cheap date, I admit it, I love glitter always have, always will! So we get up and take a good look at each other we were broke out in confetti hearts real bad. There was confetti here confetti there confetti in the chair. Confetti, in our hair confetti everywhere, confetti where it is not meant to be. Confetti where we could not reach ourselves! That confetti most definitely had multiplied in the night, we laughed like crazy just looking at us! OK Glitter I knew, confetti well it’s a totally different thing, let me tell you one true thing about confetti it sticks like glue, it embeds in your skin a bit, you can’t just brush if off! We never did quit smiling that morning! Just Like Ticks they had to be picked off one by one! In our case we pulled and picked hearts off of each other! So there we were two grown human beings standing in the middle of a hotel room looking a bit like monkeys, no longer able to keep a straight face, we were at each others mercy, we begin grooming one another, very soon we were laughing out of control even, like idiots if you will. It was a very intense time. Finally each of us we were totally de-hearted, well save for the ones that were beating inside us. Our thoughts then turned to the room strewn with hearts. Umm are they going to bill us with an extra cleaning fee, will the bathtub still drain tomorrow? Oh, my heavenly day, what on earth will the maid think? Just wish that I had taken a picture of it all. In hindsight we should have scooped up a handful of those hearts as souvenirs! Red wasted no time at breakfast, telling this story to our friends. Seemed everyone in ear shot, wore a jealous smile. Happy Valentine Day Y’all!
The movie quote is “It’s not gambling if you know you’re going to win.” Sadly, it’s not that simple but we can still look for similarities and differences to better understand both sides. What makes one opportunity a foolish gamble and another a wise investment? Many times, the separating the two is ever so thin. Is one inherently good and the other inherently bad? Are they both matters of personal preference? Let’s find out.