It's that time of year when we start talking about the various awards which are given out in our community. You're recall the highly-touted, much-coveted Father of the Year Award was retired after Joe Stillman claimed the prize for three years in a row.

There's been some talk about reviving that award from the anonymous group which did the conveying. I believe their thinking is to come up with a FOTY II, a sequel if you will that will allow Joe to keep permanent possession of his prize and at the same time recognize those dads out there still, making a difference every day.

The bar was set pretty high by Joe. This is the guy who took all three of his kids deer hunting and passed up shots himself so the kids could claim their deer. He then would climb down out of the tree, track the deer down, field dress the thing, haul it out of the woods for them, get the meat butchered, cook the kids a big ol' veal steak and serve it to them. That's a pretty tall order, so the committee will have to start all over when it comes future nominees.

One suggestion I was asked to pass along was that of Lanny Geary.

The committee may be a little reluctant to go with Lanny for FOTY, however.

Lanny is already in the running for Volunteer of the Year for treating the residents of NHC to Christmas music on the center's new piano. No word on whether or not he led the singing as well, but he's certainly capable of that as well.

He's also in the running for Tutor of the Year having served as a math tutor for the high school. He may very well be up for Professor of the Year in 2007 having taken on that role while teaching a class in microbiology. Expect Matt Poole to contend for this honor as well. Matt is going to be teaching a course in business math at the college level.

So the committee begins to look around for likely honorees of its Father of the Year award. If you've got any suggestions I'll be glad to pass them along,

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Back in town

Last week I was at the Daily Statesman office in Dexter when a distinguished looking gentleman came in to start a subscription to the newspaper. I introduced myself and he told me his name. As soon as he did I recognized it as a familiar one.

He told me he was moving back into the area after having been gone for several years. Said he has subscribed to the DDD for years and was now going to subscribe to the Statesman as well.

I told him I knew of a fellow from over around Wardell by that name, "Any chance you're the same person?" I asked.

Indeed he was. Former Congressman Bill Burleson has moved back to the Bootheel after having been gone some 25 years. A little later we'll have a story on what he's been doing for the past 25 years, but wanted to give those of you who remember him a headsup.

When he left this area after having lost to the late Bill Emerson, Burleson moved to Maryland. He did not, however, get out of politics. He has remained active as an elected member of the county council/commission, and the Maryland Democratic Party Central Committee.

The former congressman said he's ready for a third career. When we get a chance to catch up with him in a few days maybe he will tell us what that career's going to be. He looks to be in pretty good shape and was a member of the Maryland State Senior Olympics Commission. I don't know if he was a competitor or just helped organize the games.

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Petty politics

Headlines out of Jefferson City this week have focused on a nominee for the University of Missouri Board of Curators. Fortunately, our local curator's nomination hasn't been the subject of news stories.

The headlines have read,, "Stem cell debate delays Senate vote on curator nominee." Sen. Matt Bartle, a Republican from Lee's Summit, went so far as to filibuster the nomination of Kansas City businessman Warren Erdman. Bartle cast his opposition to the nomination as a stance against embryonic stem cell research. Erdman, a former chief of staff to U.S. Sen. Kit Bond supported the amendment on last November's ballot. Bartle opposed the measure.

That all sounds high and mighty, noble and good on Bartle's part. However, buried down deep in the story is a line which probably tells more of the real story.

"Bartle also criticized Erdman for supporting Bartle's opponent in the 2006 Republican senatorial primary."

Another example of the similar political posturing came out of Washington, D.C. last week.

Rep. Silvestre Reyes, tapped to head the House Intelligence Committee (I know, insert joke here), came out in favor of additional troops going into Iraq to stabilize the region. That was on Dec. 5. When President Bush proposed the same thing a few weeks later, Reyes probably after having been called to the woodshed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi came out in opposition to additional troops.

Petty politics on both sides of the aisle.

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Cabin fever

Some folks think the weather is far too cold to get out and hit that little white ball around the links. Apparently John McClain isn't one of them. John pointed out last week that if a fellow were to hit a ball on that frozen ground it would "roll forever."

Then again I don't know if John was speaking from experience or perhaps someone has just told him how far the ball will go on frozen ground. He looks way too smart to be out there in freezing weather.

Some folks needing a golf fix in a bad way will do just about anything to keep thinking about the game. George and Betty Byers couldn't play golf last Friday so they went out and cleaned up their golf cart and the shed its stored in. They might be able to get a nice little sideline business going if they're really interested in that line of work.