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Those who attended the Chamber of Commerce banquet last Monday evening were home before the evening news came on television. When a speaker from the capitol city couldn't make it to the meeting last year it was discovered we got along just fine without an after dinner speech.
Our local president and retiring president, Darren Harris and Johnny Dalton, respectively, proved they could entertain us just fine. The addition of formally recognizing the Educator of the Year at this meeting appears to be another fine idea.
Jan McElwrath, who oversees things at the chamber said the board thought this format would work very well and invite a speaker in when the opportunity to make it a special evening was there.
Those who have been attending these things for a few years will recall some of our past speakers of note; including late Gov. Mel Carnahan who chose Kennett as the first chamber of commerce he addressed following his election. The state chamber of commerce had endorsed his opponent in the election and Carnahan wanted to make a point. When Gov. Matt Blunt was elected, he continued the tradition of a newly elected governor speaking in Kennett for his first chamber event.
Along the way we have also had Sheryl Crow as our featured speaker and astronaut Linda Godwin. Mercury Morris also put in an appearance and spoke one year in recent memory.
We have had a couple of others though that while they are outstanding individuals in their field, public speaking wasn't necessarily at the forefront of their talents and abilities.
I recall the managing general partner of the St. Louis Cardinals who was entertaining, for a while. I think we learned a little bit more about the players down in the minor leagues than we were ready to know. Most of our posteriors can only tolerate Triple A ball. You've got to be a real fan for anything farther down on the farm.
Years ago we got the "five-fingered wave" and now we've got the power point display. Going to be hard to top those, but fortunately there's a woman in the wings, so I'm sure it can be done.
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Saved
I'm glad to report Christmas has been saved for this year at Ron Harris' house. The dirty, rotten scoundrel who walked out without paying Ron for his haircut showed back up at the shop last week.
He was a little sheepish, but that didn't stop him from asking if he could get a haircut for the same price as the last one. Ron quickly told him that deal was not on the table.
And when time came to pay up, Ron peered into the wallet rather close to see what denomination would come out. It was enough to pay for both haircuts.
So if you were expecting a gift from Ron this Christmas and were worried because he had been stiffed on a haircut, relax and get prepared to open that big ol' present.
By gone days
With a tip of the hat to the DDD's Unofficial But Much Appreciated Historian, Vivian Helton, please enjoy the following.
We note that Hubert Snipes enjoyed his 11th birthday in the June 24, 1954 edition of the DD (still missing the daily D at that point, but getting closer).
"Helping Hubert celebrate his birthday were Gale Grogan, Jerry, Dorothy and Barbara Beasley, Joe and Herschel Morgan, Neal, Anna and George Williams, Larry Lemonds, Camolene and Ruth Wilburn, Charlotte Franks, Glenda Wells, Lida Mary Wayne, Mary Ann Owens, Dickie Nash, Gary Kay, Junior, Judy and Johnnie Cook, Carmella Holmes, Novella Alcorn, Billie and Jerry Leach of Indianapolis, Ind.
"Birthday cake, ice cream and sodas were served to the group."
Feels so good ...
... to quit. That's the only reason some folks admit to working as hard as they do at Ultimate Fitness.
Last week I ran into Everett Mobley and suggested that might be the case, which immediately reminded him of a story. And he seems to have a lot of stories.
Everett recalled camping trips he and his brothers took with their father. Their favorite spot was alongside a stream that at the time was deep enough to submerge oneself in although it is quite shallow now.
Sometime during every outing Everett's dad, Tom, would lie down in the water. After a few minutes he would then jump up, shake himself and proclaim how good it felt.
Everett, being Everett, decided he had to try this for himself. Anything that was that good just had to be experienced.
Everett recalls he got in and laid down and "got the biggest shock to my system" although I suspect there have been bigger shocks since. He jumped up and asked his dad how that could feel good.
"It feels so good to quit," his dad replied.
That's probably the way a local couple feels when they venture out to the gym as well. Or at least one half of them, anyway. I would feel bad if their names got out, so I won't rat anyone out here.
The female side of the equation has been pretty regular for a while, but then again she's "retired" at least according to her husband. Actually, she's retired from one job that "taught" her a lot before she got her feet planted firmly on "land". This gal got her husband out last week and he was hitting the weights pretty hard, but being careful not to pull anything form all those years of throwing a baseball.
Anyway, after spending the better part of an hour on the treadmill she disappears. Meanwhile, the husband is still laboring hard over those weights. This poor guy has been on every machine in the building and has also tackled the free weights. Still no sign of his bride.
Turns out that while he's been wearing himself out on the weights she's been relaxing in the sauna.
She couldn't understand why he was so tired and ready to go when she got out. I think he needs to "communicate" a little better.
Bud Hunt is publisher of the Daily Dunklin Democrat.
