Get ready with the fireworks. Cue the band. Roll out the red carpet it's almost time to celebrate. Break out the punch, ice cream and cake maybe a little watermelon that just now getting ripe.

We'll party until we drop.

You probably think I'm suggesting all these preparations are for an Independence Day celebration, but you would be wrong. Shucks, the Independence Day party will pale next to the two big events about to take place over the next couple of days. One will be held right here in the county seat and the other just a few miles south.

Someone should probably also bring candles, but we won't need many.

Jewell Wayne Davault and Ruble Beaty are planning simultaneous birthday celebrations in recognition of the annual 39th birthdays. And that's as close as I will come to divulging their actual ages.

Their birthday -- more properly referred to as the "anniversary of their birth by the late Judge Charles Baker -- is June 25. Be sure to wish them both a Happy Birthday when you see them.

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Another big show

The Usual Suspects are planning a return engagement to B.B. Kings establishment in Memphis. The party is set for August 18 in the 8-10 p.m. slot.

In what is becoming just about an annual event, this group takes a little of the Bootheel's best to Beale Street. Chris Droke functions as the band's booking agent and arranged the first "gig" there several years ago. The place was packed. And when word leaked out on the street that Kennett's first daughter was making a cameo appearance with dear ol' dad and his group they were lined up to get in the door.

I don't have all the details, but I understand a bus is being rented for the evening for anyone who wants to attend but doesn't want the hassle of driving and parking in Memphis on a Saturday night.

For more details contact one of the band members.

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He's back

We're glad to report the editor is back in the saddle. No, I'm not talking about Jack Rollins, I'm referring to the Rotary Club newsletter editor, Carl Williams.

His latest musing from the club's weekly meeting has prompted me to wonder if the city council might have to consider adjusting the mayor's compensation package.

The club has a rule that any member's picture in the local newspaper for anything other than Rotary Club business must pay a fine of one dollar. Matt Mobley is the local club's sergeant-at-arms and assesses the fines on a weekly basis.

Last week he fined Mayor Wheeler two dollars for two photographs. One was for a picture about the city receiving information on a grant. The second photograph was for a proclamation he signed, I think. By the way, I guess we now know the cost of a proclamation signing.

Anyway, the mayor's is a part-time job -- at least in terms of pay -- and it looks as if Matt is intent on putting the mayor in the poor house, one dollar at a time.

The newsletter also had some funny tidbits gleaned from church bulletins that I suspect was taken from an email at some point in time. They're funny and I thought you might enjoy them as well.

* "For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs."

* "Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get."

* "The Rector will preach his farewell message after which the choir will sing: Break Forth Into Joy."

* "Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days."

* "Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double doors at the side entrance."

* "At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice."

* The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon."

For the record, I don't think these were from any of our local churches.

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Small world

Last Thursday I was in Farmington playing golf in a vendors' tournament hosted by Town & Country grocery store chain. It's an annual event I've played in for the last five or six years. There are a lot of people on hand, making it a good occasion to make new friends.

This year the six man team consisted of myself, the Potosi Town & Country store manager, and four sales reps from Phillip Morris, Frito Lay, Prairie Farms and RC Cola/Seven-Up.

The soft drink bottler rode in my cart. We introduced ourselves and he identified himself as being from Paragould. I told him we were neighbors or a sort because I was from Kennett.

"Well, I grew up in the Arbryd, Cardwell and Hornersville area," he said,

It quickly became an old home week as David Kellums and I shared stories about some of the folks he grew up with that I've come to know over the years. David still gets up this way every couple of weeks or so for work and has promised to drop by the office.

Bud Hunt is the publisher of the Daily Dunklin Democrat.