I stopped in at Ron Harris' establish­ment last week and thought I was back at the Delta Fair.

Ron had surgery on his foot last week and so is confined to a stool as he clips away at his customer's head. Usually Ron's up walking around from one side to the other, but apparently the doctor told him to stay off his foot. And to the surprise of a lot of people, Ron actually listened. Ron's inability to get up and move around means the customer has to do the moving which means Ron sits still and he spins the chair around.

It's been tough on Ron as well. As he said, "I can't run and I can't fight. It's killing me. I have to be nice."

Terry Baker was in the chair when I arrived and experienced further evidence of how this is affecting Ron.

"He even called Tommy Striegel, 'Sir,'" Terry said. "so you know it's got to be bothering him." And when Terry got finished he stood around a few min­utes. I'm sure Ron thought it was just because Terry wanted to share a story with us, but as I was to find out a little later, Terry was just trying to get his equilibrium back before heading out the door. My head was spinning so much it reminded me of the last time I rode the Tilt-A-Whirl at the Delta Fair.

Ron tried to tell us he hurt his foot when he attempted to kick his wife, missed and hit the door. No one bought that because we know more than his foot would have been in a cast and he proba­bly wouldn't have been back in the shop yet either.

* * *

Happy Birthday

Bob Horton is celebrating a birthday this year and so is Bill's Bar-B-Q. And it's the same birthday. I ran into Bob at what is being referred to, in some circles, as the "Friendliest License Bureau in the State," last week.

Bob mentioned that his father started the business the same year he was born. I think Bob came along a few months before the business, but may have mis­understood.

Either way, the owner and

BUD HUNT

his business are only a few months apart.

Bob was also telling me about a way he has devised to get heated water into his swim­ming pool. He uses about 500 feet of black, flexible PVC pipe and pumps water through the pipe at a very slow speed. The sun then heats the water as it makes its way through the pipe. By the time water is emptied into the pool it's nice and toasty.

And, Bob pointed out; the water is being done with solar power. "Now if I could only figure out how to cook the barbecue that way," he said.

Bob could probably come up with a way to make that happen, but it would­n't smell nearly as good driving down St. Francis Street in the mornings.

* * *

Extra work

The annual three-man golf tournament was held last weekend and it's an oppor­tunity for some friends to get together that have become separated over the years.

Johnny Watson was in town playing with Matt Shetley and Lanier Robinson. Unlike most of us, Johnny walked his rounds, which is something he probably did as a youngster growing up and play­ing his home course.

Tommy was back for a visit. Tommy Legan and Tommy Young. I actually got to play with Tommy Young, his dad, C. H. and John Henry Stephens on Saturday, which made for a fun day.

A couple of days before the tournament local pro Mike Long will go around the course putting a couple of marks on the greens so groundskeeper Randy Kieffner and his crew will know where to cut the holes for pin placements on Saturday and Sunday of the tournament. Mike usually marks the spots with a little dab of white spray paint for one day and a dab of yel­low for the second day.

My wife and I were playing a round one evening before the tournament with Daryl and Vicky Wilcoxson. This was after Mike had already made his marks. I looked up on one hole and there was my wife trying to wipe out one of the white markings. When I asked her what she was doing she said, "I'm getting these bird droppings out off the green." I didn't ask, but guess she must have thought a sick bird made the yellow marks.

I got her stopped before she erased it all. Then she told me Daryl had been doing the same thing on the hole we had just played. Guess Mike had to re-mark at least some of the holes before Saturday, but he must have wondered what happened to his marks.

* * *

Wel come home

Most of you will probably read this before five of our local heroes get back in town.

Riley Cook, Will Pruett, Miles Richardson, Chris Taylor and Josh Wilcoxson are just completing their tour in Iraq. Actually, I think Chris just fin­ished his second tour there.

Congratulations and welcome home. It's nice to see the way they are being made welcome by the city. I believe the local VFW, as an expression of gratitude, is also hosting them next week.

Bud Hunt is the publisher of the Daily Dunklin Democrat.