Our columns will always be open to the public to discuss anything that will be for the upbuilding of the

community.
From The Erwin Records rst editorial, Jan. 27, 1928

Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2010 | Page 4-A

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Last weeks question:
Nuclear Fuel Services is voluntarily shutting down production for an unspecied time. Do you think NFS is operating as safely as possible? 35% Yes 46% No 19% Dont know

HOODS WINKS

Kill the beast before its too late

By Ralph Hood Over the weekend, Erwin businessman Shannon Engle spoke, I believe, for everyone when he said, Lets go kill that darn groundhog. He was referring, of course, to the famous groundhog up in Punxsutawney, Pa., who predicts the length of winter based on whether he sees his fuzzy little shadow. After the last two weeks of snow, ice and frigid conditions, no one is prepared for any more winter. Of course, were only really three weeks into ofcial winter, and were more than half a month away from Punxsutawney Phil coming out of his burrow in early February to make his

FROM THE PUBLISHERS DESK

Tell me if youve heard this before; Bob Sams would

I have never smiled so much at a funeral service. The funeral was that of Bob Sams, and the preacher was Bobs long-time friend, Steve Rembert ofErwin Presbyterian Church. Steve delivered the perfect service for Bob Sams. Bob Sams was special. As Steve put it, Bob was a breath of fresh air. Wife Gail and I moved to Erwin about two and a half years ago and met Bob at the Presbyterian Church soon after. Bob walked into our adult Sunday school class one morning, interrupted the lesson, and loudly announced, Im 17 minutes late. Can yall start over? That was Bob. He was a very funny man. He could pull off a stunt like that and do it in such a way that everybody smiled, laughed and felt better. As Steve explained, before church every Sunday Bob asked, Preacher, what are you preaching about this Sunday? Steve might answer, for example, Im preaching about the Twentythird Psalm. Bob would solemnly answer, Ive heard it. Steve quickly learned that no matter the subject of the sermon, Bob had heard it. Then one day Steve was prepared. Bob asked what he was preaching about that day and Steve carefully answered, My subject today is Mephibosheth. Bob started to jump in with his stock Ive heard it, but he stopped with a puzzled look, and said, Preacher, I gotta admit you got me today. Then, one day after church he informed my wife and other choir members that they needed to Try to start singing together. I was actually stunned, until it dawned on me that it was just Bob, teasing again in his pleasant way. Everybody in the choir knew the story. Bob had told it for years. But my favorite story about Bob was the Great Car Wreck Story. I told this story in this column about a year ago, but, as with most Bob stories, it has grown since then. To recap quickly, just before Christmas of 2008, Bob, his wife, Joan, and I were going to a party. Out of the kindness and generosity of my heart, I was providing the transportation. It was rainy, dark and cold, and somehow, I managed to slowly and ever so gently slide the car into a ditch. Before the car reached the bottom of the ditch I could hear Bob screaming Whiplash, whiplash! Im gonna sue! Oh, my back, my back! He never quit saying that at any time during the entirety of 2009. At church, Bob would walk into the class all twisted up and moaning loudly in, he said, severe pain. His doctor, Bob stated, said he would never be the same again. At Kiwanis Club meetings, it was more of the same from Bob. His lawyers (he had hired many by then) would contact my lawyer. I shouldnt say much to him because every word can and will be used against you in court. This got to be a classic story with everyone involved. Frankly, I enjoyed it immensely. Bob could do that to you. This story nally came to a climax not too long ago during Bobs nal illness. He
Please see BOB, Page 5-A

By Mark A. Stevens annual prediction. If we already have cabin fever this early, what will we be like by Groundhog Day? For Heavens sake, well be running around stabbing unsuspecting snowmen with icicles, while singing, Thumpetty, thump, thump, die, Frosty, die! Thumpetty, thump, thump, look at Frosty die!

This weeks question:

Should Unicoi County do more to attract tourists to the Valley Beautiful? Yes No Dont know
Cast your vote at erwinrecord.net

So should we, as Shannon proposes, be proactive and take down Punxsutawney Phil before he predicts more winter? I say, yes, indeed. We cant delay, folks. That groundhog is a menace. Hes a monster as terrifying as Godzilla, Bigfoot or the offspring from a Rush Limbaugh-Nancy Pelosi mating. Yes, hes that scary. Unicoi Mayor Johnny Lynch cooks up groundhog for his annual Fiddlers & Fiddleheads Festival, so thats one way to deal with ol Phil. Or we could do as the villagers did when they learned about Frankenstein. Lets gather up the

pitchforks and torches and make roadkill out of that fat beast. Proponents of Groundhog Day predictions claim the stinking little rodent is accurate as much as 90 percent of the time. Scientists say the groundhog is right 37 percent of the time. And meteorologists, of course, go way out on a limb by saying Phil is either always right or always wrong. Whatever the odds, I dont think anyone of us can handle any more winter. Whos going to take down the groundhog? Someone? Anyone? I would, of course, but its just too darn cold outside.

ABOUT US
218 Gay St. P.O. Box 700 Erwin, TN 37650 Phone: (423) 743-4112 Fax: (423) 743-6125 www.erwinrecord.net
And nd us on Facebook & Twitter Mark A. Stevens
Publisher

ON THE DRAWING BOARD with Charles E. Holt Jr.

mstevens@erwinrecord.net Jerry Hilliard

Editor Emeritus

news@erwinrecord.net Lesley Hughes

News Editor

lhughes@erwinrecord.net Bekah Bess Cody B. Lewis

Staff Writers

news@erwinrecord.net Anthony D. Piercy

Graphic Design & New Media Director OT Editor

apiercy@erwinrecord.net Kevin Lewis

Sports Writer

klewis@erwinrecord.net Donna Rea

Ofce Manager & Advertising Director

drea@erwinrecord.net Brenda Sparks

Receptionist & Circulation Manager

EDITORIAL: IN OUR WORDS

From event planning to community outreach, the town of Unicoi is showing up the Chamber
Its no secret that the Unicoi County Chamber of Commerce and the town of Unicoi have always had a rocky relationship. What is surprising, perhaps, is how the town has excelled at hosting successful community events while the Chamber has become somewhat narrowly focused. The town of Unicoi has even seized upon an opportunity to prove that it and not the Chamber knows how to be a draw for community support and tourism dollars. Even with Christmas 2009 not even a month since passed, the town recently announced it will host its rst-ever Christmas parade on Dec. 11, 2010. The town also quickly and pointedly announced that its Christmas parade would denitely include the Shriners, funny cars and all. That announcement was a notso-subtle slap at the Chamber and its holiday parade asco in which ofcials, in November, told members of the Jericho Shrine they couldnt ride their traditional funny cars in the Erwin parade. The Shriners left in a huff, and many in the community expressed everything from dismay to contempt for the Chamber, which receives tens of thousands of dollars in annual tax dollars from the town of Erwin and Unicoi County. The town of Unicoi, however, has, for years, rebuffed the Chambers requests for funding saying the Chamber no longer has its pulse on the communitys well being. The Chamber may have, perhaps unintentionally by offending the Shriners, proven Unicois point. Its not all that surprising, considering that the town of Unicois community outreach has far exceeded the Chambers in recent years. Consider these facts: The town has restored the historic Bowman-Bogart Cabin and has begun a successful annual Heritage Celebration on the grounds. Unicoi revamped the Strawberry Festival, named it in honor of the late farmer, educator and philanthropist Wayne Scott and created a much-praised springtime event. And the town is a patriotic beacon with Freedom Fest, the countys biggest Fourth of July celebration. Compare that with the Chambers dismal community performance. While the Chambers two-day Apple Festival remains, without any doubt, an annual highlight and the Erwin Christmas Parade still shines despite the tarnish from the Shriner asco, the rest of the year is, sadly, lacking in Chamber-sponsored communitywide events. The Chamber has, in fact, canceled nearly every other major event it once held Arts in the Park, Wilderness Expo, the Citizen of the Year Banquet, the Erwin Easter Egg Hunt at Fishery Park, Civil War Days, Keep Unicoi County Beautiful and even the Summer in the Park concert series. Theres an age-old lesson here, too, and that is, always do the best job you can, because theres always someone willing to take your spot. The town of Unicoi, it seems, is anxious to prove that theory.

circulation@erwinrecord.net Keith Whitson

Printing Supervisor

printing@erwinrecord.net Dennis Swift

Print Shop Foreman

printing@erwinrecord.net

PAST PUBLISHERS
Alma Broce
1928-1956

Jay Steinberg
1956-1968

Carl A. Jones
1968-1991

Carleton A. Jones III

1991-2002

Letters Policy
The Erwin Record welcomes Letters to the Editor. All submissions must be signed and include, for verication purposes only, the authors full street address and telephone number. Therefore, anonymous letters are never published. Letters are limited to no more than 500 words. Deadline is Friday at noon. The newspaper reserves the right to reject or edit letters for libelous content, space, clarity or grammar. Send letters to The Erwin Record, PO Box 700, Erwin, TN 37650, e-mail letters to mstevens@erwinrecord.net or fax letters to 743-6125. You may also drop letters by the newspapers ofce, located at 218 Gay St. in historic downtown Erwin.

Tennessees Best in 1957, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 & 2009

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: IN YOUR WORDS

A familys thanks
To the editor, The family of Earlene Cooper would like to express their thanks to all who offered their love and comfort in the recent loss of our loved one. Thank you to all who brought food, hugs and prayers of strength and encouragement. Thank you to Garland Jones for his spiritual care of Earlene, for organizing the celebration of life, and allowing us to use the church sanctuary. Thanks to Velva Jones and Jenny Moreeld for the beautiful music and songs. And thanks to Cindy and Earl Booth and all the folks at Grace Methodist for loving Earlene. Thanks to Cindy and Dan and all the neighbors at Sunnycrest Apartments for their love and friendship for Earlene over the past years. Thanks to David Mathes and everyone at Robert Ledford Funeral Home for their help. Thanks to nurse Bill and all the hospice folks. Thanks to Dr. Diane Campbell and her staff, for not only taking care of Mom, but also giving her your love. Thanks to Dr. Vic Young and the prayers of Fountain of Life Church. And a special thank you to our wonderful neighbors on Mountain View Road and everyone at Oakland Presbyterian Church. Earlene loved to worship with you at Wednesday prayer meetings. Your love, faith and prayers have sustained us in this difcult time. Please accept our apologies if we have missed anyone; there were so many
Please see LETTERS, Page 5-A

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