The Funny Bone

A young minister was asked by a funeral director to hold a graveside service for a derelict man who had died while traveling through the area with no family or friends.

The funeral was to be held way back in the country.  This man would be the first to be laid to rest at this plot of ground.  The minister was not familiar with the backwoods area and became lost.
Being the typical man he didn’t stop for directions.  When he finally arrived an hour late, he saw the crew and backhoe, but the hearse was nowhere in sight.  The workmen were eating lunch and he apologized for his tardiness.  They looked at one another but said nothing.

He stepped to the side of the open grave, to find the vault already in place.  He assured the workers he would not hold them long, but that he had been asked to say a few words, it being the proper thing to do.  As the workers gathered around, still eating their lunch, he poured out his heart and soul.  As he preached the workers began to say, “Amen, Praise the Lord and Glory,” so he really got wound up.  He preached like he’d never preach before and before he knew it an hour had gone by.  He closed in prayer and it was finished.

As he was walking to his car, he felt that he had done his sense of duty and felt a renewed sense of purpose and dedication.  As he was opening the door and taking off his coat, he overheard one of the workers saying to another, “I’ve been putting in septic tanks for 20 years, and I have never seen anything like this before.”

Thank You!

Thanks Odie--Odie Sanders of  West Fork and friends have faithfully attended most of our events for the last several years, especially the Homecoming and Bar-B-Q.  This year she brought a big box of jars which we will recycle when some generous someone picks berries and makes jam or jelly or donates the berries to a jam making gal for our welcome baskets which we present to the newcomers of the community.
  
One of the gals (not a jam maker but a pear preserve maker) is Reba Peters.  For two years she has donated pear preserves for our baskets.  It is gals like these who makes it possible to give such unique gifts.  Included most every time is a loaf of bread which Sharon Mirus has so generously donated each time.  Thanks to these gals and others who make welcome baskets making a pleasure to do.

Rocky Top 4-H Club News

In November members of the Rocky Top 4-H Club held an Appreciation Dinner for the Mountainburg Fire Department, area volunteer fire fighters and first responders.  They served a brisket dinner and had door prizes.  Afterwards the fire department gave the kids a tour of the firehouse and fire trucks and their equipment.
    In December several members went to the Alma Rehab Health Care and decorated the bedroom doors for Christmas.  We also went to the Dollar General in Alma and shopped for the Arkansas Children’s Hospital and afterwards went for a club pizza party. 

    At our December 4-H meeting we had our Club Christmas Party and swore in the new 4-H officers for the 2010 year.  The new officers are:  President, Lillian Beasley; Vice-President, Alexander Balandran; Secretary, Samantha Riggs; Treasury, Dalton Hall; Photographer, Rylli Hammond; Recreational Leaders, Dillon Hall and Garret Henry; Song Leader, Annie Beasley; Reporter, Shai Wilkinson. 

    In January we had several members turn in their Record Book Journals and the Cloverbuds are due on February 3rd along with the Club’s Community book, Promotional Book and Club Book.  The Community and Promotional Books are sent off to be judged.  Our Club won the 2009 canned Food Drive.  We have started off our new 4-H year and plan on having a lot of fun and learn a lot.

Thank You!

Jane and Duane Dear, Avo Brown and family thanks the community for the meat/cheese platter that was given to them during the loss of Jane’s brother, Arvard Brown.  “Turner community folks are the best.”

Rememberin'

Waking up, and going to sleep, these are decisions that each and every one does every day, except us old codgers. Sometimes it is time to go to bed and we are just getting up. But, hey, this is what retirees do.

I had a chance to visit some folks I ran around with in the 60’s... Jr & Linda Wilson, Kenneth Patterson, and Pohle Cowan. The tales told on what we use to do, which I cannot divulge due to some folks still living. I guess we were reliving “Precious Memories”, sure was fun.

One of our workhorses in the community has moved away and boy do I miss my buddy as well as the rest of the people will also. Miss Jeanette Gibbs was our go to lady, if you wanted something done, she would do it or assist in doing it. Thanks for all you have done for the Turner Community, Jeanette. You know we have people in the area who would rather sat on their laurels and criticize people who are out trying to make a difference in this community and all I can say is “Shame on you”.... Well enough of that and now moving on to something else.

Let’s talk about the paving or lack of paving in the community. We have been told for the last 3 years this would be the year paving would be done.  We are red faced from holding our breath and waiting for this to happen and still nothing. We will soon be in the 4th year and still no results. If the people in the community will go by and tell the county judge that you are not happy at all with his progress on the completion of this project, maybe we could get the ball off of dead center. It would be greatly appreciated by your neighbors out this way.

Rural Water is in the process of helping our neighbors on Revis Hill Road, Pope Cemetery Road, and Bear Claw Road. It shouldn’t be long and they will have rural water.

Now folks, remember to greet your neighbor with a cheerful word and maybe a cup for coffee.

Be talking to y’all later
Richard M.

Annual Planning Meeting

The planning meeting scheduled for January 3rd was rescheduled for January 10th due to bad roads.  Several members of the community met to schedule events for the coming year.  The weekly events are quilting on Wednesday at 9:00 to 3:00 and the Men’s Coffee Club meets every Monday Morning at 9:00.The monthly events are:  4-H meets the 2nd Sunday at 2:30, EHC meets the 2nd Monday night at 6:00,  Board meetings, pot luck, and family night is the second Friday every month starting at 6:00. 
    A fund-raising Chili Supper will be February 20th at 6:30.  The 4-H Easter Party will be April 3rd from 10:00 to 11:00.  On April 24th there will be a fund raising pot luck Spaghetti Supper at 6:30, cost $5.00 for all you can eat.  On May 29th, the Fire Department will have a Kid’s Day from 8:00 to 2:00.  The popular Turner Trade Days will be June 19th starting about daylight.  Details about booths and who to contact and other information will be in the next issue. 
    The ice cream fund raiser will be July 24th.    On September 25th  will be Homecoming starting at 12:00 and B-B-Q at 4:00.  On October 9th  there will be a fund raising pie auction at 6:30.  On the 23rd of October, a beans and cornbread supper get-to-gather will be enjoyed.  November 13th  will be the Christmas Pie Auction starting at 6:30.  The proceeds from this will be used for the Christmas goody sacks that will be distributed at the Christmas program on December 18th at 6:30.
    Make plans to attend some or all of these events.  The monies from the fund raisers are used to pay water, electric and other bills, for upkeep of the building, and any improvements to the building or grounds.

Annual Christmas Program

It’s over, another Christmas has come and gone. For many people the day after is a time of collapse, and sheer exhaustion. Some are in the throes of cleaning up the mess of crumpled wrapping paper and Christmas dinner scraps. Some may have a house full of relatives. The children are playing with their newly acquired toys, and some of you are already back to work.

    But consider this sobering thought: yesterday was one of only about 70 Christmases you may experience in your lifetime. And I just bet most of them are now behind you…so was it a Christmas to remember? Was it truly a time to be thankful for our Lord Jesus Christ? Sometimes we are so busy with the holiday celebration that we forget just what we are celebrating. Some of the holiday glitter has possibly already worn off, and in a few days the tree and decorations will be gone. It will be business as usual again very soon. But remember, that even though the celebration is over, the greatest news of all is still with us. Jesus Christ was born, He lives today, and He will remain with us for the next 364 days and forevermore!

    Thank you all for another very heartwarming Community Christmas. We checked in a total of 55 pies, cakes, and cookie batches to be auctioned. We also were blessed with a hand-crafted cedar quilt rack donated by Wesley Riggs, two theater tickets from the Alma Performing Arts Center combined with dinner for two from our local Cracker Barrel. The new “Pretty Girl” is now Madisen Juacinto, daughter of Savannah Sewell, granddaughter of Dana Wilkinson, and great-granddaughter of Don & Linda Wilkinson. And speaking of Don, he is now the first inductee into the TLC…no not the women’s EHC group called the Turner Ladies Club, but the newly formed Turner Liar’s Club! He now wears the hat proudly and all you other guys need to polish up on your storytelling at the Men’s Monday Morning Coffee so you will be the next Hall Of Fame-r.

We sacked up about 180 bags of Christmas goodies for the community and all were either given away at the program or delivered afterwards. There are no words I can write to express the appreciation for all who participated. It just wouldn’t be same without our group effort. My heartfelt thanks go out to each and every one of you. Congratulations to all who won the fabulous door prizes that our surrounding community was so generous to donate. The program went very well; the readings and music were perfect for the occasion. Our talented accompanist was Hanna Townsend, granddaughter of Fred and Reba Peters. Her dad, John, graced us with his beautiful voice as he led our carols. Our special guest, Santa Claus, was a welcome sight, and the refreshments were delicious as usual.

I am sure Jeanette Gibbs missed us as much as we missed her, and thanks for everyone signing her Christmas card. We already notice her absence because she was one so dedicated and faithful to participate, just a wonderful lady.

Wishing everyone a happy New Year, good health and good memories...Linda Wilkinson