Hambys Say Thanks

Dear Editor:

As many of you know, Willard Hamby fell ill last fall as a result of a catastrophic aneurysm. He was given little hope of survival. However, as a result of modern medicine and age-old prayer, he is still with us today. And while his long-term prognosis is still unknown, one thing is crystal clear: the community where he has lived and worked all of his adult life has opened its heart to the entire Hamby family.

From the very first day of this ordeal, friends, neighbors, churches and especially the South Polk community have blessed us with their caring and support. From love offerings and hospital visits to phone calls and cards, not a day goes by that someone doesn’t show their concern and appreciation for a man who has touched so many lives. In times like this, everyone should be lucky enough to be from a place like Polk County.

There are countless numbers of people we have not been able to thank personally and so we thought it would be appropriate to let you know through this letter. We continue to hope that, one day, Mr. Hamby will be able to thank you himself. Only time will tell. Regardless, we want to you to know we realize how lucky we are to live in a place where people still show their love and appreciation for someone who has given so much to that community.

Sincere thanks,

The Hamby Family

Shorten the plan

Dear Editor,

I read in the paper the other day that the Hwy 411 roadwork was going through more issues. They could just get rid of the project for good.

 Or...

 If the design has to be tinkered with, why don’t they just shorten the plan by a mile or so. Have it go to two lanes from where the BP station and the Burgess store is all the way back to Benton. People need to slow down anyway. Everyone will be happy. There’s nothing but For Sale signs from Hwy 64 all the way to the BP station anyway.

 Thomas Rd does not need to be messed up. The state or the feds can designate the Nancy Ward area worth leaving the way it is, because it really is.

 Just think of it. There will be millions saved and in both Polk County heritage and tax $$.There may even be some left over for the library.

I will send this message to the state DOT and I hope many others will too.

Gabe Munoz

Benton

Better Prepared

Dear Editor,

Imagination Library kids are better prepared to learn so states the Tennessee Board of Regents. The governing board of Tennessee’s colleges and universities conducted the first large scale study of the impact on the “80,000” graduates of the library now enrolled in public schools with the aid of the Tennessee Department of Education. Responding kindergarten and pre-kindergarten teachers collectively affirmed that children participating in the Imagination Library were “better prepared” than students not participating. In 2004 Tennessee Governor Bredesen established the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation. Tennessee’s Imagination Library has served more than 274,000 children and delivered over 5.1 million books since the beginning.

Parents are encouraged to enroll young children in the Imagination Library. Promoted by Dolly Parton, the library enrolls children from birth until age 5 and provides a new age appropriate hard back book every month at no cost to the family regardless of income.

The Imagination Library operates in Polk County for our children’s advantage and is available to all parents of age appropriate children. The Polk County Imagination Library program is operated by the Polk County Friends of the Library Association under the direction of Jan Lycans. To enroll children, contact Lycans at 496-1267, Ann Rymer at 496-9128 or Clarence McClure at 338-5013 or any member of the Polk County FOLA.

Thank you,

Clarence McClure,

Benton

Progress Update

Dear Editor:

Last year, the Polk County News featured my nature photography. I would like to share with my friends and neighbors the things that have happened during the past year. I entered photographs for two different categories at the Polk County Fair and I won two blue ribbons.

My photography was featured in the Daily Post Athenian and in the Sunday edition of the Cleveland Daily Banner. One of the outfitters took some 8x10 photographs to sell on commission in their frames. Another one said she wanted postcards. I never thought I would be able to do such a thing, but I rose to the challenge. They have been well received by various customers and I have sold over 100 postcards in all.

At some point, I decided to put Bible verses on the nature pictures. I don’t know that I have sold any of these yet, but I have put them on www.webshots.com/user/alvin4a55. There they have been gratifyingly popular. I have gotten thousands of hits on my web shots, with my Bible verse pictures being among my most popular. Between Bible software that I bought and www.biblegateway.com, I have put Bible verses from other languages on my pictures as well. I have been pleased that these have also pleased some users. And I have received permission from some friends and a cousin to use their photographs to put Bible verses on and post them on the Internet.

Other people have also put Bible verses with nature photographs, so I created a Bible verse picture index that directs people to the various ones that I have found. As far as I know, no one else has done this before. I would like to invite you to take a look at what I have done. Go to www.alvinfisher.org and click on “Bible Pix.” Click on the beside the name of the language you are interested in, then click on the verse you want to see and you will be taken to it.

The next button to the right of “Bible Pix” reads, “Isaac Watts.” He is called the father of English hymnody and wrote many, many hymns, including some he wrote as paraphrases to the Psalms in the Bible. I didn’t know of any melodies that were associated with these poems, so I have paired some of these with melodies myself. If you have difficulty reading the pictures of the sheet music, let me know at fisher@volstate.net.

I also have 'My Blog'. I hope you find it interesting. It is more my thoughts and ideas than it is events in my life. The 'My Photos' links to my photo albums on webshots.com. The first few albums are Bible verse photos in several languages. After that are mostly nature photos of different kinds. Then the 'Links' button takes you to various interests I have.

Alvin Fisher