Ecclesiastes 3 1To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 3A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; 4A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.
Prayer list this week includes: Martha Jean Morgan and Libby Metcalf.
Birthdays this week include: Jacquline Huddleston (May 1), myself (May 7) and Tina Sanders (May 7). A belated happy birthday goes to Morgan Searcy (April 28).
Far ahead notice: Emmaus Baptist Church will be hosting its Vacation Bible School June 13th through the 16th 9am to 12pm for grades pre-K through 12th.
I have a single topic to write about this week, and I'm going to bring this up one time only.
When I started the New Edinburg Museum roughly one year ago in memory of my father, I put something like $500 dollars of my own money into it... for example I had to deep clean that room after the students from the alternative school destroyed it, about $250 of paint, about $75 for new light bulbs, paint supplies and tools such as a new power drill that would drive into the block walls in order to hang pictures, paneling to cover the windows and make the place more secure, printer cartridges at $20 a pop, photo paper at $20 a bundle, and so on. That was my own money well spent.
Over the last couple of months, I undertook a campaign to raise money in order to keep the place financed and improve it. At first I asked for donations, and one person gave. I then spent my own time going to people with hat in hand. The results were great. Many people gave, some couldn't because of their own financial condition (which is understandable), and a tiny few flatly refused to help even though they could.
It was brought to my attention this Monday afternoon that a rumor is spreading that I'm in fact pocketing the donation money for myself. Ladies and gentlemen: if I were out to make money for myself off of this, I wouldn't start a history museum... I'd start a Razorback museum. Then I'd make thousands of dollars, have hordes of adoring friends and probably a lawsuit from UA.
Unfortunately, the museum is getting me none of the above. The answer to the rumor is “no, I'm not.” In one instance, I used part of a donation to put gas in my truck in compensation. That's it.
Normally, this rumor would be funny, except it's an example of a bigger problem that's been around at least all of my life. There is a select few around here who get things done, and there's another select few who are content to sit in the back of the store or on a church pew and criticize and spin stories on other people.
In answer to this rumor, let me make three points: 1) If you have donated money to the museum, and you think you have been wronged, then come to me, face to face, and tell me you think I'm a crook and you will be compensated more than you ever dreamed. If you have not donated or even darkened the door of that place, then it's not your business. 2) Even if I were pocketing donations, who's to say that I can't be compensated for the initial sum I invested? 3) Slander is actionable in court and I aim to make an example of the person or persons who started this for future generations. Hand on Bible. Who ever is spreading it, I advise you to stop.
On the brighter side of things: the following items were donated over the last week: a picture of the old Carmical House (courtesy of Elaine McDougald), a picture of the branch of the Thompson family I came from (Marnell Parker), an antique whiskey bottle (Otus Clary), and Harvey St. John's checkbook (Rick St. John). The following businesses donated: Benton Funeral Home, Main Street Antiques, Bob's Barber Shop, Holt Building Supply, Word's Clothes, A-1 Motors, Russell Car Dealership, and Fordyce Floral & Gifts. The following individuals donated: Otus Clary, Jim Reaves, John L. and Sue McClellan, Joe Watson in memory of my father, and Barbara Finley in memory of her mother Gladys Attwood McManus. Thank you.
Okay, next week's column will have nothing to do with the museum. Promise. Get what you want in it; if you have items of interest or upcoming news, share it with me before 5pm Monday in order to get it in that week's paper. Go Eagles.
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