Your classmates of the Sheffield High School Class of 1956 are doing all sorts of interesting things these days. . . . not to mention having interesting ideas and takes on the happenings of today.  Who said you have to slow down at 50, or 60, or 68?  Read on to see what we are up to these days.

October 2, 2006  •  Posted by Louis

What's a "Fifty-Sixers' Journal???"

This journal is a place where you can share your adventures, your photos, your opinions of world, local or SHS events or even the causes you support.  Until we get some blogging software up and running, e-mail your story, comments, photos, and replies to other classmate stories to Louis.

Hey, guys and gals!  Anytime you see underlined words, click on them.  They are links to great things!

July 7, 2008  •  Posted by Jim Kimbrell

The "Real Navy"

CLICK HERE  (or on the title)

July 1, 2008  •  Posted by Buck Locke

Got a Living Parent?  Here's a Great Book For Them!

I think I may be the first to submit a "book review" for the website, but this one is for the frail loved ones who are in nursing homes or retirement centers and have limited mobility.  Eight bucks new at Amazon.com.

LIVING WITH PURPOSE in a Worn-Out Body

Subtitled:  Spiritual Encouragement for Older Adults

By: Missy Buchanan

My mom is 95 and at some point in every telephone conversation she tells me of her problems of growing old.  Sometimes it begins when I start the conversion by saying, “How’s it going?” 

Louis Buettner got me hooked up with the Tuscaloosa News and for several years I have been reading an electronic version.  A few weeks back I came across a book review of “Living  With Purpose...”  The title intrigued me as the aging process is true for all of us.  I thought it would be a good book for my mom and that it would provide some comfort for her to know that what she was experiencing was normal.

Ah, so the book came and I decided to read the table of contents to see if this was going to be a good gift for her.  As I stood reading I got more interested and then sat down in a chair and continued.  Humm, it is a short book of 93 pages in large print.  So I was hooked into reading the whole thing. 

Missy Buchanan is a nice southern name for a lady who lives in Texas.  She is also a daily caregiver for her mom who at 92 lives in a senior care residence.  So this lady is living with the issues of aging and knows of what she writes.

The format of the book is interesting in that it gives a one or two page meditation on a topic and then follows with some appropriate Bible verses from the Old and New Testament.   Most of the Old Testament verses come from Psalms.

For example the opening topic is “What Purpose, God?” followed by Psalm 33:11 and Ephesians 1:11. The closing topic is “Aging Well” with Psalm 40:8 and then Colossians 3:12.  Sandwiched in between are 39 more mediations.

Let me give you an example of the beginning meditation on  “Slow Motion”:  “Mine is a slow-motion world where everything moves like thick corn syrup.  It’s a deliberate pace that is both slow and slower.  Residents with walkers inch their way to lunch.  Folks speak in measure stride.  Others lean close to hear every word”. 

If you have visited someone in an assisted living facility you know how that rings true.  My mom’s fellow residents at Wellington Place in Muscle Shoals and at Catherine Place outside Mobile come to the dining hall with their walkers and wheelchairs.  They do move in “Slow Motion”.

Yep, I am going to pass this on to mom as I think she will find the content appropriate and thought provoking.  I recommend it to all who have felt the hand of father time on their shoulder either from caring for parents or feeling those aches and pains getting out of bed in the morning.

I will crib a note from the book jacket by Rev. Gentziler “ These are mediations of the heart – full of faith and hope.  Though we may experience fear and discouragement, this book invites us to remember that God’s energies are at work silently but powerfully  throughout all of life.  This book is the perfect gift for frail elderly and the people who care for them.”

 To which I add: Amen!

June 3, 2008  •  Posted by Louis

A Sign of Success????

Those of you who don't believe in evolution probably haven't been visiting this website since it was first started about two and a half years ago.  Remember, back then I focused on urging, begging, pleading, and, yes, even bribing members of the SHS Class of '56 to come to our Golden Reunion?  It (the website) was going to be dismantled as soon as the reunion ended, having served its purpose.

Well, here it is. . . . alive and kicking 2 years later.  Now, it's turned into our scrapbook of former and current great times in our first hometown, a place for some historical information about Sheffield, a record of interesting things going on in Sheffield nowadays, and, despite how uncomfortable it is for some, a place where Buck and I beg you to join us in our Holy Grail of building a large nest egg within the Sheffield Education Foundation in the name of the Class of '56 to serve as a source of funds for scholarships, teacher grants and other projects to improve academic excellence at SHS as a tribute to our own high school teachers.

Well, what has this all got to do with "success???"

Our gal, Linda (Linda Methvin Smith) has been a 1-person public relations committee since she has been serving as the website reporter, photographer and, now marketing manager.  She hands out our website business card at public events, interviews, and while visiting friends.  Her enthusiasm is infectious--for example, at her recent visit to the Alabama Music Hall of Fame, she had the whole staff crowding around the computer monitor surfing our place.

While gathering link information on Steve Wiggins' website post of his video of the very interesting set of interviews of citizens who were at the FDR visit, he requested permission to post a link to us on his website, The Catfish Wrapper -- a place where you can see many of the wonderful things going on now in the Shoals, as well as his obvious interest in the history and betterment of our fair city, Sheffield.  His second annual "Walking Tour" will give you shivers of nostalgia.

I get requests from the Mayor's Assistant to use the website as a search tool, enlisting readers to provide missing photos or information for various projects she is working on.  I don't know if she ever gets any results from you, our visitors, but I hope so.  Now, I have received a request from another "lost souls seeker,"  Mitzi Parkes, the author of the post immediately below.  If you know anything about the whereabouts of the following SHS alumni, contact her at the Sheffield Education Foundation.

Michael Clark

Roger Clayton

Steve Ezell

David Gasque

Pat Leroy Haswell

Trolecia Sanders Hegler

Jimmy Dan Letson

Walter James Potts

Guy Henry Rankin

James Russell

Billy Jo Thrasher

Kristie Willingham

Janice Zeigler

So, is this "Success," or what?

May 27, 2008  •  Posted by Mitzi Parkes

Sheffield Education Foundation Update

I thought you might enjoy a few updates for your website.  

The Honor Walk is doing very well; by the week of Sheffield Sings, we had placed 66 engraved bricks in the ground for people to see.  Since that time, I have taken 34 more to be engraved, and 25 new ones have come in.  That gives us a total of 125 sold.  I thought you might like to see some pictures of Sheffield Sings, so I will attach those.

The class of 1958 had their reunion a couple of weeks ago, and they purchased a brick, as well as donating $1,958 to the foundation!   Mrs. Zelda Jackson presented us with the check.

The academic ceremonies were held at the high school last Friday.  This class, Seniors ’08, received a total of $1,300,000!  No that is not a misprint, 1.3 million dollars in various scholarships!

One of our Registry of Honor inductees, Byron Franklin, announced that he has given a scholarship to Auburn University that will be made available only to Sheffield graduates.  Thanks for your interest in the Sheffield City Schools.

Sincerely,

Mitzi Parkes

Ed. Note:  Those of you who know Buck Lock and me well, know that we are passionately interested in doing something for our Alma Mater which will help in some small way to improve the academic excellence of the future classes which are turned out by her.  To this end, Buck established a fund within the Sheffield Education Foundation which is called "The Class of '56 Fund."  A precious few of our class have made donations which, to date, total less than $5,000--far below our goal of a nest egg that would spin off enough earnings to support an annual gifting of a substantial amount of scholarship grants, teacher project funding, or other worthwhile projects.  

Peggy King Bishop has agreed to be our representative in the decisions about spending the income from this fund, but, right now, there's not much income.  How about let's copycatting the Class of '58 at our annual reunions?  Better yet, how about copycatting the Class of '57 which had a goal of $1,957 and came up with $3727.85.   How about buying a brick for the courtyard yourself?  How about going to the places on this website that will inform you about this tribute to our mentors and our Alma Mater?

May 23, 2008  •  Posted by Linda Methvin Smith

My Report of Yesterday's Unveiling of the FDR Memorial in Sheffield

CLICK HERE to see the Times-Daily article printed on May 21, one day before the unveiling.

CLICK HERE to see the Times-Daily article printed after the dedication of the Memorial

May 7, 2008  •  Posted by Carol Driskell

FDR Memorial Dedication - May 22

The dedication of the FDR Memorial will take place on Thursday, May 22, 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. at the corner of First Street and North Montgomery Avenue in Sheffield.  This is the week of the 75th Anniversary of TVA.  We will have two people to speak that were at that same location on January 21, 1933 and heard President Elect Franklin D. Roosevelt make his historic speech.  The memorial will be unveiled and honor given to the man who delivered the "Muscle Shoals District" from the poverty of the "Great Depression."  Many people from this area (my parents included) spoke of FDR as a member of their family--a father--a grandfather--a savior.  This memorial was overdue. No dam in the TVA system was named for FDR.  In the TVA offices at the Muscle Shoals Reservation there is a statue of Sen. Norris but no statue, picture, or likeness of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. 

We have received word from the Norfolk-Southern Railroad Co. that there will be no trains passing by during the 30-minute period from 2:00 to 2:30 p.m. on May 22. This is a miracle!  Norfolk-Southern has been very cooperative.

The large plaque has not been installed yet--it is in storage.  We are awaiting stronger  attachment bolts--maybe this week.  The Men's Garden Club of the Shoals will be landscaping the site.  The Woodmen of the World have donated a 30 ft. flag pole, rope kit, and flag.  The Street Dept. has installed a sidewalk on the First Street side of the site--it is really looking nice.

Hope to see you there.

Carole

May 6, 2008  •  Posted by Louis

The Mensa Invitational

Being otherwise fully occupied in the grandchildren's end of school things, Little League baseball, church activities--some of which are special time-consuming things like landscaping, pictorial directory publication, etc., I haven't focused much attention on your website.  Poor, poor me!  Buck's contributions, no doubt, have entertained you if you found them, and Linda has been faithful with her SHS Sweethearts reporting.

As penance for my slackard behavior, I've posted a little light humor that I have been holding onto for awhile.  A friend introduced me to The Washington Post's Mensa Invitational--a contest for quick-witted, clever individuals who can work with words.  I think you will like the winners.  Just click on the title above.

April 30, 2008  •  Posted by Buck

Letting Go to Make Room for More and Better

Good Morning Louis,

It is deja vu all over again.  Several years ago when we sold my parents home we were all sad.  Then I found a rusted electric train in the garage which called back memories of my dad and me playing with it.  Almost every object in the house had a cluster of memories that had accumulated over the years of my youth.

Nostalgia is a powerful emotion.  Now that we are remodeling our house every object is facing the same test, to keep or give to the Salvation Army or Vietnam Veterans or perhaps to the church.  In cleaning out the rooms so the contractors can start knocking down walls, we are reassessing everything.

50 years of accumulated memories.  Since we are putting in central air, I have been clearing out the attic for the workman to put in the ductwork.  I had saved binders from my years at RCA and I started to read of projects I had worked on in the '60s.  After about 30 minutes of reading, I asked myself why am I doing this?  Much of things I had written on was now beyond my comprehension and about technologies that have long since been obsolete.  My kids will never be interested in digging through this and after 40 plus years neither am I.  The binders are now in the trash!

So why am I telling you this?  It is springtime and the trees are in bud, the magnolias are in bloom and the forsythia is a startling yellow.  Yesterday Judy was going through the freezer to get ready to move it to the other floor so we can get the kitchen remodeled..  Yep, you probably guessed it!  She found the Moon Pie from the 50th reunion that I had carefully saved.

So last night for a bedtime snack, I poured a glass of milk and had the whole Moon Pie to myself!

What next, is that the question on your mind?  The RC Cola is still in its unopened state setting proudly on the bookcase beside my computer.  Will it make it through the remodeling?  If I drink it will I be able to save the bottle?  What is the shelf life of an RC? 

As you can see our life is filled with angst!  Our minister had an interesting observation in his Easter Sunday sermon: For there to be a resurrection, something has to die. 

So to make room for new memories, some old beautiful ones have to go.  However the Moon Pie was tasty!

                                                                                Buck

 Ed Note:  How'd you like this?  Buck tells us that he was not a good student, but his career and this sort of writing bear witness otherwise.  This "ordinary" correspondence is a masterpiece of deep thought (Is that also known as "philosophy?") and prose poetry.

April 2, 2008  •  Posted by Louis

Check out the SHS Today pages

I have been remiss in reporting to you the goings-on at SHS today.  Sherri Baker has been sending me issues of The Bell, and I have been reading the online version of The Times Daily, so I have seen a number of notices of the various things that are happening at our Alma Mater these days.  I tried hard to keep up with the sports program, the accomplishments of students and the profiles of some of the outstanding teachers for the first year and a half or so, but it is a daunting task to do alone . . . . . from Tuscaloosa.  And, to boot, nobody ever indicated that they liked hearing about these things.  So, I concentrated on other things.

Recently, when researching other topics, some of my Sheffield contacts told me about some of the really good things that had happened at SHS this year, and, better still, sent some material that I could easily use.  As result, I am going to work a bit harder at keeping up on the current accomplishments of the students, teachers and administration.

My first offering is the report of Betty and Troy Whisenant of the successful State Convention of The Key Club of Sheffield High.  It'll eventually be found by going to "Scholars" on the SHS Today page, but from now on, the current hot new topic will be found by clicking on the [hot button] on the SHS Today homepage.

February 29, 2008  •  Posted by Zecora Wilcutt Sanders

Flat Stanley's Visit to Sheffield

Flat Stanley came to visit me back in 2001 when my granddaughter, Jordan, was in the 2nd Grade.  Jordan sent me a letter that included "Flat Stanley" and instructions to tell him about my hometown and write an account of our adventures. She asked if I would send pictures that she could share with her class when she read her letter. I tried to find things that would be interesting to second graders and write simple enough that Jordan could read to her class without help.  I thought this was a wonderful idea and thoroughly enjoyed the project.

"Flat Stanley" is a small boy on paper.  Each student chooses the colors they want to color him and then cuts him out so he can be mailed in a business envelope.  

To my horror, he got lost while visiting my office. A school office is always so busy and my desk was "community property", so I assumed someone got him by mistake----he never showed up.  I told my daughter what had happened and asked if she could get another from Jordan's teacher and color it like the original for me.  I was so upset I could not remember the color of "Flat Stanley's " clothes. We managed to pull it off.  Jordan did not find out about the incident until last week while looking for the pictures for me to send you. She thinks it is soooooo funny now!!!! 

I hope you enjoy my adventures with Flat Stanley around Sheffield.

February 21, 2008  •  Posted by Louis

Send Your Business Cards for a Free Extreme Makeover

At Jim Kimbrell's suggestion, we now offer a new service to members of the SHS Class of '56.  Just send us your current business card, and anybody in the class who knows how to design business cards will send you their proposals for a New Look.  Who knows, you might even like what you see!  Just go to "Calling Cards" on this website for a peek at what we are offering.  

February 21, 2008  •  Posted by Louis for Buck

Postcard from Australia

Buck says "Hi!"  

      CLICK PIC TO ENLARGE

Ed. Note:  Buck and Judy are "relaxing"  (sailing, scuba diving, and roaming the Australian Outback) after a tough January of laboring on the production of  "Cruisin' to the Beat," a fundraiser that presented the Winchester Hospital with $105,000.  

Did you notice the price of the stamp?  There's some comfort in realizing that Buck only paid 1.14724 USD for that stamp, though.  Now, if Winchester were in Australia, he and Judy would have helped raise $114,334.09 AUD.  BUT, if they had traveled to Europe this winter (and why would anybody want to do that?), Buck would have paid $1.84947 for a 1.25 euro stamp, and the fundraiser would have only raised 70,986.67 EUR.

CLICK HERE to play with the currency conversion calculations

CLICK HERE to see what the currency symbols around the world look like

Oh, to live in South Korea where the dollar is worth nearly a thousand won!  But, then, a $4 cup of Starbucks coffee there would be about 3,793.69 KRW.  I'm just as happy to be in Alabama where I don't need to pack a calculator everywhere I go.

Why do things like the $1.25 on the stamp make me think about things like this?

February 18, 2008  •  Posted by Louis

Eric's Tales  -  Removed from the website for operational security reasons.

At Linda Methvin Smith's suggestion, I have asked Eric South, Barbara Laughlin South's grandson who is with the Army Corps of Engineers and was just transferred to Baghdad, Iraq, to share with us some of his observations, thoughts and stories during his sojourn there.  He has graciously consented to do so despite his busy schedule.  Those of you who support our young men and women who, in whatever role they serve, are over there in harm's way ensuring our liberty and freedom will appreciate Eric's contributions to our understanding the things that are going on in that theater.  Thanks, Eric, for taking the time for us.

February 12, 2008  •  Posted by Louis

Finally, You can view Jim Holland's Reunion Slideshow, "Families" here on the website.

Ever since about halfway through the showing of the PowerPoint slideshow that Jim had made for us by Brother Jeff Garrett of York Terrace Baptist Church at the reunion banquet on June 3, 2006, I have had the mission of making it available to you here on the website.  The slideshow is enormous, though -- 163 photos sent in from 52 classmates.  The photos alone take up 129 megabytes--and that is after I have reduced their file sizes down to the minimum resolution required do a full-screen picture.  The actual PowerPoint slide show that I first created was so large that I could not transfer it to the website.

Then along came Linda Methvin Smith and Jim Kimbrell with their Windows MovieMaker (WMM) movie of "Sheffield," our first hometown.  So, with a shove in the right direction, I set out to use this technique to bring you Jim's reunion slide show.  Again, the darn thing was too big to function right on the website--or so I thought.  I divided it into six parts to make it run better, and it didn't.  That's when Jim stepped in and offered his expert assistance which resulted in "Problem Solved."  I want to nominate Jim to be "Computer Whiz of the Decade."

Click on the underlined name of the show in the title above and enjoy Jim's reunion slideshow, "Families" all over again . . . . . . finally.  

February 11, 2008  •  Posted by Louis

How'd you like to give/get this Valentine's Gift?

I swear to you these two ads appeared in today's Tuscaloosa News as bonafide suggestions for Valentine's Day gift giving.  What do you think your sweetie (guy or gal) would think or do if you gave them a certificate good for one of these?

             Click on the pics              

February 9, 2008  •  Posted by Louis

Windy In The Shoals

Last week when the winds came whistling down the plains of north Mississippi and west Alabama, I lost two more giant pine trees in my backyard here in Tuscaloosa.  One of our classmates from the Shoals who's handy with her videocam sent this evidence that the winds were fairly high up in the Tennessee Valley, also.

February 5, 2008  •  Posted by Barbara Laughlin South

All-American Progeny

This is my grandson, Eric, and his daughter, Claire.  He left Feb. 3rd for Iraq.

Ed. Note:  I'm the one who put the military scene in the background.  I think it is important that we remain aware that our young are continuing to put themselves in harm's way out of a sense of duty and honor to protect us and our freedoms.  Here's a too-close-to-home example of a young man who did not shirk his duty to answer the call--a face and a name for you to put on the brave soldiers who represent us in the Middle East. Pray for Eric and his comrades--for their honorable completion of their mission and for their safety--and safe return.  

You, of course, recognize little Claire, great granddaughter of our classmate, Barbara.  We want another picture in a few months with her sitting on her daddy's lap and great big smiles on both faces.

February 4, 2008  •  Posted by Buck Locke

Wheeew!! I got dressed up in a white tux and help earn $100,000 for my hometown hospital.  I'm ready to relax and go sailing in Australia.

We closed up the cabaret on Sat. night, struck the set yesterday and feel we deserve a little time in the sun as it is summer in Australia.  My stage crew number made the front page of the local newspaper, the Winchester Star:  

I'm sure lots of my friends expected to see my picture in the paper with a number underneath!  Guess I've been lucky so far as the law hasn't caught up with me!

The new producer was named yesterday and the theme for cabaret 2009 is "Seasons of Love".  Judy is burned out from her job as co-chair of scenery and we both need a break from show biz.  

It has been an exhausting week (month? year?) but now it is time for a little recreation.   At least we hope to have six weeks in Australia.  We are now packing up for leaving at 5:30 AM tomorrow.  We are ready for sailing, diving and exploring the Great Barrier Reef and the outback in Australia. 

Ed. Note:  Buck and Judy volunteer to help the Winton Club of the local Winchester, Massachusetts, hospital stage a fundraiser called Cabaret.  This is the 87th year that the citizens of Winchester who volunteer to run the hospital's gift shop have produced this musical.  The club is currently in the 4th year of a 5 year pledge to raise half a million dollars for the new oncology center.  Buck is a perennial member of the stage crew who are rewarded for their arduous labor by having a special number in the musical gala.  Since the production runs the end of January, all the people virtually give up their Christmas and New Year holidays to work on building sets, learning lines and songs, rehearsing and preparing their costumes.  They really do earn their R&R.

Here are a few links to see more about what they are doing:

Buck's 6 poems about the production all made the newspaper  CLICK HERE

The Winton Club Site  CLICK HERE               

The Cabaret Site  CLICK HERE

A story about last year's fundraiser and a short video of Buck's number in Cabaret 2007 CLICK HERE

January 14, 2008  •  Posted by Linda Methvin Smith's Hibiscus

Pink or Red?

Suppose you are a hibiscus and got adopted by Linda last July.  You know Linda--kinda quirky but lovable and big-hearted.  If you are like me, you want her to like you.  When I was adopted, I had pink blooms.  See, I'm the one in front of the goose (or pelican, or swan,  whatever) back then.  

Well, I heard her say she liked the color red, so I focused all my energy on trying to give her some big, red flowers.  I grunted and I crossed my roots.  I prayed to Ra, the sun god.  I was patient and had faith, and one day one of my buds opened just a little bit and I saw the most beautiful deep cherry red peeking out.  I couldn't wait for Mommy to come out and see.  All summer, I made her the most bountiful pink and red blooms.  

She took lots of pictures and even carried a branch with flowers of both colors to the nursery.  They said it didn't happen very often, but when a good little flower wants to please her Mommy, anything is possible!  I am now featured on her email stationery.

January 6, 2008  •  Posted by Buck Locke

Ode for a Winter's Day in New England

Louis forwarded me a note from Linda Smith on the Political Cats of New Hampshire's Mt. Washington Observatory, and I found this poem written four years ago about my winter outings in the snow.  The snow this year has been a challenge for hiking high mountains.

                 Winter Hiking

                 2.27.03   Jay Village Inn

Sibilant swishing sound of snowshoes

And squarky sound of hiking poles

Moving me through snow shrouded spruce

Trees decorated as nature’s snow sentinels

The cold fog of our breaths a traveling cloud

Around our heads as in silence the small band

Of winter enthusiasts ponder the meaning

Of life and the mysteries of God’s nature.

The bone chilling cold quickly gives way

To sweat causing the party to stop

Packs drop to the front of snowshoes

As layers are removed and stowed

Terse hurried discussions about past

Hikes both better and more difficult

Are delivered before commencing

Again the winter adventure.

Weather is a constant concern

As little snow flurries could turn

Suddenly into whiteout conditions

Or clouds surrounding summits

When stopping for water and gorp

Eyes quickly check faces for white patches

To determine if Jack Frost has

Decided to nip a fellow hiker.

As temperature drops or wind picks up

Face masks turn the group into robbers

Determined to wrest pleasure from

Mother Natures hoard of accomplishments

The peak baggers muffled conversations

Revolve around numbers of hikes this season

And total accumulated summits on whatever

Lists are driving them into winter’s wonderland

The sibilant swish swish of skies on logging roads

Bring intrepid adventures to remote mountains

Where bushwhacks can begin

Transition from skis to snowshoes made quickly

As hands grow numb quickly in the bitter chill

As snowshoes are laced quickly to backcountry boots

Some move out slowly as others finish their preparation

While some quickly chase a power bar with Gatorade

Hydration concerns are constant as the cold

Sucks the water from the body as we labor

Up the sides of the mountain lured onward

By the siren summits soft compelling call.

The hardwoods at lower elevations

Give way to the spruce and fur

With the occasional event of a companion

Dropping suddenly down waist deep in the snow

Jack or Jill has stepped into a spruce trap

With the awkward thrashing and struggle

To untangle snowshoes from the branches

To gain purchase to escape the soft surrounding snow

Poles are extended from helpful companions

To pull the hapless victim from the panicky pit

A few moments to regain confidence in the snowshoes

Ability to provide a firm foundation and off again

As tentative steps turn once again to confident strides

Up the steep slope kicking steps into the snow

Or traversing to ease the ache in the quads

From the relentless burn of the steep sides.

What drives this brave band toward the heights

Inner goals that only they can see and understand

For it is impossible to describe the feeling of summit fever

As for a brief period of time shivering in the windy cold

One can see forever mountains rolling away

And experience the beauty of God’s creativity

The richness of nature, trees carved into a

Varity of sculptures by snow and wind

How to capture the romance

Of these hardy souls

Committed to the harsh winter weather

While normal folk are in their cozy comfy caves

Ah, the normal folk roll their eyes!

And find it impossible to understand

Perhaps the best explanation

It feels so good when you quit!

                                                        --Buck Locke

December 29, 2007  •  Posted by Carole Driskell

Response to Sheffield, A City Hanging Over a Cliff

Louis,

I viewed the Sheffield Hanging over the Bluff today.  This was filmed almost four years ago during the previous administration when all of the film was factual.  However, to present this picture as Sheffield "now" is not credible and does not reflect truthfully on the present administration.

Sheffield has come a long way under the leadership of Mayor Anderson.  The City still has a long way to go but it is much improved and heading in the right direction.  I hope you received my e-mail of a few days ago telling you about the two grants that have been funded and how hard Mayor Anderson worked to get the City these grants.  Sheffield also has some MPO projects that will be coming up during this year as well.  These grants and projects are for visible changes in Sheffield and are not "studies."  These are all reasons that I feel that the video presentation on the Internet of Sheffield's woes is not a fully accurate representation of "Sheffield now" and its leadership.

Some of the terrible sites (with old refrigerators and various other garbage on downtown property) shown in the video have since been cleaned up by the present administration after two court battles.  The same is true of the building on Montgomery Avenue with signs on it saying it was condemned.  The city now owns the building as a result of another court battle and a new roof has been placed on it.  The mold problem, in our library, that was caused by this horrible building has been abated.  Work is now underway, partly by volunteer carpenters, to restore the Moses (history) Room and conference room in the library.  Our new library director has applied for a grant to have new carpet and HVAC system installed.  Also, the City has been approached by investors to renovate this building and have a restaurant, called "The Bunker" built in the basement, a coffee shop on the street level which would open into the Library, offices on the second floor, and two large loft apartments on the third floor.

Some other buildings have been torn down (at City expense) because the owners refused to repair them and bring them up to code.  In fact, they were dangerous for people to walk past them on the sidewalk.  The entire roof and part of the front and back of the building fell in during a rain storm.  The city has a lien on the property, but we will probably never see any return on our expenses.  These were historic buildings and should have been preserved by the owner, but they were beyond rehabilitating.  

I will attach a copy of the Mayor's State of the City address which he delivered at the Sheffield Town Meeting and Fair, which was held in November, and attended by some 200 citizens of our City.  The Times Daily newspaper wrote a glowing report on this event and gave the greatest praise for Sheffield's conducting this event for families and citizens to get in touch with the city's operation.  The newspaper editorial board stated that the other three cities "could take a page from Sheffield's book," for encouraging people to get in touch with their city's government  ( Two links to these articles: First link: Town meeting gives residents chance to speak up,  Second link: Hits and misses ).  The meeting was composed of all City Departments having displays of equipment, brochures, information, and giveaways.  There were free balloons and hot-dogs.  Activities were conducted outdoors at the Recreation Center and the regular City Council Business Meeting, the speech and drawings were held inside.  It was very well received by the citizens and they asked that we do this every year.  Jim Holland, of the class of 1956, commented to the public at the meeting that it was the best thing that had happened in many years in Sheffield and complimented the present administration.

I will send you the Mayor's State of the City address when I return to work next week.

Thank you for the very positive website "SHS Class of 56."  The memories are wonderful and your class' support of the Sheffield Education Foundation is greatly appreciated.

I look forward to further correspondence with you.

Carole Driskell

Ed. Note:  Carole is the sister-in-law of our classmate Wallace Driskell and Administrative Assistant to the Mayor of Sheffield, Billy Don Anderson.

December 19, 2007  •  Posted by Louis

Your Classmates Got Elfed

Remember the dancing babies screen saver that went around several years ago?  Well, Office Max brings you a new hilarious tool to turn yourself (or classmates whose photos are in your collection) into Santa's elves.  I was introduced to this laugh-maker by my daughter, and now I inflict it upon you.  MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Jim K. Elf, Linda Elf, Buck Elf, and Barbara Elf: http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1566339618

Peggy Elf, Farley Elf, Ron Elf, and Patsy Elf:   http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1570341352

Louis Scrooge:  http://www.scroogeyourself.com/?id=1551126145

SORRY GUYS, OFFICE MAX HAS SHUT THIS SERVICE DOWN.  YOU MISSED A HOOT!

"White Christmas" sung by Santa Crooner:  http://www.thecompassgroup.biz/merryxmas.swf

December 18, 2007  •  Posted by Louis

Never Miss an Opportunity to Spread Christmas Joy!

While confined to my LazyBoy applying ice packs to my arthritic knee to cut down the inflammation after my morning knee strengthening workout and feeling a bit nostalgic about the season that is upon us, I read a little anthology of Christmas stories selected by Norman Vincent Peale called My Christmas Treasury.  One of the short stories is a letter supposedly written by an American traveler in France in the early 1960's who found himself and his family in a dreary little restaurant on Christmas Eve, totally devoid of Christmas joy . . . . until a U.S. Navy sailor did something about it.  It's an uplifting tale that, whether true or not, contains the moral, "Do what you can to spread the joy of Christmas to the downcast in the world in which you live."  If we would all only live by this rule, there would be much to celebrate this Christmas.

CLICK HERE to read the letter/short story, "A Sailor's Christmas Gift."

December 14, 2007  •  Posted by Buck

Christmas Greetings From Our House to Yours

Merry Christmas

&

Happy New Year

To One and All!

Actually, this is a photo from last year down at my sister's home in Daphne.

November 30, 2007  •  Posted by Louis

Now, This Is What I Mean By Storytelling!

We all remember The Southland Restaurant from our school days.  Our own SHS Sweethearts chose this nostalgic restaurant as their meeting place for the current monthly get-togethers.  The parents of our classmate, Don Roper, were owners of the establishment.  My next door neighbors on 15th Avenue, the McCays, were co-owners, too.  I don't remember who was brother or sister to whom, but I sure heard a lot about the Ropers and the McCays from my parents growing up.  Daddy Roy was always at the restaurant, and so was Mrs. McCay most of the time.  The McCay kids, two girls and a boy, were very young when I left the Tri-Cities, but letters from home were full of tales of Dad and Tommy.  Tommy was like a shadow to my dad, following and asking questions all over the many garden plots that Dad kept and around the house.  I had heard of his interest in Dad's pellet gun, but I didn't know how much that gun intrigued him until this morning when I was visiting the website of the Southland Restaurant.

If you haven't found this website  (http://thesouthlandrestaurant.com/)  on your own, I urge you to visit it today.  It's a paragon of nostalgia complete with stories by Tommy McCay, one of the three siblings who now own and operate this wonderful throwback to the Fifties and one of Sheffield's claim to fame, since it has been featured as one of the best catfish restaurants in Alabama.  This, of course, is ironic to those of us who know that the Southland is more famous for its barbecue and fried chicken--and freshly baked pies.  A main feature of this website is the collection of stories told by Tommy.  Their folksey style, bordering on "tall tales," makes them nostalgic and hilarious at the same time.  What caught my eye was the story about the war waged by Tommy's dad, Daddy Roy, against the gopher rats that plagued the restaurant back in the "good ol' days."  I ran across the name, "Earnest Bittner," who, of course, was Ernst Buettner, my dad and Tommy's surrogate granddad.  I forgive Tommy for the misspellings, because until Linda Methvin Smith corrected me earlier this year, I always spelled their name, "McKay." 

I know many of you dine at the Southland, so I urge you to meet Tommy McCay, let him know how much you enjoy his writing and encourage him to keep those wonderful stories coming on his website.  

October 4, 2007  •  Posted by Louis

Indicted

I just got "Courtesy Copied" on an e-mail correspondence between Bill Gray, SHS Class of '55, and Steve Wiggins, SHS Class of (sometime in the '50's).  Bill was responding to Steve's note of thanks that Bill appreciated his efforts to do something about the deterioration of our fair hometown.  In his correspondence, Bill noted that he wanted to encourage me to feature more prominently on this website the film that Steve made about Sheffield and its woes.

As you see by the date on this posting, this blog has been going about a year.  This website has been up about 2.5 years, and nowhere do I feature the woes of present day Sheffield along with the optimism that Steve Wiggins has that Sheffield's fortunes can be turned around if the right leadership would come along.  As those of you in my high school class, "The SHS Class of 1956," know, I began this website project as a tool to stimulate attendance at our golden reunion--the 50th anniversary of our graduation from SHS in 1956--held last year.  Everything I published on the website touted the wonderful halcyon days of our youth and the idyllic features of growing up in a small town.  

I am proud to be from Sheffield, just like I am sure that Bill and Steve are too.  But, unlike Steve, I have been content to live with memories of the past.  After all, I am now a citizen of Tuscaloosa, a city that's doing lots of tearing down of the derelict and building new stuff.  This website is visited by over 20 of you a day.  This is not a huge number, but I hope each of you will view the lovingly created film produced by Steve, "Sheffield, A City Hanging Over A Cliff," and get 20 more friends and fellow citizens of Sheffield to do so.  Tell each of them to tell someone else to view it, so there will be a logarithmic increase in the number of voters who will be saddened by the plight of Sheffield and motivated to provide themselves with the leadership which will bring a reformation to our hometown.

Mea culpa!  Bill, I hope the scrolling marquee and the homepage link to Steve's film makes up for my starry-eyed backward point of view.

September 14, 2007  •  Posted by Louis

Things in a bottle

Today, I opened Linda Methvin Smith's e-mail sharing one of the wonders she came across on the Internet:  Square Watermelons.

Well, being the skeptic that I am, I checked it out on snopes.com, and, by golly, it's true!  Only 400 were grown last year (they put the bud in a box or glass mold and let the melon grow to fit the shape of the box).  They cost 10,000 ¥ -- about $85 American.  

This