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I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear. ~Nelson Mandela
Recounting your blessings
ast week while browsing through Facebook I ran across a random thought that had been posted and it read something to this effect: When you are counting your blessings if what comes to mind is your house, job, car, bank account, or any other type of physical item, you are missing out on what a true blessing really is. A blessing can be defined as a good and perfect gift from God. We may even receive something that may even be undeserved. Another definition is a gift that is received at just the right moment. Now to be honest this hit home with me as I also tend to look at physical, or maybe we should even say earthly items as blessings also. We all most likely tend to do so when thinking about things that make up a large part of our every day lives. However, I do believe we should be thankful to have
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here are several patriotic holidays in the spring and summer months in addition to Veterans Day in November. Each of these days provides an opportunity to renew our allegiance to God and country. Next Tuesday, June 14, is Flag Day. There have been numerous controversies recently about the display of flags. Fortunately, very few have involved the display of the American flag. Ju 9 892 Today has been a great day in behalf of American unity and loyalty to the American flag. Governor Thomas G. Jones and Col. R. W. Beck received a grand ovation. There was a large and enthusiastic crowd present. Hartselle was decorated with flags and bunting and the Hartselle brass band furnished patriotic music for the highlight of Independence Month. e 8 907 Alabama Congressmen will be requested by friends of the late Gen. Joe Wheeler and by friends of the Wheeler family to prevail upon the U.S. Congress to allow the Confederate flag of Gen. Wheeler to be engraved upon the monument at his grave in Arlington National Cemetery at Washington, D.C. The mon-
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emember the time when you could buy a Coke float at a soda fountain or shop at the clothing stores until dark in Downtown Hartselle on summer Saturdays Unfortunately. all we have left are the memories. The grand ole business establishments of the town’s pioneer families eventually gave way to the competition of mass merchandising and big box retail outlets. As a growth-oriented community, new and innovative approaches were taken to offset the losses. Remarkably, the central business district survived in one piece and quality of life flourished with excellent schools, churches, recreation and low
been given the opportunity to buy a home, been born with, or trained and educated to perform job skills, Publisher and thankful to have Randy Garrison reached a certain level of success in our lives. The more important task at hand would be, would we still feel blessed if all of those material items were suddenly taken away. We could lose our home in a disaster, our car could be wrecked and we could lose our jobs. We could lose our health, or our spouse could lose their health or even their lives. Perhaps what I am leading up to is the above-mentioned physical things are all very temporary in the light of eternity. True blessings could also be
thought of as ones that cannot be bought with money. The physical assets could pass away in a vapor just as the morning fog disappears as the sun rises on the eastern horizon. True blessings are those that cannot be stolen or destroyed by man. Many, and I would dare say most of us are not always even deserving of receiving them. Perhaps because so many of us lead relatively comfortable lives we likely fail to recognize what we really have. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. “ Matthew 6:20 (NIV) This verse seems to give credence to what we should count as true blessings. What would we have to be thankful for if all our physical “stuff” was to suddenly disappear Our treasures in heav-
Mission Statement
en could be sharing the gospel to an unbeliever, seeing that person in heaven would be a joy. Anything we do, we should do for the glory of God and that will be a treasure stored in heaven as well. Learning to love each other as Christ loved the church would be a blessing as well. Maybe our kids and the joy they bring to your life, the love of our family, special friends who are there for us, no matter what, a committed marriage with someone who loves you just the way your are, and most of all a Heavenly Father who loves us and wants all of us to share His heavenly home with Him for all of eternity. Those treasures, friends are true blessings. “Count your many blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done” are the words from an old familiar hymn. These words ring true for most of us each day.
A Look Back at Flag Day ument for Gen. Wheeler’s grave in Arlington has just been completed. It was erected to his memory by his A Look Back daughters. On one side Dr. Bill Stewart of the monument are two blank lines where it was the wish of the general’s daughters that his Confederate flag should be carved but the War Department objected, hence the two blank lines. June 4 9 4 Mrs. J. A. Rountree, wife of the founding editor of the Enquirer, has written a poem which she recited today, Flag Day. Its lines include: “The Stars and Stripes are an emblem there, of a flag that will never fade, That one that is brighter every year, The best flag ever made.” The Rountrees’ son, Asa Jr., is already fighting for the cause of freedom in France as one the first corps of pilots of military planes. (He is the patriot for whom the Hartselle air installation is named.) June 3 9 7 So far as this
section of the state is concerned, no trouble is anticipated here on draft registration day, June 5. The people here are loyal to the government and to the flag and all of them are willing to do all within their power to win the war. A number of citizens of Hartselle who are away from home have already sent in their registrations to Sheriff James A. Foreman. June 23 9 8 In honor of 20 young men of the Sunday school who are in France and in training camps helping to win human liberty for the world, the 11 o’clock hour was given to unveiling and presenting a silken flag with 20 stars at the Methodist church this morning. After the choir sang “Onward, Christian Soldiers,” Corinne Doss unveiled the handsome flag, which was presented by John L. Foote in a patriotic speech. A musical program followed, which consisted of solos by Mrs. Robert Grady Sherrill, “Keep the Home Fires Burning,” and “When the Boys Come Home” by C. D. Carter. “America” and “The Star Spangled Banner” were sung by the entire choir. 3 94 An unusual service, dedicated to the mem-
ory of its men lost in service, and honoring also the mothers and wives of men in the armed forces was held at the Methodist Church at 11 a.m. today. Three gold stars on the church’s service flag represented John Huse, R. Q. Rollins and Hubert Betterton, all members of the Air Corps who have been lost in action. George Duncan McCall, who has been missing for twenty-two months, having been reported “missing,” is still represented by a blue star on the service flag. June 20 9 Hartselle’s pride today is a modern $120,000 municipal auditorium housing city offices, which was officially dedicated yesterday. Hartselle’s Mayor John Burleson officiated at the opening of the dedicatory ceremonies, which featured a flag-raising by the American Legion and a cornerstone laying by the Masons. Patriotic music was furnished by the Morgan County High School band under the direction of Hollis Janes. 22 9 3 flags in Hartselle were lowered to half-staff as this city mourned the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas.
Where’s the golden egg? crime rate. It’s not that the battle to stay on top is finished. The Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce and City of Staff Writer Hartselle Clif Knight continue to take bold steps to grow business and industry and promote home trade. A few years ago, they teamed up to set the record straight about what it means to the city’s economy when its residents spend discretionary income with retail businesses located outside of Hartselle. Some of their through-pro-
voking findings follow: If every family in Hartselle buys a loaf of bread and a gallon of milk outside of the city every week for a year, the lost tax revenue is equal to the annual salary of a police officer or firefighter. If every family in Hartselle buys a 12-pack of soft drinks outside of the city for a year, the lost tax revenue is equal to the salary of a public works employee or and a parks and recreation employee. These are some statistics that should make us stop and think about what it costs our city when we spend our tax dollars somewhere else: If every family buys an adult meal at a restaurant out-
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Hartselle Enquirer 407 Chestnut Street NW P.O. Box 929 Hartselle, AL 35640 Phone: 256-773-6566 Fax: 256-773-1953 Email: news@hartselleenquirer.com Website: www.hartselleenquirer.com Published each Wednesday Serving Hartselle since 1933
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Staff Directory side of Hartselle five times in a year, the lost revenue to Hartselle would be equal to the salary of a police officer. If every family buys a tank of gasoline outside of the city for every month for a year, the lost revenue is equivalent to the cost of resurfacing a mile of a city street. The above illustrations make it easy to see how quickly tax revenue accrues to Hartselle’s account when our discretionary dollars are being spent at home. There is not a fail proof way to ensure that all discretionary income in Hartselle is spent in Hartselle. However, if we develop a positive attitude about “Shop Hartselle First,” the golden eggs will follow.”
Hartselle Florist stood on the corner of Sycamore and Main Street for many years. Today the building is occupied by Beehive Bathhouse.
Randy Garrison President & Publisher randy.garrison@hartselleenquirer.com
Clif Knight Staff Writer clif.knight@hartselleenquirer.com
Caleb Suggs Staff Writer caleb.suggs@hartselleenquirer.com
Ann Kirby Office Assistant ann.kirby@hartselleenquirer.com
April Thompson Office Assistant april.thompson@hartselleenquirer.com
Pam Gray Office Assistant pam.gray@hartselleenquirer.com
Amanda Gordon Intern amanda.elizabeth.gordon@gmail.com
Katie Sparkman Office Assistant news@hartselleenquirer.com
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