Community
LaGrange Daily News
Edgar Allan Poe led tragic life This year, 2009, marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln; it also marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Edgar Allen Poe, two men seldom thought of as contemporaries. Poe has been credited as inventing the mystery novel but the brilliance of his stories of mystery with a large dose of the macabre was not recognized until well after his death. His life was marked with poverty and tragedy. He was an alcoholic with deep psychological problems whose nightmarish visions found Poe their way into his work. Poe was born on Jan. 19, 1809, in Boston, Mass., to Elizabeth Hopkins and David Poe, two actors, both of whom died of consumption (tuberculosis) before Poe turned 3 years old. After their deaths, he was taken in by Frances and John Allan, a wealthy merchant family in Richmond. While
■ Between the pages JoEllen Ostendorf is director of the TroupHarris Regional Library
his upbringing was privileged, including attending the University of Virginia, he was disowned by his adoptive parents for accumulating gambling debts. Unable to support himself, Poe left school and joined the army, serving for two years. In 1827, his poem “Dreams” and his first book “Tamerlane and Other Poems” was published but at Poe’s own expense. While Poe continued to publish, it was difficult for any author during this time to survive by living on his writing. International copyright was not honored and American publishers would rather copy the writings of British authors than pay royalties to American writers. While Poe continued to
win awards for his poetry, he received little for it. He worked for numerous periodicals during this time but was generally dismissed for drunkenness. He began writing articles and stories in 1833 that received excellent reviews but little monetary compensation. Poe was reduced for the rest of his life to making humiliating pleas for money. In 1831, Poe moved to Baltimore to live with his aunt, Maria Clemm, whose daughter, Virginia Elizabeth, Poe married when she was just 13 years old. Poe’s brother, Henry, also lived in the Clemm household but died of tuberculosis soon after Edgar moved in. Poe’s life was shadowed by the specter of consumption as those in his family circle were felled by it one by one. Poe adored his young bride and was heartbroken when she too died of consumption in 1847 at age 25, sending him deeper into alcoholism. Poe can be considered a forerunner to Stephen King. His chilling tales center on death, reanimation of the dead, premature burial and
mourning. His tale, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” published in 1841, is considered the first detective story. On Jan. 29, 1845, his poem “The Raven” appeared in the Evening Mirror and became a popular sensation. Though it made Poe a household name almost instantly, he was paid only $9 for its publication. Poe’s death remains somewhat of a mystery: On Oct. 3, 1849, Poe was found delirious on the streets of Baltimore and taken to a hospital where he died on Oct. 7. He was never coherent long enough to explain how he came to be in such a dire condition and, oddly, was wearing clothes that were not his own. He repeatedly called out the name “Reynolds” on the night before his death although it was unclear to whom he was referring. Although the cause of his death also remains a mystery, it was probably the result of years of alcoholism. He was 40 years old. Read more about Poe or check out his books at the LaGrange Memorial Library.
■ In our community Events
will show the movie “Fireproof” at 7 p.m. Free childcare will be provided, and children will be shown their own movie.
Saturday The West Georgia Children’s Theater will hold auditions for “Cinderella Meets Her Fella” from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at the Royal Arts Center at 402/404 E. Main St. in Hogansville. There are parts for ages 7 through adult, and those auditioning will read from the script. The “Ms. Tiger Baseball” contest will be at 7 p.m. in Troup High School Fine Arts Auditorium. Baseball players will sing, dance and dress like their favorite female performers. Advance tickets at $5 will be sold at the school from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. through Friday. Reserved tickets at $10 are available by calling (706) 298-4027 or (706) 523-0218. Tickets at the door will be $7. Country duo Tommy and Rita will be performing at 6:30 p.m. at Roger’s Barbecue and Trading Post in Hogansville.
Monday Ballroom dance lessons are given from 7 to 8 p.m. at Clearview Chapel Church at 2101 South Davis Road. For more information, call (706) 884-5857.
Churches Today Bethlehem Temple of LaGrange at 307 Whitesville St. holds a jubilee service at 7:30 p.m. Springfield Baptist Church in Hogansville holds a “Consecration Revival” at 7:30 p.m. The Rev. Chris Evans of Destiny Worship Center in Hogansville will be the guest speaker. First Baptist Church of Hogansville
Saturday Trinity Prayer and Bible Study Center at 409 Ware St. holds Bible study at 3:30 p.m. Free breads, cakes, pies, danishes and other baked goods distributed after the class. Mountain Spring Baptist Church on Ga. 18 in West Point holds Bible study at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Alfonzia Simpson Jr. is pastor. The Sunday school department at Faith Temple Church of Deliverance at 221 Edgewood Ave. hosts a fundraiser and fellowship program, “The Twelve Tribes of Israel,” at 6 p.m. New Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church hosts its second annual prayer breakfast in honor of Walter Dowell and Phillip West at 8 a.m. Tickets are $5 and are available from any church member. Faith Believers Ministries at 210 Handley St. hosts a men’s prayer breakfast at 9 a.m. Friendship Baptist Church on Gabbettville Road holds a cemetery cleanup at 8 a.m. Saint Paul United Methodist Church in Pine Mountain holds a gospel concert at 6 p.m. Mission Baptist Church on Roanoke Road holds at gospel singing at 6:30 p.m., featuring the Carter family.
Sunday Springfield Baptist Church in Hogansville holds its fellowship day at 3 p.m. Guests will be the Rev. Bradley Gibson and the Mount Zion Baptist
Church congregation of New Sight, Ala. Mountain Springs Baptist Church in West Point celebrates family and friends day at 11 a.m. The Rev. Alfonzia Simpson Jr. is pastor. Dinner will be served. Mount Gilead Baptist Church at 119 Cedar St. celebrates its church anniversary at 2 p.m. Guest speaker will be the Rev. Crawford Strozier of Solomon Grove. Dinner will be served. Sunshine Baptist Church will celebrate the 12th pastoral anniversary of the Rev. John and Mrs. Sally Parkmond at 2:30 p.m. The Rev. Timothy Maddox and the Mountain Hill Baptist Church will be guests. Ebenezer Baptist Church in Franklin celebrates men and women’s day at 2:30 p.m. Soldiers for Christ sponsors an outreach program from 1 to 4 p.m. in the parking lot at Big Lots on Commerce Avenue.
Meetings
Dear Abby is written by Jeanne Phillips, also known as Abigail Van Buren
to go to work, and that there is an emergency plan in place should he become suicidal. If the doctor understands the extent to which family involvement helps, she will find a way to explain it to your son so that permission will be given. Clear boundaries should be set on what you will and will not be told. At that time, you, your son and his doctor will need to make a plan together so you are not put in the position of always having to remind him to take his meds. If the doctor won’t talk directly to you, remember that she is still permitted to listen to whatever information you want to give - so leave a voicemail. The therapist will share whatever you say with your son, but at least you will be on record with having given the information. Dear Abby: What are your thoughts on a mother of five children, four girls and a son,
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Good for you
Caitlyn Wolsifer recently donated 15 inches of her hair to Locks of Love, a public nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged childen dealing with long-term medical hair loss form any diagnosis. She is the daughter of Todd Wolsifer and Priscilla Farmer, and has two sisters, Meghan Wolsifer and Hannah Farmer. She attends Long Cane Elementary School. ‘Good for you’ recognizes individuals and groups for good deeds or personal achievement. To submit a photograph, send it to ‘Good for You,’ LaGrange Daily News, P.O. Box 929, LaGrange, GA 30241 or to Dan Baker at dbaker@lagrangenews.com, or bring it to our office at 105 Ashton St.
Here are a few guidelines: ■ Typed or printed submissions are requested. ■ Give details of what the recognition is for. ■ Include full names and identification of everyone in the photo. ■ Also include a name and daytime telephone number. ■ Do not use tape or staples, or write on the back of the photo. ■ Photos may be retrieved at our office after they run. ■ E-mailed photos must be in JPEG format and sent as attachments. ■ Photos run on a space-available basis, but usually within a week of receipt.
Winning plants
Monday The LaGrange Troup County Council of Church Women executive committee meets at 1 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church. The Salvation Army Home League meets at 6 p.m. at the Salvation Army Worship and Community Center at 806 Murphy Ave. LaGrange Amateur Radio Club will have a net on frequency 146.700 at 9 p.m. Cub Scout Pack 324 meets at 6:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church on the Square, fourth floor above the gym. Hogansville City Council meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
Depressed son stonewalls parents desperate to help ages 10 through 18, who is clock and suggest they start Dear Abby: Our son, ■ Dear Abby naked when she awakens now? “Adam,” is 24 and lives at home. He had some kind of mental breakdown at school - no one will tell us what he had - and he says he’s too depressed to work or go back to school. Adam stays in his room all day watching TV. He’s on medication, but I don’t think he’s taking it regularly. His doctor refuses to talk to us because Adam won’t give her permission to do so. Abby, we don’t know what to do. Should we let him stay in his room or make him go to work? How can we make him take his medicine? What if he kills himself? We love our son and want to help him, but we don’t know how. - Frantic Mom in Philadelphia Dear Frantic Mom: Because you are involved in your son’s care, common sense dictates that you be involved in his treatment planning, and you should insist upon it. Make clear that you are not interested in the details of his therapy, only in what the treatment plan is and what you can do to help. If necessary, inform his therapist that you will pay for therapy only if she gives you some basic information. It is especially important that you know whether or not your son is actually ready
Friday, Jan. 30, 2009 -
them for school each morning? It bothers them, and I am beyond shocked. Surely common decency hasn’t changed that much. Don’t you think her behavior is bizarre and inappropriate? Stunned Grandmother in Pennsylvania Dear Grandmother: Not everyone feels as strongly as you do about nudity. However, because her relaxed attitude on the subject bothers your grandchildren to the point that they have complained to you, the mother’s behavior is inappropriate. Considering the average temperature at this time of year in Pennsylvania, it could also be considered “bizarre.” Because these children are now old enough to get up for school on their own, why not give them each an alarm
Dear Abby: I have three daughters, 2, 16 and 18. My 16-year-old, “Tracy,” and I are having an ongoing disagreement. She feels it is my responsibility to make her lunch every day. I feel Tracy is old enough to do it herself, but she insists that all of her friends’ mothers do this for their daughters. What do you think of this situation? - A.B. in Belmont, Calif. Dear A.B.: Your daughter may be trying to “guilt” you into doing a chore that she would rather not do, or she may feel emotionally needy. Until recently, Tracy was the baby in your family. Now she is the middle child. It is possible that she feels displaced. You need to talk to her about accepting responsibility and that the willingness to do so is a sign of growth and maturity.
Cedarcrest Community Church 2280 Roanoke Rd., LaGrange, GA
Invites you to God honoring worship, authentic fellowship, deep spiritual growth, and service to our community in the name of Christ.
If you are seeking a place where you can use your spiritual gifts to serve God, or just simply worship Him and have fellowship with other Christian believers please consider joining our church.
Our regular Bible study and worship times are: - Sunday 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM and 6:00-7:00 PM - Wednesday 6:00-7:00 PM
For more information call our office at 706-882-6327
Hills & Dales Estate has won two blue ribbons at the 2009 Southeastern Flower Show, being held this week at Cobb Galleria in Atlanta. Winners in the ‘Pro’s Corner’ competition were, top left, a butterfly amaryllis ( Hippeastrum papilio ) and the Crassula Ovata 'Monstrose' that Hills & Dales staffers call ‘Shrek's Ears.’
■ On campus Furman University
Brittany N. Smalls, daughter of Dr. Arnold Smalls of LaGrange, has been named to the dean’s list at Furman University for the fall term 2008. To be eligible, a student must earn a grade-point of 3.4 or higher on a four-point system.
Liquor Notice
Notice of Application for license to sell spirituous liquors. The undersigned has made application to the Mayor and Council of the City of LaGrange for a license to sell spirituous liquors at Southside Package Store, 1200 Hamilton Road, LaGrange, GA. 30241. This application will be heard by the Mayor and Council of LaGrange at its regular meeting to be held at 5:30 p.m. on the 10th day of February, 2009. Signed: Tyesha Woods, Applicant
Notice of application for license to sell spirituous liquors. The undersigned has made application to the Mayor and Council of the City of LaGrange for a license to sell spirituous liquors at C’ Sons 120 Main Street, LaGrange, GA 30240. This application will be heard by the Mayor and Council of LaGrange at its regular meeting to be held at 5 o’clock P.M. on the 10th day of February, 2009. Signed Charles D. Hudson Jr.