RFD
By Bonnie K. Taylor General Manager The True Citizen

I thought I had heard it all for the number of excuses of being late for work, not coming into work, late columns. Many have been legitimate. Some have been down right ridiculous and so

unbelievable that the truth was a much better excuse.

Years ago, one of our young employees, who was nearly always late for work and always had some excuse, called and gave an excuse that far exceeded any of her others.

She said she would be late because she did not have any clean towels to dry off with after showering.

I could see her being a little late. How long

does it take to drip dry?

Well needless to say she was several hours late. We never let her get by with that excuse again. It became a joke at the office when she called in late. The receptionist would ask her, "Do we need to send over a clean towel?

Monday when I arrived at work, Bill Lively from Southern Auto called to make sure I received a message about Don Lively.

His sister, Sherry Brinson, on my voice mail, first chastised me for not being in church Sunday (I left after Sunday School) said Don had a triple bypass on Saturday. He was begging his family to bring his laptop so he could get his weekly column in.

Of course with him being in the intensive cardiac care unit, this was not an option. He bargained with them to let him outside the unit to use his laptop.

Talk about dedication!

When I spoke with Bill late Monday afternoon, Don was moved to a regular room and was doing well. Still not allowed a laptop.

I would have loved to hear what he had to say for this week's column under the influence of all the drugs.

Don, we're glad you're okay. Your column space will be waiting on you when you're able to get back to your laptop. I bet it is a column we will all look forward to.

I join your other readers in saying, "Take care and we miss you!"

******

Boss Hog volunteers need the public's help wowing out-oftown judges and teams. The May 9-10 cook-off is a great tourism draw, and organizers are doing everything they can to make sure Burke County is a place they want to come back to.

Our community knows hospitality - and volunteers want to show that off with a Hospitality Room for judges and cooking teams. The room will be a getaway from the hot grill with comfy furniture, good food and cold drinks.

The professional grilling teams say they get so sick of barbecue and fastfood ... they just want local cooking with a few healthy choices.

If you have a special dessert, appetizer, salad or dish you'd be willing to prepare for them, please contact DOOR co-chair Amy Lively at 706-554-8100 or alane@fnbwaynesboro.

She expects at least 40 Kansas City Barbeque Society judges and representatives, plus several hundred cooking team members. Let's show them Burke County knows how to treat it's visitors!

******

I was shocked and saddened to learn of Gloria Cooper's death Sunday, April 20.

Gloria was one of those people you enjoyed being around. She was witty and fun-loving.

If my memory serves me right, she was a member of the Waynesboro High School Class of 1969.

She will be sorely missed by her father, Bill Owens, and sisters, Donna Jo Bailey, Brenda Miser, Sandra Stewart and Kathy Owens.