This just in …
After a wonderful week off, it’s back to reality
…Less than 24 hours after returning home from a wonderful and relaxing vacation at the beach, I headed back to the Messenger office with much rejuvenation and a set of recharged batteries. With the memories of the awesome surf and sand fresh in my mind, I was in a great mood as I sat down smiling in front of my computer and prepared for a hectic week of editorial work. It didn’t take long for my smile to turn into a scowl, as my computer’s hard drive completely crashed and I ended up losing everything I had stored and saved, including all of my email contacts and addresses and all my digital photos. (What really bothered me was that I lost a whole week’s worth of editorial content for the next edition of the Messenger, which meant on my first day back from the beach I had to work dusk till dawn to redo everything. Ugh.) At the time, it seemed to be the end of the world (like most crises in my life do, which is why my wife often refers to me as a “Drama Queen”). However, everything ended up turning out okay, as my hard drive was eventually replaced, the next edition of the Messenger was published on time and things eventually got back to normal…or as normal as it can get around here. But it didn’t change the fact that I couldn’t believe how fast my attitude went from “fun and sun” to “doom and gloom” in the bat of an eye. (A side note: To my fellow co-workers who had to put up with my bad mood and whining during this difficult period of time, I simply say “I’m sorry for being such a butthead.”)
…It was also a hectic time for us last week because we were all incredibly busy putting the finishing touches on our 2007 Greene County Fair Guide, which will be found inside the Messenger NEXT WEEK. We are really excited about this year’s fair guide, as the entire staff really put forth their best effort in creating a guide to everything you need to know about this year’s fair. We appreciate the cooperation that we received from Fair Board representatives Debbie Stephenson and Larry Marshall, and we know readers will not be disappointed. Hate to sound like I’m shilling our own product, but be sure to pick up your Fair Guide NEXT WEEK…
…Of course, next week will also be another busy week for us as we prepare for yet another Rain Day here in the ‘Burg. We are extremely excited about our Rain Day edition of the Messenger that will hit the newsstands on July 27, as it will once again feature important information about this year’s event as well as a look back at photos and stories that were published in previous Rain Day issues. We also hope to see you at the Miss Rain Day Pageant on Sunday, July 22, as 11 young ladies will compete for the crown. For detailed information regarding the pageant (as well as photos of all of this year’s candidates), check out our coverage on this week’s front page. And while we’re talking about Rain Day, look for the Messenger booth on July 29, and be sure to stop by and say hello. Oh, and while you’re having a good time on Rain Day, make sure you’re smilin’ pretty because we will be taking lots of photos not just for our print publication but for our online site as well…
…And speaking of Greene County traditions, I just returned from the official kickoff of the 142nd Jacktown Fair, which was held on Tuesday, and it was an evening of old-fashioned fair fun, complete with the always popular parade and crowning of the new Jacktown Fair Queen. Despite threats of rain, the Mother Nature was kind enough to hold off her fury so that fairgoers could enjoy the fair’s first day. Congratulations to Joyce and Greg Helphenstine for winning the house decorating contest, and to the Greene County 4-H Goat Club for winning first place in the parade float contest. And finally, congratulations to Chelsey Jones, the 17-year-old daughter of Debbie and Jay Jones of Rogersville, who was crowned this year’s fair queen. The first night of the fair – “the oldest continuous fair in the state” – was very well attended, and everyone young and young at heart seemed to be having a great time. The fair continues Friday with a demolition derby and music by Dick Rutan and The Don’t Do It Biscuits, and concludes Saturday with mud bogs and music by the gospel band “Heart Beat.” If you’ve never been to the Jacktown Fair, or if you haven’t been there in a long time, then check it out. (And while you’re there, be sure to indulge in some of Steve Barrett’s favorite “healthy” fair foods: Cheesy curly fries, funnel cakes, hot sausage sandwiches and corn dogs…)
One last note: I want to personally thank Esther McMinn of Carmichaels, who was kind enough to send me a special package in the mail the other day. Apparently, she had recently visited a yard sale and purchased a box of goodies that included some old photographs. Incredibly, some of these photos just happened to be old, black and white pictures that originally belonged to my Dad and were taken during church theater productions of “The Last Supper,” a play depicting Christ’s final hours before His crucifixion. Two of these photos were taken at the Beverly Heights United Presbyterian Church in Mount Lebanon more than 30 years ago, while another photo was taken at the First Presbyterian Church of Waynesburg more than 25 years ago. On the back of each photo is a note handwritten by my Dad that reads, “Please return to Rev. Barrett.” Esther McMinn said she wanted to make sure they were returned, even if it was three decades later. My Dad was thrilled to receive them, but I was admittedly a little nervous about this discovery, because it made me wonder if there were any photos of me taken from the 1970s that were hiding in yard sale boxes somewhere out there. So if anyone ever buys a box of photos from a yard sale and finds old photos identified as “Barrett” that depict a scrawny little boy with badly bucked teeth wearing plaid pants, a corduroy sweater and a Tupperware bowl haircut, please, PLEASE burn them immediately…