How about this weather? Before we know it there will be daffodils blooming. My birthday was the 27^th and I couldn't have asked for a better day. Mamma would have appreciated it too. There was a record-breaking snow and Dr. Ben Marshall was delayed on what was called Locker Hill. Mrs. Anna Flynt, as usual, was right there and delivered me. She said I, gosh, ugliest baby she had ever seen. I had a head full of dark hair and she preferred bald babies. Mamma was prejudiced and said I was the Ivory Soap baby. Actually the soaps of the day were Lye and Lifebuoy. Not a germ to be found.

Mr. Jess McDougal cut and delivered a wagon of wood from his place on the road to Bugger Hollow to keep home fires burning. Mamma could fell a tree with the axe as well as any man and chop it up. I have more fun with the things we, women, do for beauty today. Ever wondered how long those glued on corpse like fingernails of today would last when you swung an axe. Oh, horrors, the dyes in our lipsticks, eye makeup, etc. are from ground up bugs. The women I grew up with did not wear lipstick. My Aunt Nettie Crumley Steelman Roe was in beauty business, so she did.

Buckle up and hold on, we are having an election year. Anything can happen. If you have a computer read Tennessean.com, wsmv.com, and channel 5 TV. If Nashville spends your money you owe it to yourself.

Under Tennessee Constitution, counties are extensions of the state, deemed political subdivisions of the state created in the exercise of its sovereign power to carry out the policy of the state. Counties, as the creation of the state, are subject to control by the Tennessee legislature, known as the General Assembly. Even though they have broad power to deal with county government, the state's constitution places some limitation on its discretion regarding counties. I read this in the government handbook.

In 1978 several amendments to the Tennessee Constitution were approved. Therefore an amendment restructuring the basic framework of county government gave counties constitutional officers. They are county executive, sheriff, trustee, register, county clerk, and assessor of property. The election of a legislative body of not more than 25 members, with no more than three members to be elected from a single district is required. The General Assembly sets the qualifications and duties of these offices. However, a county with a consolidated form of government (merger of the county and at least one municipality) is not required to have a county executive or legislative body as the other counties.

Since 1978 and these constitutional changes county government has been more easily divided into executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The county executive must share executive powers with other constitutional officers. The legislature is afforded wide latitude in determining the duties that may be assigned to the various constitutional officers.

Read the Tennessee Constitution and learn all about it. I suppose all states have a constitution. Keeps down griping and one knows where to place blame.

It seems we have the best government money can buy as we listen to the daily news from the General Assembly. Now you know why it is important to have all these investigations and clean up. The entire State is in a reform mode. In my opinion, 30-40 years is too long to be employed by the taxpayers. One can forget who is paying them. Article X Section 3 prohibits any official or candidate from accepting any type gift or reward which might be considered a bribe. Any person who directly or indirectly promises or bestows any such gift or reward in order to be elected is punishable as provided by law. Mamma had told me that before I read the government handbook. Enough of this boring stuff. It is only about our money.

Please remember Kenneth Dorning in your prayers. The Leukemia is really working on him. He has been at Crestwood Hospital in Huntsville since the day after Christmas Day.

Last week Bobby and I went to visit him. Lanier Gray, Harold Steelman, Dayton and Joyce Robinson were there also. Kenneth was so tickled and didn't want anyone to leave. This is a sad time for our community.

God Bless

Maple Ferguson