Class of ‘66

New and Improved

“Ole” Timer Yellow Jacket

Volume 1                                                                                   Issue
7

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I hope everyone has
enjoyed their best summer ever.
Send me vacation news so that I’ll have something to write
about.   I took my 13 year old
granddaughter to NYC for a week.  We
saw a  Broadway
play, the statue, Bronx Zoo, the Met, Central Park, the beaches of Long Island and much more.  I think everyone should spend a week in
NYC with a 13 year old, I am here to say you can take
the girl out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the
girl.

By now I am sure
most of us are already Grandparents and what a wonderful blessing that is.  Linda Taylor Nichols is anxiously
awaiting the birth of her first grandchild.  Congratulations to her, I know (cause I
have grandchildren) how excited she is.
Ginger Menges Stuart just became a grandmother
for the first time.  Win  Milliken was
born to her oldest daughter, her youngest daughter who is a first year teacher
just became engaged and her son, a Clemson graduate just bought his first
home.  Ginger says that this year is
full for her, she is turning 60, became a grandmother
and has a boyfriend.  Life is good
for her and hopefully for all of you.

I do regret that
Freddie Bretz lost the election for the Bartow City Commission,
we all know he would have been great.
Many of us in Bartow are hoping he will consider running again.  Adrian Jackson was elected Vice Mayor by
the City Commission
which means in a year there will be a classmate serving as Mayor
of Bartow.  Congratulations to Adrian!

WE HAVE AN AUTHOR
IN OUR CLASS!  Catherine Newkerk just published her first cook book,  The book is available
on her website as well as other websites, check out www.catherinenewkerk.com.

I am chairman for
the Bartow Relay For Life this year being held on April 17, 2009 and would love
to see any and all of you at the Relay.
This year we are going on a Cancer Round-Up, To Head it Up and Move it Out.   I am excited about having the
opportunity to do this and also nervous, this is one of the biggest projects
I’ve ever taken on.  Bartow raises
around $250,000.00 with 60 teams each year.  Please keep checking our  website since it’s updated
weekly, www.bartowrelay.com.  After September 9th if any of you would like to make a
donation for me please make it to  the Holy Trinity
Church team.  Since I am chairman I don’t have
my own team and help my church.
Thanks in advance for going online and doing this, you may access the
online donations through the website or  www.relayforlife.org or send me a check
made out to the American Cancer Society.   DO NOT MAKE ON LINE DONATIONS TILL AFTER SEPTEMBER 9TH.  That is when the American Cancer Society
will update the page for the 2009 Relays.
Thanks in advance for helping.

Donna Donthnier Clark Writes:

Hi,
Dixie.

Okay.
You need some news.  This isn't major,

I
was in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in March to be with my closest friend
who was hospitalized and suffering from acute Hepatitis A,
which he contracted while on one of his trips to India.  It's not easy to get a
visa for the KSA; Saudis are extremely protective of their culture and
lifestyle, but they didn't want my friend to die without family/close
friend.

The
trip was faascinating.  Most of the time I was
in the hospital or at the Embassy compound, where I stayed with the Consul -
although I got to the souk (bazaar), had a tour of the old downtown
(including a view of the building for the Department of Religious Police and
the square for the beheadings as well as the newer, richer areas where the
incredible Kingdom Tower is located.  Of course, I wore an abeya but was never forced to cover my head (a scarf was
always at the ready), but I also was able to identify the religious police
and made a point of avoiding them.

My
friend made a huge improvement, but before we could get him medevacked
or I could get back to him, he took a turn for the worse and died.  This
summer i've been busy taking care of his personal
matters and reminiscing with his many friends around the world about this great
soul.

Thanks,
Dixie.

Donna

The home stadium
has been rebuilt, of course it’s awesome, the reserved seats are orange
and have seat backs and there is an opening through the middle to access this
section.  There are rumors about a
new concession stand and restrooms, haven’t seen any construction
started,  we’ll just have to
wait and see if this is true or not.

To the many
classmates that have lost one or both of their parents during the past year we
want you to know that our prayers and thoughts have been with you.  It just seems like there are many
classmates that have lost parents recently.

Therman Wilkes sister works at the School Baard
with me and brought me some old pictures of the Bartow Yellow Jacket Little
League football team and cheerleaders.
I am including these pictures in this newsletter so you can reminisce.  I do have the list of names if you need
them.  J

Let me know if you can name everyone so we
can give you a gold star at next reunion.
I promise if anyone of you name everyone in
these pictures the star will be big!!!!
No cheating and looking if you happen to have the newspaper article that
went with these.  Good
Luck……

Well I tried, this is the best I can get the pictures.  I promise to bring them to the next
reunion.  Remember to send me news,
be safe today and always.  Dixie