The Holabird Advocate Newsblog has been keeping some major developments under wraps for about a month now. It is the belief that our courageous, dynamic Publisher has found the next major blogging personality and with any luck, we'll have the deal finalized this very afternoon.

This morning the temp dipped to -12.6 at the Ponderosa. It was at that moment that Darrel and Kristi Hinkle decided to go to Georgia. Kristi has been planning this trip to see her grandmother, Irene Van Tassel for about 2 months now. The nasty weather in St. Louis had made them delay the trip, but now they have decided to take their chances. There are just some things that one has to experience for themselves. As we understand it, the plan is to pick up Kristi's brother, Patrick Van Tassel, in Sioux Falls to help out with the driving.

I was just a bit shocked to here that Allene Volek died last Thursday. I was even more shocked to here she was 92. I knew that her health was not the best, after all she was in the Highmore Nursing Home (or whatever they call it now).

Mrs. Volek was such a remarkable lady and a fellow Methodist. She was one of a handful of UMW members to receive the "Jewel of a Woman Award". Those who knew her could tell you why. I didn't know her all that well, but one thing about her impressed me the most. After all of the different potluck dinners and funerals, she would take the dish towels home, wash, iron and fold them and bring them back. I've known very few women in my brief span of life who took the loving care to do that, even with their own towels.

Today is Allene Volek's Funeral. I don't know who will take care of the dish towels after they have been used this afternoon. I hope that whoever does it remembers that they have huge shoes to fill.

How many roads must a man walk down

Before you call him a man?

Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail

Before she sleeps in the sand?

Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly

Before they're forever banned?

The answer, my friend, is 42,

The answer is 42.

How many times must a man look up

Before he can see the sky?

Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have

Before he can hear people cry?

Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows

That too many people have died?

The answer, my friend, is 42,

The answer is 42

How many years can a mountain exist

Before it's washed to the sea?

Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist

Before they're allowed to be free?

Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,

Pretending he just doesn't see?

The answer, my friend, is 42,

The answer is 42.