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By Staff
Students grateful for tabernacle visit
Editor,
Thank you, Mrs. (Deborah) Smith, for an awesome day at the Hartselle Tabernacle. Wow! What a day we had! Walking to the tabernacle with our friends and spending the day outside is much better than staying inside at school any day.
We had fun learning something, too. Listening to Mr. Rob Cain talk about the history of the tabernacle and what it was like when he was a kid like us was really interesting. His stories about causing trouble in the girls' dorm were funny.
Mrs. Ann Rabb's stories about her life were nice, too. She had lots of pictures and books to teach us lessons we could use in our own lives.
Going out into the woods, we got a closer look at nature. We drilled in a tree to find out all about trees with Mr. Scott Vassar and Mr. Dewey Weaver, the forest guys, and Mr. Jay Grantland showed us how to test the water in the creek to see how good it is. Everybody picked cotton in the cotton field where Mr. Sport Bennich explained to us about the cottonseeds and the way cotton grows. That was great!
The leaf identification game with Mrs. Lee Ann Pettey made us think about all the kinds of leaves we have studied in science. We can't wait to find out which homeroom won the prize for the most correct answers.
Grinding and grating rocks and clay, we made the paints for Ms. Karen Wingenter's watercolor. She painted a beautiful picture with the paint she made from the things she found at the tabernacle.
Mrs. Robin Smith and Mrs. Emily Elmore introduced us to creative writing in nature, and Mr. Shane Alexander taught us about survival skills we might need. When Mr. Chris Keenum told stories about animals he had trapped right there at the creek behind the tabernacle, we were impressed. He brought a snake with him that he let us touch.
Mrs. Michelle Reburn and the eighth grade boys' chorus ensemble entertained us with a song that had been written here at the tabernacle, "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms." We want to say a special thank you to all the people who took time out of their work schedules to come and share their knowledge with is. We also want to thank Mr. (Don) Pouncey and all the teachers, parents, and volunteers who helped Mrs. Smith prepare for this special day.
Thank you to Mr. Jimmy Yarbrough for working so hard to get the tabernacle cleaned up and ready for us to use. Another special thank you goes to Mr. James Kifer for loaning the equipment and men to help with the cleanup.
The third annual Day at the Hartselle Tabernacle was great! This is the best way to learn.
Sixth grade students
Hartselle Junior High School
Garage sale shows Hartselle spirit
Editor,
I moved from Birmingham to Huntsville three years ago and then my wife and I moved to Hartselle three months ago. To say that we are happy with our choice is an understatement, but allow me to tell you of our garage sale experience here.
When you move you discover things you no longer "can't live without," things that don't fit the new digs and all too often too many of the same sort of "things."
OK, we set a time and admit to being a bit concerned as the garage sale regulations were far stiffer here than in either Huntsville or Birmingham (neither of which requires a permit nor sets a time or frequency limit).
We had held garage sales in both places and although most of the people were nice, sales were always marred by what we called "the professionals" who show up, usually in an older pickup, often the day before to "just look," or knock on your door at daylight, trying to get first pick.
Garage sales have become such a business in these cities that you can count on "fighting fire" waiting on customers starting on daybreak, then it's all over by 10 a.m.
OK, we were prepared for the typical big city garage sale when we put our treasures out on Thursday to begin the sale the next morning. To our surprise, no one showed up Thursday to "just look" (and steal our time). No one showed up Friday at daylight, beating on our door while we were trying to down a quick breakfast.
I fact, we had begun to worry that we were headed toward total disaster since we seemed not to be generating an interest (even the aggravating kind).
And then it started. And Judy and I were amazed. A steady flow of quiet, very courteous people, all of whom we enjoyed talking with. And total honesty. I guess the tone was set by a lady who said, "We were by earlier, wanted your drink sign, but realized you weren't up, so we put a note and $10 under your mat."
And that's the way it went all day. People would talk about how they remembered the history of the house we are restoring and the previous owners. They all showed a genuine interest in what we were doing. To them, the garage sale seemed secondary–they were enjoying life and we were part of it.
It was a good day and late that evening we went back to Huntsville to get some things we had left. We returned to find a sack of items on the porch with a note that she would be by first thing Saturday to pay for them. And a note stuck to a Hoosier cabinet by someone else that she wanted the cabinet and would bring us the money next morning or would make a trip that evening if we wished. Saturday was a copy of Friday–more nice people and more stories to hear. During a break, I sent Judy to Corum's to get some molding and when she got back she realized that she had only gotten two pieces instead of eight and Corum's was getting ready to close.
No problem, we'll just put that project off. We have plenty to do. Later, Judy told me, "The pastor of a local church and I were visiting and I told him what I had done. He picked up his cell phone, called Corum's and the six pieces will by lying out front after they close. He didn't even tell him who I was." And the lady picked up the Hoosier and I offered the use of my pickup to carry it to Decatur and she accepted. After the sale, we left to go to Huntsville to visit with Judy's mother and I told Judy as we go into the pickup that I probably needed to stop and get gas since it only had a quarter tank when the lady borrowed it.
Then I looked at the gas gauge and was shocked. The cabinet lady had filled the tank completely up (and that is not inexpensive). That kind, courteous gesture was the final icing on the cake to end by far the best garage sale we have ever experienced.
We want to thank all the nice people who came by and tell you how pleasant you made those two days and how delighted we are to be a part of your community.
Bill Spain
Hartselle