The Heat Is Still On!

The sultry period of mid-summer known as the "Dog Days," have just passed (ended Aug. 11th , according to tradition) but the weather outside remains frightfully hot, humid, and dry.

As the old Temptations song on Motown Records says..."I wish is would rain." That sentiment is reflected in the desires, wishes, and prayers of many Patrick Countians, especially farmers, who have been stricken by one of the driest summer's that I can remember; one of the hottest too! Weather spotter Clyde Brown at Critz (keep him in your prayers as he undergoes follow-up cataract surgery at Forsyth Memorial Hospital in Winston-Salem Tue., Aug 14th, whose wisdom I value dearly, says he can remember other summers that have been drier. That is true, I'm sure, but we all would agree that most areas of our beautiful country are parched by the lack of rainfall. One of my friends told me the other day that a sign of rain is the lack of dew on the grass in the morning. I've noticed that occurance several times recently but so far the rain has not come, at least not to the terrain near me.

Speaking of the heat, Woolwine weather spotter John Johnson reported today that one of his associates at work recently purchased a new thermometer. John's colleague laid his new temperature gauge on his deck until he had time to put it up. Before he installed it, however, the hands of the thermometer melted in the intense heat. That's pretty hot. It was so hot one afternoon last week that Mary Alley, co-operator of the Coffee Break in Stuart, considered conducting an experiment to see if it was hot enough to fry an egg on the sidewalk on Main Street in Stuart. I don't know if she finally conducted the experiment but I'll bet it would have come close to cooking in the frying sun.

According to today's forecast, the hot dry weather will continue at least through this weekend. However, I have learned in my years as in radio that the forecast can change in a hurry. Last Friday, for instance, the forecast predicted NO rain for the 7-day forecast period, but that very afternoon a cloud formed and produced about fifteen-one-hundredths of an inch (.15) of rain in the Five Forks to Stateline area along Rt. 8 south fo Stuart toward the North Carolina line. Not much rain at all, but certainly it was very welcome just the same.

When it comes to rain or anything else, just remember that God is aware of our needs and He is faithful to bless us and meet those needs in His own time. So let's just count the blessings that the Lord has given us and trust that He will continue to supply what we need to live and to serve His purpose for our lives. God is good!

"School days, school days, dear old golden rule days..." are about to resume here in Patrick County. The 2007-2008 public school year in Patrick County will officially start Tues., Aug. 14th (the Trinity Christian School year begins Aug. 22nd). I wish the students, teachers, administrators, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, maintenance personnel, and school support personnel of all sorts a productive and safe year. As motorists, we all have the responsibility to drive carefully at all times, especially in school zones and when approaching school buses that are loading and unloading. Observe all traffic laws regarding the safe transportation of our youth, our future, to and from school, and be on the watch for our children who often scamper into the road without thinking. God bless our children and our schools. I encourage parents to get involved in their children's education and show them the love and nurturing they need in these crucial formative years of their lives. I also encourage all citizens to get involved and support our community schools in whatever way that God may lead us. Welcome back, Patrick County students!

I loved the Peach Festival and enjoyed each of the 5 events that made up the weeklong celebration. The Friday night event at Rotary Field that I was grateful to emcee, though hampered by the heat, was a blast as was the Folk Fair at Meadows of Dan Saturday. It is obvious that this year's event, one of the most successful in the 19-year history of the official state peach festival, was successful and very well attended because of what I call the "3 P's"...Planning, Promotion, and Participation. I am proud to have worked with the Chamber of Commerce in stiving to make this year's event successful. For all their hard work and key leadership, I especially thank Tom Bishop, Chamber Executive Director; Janice Wilkens, Chamber President; Dean Goad, Chamber Vice-President; and Major Sponsors, Vicki Hutchens-Bennett of New York Life, Barry Nelson of the Nelson Automotive Family, and John Hopkins of Hopkins Lumber Contractors for their many contributions to the success of Virginia's State Peach Festival, another proud Patrick County tradition.

One final note, the local health care system was enhanced today, Mon., Aug. 13th by the opening of the new rural health clinic, "a physician's office within a hospital" as Janice Wilkins has termed it, at the R.J. Reynolds Patrick County Memorial Hospital. I enjoyed attending Monday's ribbon cutting. More on the clinic coming up on the local news.

Until next time, may God bless you with a "great day."

Your radio friend,
Richard