GOOD MORNING FRANKLIN COUNTY

By Staff
Today is Friday, February 4, 2005. Expect mostly clear skies today with a high of 55 degrees. On this day in history:
1824 – A new invention by J.W. Goodrich, rubber galoshes, is introduced to the public.
1849 – The University of Wisconsin opens with 20 students.
1938 – "Our Town" by Thornton Wilder opens on Broadway.
1939 – The world's top mile runner, Glenn Cunningham, says that the 4-minute mile is beyond human effort. The current record is 3 minutes, 43.13 seconds.
1957 – The first electric typewriter is sold in Syracuse, New York.
1974 – Patricia Hearst is kidnaped by the Symbionese Liberation Army.
1983 – Singer Karen Carpenter dies in California at the age of 32.
1987 – Entertainer Liberace dies in Palm Springs, California, at the age of 67.
1997 – A civil jury finds O.J. Simpson guilty of murdering his wife and a companion.
FEBRUARY IS …..
If you are looking for something to celebrate you may like to know that February is American Heart Month, American History Month, Black History Month, Children's Dental Health Month, Cherry Month, Embroidery Month, Grapefruit Month, National Snack Food Month, National Wild Bird Feeding Month, and Responsible Pet Owners Month.
If you still need a reason to celebrate remember that Mardi Gras ends on February 8, Valentine's Day is Monday, February 14, and President's Day is Monday, February 21.
FULL CIRCLE STORY
Juan Manuel Alvarez of Compton, California, decided to kill himself by parking his truck on a railroad track near the town of Glendale. Alvarez changed his mind and jumped out of the car but when the train hit his vehicle it derailed killing ten passengers and injuring 120 others. Alvarez is now in jail facing 10 counts of murder and could possibly receive the death penalty.
SAVING MONEY
Penny Wyenberg of England decided 11 years ago to save a little money by doing away with one of those daily necessities – washing her hair. She believes the body has natural cleansing properties so since 1994 she has not shampooed her hair. Penny simply brushes her hair daily and rinses it with warm water about every two months. The English government says that if more citizens would follow Mrs. Wyenberg's philosophy of personal hygiene they could cut their imports of foreign oil by at least 30 percent.
I WAS THINKING
I was up late one night watching an infomercial for one of those mini-blenders. It was the one that promises to do any job in 10 seconds or less. The host of the show said that to blend you can either push down on the top or give it a twist to lock it in the blend mode indefinitely. So I was thinking, if the machine blends everything in 10 seconds or less, why would you need a lock mode?
WINE AND DINE
An enterprising businessman in the city of Dalian near Beijing, China, has decided to start a wine-making business. Sun Keman will not be using the traditional grapes for his wine because he will be using fish. Keman plans to ferment fish and make a wine that is both nutritious and low in alcohol. I can just hear a Chinese waiter asking, "Would you like an 87' Yellowfin Tuna or a 94' Bream with your meal?"
FULL CIRCLE
CRIMINAL
Last week a man robbed a Chevron gasoline station in Vancouver, Washington, and was able to escape from police after a high-speed chase. The only problem was that during the chase the thief got lost and wound up back at the store he had just robbed. Not recognizing the place, the crook asked the guy he had just robbed for directions. The attendant called police who helped the criminal find his way – straight to jail.
Richard Parker is Minister of Students and Education at First Baptist Church in Russellville. You can e-mail him your comments at RParker@russellvilleFBC.org.