Facebook Updates

It seems I spend a bit of time on Facebook. The thing is I know it. Here are the last few postings I have had. It goes from newest to oldest.

Katrina Potter Patty is off to bed!
Katrina Potter Patty is off the ball games!
Katrina Potter Patty has another busy day. Planning scouts for tonight, working on my Kindergarten Wednesday night lesson for Mission's, contemplating going to the pool company for shock, working on Operation Christmas Child stuff (that's right no typo). Well maybe not a busy day but I could fit a couple of more things in. EVIL EVIL Facebook
Katrina Potter Patty Now how about this one. Nobody puts Baby in the corner!
Katrina Potter Patty Grease is the word is the word is the word.....
Katrina Potter Patty just got back from Operation Christmas Child kick off.
Katrina Potter Patty just watched the local 155th leave from Tupelo. It was so sad. Cars pulled over on the side of the road for them. Motorcycles & Police Officers were leading, following & escorting them.
Katrina Potter Patty is headed to the ball fields AGAIN!
Katrina Potter Patty is headed off to lead a bunch of kindergarteners make Mother's Day crafts. FUN FUN FUN.....really!
Katrina Potter Patty dang I am gonna miss my friends tonight while they are supporting LeBonheur. Think of me while I am sitting at the ball fields.
Katrina Potter Patty Women rule the world...men are just here for the company. Just heard it on a commercial.
Katrina Potter Patty has to take her overweight dog for yearly shots, drop off a riding mower with the trailer, get some mulch, spread it, get ready to teach kindergarteners tonight & hopefully have a Mountain Dew somewhere in between.
Katrina Potter Patty is headed to work on new empty bowls for next years Salvation Army Empty Bowls Luncheon.
Katrina Potter Patty is headed out to a baseball game & then to Boy Scouts.
Katrina Potter Patty is back from a wet & cold baseball practice.
Katrina Potter Patty is relaxing & watching movies with her guys tonight.
Katrina Potter Patty What do you think the purpose of life is? To be useful & make a difference in life.
Katrina Potter Patty Wants everyone to know that you can get you some good seats for Alan Jackson tonight. I just checked online & the good seats that have been held back are being released. Section 102 Row 3 near the stage came up.
Katrina Potter Patty wants to update her blog but can't seem to get the gumption (is that a word) up to do it.
Katrina Potter Patty now has an official Boy Scout in the house. Chris did a crossover ceremony at church tonight. It was really special.
Katrina Potter Patty is waiting on word from family that had straight line winds come through Scottsboro early this morning. Tore the town up pretty bad. Alot of people with no electricity. My sister has power so she took my mom that had no power a pot of coffee. All is well in their life now.

Scottsboro Alabama Storms

Ask anyone in the south "How is the weather". Crazy would be the word. It is never the same in any season. I turn on the heat one day & the air the next. Wear t-shirts one day & pull out the long sleeves the next. Never know what to expect. Would I move out of the South? NO.
My sister has tried sending me pictures she went out & made but they can't come through becasue of her server. A blog I visit has some pictures. This was no tornado just winds. The blog explains it. Be sure & read her blog. She has alot of good info.

Penny's Purse

Penny's Purse Storm Damage Pictures

Scottsboro Daily Sentinel this article explains what happened that have people
confused.

Jackson County declared disaster area

Ginger Snap Photo's of High Wind Damage





This is a picture from a friend of mine. She has some listed on Facebook. It is her car. Well..... was her car.

‘Little Deere’ loader apparently stolen

How to know you are from a small town.....
You know when you open up your hometown paper (or go to the website) & most of the news involves your relatives. A little bit of good & a litttle bit of bad. This was about my Brother-in-law. Wouldn't you just love to know who took it & look them in the eyes & ask WHY? To steal right from a Baptist Association office.
Here are 2 other articles about it & one below the picture.
Times Journal
The Weekly Post

Have you seen this tractor?The Sand Mountain Baptist Association Disaster Relief Team recently had this tractor stolen off their premises. For more information on the theft, see this week's edition of The Weekly Post.

‘Little Deere’ loader apparently stolen
By Chasity Brown
The Daily Sentinel
Published February 5, 2009

A small tractor that has been used to help countless families in need has been stolen from the Sand Mountain Baptist Association.
According to David Patty, Director of Missions for the Sand Mountain Baptist Association, the small John Deere tractor the association uses in disaster relief was stolen this past weekend from the Sand Mountain Baptist Associational Office under a garage.
The trailer it was sitting on was also stolen. The association reported the theft to the Jackson County Sheriff's Office on Monday."Our disaster relief team has used 'little deere' all over the country to help people, and now someone has stolen it," Patty said.
"It is a sad day indeed."The tractor is a John Deere compact tractor model 4100 with a front loader model 410.
The front loader has been modified to aid in debris removal.
The trailer is a 16 foot Lone Wolf flat bed.
Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call the Jackson County Sheriff's Office at 574-2610.

Update on my Uncle that was hurt on the job.

Lewis back at work after injury
By Dewayne Patterson
The Daily Sentinel
Published February 4, 2009
Larry Lewis, a deputy at the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, had never been out of work more than three days, other than vacation time, before December of last year.
That changed on a Sunday night in Section on Dec. 21, 2008. That night, while directing traffic on Alabama Highway 35 as members of the Section Fire Department battled a structure fire, Lewis was struck by a vehicle.
Lewis suffered two broken legs, a concussion, bruised sternum and several lacerations. Tuesday, Lewis, 54, was finally able to return to work, on restrictive duty, in the sheriff's office."I'm thrilled to death to be back," Lewis said. "I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the world not to be hurt any worse."
Lewis spent two days in Huntsville Hospital before spending the next several weeks at home recuperating. He said he doesn't remember the accident."We're proud to have him back," said Chief Deputy Doyle York.
"He'll be on limited duties for awhile, and hopefully be back to 100 percent in the next few weeks.
"Lewis, who has been employed with the sheriff's office since 2003, said one of the main reasons he was able to return to work was the many thoughts and prayers he received, in addition to the numerous phone calls from people checking on him.

The paper article

(Click for larger view)

Pray for my Uncle

(My mother w/Larry Paul)

I got a call from my mother this morning that my Uncle Larry Paul was taken to Huntsville Hospital. He is a police officer for Jackson County in my hometown. He was injured on the job last night.

From what I heard he was directing traffic because of a house fire & a lady that grew impatient tried to go around to get away & hit him. She was wanted on some other charges so at the moment I believe she is sitting in the pokey.

My mother said he busted the windshield out when he hit, it broke both his legs & it did something to his lungs. Everything seems to not be life threatening but it is serious. Alot of rehab ahead I imagine. I hope to see him this weekend. He is a special Uncle to me. My dad passed away a few months before I married. Larry Paul walked me down the aisle & gave me away. You never forget those things. Thanks Larry Paul. I love you.

(Way back when...1986)

Riley Corbitt - Heavens Newest Angel

I received some really sad news yesterday. My cousins little girl Riley passed away. The Lord had put her here on this earth for a while to touch the hearts of many but He was ready for her to come to Him now. She passed away around 1:30 yesterday afternoon. I did not get to see Riley as much as I would like to have living away from my hometown. You could always ask about her & everyone could give you updates.

Here is an article that was in my hometown newspaper about her explaining her disease.

The Daily Sentinel
Published March 25, 2006
Roy and Paula Corbitt of Woodville are living every parent’s worst nightmare. Instead of watching their beautiful 3-year-old daughter, Riley, grow and thrive each day, learning new skills and exploring the world around her, they are watching their child regress, slowly losing the milestones she had already reached.

Paula & Riley

Riley is in the grips of a degenerative disease that has ravaged her body for all of her young life and is expected to claim her life within the next few years.Riley has fought hard from the beginning of her life. Born at 35 weeks, she turned an ash gray color the day before she was supposed to come home from the hospital. Riley was moved to the neonatal unit for special medical attention. During this period, the baby would suddenly stop breathing. She was examined and found to have jaundice with an enlarged liver and spleen.

When the doctors were able to control her jaundice, Riley was sent home and followed up with a gastrologist in Huntsville. At the age of 2 months, Riley was sent to Children’s Hospital in Birmingham where doctors repaired three hernias and performed a liver biopsy. The doctor diagnosed Riley as having neonatal hepatitis. Her parents were told she would outgrow the condition within a year, and doctors prescribed medications.

She never outgrew her symptoms; in fact, they only grew worse.Shortly before Riley turned 2, doctors recommended that she receive a liver transplant because her condition had turned into cirrhosis. Paula researched her options and requested that Riley be sent to Emory for the transplant. Her parents met with the transplant team and were preparing for the operation when Dr. Romero decided to test her for Niemann-Pick’s disease since Riley had several symptoms.

The four main symptoms of Niemann-Pick’s disease are an enlarged lived, an enlarged spleen, jaundice and palsy of the eyes. The only symptom that Riley does not exhibit is the palsy.Riley underwent a liver biopsy and skin biopsy and was diagnosed with Niemann-Pick’s disease a little over a month later.

Paula explained that Niemann-Pick’s disease is a genetic disorder. The only way for a child to have the disease is for both parents to carry the gene for it, and even then there is only a 25 percent chance that the child will have the disease.

There are also different types of the disease, which are characterized from A to C, depending on life expectancy. For example, children with Type A will normally die before reaching age 2. Riley has Type C, which means she only has a life expectancy of 5 or 10 years.

The disease is characterized by the inability to metabolize cholesterol and other lipids properly within cells. Consequently, excessive amounts of cholesterol and other lipids accumulate in the liver, spleen and brain, causing the brain and other organs to deteriorate.

Paula said the disease is already progressing rapidly in Riley. At her MRI in October, the doctor told them that lesions have begun forming on her brain, signifying damage and loss of brain tissue.

Her parents have already begun to notice her decline. A year ago, she was able to walk unassisted, but now she needs support to be able to move around. Her speech is also deteriorating.“Riley won’t go forward anymore,” Paula said. “She is starting to go backward.”

At her March 7 appointment, there was no new loss of brain tissue but the muscles in her back and throat have begun to weaken. Her spleen is now enlarged to her navel.

The disease also causes Riley to have tremors which are helped by an experimental drug called Cevesca. Although the drug is not FDA approved, it is her only hope in slowing the storage of cholesterol on her brain. Paula said that although the side effects cause additional problems for Riley, the medication does help control the tremors.

The future does not hold much hope for Riley. Doctors say she will eventually be bed-ridden and need a feeding tube, unable to walk, talk, or even swallow. Niemann-Pick’s disease is incurable. The doctors have offered her parents no hope for a recovery. “It slowly kills everything,” Paula said. “We were told all there is (to help) is the Cevesca, but they don’t know if it will help.” A liver transplant is not even an option now. “They won’t giver her a liver transplant because they won’t give a healthy liver to a child who won’t get any better,” Paula said.

In the midst of this seemingly hopeless situation, there is joy and a great deal of love. Riley and her family recently lived out every child’s dream – going to Disney World – through the Make A Wish and Give Kids the World foundations. Paula said Riley had a wonderful time, and she especially enjoyed riding the carousel and train.

The family also plans to travel to Dallas in August for the National Niemann-Pick’s Disease Foundation Family Conference. There, they will be able to meet with doctors and researchers, as well as other families who are living with the disease. The community is also embracing Riley and trying to raise money to help the family deal with medical expenses. Just one bottle of Cevesca costs $3,000, and that does not even begin to take into account the medical expenses that have added up during Riley’s young life.

A benefit for Riley will be held April 8 at Woodville High School gymnasium from noon until 8 p.m. There will be a gospel and bluegrass concert, a raffle, chili supper, cake auction and silent auction. Many items have been donated for the auction, including an Alabama football, a Shaun Alexander football, grills, quilts, televisions and much more. A special fund has also been set up at Regions Bank for monetary donations for Riley. The money will be used to help pay for her medical expenses.

Riley has a way of touching everyone’s heart. Despite the gravity of the situation and her physical decline, Riley wakes up every morning with a smile on her face and is a delight in the lives of everyone who knows her – or just has the pleasure of meeting her.

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This is the statement I read that sticks to me each time I think of Riley.

"Riley has a way of touching everyone’s heart.

Despite the gravity of the situation and her physical decline, Riley wakes up every morning with a smile on her face and is a delight in the lives of everyone who knows her – or just has the pleasure of meeting her."

Click for larger view.

Old Pictures

Click on picture for larger view

While walking around during "First Sunday" I got a picture of my hometown square from a vendor by the name of Garry Morgan. I love pictures of my hometown. Mostly older ones.

The Scottsboro Boys Trial occured on First Monday April 1931.

Another type I love is to go back & get "after" pictures when I find an old one. My hometown square is still quite active.

This is the old Bynum's grocery on Broad Street when it was a 2 lane. I lived across the street. Then change comes along & a Sherwin Williams is built. It is still there today.

The city has a project that you can buy a brick for the gazebo project on the square. My husband & BIL's bought one for their mother. I have to say I was a bit disappointed that it was dirty & not laid very well. I hope after the next batch is put down they redo some.

My mother was in desperate need of cleaning out her outside shed & ran across a few of these old postcards of my dad's. We spent a great deal of time out somewhere or another with my dad making pictures. He ran Boots' Photo Service off "The Square". I sure did spend alot of my time there it seems.

On the back of the postcard reads......."The late Calvin McGee, Chief of the Creek Indians East of the Miss. River with Long White eagle at TA-CO-BET (Aug. 1969). This was Chief McGee's last visit to "God's Mountain". Located six miles east of Scottsboro, on Highway 40.

Scout Day at Huntsville Space & Rocket

Chris (Webelo 2 rank), Me, & Matthew (Tiger rank)

Pack 85 Tupelo, MS

Alot of our pack went to the Space & Rocket Center this past Saturday. The church vans transported alot of the group & several took their own cars. They left that morning & came back later that afternoon. I took my own vehicle & stayed the weekend back home. I am SOOO tired. I stay busy the whole time I am there. Since Jeff did not get to go my mom & sister went & spent Saturday with us at the Space & Rocket Center.

Later the boys & I ran by & spent some time with Jeff's dad (my in-laws). My baby sister called when I was about to leave from there & wanted to know if I wanted to run to Wally World with her. We went & did the Southern thing of shopping & running into people & talking & catching up. We left there & drove around & waited on my niece to get off work at the pizza place. We made her & her friends take us cruising around "The Square". We lead very pathetic lives to hang out with 19 year olds. We just had to see if it had changed any since we were that age. It has not just to let you know. By the way the only reason they let us go was because I let her drive my vehicle & it was my gas that made the many trips around "The Square" & town. The reason we finally went home.....the old people in the back seat was about to fall asleep (my sister & I). Boy were we tired & it was not even midnight.

Pastor appreciation was the next day at my sister's church & they were honoring their pastor that performed my wedding years & many years ago.

In my hometown they have a Trade Day the "First Sunday" & "First Monday" of each month around "The Square". Not much was going on but it was still fun walking around & remembering a place I walked for as long as I remember. If you go & don't run into someone you know you must not be looking. I seen my husbands neice & her little family I rarely get a chance to see while back home. We tired of walking & went after lunch. Then back to my sisters to pack up & leave town finally around 5:00. Engine light came on so that threw my time off a bit. (My neice did not tighten the gas cap after she put gas in for me)

Got back here to MS finally around 9:00pm.

Now back to real life back here & got to get busy with Operation Christmas Child at church.

Off to cook dinner now.

More later.

First Monday poem

The following poem by the late E.A. (Boots) Potter (my dad)
describes Scottsboro’s “First Monday.”
Written back in the 70’s & was printed in the

The Daily Sentinel in Scottsboro
©
First Monday

Once a month in my home town
People come from miles around.
They come by wagon, horse back or car
Some even walk if it’s not too far.

Candidates, preachers, and old mountaineers
Have been coming here for many years.
Some bring their dogs and family too
All kinds of junk both old and new.

And the things they bring for trade
Some they bought and some they made.
Whatever you want just look around
If it was ever made then it’s in town.

Rummage sales and soft drink stands,
Coin dealers and country bands,
Pocket knives, bottles and jars,
Banjos, fiddles, and electric guitars.

First Monday of the month twelve times a year,
People come from far and near.
First time for some, but that’s no sin
If you see it once you’ll come again.

Now as to me- -I’m getting old
And when I was young I was told
This day was started by a swapping deal
Of two work horses out in the field.

Each man agreed when the horses were tried
They would meet First Monday if not satisfied
Each one left when the date was set
That’s how it started and it’s going yet.

If you’ve never been, then you’ve missed a lot.
There are many things you could have got
A gun, a dog or a pocket knife
Most anything- -even a wife.

Girl watchers come from far and near.
Beautiful girls are always here.
Blacks, Whites and Indians too,
Long haired hippies, we have a few.

But it’s not so bad ‘til you look around
At the mess they leave when they leave town.
Now as residents, we always stay
To get it cleaned, the city must pay.

So when you leave just look around,
Try to leave it like it was found.
One other thing I’d like to say
You all are welcome---enjoy the day.

Missing my Hometown

After visiting a site tonight I miss my hometown once again. Here is what is going on at the moment. Once a month we have what is called First Sunday / First Monday Trade Day. I remember always being drug uptown or downtown as we call it. I would love to be drug now to it. Anytime I am back home I make a point to go. Labor Day is one of the largest.
I spotted my Aunt Lottie in a picture. Not hard to spot her. ......."Quilts and Crafts" lady.

Go take a look at some of my hometown HERE & HERE & HERE ALSO.

Take a look at a bit of the history of how it started.

Meet the new Mayor, my cousin, Mayor Elect Melton Potter.