Many thanks to those dedicated volunteers (past and present) of the Green Creek Fire Department who have served the people of our area so well throughout the past 49 years, including William Henry Page and Ray Brown.

So many people in our community have given so much of their time and energy to keep us safe. When you see a fireman, or a former fireman, please thank them.

Fire Chief Michael Herman says plans are underway to celebrate the department’s 50th anniversary in January 2014. Meantime, the fire department needs our help with fundraising. If you can help buy uniforms, please send your donations to The Green Creek Volunteer Fire Department, 8645 NC Hwy. 9 S, Columbus, N.C. 28722.

A number of area residents choose to be married on, or near Valentine’s Day each year, and my congratulations go out to all those couples celebrating wedding anniversaries this month, including Barry and Kay Gee, Preston and Margaret Collins, Laddy and Teresa Edwards, Wilma and Lewis Williams, Bob and Linda Holbert, Debbie and Roger Turner, and Jeff and Kerry Arrowood.

Happy Birthday wishes go out to Kim Jolley, Jacob Pittman, Julie Stott, David Blackwell, Laddy Edwards, Kay Rice, Carolyn Fagan Stubblefield, and Ken, Kenny and J.J. Sauve. Congratulations to all of you.

If you saw the Superbowl commercial with the late Paul Harvey’s voice saying, “So God made a farmer” you will understand why this farmer’s daughter loved it so very much. Harvey’s unique talent was evident as he began that two minute story with “On the eighth day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, ‘I need a caretaker … so God made a farmer.” Harvey mentioned a number of qualities (patience, strength, endurance, family man, love) that farmers must have, then he ended each attribute with “so God made a farmer.”