BanksNewsTODAY

A Lula man said he believes a fire at a building he owns on Garrison Shoals Road was an arson.
The man reported to the Banks County Sheriff’s Office that he saw the fire and was able to put it out. He added that he found possible evidence of arson, including a red oil filter he found near the building. He also found a lighter an oil filter box in the field near the building.
Other incidents reported to the sheriff’s office last week include the following:
•television stolen from a Sandy Drive, Alto, residence.
•white truck stolen from the parking lot of the Atlanta Dragway at Banks Crossing. The victim said he parked the truck in the lot around 8 a.m. and it was gone when he returned at 11:30 a.m.
•theft of a computer from Wal-Mart. A man was spotted taking the computer out of its box and passing it to a woman who left the store without paying for it.
•someone attempted to pass a forged $20 bill at a Banks Crossing business.
•break-in at a rental home on Hwy. 441 in Baldwin.

For more crime news, see this week's issue of the Banks County News.

BY ANGELA GARY
A small green dress with white polka-dots on it and a row of small flowers around each sleeve and the waist. A black windbreaker with a couple dancing in white on the back. A white lacey top with black gaucho-style pants with a two red lines across the bottom of each leg. A black and white dress with a flower design. The tiny black dress with a red “B” on it.
These are just a few of the pieces of clothing I uncovered when I recently cleaned out a closet in the extra bedroom in our home. As I pulled each piece of clothing from the closet, I was immediately overcome with memories of the time I wore the clothing, even though it had been more than 40 years since for some of the clothes. For some reason, I have held on to them over the years as I’ve cleaned out the closet. They always make the “keep” pile as I try to get rid of stuff. I guess it’s because of the memories they bring back.
The small green dress with white polka-dots on it and the row of flowers on the sleeves and waist was the dress I wore when I was a flower girl in a family friend’s wedding. I was 5 or 6 years old and didn’t like being all dressed up and having to walk down the aisle holding the ring bearer’s hand. In all of the photos, I have an angry look on my face.
The black windbreaker with the couple dancing on the back of it also has “Nicholson Cloggers” on it. A few other items I found in the closet were dresses I wore as a clogger. A green dress with a blue vest, a coral colored dress with small flowers on it and a red and white striped dress are just a few I still have. I have so many memories of clogging with my friends. We were regulars at the Daisy Festival and traveled to Helen, Stone Mountain and other places throughout North Georgia to perform. We marched and clogged through Commerce and Jefferson in the annual Christmas parades. And, of course, I still remember how to clog today. It’s not something you forget.
The white lacey top with black gaucho-style plants is my first color guard outfit. I was in the first marching band that Jackson County Comprehensive High School ever had, which was in the early 1980s. I also have my color guard jacket with the JC letter on it.
The black and white dress with a flower design on it was the dress I wore when I graduated from the University of Georgia. I also have a pale pink dress with flowers on it that I wore from the Journalism School graduation at UGA. Both special days and I’m glad I have the dresses to remind me of those times.
The tiny black dress with a “B” on it is from my days cheering for the Benton Bulldogs when I was in elementary school.
In these days when we get rid of so much stuff, I’m glad that I held on to these pieces of my past. The clothes don’t fit any more. And they wouldn’t mean anything to anyone but me. But they don’t take up too much room in the closet and it’s nice to occasionally pull them out and remember some of the best days of my childhood and early adulthood.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at AngieEditor@aol.com.

BY ANGELA GARY
She had just undergone surgery. She was still on oxygen and looked tiny in that hospital bed. At first, I didn’t even see her in the bed.
She’s in a lot of pain and it’s hard to understand what she is staying. She is mumbling and looking at me.
I think she is saying, “head, head, head.” I ask if her head is hurting.
“No,” she quickly replies, asking me, “How is your head.”
That’s my Mama.
As she is rolled out of surgery, the first thing on her mind is whether the headache I’ve had for the past few weeks is better.
A little later in the afternoon, when my sister and brother-in-law get ready to leave, she starts reminding them to stop and get Daddy something to eat. She’s not worried about her own meal for the night. Instead, she wants to make sure Daddy is taken care of.
That’s my Mama.
The night of the surgery, Mama and I were about to try to get some sleep in her hospital room, when a tornado warning was issued.
A nurse and several assistants suddenly ran in the room, started unhooking all of the equipment and told us we had to move to a hallway with no windows. We were in that hallway, along with other patients, family members and hospital staff or over an hour. Was Mama worried about our safety. Probaby a little but she was also telling me to keep texting the family at home and make sure they were all OK.
That’s my Mama.
Mama is slowly recovering from her surgery, and I’m still trying to get rid of the headaches. Through all of this, it’s been a blessing to have somoene who always puts you first. I know Mama will always put us first. That’s just the way she is.
Angela Gary is an editor with MainStreet Newspapers Inc. She can be reached at Angie@mainstreetnews.com.

Malice murder charges have been filed against a Banks County man in the death of his infant son in January.
Derek Ethan Cook was also charged with cruelty to children in the first degree.
Cook is charged in connection with injuries his infant son, who later died, received.
Alto police chief Josh Ivey was contacted by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta in late December for a “possible shaken baby” that they had at Scottish Rite Hospital. Ivey reportedly spoke with a hospital official about the injuries the 6-week-old received and then contacted the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and requested assistance.
Cook was interviewed by the GBI and was charged with cruelty to children in February. The malice murder and cruelty to children charges were added after the recent completion of the GBI investigation.

The 46th annual Homer Holiday Festival will be held Friday, Aug. 31, and Saturday, Sept. 1, in downtown Homer.
The event will include activities for children, entertainment, food, booths and a parade.
Booths will open and entertainment will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday.
The parade will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday. There will also be booths and entertainment all day on Saturday.
For more information, a parade entry, vendor spaces or sponsorship opportunities, call 706-677-3510.