Waking the Dead

Talk about bad timing! A North Carolina sheriff’s official is apologizing for disturbing a funeral where undercover agents tried to serve an arrest warrant on the dead man’s son—and used a Taser to do so.

The Star-News of Wilmington reports that the incident happened Saturday afternoon as the coffin was being loaded into a hearse. The officers planned to quietly arrest Gladwyn Taft Russ III, but it turned into a scuffle. The 42-year-old Russ was charged with communicating threats against his ex-wife who lives in another state. Officials said he failed to turn himself in as promised.

New Hanover County sheriff’s chief deputy Ed McMahon said the officers’ move backfired in the emotional environment. McMahon said the officers should have waited until after the cemetery service.

What do you think? Did the officers overreact? Should they have waited? Was there a better plan that they could have used?

Happy Veteran's Day

Major James Richards Jr. thought his 22-year Army career was finished when he retired in 1993.

But when the military called, the 60-year-old volunteered for another tour of duty and deployed to Iraq.

Richards, a married father of five with several grandchildren, deployed to Iraq two months ago to become the headquarters company commander for the Fort Bragg-based 44th Medical Command.

“As corny as it may sound ... I wanted to serve the country again, and I felt like I was still mentally and physically in good enough shape to do that,” Richards said in a telephone interview from Iraq.

Richards, of Huntsville, Alabama, started his military career during the Vietnam War and retired at age 45. But when the Army started a program about four years ago to welcome back volunteer retirees in good enough shape to return to active duty, Richards offered to return.

Last fall, the Army called.

Richards took a leave of absence from his job as a contractor for the U.S. Army Aviation and Missile Command at the Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville. He deployed to Iraq on Sept. 7.

“I can honestly say that every day since I’ve come back on active duty, I’ve been excited about being able to put on a uniform again,” he said.

Back home in Alabama, his wife, Angela, said her husband seemed like he needed a new challenge and embraced his latest mission. They have five daughters, a couple of grandsons and four granddaughters. “I am concerned, of course. We are both mature adults and realize things can happen. Things can happen in your house. I just pray for his safety and all the soldiers.”

You know, with so much bad press about the military and the war and whether or not our country supports the war, I am so proud to read this story about Major Richards! What a brave American. What an American hero!

Happy Veteran’s Day to all veterans and active duty personnel. May God bless you with wisdom and safety.

You Get A Line, I'll Get A Pole!

David Hayes’ granddaughter needed to go to the bathroom! And, she couldn’t wait! So, what’s a girl to do? She asked her grandfather, David, to hold her Barbie rod and reel while she went to the bathroom.

He did. And seconds later he landed the state record channel catfish at 21 pounds, 1 ounce!

Alyssa’s father had bought the pink Barbie fishing rod for her for Christmas. Up until this record catch, she had caught a few bluegill before her grandfather hauled in the catfish.

The Winston-Salem Journal reported the catch August 5 in eastern Wilkes County has been certified as a record by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.

Hayes says his granddaughter worried he would break her rod. He landed the 21-pound fish on a 6-pound test line. It was 32 inches long, 2 inches longer than the rod.

There’s my problem! I’ve been using the wrong rod the entire time. I sure thought my Aqua Man rod and reel would do a better job of attracting fish than a Barbie pole.

Does anyone know where I can buy one?