HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY to all our wonderful moms in Belmont County and beyond. We pray that you receive the greatest gift of all, that of love. You certainly deserve that, and much more.

There is no substitute for a mother’s love. She is the one who exerts every influence for good. She will stand by her children in thick and thin. She will laugh with them and cry with them and you can go to her with all kinds of problems, and she will help you.

On this day, I will remember my mom because of what she meant to me and to our family. She worked hard, raised six children during times that were rough. I look back on those days in Boydsville and often wonder how mom accomplished all that she did.

I recall those days in World War II. Every day she would remind us to pray for our two brother who were in the war and for all the other boys in Boydsville.

I remember my mom every day. and I am forever grateful for all that she did for our family. I will say a prayer of gratitude because of the influence she had on each of us. Never once did I ever hear her complain. She taught us right from wrong. She was a sterling example of holiness and prayed constantly. I remember how she had her Rosary beat in her apron pocket and she would finger them as she went about her daily tasks. She taught us the importance of faith, hard work, sacrifice, and to be good to each, other and those around us.

Mom died on Sept. 29, 1965. Never does a day go by that I don’t think of her, thank her and pray to her to continue to watch over me and my family.

On this day, I also thank my wife, Rose Mary, for the love and devotion she has for our family. She is a typical mother and rejoices in the accomplishments of our children. She impresses on them the importance of doing their best. And I might add, that our children and I love her beyond measure. It is my prayer that God grant her many years of continued good health, happiness and blessings.

As Mother’s Day approaches, I read the card I received f rom the Maryknoll Missionaries a few years ago. It says a lot about mothers.

“God has blessed each one of us with the powerful and everlasting gift of a mother’s love. Each one of us has been enriched by the bond we formed with our birth mother, grandmothers, godmother, or adoptive mother. It is a gift that has the power to bring each of us one step closer to the Lord, who knew us even before we drew our first breath.”

Last year, a woman from Shadyside sent me a poem she wrote about Mothers Day. It is as follows:

“It’s time again for Mother ‘s Day when we honor moms in some special way.

“We buy her some flowers or take her to dinner to let her know that we think she’s a winner.

“But Mother’s Love isn’t saved for just one day.

“They shower i on us in so many ways.

“So,. as we are drinking our Mother’ Day Tea.

“Remember how strong mother’s love can be.

“No holiday should be needed for us to show our love and give thanks each day to our Lord above for the mothers who have sacrificed daily for us and whose love and guidance have meant so much.

“Now we honor all our mother, whether here or far away, or living with our Savior to meet again some other day.

“Show your mother that you love her by thought, word and deed, for following God’s wishes we will be blessed indeed.”

So, honor and love your mom, not only on Mother’s Day, but every day of the year. If you are fortunate to still have her with you, tell her how much she is loved, and if she has been called to Heaven, then say a prayer of thanks for her life and for all that she did for you. Remember always that Mother is the best friend you will ever have.

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THERE is still time for Belmont County residents to have their pets vaccinated. Clinics will be held on Tuesday, May12 at the Martins Ferry Recreation Center and at the Somerton Fire House. On Thursday, May 14, clinics will be held at the Martins Ferry First Christian Church and at Belmont Mills in Belmont. All clinics will begin a 6:30 p.m. The fee is $10.

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PULTNEY TOWNSHIP will hold its Community Clean-up Day on Saturday, May 16. Residents can bring their items from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. to the Neffs Volunteer Fire Station on Pike Street. Wholesale Electronics of Bellaire Bellaire will provide a house household electronics collection and old televisions and monitors will be accepted.

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SATURDAY, May 16, is Armed Forces Day. May we always be grateful for the sacrifices our troops have made down through the years to protect our freedom and our way of life. We are a nation richly blessed because of what our service personnel have done for us.May God grant eternal rest to those who have died and may He bless those who are still with us.

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LAST Weekend’s beautiful weather saw many yard and garage sales springing up in Belmont County. They were especially noticeable along US 40 in the Bridgeport, Brookside, Lansing area. No doubt people are getting primed for the Annual Historic National Road US 40 Yard Sale which runs from Wednesday, May 27 to Sunday, May 31. when there will be 25 miles of sales from Bridgeport to Hendysburg. Yard sale signs are available to registered participants. Call the Belmont County Tourism Council at (740) 695-4359 for information.

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“CUTTING CLASS For a Cure” gets underway on Friday, May 15, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Barnesville Middle School. It is designed to raise funds for the 3C Cancer Support Group, an organization which offers financial support to cancer patients living in Belmont County. Everyone is welcome to attend and any donations can be sent to the Barnesville Middle School. The way it works is that the students pay a dollar for each class they want cut. When they cut the class they can go outside or go to the gym where food vendors and games are set up. The kids can walk the track, play cornhole or frisbee, etc. Denise Leach, middle school teacher is in charge of this years’ event.

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BELMONT COUNTY Engineer Fred Bennett said the recently held Annual Meeting of Township Trustees and Fiscal Officers and the department’s annual safety training meeting were successful . He said there were great speakers at each event and thanked John Parkinson and Terry Lively for lining them up. “All our speakers did a great job and I thank them,’ Bennett said. He announced that May 27 has been set for the bid opening for a new bridge replacement on the Barton-Blaine Road. The nearly $1 million project will be funded 80 percent by the Federal Highway Administration and 20 percent by the Ohio Public Works Commission.

“It looks like we are going to have another busy summer,” Bennett said.

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THE Seventh Annual Lansing Follies Minstrel Show will be held on Friday and Saturday, May 29-30 at7:30 p.m. at th e Lansing Community Center, (former Lansing Elementary School), at 68583 Scott St., Lansing. Admission is $5 and proceeds will benefit the Community Foundation of Lansing. Theme of the minstrel is “Asking The Musical Question.”

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VETERANS of the Vietnam War, Ohio Post 1, will place flags on the graves of veterans buried in cemeteries at Linwood and St. Anthony in Blaine, on Saturday, May 16, at 9 a.m.