The Rock Wall

Bulldog Athletic Director Mike Durnell called with good news from the sub-station fire Tuesday. He said that each Tuesday the Middle School football parents buy 50 sandwiches from Subway. Mike said that when the power went off, the school cancelled their game with Butler and the parents called Subway to also cancel their order. Too late, the sandwiches were already made. Subway called their headquarters and was told to donate the sandwiches to the fire fighters. Mike said, “Subway went above and beyond.”

– Late Tuesday afternoon, City Manager Bruce Rogers said they don’t know yet what caused the fire at the electrical sub-station behind the PD just after noon. I know this: we thought it might be days before our electricity came back on so we could get this newspaper ready to go to press. Kimball called me at 3:30 to report our lights were back on. That’s two Tuesdays in a row the Utility Department crew has performed magic. Thank you.

– Saturday morning as I was driving to town to meet with Tom and Lana Sue (Lewallen) Jones to do a story on their Century Far, I started to wonder how long I had known them. Don’t remember meeting either of them. I’ve just always known them.

Tom was two when Mom and Dad carried me into Glade Springs Church so he probably met me before I knew I met him.

Lana Sue and I went to the first grade at Liston when we were both 5. Both in Miss Stewart’s room.

After we visited their farm and I took pictures and Lana Sue drove us back, Tom told me that some people ask if he can sing since his name is Tom Jones. He tells them if they have heard a fire alarm that will empty a building, his singing will do the job quicker.

After I got back from interviewing the Jones, Kimball and I had just enough time to get to Papinville before the wagon tour left at 1 p.m. to see the Big Ditch. Glad we went. Quite interesting.

– Davis knows I’m always looking for interesting tidbits to share with you. His email was titled “Thought you’d like these.” You might, too.

After every flight, UPS pilots fill out a form, called a “gripe sheet” which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form, then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight.

Here are actual maintenance complaints submitted by UPS pilots (“P”) and solutions recorded (“S”) by maintenance engineers:

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.

S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.

S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit

S: Something tightened in cockpit

P: Dead bugs on windshield.

S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent

S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.

S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.

S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.

S: That’s what friction locks are for.

P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.

S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.

S: Suspect you’re right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.

S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.

S: Aircraft warned to: straighten up, fly right and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.

S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.

S: Cat installed.

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.

S: Took hammer away from midget KL