McCann Who won hits 2 home the Indy runs in 500? Braves win —1B —1B THE DAILY CITIZEN Monday,May 25, 2009 •Dalton, Georgia • www.daltondailycitizen.com • 50 Cents Remember THINGS TO Left behind the cost of CHECK OUT freedom BY CHARLES OLIVER ON THE [email protected] 3 INSIDE FROM STAFF REPORTS More than 50 years later,Dot Vinsant can still remember when Several local events are planned her husband Cain’s Tennessee in honor of Memorial Day: Dalton High School National Guard unit was mobi- ■ A Memorial Day ceremony graduate lands columnist lized during the Korean War. will be at the Whitfield County job at Atlanta Journal- “The train came from Memphis Courthouse lawn today at 11 a.m. Constitution. and went all the way to Bristol and Members of the American picked up the soldiers in each Legion Post 112 have organized See page 3A town, and they were hanging out several patriotic activities. JoAnne the windows saying goodbye,”she Shirley, chairman of the board for recalled. “There was weeping and the National League of POW-MIA, A single faint is not likely wailing and gnashing of teeth will be the featured speaker. to be a sign of a serious when they left, and the parents and ■ In Murray County,the problem. the wives and the children were American Legion Post 167 of still standing there as the train Chatsworth will host a Memorial See Donohue,page 8A left.” Day ceremony today at 11 a.m. at Vinsant was one of several the Murray County Courthouse At 82, Richard Commins wives of veterans who spoke to lawn. may be the oldest person- The Daily Citizen recently. They State appeals court judge Sarah al trainer in the country. were left behind to tend to the Doyle will be the featured speaker. home, the finances and take care Free hamburgers and hot dogs for See page 11A of the children while their hus- veterans and their families will be bands faced the sobering prospect available after the ceremony at the of dying in battle. On patriotic Legion’s facilities on Fifth Avenue. FROM TODAY’S holidays such as Memorial Day, ■ Also, a Memorial Day service Vinsant said her thoughts always is today at 11 a.m. at the Varnell FORUM go to the wives and families of Cemetery in Varnell with the Rev. those in the military. James Gwin as guest speaker. “I surely know how their hearts MISTY WATSON/THE DAILY CITIZEN The event is sponsored by the “My grandmother had hurt,”she said. “Our freedom is Varnell Homemakers Club. four sons in the military in not free. It cost something over the Dot Vinsant, of Dalton, looks at a photo of her now deceased World War II. She dis- years, and I’m afraid some of the husband, Lemuel Cain Vinsant, which was taken in the 1950s played a four-star banner people coming up today don’t when he was mobilized during the Korean War. in her window. We were understand that.” lucky they all came home Wreck victim safely.” In 1950, the Vinsants had been afternoon,” she said. “I’d stay up Dot Painter met her husband, married two years. Vinsant, who there until my money was gone, Floyd, in Ellijay in 1941. Shortly identified “Fitzgerald,Ga., has now lives in Dalton, remained then I’d come back home.” after they met, he volunteered for had wild chickens running behind in Chattanooga, while her To stay as long as she could, the Navy. in the street since the husband was sent first to Vinsant says she’d eat just one “I wrote a letter to him every FROM STAFF REPORTS 1800s. It is against the law Massachusetts and then NewYork. meal a day. day,” she said. “It was a sad time.” for anyone to hurt the Though he was never sent to “I did that two or three times, Two days after,he returned from Officials with the Georgia State chickens.” Korea, he remained on active duty and the last time I went, I stayed the war, the two were married. Patrol have identified the man who for the next two years. six months. I got a job at a cloth- Eileen Pangle was a young died in a Saturday afternoon wreck See page 2A “I wrote him letters every day,” ing store, and I was able to stay woman in England during World on I-75 as William V. Fitzgerald, she said. “I always had $5 worth until just before he got out,”she War II, when she met her husband, 70, of Griffin. of change, and when he’d call, said. “I came home first and got us William, who was in the U.S. Fitzgerald was driving “very WEATHER he’d call collect and I’d put it in. I an apartment.” Army Air Forces. Because of the slowly” southbound near mile marker 328, close to the Forecast: Showers don’t remember how long we Cain Vinsant, who passed away war, many items were in short were able to talk, but it didn’t last year,was very active in the supply. Carbondale exit, around 1:40 p.m. Today’s High: 81 seem like long.” American Legion, serving many “We were giveN very meager when he was struck from behind by Tonight’s Low: 64 She worked in a cafeteria in years as commander in Dalton. rations, two ounces of butter a a tractor-trailer. Fitzgerald’s car left Details, Page 12A Chattanooga, but traveled north to “He would go to Chattanooga week, half a cup of sugar,” she the interstate and hit two trees, an visit her husband as often as she and pick up veterans and drive said. “But we made do.” operator with the Georgia State could. them to (the Veterans So what was there for two Patrol said Saturday. INSIDE “I’d work until I had a little Administration hospital) in young people dating to do? No charges are expected to be Classified..............5B money and then I’d catch a bus on Murfreesboro,”she said. “He did filed. Comics..................9A Thursday morning, 1 a.m., and I that every day for several years A complete report was not imme- didn’t get there until Saturday after he retired.” ➣ diately available Sunday evening. Crossword..............8A See Memorial, 3A Dear Abby...................9A Horoscope...............8A Lottery..................2A Park offers summer nature program Movies..................8A Obituaries.........10A BY MISTY WATSON Opinion................4A [email protected] Naturalist program Sports......................1-3B The summer naturalist program at Fort Six-year-old Challaghan Strickland was sure Mountain State Park in Murray County to let his family know he wasn’t afraid of rep- runs each weekend now through Labor tiles as a snake wrapped around his arm Sunday Day. Upcoming programs include flower afternoon at Fort Mountain State Park in Murray hikes, black bears, hiking safety, and County. early American cooking with corn. There “I’d never had a snake on my arm like that is a campfire each Friday at 6 p.m. and a before,”Challaghan said after the snake had 7 69847 00001 6 concert each Saturday evening (times been placed back in its aquarium at the natural- vary). The naturalist cabin is open each ist cabin. “When I grow up, I would like to build Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. For more infor- habitats... for reptiles. I always liked animals mation, contact the state park at (706) from the time I was a baby.” 422-1932 or visit the Web site, www.gas- Several children crowded in the cabin to get a tateparks.org/info/fortmt. closer look at — and get their hands on — many varieties of snakes, some native to north Georgia and others aren’t. The program is geared toward the entire fam- The cabin is also home to several aquariums ily,but is presented in a way children under- containing fish and turtles. Butterfly collections, stand, Mitchell said. snake skins, bee hives and several mounted ani- Kim Strickland said her children, Challaghan mals are on display for visual aids as park ranger and 3-year-old Rory,have been excited all Ruby Mitchell explains the many native species. weekend about the different activities. The cabin is open each Sunday afternoon Strickland and her husband, Michael, were from 1 to 4 through Labor Day as part of the camping at the state park with their sons. summer naturalist program headed by Mitchell. “I knew there was a concert, but I didn’t MISTY WATSON/THE DAILY CITIZEN The summer program also includes a campfire know about all the other activities,”she said. Challaghan Strickland, 6, of Marietta, each Friday evening at 6 p.m. next to the lake, “The concert was amazing. We brought our lawn watches as a snake wraps around his and many activities each Saturday. arm Sunday at the naturalist cabin at All activities connected to the program are Fort Mountain State Park. free, but park visitors must pay $5 to park. ➣ See NATURE, 3A Colorectalal cancera will cause about 50,000 deaths this year. WWith proper screeningre ni ,30,000 could be avoided. Forinformation, call: 706.272.6114. www.hamiltonhealth.com lOTTERY WINNING NUMBERS – FOR MAY 24 ATYOUR PAGE 2 Georgia: Evening Cash 3: 9-1-8, Cash 4: 4-7-3-7, Fantasy 5: 9-17-13-25-5 SERVICE Tennessee: Evening Cash 3: 3-3-1, Lucky Sum 7; Cash 4: 5-6-0-1, Lucky Sum: 12 Our mailing address: 2A Monday, May 25, 2009 P.O. Box 1167 Dalton, Ga.