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Mike Moser May baskets, police week and mom Who remembers May baskets? That is what I thought. May Day apparently
was not the observance in the South like it was in northern states
and when I was a little tyke growing up in Minnesota, May Day
was right up there with Halloween and the Fourth of July to me.
That's because it all had something to do
with candy. For all of you who were deprived of the May
Day festivities as children, I will try to explain...and no,
it had nothing to do with some silly thing called a May pole,
or military parades as seen in Russia. Mom would always help with the preparations,
which was part of the fun. We would buy little baskets, between
the size of coffee cups and sauce pans, put leftover Easter basket
grass in the bottom, and fill the basket with sweets. Of course,
the size of the basket would sometimes depend on how sweet one
was on the recipient. Usually the baskets were prepared the night
before May 1, and on that day, sometime between the end of the
school day, but before dark, you would strategically deliver
the baskets to the door step of your dear friends. Sometimes anonymous notes would be left in
the basket. You would ring the door bell and then run like the
wind in hopes that the person you were sweet on would not see
you make the delivery. That was the most fun, plotting hit-and-run
escape routes. The next day everyone in school would be excited
as they shared their May Day treats. Sure, most of us knew who
our benefactors were, but it was still a fun thing in an easier
time. A fond memory of spring. * * * * * * Why in the world anyone would try to rob a
bank in Cumberland County is beyond me. The 16 years that I have
been here there have been at least a handful or bank robberies
and in every case, the culprits caught. In fact, as crime goes,
nationally bank robberies rank pretty low on the success level...these
guys nearly always get caught. Have you ever seen a retired career criminal?
I know lots of folks who have strayed onto the dark side of the
law and cannot think of one who had a successful criminal career
and retired in good health and finance. Chief David Beaty and Sheriff Butch Burgess
are to be commended on the way their officers handled the situation.
It could have turned out so differently. Despite the high speed
chase through busy Friday afternoon traffic, cool heads prevailed
and the suspects captured with no injuries to civilians. "Good training," Chief Beaty responded.
And that is true. City council and the county commission have
appropriated funds to equip and train our officers to the highest
standard in the history of this county. A thanks to those men
and women, as well. Police Memorial Day is observed in May. Over
the years we in Cumberland County have lost men in the line of
duty and it is right that we pause and say thanks. Those cases
are always high profile and get a lot of public exposure. Good police work includes prevention but that seldom is applauded. We are equally thankful that prevention is just as important to our men and women behind the badge as serving and protecting. We really should say thanks more often. |