Play Sports with your Dog

Wednesday, 07 November 2012 16:22

Life long dog lover Linda Hobbet knows how to have fun with her dogs, Eli and Lola. Linda said that when training them, she developed a deeper companionship.  Training also brought an opportunity for fun and exercise for both Linda and her dogs.

What to Do With Your Dog in Athens is a Community Snapshot about many of these sports including herding, lure coursing, obedience, agility and others, that people can learn and do right here in Athens. On November 14 at 12:30 p.m. Linda will give a program demonstrating each of these sports with videos. The program will be held at Lyndon House Arts Center, 293 Hoyt Street. If you can't get away from home or your office you can still be "in the room" via your computer during our live webcast. It is OK to bring your lunch to the Lyndon House and light refreshments will be served.

CLICK HERE to join the program over the internet.  If you've never attended a webcast, HERE ARE INSTRUCTIONS. It is really not difficult if your operating system is compatible.  You can also watch from the library on Baxter Street, but please bring your earphones, or purchase a set for $2.00 from the reference desk. The program will also be archived on our website for later viewing.

This program is free and open to the public.

Real Stories of Vietnam from Athens area Veterans

Monday, 05 November 2012 12:58

These Vietnam Veterans tell some interesting and touching stories. Their differences are remarkable. Some were under fire more than others, but no one was safe. From the perspective of years since their service, each reflects on how these experiences played a part in their adult lives after the war. Celebrate their service, and the service of others on November 12, Veteran's Day. See our archive for more interviews.

In the late 1960's, Richard Nicholson served  in the Army Signal Corp as an engineer in charge of the first military satellite communications. He served in combat zones, but was not subject to hostile fire and considers his military career a very important learning experience for his later career working in India in International Satellite Telecommunications.

Brian West joined the Marines after finishing college and served as an H-34 Helicopter pilot and co-pilot. His story of the end of a long nine hour day of flying when he was shot, put later stresses in his business career into perspective.  He continues to be in touch with other combat helicopter crew through a "pop a smoke" website.

Carl LaPalm served in 1971 and was severely injured during the "mad minute" when his patrol came off its duty. His moving story tells about not only his purple heart, but also about the many horrible things that happened to others. Mr. LaPalm came back from the war to become a carpenter, in spite of his injury to his hand, working on some of our area's largest projects including the Athens Regional Medical Center.

Bill Bowden joined ROTC while a student at the University of Georgia. He served in the First Aviation Battalion as pilot of a "Huey" Helicopter in Vietnam for a year starting September, 1967. He has many stories about his varied missions including the "bloodhound" mission and how the Viet Cong figured out a map of his base camp down to the bunk he slept in.