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The Snoop 10.17.2013

Some people move into the community and they are never quite able to give up the past. They are constantly letting you know “how we did it back in (you name the place).” Such was not the case with our good friend Bob Crofton who left this world early Monday morning to rejoin his wife, Anna.
The Rev. Robert Crofton and Anna moved to Ava in 1991 to pastor Ava’s Trinity Lutheran Church. When they moved here, they were part of the community. When Anna passed away in 2009 she was buried in the Ava Cemetery, confirming that Bob would not move “back home”, but instead he would stay “home” in Ava.
From Day 1 the Croftons were actively involved in the Ava Lions Club, the Chamber of Commerce, Ministerial Alliance functions and other community activities. After he retired as pastor, he remained actively involved in Trinity Lutheran Church and occasionally filled in for Pastor Wayne Strohschein, when necessary.
Until Sunday afternoon when Bob collapsed while walking with his granddaughter in the Ava City Park, he was as much a member of the Ava community as those who were born here.
A memorial service for Bro. Bob will be held a week from Saturday at the Trinity Lutheran Church. His obituary can be found in this newspaper.
Only those who did not know Bob and Anna would have referred to them as “new-comers.” To those of us who knew them, they were true friends. We have missed Anna since she left us and we will surely miss Bob’s presence at community gatherings, because he was always there.
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It was at the funeral service of former Ava banker Herman Davis that the Rev. Oren Alcorn shared this story. Oren and Donna hadn’t been married long and they had a few days off. They wanted to go to Iowa to visit Donna’s folks, but didn’t have the money. So, Oren went to the bank and asked Herman for a small loan for the trip.
Herman’s response to Oren was, “If you can’t afford to go, you need to stay home.”  Wouldn’t it be great if our elected officials – the people to which we entrust the welfare of our country – could understand that principle. We’re in debt by an amount I’m not sure I could even write on paper, and Congress is haggling over whether to raise the debt limit so they can borrow more money to fund a program that no one can explain.
Herman was a successful banker because he had common sense. Unfortunately, common sense is a trait that has to be developed. It can’t be legislated or bought. Therefore, career politicians don’t understand it and they sure don’t have any of it.
Federal employees are on lay-off  (the government calls it furlough), but some of the people who are on lay-off  have to show up for work every day. One would think that while they are laid off  would be a good time to take care of family business, schedule doctor’s appointments, etc.  Nope. Not if you work for the government. No family leave while on furlough. Gotta be in the office every day, although they may or may not get paid for it, eventually.
Yakov Smirnoff would say, “What a country!”
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National Red Ribbon Week is Oct. 23-31 this year. Since its beginning in 1985, the Red Ribbon has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. In response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, angered parents and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction cause by drugs in America.
The first National Red Ribbon Celebration was held in 1988. Today, the Red Ribbon serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities.
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Many organizations, including the National Football League and Major League Baseball, are emphasizing Breast Cancer Awareness by wearing pink during the month of October. Ava High School is asking folks to wear pink this Friday, and especially to the football game on Friday night, in honor of teacher and others in the community who have battled breast cancer.
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Also, little has been said about it, but today, at 10:17 a.m., the Great Shakeout earthquake drill is scheduled. At that time you are asked to Drop, Cover Up, and Hold On as you would if an actual earthquake were to occur.