  Marlene and Lynn at Walnut Grove Hey Y’all, Here it is at the end of August. I would love to tell you that I have been working hard on completing the book I lost, but alas, t’ain’t so. Somehow that get up and go, got up and hasn’t come back. I have been doing some short essays. One follows a few announcements. I hope you will enjoy it. Marlene Buchanan and Lynn Hesse will be presenting at the Walnut Grove Library Book Club on September 7 at 11:00 am. Visitors are welcome Lynn Hesse and Marlene Buchanan will be selling books at the Monroe Festival on October 8. They will be in front of the Monroe Walton Center for the Arts Building. Monroe's Southern Sisters in Crime meets the last Sunday of each month at Monroe Walton Center for the Arts. If you are interested in writing or reading mysteries, join us. We meet in person from 3-5 pm. Contact Marlene Buchanan for more information [email protected]. On September 29, 2022, Georgiana Fields, Lynn Hesse, and Marlene Buchanan will be at the Book Festival at Gainesville Library from 3-98 pm. This is a program reserved for local authors. Monroe Walton Center for the Arts is developing a new program for writers. Although they offer several classes for people who wish to write or perform, the BOOK NOOK will feature published authors. It will become a place for you to sell your books, hold book fairs, book launches, meetings, etc. If interested in participating contact Marlene [email protected]. The MWCA committee begins developing this new Author Featured program this September and hope to be fully underway in October. The cost--only a membership in MWCA ($25 for one year for seniors, $35 for others. special student price and family prices). MWCA 205 South Broad Street Monroe, Georgia 30655 770-207-8937 Blackie, the Patrol Officer My father was a City of Atlanta Policeman for over thirty years. The last twenty plus were spend as a School Detective. What we think of as Resource Offices started out in 1956 as School Detectives. There were two organizations. The city of Atlanta and the Atlanta Police department in 1954 decided to join forces and establish a unit assigned only the schools. In 1956, the money was allocated and the division was established. Sargent J.D. Nash was placed as the unit commander. Daddy and Julian Stephens were the second and third men hired, eventually six Atlanta policeman were assigned to the School Detective Unit. These men focused on crimes against the schools system and children. These men were dedicated to providing a safe lifestyle for the children of Atlanta. Trust me, I have been in the office when one of the detectives would be hot on the trail of child abuser. Determination was strong. I don’t know about now, but for18 years Daddy held the record for highest number of crimes solved. My grandfather worked on the train that ran from Atlanta through Stone Mountain Village. I have the lantern that Daddy would wave and his father would slow down and my Grandmother would hand him dinner. Then he went to work for the Atlanta Police Department. He solved one of the biggest bank robberies to happen in Atlanta. But this story is about a dog named Blackie. Black was a black mixed breed dog who lived in Bellwood, a division of Atlanta like Buttermilk Bottom and Cabbage Town. Daddy was a foot patrol man when he started with the Atlanta police department. Sometime in 1937, Patrolman Ratledge was assigned to a beat in Bellwood. He asked for the beat route and was told, “Stand at the call box and wait for Blackie, a big black dog.” Those were his only instructions. Daddy reported for duty at the call box. A few minutes later Blackie reported for duty. Blackie walked through the entire beat, stopped at each door that needed to be checked, introducing his new partner to the store owner and residents. Although most of the store owner has a little something to give Blackie, Daddy began bringing an extra dinner with him. They shared their meal and then went back on patrol. Apparently Blackie belonged to the neighborhood, not one person. Everyone knew him and treated him kindly. The officer with Blackie was treated with respect and appreciation. When it was time for Daddy to move to the motorcycle unit, he bade Blackie goodbye. He told the new patrol officer “Check in at the call box and wait for Blackie. That is all you need to know.” Hope September brings you great happiness and wonderful health.
Hugs to you all, Marlene, AKA Ms. Rat |
RSS Feed
Warning: Drinking while reading this blog may cause liquid to be expressed through the nose and from the mouth. Read and drink at your own risk, the risk of your computer, and any items that may become wet. Life is hard and laughter is guaranteed.
