Columns

The price of stamps went up Sunday, January 22, the third increase in two years. Postage for a 1ounce letter increased by 3 cents, from 60 cents to 63 cents. The cost of a postcard stamp increased from 44 cents to 48 cents. Looking back, stamp prices have nearly doubled from the 33-cent cost in 2000. Due to the increase in postage and other expenses, The Clayton Record’s subscription rates will increase the first of February. The yearly rates will be $42.00 for in state and $45.00 for outof- state. ****** There are only four teams left in the 2022 NFL season’s playoffs The conference championship round will be this weekend. Fresh off a win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night, the San Francisco 49ers will face the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles won big over the New York Giants on Saturday. That game is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. CST Sunday, January 29. After defeating the Buffalo Bills Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals will play the Kansas City Chiefs in Conference play Sunday afternoon at 5:30 p.m. CST. Winners of these games will be going to the Super Bowl on February 12. The Super Bowl will be played in the State Farm Stadium in Glendal e, Arizona. Best of Luck to all these teams!

We were once again blessed in Barbour County that there were no injuries reported due to last week’s tornado. The EF1 tornado that struck the county was one of 14 in state, others of which were much worse than we exper ienced. It’s sad to hear about the loss of lives that were reported in Autauga County. Structures were damaged here that can be replaced which is devastating. We appreciate all those who helped during the storm to help with damages, clearing debris, and helping those who were directly affected. ****** The playoffs have started and Sunday will feature a much anticipated matchup between the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals after their game was canceled in Week 17 during the first quarter following the terrifying on-field collapse of Damar Hamlin. The Bills safety suffered cardiac arrest as millions watched and prayed for his recovery. He was released from the hospital just nine days after his collapse and able to visit the Bills’ facility last week. Prayer works!

I hope everyone saw the first full moon of the year Friday night. It was beautiful!! This moon is called the Wolf Moon, named after the sounds of wolves howling outside of Native American villages during the winter months, according to the Farmer’s Almanac.

For fans tuning in to watch Monday night’s Week 17 game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals they were expecting to see one of the biggest games of the season. After all both of these teams are among the favorites to win the Super Bowl! And for about onehalf of a quarter they got that! Then tragedy struck. Bengals player Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field following his making a tackle. Hamlin, 24, required immediate medical attention. He was down on the ground for several minutes. Everyone knew it was bad when the ambulance came on the field, which is unheard of, to transport him to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He was listed in critical condition. What we witnessed on that field Monday night is undescribable. Huge, tough football players were seen showing their emotions for their brother, their teammate, their friend. Players from both teams were showing support for each other. It was such a serene moment as the entire team and coaches knelt in the middle of the field in prayer. Newscasters were seen crying on air asking for prayer for Hamlin. Everybody came together knowing it is about more than football - it is about another human being! It is about coming together, asking God for help when we are helpless! We all got to see something better than any football game Monday night - we saw people turning to God in a time of need!

One thing about raising a child is you get asked a lot of questions. And not just the 'what's' 'when's' or 'where's,' but also the'why's' and especially the 'how come's.' Like, 'How come people kiss on New Year's?' and 'How come it's called a 'Yule Log?'' and 'How come Ebeneezer Scrooge was visited by ghosts at Christmas time and not Halloween?' Another thing I'm starting to realize now that I'm an adult is how, when I asked similar 'how come's' of my parents, I'd get replies such as: 'Well, that's the way it's always been' or 'Go ask your Daddy.' When my seven-yearold daughter asked me these questions around the beginning of December I was very tempted to give her these same answers, but then I really got to thinking myself … 'How come?' A lot of the traditions tied to Christmas and New Year's didn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

75 YEARS AGO DECEMBER 26, 1947 Among the college students at home for the Christmas holidays are Reneau Dominey, Arthur Robertson, Clarence Norton, Carol Nix, John Martin, Buford Robinson, James Brown, Robert Baxter, Coles Nix, Leslie Adams, Richard Fenn, Ernestine Norton, Betty Jo Fenn, Hugh Reid, Gloria Kennedy, Joe Douglas, Jim Norton, Billy Charles Spires and Harris Sammons. Mrs.

Funding has been allocated through a grant to build a new senior center in Clio. Now, Barbour County commissioners are moving forward to purchase property in town to build the new center.