Start your week with good news

Good morning and good Tuesday.

Here's hoping you found at least a minute of President's Day to reflect on the holiday observed the third Monday of each February.

The original version of the holiday, first celebrated in 1796, was in commemoration of George Washington's birthday - the last full year of his presidency.

By the early 19th century, Washington's Birthday, Feb. 22, had become a national holiday. Traditions included Birthnight Balls, speeches and receptions by prominent public figures, and a lot of revelry in taverns throughout the land.

Abraham Lincoln birthday on Feb. 12 was first noted in 1865, the year after his assassination, when both houses of Congress gathered for a memorial address. Lincoln's birthday, unlike Washington, was never a national holiday, but Congress combined those dates to the third Monday of February. It's commonly referred to as President's Day, to mark the legacy of Washington and Lincoln, and all of our past Presidents.

The Pike County Heart Walk is this Thursday at the Cattlemen's Building. We urge you to support this worthwhile event.

Several other events leading up to the Heart Walk were held last week and over the weekend. Goshen children raised more than $1,800 with their Jump Rope for Heart campaign. The annual City of Troy Jail & Bail also was successful. And the Red Cap Survivors Breakfast - put on for all heart disease survivors in Pike County - was held Saturday at First Baptist Church.

In closing, we welcome back baseball and softball, but we'll be much more comfortable when the temperature returns to normal. Good luck to our high schools teams who are opening the season this week.