WEDNESDAY’S LIST ... of beans ’n greens ’n other things:

* * * SO WHAT’S David Boyd doing these days?

For one thing, his love for the Anniston Fire Department burns as brightly as ever. An assistant chief when he retired this past February with 30 years of putting out our fires and leading others in the same, Boyd was considered something of the department’s historian while there.

Now in retirement, he is in the process of writing a book on the history of the AFD. And he sure could use your help.

His email, in part:

“Anything AFD related is great. But especially if anyone has any information about Emmett Mayes, who was fire chief in Anniston 1932-1936.

“He was a political appointee, but I’d like to find out more info on him. He was a milk truck driver before he was fire chief. From what I have learned Mayes went to work at AAD and retired as (fire) chief there.”

So help if you can ... Boyd’s phone number is 256-820-5827.

^ ^ ^ CAM NEWTON, an enormously gifted young man who led Auburn University to the national championship in ’09, needs to grow up, mature into the kind of leader a quarterback needs to be.

He struts, he pouts, he plays “superman” when he scores or gains a first down with his feet. It doesn’t stop there.

The National Football League, this past week, hit Newman with two fines, one for bumping an official, the other for kicking an opposing player in the groin.

Newton isn’t doing his Carolina Panthers any favors with his petulant and sometimes childish attitude.

This “kid” has all the tools to become one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL.

^ ^ ^ QUOTABLE: “The secret to a happy marriage remains a secret.” – Henny Youngman

^ ^ ^ BIRTHDAYS: Dec. 23, Noel Lasley; Dec. 31 – Myra Eaton; January 3, Trent Middlebrook.

^ ^ ^ SPECIAL was a Dec. 29th birthday for Cody Houston Smith. What makes him special is he is the “baby” of my three grandsons and bears the “Houston” name . . . which of course I also bear as did my father and grandfather before that.

So take a bow “special.”

^ ^ ^ TOP TEEN: Among the brightest at Faith Christian School is Chessa Halpin, who comes to the staged with a white hot academic record, an ACT of 34 and a GPA of 4.0.

That dazzles for sure. It also has her among the top contenders for Valedictorian honors come spring graduation

A member of the National Beta Club and captain of the cheerleaders at Faith, she has been recognized by Duke University’s Talent Identification program.

She is also a recommended National Merit Scholar and has a Spirit of Auburn Presidential Scholarship. Her plans are to study engineering.

FCS Headmaster Bob Phillips says, “Chessa is an extraordinarily intelligent and focused student. She chooses very high goals and pursues them relentlessly. Her impressive character and leadership skills are reflected by the fact she wastes no time or energy trying to impress us with intelligence, but remains quietly and humbly focused on goals.”

Proud parents are Michael and Kathy Halpin of Anniston.

A standing ovation is in order.

^ ^ ^ A REMINDER: There are two ways to submit birthdays in this space. The email address and the phone number (below) will do the job.

If you leave by voice mail, please speak slowly the name and the date.

Thanks.

----- George Smith may be reached at 256-239-5286 or email: gsmith731@gmail.com.