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The American Legion's veterans' section of Bonaventure Cemetery has gone quiet. The singing, speeches and ceremonies marking Memorial Day 2008 are done.

Active and former members of the military, their families and those who came to pay their respects have left to spend time with their friends and loved ones.

Only soldiers such as David B. Sills, an Army veteran of World War II, and 139 of his dead comrades remain - marked by a 300-pound gravestone halfway buried three feet into the ground. Small American flags mark the veterans' plots underneath a larger flag hanging at half mast.

A wreath of red, white and blue carnations stands next to the flagpole after being placed an hour earlier during the annual Memorial Day ceremony, held at the Legion's cemetery section since its founding in 1921.

An electroshock weapon was used on a man during a robbery early Monday morning.

By this time, former Master Sgt. Greg Foster thought he might be fishing.

It was a relatively safe Memorial Day weekend in the Coastal Empire.

Windsor Forest High senior Jonathan Miller is the Best Teen Chef of 2008.

ARLINGTON, Va. - President Bush paid tribute Monday to America's fighting men and women who died in battle, saying national leaders must have "the courage and character to follow their lead" in preserving peace and freedom.

COLLEGE PARK - After months of putting up with brown lawns and dirty cars to conserve water, many residents of the drought-stricken Southeast are now paying sharp rate increases from utilities scrambling to make up lost revenue.

Jim Grismer is his name, and used paperback books are his game.

A retired public servant from New York City, Grismer stalks the paperback book tables at Savannah-area yard sales, looking for bargains he can pack into at least two "care packages" a week for troops of the 3rd Infantry Division overseas, National Guard members on foreign tours of duty, and even a few prison inmates.

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"I'm 68," said Grismer, who remains honorary chief of the fire department in Lynbrook, N.Y. "I should hang up my helmet. These days, I don't do much, and I'm exhausted."

But the "Dalmatian dog mentality" and the fire bell that often rings in his head after a 50-year association with firefighting keep telling the outgoing and gregarious Grismer to continue to "go forth and serve."

Donald Singleton knows the value of healing.

The old Sears building at Bull and Henry streets may still be sitting empty, but the parking lot is sure getting some use.

Attention teenagers: If you don't already have a job, finding one this summer will be difficult.

LEED-registered industrial park completed

WASHINGTON - With the price of oil and gasoline at record levels and sure to be a campaign issue in the fall, Congress is moving on a host of energy-related measures.

WEST CHESTER, Ohio - Jenny Schwarz's shopping cart was loaded - a plug-in cooler, new cushions for her outdoor furniture, toys for the backyard pool. All things good to have for a "staycation."

WASHINGTON - A Department of Homeland Security program to strengthen port security has gaps that terrorists could exploit to smuggle weapons of mass destruction in cargo containers, congressional investigators have found.

CARTERSVILLE - The Cartersville Hurricanes are aptly named.

CARTERSVILLE - South Effingham's loss to Cartersville in the AAA semifinals looked like a Hurricane home run derby. Cartersville won the first two games of the best-of-three series 8-4 and 13-0 Monday.

ATHENS - Georgia Tech is headed to Athens to join Georgia in its NCAA regional - just as coach Danny Hall expected.

ATLANTA - Brandon Webb's 9-0 start was rare. So was his second straight loss.

ATLANTA - Mark Kotsay was held out of Monday's starting lineup after he experienced tightness in his back during batting practice.

GREENVILLE, S.C. - Michael Antonini held Greenville to four hits in seven innings and the Savannah Sand Gnats put the brakes on the Drive with a 7-0 shutout Sunday afternoon.

There's no shortage of ways to determine if you're in shape.

"You may think it sounds cool, but is it really necessary to rev your motorcycle engine for 10 minutes every morning before you leave the neighborhood?"

"Fuel surcharges should not be added to your invoice. If you have a service provider agreement with someone they should not be allowed to just change the terms of your agreement because fuel costs went up. If they want a price increase for their service based on increased fuel costs, they should request it and make a new agreement with you."

"While I would love to donate blood plasma, why do they need my Social Security number? I have a picture ID but will not give them my Social Security number."

"Has the governor lost his mind? He obviously has if he thinks guns and alcohol are a good mix. Now I have to be on the lookout for someone who might shoot me while I am enjoying dinner. Outrageous."

Three hundred and fifty dollars to fill up the van for a single show in New Orleans; $100 a day to cruise from show to show between West Virginia and New Jersey; haggling with concert-goers after each show, trying to sell enough merchandise to cover expenses.

Once paying for gas was no big deal. Just another item in your weekly budget, really not worth fretting over.

TODAY

I Can Cope Online

"Conflict. It seems as if all we have around here is conflict."

Six hundred and three students received their diplomas during Effingham County High School and South Effingham High School graduation ceremonies Friday and Saturday.

SPRINGFIELD - A first attempt to put terms of use for polling places in writing hit a snag after county officials told commissioners that election officials have issues with a draft agreement.

GUYTON - Plans to hire a city manager are on hold for now.

Art Camp

We drove to The Boy and Bride's house last weekend to take a final load of his "stuff." Among the items loaded on the truck were his bed, an electric guitar and a concert trombone.

GUYTON - Jeffrey Hamilton of Rincon was recently recognized by the U.S. Achievement Academy as a student of excellence in football.

Prayer Breakfast

Camara Ferby has joined Spine & Sport as promotions officer in the promotions and marketing division.

Army Pvt. Kyle S. Cudebec recently graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

Critters-to-go, a mobile petting zoo with exotic animals and reptiles recently visited Marlow Learning Center in Guyton. The children had the opportunity to learn about the different animals and were able to hold various animals and reptiles.