Mr. and Mrs. George Mazock of Felton, DE, were guests of President George W. Bush and Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska on Thursday, May 25, 2006, in Washington DC.
Senator Stevens arranged a special tour of the White House and hosted a luncheon for the 10 crew veterans of the original 322 Troop Carrier Squadron that were able to travel to Washington. Senator Stevens and Mr. Mazock were both pilots with the 322 Troop Carrier Squadron, better known as the 14th Air Force Flying Tigers. Mrs. Mazock is the former Annie Beth Sheffield, a 1953 graduate of Miller County High School and a daughter of the late Clarence Sheffield and Catherine Everett Sheffield of Miller County.
Their tour of the White House began with a handshake and personal introduction to President George W. Bush. The president welcomed the Flying Tigers and their families into the Oval Office and thanked them for their contribution to the WWII effort. He then informally shared the history of the art work, rug and desk he chose to use in his office. The rug designed by Laura Bush combines the Presidential Seal with cheerful yellow sun rays. The president’s desk was presented to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880 by British Queen Victoria as a thank you for rescuing the ship Resolve in 1855. The carved oak desk was made from the timbers of the retired Resolve and used by Presidents Hayes through Kennedy. The historic desk was returned to the Oval Office at the request of President Jimmy Carter in January of 1977. It has remained there ever since. The room’s warm atmosphere reflects the charm and optimism of the man who now occupies the office. Beth Mazock stated that our president is a most gracious host.
After touring the White House, the Mazocks were escorted to the Capitol where a delicious buffet luncheon was served on the Capitol’s west balcony overlooking the famed Rose Garden. The west balcony also yields a spectacular view of the Washington Monument and Reflecting Pool on the National Mall. The luncheon was hosted by Senator Steven’s staff and naturally included a fresh Alaskan Salmon entrée. All were presented with a gift embossed with the US Senate seal. After a leisure lunch those who desired were taken to the Senate Gallery to observe a vote on the current immigration bill.
Other annual activities enjoyed were visiting the Chinese (Taiwainese) Embassy on Friday evening for a reception and attending the Saturday morning ceremonies at General Claire L. Chennault’s grave in Arlington National Cemetery followed by a banquet at the Army-Navy Club later that evening.
Every Memorial Day weekend the veterans of the 14th Air Force Association meet in Washington/Arlington VA to honor General Chennault, the Commander of the 14th Air Force Flying Tigers. It was decided that in 2007 at the 49th convention, the 14th Air Force Association will be dissolved due to the aging veterans and their ability to travel. There is now a new 14th Air Force activated in Vandenburg AFB, CA. There were about 30 pilots and staff from the new R. O. C. Air Force present at the 2006 convention.
They are the present day incarnation of the WWII 14th Air Force, 5th Fighter Group, Chinese American Composite Wing.
George Mazock was born in Bridgeport, Ohio, with a burning desire to fly planes. After basic flying training in the Army Air Corps, he received advanced training at Cochran Field in Macon, GA, and Moody Field in Valdosta, GA. His class of 44B was sent to China in (1943-1945) as the Army Air Corps replacement for General Claire L. Chennault’s American Volunteer Group. They flew C47 planes delivering critical cargo to the fighter squadrons. When the Army Air Corps was changed to the US Air Force, George re-entered and retired after a 20 year career in 1962.

If you have reported a fire, wreck, illness or anything else to a 911 operator, there is a good chance that you spoke to E911 operator Sue Roland.
Sue Roland will spend her last day as a 911 operator at the Miller County Sheriff's Department Monday, July 31, 2006. She is retiring.
Sue was asked if she wanted to work as a radio operator by the late Sheriff C.C. "Shorty" Phillips. She was working as a clerk in the office of former Probate Judge Frankie Phillips.
Mrs. Roland stated that she had never thought about being a radio operator, or later a 911 operator since it was implemented in Miller County.
Sue started to work in the sheriff's dispatch office on December 2, 1992, and upon her retirement she will have worked full-time for 13 years and eight months.
Sue was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1988. MS is a progressive disease of the central nervous system. She has been in a wheel chair for several years and stated that it is time for her to retire since she cannot put in the time that is needed for this most important job.
"I have enjoyed serving the public for all of these years and wish I was able to continue. This job is too important not to be able to do your best. People's lives are at stake when we are called for help," Operator Roland stated.
Chief 911 Operator Ruth Merritt stated that Sue is one of the best operators that she has ever worked with but that she understands her reason for retirement.
Sheriff H.E. Glass said, "Sue Roland is one of the most competent and dependable radio operators that this department has ever had. She will be missed."
Other officers of the city, county, fire department and EMS stated that “‘Miss Sue’ can give clear, accurate and concise information when sending us out for whatever we are going for. She has been a great E911 operator and will be hard to replace.”

A small tornado or a huge amount of strong winds completely destroyed a shelter and its contents on Whites Bridge Road last Wednesday afternoon. Other than the shelter being completely destroyed, the only other sign of the tornado was a downed tree on the Brinson Highway.
The shelter and its contents belonged to Danny Allen.
No warning of a tornado was reported by the Miller County Sheriff’s Department. In fact, the sun was shining in the city when supposedly the tornado touched down out in the county.
The strong winds took part of the shelter off that could be found approximately 300 feet away in a nearby field.
Several spectators reported that it got really dark around 4:30 p.m. There was a lot of thunder and lightning in the area, but no one thought the winds were strong enough to do as much damage as was done.
One farmer on the scene stated, “Something good comes out of everything We received two and one-half inches of rain from the strong winds and storm.”

Week of July 23, 2006