Did you read my son Brent’s column in last week’ edition? Not bad for his first effort.

He brought back plenty of memories for the Cruikshank family with his thoughts.

He won’t be doing a column every week at least while I’m still around.

He has a lot on his plate learning the ropes of the business, maintaining his advertising accounts and building our presence in the social media world.

He said he had several people he didn’t know stop him when he was shopping in Safeway on Sunday who questioned whether he was Brent.

You see, Brent, you’ve become an instant celebrity.

By the way, I want to make it clear, I’m not retired just yet. In fact, I hope to be in the office more in the first half of 2017 than I did in all of 2016, that is, barring any more hospital stays.

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Well, it’s time to take look at the weather readings for the year.

We had a total of 5.24 inches of rain for the year.

The highest one day total was .90 on Jan. 7th.

It was 118 on June 20th for the hottest day of the year, followed by a 117 on June 29th. There were 55 days where it was 100 degrees or higher.

The lowest maximum was 50 degrees on Feb. 23rd and 24th. The lowest minimum was 32 degrees on Christmas Day.

This past Sunday didn’t seem much warmer. It was certainly a dreary day.

A few more days like that and I’ll be ready for Spring Training.

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The tribute dinner honoring Sheriff Joe and Eva Arpaio last Friday evening was a big success.

There were 218 people in attendance. The dinner was a benefit for the local Extended Hands Food Bank.

The evening got off to a rousing start when Fountain Hills Republican Club President Dr. C.T. Wright gave a very enthusiastic invocation thanking God for the sheriff’s service and giving Eva her health back. She had been diagnosed last year with cancer, but through prayer and the well wishes of her many friends, Wright said, she is now cancer free.

Chief Deputy Jerry Sheridan, also a Fountain Hills resident, said he was always amazed at how little sleep the sheriff would get and not even show it.

Actor Steven Seagall attended. He is a much bigger man than I had previously thought. He has served on the Sheriff’s posse and has been a big fan of Arpaio. He said Arpaio is not only the toughest sheriff in the nation, but “the toughest in the universe.”

One speaker said the sheriff did not get enough credit for all the good things he did. There were more than 1000 inmates that got their GEDs while serving time. These inmates got a new start in life after receiving their equivalent of a high school diploma.

Arpaio is completing 50 years of service in the law enforcement field. He previously was the commander of the Drug Enforcement Agency office in Mexico Cit

y. He also served as a street beat cop in Washington, D. C. and Las Vegas. The evening closed with Arpaio being urged to sing his favorite song, “My Way.” The audience joined in with their words changed to “Your Way.”

Arpaio said he enjoys living in Fountain Hills.

‘It’s safe here”, he said.

He also likes the small town feel of the community.

“And that includes its newspaper. It’s the best small town newspaper in the country. It’s filled with people’s pictures and you can always find out what activities are going on.”

Thanks for the kind words, Sheriff Joe.

Incidentally, Arpaio said he would be establishing an office in Fountain Hills. “So when you see me shopping in Safeway, I hope you don’t throw a cucumber at me.”

I don’t think you have to worry about that from anyone in that crowd.