CONWAY — She did it her way, and nobody did it better.
Betty Holmes, the only animal control officer Conway and Bartlett have ever known, is retiring after 44 years of unparalleled service.
kAmw6C =2DE 52J @? E96 ;@3 :D E9:D $2EFC52J 2?5 D96 H:== 36 9@?@C65 H:E9 2 C6E:C6>6?E 46=63C2E:@? 2E %F4<6C>2? qC6H:?8 r@] @? w@33D $EC66E :? r@?H2J ':==286 @? }@G] a 7C@> d E@ f A]>]k^Am
kAmw@=>6D[ H9@ =:G6D :? q2CE=6EE 2?5 :?D:DED E92E 96C 286 :D ;FDE 2 ?F>36C 2?5 96CD “:D F?=:DE65[” WD96 E@=5 E9:D C6A@CE6C :7 96C 286 H2D =:DE65 E92E 96 H@F=5 36 H2=<:?8 3@H=68865X 92D =@G65 E96 ;@3 2?5 H:D96D D96 4@F=5 5@ :E 7@C6G6C[ 3FE 25>:ED D96’D D=@H:?8 5@H? 2?5 :E’D E:>6 E@ 5@ D@>6E9:?8 6=D6]k^Am
kAmw@=>6D 2=D@ D6CG65 2D E96 2?:>2= 4@?EC@= @77:46C 7@C E96 E@H?D @7 p=32?J[ y24<D@? 2?5 |25:D@? 7@C >@C6 E92? a_ J62CD]k^Am
kAm%@ F?56CDE2?5 w@=>6D’ =@G6 2?5 4@>A2DD:@? 7@C 2?:>2=D[ 96C6’D ;FDE @?6 6I2>A=6] $96 H2D E@?65 @FE >2?J J62CD 28@ E@ 2 G69:4=6\G6CDFD\566C 244:56?E] $96 2CC:G65 2E E96 D46?6 2?5 C2? C:89E A2DE E96 H@>2? >@E@C:DE E@ 4964< @? E96 566C]k^Am
kAm“#2? C:89E 3J 96C[” D96 =2F8965 5FC:?8 2? :?E6CG:6H 2E E96 r@?H2J !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E @? $6AE] `c] “x 7:8FC65 E92E D96 H@F=5 36EE6C @77 E92? E96 566C E92E D96 9:E] $96 42FD65 E96 AC@3=6>[ 2?5 H6’G6 8@E E@ 5@ H92E H6’G6 8@E E@ 5@]”k^Am
kAmw@=>6D 4C65:ED 96C =@G6 @7 2?:>2=D E@ v@5]k^Am
kAm“xD?’E E92E H96C6 6G6CJE9:?8 4@>6D 7C@>[” D96 D2:5[ D>:=:?8] “*@F 42?’E ;FDE D2J E92E J@F’C6 8@:?8 E@ =@G6 2?:>2=D] *@F’G6 8@E E@ 36 2C@F?5 E96>[ A=FD E96 2?:>2=D <?@H E96 EJA6 @7 A6CD@? J@F 2C6]”k^Am
kAms2G:5 “s@4” (2=<6C[ fh[ @7 }@CE9 r@?H2J[ 92D <?@H? w@=>6D D:?46 `hef 2?5 4@?D:56CD 96C E@ 36 @?6 @7 9:D 36DE 7C:6?5D] w6 D2:5 w@=>6D E@=5 9:> :? 62C=J pF8FDE E92E D96 H2D C6E:C:?8]k^Am
kAm“(6 3@E9 DE2CE65 2E wFDD6J '6E6C:?2CJ w@DA:E2= W?@H <?@H? 2D }@CE9 r@F?ECJ p?:>2= w@DA:E2= @? (6DE $:56 #@25X[” (2=<6C D2:5] “x H2D 2 ;F?:@C 2E r@C?6== W&?:G6CD:EJX 2?5 q6EEJ H2D :? 9:89 D49@@= W2EE6?5:?8 z6??6EEX] x? `heg[ 27E6C x 8C25F2E65[ x H6?E 324<[ 2?5 q6EEJ 2?5 x H6C6 E@86E96C H:E9 tF86?6 WwFDD6JX 7@C ad J62CD]”k^Am
kAmw6 25565i “$96’D 2 H@?56C7F= A6CD@? 2?5 @?6 @7 >J 36DE 2?5 4=@D6DE 7C:6?5D] $96 H2D 2? 23D@=FE6 ?2EFC2=] ~7 2== E96 A6@A=6 x H@C<65 H:E9[ D96 H2D E96 23D@=FE6 36DE] $96 4@F=5 C6=2E6 E@ =2C86 @C D>2== 2?:>2=D] $96’D E96 36DE 92?5=6C x’G6 6G6C 925 H:E9 >6 — `__ A6C46?E ECFDEH@CE9J]k^Am
kAm“x 5:5 =2C86 2?:>2=D 7@C be J62CD 2?5 ?6G6C =@DE 2 7:89E H:E9 2 4@H[ A:8 @C 9@CD6] x H2D F?56762E65[ 2?5 q6EEJ H2D F?56762E65[ E@@] $96 H2D E@F89]”k^Am
kAm(9:=6 DE:== H@C<:?8 7@C wFDD6J[ w@=>6D H2D 2AAC@24965 3J E96 r@?H2J !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E E@ 364@>6 :ED 7:CDE 2?:>2= 4@?EC@= @77:46C]k^Am
kAm“q6EEJ H2D 2 ?2EFC2= 2E 3@E9[” D2:5 (2=<6C] “(6 925 ?@ E649?:4:2?D 2E wFDD6J’D] $96 H2D @?\E96\;@3 EC2:?65 3J wFDD6J 2?5 >6] wFDD6J H2D 2 8C62E G6E 2?5 2 8C62E DFC86@?] w6’D E96 >2:? C62D@? H9J x’> 2D 8@@5 2D x 2>]k^Am
kAm“(6 =62C?65 E96 36DE 7C@> E96 36DE] tF86?6 H2D?’E 2 C62= A6@A=6 A6CD@?[ D@ q6EEJ 2?5 x A:4<65 FA E92E 2C62] (6 3642>6 2 AC6EEJ 8@@5 E62> 7@C ad J62CD]”k^Am
kAm%96C6 H2D ?@ ;@3 56D4C:AE:@? 7@C E96 2?:>2= 4@?EC@= @77:46C 2E E96 E:>6 ?@C H2D E96C6 2 3=F6AC:?E E92E w@=>6D 4@F=5 FD6]k^Am
kAm“%96J H2?E65 D@>63@5J E@ 492D6 5@8D 3642FD6 A6@A=6 H6C6 86EE:?8 3:EE6?[” D96 D2:5] “%96 @77:46CD H6C6 86EE:?8 3:E[ 2?5 x H2D H@C<:?8 2E wFDD6J’D 2E E96 E:>6] x E9:?< :E H2D W7@C>6C =:6FE6?2?EX s2G6 q6??6EE H9@ 2AAC@24965 >6] x H2D H@C<:?8 7F==\E:>6 2E wFDD6J’D 2?5 D2:5 x ?66565 E@ E2=< E@ s@4 wFDD6J] WwFDD6JX D2:5[ ‘(9J 5@?’E J@F 5@ :E[ q6EEJn’ %92E’D 9@H :E DE2CE65]”k^Am
kAm%96C6 H6C6 d__ 2?:>2= 4@>A=2:?ED :? E96 E@H? @7 r@?H2J =2DE J62C]k^Am
kAmw@=>6D C6DA@?565 E@ E96 3F=< @7 E96>]k^Am
kAm“pD =@?8 2D x 42? <66A E96 2?:>2=D D276[ E92E’D 2== x 42C6 23@FE[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmy@2??6 |24z6?K:6[ 5:DA2E49 DFA6CG:D@C[ H9@ 92D 366? 2E r@?H2J !s 7@C ad J62CD[ D2:5[ “(96? x DE2CE65 H@C<:?8 96C6[ x H2D E@=5 E92E q6EEJ :D @? 42==] (6 42? 42== 96C D6G6? 52JD 2 H66< 7C@> f :? E96 >@C?:?8 F?E:= `` 2E ?:89E] p7E6C E92E[ J@F 8:G6 :E E@ A2EC@=]”k^Am
kAmw@=>6D[ q2586 }@] fcd[ ?@E @?=J C6DA@?565 E@ 42==D 3FE 2=D@ C6923:=:E2E65 2?:>2=D 2E 96C 9@>6 @G6C E96 J62CD] “x ;FDE H@F=5 E2<6 E96> :? 2?5 5@ E96 36DE E92E x 4@F=5 7@C E96>[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm|24z6?K:6 2?5 96C 4@==628F6D 92G6 2 566A 2AAC64:2E:@? 7@C w@=>6D]k^Am
kAm“$96’D 2 9F86 A2CE @7 E96 !s 2?5 :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 2 3:8 =@DD E@ E96 !s[” D96’D D2:5] “$96’D :CC6A=24623=6] (9@6G6C :D 8@:?8 E@ 36 E96 ?6H 2?:>2= 4@?EC@= @77:46C x’> DFC6 :E H:== 36 8C62E[ 3FE :E H:== ?6G6C 36 E96 D2>6 2D 92G:?8 q6EEJ w@=>6D[ 6G6C]”k^Am
kAm(2=<6C C6>6>36CD 6G6? 2D 2 E66?286C w@=>6D 925 2 8:7E 7@C 2?:>2=D]k^Am
kAm“x? `hef[ D96 925 2 r96GJ 4@?G6CE:3=6 2?5 2=H2JD 925 2? F8=J[ >62?\DA:C:E65 5@8 :? :E] q6EEJ AFE D:8?D @? E96 D:56 @7 E96 42C E92E C625[ ‘s2?86C@FD 5@8 3:E6D]’ $96 4@F=5 5@ 2?JE9:?8 H:E9 E92E 5@8 3FE ?@ @?6 6=D6 4@F=5 86E ?62C :E]”k^Am
kAm(2=<6C D2:5 96 2?5 wFDD6J 6249 925 ?:4<?2>6D 7@C w@=>6D] w6 42==65 96C “w@>6=J” 2?5 wFDD6J 42==65 96C “rFC=J]”k^Am
kAm“(6 4@F=5 92G6 42==65 E96 AC24E:46[ ‘wFDD6J[ (2=<6C[ rFC=J 2?5 w@>6=J[” (2=<6C =2F8965[ 255:?8[ “$6C:@FD=J[ q6EEJ 925 2? F?42??J 2?:>2= D6?D6 2?5 2 G6CJ F?:BF6 4@>>@? D6?D6] $96 2=H2JD 925 2 AC24E:42= 2AAC@249 E@ 6G6CJE9:?8 — D96 H2D :?G2=F23=6]”k^Am
kAmw@=>6D 8C6H FA 2C@F?5 2?:>2=D 2?5 C642==65 C:5:?8 96C 3:4J4=6 7C@> 96C 72>:=J 9@>6 :? q2CE=6EE E@ H@C< 2E wFDD6J’D[ H9:49 H2D E96 9@>6 @7 E96 p?:>2= (6=72C6 {628F6 WH9:49 AC652E6D =@42= 2?:>2= D96=E6CDX 367@C6 D96 8@E 96C 5C:G6C’D =:46?D6]k^Am
kAm“x 925 2 32D<6E @? E96 7C@?E @7 >J t?8=:D9 3:<6[” D96 D2:5] “x D2H E9:D 42=:4@ 42E 6G6CJ E:>6 x 8@E :?E@ WE96 H6=72C6 =628F6X[ 2?5 :E H@F=5 AFE :ED A2H FA >6] x D2:5[ ‘~z[ H6 <?@H H96C6 J@F’C6 8@:?8]’ %96? x’5 E2<6 :E @FE @7 E96 4286[ 2?5 AFE :E @? >J D9@F=56C 3642FD6 x 925 E@ HC:E6 @FE E96 C6A@CED 6G6CJ 52J @? 6249 2?:>2=] xE H@F=5 8@ 2C@F?5 E96 9@DA:E2= C:89E @? >J ?64<]k^Am
kAm“wFDD6J D2JD[ ‘rFC=J’ — 96 42==65 >6 rFC=J — 96 D2:5[ ‘rFC=J[ H92E H@F=5 92AA6? :7 2 5@8 42>6 :? 96C6n’ x D2:5 :E H@F=5 36 2 =@E @7 7F?] w6 D2:5[ ‘*@F 42? 42CCJ E92E 42E 2C@F?5 J@FC ?64< @C 2?JA=246 J@F H2?E @FE 324<[’ 3FE 96 D2:5 5@?’E 3C:?8 :E @FE :?E@ E96 @77:46] x D2:5 ~z 2?5 x E@@< E92E 42E[ :E H2D 2 <:EE6? 2E E96 E:>6[ 2?5 x AFE E92E <:EE6? :? E96 32D<6E W@? E96 3:<6X H:E9 2 E@H6=] }@ 4@G6C @? :E @C 2?JE9:?8[ 2?5 :E C@56 H:E9 >6 7C@> E96C6 E@ x?E6CG2=6 2?5 :E ?6G6C 6G6? E9@F89E E@ 86E @FE @7 E92E 32D<6E] %92E H2D $9632[ 2?5 x 925 96C 7@C `f J62CD]”k^Am
kAm(2=<6C D2:5 w@=>6D ?6G6C =@DE 2? 2?:>2= F?56C 2?6DE96D:2[ D@>6E9:?8 76H G6E6C:?2C:2?D @C E649?:4:2?D 42? 4=2:>]k^Am
kAm“(6 7@F89E =:<6 3C@E96C 2?5 D:DE6C 2?5 H@F=5 C62==J 86E :?E@ :E 2E E:>6D[” (2=<6C D2:5[ C642==:?8 @?6 E:>6 H96? E96 EH@ ?62C=J 42>6 E@ 3=@HD]k^Am
kAm“(6 28C665 H6 H6C6 8@:?8 E@ D6EE=6 2 5:D28C66>6?E @?46 2?5 7@C 2==[ D@ H6 DE2CE65 E@ 9625 :?E@ E96 5@8 7@@5 C@@>] (6 925?’E 8@EE6? E9C@F89 E96 5@@C 2?5 2 H@>2? 42>6 CFD9:?8 :? H:E9 2 5@8 E92E 925 366? 9:E 3J 2 42C] (6 D2G65 E96 5@8 2?5 H6 H6C6 7:?6 27E6CH2C5] x =@G6 96C =:<6 72>:=J] $96 :D 72>:=J E@ >6]”k^Am
kAmw6 25565i “q6EEJ 92D 8@?6 D@ F??@E:465 27E6C 2== @7 E96D6 J62CD] $96’D 366? E96 A6C764E 2?:>2= 4@?EC@= @77:46C 7@C E9:D 4@>>F?:EJ] %96 A@=:46 56A2CE>6?E H:== ?6G6C 36 23=6 E@ C6A=246 96C] %96J H@?’E 7:?5 2?J@?6 H9@ H:== 56G@E6 E96>D6=G6D E@ E96 ;@3 2D q6EEJ 5:5] x 42??@E 72E9@> 96C ?@E 5@:?8 :E]”k^Am
kAm(9:=6 D96 925 ?@ AC@3=6> 8:G:?8 2?:>2=D D9@ED[ w@=>6D :D ?@E @?6 7@C ?665=6D] (2=<6C =62C?65 E92E 7:CDE92?5]k^Am
kAm“$96 8@E 3:E 2?5 925 E@ 8@ E@ E96 9@DA:E2= E@ 86E 2 E6E2?FD D9@E[” (2=<6C C642==65] “(6 7@F?5 @FE D96 H2D 562E9=J D42C65 @7 ?665=6D] %96 E649?:4:2? 42>6 :? H:E9 2 ?665=6[ 2?5 :E E@@< tF86?6 2?5 >6 2== H6 925 E@ ECJ E@ 42=> 96C 2?5 A:? 96C 5@H? 2?5 DE@A 96C 7C@> =62G:?8]”k^Am
kAm“x H2D?’E 8@:?8 E@ 86E E92E D9@E[ 2?5 x ;F>A65 C:89E @? wFDD6J’D 324<[” w@=>6D D2:5 H:E9 2 3:8 8C:?]k^Am
kAm%96 762C @7 ?665=6D >2J 92G6 DE6>>65 7C@> H96? D96 2?5 (2=<6C 925 2 CF?\:? H:E9 2 C23:5 42E] %96J 925 4C2E65 E96 42E 2?5 H6C6 5C:G:?8 E9C@F89 !:?<92> }@E49 324< 7C@> E96 @77:46 :? q6C=:? H96? E96 “52>? 42E 8@E @FE @7 E96 4286[” 2?5 3:E E96>]k^Am
kAm“%92E H2D 324< >2?J J62CD 28@ H96? J@F 925 E@ 8@ E9C@F89 2 D6C:6D @7 a` D9@ED :? E96 36==J @G6C a` 52JD[” w@=>6D D2:5[ “2?5 E96J H6C6 3:8[ =@?8 ?665=6D] Ws@4E@CDX H@F=5 AFE 2 >2A @? J@F] p?5 6G6CJ E:>6 E96J 8:G6 J@F 2 ?665=6 E96J AFE 2 3=24< >2C< E96C6] (92E E96J’C6 9@A:?8 7@C :D E@ <?@H :7 E96 G244:?6 H2D H@C<:?8[ J@F DE2CE C624E:?8 E@ :E] *@FC =J>A9 ?@56D 2?5 6G6CJE9:?8 DE2CE C624E:?8]k^Am
kAm“x E9:?< x 8@E E@ 2C@F?5 `d[ 2?5 E96 5@4E@C 2D<65[ ‘s@ J@F DE:== 766= 8@@5n’ x 5:5 2?5 E96 5@4E@CD 8@E ?6CG@FD 3642FD6 :E =@@<65 =:<6 ?@E9:?8 H2D H@C<:?8] %H@ 52JD =2E6C[ @9[ @9[ @9] x H2D C:89E :? 365] *@F 4@F=5?’E 6G6? AFE J@FC 2C>D 5@H? 3642FD6 J@FC =J>A9 ?@56D WH6C6 D@ DH@==6?X] x ;FDE =@@<65 =:<6 E96 wF=<[ 6G6CJE9:?8 DH6==65 FA] tG6CJE9:?8 9FCE] ~9[ :E H2D E6CC:3=6] x H2D 3F?865 FA 7@C 23@FE 2 H66< @C D@]”k^Am
kAmy24<D@? !@=:46 r9:67 r9C:D !6C=6J H@C<65 H:E9 w@=>6D 7@C E96 3F=< @7 9:D 42C66C H9:=6 H:E9 E96 r@?H2J !@=:46 s6A2CE>6?E]k^Am
kAm“$96 92D 2? :?4C65:3=6 8:7E :? 562=:?8 H:E9 2?:>2=D[” 96 D2:5] “$96’D 2 G:CEF2= sC] s@@=:EE=6] q6EEJ :D :CC6A=24623=6 2D 2? 2?:>2= 4@?EC@= @77:46C 2?5 2D 2 A6CD@?]”k^Am
kAm!6C=6J D2:5 96 =62C?65 62C=J @? @7 w@=>6D’ E2=6?E H:E9 2?:>2=D]k^Am
kAm“x >2J 92G6 366? 2 C@@<:6 @77:46C 2E E96 E:>6[ 3FE :E H2D H96? t=G:@’D H2D H96C6 E96 uC@?ED:56 vC:?5 :D E@52J @? E96 4@C?6C @7 z62CD2C86 2?5 |2:? $EC66E] %96C6 H2D 2 v6C>2? D96A96C5 E92E 925 8@EE6? =@@D6 2?5 ?@ @?6 4@F=5 86E H:E9:? d 766E @7 :E[ =6E 2=@?6 ECJ E@ 42AEFC6 :E] q6EEJ AF==65 FA :? 96C ECF4<[ @A6?65 E96 324<[ =@@<65 2E E96 5@8[ 2?5 D2:5[ ‘{6E’D 8@[’ 2?5 ;FDE =:<6 E92E[ E96 5@8 ;F>A65 :?E@ E96 ECF4< 2?5 q6EEJ C6D@=G65 E96 :?4:56?E]”k^Am
kAmw6 25565i “xE H2D E96? E92E x =62C?65 J@F 42? 8@ 2 =@E 7FCE96C H:E9 E2=6?E E92? 677@CE] x <?6H 62C=J @? E92E q6EEJ w@=>6D H2D 2? :?G2=F23=6 C6D@FC46 2?5 D@>6@?6 J@F H2?E65 E@ <66A 2C@F?5]”k^Am
kAm|24z6?K:6 D92C65 2 DE@CJ 23@FE 2 42== E92E w@=>6D C6DA@?565 E@ :?G@=G:?8 2 =2C86 3F== >@@D6 DE2?5:?8 36D:56 (6DE $:56 #@25]k^Am
kAm“xE H2D?’E D42C:?8 2H2J 2?5 @7 4@FCD6[ A6@A=6 H2?E65 E@ DE@A 2?5 E2<6 A:4EFC6D[” D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm“xE H2D ;FDE 42FD:?8 2 EC277:4 AC@3=6>[ 2?5 A2EC@= 4@F=5?’E 5@ 2?JE9:?8 E@ D42C6 :E @77] %96? q6EEJ D9@H65 FA[ E9:D :D H92E A2EC@= E@=5 >6] $96 8@E @FE @7 96C ECF4<[ H924<65 :E @? E96 2DD 2?5 E@=5 :E E@ ‘86E E96 964< @FE @7 96C6[’ 2?5 E96 >@@D6 E@@< @77 :?E@ E96 H@@5D 3642FD6 E96 2?:>2=D 5@ H92E6G6C q6EEJ E6==D E96> E@[ ?@ >2EE6C H92E] ~?=J q6EEJ 42? 86E 2H2J H:E9 E92E DEF77]”k^Am
kAm“w6 =@@<65 2E >6 2D 96 H6?E 3J 2D :7 E@ D2J[ ‘~z[’” w@=>6D D2:5 =2F89:?8]k^Am
kAmw@=>6D 92D D@>6 25G:46 7@C 96C DF446DD@C]k^Am
kAm“%96 A6CD@? 567:?:E6=J 92D 8@E E@ 92G6 2 <?24< 7@C :E[” D96 D2:5] “%96J’G6 8@E E@ 92G6 E96 ECF6 =@G6 @7 E96 2?:>2=D] %96J’G6 8@E E@ 36 H:==:?8 E@ 86E 3:E] %96J’G6 8@E E@ 36 H:==:?8 E@ ECJ E@ 92?5=6 H92E6G6C 4@>6D FA]”k^Am
kAmpD<65 23@FE 9:89=:89ED[ w@=>6D H2D BF:4< E@ D2J[ “tG6CJ 52J H2D 2 9:89=:89E[” 2?5 25565[ “%96 A6@A=6 x H@C<65 H:E9[ E96J’C6 2?@E96C 9:89=:89E]k^Am
kAm“%96 3@JD 2?5 8:C=D 96C6 2E E96 !s 92G6 366? 72?E2DE:4[ 2?5 E92E’D 2?@E96C E9:?8 E92E >2<6D J@FC H@C< 2?5 J@FC ;@3 2 =@E 62D:6C 3642FD6 J@F’G6 8@E 72?E2DE:4 A6@A=6 E92E J@F’C6 H@C<:?8 H:E9] %96J H6C6 2=H2JD E96C6 H96? x ?66565 E96>] x E9:?< x’G6 366? @?6 @7 E96 =F4<:6DE A6@A=6 E@ 92G6 E96 ;@3 x 92G6 2?5 H@C< H:E9 E96 A6@A=6 E92E x 92G6]”k^Am
(1) comment
Nobody better than Betty, from saving a nest of baby squirrels in my house to coming for a poor bear hunter dog abandoned on Doublehead to always being the one to count on, together with the best caring Vet Doc Walker too. From my horse to my cat Claude, we were so lucky back in the day , just to know them both. Susan Chase Lunt, Black Mt., Jackson
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.