By SHELBA NIVENS / Community Columnist

Late one night, before Linda Powers and her family moved from Kentucky to Chelsea, a rough-looking man in a beat-up old van pulled up and parked in front of her house.

She and her daughter ran all over the house locking doors and windows, she said.

Then they heard the door open and were so relieved to see her husband Jimmy walk in.

Jim Powers, a special Social Security fraud agent, had been on an undercover job.

Linda cites another case involving a woman wrestler disability claim.

“He went to one of her matches, bought a T-shirt with her name on it as a wrestler, then produced it in court as evidence after her testimony that she was terribly and physically impaired. Her eyes got big as marbles.”

This was an interesting time in their life, she said.

So, what does Linda do now for excitement since her husband retired?

She volunteers at the Chelsea Library.

“The library is my life-line,” she told me. “I love to read so I go there a lot. I met Dana (Polk, library director) when (the library) was still in the bank building and she and everyone there was so helpful and fun that I asked about volunteering.”

Other volunteers are Inez Smith and Brenda Robertson.

“Dana works hard to stay current on popular interests in both book and movie purchases, as well as activities for adults and children,” Linda said. “There is also free downloading to personal e-readers.”

“The Camellianet-group offers downloadable e-books (for Nook, Kindle and other e-readers and tablets) audio books and music CDs,” added Dana Polk.

People with library cards may access these through Shelbycounty-al.org.

“Livemocha,” which offers 38 different language programs in six-month courses, is accessed the same way, she said.

The library’s newest feature is a partnership with the Shelby Arts Council where Council members’ art will be displayed at the library, said Dana.

The Tot Spot is on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. and the crochet group on Friday at 10 a.m. Plans are underway for the children and adult summer reading programs, and outdoor movies will also be offered this summer.

Linda said she is thankful to now find her excitement in the library instead of her husband’s undercover work. “The library is not just books. It offers so much to enhance our lives,” she said.

Library website: Cityofchelsea.com/library.html. Phone: 678-8455.

 

Shelba Nivens can be reached by email at Shelbasn@juno.com.