Happy Valentine’s Day! The legend of St. Valentine is one of mystery. The Catholic Church recognizes no less than three martyred saints in history with the name Valentine. One legend claims he was a Roman priest, third century. Emperor Claudius II decided single men made better soldiers and thus outlawed marriage for young men, but the priest saw the injustice and married young lovers in secret… until he was put to death for his actions. Other stories suggest Valentine had helped Christians escape from harsh Roman prisons, until he was put in one. He fell in love with the jailer’s young daughter who visited him during the confinement. Before his death he wrote a letter signed “From your Valentine,” the origin of the expression we use today. Whether these stories are true or not, it should be no surprise that the romantic hero became one of the most widely popular saints.
Read more about the pagan festival, why February 14th, and the Valentine’s greeting.
It’s Tuesday, January 14
The next Doggie Day Spa takes place on Saturday from 9 to 2 at Carmen Pavilion, located on College Farm Road across from Calloway County High School. Pre-vet students from Murray State University will bathe dogs for $7 and clean ears and trim nails for $4. The Humane Society will microchip pets for $10. Find more information at forthepets.org.
The Civil War Singers will present a concert of Civil War songs on Thursday at 7PM at the Stewart County Visitors Center in Dover, Tennessee. The free concert is part of the sesquicentennial remembrance of the battle of Fort Donelson.
The Paducah National Weather Service hosts a “Skywarn” weather-spotting class in Murray on Thursday at 6:30PM. No fees or pre-registration are required. The three-hour class takes place in the Freed Curd Auditorium of the Industry & Technology Building at Murray State. For more information, contact Bill Call at 293-0068.
Find more community events online at wkms.org, where you can pledge to public radio and be our Valentine.
