The Ottumwa Courier no doubt just made its first visit to Valencia, Spain.

Inez Hill from Ottumwa and her sister from London, England traveled to Valencia to visit a long lost cousin who was discovered from the process of finding out more about family roots.

Each year for a week in March, Valencia celebrates the festival of “Las Fallas” which literally means “the fires.” The focus is the creation and destruction of “Ninots” — huge statues made of cardboard, wood and plaster and colorfully painted. These are created by neighborhood organizations and take about six months to construct, and often cost up to $75,000 (U.S. money).

It is considered one of the most unique and crazy festivals in Spain, Hill said. “What started as a feast of St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, has evolved into a five-day multifaceted celebration of fire,” she said. “People in native costume flock to the streets in parades and processions with fireworks going off throughout the week. Beginning in midweek, each of these colorfully painted statues are burned, following a ritual. This festival also coincides with the beginning of spring and the planting season.”

Hill said that during her visit, the temperatures were in the 70s. She also enjoyed the “miles and miles” of orange groves.

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Pastor Mel L. Kendall and his wife, Valli, spent 15 days this month in the Philippines. The Ottumwa couple visited missionaries working there, and he spoke in several different churches, plus two college graduations and at summer camp.

“The weather was hot, but we enjoyed the people, food and fellowship,” Kendall said. He is pastor at Calvary Baptist Church, 915 Overman Ave., in Ottumwa.

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Memo to self: Do not ride a merry-go-round: A) when you are supposed to be picking up sticks; B) when you are a senior citizen; C) when Marc Roe is pushing it.

Yeah, I had to take a spin on the “children’s toy” in Foster Park Friday morning, waiting for Tony and Dan to show up with our purple trash bags. About 10 Courier employees took an hour off from work to pick up litter in the park on Ottumwa’s east side.