Look Back ... to a diamond ring for charity, 1949

Jan. 18—Jan. 18, 1949, in The Star: A "wishing well" prop has been constructed on Noble Street to serve as a public collection point for donations to the March of Dimes campaign for polio research and assistance. But yesterday when officials went to collect the money, they found not just dimes but a diamond ring. The ring is now in the possession of Mayor Hemphill Whiteside of Oxford, and he asks that the contributor come forth and explain whether the dropping was intentional or mistaken. The campaign will go on for 12 more days, having collected $687.22 so far (not including a diamond ring!).

Jan. 18, 1999, in The Star: Local fans of the Atlanta Falcons have some reason to cheer: Their team is going to play in the Super Bowl. It's possible no words will ever sufficiently describe what happened yesterday afternoon when the "Dirty Birds" came from behind to beat the Minnesota Vikings 30-27 in overtime at the Metrodome — not only because it was so amazing, but because so much happened in one game. Moreover, nobody could have predicted that a Falcons team that was 1-7 in the middle of last season would turn things around to win 22 of its next 26 games. The Falcons will play the Denver Broncos in two weeks in Super Bowl XXXIII.