Roses of sympathy to the family of Josh Bailey, who continue to bear witness as the killers of their son make their way through the criminal justice system.

A third man, Jacob Maxwell, was sentenced last week for his role in the execution-style murder of Bailey in 2008. He will serve at least 30 years in prison.

His young daughter called out as he was led away. “Bybe-bye daddy,” she said.

Steve and Julie Bailey, of course, will never get to see their child have children of his own. They have attended every court hearing, an emotionally exhausting vigil, according to the young man’s aunt, Marty Jarrell.

“The truth is that life doesn’t stop the grieving,” she told staff writer Tammy Grubb last week. “It’s not so much that we move on or that we’re healed by time, but more that we’re dragged along by life.”

Six more people await sentencing.

Roses to Orange County Animal Services, for teaching us to live with wildlife.

The county department hosted a talk by urban wildlife specialist Lynsey Dasher last week that packed the Animal Service meeting room. So many people showed up, a small group huddled in the cold to listen through the open doors.

Dasher’s message: Killing coyotes doesn’t work.

North Carolina considers the wild canines an invasive, meaning non-native, species. But native or not, the wily creatures are here to stay. Killing them only leads to more of them, Dasher explained, as the species can adjust its litter size in response to food and population density. Killing a group’s breeding female can also disrupt the natural order in which only one pair has pups, she added, leading to even more unwanted animals.

For sure coyotes present dangers to unattended pets, especially small ones, and livestock.

But again, Dasher presented non-lethal advice and alternatives for dealing with them: feeding pets indoors, adding roll bars to 6-foot fences, “hazing” animals to re-instill their natural fear of humans.

Unfortunately, the state recently expanded the killing of coyotes by allowing night hunting with lights in all 100 counties. The result: 10 dead red wolves and a ban on the practice in the five counties where the state has been trying to reinstate the endangered species.

In other Animal Services news, last weekend’s low-cost rabies clinic was postponed due to the icy weather. The clinic has been rescheduled for this Saturday, Feb. 2, from 9 to noon at Animal Services Center at 1601 Eubanks Road in Chapel Hill. For details see http://www.co.orange.nc.us/animalservices/rabies.asp

And finally roses and poodle skirts to the fans and friends of Carrboro post office workers Preston Mooney and Solomon Hunter, who last week serenaded the men before they retire Thursday.

The post office on James Street came alive with the Marvelettes’ “Please Mr. Postman,” a week ago as Susan Reintjes and members of her mostly all-girl band The Cliches and yoga class and who knows who else filled the lobby for the “flash mob.” They sang and sashayed three times for the surprised clerks, who have worked a collective half-century plus.

The men are taking early retirement, part of a Postal Service plan to reduce its workforce by 15,000 employees. Along with that comes the closings of post offices here and across the country.

And that’s too bad, in the way that progress often is. Because if one day all the mail moves online there will be no counter or clerks to make a friend or friendly acquaintance with, much less to sing for.