Community pulls together amid disaster

Perseverance. It’s a most admirable trait and one of the hallmarks of our community. When faced with adversity, we persevere, both individually and collectively. We pull together to help neighbors, total strangers and the whole community when hard times hit.

This has never been more evident since March 28, with two major catastrophes hitting here. The first was the March 28 fire in downtown McMinnville which claimed the old King’s Department Store and Locke’s 5&10 buildings. The second, the more recent April 11 tornado touchdown in Warren County which packed a punch with winds estimated at 110 mph and which stayed on the ground some 15 miles.

In both cases, we got lucky. Very lucky. You would have no problem filling a Hallelujah choir on that one. Both events could easily have claimed lives. They did not. Only property was lost and even though that hurts, both financially and emotionally, everyone pulled through both disasters.

Kudos to McMinnville Fire Chief Kevin Lawrence and his excellent team of firefighters. Chief Lawrence’s management skills have long been evident to anyone who’s noted his years of community service, especially at the Warren County Fair. Although he’s long denied responsibility, who but Kevin could manage to put a little Fiero up on blocks in the fair parking lot in less than 30 minutes?

Still shaken by his brush with death, Mel Dixon visited the Southern Standard office the week after the fire, vowing that his property wouldn’t become downtown McMinnville’s next ‘Hole.’

The second (and scariest as it impacted so many more) devastation could clearly have been so much worse had the tornado hit in the middle of the night instead of afternoon. Our hearts go out to all who lost homes and belongings, but, again, Warren countians responded with their usual perseverance and pitched in to help those in need. Tornado tales will be told for decades to come.

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I’m not bitter and I don’t know about you, but I’ve all but decided I don’t like politics all that much since it appears the possibility of the first woman president is rapidly diminishing. Actually, politics have left me cold for some time, but the Democratic National Convention’s advent of superdelegates really has me chapped.

The long primary campaign has been frustrating with the political contenders seeming to focus more on blunders than issues. From the beginning, when candidates focused on the war rather than the economy, I’ve wondered and worried if anyone on that level has any concept of the problems facing the everyday-working citizen, who sees the American Dream slipping away bit by bit.

Nowhere was this more evident than with Obama’s recent elitist statement classifying small-town, working-class Americans as ‘bitter’ folks who turned to religion, guns and prejudice as a result. Whoa, talk about a ‘back-up-and-punt’ moment!

But that elitist mentality isn’t found only on the national stage. It’s alive (and not so well) here in the heart of Warren County, believe it or not.

While listening to local public access radio station WCPI-FM (I love its musical diversity), Thomas Vaughn’s radio talk show ‘Straight Talk’ came on.

Now, I took a class on public speaking at Motlow that the colonel taught and what I learned in that class has proved invaluable. Through that experience and other dealings, I have great respect for the man, so I’ve always listened to what he has to say on various subjects. I don’t always agree, but I believe diverse opinions are the foundation of our great country.

So you can imagine my shock when, during a discussion of the economy, his co-host, one Jeanette Henderson, asked, ‘How can anyone not make $30,000 a year’? Henderson then claimed she could make more than that on a local street corner with a tin cup. (I’m going to take the high road on the street corner thing!)

Was this sarcasm, I thought, replaying it over in my head? Surely no one living in a small Southern rural community could make such an elitist statement without tongue firmly in cheek. After much thought (and replaying it over and over in my mind), I came to the sad conclusion it was not said sarcastically.

Perhaps, Ms. Henderson doesn’t pay much attention to her environment or maybe she travels in such rarified circles that the view down from the stratosphere would be dizzying. Maybe math isn’t her strong suit or she doesn’t even know what minimum wage is. Either way, apologies to Thomas B., but “Straight Talk” proved anything but for me this week and I won’t be listening again.

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A belated Happy 90th Birthday to retired teacher Arrie Mae Smith! Arrie Mae is now at NHC in Room 314 and son Charles says visitors, cards and calls are certainly welcome.

Viola resident Frank McCollouch is recuperating well at home after surgery, according to wife Peggy. It’s hard to keep a good man down and Frank certainly fits in that category.

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Heard out and about: City Cafe’s Jay Medley reporting a muscle pulled in a softball game to mother Penny, but you could have fooled us. Jay had just made it to and through the front door after a guy came in seriously saying he smelled smoke. Jay and others went to investigate quickly since it was the week following the downtown fire, but happily it turned out to be a burnout at BRC.

Also at City Cafe: McMinnville Police Major Bryan Denton, sitting with fellow officers Capt. Mike Lane and Sgt. Lisa Norris, asking to be burped. Hope Bryan’s indigestion clears up before July 5 when he heads to Quantico for training. Don’t think he’ll find much ‘burping’ help there.

The cafe is also drawing legal eagles seeking sustenance after courthouse action with local attorneys Robert Newman and John Partin joining Public Defender Dan Bryant and Assistant PD Trenena Wilcher at a booth. Newman bears watching though; he recommended Ken Follett’s ‘Pillars of the Earth,’ as a great read and I’m still enthralled and digesting the 800-plus page tome.

Centertown Fire Department’s own Phillip Prater is now a TV star, spotted on BLTV’s ‘Code Red’ show. His late father, Hootie, whose love of this community and extraordinary work ethic instilled the word service into Phillip, would be proud!

Can we talk? Yes, we can!

Southern Standard employee Susan Newby can be reached at [email protected].