Congratulations to our county publication, the Smithville Review, on  its 120th Anniversary. There was a celebration on March 16 at the office in Smithville.
We arrived at 10:45 a.m. there was no parking place, and there was standing room only with the office packed to capacity.
Wow! What a crowd. Friends,  we hope of the Smithville Review.
Thanks to Mikelyn Mattox, she cleared a passage for my entrance and provided my chair.
Angie Meadows cut the birthday cake for the celebration, surrounded by friends of the Smithville Review.
We enjoyed refreshments and meeting old friends and new people. Everyone present received a goody-bag as long as the 120 bags lasted. How nice to do this for the many people who attended.
We say a big “Thank You” to the Smithville Review.
The magazine of the history of the Smithville Review was greatly appreciated. We remember all of the editors except the first, Mr. Frank Wallace and a Mr. Davis.
It was good to see Dorothy Morrison from Short Mountain. She was a correspondent for a short period after her mother, Mrs. Underwood, could write no longer.
Good to see and talk to old friends like Brenda Cantrell  and Linda Adcock, both of First Bank, and Linda’s husband, Billy Adcock. It is always good to see and talk with Loyce Holcomb and Royce Odom.
I would  also like to say our hair beautician, Brenda Bates, can always talk to you about something and her mother, Beulah Arnold, as well.
It was good to see and talk with Billie Cook; she sat at our table. We have known Billie for many years.
We saw a retired educator whom we hadn't seen for years, Car Adcock. It was so good to see her. My girls had her in math at College Street Elementary. She was a very good math teacher.
We saw at a glance a good friend Geraldine Cantrell and Jeff Cantrell, one of our students.
It was nice to meet Woody Adcock. We had his boy and girl in library at Smithville Elementary, they are nice people. He says he likes “Dry Creek Flashes.” So glad he does. Just keep reading for the latest news in the beautiful Dry Creek Valley.
I also saw Mayor Mike Foster, Sheriff Ray and Mayor Taft Hendrixson at the celebration.
I was happy to see and talk with a relative, Jimmy Driver, and also Jerry White was there.
I can’t forget my great-grandson, Brandon Kent. My daughter, Judy Kimbrell and Brandon brought me to the 120th anniversary celebration at the Review office. I’m guessing that Brandon, was the youngest guest. He enjoyed his goody bag especially his $1 bill. Brandon will be two this June. He is the son of Todd and Michele Kent and grandson of Roger and Kathy Hendrixson of Dry Creek and Ronnie and Sarah Kent of Smithville.
Another editor of the Review that I didn’t mention was the late Dorothy Walker. She was a good editor. She also visited Smithville Elementary School Library to cover every special event that we had in the library. We truly appreciated Ms. Walker.
When the movie, “I Walk the Line,” was being made at the Fuston property at the head of Dry Creek, Dorothy had been in a car accident and couldn’t cover the movie starring Gregory Peck and Tuesday Weld, so I went and interviewed Gregory and Tuesday. The story was printed on the front page of the Smithville Review.  I don’t remember the year.
Mrs. Kathy Hendrix visited Mrs. Linda Fuston Saturday.
Recent visitors of Mary Joines and Bobby were Bro. Donald Owens, Kathy Hendrix, Jim and Judy Kimbrell, Christine Rochner, Helen Burt, Vickie Corley, Linda Bush, Paulette Robinson, Bob Earl and Linda Fuston, Elaine Garrison  and daughter, Jimmy and Becky Womack, Vena Fuston, Brandon Dyer, Mike and Tammy Crook, Alicia and Jordan. Mary is still taking therapy at Rain Tree Manor in McMinnville. Bobby and  Mary send their thanks to everyone for their prayers, gifts, snack food, visits, cards and every act of kindness.
Everything is in bloom in the valley. The redbuds, pear and apple trees are beautiful. This morning the lilac bush in our backyard is full of those good smelling purple blooms.
We hope the red truck with a big mower behind will make a trip to the valley. Our grass needs mowing. Tommy Hooper, it is time to cut the grass, please.
Just came to mind the names of Eugene Henden’s daughters. The oldest was Mildred, Mamie Henden Duke and Corinne.
Mildred and Mamie were school teachers at Smithville Elementary on College Street. Superintendent of DeKalb County schools J.D. Hendrixson built the new elementary school on Bryant Street. Easter is coming soon. We pray that if a cold spell comes our fruit trees will be protected. So many depend on them for fresh fruit.
On April 8, Easter Sunday, there will be a special service at Dry Creek Baptist Church. Everyone is welcome, Bro. Donald Owens, pastor.
Olivia Miller, Lascasses, celebrated her ninth birthday on March 17. On Friday, Jimmy and Judy Kimbrell took Olivia and her sister, Elizabeth Miller, to the movies in Murfreesboro to see Dr. Seuss’s, “The Lorax.” After the movie, they enjoyed dinning out.
Kathy Hendrix visited Mrs. Mary Joines at Rain Tree Manor in McMinnville, Saturday. She took her birthday gifts for her birthday, which was Sunday. Congratulations to Mary.
She will be seeing her doctor this week for an infection in her ankle. We send special get-well wishes to Mary. Remember the Joines family in your prayers.
Let not you heart be troubled; ye believe in God; believe also in me...I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, there you will be also.(John 14:1-3)