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October 21, 1977 Around Adair with Ed Waggener The article below first appeared in the October 21, 1977, edition of the Daily Statesman. Topics included an ongoing issue with traffic on the square, mints-as-change during a penny shortage, and the beginning of the Dogwood Project, which might have single-handedly put Columbia 40 years ahead of the curve in responding to climate change. The photo that Bob Hill called about had pride-of-place in our family living room for years, and I remember a high school friend, the late Shannon Rainwater, walking in to our house for the first time in the late 1980's and wondering why in the world we had a picture of his grandfather on the wall. --Pen By Ed Waggener Bob Hill, roving columnist for the Courier-Journal, called yesterday from Webb's Cross Roads to ask about Mr. Ernest Rainwater's mighty big pumpkin up at Knifley. "Was that trick photography?" he asked. I assured him it was not. Now, the perspective is somewhat flattering to the pumpkin, as a comparison of the two accompanying photographs indicates, but it was no trick, Mr. Hill. Adair County, in particular Knifley and environs, is the garden spot of the world. We just grow things better here, whether it be elephant ear plants, Holstein cows, medical doctors, beautiful girls, pumpkins, or newspaper editors. But trick photography? There's no way to make a 185-pound pumpkin anything but big. Former agriculture Commissioner Wendell Butler often said, "It takes a mighty big hog to weigh 1,000 pounds." I think that he would also say that it takes a mighty big pumpkin to weigh 185 pounds. The square is back to normal The traffic congestion on the public Square is back to normal. Mayor Murphy and Carroll Administration contact man T.P. Phelps called the highway department and had the signs changed to "yield" for all oncoming traffic, giving the traffic on the Square the right-of-way at all times. There seems to be less congestion now. Phelps wants cooperation on bypass T.P. Phelps says that there is a possibility that Columbia could obtain a truck bypass around the perimeter of Columbia, "if everyone would get together and work for it." Phelps thinks that Columbia would stand a better chance in Frankfort if there is the appearance of unanimity when delegations go to the Governor and to the Highway Department for projects. It's worth a try. Columbia desperately needs the bypass and a second project Phelps has proposed: Getting a second exit on the Cumberland Parkway at Highway 61 South of Columbia. The project ought to have top priority, since opening that stretch of the parkway would almost certainly mean that a big part of the bypass is already built. Stealing Coy's thunder It's bad to steal a candidate's thunder, but Coy Downey has come up with a proposal that won't wait to election day. It's his idea, but it ought to have non- political support. "I'd like to see Columbia plant thousands of dogwoods this fall, so that next spring people would drive from everywhere just to see the flowers," Downey said. Downey suggests that someone contact a McMinnville nursery or get one of the local nurserymen to give a bulk price on several thousand of the trees. "That way, the cost to each individual landowner ought to be very small," Downey said. I like the idea. Maybe some of the civic clubs will take it up, too. Now's the time to set out dogwoods, I'm told. Businesses could give trees as premiums There are several ways in which the dogwoods could be distributed. One idea would be for businesses to give them as premiums with purchases. Banks could give them as gifts for making a big deposit or opening a new account. On public grounds, the trees could be given in the name of an individual to be honored, and the CETA workers could plant them. That would make it non-political Letting the CETA workers in on the project would take it out of the realm of mayoral politics, because the CETA workers are under the direction of Larry Russell Bryant, a non-political fellow who is Rollin Pyles' son-in-law. Kids may have to campaign This might be the first campaign where the winner is decided on which grandchild campaigns best. Squaredeal Downey is already taking young Brett Blair, his grandson, politicking. The little boy gives voters a "Coy Downey" card, and when the adults ask him who he wants them to vote for, the little fellow says, "Vote for Pa Pa." Brett is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Sam Blair. Rollin Pyles may have to counter with his granddaughter, Heather Bryant. She's a real cutie, too, and it would be hard to turn her down if she asked for a vote. She's the daughter of Larry and Sheila Bryant. I never think of things in time I never think of things to say to people when they need come-uppance, but I know a lot of people who do. When there was a penny shortage a few years back, some restaurants used to give change in mints, whether the customer wanted them or not. A friend of mine, Nick Russo, didn't win any victories when he complained, but he did dumbfound the lady at the cash register enough to get some satisfaction. He was paying a bill for $5.91 at a Lexington restaurant. He handed the lady a $5 bill and a $1 bill. She, as was the custom at that time, handed him three mints. "What are these?" Nick asked. "They're your change," the lady said. "But I don't want mints," he said. "Well," she said, "that's our policy. The mints are worth three cents each. I owe you nine cents, so I'm giving you three mints." Nick appeared puzzled, then allowed an expression of understanding to cross his face. "Oh, " he said, "it's like barter, isn't it?" "Yeah," the lady said, thinking she had won the battle. "It's like we are trading stuff instead of using money, isn't it?" Nick asked. "Yeah, that's sort of like it is," the lady said. "Okay," Nick said, grabbing the $6 out of the lady's hand. "I'm trading you this $6 shoe for my dinner. The pair cost $15 and I've worn them a little but this one still ought to be worth $6. And I'm keeping the mints." She protested, but Nick didn't give in easily. The lady had to call the manager and he had to endure the same routine before Nick gave in. He only caused some justifiable confusement. But, he said, it was worth it. It was almost as good as winning an argument with a parking meter or a pay telephone. This story was posted on 2019-07-07 12:25:04
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More articles from topic Around Adair with Ed Waggener:
July 4, 1980 Around Adair with Ed Waggener January 20, 1978 Around Adair with Ed Waggener August 24, 1977 Around Adair with Ed Waggener October 27, 1977 Around Adair with Ed Waggener May 1978 Around Adair with Ed Waggener September 30, 1977 Around Adair with Ed Waggener May 17, 1978 Around Adair with Ed Waggener April 4, 1978 Around Adair with Ed Waggener April 11, 1978, Around Adair Around Adair: It must have happened in Columbia View even more articles in topic Around Adair with Ed Waggener |
 
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