Friday, July 6, 2012

Penny Nixon's My Hometown - Bart Bevins Interview



Penny Nixon's My Hometown - Bart Bevins Interview


[Hi! I'm Penny Nixon. I am a reporter for the Oak Springs Enterprise. My dad, the editor, Dick Nixon, has encouraged me to write stories for the paper about my hometown, Oak Springs, MO, beginning in early 1987. This is the first of several interviews with local residents and visitors. These articles will appear in the weekly edition of the Oak Springs Enterprise. I hope you enjoy my stories.]

Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Bart Bevins, the third of the four Bevins siblings involved in the estate settlement of their parents regarding their beloved "Homeplace" farm, located just east of the town of Oak Springs (recall that we talked to his older sisters, Karen and Beverly, earlier):

Penny: I recently talked to your two older sisters about coming back to Oak Springs because of the will of your mother. How do you feel about that?

Bart: I'm always glad to see my sisters and their families, of course. With regard to the will, I really don't know what to think, honestly. I really don't know why we've all been asked to 'commit to the farm for two years.' I've already committed myself for a lot longer than that. I don't know how much more I can do. We'll have to see what Phase 2 of the will says.

Penny: You don't sound very happy about it. 

Bart: The uncertainty is what I am unhappy about. I assumed I'd at least be able to keep farming this land for the family. Now, that is all up in the air. Not knowing what comes next - that is the hard part. I'm certainly not happy about that.

Penny: You really don't know what comes next, then?

Bart: Not a clue. I thought I had my Mom's confidence in the way I ran the farm. Now, even that is in question. Sorry, I can't say any more than that. Probably shouldn't be talking at all.

Penny: Thank you very much for talking to me, Bart. Perhaps we can talk, again, after you know more about the will.

Bart: Perhaps. We'll see.


Well, that was the interview. I hope you found it useful. Letters to the Editor are always welcome. Please be kind. Penny, out.

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These interviews lead up to the beginning chapter of "Back to the Homeplace." Have you read it yet? Available in sidebar links both in Kindle and Print Editions.