May 1998 - Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

Life in Oak Springs, the Homeplace

May 1998

This series of posts on each Friday during 2015 continues the stories of “The Homeplace Saga” series of family saga, historical fiction families in the area of Oak Springs following the novel “Christmas at the Homeplace,” which ended as 1997 began. Here is a peek at ‘Life in Oak Springs,’ and the surrounding valley, in May of 1998.

[Palamino Horse - Wikimedia Commons - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Palomino_Horse.jpg]

Heather Gates, in the Junior Class at Oak Springs High School, at annual awards day, once again earned the Most Outstanding Project in the FFA (Future Farmers of America) competition. Her project involved her Palomino breeding program, again, this year, but also added the rest of the breeding program at the Bevins Stables to her project program. Once again, her instructor predicted success for Heather at the State level and mentioned that it would also likely qualify for the National FFA convention, based on his experience with these things. Heather was quoted as saying; “I’m really just doing my job with the horses at the Stables. I am very pleased that others feel that I am doing a good job.”

On May 11 and 12, Monday and Tuesday, the McDonald Conservancy hosted workshops and tours involving current and prospective directors, invited expert guests in four natural conservation fields, and selected primary donors/sponsors totaling 24 persons. The participants interacted with the experts, took in-field tours of related Conservancy land, and discussed plans and prospective plans presented by Executive Director Ronny Cox and Board Chair Peter Bevins. This event was based at the Homeplace Country Inn Heritage Hall and activities were scheduled to provide time for informal discussions among the participants. Meals were catered in the Hall to provide maximum time for interactions. Cox said following the event, “This gathering was one of the most productive I have had the pleasure to participate in. New ideas were generated, some prior plan assumptions received confirmation, and many possible future activities for the Conservancy were considered. The Board and I look forward to the opportunity to digest all that was discussed in these two short, very active, days.” Bevins added, “This gathering demonstrates why we hired Ronny Cox as our Executive Director. We’ve wanted to do something like this. He got it done, and more successfully than we could ever dreamed of. Very good two days of discussions. Much focused work ahead of us.”

Locals:

Sullivan End-‘O-the-Road Livestock Auction held a well-advertised Cattle Auction on Wednesday, May 20. Among the lots were 9 cows and calves, including two cows with twin calves, and 2 bulls, from the Bevins herd offered by Bart Bevins and Scott Gates.

The Oak Springs Enterprise on Wednesday, May 13, featured a special graduation section with a photo and feature article on each of the 2015 Oak Springs High School graduates.

Social Notes:

Heather Gates was feted for her FFA Project success with a reception at the Homeplace Country Inn Heritage Inn hosted by her mother, Beverly (Gates) Threshold, and her husband, Winnie, of Jackson, Mississippi, her father, Paul Gates, of the east valley, along with her aunt, Karen Winslow, proprietor of the Country Inn. About 35 guests, family and friends attended the reception, held on Saturday afternoon, May 23.

Graduation parties were held around the valley for this year’s High School graduates of Oak Springs High School through the latter part of the month of May.

Lori Winslow and Trace Watkins were seen dining at the Oak Springs Country Club, Saturday night, May 30th. Also seen dining there that evening were Don and Linda Kirk, Christopher and Nicole Ogden, and Brian and Jennifer Kirk, at a table for six.

Cop Shop:

Six juveniles in two cars were arrested for DUI following the High School Junior-Senior Prom late Saturday night, May 2. The cars were impounded and the juveniles were remanded to the custody of their respective parents as they were located during the overnight hours.

"May everyone have a homeplace, if only in your mind."




Dr. Bill  ;-)