| Sources |
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), Just Plain Talk - Mr. Sandman, bring me some rocks, 9 Jun 2008.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), Just Plain Talk - No more shade for Joe, 18 May 2008.
Author: David Popiel
Source: The Newport Plain Talk
Did blackberry winter creep up on our hometown last week on the back of storm winds that rattled house and barn roofs? One thing for sure, there are less leaves and trees to greet the sun when it returns.
As you may know, aside from eating biscuits and sweets, I like to wander around seeing what's happening. But, perhaps my travels were on the wrong side of town because all the pear trees around US Bank disappeared two weeks before I noticed this changed scene. Then, mid week a paper flyer arrived at the office and was also posted at City Hall stating: "Don't get local officials upset or they will cut your trees down!" A second attached sheet had a copy of the poem "Trees" with its often quoted opening line, "I think that I shall never see a poem as lovely as a tree." The "Agitator" Jimmy Frank Hill lays claim to the leaflets to which he added after the poem, "Sgt. Joyce Kilmer-US Army; Killed in France in Action, July 30, 1918, at the age of 32, in no man's land, France-Where there were no trees."
Returning to the minus-pear-tree block mid week, where Joe Bacon publisher of "The Watchdog” hangs out, without his shade trees, there also was a heavyset, white-bearded fellow who looked familiar. It was cool, just after the cold-front storm that rattled trees and sentenced green leaves to an early fall. The man seated on the bench was Cecil "Spanky" Keller, who I recalled from his days in the 1980s as a deputy and constable. He served after Bacon was a constable through the 1970s. With no trees for shade and birds to roost, and summer approaching, I asked what Joe and his former shade-tree friends would now do. Joe pointed to a green umbrella, attached to the city bench. Joe said Spanky was the first person to sit on the bench, as he is disabled because of diabetes. In his early 50s, Spanky was forced to retire for health reasons from ConAgra. Still not knowing why the trees were gone, Joe provided his explanation, pointing across the railroad tracks to City Hall. To get to the root of the disappearance, I called Mayor Connie Ball. He said the city had nothing to do with the removal of the trees, which were on private property owned by the bank. Mayor Ball did note he heard the trees caused some damage to the sidewalk that may have caused someone to trip on a crack. Since the Bradford pear trees were planted, I have shot several photos of their beautiful white blossoms. But these ultimately fell on the sidewalk causing a mess. Until last Sunday, I had been rather sympathetic to pear trees but the storm took the rest of mine down sending my redbone hounds scurrying and almost crunching their doghouse. While we talked last Tuesday night, Mayor Ball said the storm also damaged the home of his sister-in-law. Allen and Linda Hutson live off LeHigh Road. Their large Bradford pear toppled onto their house and also the swimming pool. So, maybe me and the hounds got away easy.
Thursday morning waiting for rain to pass, I called Tip Williams at US Bank to get the rest of the story on the missing pear trees. He confirmed that it was the bank's decision and his to remove all 21 trees. These had been planted about 12 years ago and were mature; a good idea at first but causing increased problems. Employees and customers had to contend with leaves, branches, and pollen falling on their vehicles. Roots had indeed cracked the city sidewalk so the bank hired Otha Rolen, who is retired from NU, but a seasoned tree trimmer, to cut them down. Blackbirds also roosted in the large trees and you know what that means to those below, including Joe Bacon who endured them for the shade. The good news is US Bank plans to re-landscape and is now accepting bids for the work. Tip said he has in mind planting dogwood trees, but whatever is done will be less problem and add to the attractiveness of downtown. Tip said he and friends had golfed in May at Baneberry after a recent storm and saw a giant pear tree that fell coming dangerously close to destroying a house.
Plain Talk receptionist Penny Webb travels from upper Cosby and said wind also knocked down a tree near the Gilliland Cemetery road into the park across from the former Lucy Owenby property. The tree took down some utility lines. I'm sure you had to rake a few leaves and pick up limbs. I saw Johnny Bugg at Brown Funeral Home vacuuming up remnant leaves of the storm. How hard did it blow? Friends told me this story related by a local man who had some goats. He said the wind blew his mountain goat away, to which he added, "I wasted my money on that goat." There's probably a moral to all this, but I can't discern it yet.
I must correct some misspellings of names from recent columns. Several of us are seeing better thanks to recent cataract surgery I told you that others and me had thanks to Dr. Charles Lindsey. One was Barbara Raines. I gave you her wrong first name during a past column (Brenda) and saw her again last Tuesday. The other person is John Wodalski, and you could see how that name is easily messed up.
On the passing scene in our hometown there have been other changes that you may have missed. One place I got acquainted with was The Spot coffee shop at Western Plaza. We featured the local artists who displayed their art on the walls. The Spot closed suddenly more than a week ago with just a note on the door. Another place that closed is just across West Broadway from the Co-op. Suzy Q's shut its doors Wednesday, May 7. Sue Leister, the business operator, had built a good restaurant but for personal reasons had to slow down and get out of the business. While some close, others expand. I've mentioned the work at Arby's this month. There is so much going on that Arby's in Newport will close two days, Monday and Tuesday for paving.
In plain talk, just when you thought a sturdy tree makes a good landmark and shelter from the storm, you find they can quickly disappear with no record of their existence.
- [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 6 Mar 2009.
Bernice Daniels obituary
- [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 3 Jul 2010.
Charles Edward Ivy obituary
- [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 28 Oct 2006.
Irene Keller Cameron obituary
- [S144] Phone Record.
Name: Cecil L Keller
Residence Date: 01 Sep 1993-15 Nov 2007
Residence Place: Newport, Tennessee, United States
Birth Date: 27 Nov 1953
Phone Number: (423) 623-0515
Phone Number Recorded Date: 15 Nov 2007
Address: 599 Battle Rd # 1
Address Continued: Newport, Tennessee 37821
Address Date: 01 Sep 1993-15 Nov 2007
2nd Address: 643 Centerview St
2nd Address Continued: Newport, Tennessee 37821
2nd Address Date: 01 Jan 1993-01 Jul 2005
Possible Relatives: Debra R Keller, John W Keller Jr, Robin Cecil Keller, Spanky Keller, Vinian I Keller, Vivian H Keller
Record Number: 71723976
- [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 10 Oct 2016.
(November 27, 1953 - October 10, 2016)
Cecil “Spanky” Keller, age 62 of Newport, passed away, Monday, October 10, 2016. He was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Maggie Keller; brothers, Steve and Kent Keller; step-daughter, Jessica Webb; and sister-in-law, Irene Shelton. He is survived by his wife, Robin Keller of Newport; daughter, MaKayla Keller of Newport; step-son, William (Jamie) Woody of Parrottsville; brothers, Clyde (Lori) Keller of Cosby, Johnny Keller of Newport, and Bill Shelton of Dandridge; sister, Nancy Shults of Cosby; sisters-in-law, Cindy (Randy) Schoolcraft of Parrottsville, Charlene Keller of Newport, and Karen Keller of Newport; also seven grandchildren, and nieces and nephews; other survivors, Richard and Libby Keller Funeral Services will be at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, October 12, 2016 in the Manes Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be at 11:00 am on Thursday, October 13, 2016 in Resthaven Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 pm on Wednesday at Manes Funeral Home prior to the funeral services. Family and friends may sign the guest register online at www.manesfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by Manes Funeral Home
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Name: Cecil Keller
Titles and Terms:
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 12 Feb 1943
Event Place: Cocke, Tennessee, United States
Age:
Birth Year (Estimated):
Father's Name:
Father's Titles and Terms:
Mother's Name:
Mother's Titles and Terms:
Spouse's Name: Maggie Shelton
Spouse's Titles and Terms:
Spouse's Age:
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated):
Spouse's Father's Name:
Spouse's Father's Titles and Terms:
Spouse's Mother's Name:
Spouse's Mother's Titles and Terms:
Reference ID: 6
GS Film number: 1928651
Digital Folder Number: 004485966
Image Number: 00411
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Name: Vivian Trey
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 05 Aug 1975
Event Place: Cocke, Tennessee, United States
Gender: Female
Spouse's Name: Cecil L Keller
Page: 480
- [S87] Death Certificate.
Husband's Name Wife's First Name Wife's Maiden Name County Court Date of Divorce File #
KELLER CECIL L VIVIAN H NOT GIVEN COCKE CIRCUIT 05-14-1991 14634
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Name: Debra Roben Woody
Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 05 May 1992
Event Place: Cocke, Tennessee, United States
Gender: Female
Spouse's Name: Cecil Lynn Keller
Page: 230
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