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- [S4] Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee), 18 May 2004.
Margaret Louise Ottinger Smith obituary
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 14 Oct 2007.
They will fix your back
(c)2007 NPT PHOTO BY DAVID POPIEL Dr. Rachel Ward helps me strengthen my thighs on a leg extension machine at Premier Therapy located off West Broadway.
By: David Popiel
Source: The Newport Plain Talk
10-14-2007
The much-anticipated fall cooling took place this week sending shivers up the possum's back in our hometown and slowing down the tree sap.
One of the side effects of getting older is aches, mine being in my back during late August and into Sept. I have had sciatic nerve problems for years and it flared up again after stubbing my toes on a stone. Dr. Ken Johnson sent me to Premier Therapy. The first person, other than receptionist Anna Suggs, that I met was Rachel Ward. She has been in the Kiwanis with me for years, and you know her as the daughter of W.C. Smith, of Parrottsville, and the late Margaret (Ottinger) Smith. Low back therapy involves heating and electric stimulation to relax the muscles plus lots of drugs. Rachel explained that the prime cause of sciatic problems is an underlying butt muscle, called piriformus, because it presses against the nerve. She showed me how to do certain stretches and exercises. There was another fellow one day in the lobby who has suffered with similar pain. It was Jerry Holland.
The summer had been slow but business is brisk at Premier, some of it due to start of high school sports and associated injuries. Tamara Carver-Krawczyk, who does sports fitness and therapy, also worked on my back. She and Rachel said they have seen several athletes with football injuries. One young fellow seated with his mother, who looked familiar to me, had a large brace on his left leg to support his knee. It was Kurt Brooks, who I know only as Larry and Darlene "Porky" Brooks' son. I think he is about 15 and already an outstanding athlete. Darlene had to orient me because I don't see her that often. Her father, the late Clifford Clevenger, was a long time friend. Rachel told me later that Darlene runs a dermabrasion and skin care salon next to Larry's tire store just across the highway from Premier.
On another visit I was surprised to see Raymond Sutton lounging on the exercise machines while a woman was whizzing along doing overhead pull-down exercises rather rapidly. It made me dizzy. I think Pat Sparks is older than me but you couldn't tell it by her vigor and fitness. Raymond said he has been exercising regularly since he had heart bypass surgery about 5 or 6 years ago. I was inspired by his regular regime considering he is now 83. That was hard for me to imagine, remembering how much traveling we did from farm to farm in the 1970s when he was agriculture agent. If we bump into each other again at the weight machine, I'll find out what else he does to stay fit. Another semi-retiree who stays in shape and has shed a lot of weight during the past couple of years is my pharmacist, Gary Hammonds. He too was at Premier in recent weeks complaining of a stiff neck. He had been horseback riding and then got the neck problem, he said. Most folks who seek help have had joint replacements, strokes, or back injuries. Rachel, now Dr. Ward, after getting her degree in 2005 from the University of St. Augustine, tells me the newest thing is direct access to physical therapy care. You don't need a physician's order to walk in the door to get that tennis elbow healed.
For those who don't know, Rachel and Leanne (Weems) Gregg began Premier Therapy about 1999. Becky Dance is also a partner. Jenny Zmich was also a therapist there, not now, in the office that used to house Farm Bureau Insurance. It's next to Arvis Keys apartments he is renovating. Other folks you will see are Lisa Hazelwood and Twila Hughes. Before working as partners, Rachel spent about 13 years with Baptist Hospital and said she had always been interested in physical therapy. Except for a stint as a lifeguard for Ronnie Ball at his Stone Mountain pool and work in fast food, she has built a solid career helping others feel better and look better. She also has lost some weight lately, probably trying to keep up with her two sports active children: Danielle, 15, who plays soccer at Jefferson Co. High; and Will, 12, White Pine Middle School. Both love Tennis. Rachel, her husband, Matt Ward, who is a distribution manager with Vacumet of Morristown, live in Baneberry. Rachel is a 1980 CCHS grad hen attended UT at Memphis for a physical therapy degree as did Leanne. It was an interesting couple of weeks in therapy, and I am better. Also, During one of my visits at Premier, I overheard a conversation on mountain dialect between Tamara and another woman, who had a most pronounced country twang and knew all the country talk. It was Janice Gorrell. We were particularly puzzled by the use of "dope" for a beverage and how that term came into use.
I am sure you know Rachel's siblings: Ronnie Smith, of Greeneville, Marla Frankford, of Sarasota, Florida, and Cindy Martin, a Northwest School teacher.
In plain talk, I don't recommend getting sick or injured but if you do in our hometown you will find some great people and outstanding health care.
Just Plain Talk - They will fix your back
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Name: W C Smith
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Event Type: Marriage
Event Date: 28 Mar 1949
Event Place: Cocke, Tennessee, United States
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Spouse's Name: Margaret Louise Ottinger
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Reference ID:
GS Film number: 1669918
Digital Folder Number: 004485979
Image Number: 00181
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(Age 73 years)