Watching the Parade – A blog by LaMar Bryan

While researching a story for this year’s progress edition, an interesting questioned surfaced about Madisonville’s historic signs proclaiming it “The Best Town on Earth.”

William Corum recalled that the signs mentioned the U.C. Milk Co., which was established by his grandfather Ashby Corum and John Utterback in 1927.

However, the Historical Society of Hopkins County, and some of its veteran members, couldn’t readily substantiate the claim through photographs or records. So that tidbit had to be left out the story about the iconic dairy business.

It wasn’t until this week — well past my deadline for filing the story — that new evidence surfaced. It turns out the backside of the Best Town on Earth signs had different messages.

Many people are familiar with the wording “Heart of the Coal Field” and “Big Tobacco Market” gracing the front of the signs that date back to the 1950s. The backside mentions “Dairy Farming” and “Beautiful City Park.”

It turns out William Corum’s memory is pretty good.

And that is the rest of the story, as the late Paul Harvey used to say.

Read about the U.C. Milk Co., and many other things and experiences that are synonymous with Hopkins County, in this year’s progress edition, which will be published in Friday’s edition of The Messenger. The theme is: You’re from Hopkins County if ….

For the past several weeks, Messenger readers and Facebook followers have been sharing their innermost thoughts about the 9/11 terrorism attacks. Those old enough to remember World War II compare that day to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Younger adults say the only comparable event in their lives was when the Challenger space shuttle exploded shortly after launch on Jan. 28, 1986.

Much of the Messenger’s A section on Sunday will be dedicated to localized coverage of the 10th anniversary of 9/11. We’ll have a guest column from a Madisonville resident who works as an airline stewardess and comments from a father whose son was killed in the global war on terrorism. First responders, students, teachers and ministers also will offer their personal insights.

One of the moments I’ll always remember from that day was when Messenger Executive Editor Tom Clinton, who is now retired, decided to lower the American flag to half-staff in front of the newspaper offices. It was late in the day — well after the business and advertising staff had gone home. Those of us working in the news department found ourselves swept up in the swirl of localizing the national tragedy as best we could under deadline.
At the time, Tom’s actions struck me as graceful and patriotic, perhaps something only a veteran would think to do in the heat of the moment. I still feel that way. Tom served in the Army during the Vietnam War era.

• Most gardeners can relate stories about raccoons wreaking havoc with their sweet corn patch, sometimes ravishing a crop overnight. Deer also have been known to make a mess of corn, especially when plants are young and tender. But who knew that coyotes pose a threat to the domains of Silver Queen and Kandy Korn? Rose Creek Road resident Ernest Joyce does, that’s who. While he’s not happy about dealing with another pest, he says coyotes have about as much right to the corn as he does. Read more about Joyce and the Madisonville Farmers Market in The Messenger’s Saturday edition.

• Hopkins County Magistrate Karol Welch is learning about life as a southpaw after breaking her right wrist in a fall at home last week. But Karol isn’t letting the injury interfere with her duties as magistrate, showing up for the Fiscal Court meeting this week in good spirits. Writing with her left hand, however, could take time to master.

• U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield’s rescue of a runaway dog on U.S. 41 last week between Madisonville and Hanson not only touched people locally, it drew attention in Washington circles. Politico was among websites that carried details of the veteran lawmaker’s act of kindness that reunited Max with his owner, Charles Moore.