Kay’s Branch News: “And a wonderful time was had by all”

I think there were many prayers lifted to Heaven Friday night, concerning weather. Saturday dawned cold but cleared and it was a beautiful fall day for the Monterey Homecoming Fair.
I went down early to help set up the cemetery committee’s booth. Teresa Davis had already gotten the booth pretty much finished except for a couple of chairs and the easel to put the pictures on and the photos themselves. I had mounted them on cardboard so people could see them better.
I stayed with her till she had to leave and Steve Carter took over. The booth was to give folks information about the revamping of the business structure as to the management of the cemetery. That aspect of the cemetery has been neglected or set aside for years.
Now there is a viable committee made up of the three area churches – Monterey Baptist, Christian and Old Cedar Baptist that is getting the legalities straightened out and eventually will have the gravesites on a spread sheet for easier access.
There will be other information forthcoming about the new system at a later date.
Saturday, we were just trying to make people who have lost loved ones aware of the problems and the solutions proposed and to solicit pledges and money to maintain the property.
Teresa Davis, Steve Carter, Joel Grugin, Lanny Claxon, Garry Derringer and Noel True are the members of the cemetery committee and they are in the phone book or most of them are. I never know anymore if folks have dropped their landlines for cells.
I stayed till after the parade and went home to let Dobbs out and warm up. The crowd was just beginning to gather so I missed seeing some of my old friends. I did see a few before I left.
The reports at community church on Sunday confirmed that everything went very well and the Monterey Homecoming Fair can chalk up another success.            
Wanda said her substitute Linda Gibben filled in for her on Saturday so she could spend the whole day at the fair. She really enjoys the crowds and the meeting and greeting of old friends and relatives.  She said Noel and Charles did well in the corn hole tournaments, coming in first in the games they participated in. That’s not so easy anymore. There are a lot of good players now.
Noel was also on the pickup and cleanup detail. I saw him and a friend out picking up trash Sunday morning as I went to church.
Speaking of that, I also must mention the many, many hands that picked up, cleaned, mowed and generally spruced up Monterey before the fair. The whole town looked beautiful. The yards were mowed. Jerry Kemper had gone to the expense of planting large bunches of chrysanthemums around the edges of his yard. That is the first house you see as you come into town and it really made a good impression on our visitors.
Thanks to all who made our little town shine this weekend.
There were lots of games at the park. Wanda said she and Ray took part in the egg toss and were doing fine till the distance was moved back to 50 feet apart when the egg broke in his hand. Oops. Better luck next year.
The games are always a popular part of the fair as is the cake walk. There were many cakes donated this year and I’m sure a lot of money was made with the walk too.
Colby New and friends made 65 gallons of the “New secret recipe Burgoo.” They started in the wee hours of the morning and it stewed over the wood fire till Colby deemed it ready about 3 p.m. that afternoon. It was gone in two and a half hours.
Colby’s twin girls, who are 9-years-old, served at the drink table.
Naturally, Wanda stayed for the street dance. They danced to the music of the Crooked Creek Band and others till midnight.
Another good plan had come together and a good time was had by all.
The fair committee decided “Church in the Park” would not be advisable and moved the service into the Baptist church in Monterey. The three churches were well represented and all participated in the service. It was World Communion Sunday, which made it even better. Our minister, Sarah Renfro, delivered the message. It was our year to do the sermon and this was new to her. She did a very good job. An offering was taken to be divided between the park and the cemetery committees.  It was a very good weekend.
Mount Vernon had their Fall Soup Day on Sunday too. Fay said it was well attended and they were also grateful for the lack of rain.
Wanda and Ray were at the church service in Monterey then moved to the Mount Vernon soup. She pronounced the soup delicious and the feeling of community carried over to Mount Vernon’s celebration. It was a good day all around.
Bruce attended the Southern States’ “Night of the Hunters” on Friday night, I think. He took his knife collection and enjoyed visiting with the hunters he knew and those he didn’t know.
There are birthdays and people who need our prayers, but I have no names to give you, so happy birthday to all who celebrate this week.