City Personals

Lola Nowell welcomed her baby brother, Steven Warner Nowell, into this world June 16, 2023. Warner weighed 7 pounds, 12 ounces and was 20” long. Surprisingly enough, those were his big sister’s exact measurements when she was born. Beaming parents are Lauralee and Taylor Nowell, local grandparents Dianene and David Fant and greatgrandmother, Lola Faye Dickerson.

Congratulations to Shelby and Kyle Simpson on the birth of their beautiful twin girls. The babies came home over the weekend where they were able to meet lots of cousins (first friends some would say), family and friends. It is more than obvious Hartley Kate and Marcie Mae will be loved beyond measure.

The Frank Hines Farm and Ranch Camp (and Melanie) was one of exclusivity for young Robert McCullar this summer. His older brother, Hilton, spent the week at the Ole Miss Youth Sports Camp so Robert was treated to an amazing country experience.

To appreciate true country life, one has to let go of electronics and just enjoy the fresh air and all that lifestyle encompasses. He took to it like a fish to water. He fed and groomed the horses and even went trail riding. He got to plant sunflower seeds for St. Jude, so learned about giving back when you can. McCuller helped when it came to feeding the cattle and really enjoyed playing with the frisky barn cats. The best part was getting to go to lunch with all of the ranch hands, who treated him as an equal.

summers spent with Nonnie before we moved back here. She would take me fishing at the cabin of Bert Bonds, Stafford Knight’s old place and Percy Clayton’s immense property close to Lake Center. She never let me use a rod and reel, it was always a cane pole and never worms, crickets only. We were regulars at the Sports Corral gathering up a bucket of crickets before each trek to a lake. Percy made me learn how to take a bream off the line myself, although Nonnie was a super pro at it. She convinced him to let me use a hand towel so I wouldn’t get barbed by the fin. Although spitting is completely unacceptable by any stretch, Nonnie always said it was a must when fishing. We had to spit on our crickets because the bream would attract to the sweetness. I personally think she just wanted me to spit because she knew there would never be another time where it was appropriate.

Nonnie and I tore up the bream every summer no matter where we fished. We always came home with a cooler full. When the fella who would clean our catch died, I had to learn how to clean them myself or we would have to release what we caught.

That was not happening, so I learned how to clean them. There is nothing better than a mess of fresh fish fried up with some hush puppies to go with it.

Back in the day, thankfully, we did not have any type of portable electronic device. We had to make our own fun. I consider us a lucky generation, one that truly enjoyed spending quality time with our grandparents.

It is refreshing to know that Melanie and Frank are carrying on the grandparent tradition with their babies. How fun it was for Robert to experience unplugging and loving the beauty that is farm life.