The Corduroy Falls Gazette

The Corduroy Falls Garden Club gathered Tuesday afternoon at Ernestine's Diner for their monthly spring luncheon, with fourteen members in attendance. Pearl Odom arrived wearing a stunning floral dress of her own design, which prompted Mavis Lucille Greene to declare, "Pearl, you're blooming brighter than any azalea in town!"

While enjoying Ernestine's famous chicken salad and deviled eggs, the ladies finalized plans for the Annual Flower Show scheduled for May 15th. Dorothy Lee Campbell volunteered Campbell's Grocery as a collection point for entry forms. Ruby Nell Simmons and Violet Mae Jessup agreed to coordinate the children's category for young gardeners under twelve.

Loretta Faye Bingham delighted everyone with news of her father Thaddeus Monroe's prize-winning tomato plants, already showing fruit despite the early season. Franklin Price's wife Pearl mentioned that her husband had ordered special fertilizer for club members at cost through Price Pharmacy. The afternoon concluded with Ernestine refusing payment from anyone, insisting the meal was her treat for such fine company.

The Corduroy Falls Garden Club held its monthly meeting Wednesday evening at Ernestine's Diner, where twenty-three members enjoyed pot roast and lemon meringue pie while discussing plans for the spring flower show. Ernestine Polk graciously opened her establishment after regular hours for the gathering, and Mavis Lucille Greene delighted attendees with tales of her grandmother's rose garden from the old homestead.

While the official topic centered on begonias and butterfly bushes, conversation naturally drifted to the proposed highway bypass. Dorothy Lee Campbell remarked, "I just hope they make up their minds soon," referring to the state highway commission's ongoing deliberations. Her husband James Earl Tucker nodded in agreement from his seat beside Pearl Odom and Franklin Price.

Ruby Nell Simmons and Violet Mae Jessup volunteered to coordinate the children's gardening contest at the library next month. Luther Washington promised to donate seed packets from Washington Feed & Seed for the young participants. As the evening wound down, Loretta Faye Bingham mentioned that her father Thaddeus Monroe plans to judge the tomato category again this year, despite his insistence that "nobody grows them right anymore."

The Garden Club's spring flower show will take place May 15th at the community center, with entries accepted beginning at dawn.

Campbell's Grocery will extend its Saturday operating hours beginning this weekend, owner Dorothy Lee Campbell announced Tuesday. The store will now remain open until 8 o'clock in the evening on Saturdays, up from the previous 6 o'clock closing time.

"Folks coming in from the farms need more time to do their shopping," Mrs. Campbell explained, noting the change came after numerous customer requests. The extended hours will allow farm families to complete their weekly provisions after finishing Saturday chores.

While the new schedule takes effect immediately, Mrs. Campbell indicated she would monitor customer traffic before deciding whether to make the change permanent. Regular weekday hours will remain unchanged, with the store opening at 7 A.M. and closing at 6 P.M.

Luther Washington, who operates Washington Feed & Seed, praised the decision. "Dorothy knows what this town needs," he remarked while picking up supplies Tuesday afternoon. The grocer expects to hire additional help to accommodate the longer Saturday shift.