Warmer weather seems to have gotten ahead of itself bymid-May causing folks in our hometown to wonder will there be any cold days toaccompany the blackberries in bloom along the roadsides.

Spring is the time to get outdoors more and less ran madeit possible. But beware of the droves of flying insects also outside. FredPack, the Angela Circle beekeeper, had called several weeks ago to warn me thatbees would be swarming. He had gotten a call from Donald Cashen that bees wereon a utility pole near his home at Wilton Springs. "I raked the bees offthe telephone pole into the bee hive," said Pack. Then, he had a call fromDavid Nichols at Green Acres where bees had taken up residence in a garden feature."I am surprised there are so many bees so early this year." Then, onTuesday afternoon, I called too. When walking about 6 p.m. on the farm, Ilooked over at a parked hay wagon and saw a cloud of light brown bees circlingit. Fred advised me to call him in the morning, if they were still there. So, Itook an aspirin and called in the morning, after Hollis Allen, who is allergicto bee stings, confirmed they were still there. Fred and a visiting friend,Honey Foust, from Ft. Myers, Florida, drove over. But when we went into thefield to see the bees, they had disappeared. Fred explained that worker beesfollow the queen, who is not a great long-distance flyer. Wherever and whenevershe goes, the thousands in the colony follow. They are seeking shelter, a watersource, and home to make more bees, and honey. Coincidentally, Honey Foust, isthe daughter of the late Newport businessman, John Ruble. Many of you recallRuble's store on Main Street. For the past 35 years Honey has lived along theGulf Coast when she had retired with husband Don Foust, who is now deceased.Foust came to Newport to manage the Vernco/Emerson plant and after his wifedied, married Honey. She had been married to Haggan Minnick. Their son, BobMinnick, still owns land in the county. Honey said the reason she is in town isthat grandson Patrick is graduating from Cookeville college May 23. We didn'tcatch any bees on Wed., but I did get to talk to Honey. Fred is soon to put mein touch with his nephew, Jimmy Pack, son of over-80-year-old logger brotherFrank Pack. Jimmy underwent heart surgery in April and is doing well thanks tothe care of his wife, Johnnie (Cody) Pack. I am interested in his long-timework raising poultry.

I came across another form of not-so-wild life in Newportafter receiving a call from Nicholas Boswell, who lives on North Street withhis Mom, Christine Boswell, and grandmother, Gertrude O'Dell. Nicholasexplained that he has observed a small turtle reappearing each year in springfor the past three years. And, this is a smart turtle, because it likes beans.I assume he, or she, prefers Bush beans. "Where he goes or stays duringthe winter, I don't know," confessed Nicholas, pointing to a dry-weatherspring bed that runs through the rear of the property. That area which includesKnowles Market has a dense area of trees in the rear-perfect for wildlife. Wemanaged to run down the turtle and get a photo of his unusual interest ineating beans. So what did Nicholas name him? "Old Navy" fits well forthis big Bush can size bean eater.

Thursday morning after chatting with Junior Stinnettabout the auto business, I was headed back to the office when I got the newsabout Harold Shoemaker's tragic accident on Morristown Highway just past CockeCounty Pallet Co. Driving out I saw the state troopers doing reconstruction ofthe crash involving a van and Taylor's motorcycle. Randy Bethea's property isnearby, so I pulled in and talked with Marilyn Thomas and while we talked,Marsha "Butch" Haney, who lives along the highway, walked up. Shetold me that she heard the loud crash and looked out a window to see a tirefrom the van rolling along Hwy. 25-E and finally falling into her yard. Duringthe years, I had gotten to know Harold, who was a gentle and likeable fellow.

While driving through Western Plaza in early May, Ispotted Tommy Williamson, an old friend from the Woodzo Drive-in era. I askedif he has had any contact with the former Sherry Smith, the daughter of thelate Harold and Zula Smith, who operated the outdoor theaters. Tommy said heheard she was living in Jonesborough where her husband, Steve Parker is aminister. Sherry has had colon cancer.

It must be all the pollen. Have you ever seen so manyspring flowers and the hay so high the cattle disappear? My eyes began itchingand one felt like it had a stalk in it so I went to doctors Foster and Steele.Kurt Steele examined it and said it was inflamed and prescribed medication.During our talk he mentioned it was his 13th year and he turns 40 in July. Myallergy eye is feeling better.

In plain talk, even something as quiet and slow as aturtle knows his beans and when he's found a good home.