(c)2009 NPT PHOTO BY DAVID POPIEL
Newport Utilities linemen were doing work along Highway 25/70 in front of the new Ford's Cruz Thru market, which opened on Saturday, May 30, for its first day of business.

Thunder and lightning punctuated the warming nights in late May with skies in our hometown clearing for graduation festivities Friday night and sunny Saturday for more work in the hayfields.

Friday morning I drove into Stinnett Motors to thank Dean Ball for a product that really works. He is a long-time parts dept. employee. Sometime last year, I complained to mechanic Don Ball that my low-fuel light was on all the time, even when we all could afford gas at $1.40 per gallon. He suggested visiting his brother Dean to get a special fuel cleaner. The $20 gasoline additive seems expensive but replacing a fuel tank sensor can cost $200. You just pour the small bottle in, fill the tank with gas, and drive the vehicle. In a week or two the gauge works and the light is out. At Stinnett I also got a glimpse of the new 2010 Camaro that rolled in last week. At $34,000, the steel gray beauty  won't be in my driveway. Dennis Strange was there too, and I asked about Beetle's Broasted Chicken, which he has operated. The Hwy. 25/70 landmark eatery has been closed for awhile but Dennis says he hopes to reopen this summer.

For those who read the Plain Talk closely you may have noticed a Republican conservative viewpoint column written by Mike Shelton. Having never met the fellow, I asked him to give me a call if he was ever back in Newport, his hometown. On Friday, he dropped by the newspaper and we talked. A retired Navy pilot, he is an interesting fellow and strong advocate of the Christian conservative lifestyle. What I learned most interesting is that he is the son of our friend, the mayor of Northport, Arthur Shelton. And, his brother is Larry "Yogi" Shelton, married to former Plain Talk classified manager Lydia Shelton. Mike was in town celebrating the graduation of his niece Amber, who is a CCHS honors graduate. I met the family at Sagebrush later that day. Soon I will share the photo I took and more information about the Sheltons.

Perhaps you have wondered what has happened with the opening of the Ford's Cruz Thru convenience store, which I have talked about the past month. I found out on Friday, when driving by but not inside the two-story white building with red trim, and built by Eddie Ball at the Hommel shopping center. Crystal Ford, who is co-operator of the unique facility with husband John chatted with me. It was also interesting to bump into an old friend who you might remember from more than 20 years ago at another popular grocery store. Except for an equipment glitch, Ford's Cruz Thru would have opened on Friday but the next day was fine too. All the stock is in place and Crystal's helper, too, her mother, Agnes Smelcer. She looked familiar when we talked. Vehicles will drive in from the rear, the side away from the highway, where the clerks ask what the driver needs. No one gets out of the vehicle. This is convenient for people with children, or not dressed to go into a store, or in a big hurry. You get merchandise, pay, and drive out. Even trucks and RVs can drive in. The clearance on the drive bay is 14 feet. "I love it," said Agnes, who is no stranger to work. As I said, you know her from Lane's Market, Cosby Highway. By the way, I noticed Lane's is now a Marathon brand station. However, it was the old abandoned block store facing Armory Rd. where Agnes worked alongside store owners Ronnie and Pat Lane. This was in the 1980s. Agnes, 60, is a Shropshire, married to Johnny Smelcer. Her other child is Kevin Grahl, who works at Lisega. The Shropshires I've known from years ago were Gene, Junior, and Pig, all of whom are related to her. Agnes is the daughter of the late J. F. Shropshire and the former Merrie Ruth Templin, who will be 81 in Sept. The new store and work turned out well for Agnes, who is laid off from Santa's Claus-et off Glades Road, in the arts and crafts community near Pittman Center.

Like her mother, Crystal is a worker too and had lived many years in North Carolina as a business manager with Estee Lauder at Belks. She met John and they came up with the idea for the drive-thru about two years ago. They will celebrate their first anniversary on June 14, when the store is barely two weeks old. They live off College Street and John is an AT&T digital technician. You old timers will have known his late father, C.B. Ford of Grassy Fork, who was married to the former Mozella Mooneyham. She is now disabled. John's brothers are Ricky and Harvey and sister is Sheila Owens.

In plain talk, when other doors close, new ones roll up offering higher vistas for those willing to step through gingerly.