PARIS!

IN THE SPRING 2022

On The Cover: Tiny Tot Queen Landry Kate “Birdie” Flowers, daughter of Lydia Flowers, loved riding through the Fish Fry parade on her unicorn float that won Most Beautiful and General Manager’s Choice. Photo is by Mary Paschal.

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Editor’s Notes

We’re Ready For Spring!

Spring is an exciting time, and we’ve got a magazine that covers it all, plus our terrific calendar and dining guide to help you get the most out of this gorgeous season.

This was a banner year for Helping Hand. Some of the radio auction’s most enthusiastic participants were youngsters from Sulphur Well Church of Christ. Don’t miss their story in Around Our Town.

Arts and Entertainment is brimming with news of an upcoming visit from Bethel University’s Renaissance Theatre. “Matilda the Musical” comes to the Krider Performing Art Center stage in April, thanks to a trio of partners – KPAC, Arts Council and the Chamber. Buy tickets now to see talented performers tell Matilda’s endearing story.

Warm weather is the start of camping and gardening season, and no one has funnier camping tales than Bill Neese in Back in the Day. Our other favorite humorist, John Watkins, made me laugh out loud with his garden history, especially the invention of the garden hose.

If you attended last year’s World’s Biggest Fish Fry Grand Parade, you’ll remember Grand Marshal George Combs, Jr. Our Neighbors features snippets from this local icon’s interview with Paris Podcast. Coincidentally, Combs discusses attending Atkins-Porter Elementary School, which is featured in Reminiscence and Remember When. The history lesson continues with a fascinating piece about the Swor family, whose linage may be more thoroughly researched than the Royals!

This issue points the spotlight on long-time, Paris barber Jerry Maddox. I was so excited to read what he has been up to in retirement. No one will be surprised that he has a new project that folks are already loving.

From pickleball to a locally filmed movie, there’s lots more to read.

And last, but not least, springtime in Henry County means it’s time for theWorld’s Biggest Fish Fry! Be sure to check out the inside back cover for a full list of events.

Happy Hushpuppies Y’all,

Smantha

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In This Issue

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BACK IN THE DAY: Sleeping on a Railroad Bed

By Bill Neese

I had always heard stories of a small gauge railroad that carried clay from the pits to the processing shed in Whitlock. The best I can tell, it wasn’t even a narrow gauge, just a special built train with open cars and a small steam engine. I have been told various routes, but I do not have any solid information. Read More >>

THE PAST 200 YEARS: Uncle Jesse's Swortown

By James H. Swor, Jr

This story is part of an ongoing series by PARIS! Magazine for the Henry County Bicentennial.

One of my most memorable experiences growing up was listening to my grand-uncle Jesse F. Swor and my grandparents talking about the subject of “Swortown.” To a shy preteen who was curious about anyone outside of our small family unit having “my” name, it was magical to hear that there was actually a “town” named after me. Read More >>

REMINISCENCE: Remembering Atkins-Porter School

By Shannon McFarlin

You know you’ve had a good childhood when your memories of your grade school are sweet ones. That’s the case of Atkins-Porter School, which remains a good memory for generations of Paris residents even many years after the school has been gone. We realized just how important Atkins-Porter School was to its former students when we posted a photo of the school on our Facebook page and 144 people shared their memories with us.
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REMEMBER WHEN: Old-time School Photos

Third grade class at the former Atkins-Porter School, taught by Mrs. Ramsey, in 1945-46. And, of course, they’re posing on the familiar front steps at the former school. (click more for names and more photos!)
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AROUND OUR TOWN: Just a Swell Bunch of Kids

By Shannon McFarlin

Despite all the obstacles faced by the Henry County Helping Hand Radio Auction due to the COVID pandemic, Helping Hand is having a banner year.
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JUST FOR FUN: Crossword Puzzle Fun

Test your word skills with this fun Springtime crossword puzzle!
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FEATURE: Acting "Steadfast" Local Actors to Appear in Upcoming Movie

By Karen Geary

It’s been quite a year for Reece Hassell. The former sportswriter for Jackson’s WBBJ-TV is currently a grad assistant at the University of Memphis-Lambuth Campus, but he has also scored as a “feature extra” in Luke Bryan’s music video, “Up”, and a major character part in the upcoming movie, “Steadfast Country Christmas.” And he became engaged, too!
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT: Roald Dahl's Matilda, the Musical, is Coming to KPAC

The Krider Performing Arts Center, the Paris-Henry County Arts Council, and the Paris-Henry County Chamber of Commerce are proud to partner with Bethel University to bring Bethel University’s Renaissance Theatre program back to the Krider Performing Arts Center this spring.
Read More >>

FACES & PLACES: People & Events About Town

Don’t miss this fun section chock full of fun, education, music and every good thing in Paris and Henry County.
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SPOTLIGHT: Jerry Maddox: A Cut Above

By Shannon McFarlin

Before his retirement, Jerry Maddox had cut hair for generations of Henry Countians –and he loved it. “I enjoyed the people. I’m a people person,” he said. “And most of my customers I now count as my friends.” Maddox started cutting hair in 1961, and he’s met a lot of people and heard a lot of stories. And he’s told a lot of stories.
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OUR NEIGHBORS: Paris Podcast: George Combs, Jr, a Parisian Gem

Maybe you know him as Tink or maybe you call him Little George. He has at least four monikers: Tink, Dr. Love, Little George and George Combs, Jr.
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HEALTHY IDEAS: Play Ball! No Pickles Required

By Rhonda Stanton

What do you do when it’s 1965 and you need to entertain your kids with no cable TV, DVD’s, video games, computers or cell phones? You use what you have and make the rest up! That’s exactly what dads Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum did in Washington State when they took the sports equipment they had on hand and created the game of pickleball. They took rules from tennis, badminton, and table tennis to create a new game for their families to enjoy.
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PARIS CUISINE: Copycats: Restaurant Dishes Made at Home

What’s better than going out? Staying in and cooking the most delicious dishes in the comfort of your own home. Get ready for a takeout fakeout with these easy copycat recipes.
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IN THE GARDEN: John's Gardening Trivia

By John Watkins

Spring at last! Looking back through some previous articles and trying to come up with some worthwhile ideas to write about, I noticed that I have been submitting these short compositions for over 10 years now (and for some reason, they keep encouraging me!) So with that kind of history behind me, I got to thinking that while we’re on the subject what better time than now to look back at a little garden history as well.
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