(c)2008 NPT PHOTO BY DAVID POPIEL The Graham home has existed off State Street in the Musterfield/Warford Road area for more than 50 years. The house was built by Charlie Graham and Dexter Manning.

Clear skies created a backdrop for fireworks building up to a peak on Friday over our hometown preparing for a long month but shortening days.

Usually after a storm we get some calls about damage to structures or trees;

sometimes trees fall on cars. Duay O'Neil handled a call from Mrs. Charlie Graham last Monday after the weekend storm. As it was a sunny and cool first day of July, I drove over to State Street, a short paved road just off Musterfield and Gregg's Lane. An older woman came to the door and apologized that the giant maple limb had been cut into fire logs and brush piled to the side. "Cecila" Graham (Lizzie Cynthia Ford Graham) told me the story of the tree, one of two. The maples were small and sold to Charlie as pecans, when he planted one on each front side of their home in 1957. At the time he worked on the railroad but later was a carpenter with Melvin Watson. Charlie and Cecila bought the land from Rebecca Glenn and built their first, and only, house. It is a large piece of property and at one time carried a tobacco allotment. They raised tobacco years ago. Over the years the Grahams had two children, Jerry and Loretta Clark. Cecila remembers when they moved to the area there were almost no neighbors with the exception of Carl Overholt. Though she raised children she also worked at Lillard's Dry Cleaning in Newport. I wanted to know more about her family, because the Fords are well known. Her Dad was Posey Ford, who worked at Duncan & Greer Hardware. She told me an interesting story about this concerning the late and colorful character, Art Fisher. Many of you heard the story of how this fellow rigged a shotgun in his business to fire when a burglar might enter. Fisher fell prey to his own trap and died by the time he made it across Broadway to Mim's Clinic. The man who sold him all the hardware to rig the shotgun was Posey Ford. Of course, he never realized anything tragic would become of the sale. Posey was married to Eva. She was among the Old Ford Family Singers, who often sang on the courthouse grounds during the 1940s. You may know some of Cecila's siblings: Lorene Ford, of New Market; Leona Lowe, of Georgia; and Charles Ford, of Morristown. I was surprised to learn that Cecila turned 81 on Mar. 30 and ironically, her late husband would have been 87 on July 3.

A couple of columns ago, you saw a photo of the road signs at Cosby Highway and Broadway. A bright pink handmade sign stated: "Biscuit" with an arrow pointed west. Duane Moore, of Brock's Market in Eastport told me she had it figured out. Biscuit Productions is a company that films for CMT, which is the TV company doing the reality series at Christopher Place. Apparently, these small private signs are often used to guide production members to filming sites in unfamiliar locations. I think these folks may have stopped at Brocks' Market to try one of the Moore's famous Philly steak sandwiches.

You may recall that some weeks ago, I mentioned seeing Charlie Boggan, former First Baptist pastor, pushing an appliance up Woodlawn Avenue. Last week, I bumped into Pauline "Pinkie" Nelms, who told me the rest of the story. He was moving a washing machine from the Georgie Clark home to the Nelm's home. Boggan, who is referred to by his friends as "Bigger than a John Deere," was taking the scenic route, she said. His effort was appreciated and he got some exercise too.

While wandering through Wal-Mart's garden center in late June I came across Joe Kyker Jr. who was relaxing in a lawn chair. I don't know if he is modeling for lawn furniture or just wasting more of his time. I asked about the old house that was razed on property he and his wife owned off Cosby Highway. He corrected some information we had and added some more. Hubert Williams, kin to Bessie Kyker, apparently built the house in the early 1940s. About 20 years ago, Joe and others acquired the abandoned house. The new owner, Bill Jenkins, of White Pine, bought the property through a sale arranged by Luke Goddard. It was at People's Choice Restaurant where Luke told me about the sale of the .57-acre lot and old house for more than $200,000. He said the new owner has plans to put an Aaron's electronics leasing store on the corner lot. You can see a sign on the property announcing the future business.

Mid week, I looked over at Parks Cleaners and saw a familiar face. Joyce Williams was bringing in some clothes for alterations, but the folks were on vacation. She said that husband, Barnett Williams, is still busy doing railroad contract work. As for her, it's been a good canning season, as she finished some kraut and beets. I mentioned that I liked beets and later that day a couple of jars showed up at the Plain Talk. It pays to like food.

In plain talk, people remain optimistic and active despite an occasional passing storm that disrupts property and lives.