New construction is popping up all over the west side, and some historical memories are getting stirred up here and there.
In Tutwiler, my hometown, John Jennings is finishing up a commercial gas station in the footprints of his grandfather Johnny Jennings’ old gas station and, later, laundromat. The pumps are in, the cement is poured, and if the weather cooperates the business should be open in about two weeks. It’s a self-serve, credit or debit card only business selling highway diesel, farm diesel and some non-ethanol gas for the family car.
Just down the road a bit, John has plans for something else, but we just have to wait and see what’s going to happen when it is determined.
The Tutwiler Clinic is fortunate to have a new clinic under construction, made possible through longtime faithful donors, some since 1990, when they saw Dr. Anne Brooks interviewed on 60 Minutes. Over the years, donors have increased. When the newsletter notified of a new clinic being built, one donor sent money specifically for flowering trees, because a brick building looks so bare with nothing flowering. Another donor sent children’s books for the waiting room, with instructions that she would gladly replace ones that got taken home, in order to encourage children to read.
Dr. Brooks is living in Albany, New York, and the other sisters are busy caring for those in need, such as at care facilities.
The new Tutwiler Clinic should be ready to open in September, and there are plans for a grand celebration and ribbon-cutting with many visitors invited.
In Sumner, the WADE tractor company will be able to boast about having the largest or tallest commercial building in town, from what I can see. It is being built on Highway 49. Construction should be finished in the fourth quarter of the year.
In Webb, there is talk of a new community center being built where the prior center burned. My best teen Friday nights were spent dancing to the Jades at the old community center. They were so good, in fact, that I ended up marrying the drummer, Chester Dunavent, 30 years later.
