The Corduroy Falls Gazette

The Ladies' Auxiliary held their annual Spring Social on Saturday afternoon at the Methodist Church fellowship hall, drawing quite a crowd despite the recent controversy surrounding certain baked goods. Ernestine Polk graciously donated three dozen of her famous buttermilk biscuits, while Pearl Odom brought her prize-winning strawberry preserves.

Mavis Lucille Greene served as head judge for the pie competition, declaring that "after careful consideration and a second slice for accuracy," Luther Washington's pecan pie took top honors. Franklin Price came in second with his chess pie, though he insisted his wife Pearl deserved the real credit. The pharmacist quipped, "I just follow her recipe like a prescription."

While the pie judging proceeded smoothly this year, Sheriff Clayton Boggs and his wife Loretta Faye Bingham kept a watchful eye on the proceedings. Ruby Nell Simmons and Violet Mae Jessup organized a book exchange table that proved surprisingly popular, with Thaddeus Monroe trading in three railroad histories for a gardening manual.

Reverend Amos Thornhill offered the blessing before supper, and Dorothy Lee Campbell announced that Campbell's Grocery would donate ten percent of next week's proceeds to the church building fund. Young Curtis Leroy Hayes helped with cleanup, earning praise from Principal Horace Dunlap for his cheerful attitude.

The Ladies' Auxiliary of First Baptist Church hosted a reconciliation supper Tuesday evening at the church fellowship hall, bringing together neighbors still buzzing about last week's pie contest complications. Ernestine Polk arrived with three casseroles and declared, "We're not going to let a little baking mishap divide this town," which drew appreciative applause from the assembled crowd.

While the exact nature of the contest controversy remains somewhat mysterious to your correspondent, Pearl Odom and Mavis Lucille Greene worked side-by-side setting tables, proving that whatever happened couldn't shake their neighborly bond. Dr. Harold Whitfield brought his famous deviled eggs, and Franklin Price contributed a honey-glazed ham from Campbell's Grocery that Dorothy Lee Campbell had specially ordered.

Ruby Nell Simmons and Violet Mae Jessup organized games for the children in the church yard, where Curtis Leroy Hayes entertained the youngsters with his harmonica playing. The evening concluded with Reverend Amos Thornhill leading the group in a blessing of thanksgiving. Luther Washington and James Earl Tucker were overheard making plans for a church roof repair project, which seems a fine way to channel all that stirred-up energy into something productive. Odell Rayburn, naturally, promised to have the full story by week's end, though Loretta Faye Bingham reminded him that discretion is the better part of valor.

Campbell's Grocery has doubled its produce offerings this week, with fresh vegetables arriving twice weekly from farms across the county. Dorothy Lee Campbell announced the expansion Tuesday morning, citing increased customer demand following the recent pie contest at the community center.

The grocery now stocks early spring lettuce, radishes, and green onions alongside the usual staples. "People have been asking for fresh ingredients ever since that pie contest got everyone thinking about baking," Mrs. Campbell noted dryly, referring to last week's controversial judging. Luther Washington of Washington Feed & Seed has arranged to supply the store with produce from his own fields as well as neighboring farms.

While the expanded selection has pleased most customers, Franklin Price of Price Pharmacy muttered something about "unfair competition" when asked for comment. The grocery's new hours now include Saturday mornings to accommodate the increased inventory. Mrs. Campbell expects the arrangement to continue through harvest season.