By Ray Collett

Hello Readers, So much has happened this past week. Our son Jeff is recovering nicely at home from his staph infection. Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. Rockwood has a radio station, soon to be on the air 580 AM, WYMH, hopefully around Aug. 20. It will located downtown in the "Yonder Holler" studios, (the old Bilbrey Building.) And last buy not least, The Rockwood Times will no longer print my Rockwood Memories column. I guess my mouth got me in trouble with them. One thing about it, you might not agree with me, but you will always know where I stand on different subjects. There is a website (link...) that will print it along with the Roane Reader monthly. I will continue to send it out via internet. I have four mailing list with over 1100 readers now and if you know of anyone who might want it sent, just send their email address to me.
(ED. Note: RoaneViews will publish Rockwood Memories as we receive it from now on. Enjoy!)
Moving right along, I received this email the other day from Dick Hayes. He wrote," My first job was in radio in Rockwood back in 1963 when it was called WRKH. The call letters stood for Rockwood, Kingston, and Harriman. I worked with a man named Dick Holloway. All we had in those days to work with was two turntables for 45's, 78's, and 33 1/3 records, and reel to reel Ampex tape recorder. Spots were done on a machine that had a scroll tape inside and we had live shows like The Five Star Jubilee that sang gospel. Anyway, that launched a young man's radio career for the next thirty years. I worked at Big WOFE under three owners, Peabody Ledford, Ferrell O'Quinn, and Glenn Hill in the 70's, 80's,and 90's. I have been from Tennessee to Florida, to San Francisco, to Montana, to Colorado, and back to Tennessee, up and down the dial so it is good to hear radio is finally coming back to Rockwood." Thanks Dick, always good to hear from you.
David Poole asked me the other day, "You remember when we used to buy schoolbooks from Kingston, or from our neighbors and friends who passed to a grade ahead of us, when did we start getting free schoolbooks? (taxpayers money of course.). I rember those days but not the date.
Dianne Evans Tate also sent an email, "Looking at a hardware receipt from Bowman-Evans Hardware Co. # 28. The ticket doesn't say telephone number, but has an old fashioned telephone with 28 beside it. The receipt year indicates 194_ and the salesman filled in the last year." Dianne added, "I also can remember picking up the phone and asking to speak to my Daddy and the operator would say..."Honey, he just went up the street with a delivery. Guess he will be back in a few minutes." I always thought it was funny that those operators could see almost everything that went on in town from their office. It's great memories that makes your column so special to all of us who grew up in Rockwood, Thanks." And "Thanks" to you Dianne and all of you who take the time to read "Rockwood Memories."
And another email about our jobs while growing up...This time from Harold Taylor, (Class of 1958). "I picked blackberries at the "dump" and sold them to Jim Abels and the B&J for fifty cents a gallon. Also picked strawberries on theLindsey farm for several years during the month of May."
And on from my sister Janie Collett Easter, "One of my first jobs was working as a car hop at Dub's Drive In. I made $3 a day plus tips. I especially liked it when someone would give me a quarter and I could pick out five songs on the jukebox. One day, we ran out of change and he let me take his bright, shiny black 57 chevy to the bank. What a thrill driving it through town. Those were the good ole days." Thanks Janie, and thanks to all of you for taking time to read this column. If you will, pick up a "Roane Reader" (they are free) and support their advertisers. And if you see Sandra Stout, ( owner and publisher) tell her thanks for including my little column. Hopefully I will have the kinks worked out of the Rockwood Memories Crossword Puzzle thingy soon, and we can all enjoy it...Until next week, Ray