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Tallapoosa's centennial celebration is something I was glad I got to experience as a young boy. The entire community pulled together a memorable event that had something for everyone. That September weekend in 1960 will never be forgotten by those of us lucky enough to have been there. My mother told me when I was a boy that Tallapoosa's historical significance is we had industry,the railroad, factories, hotels, shops, and stores in the 1800s. She said during that time that there were people who knew the location of Tallapoosa, Georgia but had never heard of Birmingham. She told me that the Lithia Springs Hotel at one time was the largest wooden structure in the United States. It was explained to me that Tallapoosa was a resort town and people came from all over to visit this lovely and thriving town near the border with Alabama. I for one am looking forward to next year's festivities. The city of Tallapoosa will have a terrific opportunity to show the good things that brought me back home in 2006. Tallapoosa's greatest asset is our people. The people here care about each other. In Tallapoosa you actually see people sitting on the front porch and will wave to you as you ride by. In Cobb County where I have lived since 1985 I don't ever see people sitting on a porch and just visiting with each other. I dare say that I have not had more than 30 minutes of conversation with a neighbor in Marietta ever. People in metro Atlanta are in too much of a hurry. In Tallapoosa you can see somebody going down Head Avenue at 5 miles an hour and no one honks a horn or goes into road rage. When I was on the radio in Atlanta, every hour was eaten up with traffic reports on the congestion that has choked the interstate system. WKNG's Red Jones I don't think has ever given a traffic report. Jimmy Tolbert comes on after the radio hall of famer with "Trade Line". You are likely to hear how someone wants to trade a transmission out of a 72 Oldsmobile for a some laying hens. "Trade Line" is quite popular and it serves the community. Radio stations in Atlanta in my view do a poor job at serving the needs of their listeners. WKNG does a tremendous job in giving listeners what they want. I love listening to Jimmy when he calls the deli at Holcombe's Foodland to see what's cooking. When the lady at the deli runs down the menu and starts making my mouth water for fried chicken and cherry cobbler. My hometown has another wonderful asset with the monthly "Possum Pickin'" on Head Avenue. Lowell White works hard at making our spring and summer bluegrass concert series a great family time. It gets me away from watching "Cops" on Saturday night. The only reason I have watched "Cops" the past 20 years is to see how some of my friends and relatives are doing. Kids, you have a shade over a week left before school starts back. The state sales tax will be waived for certain items the weekend of the 31st.I remember going with my mother to shop for school clothes and essentials. I wish the Empire Five and Ten cent store was still open on Head Avenue so I could get a new book satchel and some new Lee Riders from O.D. Lipham. Hey, maybe mama and them could take us all to Skinner's Store for some hand dipped ice cream. Those were the days. I am looking forward to the days ahead of us with the 150 year party coming in 2010.