WEDNESDAY'S LIST ... of beans 'n greens 'n other things: MAKE A joyful noise ...

That's to tell you the Momma Tompkins Gospel Singing is this Saturday at the Jacksonville Communication Center, a really first-class facility located in the old mill village.

James Tompkins, who started the "gospelfest" as a birthday celebration for his mother, Mattie Bell Thompkins, back in 1985, says he and his family, will lead off with the first song at 1:30 and "we'll sing until we see people are getting a bit tired."

Mattie passed in 1996.

Part of the story this year is James and wife Judy have both been battling ill health for months, but James is finally out of the hospital while Judy will be there to play the piano for her family.

The "kids" are June, Jimmy, Jonathan and Jennifer.

One of the headliners will be Richard Robertson (we had a story on his music ministry just a few days ago) who was once with Bill Gaither and also Ivy Parker.Robertson is bringing some of his family along for the singing.

Another headliner, says James, is the Garner Family from Bremen, Ga.

This is, as always, a "freebie" folks.

Just show up this Saturday, 1:30 p.m., and enjoy.

*** QUOTABLE: "Political correctness is tyranny with manners." — CHARLTON HESTON *** FROM WOODLAND:

Neal Harrington's cap is a bit too large of late.

Seems his preacher, the Rev. Stephen Deadman at Herren's Cove Baptist, up and told the kids in vacation Bible school that "If you learn your Bible verses, we men will shave our heads."

The kids did and Neal was among the six or seven that did, too ...

Then there's proud grandfather Lawrence Edwards who has been beaming his way though breakfast at the Citgo Service Station of late ... and for very good reason.Granddaughter Nicole "Nicky" McLeod recently won the state barrel racing and pole-bending championships in Montgomery.

She's 15 and if you're wondering what that's all about, you do it riding a horse.

Life on the vine is neat, huh?

*** BIRTHDAYS: July 22 — Harold Young; July 26 — Edith Kirby; July 27 — Teresa Edward-Bradshaw; July 30 — Rodney Petty and Gary Cotton; July 31 — Me and Bill Broughton; Aug. 1 — Nathan McFarlane and Theresa Welsh.

*** INTERNET 101 ... or a bit of wisdom from out on the rural route:

— A bumblebee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.

— Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.

— When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.

— Don't interfere with something that ain't botherin' you none.

— The biggest troublemaker you'll probably ever have to deal with, watches you from the mirror every mornin'.

That last one is a center button ... and thanks for listening.

George Smith can be reached at 239-5286 or e-mail: gsmith731@gmail.com