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- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 2 Feb 2012.
Just Plain Talk: Groundhog believes short winter just about over here
(c)2012 NPT PHOTO BY DAVID POPIEL
You would be surprised to see a wild cat of this size roaming your farmland but they do. This bobcat, larger than most dogs, was killed near Kenyon Road in the mid 2000s by Fred Ottinger. Tony Bible mounted the animal, which sits on the loft handrail at Stan and Tammy Southerland's home.
Author: David Popiel
The groundhog must have been worried last week even before he ventured out of his winter den after feeling the rumbles of earth shifting and boulders falling onto I-40. This slowed traffic down in our hometown, but it could have been worse and at least the rain is warmer after some sunshine in late January.
The leap month of February began with Mr. Groundhog seeing no shadow, on a rainy morning, at least around steep mountains and back hollows so winter may end sooner. Warm weather forecasts already indicate this is so. Newport Utilities Manager Jeff Dykes is not smiling.
I saw construction workers around Western Plaza behind the Title Max and learned what is happening. Shopping center property owners Conrad and Dr. Steve Smith were at the building where Premier Barbershop had been located. That space will now be the expansion room for Title Max. The reason I dropped by was to see the extraordinary and crazy craftwork on a truck that will be covered with jewels by the end of this year. You will be reading more about Jewelry Connection owner Mary Pittner's project.
Another fascinating, no, magnificent project I saw in detail last Wednesday and done at Cosby's Mountain Muscle Cars was shown to me by business owners Gregg and Shirley Fodness. I especially liked seeing world-class airbrush artist Mickey Harris at work in a video they did and Gregg edited. The project is the GM American Pride Camaro covered with historic scenes from the Revolutionary War to combat in Afghanistan. We should be so proud that a local business contributed to a patriotic project that just recently got the attention of President Obama, who saw the Camaro at the 70th annual Washington Auto Show. The Fodnesses and I will be working on a Plain Talk feature you will soon see.
You may recall reading in the Plain Talk of an aerial display that was to take place over the Jan. 14th football game between the 49ers and Saints. Mike Shelton had told me that his son, who is a test pilot with VX-9 out of NAS China Lake, California, was to fly a Navy warplane in formation that afternoon. You didn't see young Shelton and might have caught the six-second clip of two planes shown from above. Dad told me the pilots were at Moffett Field preparing for the game flyover when the three-plan mission was scrubbed and only two planes flew. Yes, Shelton's plane was grounded but he did go to the game with members of the flight crews at Candlestick Park and sat on the 49ers sidelines.
Kenyon Road a pleasant loop
During January, the drive through Salem had been a pleasant one, because the times I traveled to Scott Pond, Peanut, and then Kenyon Road it's been sunny and mild. The leafless trees along Kenyon, a gravel road, seem to lean east towards the sun. The vista is sweeping dairy land with Houston Valley's mountains in the distance. All this is framed when you stand on the Southerland's front porch. Above the log home's stout wooden door a long narrow sign reads: "As for me and my house, we serve the Lord." On my way to their gated farm I passed a familiar stone house half hidden by trees and remembered visiting it to shoot family photos in the 1970s. Richard and Lois Kenyon live there, both retired. You recall she worked many years at the county health department.
From the road looking across a long driveway to the Southerland home, it appears gray and small. This is a mirage dispelled by the bright but warm hand-hewn log interior. I estimated the house with addition is more than 3,000 square feet. Fred would have been proud how it turned out. Let me correct a mistake last week when recounting his untimely death. He was not working at this log home but at the home of a niece in Greene County where he was adding a room for her new baby. He fell off the roof and died later. This was Sept. 2008 and Tammy still grieves for him. Next to two large black and white prints on the staircase wall, and I instantly recognized the newsroom photos made by my friend and reporter Bob Hurley of the Greeneville Sun, is a smaller color print of Fred with a large deer he had killed. He was strong, good and active man who obviously loved life, Tammy and being back in Cocke County. He had lived and worked in Greene County. You may know his brother, Gerald Ottinger.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 10 Oct 2008.
GREENEVILLE--Fred Ronald "Ronnie" Ottinger, 47, of Kenyon Road, Parrottsville, "went home to be with the Lord" Friday, September 5, 2008, at Johnson City Medical Center.
He was employed as deputy assessor of the Greene County Tax Assessor Office for 23 years and previously owned and operated Ottinger's Taxidermy on the 107 Cut-Off.
He was a member of Greystone Free Will Baptist Church.
His family states, "Early in life he acquired a deep love for the mountains and was an avid hunting and fishing enthusiast and was happiest spending time in the beauty of God's creation."
Survivors include his loving wife of 27 years, Tammy Mercer Ottinger; mother, Eva Joyce Ottinger, and a brother, Gerald Ottinger, all of Parrottsville; sister, Teresa Ottinger, of Clinton; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Paul and Pat Mercer; sister-in-law and husband, Kim and Randy Hawk; special nieces and nephews and spouses, Tallie and Stephen Gregg, Nikki and Bobby Gregg, Marlah Ottinger, whom he loved as if they were his own.
Other nieces and nephews, Derrick, Terrance, and Tearsha Laws; special great niece and nephew, Ryleigh Gregg and Kolben Gregg; special cousins, Jason Williams and Kevin Cody; aunts and uncles, Ray Ottinger, Darrell Ottinger, Margie Roland, Linda and Ronnie Cody, Mary Ruth Reaves, Glenna Jones, Mary and Weldon Mercer, Jimmy and Jane Hopson, Jerry Hopson, and Ray Hopson; two special lifelong friends, Duane and Connie Stanton.
He is also survived by a host of friends and hunting buddies with whom he shared his love of nature.
He was the son of the late Fred A. Ottinger and was preceded in death by his grandparents, Paul and Minnie Ottinger, Reba Ottinger, and Clarence Nease, and special aunt and uncle, Vess and Pat Henderson.
Funeral services will be held 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 9, 2008, at Greystone Free Will Baptist Church with the Reverend Roger Stocton, the Reverend Jerry Holt, The Reverend Jeff Casteel, and the Reverend Jerry Hopson officiating.
Interment will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, in St. James Memorial Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Bill Kesterson, Billy Winter, Zak Neas, Allen Shipley, Chris Ricker, Nick Susong, Chris Hopson, Ricky Waddell, Vernon Jennings, Richard Myers, and Kevin Cody.
Honorary pallbearers will be his co-workers at the Tax Assessors Office, courthouse workers, hunting buddies, and church friends.
The family received friends from 5-8 p.m. Monday at Kiser Funeral Home and will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at Greystone Free Will Baptist Church preceding the funeral service.
Family and friends are asked to meet at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday at Kiser Funeral Home to go in procession to the cemetery for the committal service.
Mr. Ottinger may be remembered by visiting the memorial at www.MeM. Com. Through this site, people are invited to share your thoughts and fond memories with the family.
Kiser Funeral Home, 401 W. Main Street, Greeneville, is in charge of arrangements.
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Abt 1961 - 2008 (~ 47 years)
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