Contest to name Evans 'mayor' is fun, but once was 'serious business'

Editor:

Who should be the "mayor" of Evans? Well, it may all be in good fun now, but back in the 1940s it was really serious business.

Several men of the area would gather at Polatty's filling station and store and discuss who would be "Mayor of the Week" of Evans.

Some names I remember were my father, B.L. Penland, and Jim Blanchard, Allie Gray and Luther Tankersley.

There may have been others, but these I remember. These gentlemen had a lot of fun discussing events of the day, the problems, and, of course, the solutions.

What would they think of Evans now, the 32nd best city to live in? Well, back then we thought it was a pretty good place to live. A lot of changes have been made in the past 60 years, and let's hope it is all for the best.

Lou Ann Penland

Martinez

(Editor's note: The deadline for nominations in The News-Times Mayor of Evans contest is 5 p.m. Friday. The entry form appears in today's print edition on page 5.)