Kaye (West) Ganann

"...I finished your book Newton Ave and throughly enjoyed it. It was good to read about the town from which I graduated high school and where my parents, sister and brother still live. Since I did not move to Newton until my 10th grade year of high school, I did not know much about what you shared in your book. The history and spots that I never knew about were very interesting reading. Your spin on it made it much more so.

Probably by growing up in the country in the small stop in the road they called Hero, I would not have known much of it anyway. I think it must have been great to grow up in the city limits with a chance to visit friends on a whim and go to places like Miley's. I do remember the Roxy and going to the show there many times.

I was saddened to hear about Michael Smith. I do remember him well and with very fond memories. He was such fun to be around. I was married and at Mississippi State with my husband in the year of 1979 and never knew that Michael and you were there at the same time. What a shame.

To be honest I have lost touch with most the people with which I graduated high school. I do not know how much I really ever fit into Newton. It was the first time we lived in the place where my dad was actually a pastor in the town in which we lived. It was a knew experience for me to be confronted on a daily basis with being a preacher's kid. Believe me it had its baggage. I do have great memories and some people I hold dear to my heart even though I may not have seen them it too many years to mention..."

Kaye (West) Ganann (NHS Class of 1977)
kganann@yahoo.com