'Ms. Cheap' Explores The Camden Area


Mary Hance aka "Ms. Cheap" ventured to the Camden area to explore aspects of time and money saving tips. Three-time-a-week columnist for the Nashville Tennessean for over 40 years, "Ms. Cheap" has become quite a personality and appears as a regular on Channel 5's "Talk of the Town" with Meryll Rose, Debbie Allen and Harry Chapman with a variety of "cheap" ideas for going and doing. (Photo: ‘MS. CHEAP' VISITS BIRDSONG - (pictured from left to right) Don Nerren, Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm Manager; Mary Hance "Ms. Cheap"; Bob Keast, owner of Birdsong Resort and the Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm; and Mary's mother, pose for a photo opportunity in the Mini-Theatre and Museum area of the Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm.)

Mr. Bob Keast, owner of Birdsong Resort and the Tennessee River Freshwater Pearl Farm, and Kristi Halsey, Marketing Director, met Mary during a taping of "Talk of the Town" in December, 2002. Mary was intrigued by some of the inexpensive freshwater pearls that Bob and Kristi were about to feature in the taping session, and expressed an interest in further investigation.

Traveling along with her mother, Mary visited the Tennessee Freshwater Pearl Farm on Tuesday, July 1 to learn more about these inexpensive gems. Bob then guided her on a tour of some other "cheap" attractions while in the Camden area. Some of stops that seemed to impress her the most included the visit to Medlin's Flea Market and the Cowell's Chapel Bargain House. Mary enjoyed meeting Rebecca Latimer and Peggy Murray at the Bargain House, and was thrilled with some of her "bargain" purchases there.

They enjoyed lunch at the Catfish Place and sampled some of Camden's local flavor - fresh Tennessee River Catfish. "Ms. Cheap" ordered the "family-style" catfish fillet dinner for $7.19 and shared with her mother. She commented on the marvelous food, wonderful service and warm reception she got at the restaurant - and at such a great value!

Many Camden residents visited with Mary, her mother, and Bob while they were having lunch including State Representative John Tidwell, County Commissioner W.C. Trull, Mayor Jim Travis, Tax Assessor Bob Farmer, WFWL's Ron Lane, Mrs. Patricia Mann and her son, Steve, Bert and B.J. Kellerhall and many others. A bit of chuckle arose when "Ms. Cheap" commented to the mayor that she was excited about the "free parking around the court square." Mayor Travis, added to the humorous moment when he explained that we had finally removed the "penny" parking meters, and you could park free anywhere in Camden.

Mary was saddened to learn that she had missed State Representative "Butch" Borchert and Senator Roy Herron by only a half an hour. She was thoroughly impressed with the with warm hospitality she received.

The Tennessee Freshwater Pearl Farm, and a number of other attractions will be included in a feature column for "Ms. Cheap." She expressed that she enjoyed her visit to our area, and would recommend us to others on a positive note. Mary made mention that the area should be proud to be so well represented by Bob and his efforts of promoting Camden's Kentucky Lake area. She commented, "It is no longer a wonder to me that you were named as one of Tennessee's Official Ambassadors."

Mary is presenting the idea to Channel 5 to do a "Talk of the Town" feature with Meryll Rose right here from the Camden area.

Each day would feature a different location, with one of them being the Tennessee Freshwater Pearl Farm - the "back roads" attraction that has made it to #26 in the list of Tennessee's Top Attractions with 300,000 visitors annually. For

more information about the Tennessee Freshwater Pearl Farm, call 731-584-7880 or visit www.TennesseeRiverPearls.com or www.BirdsongResort.com