Catfish Friday makes a big splash at senior center

Rusty Murry/Daily Mail A large crowd gathers for the Fried Catfish Friday that was sponsored on Friday, by Clinton McKenzie of Nevada, at the Vernon County Senior Center. The table of five Nevada women in the foreground meet at the center every Friday to play bingo and eat, but they especially like the Fried Catfish Fridays. Facing away and from the left, are Betty Luther and Janie Schlup; and facing the camera, from left to right, are Barbara Chrisenberry, Marilyn Griffin and Pat Schwartz. The fried catfish dinner at the center on the first Friday of the month usually draws more than 100 hungry diners, according to center coordinator Angie Daniels.

By Rusty Murry

Nevada Daily Mail

There is always something going on at the Vernon County Senior Center -- especially around lunchtime. Some special meals offered each month are more popular than others and that is the case with Fried Catfish Fridays, according to center coordinator Angie Daniels.

The Vernon County Senior Center Polish Poker winners for the summer 2012 session are Dean Stroer, honorable mention; Leonard Ramsey, first place; Annie Farmer, third place; and Jack Smotherman, second place. Additional players, not pictured, include Carolyn Durnell, Sue Hinkle, Mary Ann Mitchem, Arch Forkner, Wanda Shrimplin, Marion Shrimplin, and Lee Stroer. The group gathers weekly to play at the senior center.

Daniels said that it's a toss-up between the Fried Catfish Friday and the Fried Chicken Friday, but the catfish usually draws a better crowd. The first Friday of the month, the center serves fried catfish that is made possible by a local sponsor. The third Friday of the month the fried chicken is served in the same way.

Daniels said it not uncommon for more than 100 people to show up on those days. The catfish for this month's meal was sponsored by Clinton McKenzie, owner and operator of Mr. Clinton's Family Salon at 115. S. Main St.. Nevada.

McKenzie said, "it took me three months in line, to get to sponsor it."

McKenzie has been in business in Nevada for nearly 50 years and said he sponsored the catfish "in honor of my wife, Joy, who passed on" some time back.

Years ago, McKenzie "loved to fish for them" and caught his own catfish, but since his wife died, the monthly meal at the center is one of his only chances to get fried fish.

McKenzie visits the center three of four times a week and likes the people and the food. He said they have a new cook who is "really good and really friendly -- can't beat her," he said. McKenzie said that as long as business stays good, he may try to sponsor the catfish dinner again. "I was tickled to sponsor it," he said.

Folks in the crowd at the center on Sept. 7 were glad that he sponsored it, too. Some of them never miss a Fried Catfish Friday.

One group of five Nevada women always meet at the center on Fridays. Pat Schwartz, Marilyn Griffin, Barbara Chrisenberry, Janie Schlup and Betty Luther show up each Friday "to play bingo and eat," said Griffin. "Really, we just hang around after bingo to eat," said Schwartz. "And we do a lot of gossip," said Chrisenberry.

They all like the catfish and think it is better than the chicken. They come to the center for different reasons too. These particular women don't attend any of the dances, because there are "no men to dance with," said Schlup. Schwartz and Chrisenberry have a regular meeting to do some quilting other activities. Some other women who like to knit or embroider sometimes join them. Everybody is welcome, the women said, and again, there is plenty of gossip and "fun." Schwartz also said she is thinking of joining the chicken foot dominoes games that are played at the center on Mondays and Wednesdays.

Besides the fried chicken and catfish meals, the center serves a tasty and nutritious meal every weekday of the month except major holidays, and meals and activities are open to the public.

Seniors age 60 and older do not have to pay for their meals. They are asked to pay donation of as much of the $6.41 price of the meal as they can afford. Anyone younger than 60 must pay the full price. A home-delivered meal service also is available for eligible persons. For more information on the home delivered meals, meals served at the center or any other questions about the Vernon County Senior Center call (417) 667-5847.