LAFAYETTE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A very special thank you is underway for the crews who worked so many hours to restore power. A series of events made this thank you possible.
On a morning at Social Grounds Coffee Company in Lafayette, I asked Shaun Trent if his pieces have anything in common.
"I've actually been asked that before," he answered, sketching on a piece of paper. "I don't know. I think it's all different."
One thing is he doesn't limit himself to a small canvas.
Throughout Macon County, you see murals Trent created.
Actually, I first met Trent a little over two years ago. He'd painted a window display in downtown Westmoreland, as a tribute to NewsChannel 5's Christmas commercial from 1974.
Longtime friend Stacy Carter thinks there is something Trent's pieces often share.
"It has to do with Tennessee or just our community in general," Carter said. "You know when you see it, he's done it. It's always something cheerful."
Maybe there was even more need for that lately.
Carter's husband is a lineworker.
"He works for Tri-County Electric, and he's been there for almost 34 years," Carter said.
Just like so many other communities in middle Tennessee, the snow and ice created big problems for people in Macon County. Carter's husband was part of a team working hard to get power back.
"He'd been out working the 14, 15, 16 hours a day," Trent said.
"Harsh conditions," Carter nodded. "It was awful."
Carter wanted to get something nice for her husband for the work he did for this community. She happened to know an artist in town.
"I reached out to Shaun," she said. "'Can you help me with this little project?'"
Trent created a sketch of a lineworker.
"It captured my husband, Anthony, so well!" Carter said. "It looks just like him! He was so excited when I gave it to him. He had this big smile going across his face, and he said,
'that is so awesome.' I said, 'well, Shaun done that for ya! No doubt!' I knew when we posted it on Facebook, everyone would want one like it."
Actually, Trent's already made 75 prints.
"You prepared to do more?" I asked him.
"I believe so," he smiled. "Have to buy some more ink!"
In fact, some departments including Tri-County Electric Cooperative have Trent's piece proudly on display. Now, it's true Trent's pieces are all pretty different from each other. The latest also carries what Carter noticed; that tribute to the community.
"I know every time we look at it, we'll think back to the ice storm that they overcome," she said.
Do you have a positive, good news story? You can email me at forrest.sanders@newschannel5.com.
The aftermath of the historic ice storm will be felt for a long time by many, but what looked like a hopeless situation for one small business owner proved to be quite the opposite. This community would not let her fail. Patsy Montesinos shares the story with a truly happy ending.
- Carrie Sharp
