Seven Points — The best part of living in a small town is when you don't know what your doing, someone else does.

I always wonder how rumors get started. I'm sure it's like when you tell a story, and after about 15 people hear the same story, by the end it was nothing like it started. That's how I feel about the rumor mill at Cedar Creek Lake.

I received a text message recently that said they had heard McClain's Restaurant in Seven Points was closing at the end of December. If you are one of those people who don't get the chance to visit Seven Points much, let me tell you McClain's Restaurant has been a fixture in that town for many many years. And let me make it very clear the restaurant is fine, and no, they have no intention of closing.

When I received the message, I knew all I could do is go to McClain’s, and try to talk to Laneta McClain to find out the facts. Unfortunately, Laneta wasn't at the restaurant the day I showed up to find out the details about the closing.

A waitress who has worked for McClain’s for over 30 years told me it was not true. Laneta's daughter confirmed that the rumor I was hearing was, in fact, false. I was relieved to hear that.

The employees at the restaurant said about this time of year for the past three years someone starts a rumor they are closing. You wonder why these kind of rumors gets started. What most likely happened was, someone made an off-handed comment, and someone else took it as fact. I hope if the restaurant has any intention of closing, Laneta or someone from the restaurant notifies me.

My family has been visiting McClain’s for over 30 years. I thought of all the memories I had of McClain’s over the years, and what I would miss most. It would be Laneta McClain.

Throughout the years I have become friends with Laneta. During my time at the Cedar Creek Pilot, Laneta was my ears and eyes in Seven Points. When I would hear a rumor about something going on in that city I would always call Laneta. She normally could either tell me it wasn't true, or point me in the right direction.

If it was happening in that city, Laneta most likely knew about it. Of course, it didn't hurt that everyone in the city ate in her restaurant.

Other than the relationship I had developed with the restaurant through the newspaper, I have great memories of Jackie and I having dinner in the Willow Club at McClain's during many nights. When I lived on the west end of Cedar Creek Lake we went to McClain’s almost every night. Back then the same people would show up for dinner. Jackie and I were among them.

I don't want to sound like an advertisement for McClain's, but it is one of my favorite places. Jackie always said McClain’s was his favorite restaurant on Cedar Creek Lake. You don't find many restaurants left that serve the lunch special. You know the one where you pick a meat, and they list four vegetables and just tell the waitress which one to cut. When I was in high school, I worked for George's Cafe in East Dallas that was very similar to McClain's. George's was a great restaurant, and I made many life-long friends working there. McClain's brought back those memories of George's.

Since I  now spend a lot of my time in Athens, I don't get to visit McClain's as often as I use too. My life has had many changes and challenges in the last year and a half, but I still consider McClain's Restaurant part of Cedar Creek Lake and eat there whenever I am in that part of the county.

I hope for once and for all the rumors about McClain's can stop. The waitresses say everything is fine. I believe them.

Like everything else the economy has cut into their business. That would make sense, since when people are financially strapped, one of the first thing sthey cut is eating out.

Laneta has always supported the community that supports her. I hope the community continues to support McClain’s, and that the restaurant has a very long life at Cedar Creek Lake.

It's the Christmas season. We should all be thankful for the things we have, and remember those who have been less fortunate. If you happen to be out and about in Seven Points, stop in and say hello to the gang at McClain's Restaurant.

Kathi Nailling is a Staff Writer for the Athens Daily Review.