A Block Hole visit, road trip distractions and a CHS reunion on the horizon

By Darla Buckhannon

Happy birthday to Iris Crowe, Brandon Davis, Tamra Leslie, Gail Walter, Andrew Hendrix, Jim Whistler, Garrett Valentine, Bruce Jansen, Cara Duncan, Michelle Asfour, Stevie Shrum, Larry Horrell, Don Leggett, Pat Friga, Debbie Powderly, Jim Teegarden, Taylor Pobst, Cassie Hindman, Lacey Bridwell, Jeremy Townsend, Anita Montgomery, Carl Estes and Darlene Crocker. Also, Amber Biggs, Dorothy Black, Versie Canady, Christie Copeland, Daniel Hahn, George McBride, Wilda Robinson, Charlotte Sadler, Jake Hitt and Vannalee Hitt.

Happy anniversary to Cletus and Rita Lux, Jimmy and Charlotte Smith, Brian and Debbie Totty, Randy and Gail Dumey, Ken and Linda Lowery, Richard and Carol Hodge and Wayne and Marlys Ford.

City hall reminds residents once again to please update your phone numbers with them.

Swimming for ages 18 and older is ongoing at Harmon Field from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday for only $1 per session.

The Chaffee Public Library had a very successful summer reading program, with as many as 84 attending weekly. The kids donated 512 cans to the Chaffee Soup Pantry, with Bianca Arnold collecting and donating 212 cans by herself!

Keeping everyone cool

Pet owners and bird lovers remind residents to provide shade for their four-legged pets and plenty of fresh water for all. It is especially fun to watch the birds dart in and out of the sprinkler.

On a recent afternoon, Richard and I decided to escape the heat and go for a drive to check out the Block Hole fishing activity. En route we saw two fawns frolicking in a field with their mother keeping watch. There were several fishermen at the Block Hole and we wondered how they managed the steep, then-muddy boat ramp.

Road trip entertainment

On our trips back and forth between Texas and Missouri, like most road travelers, we find various ways to entertain ourselves. We count hawks and, during football season, we try to locate the Dallas Cowboys' game. Other times we listen to professional tennis and golf, especially if one of our favorite players is in contention. Listening to either of those broadcasts on the radio is challenging and we were told we missed an exciting final round of last Sunday's British Open in Scotland.

Ridding of Roundup

We always notice how well states take care of their roadsides. The barriers that have been added to the interstate medians continue for miles, and we wondered how they mow that narrow strip of weeds. Arkansas mowed theirs and Texas "burned" it with Roundup (glyphosate).

Personally, I would rather look at green weeds than chemically burned grass; the overuse of it is seen everywhere. A man with the Dallas Parks Department was seen frequently at White Rock Lake near our home there. He walked around, cigar in mouth, spraying Roundup everywhere! We referred to him as "Cigar Man." On one occasion, he used the blue Roundup on the bike trail, which created an uproar on social media. We haven't seen Cigar Man this year and wonder if the chemicals finally got to him. Although Roundup has its place, there are those of us who would like to see limits. It has been declared by the World Health Organization to be a "probable human carcinogen" and the city of Minneapolis went so far as to ban the use of glyphosate in public parks.

Chaffee High School reunion approaches

Reservation forms have been sent out for the Oct. 8 Chaffee High School Alumni Banquet. Doors open at 5 p.m. at the VFW Hall with dinner at 6:15. The cost is $15 per person and reservations are required. If you have not received your form, you can mail your check along with the optional dues of $5 to the CHS Alumni Association, P.O. Box 172, Chaffee, Missouri, 63740 or call Tom Davenport at (573) 887-3761.

Last year, 249 alumni attended the banquet, with the Class of 1965 celebrating 50 years! A good time was had by all, with everyone catching up with former classmates and friends. The Alumni Association gives two $1,500 scholarships each year to CHS graduating seniors. The recipients for the 2015-16 school year are Maggie Penrose and Brandon Ivester. Donations always are welcome, and last year memorials were received for Ronnie Dobbs, Betty Burnett Dooley Mirly and Linda Jones Dowd.

Final thoughts

Remember to tell those special people in your life that you love them -- those three words mean so very much and are so nice to hear.

Please email your news and comments to darbuck2@airmail.net or leave a message at (573) 887-6430 or (214) 207-7839.

And then ...

Then there was Phil Michelson's finish of 17 under that still didn't win The Open.