CHS Alumni Banquet, a book for train fans and origins of the pencil

By Darla Buckhannon

Welcome, Chaffee High School Alumni!

Happy birthday to Sue Slinkard, Bo Ralph, Samantha Muka, Amanda Lowery, Tommy Nunnally, Mary Teegarden, Alice McFerron, Wanda Minner, Wilma Seyer, Mary Hennrich, Cletus Lux, Laura Craigmiles, Melanie Spane, Vona Baker, Tom Lambrou, Marcia Fuller, Sarah Milam, Lori Sadler, Mike Mitchell, Abby Walter, Opal Kiefer, Vicky Martin, Marcie Fuller, Kristen Bridwell, Cassie Eichhorn, Debbie Simmons, Al Kern, Jr., Nicole Poe, Emily Eichhorn, David Hooker, Elmer Seyer, Henry Kirn, Michael Proctor, Mike Hinkebein, Jerry Schlitt, Ashlyn McKinley, Ray Fisher, Tonyua Townsend, Kirk Whitaker, Charles McDonald, Sandra Bollinger, Christine Benton and Donny McCarty.

Happy anniversary to Terry and Peggy Lee, Martin and Jeanette Eftink, Paul and Diane Keller and David and Laura Halter.

CHS Alumni Banquet held

A big turnout was expected at the CHS Alumni Banquet last evening! When we turned in Chatters last Tuesday, the count was 287 paid reservations! That beats last year's attendance of 249.

CHS class of 1926

I ran across my mother's Chaffee High School diploma. It is dated May 14, 1926, and signed by Board of Education President D.E. Gelwix and Secretary H.H. Washburn Jr., Superintendent Charles Scott and Principal R.R. Kincaid. The class flower was Marechal Niel Rose; class colors were pea green and pink and the class motto was, "The Door of Success is Labeled 'Push.'" The 20 class members are listed on the back page of the diploma. The diploma was presented in an elegant suede pea green cover lined with pink moire satin with the school name, graduate's name and year embossed in gold. I am always delighted when I unexpectedly discover something from my mother's early years.

A read for train fans

Many alumni grew up in railroad families. I recently found the book "400,000 Miles by Rail," written by Burt Blanton. He was born in Gainesville, Texas, in the early 1900s and grew up in Texas. His dad was an investment banker, so Burt was able to travel extensively by train with his parents. The rail fan eventually became an industrial consultant. The book is available on Amazon.com and if you love reading about those early railroad days, you will love this book that also includes Frisco trains!

Origin of the pencil

By now the kiddos are settled into their school routines. In filling up those backpacks, have you ever wondered how pencils came about? Author James Wood explains in his book "The Perfection of the Paper Clip" that graphite was discovered in the 1500s in an English village when it was exposed after a tree was blown down during a storm. Farmers began using the graphite to mark their sheep; tiring of stained fingers, they later encased it in wood.

Season's cleanings

The citywide sale went well, with 26 sales registering for the map! Cleanup was last week, so the town, our garages and yards should be looking spic and span! We remind you again that the cemetery will be cleaned this month. Please pick up any items you want to keep no later than Saturday.

Columbus Day updates

Tomorrow is Columbus Day and the senior center will be closed. On Friday, Oct. 14, a night meal will be served at the center from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. in place of the noon meal.

The post office will be closed on Columbus Day as well. They are raising money for breast cancer research during this month of Breast Cancer Awareness. A sheet of special stamps sells for $12, of which $2.60 goes toward breast cancer research. It is tax deductible and your support will be greatly appreciated.

Upcoming events

Don't forget to head out for a fun afternoon at Al Friga's farm for the third annual Horseshoes 4 "everyday" HEROES Tournament at noon on Oct. 15.

We also remind you of the open house on Oct. 22 at the fire station. You can tour the station and the equipment, and there also will be child safety seat checks. Hot dogs and chips will be served.

Viewing the LST

There was a good turnout for the USS LST 325 tour in Cape. We made it the last day and enjoyed the amazing World War II ship with all its history. Many of us saw it when it was in Cape several years ago. Next stop, Vicksburg, Mississippi. Richard was especially interested, since his dad was captain of the LST 449 in the Pacific.

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.

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

And then ...

Then there was the 2016 CHS Alumni Banquet!