Hummingbirds reappear, Chaffee Signal clippings and remembering Prince

By Darla Buckhannon

While strolling, I wondered whatever happened to Frank Enderle.

Happy birthday to Gary Jones, Joshua Uhrhan, Micia Beard, Novella Howell, Emma Wessel, Guy Bunyard, Lance Duncan, Sherri Goodman, Maria Collins, Elaine and Elizabeth Sexton, Denny Graviett, Martha Hamm, Sarah Reischman, Ashley Graham, Matt Simmons, Loren Elfrink, Jewel Hampton, Danielle Morgan, Freddie Harrell, Heather Abernathy, George Robins, Kristin Bailey, Priscilla Hornbuckle, Dolly Kluesner, Al Friga, Lee McDaniel, Nancy Reece, Paula Moit and Lisa Powell.

Happy anniversary to Sam and Tonya Glency, Rick and Bonnie Duncan, Gaylord and Sandy Spane, Josh and Kristy Pobst and Bob and Alice Uhrhan.

May is Date Your Mate Month, Bike Month, Salad Month, Barbecue Month, Blood Pressure Month and Older Americans Month. Thursday is Cinco de Mayo and next Sunday is Mother's Day!

The Chaffee Historical Society will hold its monthly meeting at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 7, at 109 S. Main St. Ronnie Eichhorn is posting some great pictures on Facebook, "Growing Up in Chaffee."

Bird season lands

Hummingbirds arrive here around tax day, and this year tax day was later and so was the arrival of our lovely gems. Keeping watch on our feeders is almost like anticipating the arrival of Santa Claus at Christmas. Megan Steimle reported her first hummer April 19. Janet Loucks saw her first the 23rd and mine showed up last Monday on a warm, windy morning.

A male rose-breasted grosbeak sighting was reported, and we saw a female on our platform feeder. Another new beak is an indigo bunting! The chimney swifts are back in the sky before dusk chirping and darting!

Chaffee events and visitors

The Chaffee Public Library is hosting "Mommy and Me" class for moms and children 18 months to 4 years of age from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. Call (573) 887-3298 to enroll.

Joe and Carol Carilli of New Hampshire were guests of Steve and Janet Loucks. Also visiting were the Loucks' daughter-in-law, Vicki Loucks of St. Charles, Missouri, and her and John's two daughters.

Chaffee Signal memories

Mary Ann (Duncan) Kagle ran across a 1959 Chaffee Signal clipping that was all about fishing. Pictured was her mother with her catch of a 5 1/2-pound blue catfish at the White River. In the Children's Crappie Fishing Contest, Jimmy Phegley caught a 2-pound crappie at Wappapello Lake on a minnow. Thirteen-year-old John Kinder, son of Jack, caught an 11-ounce bluegill. One could win a year's subscription to the Chaffee Signal, a Shakespeare Spinning Wonder Rod or a Clamp-on Fish Bag Stringer. The older Phegley nudged young Tommy Steimle out of the lead, but the article went on to state that Tommy was their undisputed clover leaf champion. While walking with his dad through a field east of town, Tommy found 29 four-leaf clovers, five five-leaf clovers and two six-leaf clovers! I checked with his brother, Tim, and he said Tom would have been 9 years old, and he remembers Tom proudly keeping his clover collection in a scrapbook. How sweet is that? When did you last look for a four-leaf clover? The article also mentioned the fishing party of Marvin Ancell, Millard Nunn and Luther King, who did quite well at the Diversion Channel, with Marvin catching a 9 1/2-pound buffalo with the "newfangled spinning tackle."

Graduation congrats and beyond

Congratulations to our Chaffee High seniors who will graduate May 5.

Lots of young people have already committed to summer jobs, camps and other activities. Back in our day, young people from the First Baptist Church attended Unity Camp near Commerce. I recall the barrack-type housing, handicrafts and daily Bible study but, mostly, I remember missing my mother's scrambled eggs while eating the bland ones they served, thinking "Where's the cheese?"

Springtime cleanup

The grass grew fast after recent rains and the hum of mowers could be heard all over town. The curbs have been cleaned by city workers and they also are cleaning out the culverts. Let's keep them maintained so they'll continue looking good and drain well.

We remind residents and especially newcomers that streetside mailboxes are not required in order for you to receive mail in Chaffee. If you have been told otherwise, please contact City Hall.

In memory of Prince

Following the shocking death of the very talented Prince, who among us could resist singing his hits "Purple Rain," "When Doves Cry" and "Little Red Corvette?"

Final thoughts

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

Email your news to darbuck2@airmail.net or call (573) 887-6430 or (214) 207-7839.

And then ...

Then there was Prince, whose music lives on.