It's been cold, but springtime is just around the corner

While strolling, I wondered whatever happened to Dennis Kimbro.

Happy birthday this week to Ron Whitaker, Haley and Kaitlin Glastetter, Jackie Heeb, Bill Hamm, Kyle Applewhite, Eric Hanselman, Pearline Tyler, Stella Jackson, Mason Lynn, Bill Hanlon, Leslie Bowers, Billy Gene Goodman, Abby Hahn, Lee Powers, Virginia Proffer, Barbara Dailey, Edward Madison, Gabe Hanks, Jeanette Eftink, Nancy Spies, John Dohogne, Logan Hornback, Kirby Pobst, Gean Knotts, Mallory Estes, Ashley Siebert, Leigh Ann Denbow, Courtnie Harris, Tyler Acey, David Garland and Jackie Bader.

Happy anniversary on the 24th to Ralph and Fimble Enderle.

After a very snowy week, this last week of February has us looking forward to March and the season opening of the Chaffee Drive-in (DQ), catfish Fridays, the return to Daylight Saving time, spring break and the first day of spring!

AARP Tax help continues at the Senior Center on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon. Rep. Tila Hubrecht will be at the center Friday.

Jae Hopkins said reading the names of the 1947 CHS twirlers brought back some nice memories of his band years. Patsy Rushing was one of those twirlers, and we wondered about her last week. Now Pat Maevers, she lives in California and Jae says he talks to her from time to time.

News from Al Wilson

I had a special surprise recently when I received an email from Alfred J. Wilson. His sister, Patsy Palmer of Cape, sent him Chaffee Chatters and, as it turns out, he and his wife, Judy, live north of Ft. Worth in Justin, Texas. We had a delightful chat. Al grew up in Wolf Lake, Illinois, and attended Shawnee High School. When three high schools were combined, they were big enough to have a football team and the coach came from CHS: Dennis Kimbro.

Al taught school in Granite City for many years and, as an educator, has 49 years of Newspaper in Education experience. He was the first person to reverse the role of the newspaper and the textbook while developing NIE techniques. He created a "Pigskin Geography" program based on the schedule of the competing teams from NFL cities and "March Mania" based on the men's NCAA basketball tournament during March. Asked how he got all the way down to Texas, he told me while teaching school in Granite City, his wife worked for American Airlines and was transferred to Texas by way of Oklahoma. Here is another Chaffee connection: While in Oklahoma, Judy's boss was none other than Vickie Bucher. Al has served as NIE consultant for 41 years; he is an author and his NIE program has received national attention in newspapers and television news. His sister, Patsy, was married to the late Dr. Leonard Palmer, who was professor emeritus of mathematics at Southeast Missouri State University for 33 years. I thank Patsy for putting Al in touch with me.

Farewell to Eileen

We lost another one of our precious longtime residents last week -- Eileen Varble. At 93 years young, she was an inspiration to us all. She was a good Christian and a longstanding, active member of the First Baptist Church of Chaffee. She taught Girls Auxiliary and was patient yet fun with a bunch of young giggling girls -- I know because I was one of those girls. She attended church every Sunday and, like many regular attendees, she had her favorite place to sit where she proudly watched her daughter, Becky, as church pianist. When she was physically unable to attend church, the ladies took Bible study to her. She always voiced appreciation of Becky's and Bill's sharing of their home with her for so many years. They took good care of her and when she answered the phone in that joyful, upbeat voice, you knew she was happy.

She was an avid reader, and who could forget her delightful laugh when she recalled events of the past? I always enjoyed listening to her stories of the good ole days, and one of her favorites happened when she had a beauty shop in her home on Parker all those years.

My cousin, Norman "Tyke" Finney, was pals with her son, Melvern Wondel. Eileen's salon was in the front of the house and she said the young tyke would always come in the back door. One day she asked him why he never came through the front and he quickly responded that it stank of permanent wave solution. She responded in turn that "stink" was the smell of money. Eileen will be greatly missed, and our thoughts are with her family and many friends.

Special words

Remember to tell those special people in your life you love them -- those three words mean so very much. Our thoughts and prayers are with those missing loved ones and continue to be with our homebound, those in hospitals and nursing homes. 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 man who wanted his Valentine pound cake in a loaf pan so he could have frosting on the top and between the layers.