Lenten happenings, a robotics team update and bolstering Chaffee pride

Today is National Walking Day! Lace up and go!

Happy birthday to Larry Glueck, Lurline Crump, Candice Snider, Allissa Coomer, Tim Stone, Grace Givens, Odessa Jones, Larry Meyr, Allan Horrell, Terry Lynn, Dora Avance, Virginia Essner, Dean Hemingway, Nelda Eichhorn, Brenda Wilson, Clara Cable, Glenda Bullinger, Shelby Rice, Brenda Held, Sherri Uhrhan, Lynn Lincoln, Adrienne Eichhorn, Robert Dorris, Tina Nations, Debra Wolsey, Bill Simmons, Danny Dees, Cory Kirchdoerfer, Tara Lincoln, Brian Payne, Jamie Gordon, Kenny Davie, Nathan Morgan, Sharon Hargrove, Ruth Ann Hailey, Donna Corn, Kori Grossheider, Andrew Montgomery, Deana Grey and Meg Powderly.

Happy anniversary to Delbert and Susan Horman, Tom and Janeen Cunningham, John and Jeannie Walker, Mark and Tracey Totty and Ken and Ginny Ruiz.

April is Keep America Beautiful Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Stress Awareness Month.

The chamber of commerce held a ribbon cutting to welcome Darin Teague and his barbershop to downtown Chaffee! It is across the street from Whitakers Hardware where Bob Dennis had his barbershop for so many years.

Catching up with catfish

Catfish Frydays are over, but we all enjoyed the delicious cooking by the Elks Club and the bonus of catching up with friends. A lot of that took place on Good Friday night with Bud and Laverne (Greer) Keller. Having recently moved to Chaffee from Texas, they were welcomed back by Darrell Chapman, Bill Dysinger, Wayne Chapman, Jeannie (Lauck) Chapman, Mary Chapman, Susie Golightly and Barbara and Jack Simpson.

Chaffee city reminders

The Citywide Cleanup is April 12 and 14. Get your items out for pickup on your scheduled day.

The April 15 tax deadline is near, and seniors can get free AARP tax help from 9 a.m. to noon the next two Tuesdays at the senior center.

Robotics team update

Congratulations to the Girls with Attitude Chaffee High School Robotics Team! They did great in Iowa and will now compete in St. Louis April 27 to 30 in the FTC/FRC World Championship! You go, girls, we are proud of you!

Scholarship deadlines

We ask parents to remind your graduating seniors of April scholarship deadlines. In addition to others, the Briggs Scholarship deadline is April 15. Every Chaffee High School graduating senior who plans to attend a trade school or college should apply. The Ruth A. Buckhannon Memorial RN Scholarship deadline is April 18 and is open to any 2016 graduating senior of a public school in Scott County who plans to become a registered nurse. Also stress to students the importance of submitting complete applications along with requested supporting materials.

Lifeguards wanted

Summer jobs bring back lots of memories for many of us, and it is not too early for young people to explore opportunities for this summer. The Chaffee Park Board is hiring lifeguards for pool season at Harmon Field. Interviews will be conducted at the end of April. You must be 15 years old or older and have your lifeguard certification before interviewing. Certification training is available at Fitness Plus April 10 to 12 and at Southeast Missouri State University April 22 to 24. Contact Morgan Swinford at Chaffee High for more details.

Encouraging Chaffee pride

Several readers commented on last week's topic regarding city ordinances. They were supportive of my attempt to make residents aware of such, but added that most of the perpetrators probably don't read the newspaper. One reader stated one of the reasons she moved to Cape was because Chaffee doesn't enforce ordinances and she was tired of the indifference and people's lack of pride in taking care of their property -- especially renters. Chaffee was built many years ago on pride and the can-do energy of residents. The dedication of our founders to make our town a Norman Rockwellian kind of town was evident for many, many years. One has to ask, where is that pride that prevailed for so many years? You can drive through town admiring the property of those who do take pride and grimacing at those who do not. All we can say is don't let a sloppy neighbor discourage you. Contact your city council persons or city hall with your concerns. Each ward has two city council persons, and you can get their names and numbers from the city at (573) 887-3558.

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 and comments to darbuck2@airmail.net or leave a message at (214) 207-7839.

And then ...

Then there was the collision of the Budweiser and Frito Lay trucks, resulting in a highway covered with beer and chips.