Plants Plus returns, the forgotten pawpaw, remember to vote

By Darla Buckhannon

Happy birthday to Kenny Keller, Linda Beard, Donna Sadler, Judy Sanders, Ernie Duncan, Megan Steimle, Darlene Dumey, Ersell Robins, Sierra Miller, Candice Snider, Alissa Coomer, Tim Stone, Larry Meyr, Virginia Essner, Dora Avance, Allan Horrell, Terry Lynn, Dean Hemingway, Nelda Eichhorn, Brenda Wilson, Teresa Tipler, Clara Cable, Glenda Bullinger, Shelby (Rice) Evans, Brenda Held, Sherri Uhrhan, Lynn Lincoln, Adrienne Eichhorn, Debra Wolsey, Bill Simmons, Danny Dees and Cory Kirchdoerfer. Special belated birthday wishes to Jerome Kluesner and Pansy Acey, who was 80 years young last Monday.

Happy anniversary to John and Jeannie Walker Jr. and Mark and Tracey Totty.

Happy Easter!

The month of April is National Humor Month, International Guitar Month, Stress Awareness Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, National Kite Month and Keep America Beautiful Month.

Residents want to make their yards beautiful and are ready for warm temperatures and sunny skies. Flowers and vegetables are staged for planting. Perennials are popping up here and there as the signs of spring become more evident. With all the rain we have had, those pesky weeds will be popping up as well; henbit and dandelions are everywhere.

Now gardeners will have another choice for supplies: Plants Plus is back. Those of us who travel South Kingshighway have noticed the activity on the former Plants Plus property. A new sign was up last week announcing it would re-open under new ownership. Welcome back, Plants Plus.

Most of us remember the folk song "Way Down Yonder in the Pawpaw Patch," but did you know that two of our founding fathers were interested in pawpaws? Thomas Jefferson sent seeds to contacts in Europe and George Washington planted them at Mount Vernon. You can read all about pawpaws in the book "Pawpaw; In Search of America's Forgotten Fruit" by Andrew Moore. His search takes him to Virginia, North Carolina, Appalachia and the Midwest including St. Louis.

City Council meets this Monday night at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

Remember to vote this Tuesday for councilpersons and the use-tax measure. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Your vote is important! We were sorry to learn that Councilperson Ann Whistler (Ward 3) has informed the mayor, city administrator and fellow council persons that, due to her busy schedule, she will not seek re-election this year and will not accept write-ins. We thank Ann for her years of service to Ward 3 and our city. A job well done indeed!

With the general election coming up in November, signs will be put out. City Hall reminds residents that political signs, or any signs, cannot be placed on your parkway which is city property. Nor can signs be placed on obvious city property or utility poles.

City Hall also says it is time to renew UTV/ATV and golf cart permits. Make certain your house numbers are visible from the street.

Chaffee Public Library is hosting "Mommy and Me" class for moms and young children April 4 from 8 to 10 a.m. Call the Library at 573-887-3298 for details.

A sure sign of spring is when the male American goldfinches take on their vivid yellow summer color. Soon, we will be cleaning our hummingbird feeders for a summer of hummers! They usually show up mid-April. Let us know when you spot your first one of the season!

Area turkey attacks local cyclist! Frequently seen on his bicycle, Bob Burnett said he was riding near Rockview recently and was approached by an aggressive tom turkey. He stopped to calm the feathered creature down, but he got a few pecks on his leg. The turkey was later joined in the road by a few chickens. Bob said he biked through there again recently and the turkey and his chicken friends were in a cage.

Richard's Indian fantail and Mookee flocks are expanding somewhat. There is one fantail that is so big it can't fly up to its roost in the evening. Richard has started picking it up and physically placing it on its favorite perch each night. The bird, which he has named Patience, waits patiently by the door of the loft for Richard to lift him up.

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

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

Then there was the resurrection of Jesus Christ.