Presidents Day flags, inspiring robotics and brain games

While strolling, I wondered whatever happened to Pat Rushing.

Happy birthday this week to Randy Dooley, Kenith Lowery, Denny Rose, Tilda Davidson, Zach Horman, Sarah Hahn, Alta Laster, Bob Niederkorn, Liz Cummins, James Whorton, Sidney Burkes, Tyler Graham, John Gramlisch, Shea Smith, Samantha Hendrix, David Petitt, Craig Glenzy, Mark Ballard, Freeda Miller, Debbie Davie, Debbie Gaines, Kevin McCallum, Sally Rogers, Serene Shannon, Marcella Westrich, Chase Eskew, Sandy Spane, David Kean and Frank Welter.

Happy anniversary to Red and June Lynn and Davey and Misty Davis.

Fly your flag tomorrow in observance of Presidents Day. The Senior Center, City Hall, library and federal offices will be closed. City Council, however, will meet at 7 p.m. at City Hall.

Congratulations to the Curious George CHS Robotics Team on winning the Inspire Award in St. Louis. Curious George, Girls with Attitude and Semper Fi will compete in Rolla for State March 6.

No-brainer

Some people waited the Monday after Super Bowl to start their New Year's resolutions, and if you need an extra push, the following should help. An article titled "Brain, Heal Thyself" in last weekend's Wall Street Journal noted despite what some people say about aging and losing physical and mental faculties, that is not the case. The "use it or lose it" theory prevailed in a study that proved patients' attempts to resist their brains' decline through activity and mental exercises is not in vain.

A 2014 study showed that cognitive decline and dementia can be reduced by 60% with the following lifestyle: eating a healthy diet consisting of 3-4 servings of fruit and vegetables per day; maintaining a normal weight with a basic mass index of 18 to 25; limiting alcohol intake to a glass of wine a day; not smoking and last, the one that had the most impact, was walking 2 miles per day, biking 10 miles per day or participating in regular, vigorous physical exercise.

In talking about old businesses, Van Riehl brought our attention to a picture of Woody and Katy Proctor, former owners of the Dairy Queen, in the Feb. 2 Southeast Missourian. It was taken last year at the seniors' Valentine party at the Brase Arena Building for couples who have been married 50 years or more. The Proctors will celebrate 74 years of marriage in June.

You scream ...

Many of us fondly remember them when they owned the Dairy Queen, which they bought from the original owner, Virgil Turner, in 1952. They operated it until 1956, when they sold it to Cleve and Winnie Jolly. It was sold to Bill and Ann Rhodes in 1958 and to Charles and Virginia Vickery in 1964, who in turn sold it to Clarence and Anna Mae Halter in 1977. The Halters dropped the DQ franchise in 1997 and it became the Chaffee Drive-in, but for most of us, it will always be the Dairy Queen. The Halters' daughter, Laura Estes, owns and operates the drive-in now with the assistance of her sister, Linda Yarbro. Everyone always looks forward to the first Monday in March when it opens for the season! Bad weather delayed the opening two days last year for the first time in the restaurant's history.

Do you remember the full name of P.N. -- the one in P.N. Keller Insurance Company we recently mentioned? Van Riehl says it was Peter Napoleon, which some of the young kids at the time thought quite humorous. Van and his family lived a few doors down from Mr. Keller on Third and he adds that growing up in Chaffee was the best of times.

Van spent a lot of time playing in our backyard and his sister, Teri Lee, and I were best friends from Mrs. Bushard's kindergarten through grade school. Some of us took piano lessons from their mother, Janice, always with her black hair pulled back into an elegant chignon, and many a toothache was taken care of by their handsome, mustached dad, Dr. Alvin Riehl.

A loss

We lost one of our longtime residents, Jean Duniphan, last week. She was active in church and community activities throughout her life and always so proud of her children. She took good care of them and when she had health issues, they took wonderful care of her. Before her move to the Advance Nursing Center, we often saw her sitting outside visiting with neighbors.

She loved butterflies and all things in nature; she seemed especially delighted when we dropped by with one of our Indian Fantail pigeons Richard was showing at the SEMO District Fair. She was a special lady and was always giving of her time, talents and love, and we loved her back. Our sincere condolences go out to 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 Mike's Hot Honey infused with hot chillies.