Remembering the quest for the elusive four-leaf clover

By Darla Buckhannon

Happy birthday to Jerome Kluesner, Patty Tanksley, Kenny Chapman, Megan Devenport, Travis Lee, Charlie Clark, AJ Glastetter, Pansy Acey, Evelyn Kluesner, Paul Nation, Janet Sykes, Hailey Peters, Jaimie Emerson, Joshua King, Richard Vandeven, Jimmy Smith, Joseph Stagoski, Lucille Schmidt, Daisy Williams, Abby Seyer, Jill Hornback, Paula Glueck, Randy Buchheit, Mary Jo Barlow, Danny Terhune, Harold Landewee, Charlie Westrich, Hillary Eichhorn, Samantha Montgomery, Jonathan Hendrix, John Menz, Jr., Meagan Ruiz, Laddie Bridwell, Barbara Griggs, Marvin Dee Hedger, Larry Glueck and Ken Keller.

Happy anniversary to Doug and Carol Sutterfield and Liston and Coradell Mitchell.

Looking for luck

Richard and I were strolling through a field of white clover the other day and I wondered if anyone looks for four-leaf clovers anymore. I thought back to the many times my sisters and I would look for a four-leaf clover in our backyard on a Sunday afternoon. If successful, the treasure was always placed between the pages of our Bible. Now they tell us the odds of finding one is 1 in 10,000; the same odds of finding a white pearl in an oyster. We learn that in an area the size of a standard bathtub, one can scan 10 clovers every second and should be able to spot one within 17 minutes. And, who doesn't like the song "I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover"? Written by Mort Dixon with music by Harry M. Woods, the hit first debuted in 1927 then resurfaced in 1948 when it charted No. 1, sung by Art Mooney. It has been performed by many artists throughout the years.

Things to remember

Citywide Spring Cleanup is April 4 and 6 depending on your scheduled bulk trash pickup day. The City asks that you not put items out until the preceding weekend of April 1. Tires and paint are not acceptable, and there will be a fee for items such as construction materials. Please call the city for more information. The city can also refer you to someone who will pick up refrigerators and other large appliances.

You can still Paint for a Cause at the Painted Wren Gallery in Cape; 1 minute for $1. Hosted by the Chrome Queens Motorcycle Riding Group, benefits go toward breast cancer research.

Pet owners can mark April 21 on their calendars for the Pet Clinic. It will be held in the Police Department garage from 3 to 5 p.m. Parvo shots cost $17, and rabies cost $10. Please make certain your dogs and cats wear tags with your name and phone number visibly written on them in case they are found roaming the city. Also, be sure you register them and any new ones with the city.

There are specific guidelines such as fence height and design for dogs on the city's dangerous dog list.

Did you know there are states that are passing laws against the tethering of dogs to chains or ropes?

Be a responsible owner and be sure to pick up after them when you are out for a walk; it's a city ordinance!

Tax break, sort of ...

Procrastinators get a few extra days this year for filing taxes. Taxpayers have until April 18 to file 2016 tax returns since April 15 falls on Saturday and Emancipation Day is observed Monday, April 17, in Washington, D.C.

A reminder to seniors: AARP tax help is available Tuesday morning at the Senior Center.

Don't fall for it

April Fools' Day is this Saturday; be on the alert for those jokesters and their practical jokes. Does anyone really still do that? April Fools' Day was a big day for a friend of mine, and I don't know how long it took him to come up with his creative, believable practical jokes he would play on his friends every year. They were always verbal and so believable. It took us years to see through them and anticipate his antics.

Lost and found

All the talk after Super Bowl LI was the theft of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's jersey. As it turns out, it was found in Mexico with a bonus of two other Super Bowl items that received little publicity: Brady's jersey from 2015 and the helmet of Denver Broncos MVP Von Miller from 2016. The thief was on a roll!

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 me at darbuck2@airmail.net or leave a message at (573) 887-6430 or (214) 207-7839.

And then ...

Then there was the end of "jerseygate."