Springtime activities, memories of Jim Chronister

By Darla Buckhannon

Happy birthday to Megan Kerber, Puggy Kerber, Cliff Evans, Charles Ditto, Betty Montgomery, Wayne Reeves, Rex Williams, Carl Seyer, Wayne Turner, Tara McClard, David Glastetter, Zac Hindman, Janet Burger, Alfred Wolfe, Brian Pfefferkorn, Robyn Hindman, Aaron Wilson, Evelyn Kluesner, Paul Nation, Tommy Rauch, Nancy Griffin, William Hargrove, Bob Baert, Patricia McDonald, Brandon Parker, Chris Hampton, Brenda White, Mark Totty, Jim Kemper, Logan Emerson and Julie Hodge.

Happy anniversary to James and Elizabeth O'Neal, Barry and Jewel Hampton and Stan and Brenda Shields.

Spring is in the air

Gardeners are getting antsy. The daffodils are blooming and the predicted warm weather for this weekend will have many outdoors tuning up their lawn mowers and gathering garden tools. March is a busy month. We celebrated St. Patrick's Day this weekend and the official first day of spring is Tuesday the 20th. Opening day for the St. Louis Cardinals is March 29 and spring break for Chaffee schools is March 29-April 3. Good Friday is the 30th. Take advantage of these last two Fridays to enjoy fried catfish at the Elks from 4 to 7 p.m.

We saw an eagle perched in a tree along the highway between Chaffee and New Hamburg. Meanwhile, songbirds are checking out bird houses and gathering nesting material. Garter and rat snakes will be moving to and from their winter dens. These nonvenomous snakes benefit our yards by eating rats, mice, insects and worms. Do not kill or harm these beneficial snakes. These snakes are not aggressive, but certainly, like any creature, will defend itself if you mess with it or its young.

There is talk of having a three-way stop at Elliott and Highway 77 due to the heavy traffic following baseball games. One resident suggests placing an officer at the intersection on game days to direct traffic rather than disrupting daily traffic with a three-way stop sign.

Flags at Circle Park

An upcoming sight will be the placement of 76 American flags at Circle Park. The number 76 is representative of the year 1776. Presently there are two -- the POW/MIA flag and the American flag -- which my sister Jo and her husband Don of Chicago donated in memory of Ronnie Dobbs. Cpl. Dobbs was killed in action in Vietnam, May 2, 1968.

Summer jobs

It is not too early for young people to get their applications in for summer jobs. Applications for cashier and lifeguard positions at the pool at Harmon Field can be picked up at City Hall.

In high school, I babysat year round. The job I wanted more than any, which I didn't get, was that of a candy striper at Southeast Hospital in Cape. During college, I spent summers in Indianapolis, Indiana, with my sister Carolyn and brother-in-law Bill working for Kelly Girls. I got a variety of experience working for different businesses and Carolyn and Bill were very hospitable and encouraging.

Remembering Jim Chronister

Several former classmates and friends of the late Jim Chronister have shared memories with me. Jae Hopkins was one of those and remembers the first time he met Jim. Jae and his family moved to Chaffee from Bloomfield when he was in the 6th grade. One day Jim showed up on his bicycle with a ball in his hand. The avid baseball playing Jae asked, "What's that?" To which Jim said, "It's a soccer ball!" Jae had never seen one and asked "What do you do with it?" To which Jim replied, "Kick it!" Years later, after Jae had a family, his two sons were star high school soccer players and still play, and his two grandsons play on elite teams on the East coast. It all began with Jim introducing Jae to soccer.

The always neatly-dressed Jim was halfback on the Red Devils' football team and was class president of their 1954 senior class. With his outgoing personality and energy that continued throughout his life, it is no surprise that he would be in marketing for the Burlington Northern Railroad. Chaffee was his home, and he was active in the Shriners and Elks. We often saw him out walking and more often than not sporting his Gulf Shores tan. Richard and I enjoyed our chats with Jim, and I welcomed his Chatters feedback. He is greatly missed, and our thoughts and prayers are with Ginny.

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

Email your news to darbuck2@airmail.net or call (573) 887-6430 or (214) 207-7839.

Then there was the amazing return of Tiger Woods.