CHS reunion reminder, a citywide yard sale and coal-stained memories

While strolling, I wondered whatever happened to Charlie Allen.

Happy birthday to Jess Harrell, Evelyn Sprenger, Glen Meyr, Jeremy Vandeven, Gordon Powderly, Ken Lowery, JR Bennett, Dillon Williams, David Nolen, Jon Holland, David Lape, Jessica Horman, Julie Kessler, Andrew Nix, Jerry Stroup, Dave Fuller, Robin Dannenmueller, James Reischman, Beverly James, Raymond Rowell, Barry Hampton, Coradell Mitchell, Patty Halter, Carol Swinford, Courtney Burton, Braden Wicker, Jill Hendrix, Heather Wilson, Brad Bader, Linda Welter, Mason Hornbuckle, Pauline Asmus, Paul Griffin, Danny Schlosser, Jeannie Rice, Tommie Burnett, Jason Rains, Shannon Hendrix, Russell Gardner and Marla Ashworth. Also, Henry Fort, Renee Hitt, Betty Hunt, Joann Kirchdoerfer, Melody Little, Albert Morris, Gary Pobst, Eliso Sauceda and Gregory Scherer.

Happy anniversary to Jim and Mary Chambers, David B. and Joan Hooker, Doug and Sherry Dirnberger, Kenny and Carol Lee, Rusty and Lana Rister and Charlie and Vera Ditto.

Autumn begins Thursday!

Local congratulations

Congratulations to Liston and Cordell Mitchell, whose home on Sheridan Drive was selected as Residence of the Month by the chamber of commerce.

Our congratulations also to talented local artist Aaron Horrell for being named a Business Today Newsmaker. His Painted Wren Gallery is at 223 S. Plaza Way (behind BG's Deli on William Street) in Cape Girardeau. His Paint for a Cause touches many hearts. Drop by and check out his art and coloring books.

Annual auction tickets on sale

The St. Ambrose 27th annual Auction Dinner is Oct. 22 at the VFW Hall. Tickets are $25 and are available after weekend Mass or by calling Donna Themm at (573) 318-0384. The popular event sells out fast, so get yours today.

CHS reunion reminder

Attention, Chaffee High School alumni! The deadline for reservations is this Saturday for the Oct. 8 banquet. Please get your checks in the mail or call Tom Davenport at (573) 887-3761 if you did not receive a reservation form.

There are some new activities planned for this year's reunion. Local published authors will be in attendance to feature their books. They are Dr. Max Heeb, "Max the Knife" sequel; Darla Buckhannon, "Old and in the Way: Caring for Yourself and the Ones You Love"; and Mark L. Hopkins, "Facts and Opinions on the Issues of our Time" (a recap of Hopkins' previous syndicated columns), "Journey to Gettysburg" (the travels of a 15-year-old boy at the height of the Civil War), "The Wounds of War" (a sequel to "Journey") and "The World as it Was When Jesus Came," a supplement to the study of the New Testament. Proceeds from book sales benefit the CHS Alumni Association. Books also are available on Amazon.

Citywide events approaching

The Citywide Yard Sale is Sept. 30 through Oct. 1. If you want your address and items listed on the map, drop by city hall for a form before Sept. 26; the cost is $5. Maps will be available Sept. 28. Citywide cleanup is the following week on your scheduled trash pickup day.

Chili/soup dinner scheduled

Chaffee General Baptist will have its chili/soup dinner Sunday, Sept. 25, from noon to 2 p.m. at the church. The dinner is all-you-can-eat for only $7 for adults and $4 for children 10 and older, and free for those under 10. The price includes soup/chili, dessert and a drink.

Covered in coal dust

The sighting of an old coal shovel reminded me of another feature of the Finney house -- the coal bin. At the time, the Finney house was heated by coal, which was loaded through the outside chute into the bin in the basement. What kid can resist climbing onto a big pile of coal? Tyke and I took on that activity one day and there was no disguising what we had been up to; we were covered in black. It only happened once!

Remembering Darrell Ward

The Ice Road Truckers series is popular with many and is especially cooling to watch on those hot summer evenings. A sad note, however, after noticing last week's segment was in memory of Darrell Ward. He left Polar Industries and started his own company with fellow driver Lisa. Darrell had been in Dallas attending the Great American Truck Show at the end of August and was killed along with his co-pilot while flying back to his Montana home. The series has gotten the OK for another season, but there will be a big void without Darrell, the skilled, resourceful driver in a dangerous profession.

Final thoughts

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

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

And then ...

Then there was the end of summer.