Earth Day, spring is getting started, lots of news this week

Happy birthday to Jeremy Schlitt, Jennifer Eichhorn, Gabriel Seabaugh, Helene Chism, Linda Lindy, Blake Burger, Mike Mirly, Barbara Lewis, Richie Rister, Jimmy Chambers, Bud Schilling, Garrett Senciboy, Robin Gardner, Steven Dooley, Sheila Eby, MaKinsey Uhrhan, Mick Wessel, Dusti Garner, Lauren Anderson, Danny Penrose, Bob Owen, Ruth Glastetter, Michelle Daniel, Mable Flanigan and Lindsey Miller.

Happy anniversary to Rob and Stacy Abernathy and Richard and Judy Sanders.

Beautiful cross

People continue to rave about how beautiful the cross on the hill looks. We thank WarChild for all the work they did to clear the area around the cross and down the slope. What a wonderful way to start and end our day by looking up at the bright cross.

Springtime songs

During these wide swings in temperatures, I have been playing "The Green Leaves of Summer" hoping warm temperatures would stay. We would all like to feel the warmth of the sun.

One piece I haven't played this spring is "When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along". When one sees a robin most of us think about their perfectly formed nest with the four blue eggs. Who would think they are actually the bully of the backyard? Bird books state that robins are very territorial. There is a female robin in our yard who is bullying other songbirds especially a cousin of theirs, the bluebird. They dive bomb them, perch on their bird house and eat their mealworms.

Keep your house cats in

A cute sight we often see in the neighborhood is a domestic rabbit. Not certain whose pet it is but it seems quite comfortable in people's yards munching on this and that. He also seems to get along well with the cottontails.

Birds and rabbits are bearing young now, so cat owners are reminded to keep your cats indoors especially at night. One bird lover added there is a reason they are called house cats.

Remember Earth Day

Today is Earth Day; plant a tree or a shrub, preferably a Missouri native. Pass on Bradford pear trees which are not only non-native but very invasive. Rocky Hayes of the Missouri Conservation Department cautioned television viewers recently about the drawbacks of these trees. People like them because they grow fast but oftentimes they are the first to succumb to strong winds.

Events coming up

The Pet Clinic will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. this Friday, April 27, in the back of City Hall.

The Chaffee Historical Society will hold its first concert in the park Sunday, April 29, at 3 p.m. The concert is free to attend and all are welcome.

Safety first!

City Hall reminds residents to please update your telephone numbers with them. They also remind residents to make sure your house number is visible from the street. This is not only important for the delivery of your mail and packages but also in case of a timely response from the fire department or ambulance.

Now that the mowers are up and running, the city also sends out a reminder that grass clippings are not to be blown into the street. Be sure to check the back of your water bill for announcements.

The city thanks those of you who took advantage of the Citywide Cleanup this month! The next one will be in October. Let's keep the cleanup going as we make Chaffee all that it can and should be.

Chamber news

Congratulations to John and Donna Biler whose home on Third was chosen Residence of the Month by the Chamber of Commerce. The chamber continues its membership drive. Annual dues are $15 for individuals and starting at $35 for businesses. Monthly meetings are held the second Wednesday. The next meeting is May 9 at noon at The Beauty Bar.

The Paint for a Cause at the Painted Wren Art Gallery in Cape will be at the Bollinger County Museum of Natural History in Marble Hill next Saturday. Drop by, take the tour and paint for a great cause: the museum.

After a beautiful sunset last Saturday, Sunday was cold and gloomy. It became gloomier when we read that columnist Mark Hopkins was taking a hiatus from his "Southeast Perspectives" so he can focus all his energies on his wife who is fighting cancer. We will miss his perspectives. Our thoughts and prayers are with Mark and his wife Ruth.

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

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

Then there was the New York police department who charged "Old Man Winter" for loitering.