Janet Taber
Happy belated birthday wishes to Colene Rose whose special day was Monday, May 2. Colene’s grandchildren, Chris and Jenifer McGee and Casey McGee came to visit on Saturday, and the family, including son Paul, attended the wedding of their cousin, Travis McConnaughy, and Sarah Silverman at Pontiac. On Sunday evening, Colene and Paul attended services at Souder Church of Christ where Bob Hampton is holding a gospel meeting. Colene said she was glad they drove the truck because Spring Creek was “pretty full,” although they were able to cross with no problem.
It is always nice to welcome new residents into our community, and this time the good wishes also include “Welcome Home!” Ralph and Kay Johnson have moved to their place at Almartha, after selling their home in West Plains. Kay, the daughter of the late Alton and Charline Nance, grew up here and has been looking forward to moving back to her home place for a while now. She and Ralph have built a snug cabin, with every piece of lumber cut, planed and nailed into place by their own hands. Now that they are here permanently, they are planning more improvements, including a garage. How nice to have the Johnsons as new neighbors!
Cindy and Dave Baker are particularly glad that the rain has subsided after being stranded for a while on their place up Spring Creek. The road was so badly washed out that even the county road grader got stuck! Cindy says she is foregoing planting a garden this year; instead, she will buy vegetables for canning and preserving at the Amish produce auction near Seymour. Cindy found the quality of what she bought last year to be exceptional and the prices very reasonable. The auctions are held on Fridays now and will also be held on Tuesdays after June 1.
Cindy Baker is interested in finding out anything she can about the old Luther Dye house which is on their property. She has been told that the home was the first in Ozark County to have electricity and that it was quite a showplace in its day. Now all that is left standing are two side walls. If you know anything about the old house or might have pictures, contact Cindy at 265-3765.
Julia Taber enjoyed spending the weekend in West Plains with her daughter and son-in-law, Beth and Jim Peters.
Susan Plaster and family had a houseful of company over the weekend. Her sister, Marsha and husband Chad Pitt, with children Daltyn and Malynn, of Logan, Iowa, and the girls’ parents, Larry and Patricia Smidt of Glenvil, Neb., drove down for some spring fishing. The recent heavy rains were not favorable for being on the lake, but the men did have a fair catch on Saturday.
As the weather begins to return to normal, Ozark Countians are assessing damage to their property. Farmers are rebuilding water gates, which were washed out in every creek and branch. And heavy rain, more than 20 inches of it, has not been the only weather issue we’ve had to deal with; several instances of heavy hail caused damage to vehicles and plants in our area in the last couple of weeks. Kayla Thomas’s car was severely damaged, enough that the insurance company totaled it.
As you drive along Highway 5 just north of the Wasola Fire Department, be sure and slow down to enjoy the view on the west side of the road. Shirley and Joe Schaadt’s peonies, dozens of bushes planted in neatly trimmed beds, are beginning to bloom, and it is a wondrous sight when the buds are fully opened.
