Thursday, July 16, 2020 • The Vedette • greenfieldvedette.com
NEWS
A Squash’s Fright My wife called me in the bedroom today to watch as a squirrel cautiously approached the bird feeder two stories down below us in the backyard. The squirrel had a long blonde tail, no more, no less, and we had never seen one like it before. Slowly it moved forward a tad at a time getting closer by the millimeter to something it had been peering toward. It turned its head very cautiously while creeping along and looking at something that might be a very bad apple. It did not quite yet know the answer though. Maybe it was looking at a terrible plum that had fallen from a tree. “He’s afraid of that yellow squash right there,” my wife said while pointing. She had tossed a yellow squash on the ground under the birdfeeder hoping birds might peck at it and eat it.
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by Frank Berry
“He’s scared of that squash?” I asked, “Oh! My! Oh! Me! What to heck would it be like to be a tiny squirrel scared to death of some fat little squash! Would you agree?” “Are you actually pondering about this?” she asked. When he was just ten inches from his object of dread he became calm. He had finally figured out the squash was not going to harm or attack him, neither would it devour him forthwith or crush his head in any flavor or fashion. He began to eat birdseed politely. Quietly. Aren’t we men so glad we are not squirrels? Aren’t we though? Still, it seems we must always ask our wives these same little questions over and over again to get
the same spot on answers each time! Or maybe to gather up some surprising bits of news we had not dreamt of! “I do believe you may be a squirrel, honey! I truly do! Go outside and play now! Be careful of the tall limbs though!” (When the squirrel returned to its bough, I marched straight out to the squash and drew two big eyeballs upon it to wait for the next action of the rodent. At 78 I did not climb the tree though.)
MSSU, Crowder College Fall Reopening Announcements From Office of Public Information, Crowder College
Missouri Southern State University and Crowder College have announced plans to require masks when fall classes begin to create a safe environment for its students, faculty, staff and campus community. Both institutions will have detailed plans for their campus communities that promote a safe environment while providing the needed educational opportunities. “Missouri Southern is committed to providing an engaging on-campus experience for students this fall, while also prioritizing the safety of our faculty, staff, students and communi-
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ty,” said Dean Van Galen, Ph.D., president of Missouri Southern. “We will continue to implement best practices and promote a campus culture that supports both high-quality education and
the well-being of all.” “Our team has been working since March on a plan to provide a safe educational environment for our students and employees. Crowder College and
Missouri Southern State University have many similar issues to address and each school also has unique issues to consider. Studying the data in the region and determining whether to wear face coverings was a common issue where both schools could collaborate and determine the best solution for higher education in Southwest Missouri,” stated Glenn Coltharp, Ph.D., president of Crowder College. Safety measures at both institutions include increased cleaning and disinfecting of all areas in a effort to keep campus as safe as possible.
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Antioch Pilgrim News July means Happy Fourth of July. Birthdays are brother-in-law, Tim Leeper and son, Jason Leeper on the fifth; sister, Lynetta Leeper 9th, brother Doug Vandegrift 12th, granddaughter Paisley Jones 13th, granddaughter Chloe Jones 15th, grandson, Wade Jones 20th. Gone but not forgotten, Johnny Jones 7.5.2004, Gramps Lane Bennett 7.6.87 and Uncle Norman Jones 7.30.80. But so many memories. I took off Thursday to have an extended weekend. It was good. On Friday, I kept Jasper and Stran as Kelbey and Asa went on a float trip. Later that evening, we met them at the O Hwy bottom at the camp spot. They had a big meal with Alligator and it was good. Smoked by Carl Carlin. Joel Gray dedicated the campsite in memory of Dustin Jones. Then revealed a huge metal picture of Dustin on his horse Yankey with a calf. This was taken from a picture that Joel had taken the first time Dustin helped him work cattle. Joel said this is what a real cowboy looks like. The details were good. Neil Stanford of Everton did the plasm cutout. Greg Burns had also wrote a legacy about Dustin and we were presented with a framed copy and one will also stay at the river bottom. You can’t be at the campsite without Dustin looking out over you. We are so proud of our son and what he stood for. He was very humble and did not like attention put on him. He just never realized how many people he did touch. When Dustin was camping there, I called them the river rats. A big thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all you have done for Dusty in the past and the love and support you have shown to him since his passing. He is gone, but he will never be forgotten. His legacy will live on for years to come. On Saturday, Kim and I went to Springfield and did some running around and ended it with going through the Wonders of Wildlife. It was nice. Came home and Cutler came to spend the night with us. Abby, Jacob and Paisley were going to her parents as they always have
a Fourth of July party and they didn’t want to chase Cutler all evening. So I did. He is everywhere and into everything. He was good and we had a fun evening. On Saturday, Kelbey and Asa went on another float trip and Asa’s sister, Cameron, watched Stran and Jasper. On Sunday, Kelbey, Asa and the boys went on a family float trip at the Joe Brown bottom. The boys got to play and visit with Wade and Chloe. It has been a wild and busy Fourth for the boys and they were worn out. Abby, Jacob and Paisley came dragging into our house on Sunday for breakfast. They didn’t get home until midnight and they were all dragging. Cutler was up and running, in a great mood and ready to party. Kim and Jacob had been in the hay the past couple days. Can’t believe the weather man. Just do it. On Monday, Kim stopped by Kelbey’s house and dropped off a surprise for the boys. We have had so many laughs over that. It was a lizard and Kelbey doesn’t like them. The boys loved watching it. They were threatened many times to keep the door shut. But who listens. It got named Cherri? Deepest sympathy to Ronnie “Tub” Gilmore family. A graduate of Everton and lifetime resident until a few years ago and then resided in Ash Grove next to his daughter. He was a truck driver for many years. He was laid to rest at Liberty Cemetery on Thursday. I was saddened to see that Amy Allison passed away. Our heart aches for this family. She was such a pleasant lady and loved her family so much. The past few years had been hard for her as she loved to go and do and did for many years. May God comfort each and every one of them. We are expecting another one of Kim’s hunting buddies to come and stay with us on Saturday. He asked where the local motel was, Kim said he knew a good bed and breakfast. Our house. Ha! What a shock to Rick and
By Lesia Jones
Carmen Baker in the loss of their grandson. This will be a tough one. May God be with them and help them understand this tragic time. Times are so tough right now and this doesn’t help. Praying for each of them. Kim went hunting Wednesday night. This heat is something else. He hadn’t been for several days. They have a club hunt at Greenfield on Thursday night so he thought he better hunt his dog. I had to stay in late a couple nights this week due to some meetings. This virus is not going away anytime soon. Well, Thursday morning, the lizard they named Cherri got turned loose in Kelbey’s flower beds. It took some smooth talking to get them to turn it loose. Kelbey said that cage door had been opened so much she can’t believe it didn’t get loose in the house. That is what Kim was hoping for. Talk about a chase. Ha! Lynetta and Tim Leeper have enjoyed their daughter, Courtnee and son, Memphis spending a week with them. They live in Texas and left Michael there to work and hold down the fort. They did a lot of running. Some of Michael’s family lives in the Clever area so they got to visit with them. Well, hay time is done at our house now for a few weeks and then the cycle starts all over again. Well, the COVID-19 virus is building again. I bet it is spring before this gets under control and then we will never go back to the way it was. On Friday morning, I had a good visit with Eric Steeley on the way to work. We had a lot of good chuckles to start off our day. This saying will go along with what Eric and I were discussing. Do you know why a car’s windshield is so LARGE & the rear view mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our future. So, look ahead and move on. Some just thrive on the past and missing out on their future. Think about it. Even Great Aunt Nina Rutherford understood this.
