CNSTC: April 12, 2023

Answering the call

Around Town

The staff of St. Charles County Emergency Communications handles life-or-death situations on

basis as they answer 911 calls from around the county

By Brett Auten

In a time of crisis or danger, when you are pleading for help, you want the voice on the other line to be both sympathetic and competent.

The staff of St. Charles County Emergency Communications provides dispatching services for all fire and EMS agencies within St. Charles County, as well as the St. Charles County Police Department, Sheriff’s Department, and Department of Corrections. In 2022, dispatchers across St. Charles County answered 127,265 calls to 911, with an average answer time of 3.5 seconds. More than half of all those calls were either answered by or transferred to

County Emergency Communications dispatchers.

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is held annually during the second week of April to honor public safety telecommunicators for their commitment, service and sacrifice.

The Community News touched base with several of these unsung heroes. To a person, they talked about the ability to listen intently and multi-tasking as two of the more important traits. Several come from first responder families, whether it be police, fire or ambulance and they also trumpeted the fulfillment they receive as working together as a team, often referring to their coworkers as family.

Andrea Burke has worked for St. Charles County Emergency Communications for 15 years.

“Emotionally, it is imperative that you are able to compartmentalize and work through difficult situations involving life, death, and property,” Burke said. “In this job, you could quite possibly be giving a wife instructions on how to perform CPR on her husband until paramedics arrive and then instantly be on the next call instructing a husband on how to help his wife deliver their baby.”

While everyone likes to speak of the triumphant days, it is not always like that.

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Moore On Life, Lifestyle & Crossword. Pg. F-4

a daily

St. Charles County Assessor reminds citizens to declare personal property. Pg. 3

Mosaics Fine Art Festival seeks young artist submissions. Pg. 4 Submitted photo

‘CALL’ from cover

“Unfortunately, the bad calls seem to be the ones you remember the most,” Burke said. “But I do remember helping a father deliver his baby and take care of the mom until paramedics arrived. The call lasted approximately 10 minutes and, in that time, I helped him prepare mom and deliver a healthy baby boy. I believe that baby would be about 10 years old today.”

Brian Garms wanted to be a dispatcher back in the early 2010s when it seemed several of his friends were looking for a career in public safety. Garms was able to think critically under stress in one of the most famous calls in recent memory, the ice rescue at Lake St. Louis in 2015 that was later turned into the movie, “Breakthrough.”

“I like playing a positive role in someone’s emergency,” he said. “Sometimes you feel like you beat Mother Nature. There is really nothing like hearing someone improve from imminent death to stable.”

Teresa Boyd took a call from a 16-yearold male that was in an accident and his vehicle had rolled over. He was alert, awake, but very frightened. The last thing he want-

ed was for anyone to hang up or put him on hold

“I have a 16-year-old son, so I just talked to him about school and other things, continuing to reassure him that help was almost there,” Boyd said. “Even when they arrived, he didn’t want me to hang up till they actually got him out of the car. It was rewarding for me as a mom to be able to comfort him while they got to him and to hear that he was OK when they got him out.”

Danielle Rujawitz said her goal is to answer every call with the same good attitude and calmness no matter what is happening and though Sheila Murray is new to the career she won’t soon forget her first cardiac arrest call.

“It was adrenaline mixed with the desire to help and stay calm for the caller,” Murray said. “I enjoy being a calm voice on the other end of the phone in some of the worstcase scenarios.”

With little over four years under her belt, Rachel Delles has not second-guessed this post-military career.

“Ever since I was in high school deciding what I wanted to do with my life, I knew I wanted to work in public service,” Delles said. “After leaving active-duty military, I wanted to have a career where I still felt like I was doing good for my country and community. I was looking into law enforcement but kept seeing dispatch jobs and decided to try it out and have loved it ever since.”

Corey Miller has worked as a fire and EMS dispatcher for the past six years and prior to that was an EMT. He was looking to make a career change to better his schedule but still wanted to stay in emergency services. Dispatching and the technology used has always interested him so it turned out to be just the right fit.

“As a dispatcher you can be rest assured that every day you will learn something new and no one day is like another,” Miller said. “As well, we often spend more time with our coworkers than our own family, we eat together, we laugh together and we are sad together. When someone leaves to go to another department or retires that sense of family is not lost.”

Submitted photos

National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week is held annually during the second week of April to honor public safety telecommunicators for their commitment, service, and sacrifice.

St. Charles County Assessor reminds citizens to declare personal property

As required by state law, the St. Charles County Assessor will mail approximately 48,000 personal property assessment forms for 2023 by March 23 to taxpayers who failed to respond to the initial January mailing. Personal property assessments must be filed with the assessor every year. Forms were due by March 1. Late filing penalties will be applied on May 1.

“Completion of the form provides the opportunity to appeal the value if necessary and assures a fair and equitable distribution of taxes,” says Scott Shipman, St. Charles County Assessor. “When citizens do not declare their personal property, the tax rate for everyone in the county is impacted.”

Taxpayers can file personal property using contactless methods: online, by mail, or in the drive-through drop box by the County Administration Building on Monroe Street near the corner of N. Second Street in St. Charles. Those who have questions or did not receive a form to declare their personal property may contact the Personal Property Department at 636-949-7420.

Ways to file

• Online – Individual personal property owners have the option to file online after receiving the assessment form in the mail. The e-filing website, account number, and unique secure access code for the individual personal property owner are printed in a blue box on the top third of the form. The e-filing website also is available through the assessor’s website, sccmo.org/Assessor. Those who filed online in previous years should note that the unique access code changes each

year. The assessor website also has blank and fillable individual and business personal property forms available.

• Mail – Complete the form and send to: St. Charles County Assessor, 201 N. Second Street, Room 141, St. Charles, MO 63301.

• Drop box – Completed assessment forms must be submitted in the "County" drive-up drop box outside the County Administration Building. The drop box is located on Monroe Street near the corner of N. Second Street.

• In Person – Those who wish to file in person can do so at the assessor’s service windows at the County Administration Building, 201 N. Second Street in St. Charles, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., Monday–Friday, excluding holidays. Forms also may be submitted in the indoor drop box located on the first floor of the Administration Building. Visitors will need to register for the Assessor’s queue through the QLess kiosk in the lobby, through the QLess app on their mobile device, or through the QLess link available at sccmo.org/Assessor or sccmo.org/QLess. Monitors in the lobby and a text notification on a mobile device will update those in the queue, and visitors will be alerted visually and audibly through the monitor or their mobile device when it is their turn to approach the windows. Staff at the security desk in the lobby are available to assist with QLess registration.

American Legion Post 312 hosts an open house event to showcase ongoing service

American Legion Post 312 in St. Charles will host a showcase with members of the American Legion Family including Son’s of The American Legion, Auxiliary and Legions Rider’s on April 29 from 12 – 5 p.m. at American Legion Post 312 at 2500 Raymond Drive in St. Charles to highlight the Legion’s commitment to the community.

The American Legion is leading a nationwide effort – “Be the One” – to eliminate the stigma related to mental health treatment, and in turn, lower the number of veterans who die by suicide every day.

The number of veterans who die by

suicide every day is estimated at between 17 and 22. The American Legion has elevated Be the One to be its top priority, empowering veterans, servicemembers, their family members and civilians to act appropriately when a veteran may be at risk. This event intends to bring more awareness to the problem while providing resources to those who may be able to help save the life of a veteran.

The event at Post 312 is open to the members and the general public.

For more information visit alpost312mo.org. For more details on the Be the One campaign, please visit betheone.org.

Taxpayers who do not file a personal property assessment each year find themselves at or contacting the assessor’s office during the end-of-the-year rush, mainly for three reasons:

• Residents did not receive a tax bill because their personal property declaration form was not returned to the Assessor.

• New residents are not familiar with the personal property declaration requirement and do not

contact the Assessor’s Office to be added to the tax rolls.

• Residents experience difficulties renewing or registering license plates due to incorrect information reported on their personal property declaration.

“Our staff are available by phone and by email at persprop@sccmo.org to answer any questions and help with the personal property assessment filing process,” Shipman says.

Mosaics Fine Art Festival seeks young artist submissions

Mosaics Fine Art Festival recently opened the application process for its Joyce Rosen Founder’s Scholarship. Missouri high school students, who are eligible for nomination by their art teachers, will be selected to showcase their art at the 28th annual event. Deadline for submitting one piece of art per student is Sept. 1.

The Joyce Rosen Founder’s Scholarship tent will exhibit all artwork, and three scholarship prizes will be awarded by a professional judge. Students can submit original work in a variety of media categories including clay, drawing, glass, leather, metal, pastel, oil/acrylic, photography, printmaking, sculpture, watercolor and wood.

Mosaics Fine Art Festival –which invites only 100 artists to showcase and sell their wares at this exclusive juried event – is held Sept. 15 through Sept. 17. The family-friendly event, which is free and open to the public, will be held along several blocks of North Main St. in Historic St. Charles where more than 30 restaurants and over 75 shops are located.

“This is a unique opportunity for high school artists to have their work on display at a major arts festival,” said Mosaics Fine Art Festival’s vice president Melinda Nolan. “It is a huge honor for the student, the student’s art teacher, and the student’s school to be recognized for their dedication to the importance of fine arts in our society.”

Mosaics Fine Art Festival features live musical entertainment, a Children’s Village for hands-on art

for

Cuivre River Electric Cooperative (CREC) seeks interested and qualified candidates for four, three-year term seats on its board of directors.

Candidate nominations opened on April 1 and close at noon on May 9. Qualified candidates will be asked to attend a nominating committee reception and interview. This event is slated for May at the CREC headquarters at 1112 E. Cherry Street in Troy.

Each candidate must reside in the district they would represent and be

a member of the cooperative for the six consecutive months immediately preceding the election. Full director qualifications as specified in Article IV Section 3 on page five of the cooperative bylaws that are available on the CREC website (https:// www.cuivre.com/sites/cuivre/files/ documents/Bylaws_January%20 2021.pdf)

Four directors will be elected, one from each of these districts: Lincoln County District 1; Warren County District 3; St. Charles County Dis-

experiences, and the Mary Hediger Memorial Art Shop for Kids where children ages 14 and younger can buy professional artwork. The Artists for Adoption Pet Pavilion is open to families interested in adopting pets from local rescue organizations.

For more information about the submission process, call 314-4062067 or visit Mosaics Fine Art Festival online.

trict 4; and St. Charles County District 5. Online voting via a secure internet site or by paper ballot begins on July 17 and closes on Aug. 21, or members may vote in person at the annual meeting on Aug. 24 at the cooperative’s Troy headquarters. Contact Chris Ryan, vice president of member engagement and technology, to confirm eligibility and learn more about serving as a director. Contact Chris at 636-6954831/email cryan@cuivre.com.

Nominations for candidates

Cuivre River Electric Cooperative’s Board of Directors now open

Submitted photo

Pictured is Mosaics Fine Art Festival board member Diana Nash, who oversees the Joyce Rosen Founder’s Scholarship.

Take Notice . . .

The events listed in this section are the latest updates as of press time, please check with individual sites for the most up to date cancellations and reschedule info.

EVENTS

April 15: Youth orchestra open house

The St. Charles County Youth Orchestra Open House invites music students of all levels of string, wind, brass, and percussion to join the orchestra during a rehearsal at Grace Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in St. Charles. Sit beside the SCCYO orchestra members and play along or just observe. Music will be emailed ahead of time. Meet the conductor and other staff members. Light refreshments will be served after the rehearsal. Sign up at www.sccyo.org.

April 22 and 23: Choral

Art Singers celebrating 50th Anniversary!

Choral Arts Singers announce our spring concert, “Let Heaven and Nature Spring” featuring folk song Bright Morning Stars, jazzy Blue Skies, and uplifting Song of Creation. Our group is celebrating over 50 years as a choir with performances Saturday April 22, 7pm, at Wentzville United Methodist Church, 725 Wall St, Wentzville, MO and Sunday April 23, 3pm, at Assumption Parish Chapel, 403 N Main St, O’Fallon, MO. Concerts are free, donations are appreciated. Visit our website, www.concertarts.org, and Facebook (Choral Arts Singers) for more concert details and to learn more about our choir.

April 29: Writers’ meeting

Saturday Writers April Meeting takes place from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Spencer Road Library, Room 240. Writers encouraging writers. Special guest speaker George Sirois. For more information, visit www.saturdaywriters.org. $5 for visitors, free to members.

April 30: Bunco Bash

The KC Ladies Auxiliary, Council 7198, is sponsoring a Bunco Bash fundraiser. Doors open at 1 p.m., bar opens at 1:30 p.m., dice roll at 2 p.m. Cost is $25 per person and includes snacks, appetizers, desserts, soda and tea plus two complimentary adult drink tickets. Donations made to Mary Queen of Angels and Our Lady’s Inn. To reserve a seat or for more information, email ladiesauxbunco@gmail. com.

May 24: Theater auditions

Registration is open now for auditions for St. John UCC summer show for Performing Arts Camp, “Matilda the Musical Jr!” for grades sixthrough-12. Call Anna DiVesta at 636-946-0961 or visit stjohnucc.org/PAC-audition.

May 31: Book launch and signing event

Saturday Writers presents a book launch and signing event for “Anthology #16 A World of Writing,” the group’ sixteenth anthology, filled with award-winning prose and poetry, which will take place at Spencer Branch Library Room L (Room 240) from 6 – 8 p.m. There will be free admission, books available for

purchase, refreshments, panel discussion by contributors and door prizes.

ONGOING EVENTS

Mondays: Optimist Club meetings

The Wentzville/Lake St. Louis Optimist Club meets on the second and fourth Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Wentzville IHOP, 10 Layla Lane, Wentzville, MO.. For more information contact Ed Jurotich at 314-560-1868.

Mondays: Take off Pounds Sensibly

TOPS meet every Monday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church at 8945 Veterans Memorial Hwy in O’Fallon. Meetings at 9:30 a.m. with weigh in beginning at 8:30 a.m. For more information please call Leogene Weber. 636-399-3124.

Mondays: NAMI St. Louis Connection Recovery Support Group

If you have mental health concerns and need support, please come on Mondays at 6:30 p.m. at Friedens United Church of Christ at 1703 Old Highway 94 South in St. Charles.

Mondays: Alcoholics Anonymous

If you want to drink, that’s your business. If you want to stop, we can help. Call Alcoholics Anonymous at 636970-0013.

Mondays: Parent support group

Because I Love You, (BILY), Gateway parent support group meets every Monday at 7:30 p.m. at First United Methodist Church at 801 First Capitol Dr. in St. Charles. For information and directions, please contact the helpline at 314-993-7550 or email gateway_parent_help@yahoo. com. BILY is a program of

self-help for parents of troubled children (all ages). We are not professionals, but parents helping each other. The meetings are free to attend.

Mondays: Kiwanis Club meeting

Cottleville-Weldon Spring

Kiwanis Club meets the first Monday of the month at noon at Bandana’s at 3446 Pheasant Meadows Dr. in O’Fallon. Contact Mary Vaughan at 314-581-0497 or Karen Grant at 773-914-4900 for more information.

Mondays: Seasoned eye carvers meeting Meetings are held from 9 to 11 a.m. at the St. Charles Se-

nior Citizens Center at 1455 Fairgrounds (near the Bass Pro Shop). Visitors are always welcome. For more information visit http://www. stcharlesareawoodcarvers. com/ or contact Charles Sapp at cwsapp@charter.net.

Mondays: St. Peters Rotary Club

Noon at St. Peters City Hall, One St. Peters Centre Blvd. www.stpetersrotary.org.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays: Fitness First Exercise Class 9:30-10:30 a.m., American Legion Hall, 504 Luetkenhaus Blvd., Wentzville. 314-3696521.

CROSSWORD answers from page F-4

SUDOKU answers from page F-1

Sports you see with Gary B . . .

Ambush finished the season on the road

The St. Louis Ambush play their home games at the Family Arena in St. Charles in the MASL professional indoor soccer league.

The Ambush concluded their 2022-23 Major Arena Soccer League season with a 6-3 loss to the Florida Tropics Sunday afternoon at the RP Funding Center in Florida.

The loss gives the Ambush a 9-13-2 final record. The game was closer than the final score would indicate, as Florida scored two goals against the sixth attacker in the final minute of the match.

The Ambush struck when rookie Zachary Druhe scored his first career goal in the ninth minute. The Ambush drew even on a restart when Lucas Almeida passed to Dom Alvarado, who got a shot past Florida goalkeer Jorge Navarrete in the fourteenth minute of the quarter to knot the score at 2-2.

St. Louis inched back from a 3-2 deficit when Druhe notched his second of the contest with a rocket launched from the yellow line in the tenth minute of the fourth period.

After a barrage of shots that were either saved by Ogaz or blocked by the Ambush defense, the Tropics scored four unanswered goals to get the win.

The 2023-2024 season is just around the corner as the Ambush retool for the future.

For more details, go to www.STLAmbush.com

~~~Fun and exciting times on the field

Mizzou player coming to the Hoots

The O’Fallon Hoots, proud members of the Prospect League, play their home games at the CarShield Field in O’Fallon.

The Hoots announced the signing of right-handed pitcher Ben Smith for the 2023 summer season. Smith comes to O’Fallon as a freshman commit to the University of Missouri-Columbia (Mizzou).

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound commit attends Springfield Catholic High School in Springfield, Missouri, making his senior debut for the Fighting Irish this spring, after helping the team to a Class 3 second place finish in 2022.

Smith was a dominant two-way force in 2022, throwing two no-hitters in the district championship and quarterfinal game while hitting over .500.

The right-hander had 98 strikeouts in 61 innings pitched with a 1.14 ERA on the mound, while putting up a .522 BA, 1.487 OPS, 30 RBI, and scoring 34 runs his junior season.

The Springfield, Missouri-native finished with a 7-2 record and earned Class 3 First-Team All-State Pitcher honors as well as Big 8 East Player of the Year.

Smith continues to dominate, posting 10-K’s in six innings pitched and going 3 for 4 with 3 RBI for the Irish in their 10-0 win over Springdale High School on March 30.

~~~Bring it on

Lindenwood takes National Championship

For the first time since 2019, the Lindenwood University gymnastics team captured the USA Gymnastics Women’s Collegiate National Championship.

The Lions scored a 195.325 and used a strong performance on floor during the last rotation to secure the title.

The squad competed against the Texas Woman, SEMO and Air Force to bring home the trophy.

Top performers included in the Vault–Gayla Griswold, Bars-Hannah Moon, Beam-Jaly Jones and Madison Rush, Floor-Gayla Griswold and AllAround-Jaly Jones.

~~~Great accomplishments

Recipe: Dairy good practices build a sense of well-being

WithApril marking National Stress Awareness Month, now is the time to reset habits and prioritize balanced meals, sleep and exercise to promote a sense of well-being. Consuming dairy products as part of a healthy eating pattern can build energy reserves, promote a sense of calm, boost the immune system and promote gut health. All of these factors can help battle stress. For more information on dairy’s benefits, visit www.stldairycouncil.org.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Chia Pudding

INGREDIENTS:

¾ cup chocolate milk

2 tablespoons peanut butter

¼ cup chia seeds

DIRECTIONS:

4 tablespoons whipped cream for garnish

6 raspberries for garnish

Measure the peanut butter into a small, microwave-safe bowl. Heat the peanut butter in the microwave for 45 seconds. Remove bowl from microwave. Add the chocolate milk to the bowl and whisk for a minute to combine the peanut butter and milk. Add the chia seeds to the bowl and stir well.

Cover and refrigerate the bowl overnight. The chia seeds will absorb the chocolate milk.

When ready to serve, divide the chia pudding into two serving dishes, garnish with whipped cream and fresh berries. Serve immediately.

Movie:

By Steve Bryan

Born and raised in South St. Louis, Steve Bryan is now based in Anaheim, California, and has been allowed access to movie and television sets to see actors and directors at work. Though his writing has taken him far from St. Louis, Steve is, at heart, still the same wide-eyed kid who spent countless hours watching classic movies at neighborhood theaters.

JohnLee Hancock’s 2016 biographical drama, “The Founder,” examined the origin of the McDonald’s hamburger chain. Michael Keaton starred as Ray Kroc, a milkshake machine salesman who saw his future in a popular drive-in restaurant.

Two brothers, Maurice and Richard McDonald (John Carroll Lynch and Nick Offerman) created what they called the “Speedee Service System.” Using the principles of production lines, workers made food fast and fresh for their customers. Although the McDonald brothers attempts at franchising failed, Kroc believed he could succeed and grow the company.

“The Founder” came to mind when the Golden Arches recently made headlines.

Jennifer Green of the Belleville News-Democrat reported that the McDonald’s location at 4422 W. Main St. in Belleville permanently closed as of March 31. Additionally, McDonald’s announced that they were temporarily closing their U.S offices ahead of expected corporate layoffs. As Vox.com reported, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said they were cutting staff in favor of “growing and opening new locations in the US and Europe.”

I wondered what the McDonald brothers

would think about that turn of events. Although McDonald’s quickly became synonymous with fast food, White Castle received credit for being the first fast food hamburger chain. Founded by Walter Anderson and Edgar Waldo “Billy” A. Ingram, White Castle locations were built with stainless steel interiors to promote a clean and sanitary look. St. Louis has approximately 16 locations and, on a typical night, cars will be lined up in the drive-thru. Over the years, the food choices expanded but the White Castle crews still make sliders for hungry customers.

When my father wanted fast food in the 1970s, he would sometimes go to Burger Chef, a hamburger chain that began in Indianapolis, Indiana. After creating their pat-

ented “flame broiler,” brothers Frank and Donald Thomas opened their first Burger Chef in 1957. Initially, it looked as if the Thomas brothers’ restaurant was gaining ground on McDonald’s thanks to the kid friendly “Funburger” that came with a small toy. Years before McDonald’s “Happy Meal” arrived, Burger Chef introduced the “Funmeal” that came with a burger, fries, drink, a cookie and a toy. Customers could even visit the “Works Bar” to add extra condiments to their burgers. General Foods eventually sold the chain and many Burger Chef locations converted to Hardees.

After going to the Hi-Pointe theater or the Muny, hungry people would stop at the nearby Naugles on McCausland Avenue. Dick Naugle, a former partner in Del Taco, founded the restaurant in Riverside, California in 1970. The popularity of the McCausland location led to late night traffic jams. Entrepreneur Harold Butler later purchased Naugles and expanded the chain to a reported 275 locations, but it was later merged with the Del Taco restaurant chain.

Although Naugles and Burger Chef merged with other chains, McDonald’s is still “grinding it out” as Ray Kroc would say while White Castle will keep making their square burgers for the late-night crowds.

Fill in the blank squares in the grid, making sure that every row, column and 3-by-3 box includes all the digits 1 through 9.

FindmorespringrecipesanddiningideasatCulinary.net.

This creamy dairy treat delivers protein and fiber. Serve it for breakfast or as a mid-afternoon snack. Prep time: 5 minutes | Yield: 2 servings

The ups and downs of fast food

Photo courtesy Bigstock

Moore on Life: Not-so-special delivery

It’sfree advice day and to celebrate the holiday I just made up, I’m going to give you some advice…for free.

If you happen to purchase some big item from a store…say an entertainment center, don’t leave without it. Take it apart and stick pieces of it in your trunk, back seat and glove box then fasten the rest to the roof. If there are leftover parts, call Uber and wedge them into the passenger seat and bribe the driver with a hefty tip and a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts.

I made the mistake of arranging an item to be delivered. Days later I got a call from the transport company.

“Hello. I’m calling to arrange a time to drop off your chair. We’ll be in your neighborhood between Monday and Friday. Will that work?”

“Yes, I’ll be here next week.”

“No, I meant next month.”

“Wait…what?”

“Can we schedule a day you’ll be home if this works out for us?”

“How about Tuesday?”

“Tuesday’s no good. That’s when Subway has two-forone day.”

“I’m confused. How does that not allow you to deliver?”

“Mrs. Moore, you’re not going to be one of those difficult customers are you?”

“No. Sorry.”

“Good. How does Thursday work for you?”

“Actually, I have a hair appointment then.”

“See if you can change it. Hair will come back. I can’t promise we will.”

“Fine. I’ll change it. What time?”

“Sometime in the early morning or mid-afternoon or

LIFESTYLE: Spring checklist for pets

Warmer weather means it’s time to spring clean, get grooming and prepare your pets’ diets to support them through the season.

Keep your furry friends happy and healthy this spring with these tips from the experts at Zesty Paws, an award-winning pet supplement brand:

Give skin and coats a little

TLC: Many pets form winter coats during the colder months to help them stay warm and comfortable then shed the coats in the spring to prepare for warmer temperatures. Some pets may need extra help maintaining their shiny, healthy coats, especially if mats have formed in their fur or if they are breeds that develop a thick undercoat. Professional grooming, athome brushing and regular bathing can all be helpful ways to speed up the process to remove some of the extra fur and decrease the prevalence of dander, dust and pollen that can attach to fur and skin through the season.

Ease back into exercise: The change in weather means more time for outdoor adventures with your pets, but don’t forget to cool down and warm up as you and your pets ease back into the season. Planning for short, leashed walks and timed play sessions can help

evening.”

“That’s awfully vague.”

By Cindy Moore CROSSWORD: ANATOMY 101

“Do I detect sass? That’s a definite hit on my sass-ometer. We just may have to drop your chair off at the nearest interstate off-ramp and believe me, it will be raining.”

“I profusely apologize.”

“Now, let’s try again. Next month between Monday and Friday between daylight and midnight.”

“Hey! I thought you said Thursday?”

“Next month’s looking bad…maybe July.”

“I beg your humble forgiveness!”

“Accepted. Let me suggest you just stay home the entire month of May. Now if you are not there when we come to your house you will be charged a fifty-dollar inconvenience fee. Afterwards, I’ll take the furniture home and let my kids spill red Kool-Aid on your throw pillows and allow Clyde, my Rottweiler, to use the legs as chew toys. Is that clear?”

Never schedule delivery. Happy free advice day everyone. That’ll cost you fifty bucks!

Cindy Moore is the mother of three superlative kids, servant of two self-indulgent felines and wife to one nifty husband. Her ficticious occupation? Archeological Humorist: someone who unearths absurdity and hilarity in strange and unusual places including public restrooms, the lint filter, and church meetings. Most recently, she excavated a find in her neighbor’s bird feeder.

The opinions expressed in this column are Cindy Moore’s alone and do not reflect the opinion of the owners or staff of Community News.

your pets gradually prepare their hips and joints for fun, warm weather activities.

Watch out for pet pests: Once temperatures start to rise, the tiny, creepy critters start crawling. Fleas, ticks and other pests can cause serious health concerns for pets. This spring, make sure your pest control programs are primed and ready for added protection. Talk to your veterinarian about the best routine and products for your pets.

Freshen up bedding and bowls: It’s important to keep a clean environment by scrubbing, sweeping and vacuuming regularly to decrease allergens in the home. When you’re tackling this year’s spring cleaning, remember to put your pets’ bedding and bowls on the list, too. Updating or disinfecting your pets’ blankets, litter boxes, toys and other supplies is a good way to keep them feeling safe and comfortable in the home.

Schedule an annual vet visit: Spring is a good time to schedule your pets’ annual vet visits. Make sure they’re up to date on all vaccinations, get their dental health checkups and re-evaluate nutrition plans.

Find more advice for keeping your pet healthy and happy at zestypaws.com.

ACROSS

1. Emir, alt. sp.

6. Comic book cry

9. *One of 27 in hand

13. Dhaka, formerly

14. Half man, half goat

15. Pressure ulcers, e.g.

16. Type of wrap

17. Old fashioned "before"

18. Do like ivy

19. *Smooth, skeletal or cardiac

21. *"Gray's ____"

23. Gardener's tool

24. Detected by olfactory system

25. Acronym-named sandwich

28. Sore throat voice

30. Retires from military service

35. Steak option

37. Place at angle

39. Double, in French

40. *Certain apple's namesake

41. Fork pokers

43. Heavy metal's Quiet ____

44. *Pelvis bone

46. *Hardened keratin plate

47. Wedding promise?

48. Mandela

50. *Part of eye, not flower

52. Tokyo, formerly

53. Alpine transport

55. Cuckoo

57. *Vein to "go for"

61. *Cell body, axon and dendrite

64. Use the other side of pencil

65. Caviar alternative

67. Mafia's top dogs

69. "The best laid schemes o' mice

an' men gang aft ____"

70. Fuss

71. Modern correspondence 72. Opposite of want 73. Japanese currency 74. Pep gathering

DOWN

1. Annoying pop-ups

2. "Yes, ____!"

3. Beige

4. E-wallet content

5. Resentment

6. Musketeer's sword

7. *Smallest bones location

8. Work the dough

9. Diamond in a cutting tool

10. "Wonderfilled" cookie

11. a.k.a. Indian Lilac

12. Grammy of sports

15. Like a Haunted Mansion visitor?

20. Minimum

22. Endorsement 24. Alfresco

25. *It contains cerebellum and parietal lobe

26. Big Dipper shape

27. Hiker's path

29. *Largest organ

31. Fogginess

32. Speak one's mind

33. *AB+ or B-

34. Vigorous fight

36. Outback birds

38. Dam-like structure

42. Snail trail

45. Like certain Crüe

49. Giannis' league

51. Cup holder

54. Orderly arrangement

56. Popular movie genre

57. J in B. J. King

58. Serve as motive

59. Em's and Dorothy's last name