There was an unveiling of sorts this past week in Charleston, S.C., of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley, a ship with quite a story.
I want to congratulate and say thanks to Rilla Scott, who has retired from the genealogy department of the Neosho Newton County Library. Rilla has done much good work for people who need information on their families or for a dozen other reasons. Rilla's retirement reminds me that we owe our thanks and gratitude to all the people in this special room at the library. I don't do genealogical work, but I certainly use the library for other things.
Neosho lost a real "star" recently with the death of Star Terry.
When the Saratoga National Fish Hatchery sent out an appeal for help with their annual spawning, the call was heard in Neosho.
Russell and I had a nice surprise a couple of weeks ago. We came home and pulled into the yard and there, sitting on the lawn, was a cottontail rabbit. We were as excited as small children at an Easter egg hunt. It had been years since we had seen Peter Cottontail in our yard. Over the years, rabbits were a common sight on Hickory Street, but four or five years ago they simply disappeared. No explanation — just gone.
There is nothing I can write or say that expresses the tragedy of the devastation that occurred in Joplin on Sunday. There are no words of sympathy for the individuals, or for the town in general, that can ease the pain at this time.
A couple of weeks ago, Glen Crumbliss invited me to speak to the Neosho Lions Club about Hermann Jaeger. After my talk, I was bombarded with questions. Most questions were why Newton County doesn’t honor Jaeger more and in fact, turn the great Jaeger story into a tourist attraction. Someone even suggested that Jaeger’s accomplishments were on a level with the great George Washington Carver.
Zella Mae Collie and Carolyn Townsend volunteered in the hatchery library recently. Both women are retired librarians and they enjoyed working together.
There seems to be a lot of meetings this time of year. I suspect people put things off “until we get better weather,” so we are getting the residue of things thought about all winter.
Workmen are busy doing some renovations so the hatchery can start the new mussel program. This program is not going to require some space, but the work is intense. Melissa Cheung is the lead biologist in the mussel program. She is receiving training and has a background with them.
Although Betty Henderson lives near Monett, she is a fine friend and neighbor to Neosho.
“I grew up in Neosho and always took the fish hatchery for granted.”
Paxton Williams has been a good neighbor to everyone in Southwest Missouri for five years, but now this good neighbor is moving away.
“When you volunteer, you shouldn’t expect anything in return.”
These are comments made by Mark Kaufman as he stood beside an outdoor grill behind the concession stand at McDonald County High School.
I have been reading about problems in Joplin regarding the "bed tax," which was set up to promote tourism in Joplin. Various factions are in dispute over the tax, questioning its use and the lack of participation from those who are legally entitled to participate in the use of the tax. There are threats to organize a repeal of the tax unless changes are made.
As Paul Revere is reported to have said, “The British Are Coming!”
If you have not driven by the Neosho National Fish Hatchery lately, you need to do so. There is an amazing transformation going on. You will see a wonderful thing rising there that will mean so much to our community.
Snow and ice have been all the talk for a couple of weeks.
Can’t you just hear those sleigh bells? Old Santa Claus is greasing up the runners on his big sled and the reindeer are raring to go.
The hardback copies of the new fish hatchery book are here and will be given out this coming week. If you ordered a book, you can pick them up from Larry James or me starting tomorrow.
