The Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune du lieu suivant : Chillicothe, Missouri • Page 4

PAGE 4-CHILLICOTHP. MISSOURI-64601 CHILLICOTHE CONSTITUTION-TRIBUNE, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1982 opinion GUEST EDITORIAL The winning essay EDITOR'S NOTE--The following is an essay by Mrs. Dixie Threet, Steele, Mo. She was the winner of the 1981 essay contest sponsored by the Steele Enterprise and Missouri Press Association. The essay topic was "A free press--My window to the world." A free press is my window to the world.

Through it, I can see an endless variety of events that enable me to travel all over the world without leaving home. A free, non-restricted press enables me to travel anywhere my heart desires, simply by picking up a newspaper, watching a news special on television, or listening to a radio broadcast. For me, the listener, there is an inexhaustible fund of information available. This magicial window carried me to I reland and the hunger strikers; I was in the throng of onlookers when Prince Charles and Lady Diana married; I was astonished and, yes, horrified by the shots that wounded President Reagan; I was deeply saddended by the death of familiar faces that I grew up with. I have felt bitter cold and icy winds with the climbers on Mount Everest; I have watched the planet recede as I left the atmosphere on a quest to the moon; I have felt the claustrophobic confines of a deep sea diving bell just above the ocean floor; I have felt the wind rush by me as hurricanes threatened and demolished homes and lives; I have run in marathons and envisioned the hopes and dreams of the winners and the disappointment of the losers.

A free press lets me see these things, and so much more. For not only does a free press carry me to events happening now; it provides me with a backdrop against which it places the history of the world, and optimistically foretells the reflectio The United States flags were on display in front of the five and dime stores and filling stations, and the other important places, on Monday. Monday was W. L. (June) Shaffer's birthday, but Mr.

Shaffer would be the first to disclaim, if you gave him a chance to, that the nation's red, white and blue was flying in celebration of his birthday. Shucks, Jayhawks, no, he would say. There was some other well-known American born on that same February 22 date. Fellow name of George Washington. But the flags might have been, since much of the nation, like the money-to- loan places and government people, took the day off and celebrated George Washington's birthday on Monday one week before.

Probably spent their holiday holding patriotic programs on city hall steps all over the country. But Congress never changed June Shaffer's birthday. He wouldn't have it. Stubborn about it. Wants the same one every year.

Monday was a special birthdate for June Shaffer, who's been a businessman in Chillicothe since 1939, and a bunch of his longtime friends dropped in at the Shaffer family's soda pop bottling plant on Monday afternoon and wished him well. They and the plant employees dived into his family's cheese, ham and soda crackers and drank Dr Pepper fresh out of the bottles. An observer said he was in good hands and prepared for any eventuality since his accountant, his minister, and several of his old duck hunting buddies were there. Mr. Shaffer received a number of cheerful greeting cards, like one from a friend who said he tried to buy a plant for him for his birthday ('but future.

I may never accomplish anything exciting; I may never win a Nobel Prize; I may not ever aspire to greatness. But a free press lets me enjoy the exultation of being present when feats of greatness are accomplished, so that I can applaud along with the audience when these deeds are awarded. A free press enables me to enjoy life by making me a part of the history that is being made now. It enriches my life by showing me that no knowledge is dull and boring when it can be shared with others and understood by them. It helps me accept that not always is my way right-just because it works-but that there are other viewpoints to consider.

A free press teaches me foreign customs, shows me froeign lands, introduces me to foreign people. It also tells me what the weather will be tomorrow, whose birthday and anniversary I should remember next week, what meeting I am to attend and where it is to be held. It amuses me with comic strips; it teaches me with editorials; it informs me with artticles on agriculture, law and even etiquette. It shows me fashions in dress and design, keeps me informed as to who's who in the social scene, and advises me on personal problems. There is no liftetime long enough to let me travel to all the places my magical window does; there would not be enough time in my life span to meet all the people my magical window introduces me to, but this window-a free press-lets me glimpse life in different countries and people in.

different situations. A magical window to the past; a traveler in the present; a time machine to the future; a free press is essential to me. by bill plummer on the street by chuck haney Although the Grand River reached a record high last week, it really wasn't Those who recall the floods of 1947 and 1951 will tell you they were bigger and did more damage and destruction. Old-timers will also tell you that the worst flood in the history of Livingston County and Chillicothe actually was one in 1909. Now, that's a little before my time, but I am told that it was a vicious one-- a flash-flood type.

It came fast. Livestock, homes, barns and sheds were swept right down the river. Of course, many people not only farmed the bottomland back in 1909, they lived there, though there were fewer homes in 1947 and 1951. Today, the many levees along our bottomland put high water into different perspective. Levees also help guide it in different paths.

I can recall the big flood of 1947 when the Grand reached 33.8 feet, nearly 10 feet above flood stage at Chillicothe. The water reached the southern edge of the city limits. The old Red Ball cafe was near the present location of Mautino's Honda motorcycle shop. It was right up into the parking lot and youngsters were wading in the parking lot. All highways and roads into and out of Chillicothe were under water.

The city was an island for a while to the flooding Grand and Thompson River fork, Medicine, Shoal and Honey creeks to the north, south, northwest, east and west. Our city was also isolated in 1951 when roads were under water for 24 hours. There was another difference then. In the floods of those years, highways and roadways were lower in vulnerable places. We probably have never had a flood like the one of last week, especially one backing up so much debris and ice and leaving farm fields looking like ice fields filled with water, ice and gook.

The high reading in 1909 was 33.60 and it came on July 7. In 1947, the Grand flooded twice in June. The first was 33.82 on June 7 and the second was on June 24 when it reached 33.53. There were also floods in 1960,1961 and 1967 in which the Grand topped 30 feet. While 1982 officially will be called a record, that reading of 33.90 last week was far from meaning it meant the most destructive flood in Chillicothe's history.

Buel Littrell of Wheeling writes about grocery stores of the past and an interesting letter on some of the folks in the Wheeling community married the same years. We'll get to some of the history and some other former grocery stores in our Friday column as we continue a series. talk by harverna woodling General Motors wouldn't sell'). Then Jim and Pat Wagy brought him a football T-shirt in the colors of crimson and blue of his alma mater, the University of Kansas, with numerals on it, which made the K.U. Old Blue grin real big at his Missouri U.

friends. And the chairman of the board of the Dr Pepper Company telephoned him personally on the hot line the plant has to the home office at Dallas and wished him a Happy Birthday and a lot more of them. It was a big day for the duck hunters'. Fastest Gun in the West, as Shaffer was known. West Chillicothe, that is.

Hi from Country Talk and SPRING! Okay, maybe it isn't really Spring but we love the preview. And we know lot of people--Leon and I are included---who promise they won't ever grumble about the mud because "they like the warm weather so much and are so happy to see the ice and snow melting. Mud undoubtedly poses problems, though, for farmers who have livestock to feed and baby animals to care for, too. 'Nuff about almost-Spring. No, it isn't quite enough.

Leon saw one lone goose flying north and heard others calling. We have tulips coming up by our back yard gate and we know a man who already has planted lettuce. THE TRUE BLUE CLUB held its February meeting in the home of Mrs. Sue Morris, rural Purdin, on Wednesday afternoon, February 17. Mrs.

Dorothy Crookshanks was assistant hostess. The president, Mrs. Cheryl Maggart, presided over the business meeting. The theme of the meeting was Valentines. Roll call was a Valentine gift exchange.

Mrs. Crookshanks conducted several Valentine-fun games. The hostesses served refreshments at a beautifully-decorated table. The afternoon concluded with bingo and gifts for everyone. The March hostess will be Mrs.

Crystle Morris. THE WEEKEND was nice-weatherwise and otherwise. Daughters Dale and Terri both arrived home on Friday night. On Saturday afternoon. Dale attended a friend's wedding in Kirksville while Terri and Mom shopped in Chillicothe.

paul harvey 'Lude alert There is no biological reason Americans cannot live 110 years. Presently we are averaging 73 years but Dr. Robert Butler, director of the National Institute on Aging, says 110 is par for the course. Indeed, "there is no inherent genetic limit." Most of us shorten our own lives with self-inflicted diseases and excesses. Including drugs.

And one devastating one is killing us off at school-age. Methaqualone was a fad drug briefly in 1673. Now it's back--more potent and more readily available than ever before. Methaqualone--trade name Quaalude, street name putting American adolescents in hospitals and morgues in record numbers. The seductive white tablets which promise a high superior to barbiturates, a drunk without impotence or hangover and an aphrodisiacal Deliver instead life-threatening toxicity, epidemic personal injury, severe withdrawal syndrome, In 1900, four tons of methaqualone was made and distributed lawfully in the United States; more than 100 tons were made elsewhere and smuggled in.

Some 80 percent of the methaqualone produced worldwide ends up on the illicit market in the United States. Colombian counterfeiters' profit on each 25 kilos they sell here is between 1200,000 and $400,000. The United States Drug Enforcement Administration confirms (hat most "lude" is counterfeit--may contain diazepam or Angel Dust. DBA officials say, "The people making this stuff don't care what's in it." A chronic concern of the street junkie is that he can't really know that he's getting what he's paying for; there's the probability of cut stuff that's worthless and hot stuff that can overdoes The "mix" can create real problems in hospital emergency, confusing countermeasures. In terms of causing injuries, in 13 cities methaqualone is now outstripping even heroin and cocain.

The heaviest abusers are young people. The situation is not entirely hopeless. Our DFA has secured the cooperation of several governments, including Columbia's, toward reducing the smuggling. Confiscations of illicit shipments have doubled. Today's users are getting educated to the hazards.

Nonetheless, in all states-especially in Texas and Florida--when anybody arrives at the morgue dead--from overdoes, homicide or having been shot at the scene of a crime--the medical examiner is most likely to find in the blood of the Speak up --send the C-T your opinion That evening we all were happy to have our good friends and former neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Pauley of Gladstone, come visiting. We ate chili and-ice cream and exchanged a lot of news. THIS WEEK'S WISE SAYING We read this somewhere: "The trouble with people who talk too much is sometimes they say soemthing they didn't know they'd even thought of yet." THIS WEEK'S SILLY STORY A woman decided to make Nachos for supper and sent her husband to the store for Nacho cheese.

He had just lost his job and didn't have any money so he decided when someone came out of the store earring cheese he would grab it, and run. It wasn't very long till a lady came out with cheese and our hero seized it, rushed home, and gave it to his wife. "This is cheddar cheese," she reprimanded him," Go back and get Nacho cheese!" The second time, the unfortunate man took home Swiss cheese and was sent back. The third time a woman came out with a package of cheese he seized it and ran off but she chased him shouting at the top of her lungs. Finally she stopped and he went panting into his wife's kitchen and announced triumphantly, "I know this is Nacho cheese! She kept chasing me and yelling, 'Not yo cheese! Not yo THIS WEEK'S TRUE STORY One day a high school boy came into typing class and gave his teacher a 100.

true excuse for not typing. Said he, "I can't type today, Miss because the ends of my fingers are so sore. I played bass guitar at a dance last night and we played an awful long time. That's why I couldn't eat breakfast this morning even, because' the ends of my fingers are sore." The next day he walked into class and announced, "I can type today Miss My fingers are lots better," And type he did. And that's all, Happy Remainder of February, and bye for now from Country Talk.

letters to tibe editor All Irllm to ihr editor should bf limited to 300 words or If ss And should hr Ivprd if jwssiblf. Thr tditor ihr right to edit and to rtlW anv Iftttr hf dtrms lihf lous or in bad AH Ifttfrs must br and inrludf ihr author's address. Namrs will not bt with-hcld upon rrqursl. Concerned Parents Applauded I would like to stand up and applaud a group called Concerned Parents. The group was started by parents of seventh graders.

These people realized, as we all should, that the education of our children is our responsibility. We. as parents, have the final say as to how our children are educated and in what type of atmosphere the educational process takes place. The best way to be informed about our schools is mrough parent groups. Remember the Chillicothe school system is our school.

We have the right and obligation to our kids to be involved in its process. I would like to thank these parents who had the foresight to start Concerned Parents. They realized to be informed about what goes on in our schools will help 1 toward the love, health and happiness of our children and ourselves. Denny Lightner Chillicothe, Mo..