V.I.P. advice
When Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Harvey purchased the Pitstick Studio, Virg took Steve aside to train him like the old "pro" in handling children and pictures.
On one such occasion, a little fella was giving his mother fits squirming and wiggling. Virg elbowed attention from Steve, then turned to the mother and suggested she leave the room. "It might help," he explained.
A few moments later the child came out of the room, the picture job completed.
The mother and child left the studio smiling and left behind a puzzled Mrs. Harvey and a matter-of-fact Helen Pitstick.
Mrs. Harvey turned to her husband and asked what he and Virg did to the child to get him to behave.
Steve's face lit up. "Oh, nothing," he explained. "Virg just walked up to the little guy and told him to sit still or — I'll knock your block off!'"
Our friend, Elmer
Elmer Kasbohm farmed for many years in this area. This was his home and he wasn't about to leave it during the winter months for a warmer climate.
Elmer and Helen retired a number of years ago and they enjoyed going places together, meeting people and having a good time.
One winter evening, we sat next to the Kasbohms at a dinner party and enjoyed idle chat. It was bitter cold that night and the steps were icy.
"Elmer," we suggested, "why don't you take Helen and go to Arizona or Florida during the cold winter months?"
He answered (with expletives):
"Too many old people in those places."
Elmer is in that far away land now and he's missed by his family and friends, but we'll bet he found his way to be next to "younger" people.
New industry
The announcement made the past week of the pet food plant to open at Morton House Kitchens, Inc., was welcomed in the community and an accomplishment on the part of Ray Ott, general manager, and others associated with the Lipton company.
The new industry announcement also came at the most opportune time — during Salute to Industry Week sponsored by businesses in Nebraska City. They couldn't have asked for a nicer present.
Business people have pointed out for some time the importance of recognizing what we have and the new pet food plant is a good example.
Ray will be retiring soon after 50 years with Morton House Kitchens, the former Nebraska City canning company. He will step down with a great deal of inner satisfaction. He left something behind — growth and development.
Va-r-o-o-m!
The Rev. Thomas Ozanne stopped in the other evening on his motorcycle on an invitation to go riding.
"Where we going?" asked the assistant pastor at St. Mary's Catholic church.
"Oh, I dunno," I replied. "We might run over to Hamburg, or Sidney then buzz through Waubonsie park. Whattya think?"
"Sounds fine with me, but it'll be dark by the time we get to the park so we won't have any view."
"Yup, you're right. How about a cuppa coffee?"
"Fine. Lead on."
We buzzed across the river bridge and headed east on Iowa No. 2.
"By the way," the priest shouted over the noise of the engines, "where's this coffee stop?"
"Rock Port," I answered.
"Oh . . . oh!"
The coffee at Trail's End was piping hot. We visited for a few minutes, snacked and then mounted the bikes.
"One more stop before we call it quits," I suggested.
"Okay," the priest said. "What is it this time?"
"Chocolate chip cookies and milk when we get home."
"Fine," he answered. "Just one cookie."
Later that evening we sat around the table, visited and enjoyed the cookies sweetened with a bit of sour cream chocolate cake.
Father Tom got up to leave.
"Stop in again, Father," I invited. "We'll go on another ride."
"Not for awhile," he confessed as he patted his stomach. "I've got to get rid of this first."
And away he went into the night on his morotcycle.