The Yellow Peril?
Ah—so!
Roy Tucker who serves as a governor of Lions clubs, got caught in a bit of joshing recently while attending a Lions meeting in his district.
He referred to the town of Ong as a Chinese community. The Lions club members of the community took it in good humor and when Governor Tucker made his visitation to Ong, guess what he was served.
You bet. A bowl of rice. His "utensils" were chopsticks.
Mr. Tucker lived and worked in China for two years and has had considerable experience with chopsticks. In fact, he said, there's a difference between Japanese and Chinese chopsticks. The Japanese use pointed chopsticks.
The birth rate
The birth rate is on the upswing according to records from St. Mary's Hospital.
Mrs. Neal Martin said there were 199 births in 1977, an increase of 24 over a year ago. The increase was not what it used to be.
A seven-year check of the hospital showed 295 births in 1971, 283 in 1972, 198 in 1973, 191 in 1974, 177 in 1975, 175 in 1976 and 199 last year.
The Ag luncheon
Thanks to all the fine farm people who served businessmen and women a lunch the other day at the Methodist Church.
One thing for sure. We knew the food was going to be good.
The luncheon was sponsored by farmers in this area as an appreciation to business people during Ag Day. There were many table topics and we surmise a good exchange of farm-business related conversations.
The best news was from Mrs. Don Ramold who said farmers hope to make it an annual event.
Job's Daughters
The Job's Daughters chapter in Nebraska City had a special box dinner party the other night to recognize their dads and other "Secret Master Masons."
Each girl took a box of food to the meeting to be "sold" to some lucky dad. There was a hitch — the girls wanted Dollars from Dads for their foodstuffs.
Honored Queen Laura (Toad) Miyoshi and her committee pulled a sneaky trick on the dads. Instead of having the usual auction, the dads drew a number and that number matched a box of fried chicken or whatever. The Little Miss went along with the food.
Then, after the dads were stuffed, the girls decided it was time for Dads to Dig Deep. The sneaky part was the system — dads were measured around the waists and the "charge" was 15 cents for each inch. (They put on a maximum figure, too.)
Understand I'm not complaining, but don't you agree that Jack Johns or Jerry Wurtele should pay more than Bill Merritt?
Task force
A special water task force is being organized in Nebraska City to handle water recovery and drowning operations.
It can be pretty rough duty, as explained by Sheriff Russ Seals, but it has to be done. Rescue crews asked to serve on the special force.
The crew would handle water recovery such as a boat adrift in the river. And, since boating in the river is dangerous, only experienced river boaters will be serving on the crew. Jim Chaney is in charge of the boaters and equipment.
The other duty of the force would be to direct dragging operations in drowning cases. Sheriff Seals who is in charge of such operations, welcomed the organized help. One of the problems he has now is getting people and equipment.
The special force could use some help — it needs scuba divers. If you or someone you know is an experienced scuba diver, contact the sheriff's office or rescue squad.
Congratulations
. . . to Kathy Marfice, Elmwood, on her selection as the 1978 Capitol Pork Producers Queen. Kathy is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Don Marfice.
. . . to Joe Wenzl, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walt Wenzl, on being selected as a semifinalist in the National Register Foundation of Commended Scholars. Joe is a senior at Nebraska City Lourdes.
. . . and to Denise Davis on being selected for an internship with Rep. Charles Thone. Denise has been a very busy and successful senior at Nebraska City Lourdes. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Wm. F. Davis.
The aerial pictures
For you photo bugs, those aerial pictures of the flooded areas were taken with two different cameras, Yashica and Rollei, using 120 Tri-X film, ASA of 400. Lens settings varied from f8 to f16 and shutter speeds 125 sec. The film was developed 3 and ¼ minutes in Kodak HC110.
Vic Grundman of Grundman Field piloted the Cessna 150.
A week earlier while riding with Harold Gress in his plane over the Iowa bottoms, we observed a lot ol moisture from the melting snow. Ken Parkison who returned the other day from vacationing in San Diego, said it will be quite awhile before the Iowa soggy soil is dried enough for tilling. The roads in the bottoms are also spongy, he said.