The Ozarks Chronicle/From the Editor

From the Editor

By R.D. Hohenfeldt

Managing Editor

Well, shucks, I can’t put my hands on my Old Farmers Almanac, so I don’t know the weather forecast for February. I hope it’s nothing like January. I wouldn’t mind a little dab of snow, but I hope the ice stays away.

That January ice wore some folks to a frazzle. Delaine and I got through it all right. The electric went off about 3 a.m. that Saturday, came back on a couple of hours later and then went off again at around 6. It didn’t come back on, and we spent the night in The Ozarks Chronicle office out here on the edge of Rolla.

Before we “moved” to the office, Delaine called a couple of Rolla motels, but there were no rooms available. She found out that Rolla innkeepers were offering a reduced rate for people who had no power. I’ve heard about gouging in Springfield and St. Louis during this ice crisis, but here in our section of the Ozarks folks acted neighborly, just like you’d figure they would. I don’t know who those gougers were in the cities, but they had to be imports from somewhere. Yankees, no doubt.

At the office, we slept on a queen-sized air mattress designed to make outdoor camping a more pleasant experience than that offered by just a sleeping bag on the ground. Let me tell you, folks, although I was warmer than I would have been at home in an unheated house, I could feel the cold emanating up from the ground through the concrete floor, through the tile, through the air mattress and into my bones.

That was Saturday night. The electric didn’t get switched back on and we (by we I mean, me, Delaine, three dogs, a kitten and a parrot) spent Sunday night at the office, too. About 11 p.m. Monday, I said, “I hate to think about sleeping here again if there’s a chance they got the electric turned back on; I believe I’ll take a drive over to the house and see.”

Sure, enough, there were lights on at home. I went in, turned the thermostat up a notch, called Delaine and told her. When I got back to the office, she had her coat on, the dogs leashed and the little kitty cat bundled in a blanket she was holding. We left the bird in the warm office and headed home.

I know you’ve seen enough ice to last you for several winters, but I want to let you know that we have some ice pictures posted on our website at www.theozarkschronicle.com/news.htm. If you have relatives or friends in other parts of the world, maybe in warmer climes, you might want to refer them to our few pictures. Let them see the fun they missed.

My mother, who inherited the weather bug from my grandpa, and passed it on to me, says this is the worst ice she remembers. I don’t know why we got such a bad ice storm. I’ve heard it was because of El Nino and I’ve heard that it was because of global warming. I don’t know what to think. According to the experts on TV, you and I are to blame because we are Americans who drive our cars every day, burning gasoline. That results in global warming, which leads to the melting of ice in the Arctic and excessive ice in the Ozarks. That sounds a little like nonsense to me. I believe it’s just the way the weather is. Sometimes we have mild winters. Sometimes we have harsh winters. Sometimes, we have a month of harsh winter and then a month of mild winter. In January, we had a period of harsh winter. We could have it again in February, so look out for it.

Our two nights of “camping” at the office were nothing compared to what some people had to go through. I’ve talked to folks right here around Rolla who were without power for five nights and burned most of their woodpile to keep the fireplace going. Down in southwest Missouri where the ice hit much harder and laid down a heavier layer, people were without power for far longer than that.

The TV news out of Springfield interviewed some folks who were downright mad that their power wasn’t turned on faster. I saw one old boy burst into tears he was so angry. I sympathize with his frustration, but I can’t find anyone to blame. The front page of the Springfield paper had a picture of a sign in front of a house that said “John Twitty Do U Have Power,” referring to the former Rolla Municipal Utilities director who now heads up Springfield City Utilities, so maybe it was John’s fault. I’ve also heard on the TV and the radio that George Bush caused Hurricane Katrina, so maybe this ice storm was his fault.

I don’t know who the crying man was trying to blame and I don’t know what the point of that sign was. All the utility companies and road departments in Springfield , Rolla, Houston , Lebanon , Cuba , everywhere had their people out around the clock to get things back to normal. Directing anger at them seems pretty stupid to me.

If you’re going to get angry and lay blame, you’d have to point your finger at Mother Nature, which is pointless, or the Lord God Almighty Himself, which is dangerous. When the weather throws something like ice at you, the best thing to do is grin, bear it and prepare yourself for the next time.

Well, stay warm and safe this month. I’ll be back here around the first of March, trying to determine if that month is going to be a lamb or a lion.--RDH

Letters to the editors

Dear Editor:

I picked up a copy of your newspaper as I was leaving Wal-Mart in Rolla today. I have read it many times, and always find many things of interest. I appreciate your efforts in producing this fine local magazine.

I read your column on “Ozarks Foods” with interest. I am always interested in new and old recipes. I decided to send along a favorite cake recipe that our family enjoys. It is a favorite when I take it to a church dinner or other activity. I thought others might enjoy it, especially as it is very easy to make.

The recipe was an entry in a Pillsbury Bake-Off competition many years ago. I adjusted amounts of some ingredients to cut the calorie content a bit, with no loss in flavor. Perhaps some readers would be interested in trying it.

Thanks again for a great magazine.

Benita Jones

Vienna

Benita, thanks for your mighty fine recipe. Readers can find it in the Ozarks Foods column this month.—RD and Delaine

Dear Editor:

The January issue was the first one I have found in a long time. I don’t get around very well so I don’t go where I don’t have to. I like The Ozarks Chronicle very much so I would like to have it mailed. Enclosed find $12 for the payment. Thanks.

Dorothy Van Horn

Rolla

Dorothy, we’ve been publishing The OC every month since November 2004, and we are happy that you like reading it so much that you subscribed.—RD and Delaine

Dear Editor:

I wanted to tell you I really enjoy your paper. I like anything about the Ozarks. I am 70 years old and have lived 99 percent of my life in and around Rolla. I can’t imagine living any place else. I also write some poems and things about the Ozark way of life that I would love to share with your readers. I have had some published and I put it in book form, but the lady that was gong to publish it said that it was not enough for a book, but she really enjoyed reading it. I will bring you some to read over and see what you think. You also wanted receipts so I will share a couple with you that are good weekend comfort food. Will see you soon with some of my writing. Take care and God bless. Keep up the good work.

Smile, God loves you.

Sharon Tillott

Rolla

Sharon, I can’t imagine living anywhere else either; in fact, I tried it and I didn’t like it. Thanks for sharing your receipts. I’ll tell you what, I wanted to call the Ozarks Food column Ozarks Receipts, but Delaine overruled me. She said only a few of us old-timers would know that receipts is another word for recipes, and younger readers would think we were making a mistake every month. She was right, I suppose. I’m waiting to see some poems. Yes, I’m grateful God loves me, so I’m smiling So is Delaine.—RDH

Dear Editor:

Regarding cedar apple rust (discussed in the January issue): In the 1950s I learned that it was illegal in Pike
County , Mo. , to allow cedars to grow on one's land. The rationale was that the damage to the commercial apple crop was unacceptable.

If I have not already so reported, we achieved a record and grossed nearly $8,500 in the 2006 Rolla Knights of Columbus Council’s MR (Tootsie Roll) Drive for the handicapped. The annual MR Drive is the major charity effort of the Knights. All the Knights and many others (with special recognition to UMR students) who wore the yellow vests and collected donations, all the volunteers who worked in the assignments office, the print and electronic media for the valuable publicity, and all the managers who allowed collecting at their business locations are most sincerely thanked, and, of course, those who placed money into the canisters or otherwise donated are particularly thanked. Surely, the great results could not have been attained without the good work of everyone who participated.

Four local agencies are beneficiaries of the 2006 drive: Kyle Center , State School 23, Choices for People Center and the Rolla Area Sheltered Workshop. The Knights of Columbus Developmental Center is also a beneficiary.

Bob Doerr in the beautiful Missouri Ozarks

Director of the 2006 MR Drive

Rolla

Bob, thanks for the update. Congratulations to the Knights for setting a record and we thank them for their work and support of local agencies that help our Ozarks neighbors. By the way, I have for years appreciated the way you always sign your e-mails with “in the beautiful Missouri Ozarks” after your name. I know you correspond with people around the globe in your genealogy work; that short and simple signature has no doubt spread more Ozarks cheer and goodwill and sparked more interest in our region than any formal, tax-supported marketing campaign. Thanks.--RDH

Dear Editor:

I enjoy reading much of what you write--specifically, on the subjects that interest me--and will no doubt continue to do so.

I'm sending you this brief note so that you will know that somebody's out there.

Vincent L. Carpenter Jr.

St. James

Vincent, thanks for writing your brief note, but most of all, thanks for reading The OC every month. We appreciate encouragement.—RD and Delaine

The Ozarks Home and Garden