Mike Roddy Jr., who farms north of Nebraska City, puffed on his cigar and flashed a smile.
He son, Army Capt. Mike "Butch" Roddy, Jr., was home for Christmas. The soldier had not told his parents he was coming home from Vietnam for Christmas. And it was some surprise.
Butch graduated from Nebraska City Lourdes and Notre Dame and has worked his way up the officer ranks to captain. He likes the military life and may make a career of it.
He will be home for 30 days and then will return to Vietnam.
We were especially pleased to see him home. We had been corresponding for some time and when he arrived Wednesday night he called at our house to deliver some photo equipment we were anxiously waiting for.
Welcome home Butch. And Merry Christmas to the Roddys.
Wilma Ohnmacht, who was hostess at the Hotel Grand Coffee Shop for many years, is back on the job, and now at the Elks club.
"I like it just fine; I feel real fortunate to just step into here."
Mrs. Ohnmacht looked with much sadness at the ruins of the hotel. The 100-year-old structure was destroyed in a fire December 6.
The Elks club opened its dining room to the public for luncheons from 11 a.m., to 2 p.m., beginning last week. And business was brisk. The menu included beef and noodles, dinner steaks, beef and pork lunches and a hot beef sandwich.
We don't want to give away any secrets to the small fry, but don't you agree, that the Ho, Ho, Ho man you see on Central Avenue is doing a pretty wonderful job of pleasing children?
Bus Wymore is an agent for State Farm Insurance company and in addition to operating a successful business, he puts in a staggering number of hours at Christmas time.
It's doubtful there are any "private" Christmas parties that he doesn't invade with his roaring introduction.
Nebraska City police are awaiting the time when new two-way radio equipment will be installed.
The new equipment will be on a different frequency which is expected to be a great relief locally to the load on the air waves, but a pain in the neck in other ways.
One of the troubles which occurred when the ammonia tank burst at Crete was communication. Police at Crete operate on a different frequency and were unable to communicate with other officers.
The Saline county sheriff operates on the longtime sheriff's band and he did much of the radio work from his cruiser to set up the emergency help.
Nebraska City police already have the sheriff-police wave length and the Safety Patrol frequency. Next they hope to add the higher frequency.
A two-way radio repairman said the higher frequency will enable police to handle routine radio calls without interfering with other traffic on the wave lengths.
The police station and the cars will be equipped with the proper equipment to handle all three wave lengths.
Mrs. Valda Attebery writes that she is looking forward to returning to work at the Masonic Home at Plattsmouth after being hospitalized at St. Mary's for 28 days at two different times.
She said she enjoys reading the News-Press which she gets at the Masonic Home. We hope you are feeling better, too, Mrs. Attebery.
(Mrs. Attebery is the mother of Jim Attebery, South Sioux City, former Nebraska City resident).
Chuck Offenburger, the sports editor at the Shenandoah, Ia. Sentinel, printed about the best basketball picture we've seen.
Instead of the hackneyed jump shots printed by most papers, Offenburger (whew, what a name) printed a beaut. It showed some sort of collision and ball control battle with several boys on the floor with one who was sitting on his backside seemingly applauding. The real clincher was the referee — he had both arms stretched straight up and it looked like he was puffing on his whistle.
The cutline was perfect: "Touchdown."
Here's a note which says a tree-planting program will be initiated to celebrate the year 2000 A.D.
"The year 2000 is going to be the biggest thing since the year 1000; the biggest change on the calendar any of us are likely to see. Yet the world is in danger of frightening itself to death. Mention the year 2000 and you get the comment; "If we ever get there."
"Member cities of the World Organization for Celebrating Year 2000 (WACY) are determined not only to be here in 2000, but to be here celebrating the achievement of a stable well fed world."
Most recent new members include Eldon, Mo., Belleville, Kans., Cascade Lock, Ore. and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Other nations include Australia, Belgium, Chile, Mexico, Netherlands, Philippines and Rhodesia.
Information on the organization is available from Norris Henley, city clerk at Eldon, Missouri.
Mr. and Mrs. Ray Price, our friends from Julian, will have a special party December 27.
They're going to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary from 1:30 to 3:30 at the Methodist church in Nebraska City.
The Prices are well known to many Nebraska City residents. They are "in town" for most veterans events and most certainly they wouldn't miss a Company B reunion.
They will have a lot of stories to exchange with friends after 50 years of marriage. I know one, too . . . on their wedding night!
This one leaked out. The newlyweds were en route . . . somewhere . . . and ended up spending their honeymoon at the Union hotel. You'll have to take up the conversation from there about a train trip.