Rrrrrring!
"Hello."
"Hello . . . Mr. Beaumont?"
"Ummmmhuh," I answered.
"Have you found a husband for me yet?"
"Well . . . aw . . . sput-sput . . . spatter . . . gaf . . . uh, I'm still looking."
"Do you know who this is?"
"No, but there's only one woman in this world who told me to find her a man."
"Hi Miss (Alta) Rhoten. How are you?"
The former Otoe county rural school teacher telephoned to ask about a news item in the paper concerning her father's 90th birthday.
I wrote a story about Miss Rhoten a number of years ago and called her "Mrs."
She called me after the paper came out and said:
"Mr. Beaumont . . . until you can find me a husband, I'm still a Miss."
We have never forgotten her good humor. Miss Rhoten now lives in Omaha.
Remember Dave Wolbert of Nebraska City? He was county bridge foreman. Well, Dave has been a state trooper for quite a number of years and is now stationed in the Lincoln area.
Dave pulled a car over the other day because the driver didn't have a safety sticker on the windshield of his car.
The officer talked with the man and saw the little girl in the car, but was not aroused or suspicious. The child was not crying and everything seemed to be a normal situation.
That night the officer heard the news — the man was wanted for child stealing and the little girl was the three-year-old child.
Later, the man was taken into custody and the child rescued in Olympia, Washington.
The Tom Weathers family wrote from a vacation area along the Texas coast that they have enjoyed the 75 degree weather but not the wind!
They wrote that they waited two and a half hours to get a half tank of gasoline. "The shortage is real here." They also told about a shortage of propane.
I don't have a good knowledge of the shelf prices of food, but the domestic engineer in our house said my idea of a poor man's meal — ham hock, beans and homemade bread (a favorite at our house) — is . . . well, something else.
You bean buyers know about the prices, so this is no surprise to you. Actually, we didn't notice the increase too much when we sat down to the dinner table . . . except when Engineer Ms Beaumont announced "tonight we have STEAK SOUP."
You know . . . really, now . . . we caught on, but if they ever do anything to mess up my lettuce, bananas and whipping cream salad, then we've got trouble . . . right here in River City.
Frank Connolly, plant superintendent at American Beef Packers in Nebraska City, showed rescue squadsmen around the plant, pointed to safety devices on machinery and exits squadsmen would use if called to the plant.
Mr. Connolly's tour was much appreciated by squadsmen. The volunteers said tours of large plants are helpful to familiarize themselves on plant layout.
The squadsmen held their regular business meeting at the plant lunchroom following the tour and were guests of American Beef for a snack.
There was another specialty at the snack — a chocolate cake from Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Gotschall who said "thanks" to squadsmen who answered a call to their home on the arrival of their son.
One squadsman who had chocolate frosting on his lips, said "who said we don't get paid?"
Garry Ailes said if it hadn't been for Gary Blakeman's persuasion he would have missed a real treat — watching and listening to Sergio Franchi.
Mr. and Mrs. Ailes and Mr. and Mrs. Blakeman and a number of other Nebraska City couples spent several days last week in Las Vegas.
Garry A. wasn't too interested in attending the show, but Gary B. pumped up the enthusiasm so the couples took in the night spot.
"I'm ready to go back," Garry A. said. "Franchi is really something."
Mr. Franchi sings much of today's pop music, but he's probably more known for his sound with songs of years past.
I learned something else . . .
That the Mop has a safety rule concerning length of hair. So, ole' good-natured Sam Thomas got clipped but complains now that his ears get cold. Mebbe Leroy Hodler will come up with a fur piece . . . That when you are a Volkswagen owner, you are more attentive to the car that is parked beside you. The guy always crowds your little bug even though you take up less space. Right? Address all complaints to Wirth Davis and call after 11 p.m.
You gotta give the kids credit.
The other night at the district basketball tournament, a group of Nebraska City students manned a concession stand.
They sold many goodies, but among the items were pickles. The sales pitch was that the pickles help keep a clear throat during all the shouting in a game.
They must have done quite a selling job because the pickle supply pickled out.
But — leave it to the kids. They put up a sign offering a special on a glass of pickle juice as a throat soother.
You're kidding! Really?
Yup, and they rang up sales too.
(Lookout you foot-dragging business world the young are coming).