Pine Bluff News
By Pat Matheny
Don’t forget about the Spring Cream Chicken and Biscuit Dinner this April 7th and 8th at the community center from 11 am to 6 pm daily. Cream chicken and biscuits, mashed potatoes, green beans or baked beans, coleslaw, and a drink and then they will be offering dessert.
The Pine Bluff CEOS members are taking pie orders with the proceeds going to the PB UM Church. The pies are $12 and orders have to be in by the 10th of April and the pick-up day is May 12th. If you would like to order, please contact Julia Martin at 304-641-3032.
Monday, I drove over to the Shop’n Save in town to pick up some goodies. While in the store, it was good to chat with Sandy (Wright) Akers, Marion (Slick) Lane, and Bruce Hoffman. Also, I ran into Ronnie and Diana (Goff) Stutler. They wanted to tell me that their son Brian, who is the new Chaplain for the PTSD Clinic at the Batavia VA Hospital in NY, ran into a guy at the hospital that served with me in Vietnam, but couldn’t remember the name. I told Ronnie that the guy’s name was Don Roof. I said that I had all ready received an email from Don telling me about meeting Brian (PTSD meetings) at the Batavia VA.
Don said that he noticed the gentleman had an accent and asked him where he is from? When he replied Shinnston, West Virginia, Don said he almost fell off his chair. He showed Brian the latest issue of the Pine Bluff News on his phone and both had a laugh. Don said, “I asked him about you and he said everybody knows the Matheny’s”. I thought that was pretty cool…small world.
Don and I served together for ten months; he was the crew chief on Blue Thunderbird 8 (Slick) and later Bandit 3 (Gunship). He and I went on quite a few suicide missions (Bars, saloons) together, in downtown Bien Hoa. Obviously, we were successful…or not..??
Friday, we delivered some more meatballs and visited with John and Patty. John explained how he tried to make cinnamon rolls from scratch…Sis said it wasn’t a pretty site. They’re both anxious for warm weather.
Later, after Susie got her hair done at the Ahead of Style in town, we hit Jimmy’s Diner for something to eat. It was good talking with Pam Halpenny and her lady friend (Sorry, I forget her name), and my cousin John, owner of Matheny Used Cars. He and I are the same age and we spent our teen years hanging out at Rosie’s.
I mentioned in an earlier column about not having as many birds at the feeders as usual this winter. I think old Sherlock here has figured out the reason why. We have a bunch of stray cats in the area and they have taken a liking to the patio and deck. Last fall I bought a unit that emits different sound frequencies to keep the cats and other animals away and mounted the box so it would cover both patio and deck. The unit was their super-duper model. The bird feeders are hanging from deck railing.
I got to thinking (I do that every once in a while) that if those high pitched noises would bother animals…what about birds? So, I tore up the shed looking for the paperwork on the unit. My suspicion was confirmed when I read the name of the company that makes the YardGard…Bird-X…well duh! Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would be proud of me. I ripped out the unit and threw it in the shed. Now, we’re constantly chasing the cats from around the bird feeders…will have to figure out a different game plan.
Until next time, have a great week and remember our Veterans.
Pat