Busy week in the Critter Corner! The much-anticipated arrival of Scaredy Cat’s litter happened Friday! Unfortunately, she tried to sneak into one of the dog’s travel crates for her delivery duties only to be confronted by 20 pounds of a rather grouchy dog. She scurried away from him in a panic, crossed the room, spun around about three times and Baby Kitty #1 was born! Thinking I had all the time in the world to record her special delivery, I grabbed the camera but in a flat nine seconds, it was all over, and she scurried off for her privacy. I proceeded to Cincinnati to have lunch with John Campbell at Demetrio’s as is our weekly routine now and upon my return, there were a total of five little kittens. The location that she had decided upon dictated that she and her tiny charges had to be evacuated to be considered safe from all the other critters. Still being basically a feral cat, she tolerated me picking her up and putting her in a crate to move her but as soon as she saw the birthing box that I made for her a couple of months ago, she dove out of the crate for the box. Viola! Baby Kitty #6 was born mid-air and landed inside the box on top of the cushioned covers. Happy that the last one ‘made it’ without damage to life or limb, I withdrew to the kitchen leaving Momma and company in my office now nursery. Two more little precious bundles of joy arrived overnight totaling eight!
I have decided that momma cat deserves a decent name now that she is a proud and successful mother so continuing with the NCIS theme, she has become queen Ziva! My two terrible twin tomcats (very special agents Leroy Gibbs and Tony DiNozzo) have not as of the time of print been introduced to the newbies. Gibbs delights in disposing of baby moles from the yard so I am hesitant to allow him access to the kitties. The final breakdown of the kitties is three black, a gray and black tiger, two light gray kitties and two ‘tuxedo’ cats that are predominantly black with white tummies and chests. I had hope for a little ‘color’ diversity what with three black adult cats, a white dog, a black and white dog and a brown and white dog. But such is life! At least they all seem to be healthy. Anxious for them to mature enough to be sexed. They should all be fairly small and short-haired. None of my adult cats are over nine pounds. (Just in case you are interested!)
Wednesday I ventured to Brownsburg, north of Indianapolis to attend the funeral of the wife of one of my police academy classmates. So sad! Nice traveling weather though. Managed to sneak in two traveling companions: Hershey Chin and Princess Xena. Both dogs did well in the car.
Thursday, I attended the Switzerland County Homemakers Achievement Day at the Aberdeen Church. The speaker David Hull, the Gallatin County Home Extension Agent, gave a very interesting talk on Heirloom Plants. Lunch was of course excellent as prepared by the Ladies of the Aberdeen Church. The exhibits were exceptional and the whole experience was truly enjoyable. Met a lovely lady that likes my column: Barb Barnhill! Always lifts my spirits to receive compliments! Very special congratulations to my friend Bonnie Simon on becoming the new County Treasurer!
Due to the traveling voting centers, the next scheduled Patriot Town Board meeting will be Tuesday, May 8th starting promptly at 6 p.m. with the Pledge of Allegiance.
The May Events for Vevay’s Historic Hoosier Theater include “Pitch Perfect” on First Friday May 4th at 8 p.m., with tickets at $3 followed by “Peter Pan” on Sunday May 6th at 2 p.m., for $5; and the Movie Night, Saturday May 12th featuring “Paddington 2” at 7 p.m., for $3.
The Vevay Music Club will hold its Spring Concert on Tuesday, May 8th at the Historic Hoosier Theater. The performance will begin at 7 p.m. and a freewill donation will be collected.
Sandy Dawson is asking for participants and sponsors for the ALS Walk to be held in Florence Kentucky on Saturday, May 19th. Her husband Wayne Dawson has been diagnosed with ALS. Anyone interested, please contact Sandy at home (402 Walnut Street in Vevay) or by phone (812) 427-0427.
The Patriot Baptist Church will hold “Church in the Park” on Sunday, May 20th at 11 a.m. Everyone is invited to attend the morning service to be held in Harris Park at the center of Town. The service will be followed by a picnic and Community Free Swap. Donations of clothing, canned goods, and other items are requested.
Lessons Learned: I hope my comments last week on fake news caused you to think a little deeper than normal. Especially with the current elections, please try to question what is being said. This week I was challenged by a friend and asked to defend my stance on some controversial issues. Not only was it refreshing to converse with someone about something other than the weather and the rain, but I enjoyed sharing my thoughts and hearing his. As I wrote last week, maybe we individually need to re-evaluate our morals and bring back our own honesty and truthfulness: punishing others who lie and cheat and not rewarding them for their evil behavior.
I have been contacted by both of David Hite’s daughters Gena Fette and Connie Hite this past week. All of us are still celebrating the success of David’s encounter with God. And speaking of celebrating! Irvin Fette has made it through his recent medical challenges and is back home and back at church! He and Eva were gracious enough to mention me in their Thank You Message posted in last week’s edition of the newspaper. I must admit I have done my share of praying for both David Hite and Irvin Fette. By the way, David’s daughter Gena as I understand it is married to Irvin’s nephew. Small world isn’t it!
The Red Hot Hatters are busier than ever with plans for their yard sales on Saturdays May 5th, 12th and 19th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Oyo Vista housing addition. We will be setting up with Red Hot Hatter Claudia Dawson at 10 Packet Blvd. Plans for the “High Tea for Toni” are ongoing. The Tea will be at the Schenck Mansion on Sunday, June 3rd beginning at 1 p.m. The tickets must be purchased in advance and will be $20. All proceeds will go to the Antoinette Kniola Memorial Fund at the Community Foundation.
The May meeting of the Red Hot Hatters will be on Thursday, May 17th at the Vevay American Legion Post #185 located at 213 Ferry Street in Vevay and beginning at 11 a.m. All are welcome!
The 4th of July Parade this year will begin at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 4th with lineup at the Patriot Boat Ramp beginning at 9 a.m. Registration forms will be available the day of the Parade at sign-up. Everyone is encouraged to participate. Liability waivers must be signed in advance. The Town of Patriot, Indiana is the only incorporated town in the United States with the name of Patriot making our Parade, the only true Patriot Parade. Immediately following the Parade there will be a flag ceremony at the Memorial Park. The day’s activities will conclude in Harris Park and will include a meal. Anyone with questions, call the Patriot Town Hall at (812) 594-2243.
Prayers of healing for David Hite, Irvin Fette, Jay Benzing, Lulu Belle Thomas, Dawn Elston, Mary Ellen Witt, Fritz Korn, John Campbell, Jake Rader, Pam Hutchinson, Colton Schirmer, Paul Schmitt, Erin Schmitt, Wayne Dawson, Pam Minch, Rick McKay, Fred Stave, Garry Johnson, Matt Oatman, Leona Ware, and Red HOT Hatter June Lack.
As always, I encourage people to contact me with their local news. You may contact me several ways: by leaving a note or message inside the cat mailbox in front of 1995 Front Street in Patriot; or by calling my home at (812) 594-2281; or dropping me a note at P.O. Box #01, Patriot, Indiana, 47038. In addition, contact Kay E. Cook on Facebook or online at PatriotNews1995@gmail.com. If you have anything for me to include in this article, please send it to me. Information can be received any day of the week but normally my deadline is Sunday at noon for that week’s issue of the paper. Any news received later will appear in the following week’s article. If you need something in a particular issue, please be sure and give it to me early.