Hopefully, no news is good news with the Crime Watch in Patriot. I haven’t heard anything new from anyone but we do apparently continue to have juveniles running rampant and unsupervised at all times of the day and night. Remember light deters crime and so do locked doors on buildings and vehicles. We all need to be more observant and if we see something suspicious, notify the Switzerland County Sheriff’s Office at (812) 427-3636. Attempt to get a good description of the individual or individuals involved including approximate age, height, weight, hair color and clothing and their vehicle if they are in one. The more information you provide, the better chance the Sheriff’s Department will be able to help us.
Rioters in Wisconsin are apparently more into rioting than they are safety – even their own. To prove a point (?), they set fires and when the firefighters responded, they shot at them, too. Now they have extended their hatred to firefighters and even fired upon the ambulance taking the injured firefighter to the hospital. The nation is in need of prayers. The entire nation!
Happy Birthday blessings this month to: Red HOT Hatter Laura Riga on August 18th; my dear friend Anthony Christiani on August 16th; and Mary Alice Scudder – who turns 100 on the 20th!
August 11th was the second anniversary of the death of entertainer Robin Williams. I encourage everyone to celebrate his life by taking a moment to pray for those suffering from depression. One in four people worldwide will suffer from a mental illness or behavioral disorder. Every year one million people commit suicide worldwide. None of us know what others are carrying around in their heart. Be kind. Be understanding. We might just be that difference in someone’s life.
Practice the PAUSE:
When in doubt, PAUSE.
When angry, PAUSE.
When tired, PAUSE.
When stressed, PAUSE.
And when you PAUSE, P-R-A-Y !
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August 13th was the fifth anniversary of the deadly Indiana State Fair stage collapse. Seven people were killed and 58 injured. One young mother Tracy Snowberger, however, recently spoke of how the injuries she sustained that night were indeed a blessing. Little did she know that the time she spent recovering from her those injuries would be time well-spent with her three children. One son, Cody, has since died of cancer. “So I look at it as a blessing. That’s the only way you can look at things like that, you know? … It just makes you realize life is short and you just don’t know… ”
I am still fostering a small black momma cat that I have named Ms. Liberty and two of her three young’uns; Star and Banner for the Switzerland County Animal Shelter. Eight week old Star and Banner are almost completely black males. Everyone as been wormed and the kittens are weaned. Ms. Liberty who is also black is a shorthaired, six-pound friendly little Momma who will be spayed at my expense upon being adopted. She and at least Star need to find a home soon, very soon. Like yesterday! Anyone interested, please contact me! The third kitten “Spangle” is now named Gracie and has moved to Indianapolis where (hopefully) she will live a long and very happy life with my niece.
Sunday, not already having enough critters with the foster cats, I traveled to Indianapolis, where I met a young man who surrendered his two eight- and nine-year old Japanese Chins to me. Japanese Chin are a breed of dog that physically resembles a Pekingese in face but are taller in stature and are considered by their owners to be very personable with human-like characteristics. Also bred originally for the Oriental aristocracy the smaller in size, the better: they were even kept in bird cages centuries ago and fed sake and rice. Japanese Chin have in essence ruled my life now since acquiring my first in 1998 and I have been actively involved in rescue, rehabilitating, socializing and fostering many who were originally puppy mill dogs.
Being married and the father of two toddlers, this gentleman very regretfully gave up his “Chin”- dren in order to provide his human children a safer and happier home in which to live. So there are two more Chin at my place now: almost 18-pounds and nearly all white Yoda; and his much smaller sister Xena (as in Warrior Princess) who tops in at less than six-pounds. Xena joins my other Princess, Ming Su as the royal highnesses overseeing our empire. Ming Su is 16 years old and a strapping four-pounds. Being ginger and white, her favorite color is pink. Xena being black and white prefers her regalia to be red. The two little ladies are doing their best to share their royal duties while maintaining their daily routines of long naps and little exercise.
Eight year old Yoda is still attempting to establish himself as the alpha Chin male with my sable-colored Sam and brown and white Hershey who are 16- and 14-years old respectfully. As the referee and mediator of all things critter in my household, it is my job to make sure that he plays fair in his pursuit of the position of pack leader: Sam is deaf and Hershey is blind but Yoda hasn’t figured that out yet. It is quite an adjustment though considering my three senior canines no longer realize that they are indeed dogs and therefore do not engage is such things as barking, howling and securing perimeters against ferocious monsters. Yoda has however eager heartedly assumed those duties. His arch nemesis at this point, however, is alas – the cat! Ms. Liberty loves to catch him off guard and attack. Another reason she needs to find a home – soon!
The Red HOT Hatters have planned their luncheon for Monday, August 29th at 11a.m. at Shell’s Restaurant in Vevay. Everyone is welcome! Bring a friend and a $5-$10 valued gift for exchange if you wish. We are also collecting items for a Yard Sale to be held on a Saturday in September. As soon as we decide upon the particulars, I will be sure and share. As always, all monies raised will go to the Antoinette “Toni” Kniola Memorial Fund. Anyone wishing to make a donation to Toni’s Fund may do so at anytime by stopping by the Community Foundation Office or to contribute items for the sale contact me at (812) 594-2281.
The next Patriot Town Board meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 5th at 6 p.m. at the Patriot Town Hall. The Town is in need of businesses wishing to place bids for numerous tasks ranging from tree removal, concrete repair and special projects to replacement of the roof on Town Hall. Any business interested should contact the Town Clerk Linda Fisk for additional information at (812) 594-2243. Vendors must have liability insurance to be eligible for the bid
This week’s recipe is from Sharon Levell, Patriot’s Aunt Bea and again uses a box of yellow cake mix!
LAZY CHOCOLATE
CHIP COOKIES
1 stick of butter
2 eggs
1 yellow cake mix
1 bag of semi-sweet chocolate chips
Melt butter in bowl
Whisk together with eggs
Stir in cake mix
Mix in chocolate chips
Press into greased pan
Bake at 350 degrees – 9×13 for 20 min.
smaller pans 25-28 min.
Pat Tierney called me again this week about this recipe, so I will show it again and try and correct it:
LEMONADE ICEBOX PIE
8 oz. Cream Cheese
14 oz. Sweetened (CONDENSED) Milk
3/4 cup Thawed Lemonade (Concentrate)
8 oz. Frozen Cool Whip(Thawed)
**Optional: Yellow food coloring**
1 Graham cracker crust
In large bowl, beat cream cheese and milk until smooth.
Beat in lemonade. Add Cool Whip. Fold into the crust.
Cover, set in refrigerator until smooth.
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 on a particular date be sure and give it to me early. Thank you for sending me what you do every week – I couldn’t do this without you!
You may contact me several ways: 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.