Ivan D.E. Beaumeat.
George Fenske says.
. . . middle age is that time of life when you don't worry about your wife going out at night . . . as long as you don't have to go along.
Coincidence.
Everything we watched on the tube the other night had some connection. First we watched President Carter and his fireside chat and later watched the prison electrocution show. And, next to our comfortable chair was a copy of the paper with the headline, "Nebraska death law declared constitutional."
It was particularly interesting because the President had just gotten through talking about cutting back on power and in the prison show they went into great detail of the large amount of electric power needed to kill a man.
The plaque.
The Wormy Applewood Plaque this week is awarded to that great conservationist with the bulldozer, Lucian Smith, headlined in a Lincoln newspaper as the "mad" farmer.
Mr. Smith objects to the law which requires a hunting and fishing license in Missouri on his own land that is not contiguous with where he lives. In other words, you need a license for "free" game on your farm across the road. (The same law applies in Nebraska.)
Well, Mr. Smith didn't go to Washington to get the matter settled. He just hopped on his D-7 cat and began chopping up trees faster a woodchopper can chop.
He figured the 200 acres belonged to him and he'd do as he darn well pleased which he did . . . for a time. His point was that he was provided free homes for game for many years, and should be entitled to hunt and fish without a permit.
A few days and trees later, he had a change of mind and heart and parked the cat. Now he is sincerely trying to get something solved so he can hunt free on his own ground and at the same time provide a game habitat.
For his Great Thinking and Saving the Soil, we award Mr. Smith with the Wormy Applewood Plaque. It will look great on the wall next to mounted game and will attach easily to the side of his bulldozer.
NEXT WEEK: Bobcats . . . or pick a winner.
The pipeline.
The proposal to build a pipeline and pump water 20 or 25 miles east of the Missouri river along U.S. 34 could open up one of the biggest economy boosts for this area since OPPD broke ground.
The project will cost millions and it will generate an even greater amount over the years. Right off the bat farmers will need irrigation equipment and if you read the ads in the News-Press you'll see a growing number of irrigation contractors and suppliers.
Of course, the aftermath of the project is food production and we all know the importance of good crops in our "farm towns."
Congratulations to Bob Hallstrom of Farmers State Bank at Avoca, for taking the initiative and getting the ball rolling.
Lucy's recipe.
We read in OPPD's Electric News that Mrs. Jack (Lucille) Douglas had a simple easy casserole. Here's her recipe:
1 can or pint of green beans.
1 can or pint of yellow beans.
1 can or pint cooked, diced or sliced carrots.
1 can of mushroom soup.
½ cup milk.
Potato chips or frozen or canned onion rings.
Drain vegetables and put in 1½ or 2-quart casserole dish. Mix soup with milk and pour over vegetables. If using potato chips, sprinkle over top. Bake at 350 degrees F for one hour. If using onion rings, bake for 45 minutes, then put onion rings on top and finish baking time. Serves 6 to 8 persons. For an extra treat, add a layer of leftover ham cubes, chicken or turkey in the bottom of the casserole.
We're getting this to you before we had a chance to try it at home, so we can't give you a report.
Except . . . No. 4 son pitched bales for Jack and always told his mother to accept jobs for him at the Douglas farm "because Mrs. Douglas sure is a good cook."