Long before sidewalks were as plentiful as they are today, those that were in existence were open game for a lot of things, including art, skating and sometimes even mischief.

Those who objected to their use were most likely to have graffiti to clean at one time or the other.

One of the best in town was on West Street in front of an attorney’s home and extended south toward fourth street. Their names are not important, but their reactions to the use of the smooth concrete were entirely different.

One was no use

On the north end of the strip, there could be no use for any purpose. Imagine if you can, this was the stretch of concrete that, at times, was the most popular in that part of town. If the residents were overly protective of their sidewalk, that often resulted from some of us from the north part of town.

Hopscotch was a game often drawn with chalk on the better sidewalks and never was all that easy to erase. That’s another game that has apparently gone out of season or requires some physical effort, that has gone into the past.

This residence was normally the first to receive a visit from the tictac- toe folks at Halloween evening. This was a trick where a safety pin was attached to the screen on the windows, then to a spool of thread. Hiding in the bushes at the length of the thread, a piece of rosen was rubbed on the thread producing a sound inside the building that was typical for the event.

Graffiti plentiful

Unfortunately for those who objected to the use of their sidewalks, especially for skating, their slabs were often the targets of many saying and drawings they were quick to have removed as soon as they were discovered.

This process, more times than not, attracted a large crowd to see what was used both tools and formula since most likely the process has been as permanent as the artist could afford.

Pandemic’s start

Three years ago when the Pandemic began, a group of us were having lunch as the Cassville Senior Center when officials came to our table to announced their closing for the duration of the COVID run. One of those in the group threw an “an absolute fit,” calling the action ridiculous and some other things.

I asked this person if he fully realized what a pandemic was and got only a blank stare, indicating he didn’t have the slightest what was ahead. His reaction isn’t really printable even after several months have passed.

Often I have wondered if he ever got a snot or wore a mask during the high points of people losing their lives. Did he ever use any precaution or help anyone during these past few years? Chances are he did not!

It appears another Flu Season is upon us — use the precautions available!

Surprise call

What was first thought to be a scam-call turned out to be a complete surprise from a long lost friend. It was Jim Rogers, who with his wife Carman are concessionaires at Roaring River State Park. They also hold contracts for operations at Bennett Spring near Lebanon.

Jim was at Roaring River where Kyle was also in attendance, thus, he got my number.

We had a long visit about the park in the past, his first turkey hunt experience and family whereabouts. A few fishing trips to Cedar Creek were in the conversation, where Jim proved a fly rod was as effective in bass fishing if one is as skilled as is Jim.

Those trips were in high water conditions when we went nearly to the bridge on a couple of trips.

Jim, obviously an experienced park concessionaire agreed with me the depth of the Roaring River Spring has all kinds of opportunities to enhance the vacation and travel numbers in Missouri’s number one state park.

Double contract

The Rogers hold both park contracts after they built the park store and gift shops in the park in space once occupied by the restaurant.

This facility moved park store activities from the old hotel building and made the serviced more accessible for anglers buying tags and equipment.

They now live in Springfield, losing their home near Lebanon several years ago by fire while they were on vacation during the off season. They made this move, being halfway between the parks they operate.

A look ahead

Just in case you have forgotten, Daylight Savings Time ends Nov. 6. Next week when this rolls around, fall back one hour and you will be in step with most of the country.

That date is important as it is on Sunday, and it might be embarrassing to walk into church just as the last song is sung.

Bob Mitchell is the former editor and publisher of the Cassville Democrat. He is a 2017 inductee to both the Missouri Press Association Hall of Fame and Missouri Southern State University’s Regional Media Hall of Fame.