West: April is special

By MIKE WEST

Did you know that April is a special month?

Maybe it just seems special after the end of a harsh winter? Or maybe you are a proud patriot who's more than glad to pay Uncle Sam your federal income tax on April 15? (Heck no!)Like most months, April has its share of goofy days such as "Reach as High as You Can Day" on April 14 or "National Cheeseball Day" on the 17th. Don't forget "Big Wind Day" on April 12!

Like most months, April has its share of goofy days such as "Reach as High as You Can Day" on April 14 or "National Cheeseball Day" on the 17th. Don't forget "Big Wind Day" on April 12!There's a number of historically important days as well. For example, on April 4, the first home telephone was installed in 1877. NATO was established that same day in 1949. The North Pole was discovered on April 6, 1898. The first public library opened in 1833 in Petersborough, N.H. The space Shuttle Columbia was launched on April 12, 1981. Thomas Jefferson was born in 1743 on April 13.

The Titanic struck an iceberg shortly before midnight on April 14 and sank on April 15. On April 18, 1906, the Great San Francisco Earthquake struck.
I prefer to think of April's more pleasant days like April Fools. This year I survived without anyone pulling a trick on this fool. On April 22 is Earth Day, another favorite. And let us not forget Easter, which was on April 5 this year.

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I guess we can chalk it off to Spring fever, but several homes on two Cannon County roads were victimized by vandals who beat-up, crushed and shot mailboxes. We can suppose these (probably teen-aged) vandals feel empowered by such acts of stupidity.

But to most of us, vandalism is a ridiculous act that proves nothing while costing innocent folks time and money. While that's not the case with everyone, a number of people like to think of their mail box as a sort of greeting to their home. They dress them up with plants, fancy mailbox covers giving them a memorable look. Some celebrate upcoming holidays like Easter, the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas, but a handful of vandals get some sort of thrill in smashing them.

Grow up! Find something more constructive to do.

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It was standing room only when the Channel 4 weather team visited Plainview Baptist Church last Thursday (April 2).

Meteorologists Dan Thomas, Paul Heggen, Nancy Van Camp and the ever-famous Snowbird were there to present the "what, why and how" of severe thunderstorms in addition to providing tips on keeping safe during dangerous weather.

It was a community-wide event that called on help from the Mooretown Fire Department in handling all the cars that filled the church's parking lot to overflowing.

The event was filled with surprises. In particular, yours truly was surprised to discover it was the real Snowbird with that squeaky little voice that is featured on TV commercials and not a Channel 4 intern dressed in a Snowbird costume. Wow! And each of the meteorologists were friendly as well as informative despite (Paul Heggen) having to report to work at 3 a.m. Friday morning. Whew!