Where In The World Is Cletus Ralphie Smucker?
by Karla Wimp
December 03, 2008
In early October, 2nd and 3rd grade students at SVCA took their class cartoon mascot, gave him a name, gathered names and addresses of friendly fun loving folks, and sent Cletus Ralphie Smucker packing to travel around the world. Our plan included writing friendly letters, learning the locations of cities, states, countries around the world, interesting places to visit, and making new friends without leaving Southeast Kansas. The first set of letters were mailed out to people as far away as France, Canada, and Iraq. We have received several letters (from our new friends) and pictures of Cletus traveling around the world. Below is a list of places Cletus visited during November.
*Oronogo, Missouri
*Webb City, Missouri (Cletus spent time babysitting.)
*Oswego, Kansas (miles just south of SVCA)
*Mustang, Oklahoma
*Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (OK Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry; Capitol Building; Oil Well on the Capitol Grounds; Oklahoma Veterans Center)
*Willow Springs, Missouri (peach orchard)
*Pittsburg, Kansas (former Carnegie Library; Miner's Memorial Park; Pittsburg State University; Veteran's Memorial Amphitheater; Chicken Mary's; Celebrations by Lori)
*Ardmore, Oklahoma
*Charleston, South Carolina (Cletus spent time babysitting and dog-sitting; visiting the beach, ocean; the Arthur Ravanel Bridge; the Battery) The Civil War began here in 1861!
*Al Asad Airbase Iraq (200 miles west of Baghdad)
*Leavenworth, Kansas (Fort Leavenworth; Statue of General Grant and a cannon; an Old Trolley Station; Buffalo Soliders Memorial; U.S. Penitentiary (Cletus is a big football fan and remembered that the former Altanta Falcons player was in prison there.)
*Rogers, Arkansas (Beaver Lake)
*Kansas City, Missouri (Cletus saw the Broadway production, "The Lion King".)
*Fayetteville, Arkansas
Cletus is still out traveling around the world. He is headed to Jamestown, New York; Tishomingo, Oklahoma (He's hoping to see Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton); Sarasota, Florida; California; Texas; Georgia; Sunset, Pennsylvania; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and back home to watch some KU basketball.
