beacon 4-19

Page 8B THE BEACON April 2019
RISING SUN/
OHIO COUNTY
By
PG
Gentrup
Community
Correspondent
risingsun@goBEACONnews.com
I’m sitting here again and
writing my column with the
crazy and uncertain weather
outside and some powerful
winds beating against the
house. The rain keeps coming
as the Ohio River comes up
and covers the road in Aurora,
drops down, and rises back
up again. We’ve had a lot of
black ice too which is very
dangerous. Please listen to
announcements and pay
attention to the potential for
hazardous roads.
We’ve had two terrible
tragedies here in Southeastern
Indiana. My prayers are for
the family of Brett Fox, the
young outstanding football
player from East Central,
who lost his life on his way
to East Central High School
when black ice caused his
accident. The incident brought
back too many memories for
me from when my nephew,
Kirk Gentrup, was killed
when struck by lightning
while playing in a high
school baseball game. I’ll
never understand why God
takes these wonderful young
students. Nothing we can say
or do will make it easier for
the family and friends. We
O ur
can be thankful that they were
here with us and have left us
with many memories we will
always cherish.
Here in Rising Sun, we
lost our Police Chief, David
Hewitt, in a car accident
caused by black ice. David
grew up on Wilson Street in
Rising Sun just five doors
down from our house. All the
kids in that neighborhood,
including my two kids, played
together and were just good
kids. His mom and dad, Paul
and Rosie Hewitt, are two of
the nicest people you could
ever meet. We watched David
grow up, along with sisters,
Denise and Lisa. It’s odd
for me to stop and think that
some of these kids are now
celebrating their twenty-fifth
wedding anniversary. David
and Steve Slack were always
the outdoor kids, and I think
they would have liked to live
outdoors because they were
the Davy Crockett and Daniel
Boone of the kids. They
were always fishing, hunting
something, and trapping. I can
still picture David riding his
Knights Annual Golf Outing
For The Benefit Of The
Pregnancy Care Center
May 13 th at Hidden Valley Golf Course
$100 = Golf, Prizes, Lunch, Dinner & More
Email: kofcgolfouting@yahoo.com
Ph- (812) 221-1193
Sunday Services 9:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.
Fresh Worship • Relevant Messages • Warm Welcome
24457 State Line Road, Bright, Indiana 47025
brightchurch.org, (812) 637-3388
Jeff Stone, Lead Minister
LOVE GOD. LOVE PEOPLE. IMPACT THE WORLD.
CNA’s, HHA’s, LPN’s and RN’s
Need some extra money?
Have some extra time on your hands?
WHY NOT JOIN
THE ADVANTAGE TEAM?
We offer 401k, weekly pay, health insurance, travel
pay, employee rewards program and much more.
Please stop in the office or give us a call
800-807-6839 • 812-537-0325
460 Ridge Ave. Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 • EOE
Communities
Moving on to the State Championship round for the K of C
Free Throw Contest in Noblesville are Peyton Merica, Reese
Merica, Avery Elliott, Nate Elliott and Mason Bascom.
bike up and down the street.
David grew into a nice young
man and had just recently
married his high school
sweetheart, Donna, about
thirty years after they parted
to go to college. It was meant
to be, so all those years passed
by but didn’t diminish their
feelings. David was only fortynine
years old, but he brought
a lot of joy to his family. He
dedicated 27 years of his life
to law enforcement and was
loved by all who knew him.
He protected our community
and always put others first.
People turned out by the
hundreds to pay final respects
at the Rising Sun High School.
Dozens of officers, firefighters,
EMS personnel and people of
all ages waited in line to pay
tribute to one of America’s
finest. The line went on for
over six hours until they had
to expedite the line and send
people in on a Presidential
View because the family was
exhausted. One hundred fifty
American Flags were placed at
the funeral home, courthouse,
police department, the high
school, the road leading
into town near the funeral
home, and below town. The
fire department had a huge
Garrison Flag on display from
two ladder trucks. The flags
were a beautiful tribute to
David, and the funeral in the
high school gym brought tears
to many eyes. The folding of
the casket flag, the firing of
the three volleys by the Honor
Guard, the playing of taps,
and the bagpiper playing were
all very much appreciated.
I thought the police officers
standing guard with David’s
casket at the funeral home,
from the time it was brought
back to Rising Sun until the
funeral, was just amazing.
Many citizens lined the streets
with flags when the body came
home. David’s children, Olivia
and Drew, were proud to be his
children and he loved teaching
them to enjoy the outdoors too.
His step-children, or bonus
children, Jake and Sydney,
were fortunate to have David
in their lives too. The words
that Drew, Olivia, and Jake
spoke at the funeral affirmed
the type of man David was and
how he impacted their lives.
David was a traditional
bow hunter and became a
Robin Hood who dearly
loved to be in the woods. He
also made many sketches
that people will now cherish
forever.
We saw small town
America at its best when our
community paid tribute to a
man we all called a friend.
The next time you see one of
our police officers or sheriff’s
deputies, be sure to thank them
for their dedication and the job
they do to protect us. We were
all blessed to have David with
us, and we will never forget
him. Rising Sun was “David’s
Town,” and he loved it. May
he rest in eternal peace.
Rising Sun High School
recently had another very
successful blood drive. Kevin
Smith does a tremendous job
coordinating the event. Watch
for the next one and come out
and support the school.
Ohio County does not
have any contested political
races, so there is no need for a
primary this year.
Take time out to attend a fish
fry at one of the area’s finest
events that are held this time
of the year. You can support
a local church, veterans’
SUNMAN
By
Logan
Seig
Community
Correspondent
sunman@goBEACONnews.com
The Indiana Public
Employers Plan (IPEP)
announced that the Town of
Sunman is a recipient of its
2019 Safety Grant Award.
IPEP is a proud partner
American Legion Post 452 New Alsace
Newly
remodeled
rental
facility!
Perfect for Wedding Receptions,
Birthday Parties, Anniversaries,
Reunions, Holidays
Reasonable rates, nice atmosphere
Contact Art @ 812-623-2771 or visit
www.legionpost452indiana.org
Next euchre party Mar. 24 &Apr. 7
Doors open 12 noon • Games begin at 1 • All are invited
Proudly serving our veterans and the community since WWII
organizations, etc. so check
The Beacon for their ads.
The basketball sectionals are
getting ready to start for boys
basketball. I’d like to see some
area teams move on in the
tournament.
A fund raiser was held for
Colton Schirmer, who was
injured in a football accident
in 2017. It’s not too late to
contribute to this worthy
cause by calling Joyce Messer
at 812-577-6526. Colton is
the grandson of Saundra and
Eddie Peters. His mom, Beth
Peters Schirmer, asks us to
continue to pray for Colton
and the family.
The K of C Free Throw
Contest took place at
Scottsburg on Feb. 24 to see
who advanced to the State
Finals. Five Rising Sun
students competed to become
a State Champion. They are
Peyton Merica, Reese Merica,
Avery Elliott, Nate Elliott, and
Mason Bascom. They shot at
Noblesville on March 3. Best
of luck to them, and hopefully
next month we can honor
some champions.
Spring is coming soon- I
hope- and we’re all ready for
some warmer weather and
sunshine.
I ask God to bless our little
corner of the state and bring
some good news and good
health to all of us. Be thankful
for all with which we have
been blessed.
Bill Vankirk; Jason Hoffman, Sunman Town Marshall; Eric
Ackerman, and Janet Jenner, Sunman Town Clerk accepting
a check for a safety grant award.
PAMPERED PETS
CERTIFIED GROOMER
GROOMING SPECIALIST
SMALL CLIENTELE FOR BEST RESULTS
CALL 513-374-9231 MAUREEN
1st Visit 10% Discount
Specializing in Yorkies, Shih Tzu’s, Lhasa’s,
Smaller Terrier Breeds and Other Small Dogs
BOARDING AVAILABLE
with the Town of Sunman
to maximize opportunities
to promote a safe work
environment and assist
with stretching their risk
management resources.
The grant funds will be used
to purchase safety equipment
or fund safety training
programs that will reduce or
limit workers compensation
exposure. Grant Funds totaled
$6,435.46.
IPEP was created in 1989 as
a risk sharing pool for public
entities as a response to the
need for public employers
to find affordable Workers
Compensation claims
administration for more than
seven hundred public entities
including cities, towns,
counties, and schools.
Editors note- We would like
to thank Logan Sieg for all
of the wonderful coverage
of Sunman and fun history
trivia that she has shared
with Beacon readers over
the years. Logan is a very
impressive young woman
and has turned over the
opportunity to be Sunman’s
correspondent to Maureen
Stenger. We wish Ms. Sieg the
best in her future pursuits and
look forward to seeing what
she achieves in the future.
Would you like to
be a community
correspondent?
Contact the Beacon
at 812-637-0660
IF YOU LIKE THE BEACON…PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS, AND TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR ADS IN THE BEACON. THANK YOU!