beaconJan2020
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INSIDE<br />
The BEACON<br />
In 2014, the writing was on the<br />
wall for the North Dearborn Elementary<br />
School. Sunman Dearborn<br />
School Corporation’s enrollment had<br />
declined, and finances were upside<br />
down. Faced with hard choices, the<br />
school board made the decision to<br />
close the North Dearborn Elementary<br />
School.<br />
Since 2015, the vacated school has<br />
been a topic of conversation concerning<br />
the future of the building and the<br />
land upon which it sits. The fate of the<br />
structure has finally been decided.<br />
Determining the future of the<br />
property has been hindered by state<br />
THE<br />
BEACON<br />
www.goBEACONnews.com | PUBLISHED MONTHLY SINCE 1994 | January 2020<br />
North Dearborn Elementary’s Fate Determined<br />
laws that dictate how the repurposing<br />
of the facility can be handled. For the<br />
first two years after the closing of the<br />
facility, the Sunman Dearborn School<br />
Corporation was required to offer to<br />
lease the building to a charter or private<br />
school for the fee of $1 per year.<br />
At that time, the economy was not<br />
conducive to such an opportunity, and<br />
two years passed without such a deal<br />
being struck.<br />
In 2017, the school corporation held<br />
an auction to clear out all of the fixtures<br />
in the school. Desks, equipment,<br />
and cafeteria items that could not be<br />
utilized elsewhere in the corporation<br />
were sold to the highest bidder. The<br />
result- an empty building, once filled<br />
with the excitement of students as they<br />
rushed to classes and school activities,<br />
stood vacant.<br />
At that point, state law allowed<br />
for the building to be put up for sale.<br />
However, the price of the building was<br />
dictated by an appraisal of fair market<br />
value. The structure was shown to<br />
potential buyers four times- each time<br />
the response was that it was too big to<br />
fit their needs.<br />
Finally, in 2018, state law allowed<br />
the school board to set its own price<br />
Continued on page 3A<br />
Area first-grade students<br />
share holiday wishes<br />
with Santa. Page 6A<br />
A Visit from Scrooge<br />
John Blasdel welcomed people to<br />
Hillforest during the Ghost walk.<br />
Page 6B<br />
A Dog’s Point of View<br />
Keep you pet safe this holiday<br />
season.<br />
Page 11B<br />
PRSRT STD<br />
U.S. POSTAGE<br />
PAID<br />
CINCINNATI, OHIO<br />
Permit No. 9714<br />
THE BEACON<br />
PO Box 4022<br />
Lawrenceburg, Indiana 47025<br />
A future hockey player in<br />
the making.<br />
Zoey Boggs, Jaylynn Grizzell, and Wyld<br />
Heimann were all smiles as they sped<br />
across the ice.<br />
Megan Brown, Claire Nagel, and Brady Buddenburg<br />
keep skate rentals gliding along at<br />
the rink. (Photos by Dawn Lanphier)<br />
Cool Fun!<br />
Community residents from<br />
near and far enjoy ice skating<br />
in Lawrenceburg for<br />
the holiday season.<br />
By Maureen Stenger<br />
As a child, no magic was quite like the magic of Christmas<br />
Eve. It was my favorite night of the entire year. We<br />
began the evening by attending church at Our Lady of<br />
Visitation in Bridgetown. We then traveled over the hills<br />
and through the woods to my Great Aunt El’s house, where<br />
the entire side of my father’s family gathered to celebrate.<br />
After a delicious meal, we splurged on scrumptious cookies<br />
and buckeyes that my grandma and her sisters had spent<br />
countless hours preparing. We then opened a ridiculous<br />
amount of gifts followed by the adults playing cards as<br />
the children relished in the sounds of joy and laughter that<br />
filled that warm and happy home. Aunt El always said<br />
it was the one night of the entire year that we all were<br />
together. Reflecting on Christmases past got me thinking<br />
about holiday traditions in other families and in our communities<br />
that capture and celebrate the enchantment of<br />
Christmastime.<br />
High up on Sutton Hill in Aurora, an eighty-year-old tradition<br />
continues to light up the night sky. Every December,<br />
Jack and Beth Sutton carry on their family custom of hanging<br />
and lighting The Sutton Star. In 1850 Doctor George<br />
Sutton built his house on the property now known as Sutton<br />
Hill. Throughout the years, the land has remained in the<br />
Lily practiced skating with<br />
the aid of a skate helper.<br />
Memorial<br />
Park Planned<br />
for Greendale<br />
When the legacy of an individual<br />
of someone as vibrant as Lauren Hill<br />
inspires a community, the effects are<br />
limitless. Ms. Hill’s incredible drive<br />
to never give up is yet again touching<br />
lives in our community. A vision for a<br />
park named in memory of Lauren Hill<br />
is one step closer to becoming a reality.<br />
Located at the corner of Georgetown<br />
and Fairway Roads, the Lauren Hill<br />
Memorial is planned to be constructed<br />
on what once was a landfill. The City<br />
of Greendale, owners of the property,<br />
graciously agreed to lease the<br />
property to the Friends of Lauren Hill<br />
Foundation, a local nonprofit organization.<br />
During the fifteen-year term of<br />
the lease, the Friends of Lauren Hill<br />
Foundation will be responsible for the<br />
development and maintenance of the<br />
memorial park.<br />
Current plans for the park include an<br />
enclosed area of two-thirds of an acre for<br />
use by owners with small dogs. Adjoining<br />
that area is a one-and-one-third acre<br />
area to be used by larger dogs and their<br />
owners. A one-mile introductory level<br />
mountain bike trail is also being planned.<br />
Parking and signage are being considered<br />
during the development stage.<br />
Plans for the development of the<br />
property are contingent upon approval<br />
of the site by the Indiana Department<br />
of Environmental Management.<br />
The Friends of Lauren Hill Foundation<br />
envision the park expanding in the<br />
future to include basketball courts, a<br />
disc golf course, and other recreational<br />
amenities.<br />
Continued on page 3A<br />
A Community Filled with Holiday Traditions<br />
Free Event<br />
A Christmas tree has filled the center of Second Street<br />
for sixteen years. (Photo courtesy of Main Street Aurora)<br />
family. Jack and Beth Sutton are the fifth generation of Suttons<br />
to live on the hill and the third generation to carry on<br />
this tradition of hanging the star. Jack Sutton shared that the<br />
Continued on page 4A<br />
RSVP appreciated: 513-519-0006, kenmaddin@gmail.com
Page 2A THE BEACON January 2020<br />
By<br />
Tamara<br />
Taylor<br />
Reason for the Season<br />
I received the biggest compliment<br />
recently. My neighbors<br />
did something wonderful,<br />
so I baked a chocolate<br />
cake to thank them for their<br />
kindness. A few weeks later,<br />
I saw the couple, and Donna,<br />
a farmer’s wife for over sixty<br />
years, commented that my<br />
cake tasted very good. Wow!<br />
Was I ever thrilled! I don’t<br />
think she knew how much her<br />
kind words meant. She really<br />
made my day.<br />
Isn’t that the secret to a<br />
happy life? Making other<br />
people’s day? If only we<br />
could all remember to strive<br />
to make someone else unexpectedly<br />
delighted every day.<br />
What a nice place this world<br />
would be.<br />
At the recent Dearborn<br />
County Chamber annual dinner,<br />
quite a few members of<br />
our community were recognized.<br />
Of course, a multitude<br />
of speeches were given by all<br />
different professionals and<br />
age groups. As I sat back and<br />
listened, I picked up on an<br />
underlying theme in each and<br />
every speech- how great our<br />
community is because of the<br />
extra efforts made by individuals<br />
dedicated to making<br />
our community a great place<br />
to live. How lucky we are<br />
that those individuals are our<br />
neighbors.<br />
Holiday seasons can sometimes<br />
be a bit rough. The rosy<br />
picture of families and heartfelt<br />
family traditions is often<br />
not the case for some people.<br />
As I see it, we have two<br />
choices- sit back and feel sad<br />
about what could have been,<br />
or forge ahead and make new<br />
traditions.<br />
Forging ahead is precisely<br />
what Ken Maddin has done.<br />
He took the lemons that were<br />
handed him and made lemonade,<br />
so to speak. When<br />
pondering the potential of a<br />
difficult holiday season this<br />
year, Ken decided to take<br />
matters in his own hands and<br />
started what is sure to be a<br />
holiday tradition- A Christmas<br />
with Friends.<br />
The event is for anyone who<br />
is faced with spending Christmas<br />
alone. The outpouring of<br />
The Beacon team. Front- Rhonda Trabel, Susan Carson, Connie Webb, Debbie Acasio, Sue<br />
Siefert, Gloria Carter, Bob Waples. Back- Debbie Stutz, Cherie Maddin, Lisa Schall, Laura<br />
Keller, Debbie Zimmer, Chris Nobbe, Maureen Stenger, Fred Schmidt, Doris Butt, Margaret<br />
Drury, Myrtle White. Not pictured, John Hawley, Melanie Alexander, Susan Cottingham, PG<br />
Gentrup, Barbara Wetzler, Lisa West, Rebecca Davies, Liz Janszen, Korry Johnson, Ollie<br />
Roehm, Merrill and Linda Hutchinson, Karis Troyer, Mary-Alice Helms, Katie Ulrich.<br />
Merry Christmas!<br />
The team at the BEACON wish all of you a<br />
happy, peaceful holiday season.<br />
May peace be your gift at Christmas<br />
and your blessing all through the year.<br />
support for the event has been<br />
incredible! I personally would<br />
love to share Christmas with<br />
all of the wonderful people<br />
who are coming together because<br />
of Ken Maddin’s vision<br />
and drive to make our community<br />
a better place.<br />
Ken’s dedication to helping<br />
those in need began long<br />
before most of us knew that<br />
famous face that appeared in<br />
the real estate market thirtyfour<br />
years ago. He comes<br />
from a family of eight, five of<br />
them being girls. (No wonder<br />
his hair always looks perfect!).<br />
Ken’s parents worked<br />
tirelessly to instill the value of<br />
giving back in their children,<br />
and Ken certainly took the<br />
lesson to heart.<br />
Ken was blessed to marry<br />
Cherie Beall forty years ago.<br />
Early in their marriage, Ken<br />
suggested they “adopt” a family<br />
for the holidays. He went<br />
to the elementary school and<br />
chose a name from the Giving<br />
Tree, an experience that<br />
changed their lives.<br />
Ken arranged to meet the<br />
father of the family the night<br />
before Christmas to deliver<br />
toys and food so that the<br />
family could be surprised on<br />
Christmas morning. What the<br />
Maddins found was indeed<br />
a family in need. The home<br />
even had cardboard tacked<br />
on the side for siding and<br />
insulation. That family was<br />
so thankful for the Maddin’s<br />
generosity, and even though<br />
they were struggling, they<br />
sent a beautiful card expressing<br />
their gratitude to the Maddins.<br />
Their kind words still<br />
bring a tear to the Maddin’s<br />
eyes today. The experience<br />
was truly humbling and led to<br />
years of giving back for the<br />
Maddins.<br />
The Maddin family motto<br />
is, “Be honest, work hard, and<br />
give back.” It was instilled<br />
in the Maddin’s children and<br />
is reflected in all that Ken<br />
and Cherie do today. They<br />
were recently honored for the<br />
establishment of the Maddin-<br />
Beall Family Fund, a donoradvised<br />
endowment for grants<br />
to charitable organizations<br />
that make a difference.<br />
Mr. Maddin has given<br />
back to the community as a<br />
past member of Aurora City<br />
Council, the Dearborn County<br />
Ken Maddin and his buddy<br />
Tanner.<br />
Planning Commission, The<br />
Dearborn Community Foundation<br />
Scholarship Committee,<br />
the Dearborn County<br />
Hospital Foundation, and the<br />
Dearborn County Chamber.<br />
Longtime friend Jim<br />
Thatcher shared, “Ken Maddin<br />
is a man with a huge heart<br />
and the drive to make good<br />
things happen for our community.<br />
His idea, A Christmas<br />
with Friends, will provide a<br />
meal and fellowship for folks<br />
who would otherwise be alone<br />
on Christmas Day. The event<br />
is a testimony to Ken’s character.<br />
Ken Maddin is truly a<br />
good man.”<br />
Over the years as Ken’s<br />
real estate business grew, he<br />
never forgot to give back. He<br />
made a point to give back a<br />
percentage of his commission<br />
for each sale to organizations<br />
such as the Heart House, We<br />
Care, and PAWS. Fast forward,<br />
one of those donations<br />
made a lasting impression on<br />
Ken, who is now the proud<br />
companion of a rescue dog<br />
named Tanner. If only that<br />
dog could talk...<br />
Thank you, Ken Maddin,<br />
for making a difference in<br />
the lives of so many in our<br />
community, and for having<br />
the vision to show us all that<br />
a silver lining can be found in<br />
every situation.<br />
(Remember, behind every<br />
good man is a great woman.<br />
Thanks to you too, Cherie!)<br />
Publisher/Editor<br />
Tamara M. Taylor<br />
Publishers Emeritus<br />
Elizabeth Morris, Celeste Calvitto<br />
Sales Manager - New Accounts<br />
Lisa Schall<br />
Editorial Assistants<br />
Connie Webb, Cherie Maddin<br />
Columnists & Contributors<br />
Debbie Acasio, Melanie Alexander,<br />
Doris Butt, Susan Carson,<br />
Gloria Carter, Susan Cottingham,<br />
Rebecca Davies, PG Gentrup,<br />
John Hawley, Mary-Alice Helms,<br />
Merrill and Linda Hutchinson,<br />
Elizabeth Janszen,Korry Johnson,<br />
Laura Keller, Chris Nobbe,<br />
Fred Schmits, Marie Segale,<br />
Sue Siefert, Maureen Stenger,<br />
Rhonda Trabel, Karis Troyer,<br />
Katie Ulrich, Bob Waples,<br />
Barbara Wetzler, Debbie Zimmer<br />
Production<br />
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THE<br />
BEACON<br />
For advertising rate inquiries<br />
and to submit news and photos:<br />
editor@goBEACONnews.com<br />
Phone: 812-637-0660<br />
website:<br />
goBEACONnews.com<br />
The Beacon is an independent<br />
monthly publication with<br />
distribution in Dearborn, Ripley,<br />
Franklin and Ohio Counties in<br />
Indiana and Harrison, Ohio.<br />
Published since 1994.<br />
Beacon News, Inc.<br />
PO Box 4022<br />
Lawrenceburg, Indiana 47025.<br />
Member:<br />
Dearborn County<br />
Chamber of Commerce,<br />
Ripley County<br />
Chamber of Commerce,<br />
Bright Area Business Association,<br />
Batesville Chamber<br />
of Commerce<br />
Twenty-five Years of Bringing our Community and Businesses Together.
January 2020 THE BEACON Page 3A<br />
What is it?<br />
Last month’s item was a fluter dated 1875. The tool was<br />
used to place ruffles in dresses and clothing. Submitted<br />
guesses ranged from a wringer for laundry to a hand crank<br />
pasta noodle cutter. (A<br />
great idea for repurposing!)<br />
Carol Morton, Brookville,<br />
submitted the correct answer<br />
and added, “Thank goodness<br />
for conveniences.”<br />
This month’s challenge<br />
weighs over nine pounds<br />
and dates back to 1898.<br />
Please e-mail your guesses<br />
along with your name and where you live to editor@<br />
goBEACONnews.com by Tuesday, December 24.<br />
sponsored by Cornerstone Realty/Lutz Auction Services<br />
Georgetown<br />
Road<br />
Mountain<br />
Bike Trail<br />
3 miles<br />
Fairway<br />
Drive<br />
Last month: fluter<br />
The proposed location for the Lauren hill Memorial Park.<br />
Lauren Hill Memorial Park<br />
Continued from page 1A<br />
The purpose of the park is<br />
to provide a destination where<br />
the residents of Bright, Greendale,<br />
and Hidden Valley can<br />
interact, resulting in a stronger<br />
sense of community. The organization’s<br />
vision is to continue<br />
the mantra inspired by Lauren<br />
Hill, “Never give up.”<br />
Several elements must be<br />
taken into consideration when<br />
planning a dog park. According<br />
to Cindy Rottinghaus, the<br />
planner for the Aurora Dog<br />
Park, visiting other successful<br />
dog parks is imperative. When<br />
planning for the Aurora Dog<br />
park, she toured several parks<br />
across the region and noted<br />
what made each successful.<br />
“The best thing for planning<br />
is to think like a dog,<br />
not like a human who thinks<br />
they know what a dog wants,”<br />
shared Ms. Rottinghaus.<br />
“They want to run free. Large<br />
fenced areas are a must.”<br />
The development of specific<br />
sections within a dog park is<br />
imperative. Having two areas<br />
for smaller dogs and two areas<br />
for larger dogs allows for<br />
rotational usage. When the turf<br />
in one area becomes worn out,<br />
the other field can be used.<br />
A separate area for agility<br />
training is recommended. The<br />
designated space allows dogs<br />
to concentrate on the task at<br />
hand.<br />
Fence placement is vital<br />
for the maintenance of the<br />
dog park. Gates must be wide<br />
enough to accommodate<br />
commercial mowing equipment.<br />
Accessibility between<br />
lots should be planned to<br />
maintain a secure perimeter<br />
in case a furry friend chooses<br />
to explore as inner gates are<br />
being used.<br />
Ms. Rottinghaus stressed<br />
the need for a water source<br />
at the dog park. Through her<br />
research, she found that the<br />
most efficient location for a<br />
water spigot is outside of the<br />
dog fenced sections to alleviate<br />
potential muddy areas<br />
within the fenced play areas.<br />
The Lauren Hill Memorial<br />
Park is slated to open in the<br />
spring of 2020.<br />
N. Dearborn<br />
Continued from page 1A<br />
for the property. The amount<br />
of $25,000 was established<br />
for use by a nonprofit or partnering<br />
organization. Sadly, the<br />
size of the building was once<br />
again an obstacle for those<br />
who showed interest in the<br />
property. In good conscience,<br />
the school board took into<br />
consideration the future of<br />
the property. Their goal was<br />
to ensure that the property<br />
did not become developed<br />
improperly. Therefore the<br />
decision was finally made to<br />
demolish the now-unusable<br />
structure and return the land<br />
to a state of pasture and green<br />
space.<br />
A plan has been put into<br />
place to address the demolition<br />
of the old school.<br />
However, each step of the<br />
process takes time. After<br />
sitting vacant for four and a<br />
half years, the old school had<br />
some environmental issues<br />
that had to be addressed.<br />
Phase one of the demolition<br />
plan included the removal of<br />
some underground tanks on<br />
the property and provided<br />
for an evaluation of asbestos<br />
and lead concerns within the<br />
building. The analysis showed<br />
that the threats were minimal,<br />
but these issues still need to<br />
be handled.<br />
Currently, several entities<br />
are working together in hopes<br />
of receiving a grant for the<br />
second phase of the project,<br />
which entails demolishing the<br />
building. The grant amount is<br />
$500,000 and requires a ten<br />
percent match by the school<br />
corporation. Asbestos and<br />
lead abatement, as well as<br />
issues concerning black mold,<br />
will be handled with this<br />
funding.<br />
“Overall, the board feels<br />
that they would not be good<br />
stewards of the taxpayers’<br />
Continued on page 12A<br />
Downtown Lawrenceburg’s<br />
Ice Skating Rink<br />
NOW OPEN<br />
through Jan. 5, 2020!<br />
Located at Todd Creech Park, Tate St.<br />
Tuesday - Thursday: 4-8PM<br />
Friday: 4-9PM<br />
Saturday: 12-9PM<br />
Sunday: 12-8PM<br />
Closed Mondays<br />
----------<br />
Christmas Break Schedule Hours:<br />
December 23 – January 3: 12-9PM<br />
Christmas Eve: 12-3PM<br />
New Years Eve: 12-6PM<br />
Closed Christmas Day<br />
For more information contact Lawrenceburg Main Street<br />
812-537-4507 or www.ThinkLawrenceburg.com<br />
God’s Gift to Us - Jesus<br />
Christmas is a time for giving and sharing, just as God has<br />
done for us with His Son, Jesus. May your giving and<br />
sharing be abundant and your blessings be twofold.<br />
At Mansfield Insurance Agency, we have been<br />
blessed with loyal clients. Thank you!<br />
From all of us to all of you, Merry Christmas!<br />
Diane, Lisa, Judy, Tricia and Jim<br />
MANSFIELD INSURANCE AGENCY, INC.<br />
Serving Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky<br />
24244 Stateline Road, Bright, IN 47025<br />
812-637-2300 800-230-3927<br />
SHOP LOCAL and tell our advertisers you saw them in The BEACON!
Page 4A THE BEACON January 2020<br />
Celebrating Holiday Cheer Throughout the Community<br />
Continued from page 1A<br />
star, which is made of plywood,<br />
wire, and light sockets,<br />
has five points measuring<br />
about five feet to the tip, and<br />
it has a total of twenty-one<br />
lights. The star has been<br />
re-wired twice since 1939,<br />
and it is now activated by a<br />
timer. When it is not in use, it<br />
is stored in the garage suspended<br />
from the rafters. When<br />
I asked Mr. Sutton about the<br />
significance of this family tradition,<br />
he said, “2019 marks<br />
the eightieth consecutive year<br />
that the Sutton Hill Star will<br />
shine above the City of Aurora.<br />
We are proud to continue<br />
this annual tradition and hope<br />
it brightens the night sky of<br />
all who see it.”<br />
Another star that lights up<br />
the night sky at Christmastime<br />
can be seen if you travel up<br />
the road to Northern Dearborn<br />
County to The Lutz Family<br />
Farm. Dale Lutz, the owner of<br />
Cornerstone Realty and The<br />
Lutz Auction Center, hangs<br />
a large bright star from atop<br />
one of the silos that adorns<br />
his homestead each December.<br />
His son, Randy, made the<br />
star in 1999 when he was a<br />
student at East Central High<br />
School during agriculture<br />
class. We frequently pass<br />
through the area, and my<br />
children always look forward<br />
to seeing the pretty star that<br />
lights up dark and windy<br />
North Dearborn Road. This<br />
past year the silo was taken<br />
down, but I have been assured<br />
the star will go back up somewhere<br />
else on the farm for all<br />
who pass by to enjoy.<br />
I had the pleasure of speaking<br />
with lifelong Aurora<br />
resident, Charlotte Hastings,<br />
who graciously shared with<br />
me her favorite childhood<br />
memories from the Christmas<br />
season and what made that<br />
time so special for her growing<br />
up. Mrs. Hastings was one<br />
of six children, and her family<br />
home had a special room,<br />
known as the Christmas room.<br />
The room was where the tree<br />
would go up every year and<br />
where her family would all<br />
gather around to open the<br />
gifts. The anticipation of<br />
glorious Christmas morning<br />
was amplified as her father<br />
had a tradition of ringing<br />
jingle bells and mimicking the<br />
sound of footsteps on the roof.<br />
For over seventy years, Santa<br />
Claus also made an appearance<br />
at her family Christmas<br />
celebration!<br />
Mrs. Hastings also spoke<br />
of an Aurora town staple,<br />
Schuck Plumbing and Heating,<br />
where owner Ray Schuck<br />
would create dazzling window<br />
displays that brandished the<br />
decor of the season. “When<br />
I think of Christmas, that’s<br />
what I think of,” recalled<br />
Mrs. Hastings. The window<br />
displays featured life-sized<br />
animated figurines such as a<br />
decorated horse and buggy and<br />
Santa with his sleigh. Other<br />
Aurora town traditions Mrs.<br />
Hastings fondly remembered<br />
included a giant Christmas<br />
tree that lit up Second and<br />
Main Streets every year for<br />
all to enjoy. Also encompassing<br />
the true Christmas spirit in<br />
the area was a real-life Santa<br />
Claus in the form of Dillsboro<br />
resident, Jerry Legge. For fifty<br />
years, he drove his tractor and<br />
wagon through town, filled<br />
to the brim with gifts for all<br />
of the little boys and girls.<br />
There were so many gifts that<br />
Mr. Legge enlisted the help of<br />
Lawrenceburg holds an<br />
Annual Community Tree<br />
Lighting Ceremony each<br />
December. The tree graces<br />
the end of Walnut Street.<br />
friends and co-workers to pass<br />
them out. Mr. Legge wanted<br />
to make sure that all children,<br />
especially those that had very<br />
little, received a package to<br />
open. The legacies of Jerry<br />
Legge’s selflessness and of<br />
Ray Schuck, who worked hard<br />
to spread Christmas cheer,<br />
continue to warm the hearts of<br />
all of those who were fortunate<br />
to experience their kindness.<br />
Another family with a<br />
yearly holiday custom is The<br />
Luhring Family of Sunman.<br />
They shared with me what<br />
makes the December season<br />
so memorable for them. It<br />
seems that Mr. and Mrs. Claus<br />
also have been visiting their<br />
family Christmas Eve gathering<br />
for twenty-eight years!<br />
Jim Gilbert of Sunman is the<br />
current Mr. Claus and has<br />
been coming to the gathering<br />
for the past seven years.<br />
The family tradition consists<br />
of singing “Jingle Bells” as<br />
Santa walks through the door.<br />
Each child in attendance<br />
receives a gift. Even some<br />
The Sutton Star has shown brightly on a hill above Aurora<br />
since 1939. It has been featured in a painting by Tony Callahan<br />
commissioned by Mayor Donnie Hastings.<br />
Barb (Sommer) Badel from<br />
Morris and Bob Sommer<br />
looked forward to joining<br />
neighbor Dean Knigga<br />
each year in Bear Branch to<br />
find the perfect cedar tree<br />
for Christmas. This photo is<br />
dated 1960.<br />
lucky adults receive a gift<br />
as well! Everyone gets their<br />
picture taken with Mr. and<br />
Mrs. Claus, and the evening<br />
commences with a rousing<br />
rendition of “We Wish You a<br />
Merry Christmas” as Mr. and<br />
Mrs. Claus make their way<br />
out to the next stop. Family<br />
member, Kim Wuestefeld<br />
said, “It’s a tradition. I don’t<br />
remember a Christmas when<br />
they didn’t come! It’s a simple<br />
reminder of the innocence and<br />
wonder of being a kid.”<br />
On a freezing cold November<br />
evening, I headed over to<br />
Bright, where I was fortunate<br />
enough to attend a meeting of<br />
the Bright Lions Club, to learn<br />
about how they help to spread<br />
Christmas cheer in their area.<br />
The Bright Lions Club will be<br />
forty-two years old on December<br />
twenty-ninth, and they<br />
tout seventy-two members.<br />
The organization does a lot of<br />
good throughout the community,<br />
including providing vision<br />
screenings for elementary<br />
students in the area schools<br />
and donating various medical<br />
equipment to those who are in<br />
need.<br />
Continued on page 5A<br />
No Wait Immunizations,<br />
personal service.<br />
• Whooping Cough<br />
• Shingles<br />
• Pneumonia<br />
• Flu<br />
DeVille’s Dillsboro Drug Store<br />
12836 North St.<br />
Dillsboro, IN 47018<br />
812-432-5684<br />
DeVille’s Rising Sun Pharmacy<br />
223 Main St.<br />
Rising Sun, IN 47040<br />
812-438-3400<br />
DeVille’s Lawrenceburg Pharmacy<br />
and Medical Supply<br />
401 W Eads Parkway, Suite 270<br />
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025<br />
812-537-1798<br />
devillepharmacies.com<br />
Twenty-five Years of Bringing our Community and Businesses Together.
January 2020 THE BEACON Page 5A<br />
Holiday Cheer Can Be Found Near and Far for All to Enjoy<br />
Oldenburg celebrates Holiday Under the Spires each<br />
season with carolling and carriage rides. (Photo courtesy<br />
of Webber Photography)<br />
Veraestau is decorated in holiday splendor and open for<br />
tours. (Photo courtesy of the Dearborn County Convention<br />
and Visitors Bureau)<br />
Continued from page 4A<br />
The Bright Lions Club also<br />
hosts an annual Picture with<br />
Santa Event. The event has<br />
been going strong for thirtynine<br />
years and used to be held<br />
in the old Bright firehouse.<br />
Bright Lions Club member,<br />
Art Little<br />
Art Little,<br />
shared with<br />
me that he<br />
spent<br />
twenty-five<br />
years<br />
playing<br />
Santa Claus.<br />
The role was<br />
fitting<br />
because he<br />
bore a striking resemblance<br />
with his white beard. He<br />
spoke of the joy he got from<br />
seeing the pure delight and<br />
wonder in all of the children’s<br />
eyes who sat on his lap over<br />
the years, sharing with him<br />
their hopes and wishes. He<br />
shared how one little girl had<br />
walked a long way to the<br />
firehouse in the cold, pouring<br />
rain just to meet the fellow<br />
who came from The North<br />
Pole. Mr. Little said he was<br />
going to make sure, no matter<br />
what, that that little girl would<br />
get a Christmas. The most<br />
touching thing Mr. Little<br />
shared when looking back on<br />
the years he spent dressed to<br />
the nines as the man in the big<br />
red suit was, “Knowing he<br />
held two generations of<br />
children on his lap.” At this<br />
year’s event held at the Lion’s<br />
Club Building behind the<br />
Dave Nash<br />
Bright<br />
Firehouse,<br />
each child<br />
received a<br />
free picture<br />
and a<br />
stocking full<br />
of treats!<br />
Lion Club<br />
member,<br />
Dave Nash,<br />
has taken over the coveted<br />
role of Santa.<br />
Crossing over to Franklin<br />
County, we find ourselves in<br />
Mary Luhring with Mr. and<br />
Mrs. Claus at the Luhring<br />
Family Christmas Eve gathering.<br />
Mary passed away<br />
this past June at the age of<br />
ninety-six years young. (Photo<br />
courtesy of Erin Darringer)<br />
the quaint town of Oldenburg.<br />
Affectionately known as “The<br />
Village of Spires” due to its<br />
churches and religious educational<br />
institutions, the historic<br />
town goes all out for the<br />
Christmas holiday. In 2002 a<br />
local group of businesspeople<br />
began Holiday Under the<br />
Spires, which is a chance to<br />
enjoy the beauty and festivities<br />
of the town. In 2015, Oldenburg<br />
Academy’s National<br />
Business Honor Society joined<br />
the endeavor. Jonathon Maple,<br />
Assistant Principal of Oldenburg<br />
Academy, is part of the<br />
core committee and explained,<br />
“Our goal is to catch the holiday<br />
spirit under the spires! It is<br />
Celebrate<br />
the Holidays<br />
Give an evening of great food to<br />
family and friends.<br />
By giving a gift certificate to<br />
Market Street Grille,<br />
you are giving them the<br />
slow, exciting anticipation of<br />
a great evening out.<br />
NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE AT MarketStreetGrille.com<br />
a free day for families to help<br />
promote the businesses and<br />
charm in Oldenburg.” Attendees<br />
are treated to horse-drawn<br />
carriage rides, free Christmas<br />
cookies, live music, and<br />
specials in the local shops. The<br />
Boar’s Head Festival, which<br />
is a free musical event funded<br />
by The Batesville Arts Council<br />
that culminates the entire Holidays<br />
Under the Spires, is held<br />
in the Sisters of St. Francis<br />
Chapel. Mr. Maple concludes,<br />
“We try to keep it as traditional<br />
as possible, so people know<br />
what to expect, but always add<br />
a few fun changes.”<br />
Clearly, if you desire to get<br />
into the Christmas spirit, you<br />
need not look any further than<br />
our surrounding communities<br />
as a plethora of festivities<br />
is available. But perhaps the<br />
most important traditions are<br />
the ones that happen right in<br />
your own home, surrounded<br />
by the ones you love. Once<br />
upon a Christmas, a brownhaired,<br />
brown-eyed little girl<br />
rushed home from her great<br />
aunt’s house to get to bed<br />
before Jolly Old St. Nicholas<br />
passed through. A sense of<br />
wonder and magic glistened<br />
upon the freshly fallen snow as<br />
the car traveled over the hills<br />
and through the woods of the<br />
west side. As we hurried along,<br />
I spied out the window a red<br />
flash that pierced the night sky.<br />
My five-year-old self knew a<br />
passing plane it was not, indeed<br />
it ‘twas Rudolph’s shiny<br />
nose lighting the way. Now<br />
that I have children of my<br />
own, I think of the traditions<br />
we have created in our own<br />
home, and I find myself wishing<br />
they could always stay this<br />
young. Whatever your Christmas<br />
traditions are, may they<br />
warm your heart and may they<br />
fill you with the sense of wonder<br />
you felt as a child. Most<br />
importantly, “May you never<br />
be too grown up to search the<br />
skies on Christmas Eve.”<br />
Purchase a $50.00 Gift Certificate and receive a bonus<br />
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Bonus gift certificate is valid from January - April 2020. Promotion ends December 31st 2019<br />
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SHOP LOCAL and tell our advertisers you saw them in The BEACON!
Page 6A THE BEACON January 2020<br />
Area first-grade students<br />
recently wrote to Jolly Old<br />
St. Nick about their holiday<br />
wishes. We thought you might<br />
enjoy reading some of their<br />
letters.<br />
Dear Sentu,<br />
Hi! My name is Cali. Haw<br />
mene rain Deer do you rele<br />
have? Whie did you make 1<br />
uf my cucis in to a c? I like<br />
to sing so can I have a frosin<br />
mikrfon?<br />
Love, Cali Lannan<br />
Dear Santu,<br />
Hi! My Name is Beckham.<br />
How R your lvz? I wut a<br />
mnene dozr.<br />
Love, Beckham Ross<br />
Dear Santu,<br />
Haw are you?! My name is<br />
Olivia. Do your Randere rily<br />
fli? I wood like an Amarukin<br />
grll doll food truk and iskrem<br />
truk. Oh and wold you like<br />
sumthin? I wold be happy to<br />
give you sumthing.<br />
Love, Olivia Allison<br />
Credibility • Advocacy • Education • Visibility<br />
What Can The Chamber<br />
Do For You? Just Ask!<br />
812-537-0814<br />
www.dearborncountychamber.org<br />
D ear S anta<br />
Dear Santu,<br />
Dear Santa,<br />
Hi! My name is Emmett. Hi! May name is Audrey.<br />
Haw or yur randers doing? I How are you? I whold like<br />
wut a quod.<br />
slime.<br />
Luv, Emmett<br />
Love, Audrey Roessler<br />
Dear Satu,<br />
Haw are you? I am Ben.<br />
Wut are you rades nams? I<br />
wunt anuthr legoset.<br />
Love, Ben Satchwill<br />
Dear Satu,<br />
Hello? My name is Colton.<br />
How aer the ran deer? Can I<br />
have a hvr bord?<br />
Love, Colton Wanamaker<br />
Dear Satu,<br />
Hi! My nam is Lane. Ho<br />
my elfs do you have? Can I<br />
plez have a ranedeer and can I<br />
have a drcbic?<br />
Love, Lane Witte<br />
Dear Sante,<br />
Hello! My name is Lucy.<br />
You are gowin to love your<br />
mik and cuces. Can I pues haf<br />
2 macan grll dolls?<br />
Love, Lucy Yeary<br />
Dear Sata,<br />
Haw ar you? My nam is<br />
Ava. Did you like my cesces?<br />
I rile ned a jen jacit and princ<br />
ceraij.<br />
Love, Ava Snyder<br />
Dear Santa,<br />
I have been good this year.<br />
What would you like For<br />
Christmas? I wut a brby.<br />
Love, Lyla<br />
Dear Santa,<br />
Hi! My name is William.<br />
Do you like my kukes? Can<br />
you get me a huv r bord?<br />
Love, William Gibson<br />
Dear Santa,<br />
Hello! My name is Gabe.<br />
Did you like my milk and<br />
cookies? And can I have<br />
a PS4 for cristmas and art<br />
lessons?<br />
Love, Gabe Cole<br />
Dear Santa,<br />
I have been great this year!<br />
what Kind of cookie do you<br />
like best For Christmas I wou<br />
like LoL dolls. Thanks!<br />
Love, Ivy<br />
Dear santa,<br />
I have been good this year<br />
wut Do yoow lfs do at nit<br />
For Christmas I would like<br />
minBrow.<br />
Love, Jesse<br />
Dear santa<br />
I have been good this year!<br />
I want a rel hamstr and supris<br />
me.<br />
Love, Cooper<br />
Dear Satnta,<br />
I have been good this<br />
year Wut do you wunt for<br />
Christmas? Wut I wnt is<br />
instrmins and mowr macup<br />
can you do that for me?<br />
Love, Chloe<br />
Dear Santa,<br />
I have been good this year!<br />
I would like a drmp bike plese<br />
plese? and a hundred dolrs<br />
please?<br />
Love, Luke<br />
Dear Santa.<br />
I have been good. Would<br />
you give me my mom and dad<br />
play stashin 4 us thanks!<br />
Love, Blake<br />
Dear Santa,<br />
I have been good this year<br />
but what I would like four<br />
Christmas is an amarkin girl<br />
doll icmcreem truk and comper.<br />
Love, Elle<br />
Dear Santa,<br />
I have bin good This year.<br />
What Kind of cookies do you<br />
like? I would like LoLs.<br />
Love, Emalyn<br />
Twenty-five Years of Bringing our Community and Businesses Together.
January 2020 THE BEACON Page 7A<br />
Memories and Memorobilia Displayed from World War I and II<br />
By Katie Ulrich<br />
In this time in which we<br />
live, it’s easy to take for<br />
granted the convenience of<br />
our daily lives and the sheer<br />
amount of goods that we have<br />
available to us at all times. On<br />
days such as Veteran’s Day,<br />
we are reminded to reflect on<br />
what was lost. The sacrifices<br />
made by those who devoted<br />
themselves to the betterment<br />
of our country. Their sacrifices<br />
have allowed us to enjoy<br />
this prosperity today.<br />
Thinking of World War I<br />
and II as far away, long gone<br />
wars is pretty easy. They were<br />
wars that didn’t involve the<br />
Midwest, far from the cities<br />
in which we live. But draftees<br />
and volunteers came from<br />
every corner of our nation.<br />
Every community in the country<br />
lost sons and daughters to<br />
the war effort. Local veterans<br />
Tom Savage and Eric Smith<br />
set up a display of World War<br />
memorabilia in the Lawrenceburg<br />
American Legion for<br />
Veteran’s Day weekend. This<br />
memorabilia was available to<br />
the public and was toured by<br />
local school kids.<br />
While Tom Savage was<br />
drafted right after the building<br />
of the Berlin wall (finishing<br />
basic training in January of<br />
1962), he also remembers his<br />
father’s service in World War<br />
I. Neal Savage served from<br />
1917-1919. He passed on<br />
several items from his time<br />
of service to Tom, including a<br />
poster that had been given to<br />
new recruits right out of basic<br />
training. The poster listed<br />
people in the company, including<br />
Mr. Savage, who was<br />
a bugler. Tom’s father also left<br />
a helmet that Tom remembers<br />
playing with as a kid. “We<br />
probably gave it more dents<br />
than he did.” The helmet has<br />
a red diamond on the front,<br />
representing the Sixth Infantry<br />
Division. This division<br />
was also known as the<br />
“Sight-seeing Sixth” because<br />
they marched more than any<br />
other division. Among other<br />
mementos, Mr. Savage has a<br />
metal cup that was engraved<br />
by Jack Cyrus, a soldier who<br />
served with his father. It features<br />
a detailed eagle, as well<br />
as the names Jack Cyrus and<br />
Neal Savage and their dates of<br />
service. This engraving was<br />
Trench art created by Jack<br />
Cyrus while in the trenches<br />
during WWI.<br />
done while Mr. Cyrus and Mr.<br />
Savage were in the trenches<br />
waiting for a battle to start.<br />
Engravings such as this are<br />
known as “trench art.”<br />
Tom Savage’s brother,<br />
Frank, served during World<br />
War II as a radioman on the<br />
USS Springfield. During<br />
the war, the USS Springfield<br />
narrowly avoided a<br />
kamikaze attack, the plane<br />
instead crashing a mere fifty<br />
feet away. Perhaps the most<br />
notable aspect of the USS<br />
Springfield’s career was in<br />
carrying President Roosevelt<br />
on his journey to the Malta<br />
Conference. Frank Savage<br />
lent a medical storage box<br />
from the war for the display,<br />
lid open and entirely empty.<br />
The ship on which the medical<br />
box was found was the<br />
Tachibana Maru, a Japanese<br />
hospital ship. When caught by<br />
the U.S. Navy, The Tachibana<br />
Maru was filled with smuggled<br />
weapons and Japanese<br />
soldiers. These soldiers had<br />
bandages but, upon inspection,<br />
were found to be entirely<br />
uninjured. The elaborate ruse<br />
was done in order to transport<br />
able-bodied soldiers to front<br />
lines. Frank Savage found the<br />
medical box, full of medical<br />
instruments, on the Tachibana<br />
Maru and hid it. He returned<br />
later to find it completely<br />
picked clean. Frank is now in<br />
his nineties and had a medal<br />
of valor presented to him at<br />
a luncheon on Veteran’s Day<br />
weekend.<br />
Eric Smith has been collecting<br />
war memorabilia for<br />
as long as he can remember,<br />
as early as the age of six<br />
The Greendale<br />
Veterans<br />
Memorial was<br />
dedicated to<br />
veterans, firefighters,<br />
EMS,<br />
and police<br />
officers during<br />
the weekend of<br />
Veterans Day.<br />
Frank Savage’s map from his years of service.<br />
Photos by<br />
Katie Ulrich<br />
when relatives began passing<br />
items on to him. Eric had six<br />
uncles and three great uncles<br />
who served in World War II.<br />
Over the years, Mr. Smith’s<br />
collection has become extensive.<br />
Eric grew up in Bright,<br />
surrounded by many World<br />
War veterans. He recalls his<br />
childhood, “While other kids<br />
were playing baseball, I was<br />
an Army nut.” Eric enlisted<br />
in the Army at age seventeen,<br />
with his father’s signature<br />
of permission. He arrived in<br />
Vietnam in January 1971 at<br />
just nineteen years old. Eric<br />
served in the Army for over<br />
twenty years and as a Green<br />
Beret for seventeen years,<br />
teaching people how to use all<br />
kinds of weapons.<br />
Mr. Smith helped establish<br />
the American Legion post in<br />
Bright and serves as the Sergeant<br />
at Arms. Although this<br />
was a first-time event in Lawrenceburg,<br />
he regularly sets<br />
up World War displays with<br />
the memorabilia he owns.<br />
In tandem with the Lawrenceburg<br />
display, Greendale<br />
dedicated a new memorial for<br />
The medical storage box found empty by Frank Savage.<br />
215 E. Broadway St, P.O. Box 513<br />
Harrison, Ohio 45030<br />
(513)367-4545 Fax: (513)367-4546<br />
www.jackmanhensley.com<br />
We believe in going beyond what is<br />
expected to offer each family a caring<br />
compassionate service for<br />
an affordable price.<br />
215 E. Broadway St, P.O. Box 513<br />
Harrison, Ohio 45030<br />
(513)367-4545 Fax: (513)367-4546<br />
www.jackmanhensley.com<br />
Uniforms displayed at the<br />
Lawrenceburg American<br />
Legion Exhibit.<br />
veterans, firefighters, EMS,<br />
and police officers. Through<br />
the recognition of the sacrifices<br />
of these men and women,<br />
we are reminded of the prosperous<br />
lives we have today.<br />
“Providing funerals and cremations with dignity and compassion.”<br />
Sign up for Spring classes<br />
starting January 13th!<br />
Come to the Lawrenceburg<br />
Express Enrollment Center<br />
to get started!<br />
Lawrenceburg Express Enrollment Center<br />
(812) 537-4010<br />
50 Walnut Street Lawrenceburg, IN 47025<br />
SHOP LOCAL and tell our advertisers you saw them in The BEACON!
Page 8A THE BEACON January 2020<br />
By Linda Hutchinson<br />
Fresh Starts<br />
A while back, we were on a<br />
long road trip with our three<br />
youngest kids. We threw out<br />
some fun open-ended questions<br />
knowing that they had<br />
LOTS of time in the car to<br />
think about their responses. We<br />
asked questions like, “What do<br />
you want your life to look like<br />
in five years?” “What do you<br />
want to be doing in 10 years?”<br />
“What kind of things are you<br />
doing NOW to get you where<br />
you say you want to go?”<br />
Hearing them verbalize their<br />
dreams and goals out loud was<br />
fun. I think they even surprised<br />
themselves with some of their<br />
answers. The questions made<br />
them think.<br />
These kinds of questions<br />
are not just classic discussionstarters<br />
with kids but with<br />
adults as well. I remember my<br />
husband asking me these same<br />
kinds of questions early in<br />
our marriage. He still does. It<br />
used to drive me crazy. I didn’t<br />
know what I wanted to do<br />
next week, let alone next year.<br />
But as I reflect on those early<br />
years, I am now so thankful<br />
that my husband is a dreamer.<br />
He is always looking ahead<br />
and pushing me to set new<br />
goals. I didn’t like it at first,<br />
but I now see that he is helping<br />
me step out of my comfort<br />
zone.<br />
I wish I had written down<br />
some of those early goals we<br />
dreamed about together and<br />
could compare them with our<br />
reality today. Thanks to my<br />
husband’s constant encouragement<br />
and nudging over<br />
the past thirty-five years, I<br />
can honestly say that I am<br />
living my best life ever with<br />
no regrets. That’s not to say<br />
I haven’t made my share of<br />
stupid mistakes; I’ve made<br />
plenty of those. What I think<br />
my husband gave me, though,<br />
was the courage to try new<br />
things in spite of my fears. He<br />
encouraged me to step out of<br />
my comfort zone and set big<br />
goals, even if it meant I made<br />
a mistake or didn’t succeed.<br />
What about you? Is what<br />
you’re doing NOW going to<br />
get you where you want to be<br />
LATER? If you’re on track to<br />
accomplish your dreams and<br />
reach your goals, awesome!<br />
If you’ve already achieved<br />
them, congratulations! You’re<br />
part of the 2% club. Yep,<br />
that’s right. Research shows<br />
that ninety-eight percent of<br />
people die without fulfilling<br />
their dreams. Okay, so maybe<br />
you haven’t seen your wildest<br />
dreams come true. What about<br />
some short term goals? How<br />
do people fair with those? The<br />
results are not much better.<br />
Research shows that, on average,<br />
only eight percent of folks<br />
follow through with their New<br />
Year’s resolutions.<br />
My goal in writing this<br />
is not to depress you but to<br />
Fresh Starts<br />
help refocus your energy and<br />
priorities on where you want<br />
to be. Are you ready for a fresh<br />
start? Are you prepared to put<br />
some verbs in your sentences<br />
and get to work on a real plan<br />
for your future? Do you have<br />
goals or dreams you have not<br />
been able to reach? At Rock<br />
Solid Families, we work all<br />
the time with individuals and<br />
couples who are struggling or<br />
feel stuck. Sometimes, they<br />
come in knowing what their<br />
problem is, but they often have<br />
no idea where to start. They<br />
feel like they are floundering<br />
in a world of indecision.<br />
One way we help our clients<br />
is to ask them to rate the satisfaction<br />
level of different areas<br />
of their lives. We have them<br />
focus on eight different areas:<br />
financial, relational, emotional,<br />
physical, professional, spiritual,<br />
intellectual, and recreational.<br />
After they score the<br />
different areas of their lives,<br />
they focus on one or two areas<br />
with the lowest satisfaction<br />
scores. Together, we work on<br />
setting some SMART goals.<br />
One of the dangers of setting<br />
personal goals is making them<br />
too difficult or unattainable.<br />
Here are some ideas on how<br />
to set some SMART goals and<br />
see your dreams come true.<br />
S- Be SPECIFIC. Don’t<br />
just say, “I’m going to lose<br />
weight next year.” Write down<br />
a specific goal like “I’m going<br />
to lose five pounds in the next<br />
Peace On Earth.<br />
Goodwill To All!<br />
four weeks, and then go back<br />
and assess after a month.”<br />
M- Make it MEASURABLE<br />
You want to set a goal that can<br />
be measured at some point. If<br />
one of your financial goals is<br />
to put more money into your<br />
savings, put a dollar figure to<br />
that goal. For instance, I want<br />
to save an extra $100 each<br />
week and put it in my savings.<br />
That’s an easy goal to measure.<br />
A- ACHIEVABLE Dreaming<br />
big is great, but if you give<br />
up in a month, what good was<br />
the goal? Make your goals<br />
achievable. Making New Year<br />
resolutions year after year and<br />
never make it past February<br />
is depressing. Don’t try to<br />
do everything at once. When<br />
we “bite off more than we<br />
can chew,” we get frustrated<br />
and give up before we have a<br />
chance to see the fruits of our<br />
efforts. Be realistic in what<br />
you can accomplish. If you<br />
want to save $100 more a<br />
week, but after you pay your<br />
car payment and gas, you only<br />
have $20 left at the end of the<br />
week, then your goal is unrealistic<br />
and unachievable.<br />
R- RELEVANT Put the big<br />
rocks in first. Set goals that<br />
will have an immediate and<br />
positive impact on your life.<br />
Focus on your lowest satisfaction<br />
scores and set goals that<br />
are relevant to those areas<br />
of your life. I recently had<br />
a client who was struggling<br />
relationally and professionally.<br />
She had lost many of her closest<br />
relationships after leaving<br />
her longtime career. Focusing<br />
on those two areas first was<br />
important. Losing weight or<br />
building up her savings account<br />
should not be her top<br />
priority. A relevant goal for her<br />
was to find a job that would<br />
stimulate her both professionally<br />
and relationally.<br />
T- TIME-BASED Putting a<br />
deadline on yourself is crucial.<br />
Setting goals for 2020 is too<br />
broad. Be more specific with<br />
your deadlines. I recommend<br />
no longer than six to eight<br />
weeks at a time, and I highly<br />
recommend sharing your timeline<br />
with a friend or family<br />
member. If you want to reconnect<br />
with your faith, set a goal<br />
to attend church five out of the<br />
next six weeks and ask your<br />
spouse to go along with you.<br />
Remember that these are your<br />
goals, not theirs. Even if they<br />
decline, you should still go.<br />
Instead of saying that you’re<br />
going to start praying “more,”<br />
set a time-based goal that you<br />
can measure. Your goal may<br />
be to set aside fifteen minutes<br />
every day for prayer.<br />
If you’re reading this and<br />
already having doubts that<br />
you can hit the reset button<br />
and make a fresh start, solicit<br />
the help of a friend, coach, or<br />
counselor. Don’t try to go it<br />
alone. We all need the support<br />
and encouragement of others.<br />
As I mentioned earlier, my<br />
husband has always been a<br />
HUGE encouragement to me<br />
to get out of my comfort zone<br />
and dream big. Rock Solid<br />
Families, was one of those big<br />
dreams that we began envisioning<br />
over eight years ago.<br />
We both felt that God was preparing<br />
us for something new<br />
by working with couples and<br />
families full time but didn’t<br />
quite know the “how” or the<br />
“when” or even the “where.”<br />
I am so thankful that Merrill<br />
kept nudging me to dream big.<br />
What about you? What’s<br />
your passion? As the new year<br />
approaches, now is a great time<br />
to pause and reflect on a few<br />
questions. Be honest and transparent<br />
with yourself. Where<br />
am I now? Where do I want<br />
to be next year? In five years?<br />
Is what I’m doing right now<br />
going to get me there? If it’s<br />
not, maybe the time has come<br />
to push the reset button. Make<br />
some changes. Solicit help.<br />
Don’t settle for anything less.<br />
Linda Hutchinson is the<br />
Executive Director of Rock<br />
Solid Families, a faith-based<br />
life coaching organization in<br />
St. Leon, IN.<br />
Wagon Shed<br />
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Specializing in all natural soy candles<br />
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Twenty-five Years of Bringing our Community and Businesses Together.
January 2020 THE BEACON Page 9A<br />
Less Waste,<br />
More Cheer<br />
By Stefanie Hoffmeier<br />
According to the National<br />
Retail Federation, consumers<br />
say they will spend an average<br />
of $1,047.83 this holiday season,<br />
up 4% from 2018. Spending<br />
more means more packaging,<br />
mailing boxes, wrapping<br />
paper, and food containers.<br />
Household waste increases<br />
by 25% from Thanksgiving<br />
to New Years. It’s time to<br />
reduce, reuse, and “recycle all<br />
the way”! Here are a few tips<br />
to make your holidays have<br />
less waste and more cheer.<br />
• Give an experience instead<br />
of stuff. Tickets to a show or<br />
an event require no packaging<br />
and only leave behind memories<br />
instead of trash.<br />
• If you are baking holiday<br />
treats as a gift, package them<br />
in reusable containers.<br />
• Send your holiday greetings<br />
and party invites via<br />
email or social media to reduce<br />
the amount of paper that<br />
will end up in the trash.<br />
• Keep reusable bags in<br />
your car for holiday shopping.<br />
If you forget your reusable<br />
bags, plastic bags can be recycled<br />
at big-box retailers like<br />
Kroger and Target.<br />
• Make sure you have a recycling<br />
container for guests to<br />
use. Wrapping paper, plastic<br />
bottles, aluminum cans, and<br />
glass bottles are all recyclable.<br />
• Food packaging such as<br />
cartons for broth, eggnog,<br />
milk, and juice can all be<br />
recycled. Metal cans and flattened<br />
cardboard box packaging<br />
can also be placed in the<br />
recycling bin.<br />
• Cardboard shipping boxes<br />
can be recycled if they are<br />
flattened down. Styrofoam<br />
peanuts, bubble wrap, and<br />
plastic cushioning cannot be<br />
recycled. When shipping gifts,<br />
use shredded paper or newspaper<br />
as cushioning.<br />
• Holiday gift bags, tissue<br />
paper, and bows can<br />
be reused. Gift bags, tissue<br />
paper, and wrapping paper<br />
can also be recycled if they<br />
are flattened down and any<br />
ribbons or strings removed.<br />
Consider wrapping gifts using<br />
recyclable materials or reusable<br />
shopping bags. Fabric<br />
used for wrapping paper has<br />
a homemade look and can be<br />
reused the next year.<br />
• Use durable, washable<br />
dishes and serving ware<br />
during your party or family<br />
get-together. Paper plates and<br />
plastic silverware are not recyclable<br />
and contribute to a large<br />
portion of the holiday trash.<br />
The members of your<br />
household will probably receive<br />
at least a few electronic<br />
items as gifts for Christmas<br />
this year. Don’t just discard<br />
or shove the old electronics<br />
that are being replaced to the<br />
back of a closet or basement.<br />
Electronics contain toxins that<br />
can leak into the environment<br />
when dumped into a landfill.<br />
The Dearborn County Recycling<br />
Center (DCRC) accepts<br />
electronics for recycling free<br />
of charge year-round for Dearborn<br />
County residents. The<br />
DCRC accepts televisions (for<br />
a fee), computers, monitors,<br />
tablets, cell phones, game consoles,<br />
camcorders, cameras,<br />
printers, keyboards, and more.<br />
Electronics contain valuable,<br />
reusable materials like gold,<br />
steel, silver, copper, and glass<br />
that can be recycled. Not only<br />
are the electronics harmful to<br />
the environment, but rechargeable<br />
batteries that are in those<br />
electronics create a fire hazard<br />
in waste hauling trucks. You<br />
can bring non-alkaline batteries<br />
to the DCRC Drive-Thru<br />
to be recycled. Regular alkaline<br />
batteries are safe to place<br />
in your regular trash.<br />
As you put up or take down<br />
your holiday string lights, you<br />
may find that you have broken<br />
strands, or you may want to<br />
invest in newer, more energyefficient<br />
LED lights. Before<br />
throwing your old lights in the<br />
trash, consider recycling them<br />
at the DCRC. String lights<br />
contain common recyclable<br />
materials like metal, plastic,<br />
and sometimes glass. The<br />
DCRC Drive-Thru accepts<br />
string lights year-round. Never<br />
put them in curbside recycling<br />
bins, as they get tangled in<br />
recycling sorting machines.<br />
Real Christmas trees,<br />
wreaths, and garland can<br />
be chipped up for mulch or<br />
composted. Make sure that all<br />
decorations and wires are removed.<br />
For Lawrenceburg residents,<br />
you can take your tree<br />
FROM<br />
H ere<br />
By<br />
Ollie<br />
Roehm<br />
My old friend Bob Hyle,<br />
God rest his soul, was a huge<br />
fan of the movie “Hoosiers”<br />
and always maintained that<br />
it is the greatest movie ever<br />
made. Bob was a Bright resident,<br />
longtime columnist and<br />
sports reporter for The Harrison<br />
Press, and a fine man.<br />
He loved basketball more than<br />
anyone I’ve ever known.<br />
I used to tease Bob a lot<br />
about my Indiana basketball<br />
bona fides vs. his. Bob, a ’69<br />
grad, went to LaSalle High<br />
School in Cincinnati, and I<br />
went to little Whitewater High<br />
School in Franklin County,<br />
Indiana. I played basketball<br />
all four years and got to experience<br />
something wonderful<br />
that Bob did not while growing<br />
up in Cheviot and going<br />
to LaSalle. Basketball was a<br />
sport where Bob lived. It was<br />
almost a religion in my part of<br />
the world.<br />
Practices began the first<br />
week of October, and games<br />
started in early November.<br />
Prior to the first regularseason<br />
game, we always had<br />
to the City Garage and place it<br />
in a special collection container<br />
for trees. Some neighborhoods<br />
like Hidden Valley Lake<br />
offer their residents a place<br />
to recycle trees. Greendale<br />
residents can put their tree out<br />
with the regular yard waste<br />
collection. Always check with<br />
your waste hauler to see if<br />
they pick up trees in the weeks<br />
following Christmas. If the<br />
thought of hauling your tree to<br />
another location is too daunting,<br />
then you can chop up the<br />
branches and needles and use<br />
them under trees and shrubs as<br />
winter mulch.<br />
It’s easy to reduce your<br />
waste during the holidays<br />
when you plan ahead. If you<br />
are not sure if an item is recyclable,<br />
visit DearbornCounty-<br />
Recycles.com.<br />
a “soap game” scrimmage to<br />
which the community was<br />
invited. The admission fee<br />
was a bar of soap, and when<br />
the game was over, we always<br />
had enough soap for showers<br />
for the rest of the season.<br />
Friday nights during basketball<br />
season in Indiana<br />
attracted just about everyone.<br />
Tiny gyms in tiny high<br />
schools filled up with farmers,<br />
factory workers, mechanics,<br />
housewives, and folks from<br />
all walks of life. Depending<br />
on where you were sitting,<br />
you could smell cow dung,<br />
pig poop, perfume, chewing<br />
tobacco, popcorn, Old Spice,<br />
sweat, fuel oil, and other wonderful<br />
aromas. It was cramped,<br />
loud, smelly, and it was great.<br />
We played schools, now<br />
long gone, like Alquina,<br />
Kitchel, Laurel, Liberty,<br />
Fountain City, Sunman, North<br />
Dearborn, Waldron, New<br />
Point, Milroy, College Corner,<br />
and many others. With just<br />
a couple of exceptions, the<br />
gyms were cracker boxes.<br />
The College Corner gym<br />
was truly special. The centerline<br />
also served as the state<br />
line, dividing Indiana and<br />
Ohio. Every time you crossed<br />
it, you changed states. If you<br />
straddled it, you were in both<br />
states. When Indiana was on<br />
Central Time, a player could<br />
shoot from the Indiana side<br />
and make a basket an hour<br />
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BRIGHT: 1400 sq ft ranch on 5<br />
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covered BATESVILLE: porches. Clean $124,900 move in ready $114,900 3 bedroom, 2 bath home<br />
BRIGHT: with eat-in 2 kitchen story home and laundry with 4 area. LOGAN: 2 car Clean garage older and 2 story concrete<br />
driveway. baths, 1st New flr laundry carpet and<br />
with laminate large flooring wrap around through covered<br />
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bd,3.5<br />
master home. suite, Freshly open painted. floor plan, Nice full level porch, backyard city utilities, with patio. 28x44 Close 3 car<br />
finished LL with wet bar and gas concrete block garage with loft, on<br />
to schools and interstate $149,900.<br />
FP, great for entertaining, large 1.25 acres. $159,900<br />
rear deck $244,900<br />
LAND<br />
BRIGHT: Nice Large 3 bed, 4 bed, 3 bath 2.5 ranch Located on a dead end road at<br />
LOGAN: 8.6 acre lot fairly secluded<br />
with bath eat-in home kitchen, w/living gas room fireplace, plus on the Sawdon edge of Ridge, Bright utilities $329,900. at street<br />
LL large family 1st room, floor family oversized room garage w/ $99,900<br />
with concrete driveway and add’t LAND<br />
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open HARRISON: Beautiful rolling 3.9<br />
WEISBURG: Level 12.3<br />
concept kitchen, dining room acre lot available on private drive<br />
ST. LEON: Older 2 story home all acers with over 600 ft of road<br />
or a home office & 1st floor off Edgewood Rd. $75,000<br />
city utilities, newer high efficiency frontage and city water. Nearly<br />
furnace. laundry. Great Home location has a covered to hwy and SUNMAN: .87 building lot available<br />
in Whitetail Run subdivision.<br />
all is tillable. $109,900<br />
schools, patio, oversized summer kitchen, attached enclosed<br />
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LOGAN: Opportunities<br />
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tall insulted pole building w/<br />
HARRISON: Beautiful 2.093 acre<br />
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BRIGHT: propane 3 & wood bed, 2.5 burning bath stove, home<br />
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1st LOGAN: and frontage 2.89 acre on 2 wooded roads. country<br />
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later in Ohio. Or something<br />
like that…<br />
Many of the gyms, including<br />
College Corner, were so<br />
small that fast breaks were<br />
downright dangerous. The<br />
wall was located about a foot<br />
from the basket, and guys often<br />
slammed into it while running<br />
full blast. Even though<br />
there was usually a pad to<br />
help absorb the blow, injuries<br />
were common.<br />
Analgesic balm was the primary<br />
go-to when treating injuries<br />
of most sorts. It was an<br />
orange goo that came out of<br />
a five-gallon bucket, and you<br />
could smell the stuff a continent<br />
away. Think Ben Gay,<br />
but much, much stronger.<br />
Since the best basketball shoe<br />
back then was the Converse<br />
All-Star, there were plenty of<br />
sprains, shin splints, and the<br />
like. Enter the orange goo.<br />
But during the early ‘70s,<br />
everything changed. Schools<br />
consolidated, gyms got bigger,<br />
and other sports and activities<br />
became popular. As a result,<br />
Indiana high school basketball<br />
became less important.<br />
I was fortunate to experience<br />
the true essence of<br />
Indiana basketball, orange<br />
goo, and all. There will never<br />
be anything like it again. And<br />
I was even more fortunate to<br />
know a man like Bob Hyle.<br />
There will never be anyone<br />
like him again.<br />
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Page 10A THE BEACON January 2020<br />
By Mary-Alice Helms<br />
Although the United States<br />
had officially gone to war just<br />
eight days into December of<br />
1941, we who were kids were<br />
somewhat blissfully unaware<br />
of the burdens our parents<br />
were carrying. Christmas was<br />
still Christmas, so we thought,<br />
in spite of the glaring black<br />
headlines in the newspapers<br />
and the somber voices of<br />
newscasters on the radio. I<br />
don’t think any of us actually<br />
knew what “war” meant.<br />
I remember being worried<br />
when I heard the teachers at<br />
school discussing who might<br />
be “drafted,” and I heard them<br />
whisper the name of our beloved<br />
music teacher, Mr. Zepp.<br />
Oh, no. Mr. Zepp couldn’t be<br />
leaving, could he? And what<br />
about our dad? Our mother<br />
quickly quieted our fears about<br />
our father by explaining that,<br />
having married a little later<br />
in life, Dad’s age made him<br />
ineligible for the draft. Even<br />
though his number had come<br />
up during World War I, the<br />
war had ended before he was<br />
called to serve. “Thank goodness,”<br />
I thought, “Daddy is between<br />
wars!” And so we went<br />
on preparing for Christmas.<br />
I was just six years old, enjoying<br />
my first year of school.<br />
What fun we had, making<br />
wreaths by tracing our handprints<br />
on green paper, then<br />
cutting the images out and<br />
pasting them together in circles.<br />
We decorated the wreaths<br />
however our imaginations<br />
dictated, with colored pictures<br />
Christmas 1941<br />
of fruits, berries, and bells cut<br />
from magazine photos. We<br />
thought the wreaths were gorgeous<br />
when we hung them in<br />
the classroom windows. Miss<br />
Wiebe brought in a small cedar<br />
tree, which made the room<br />
smell heavenly. We decorated<br />
it with colored paper chains<br />
and bows made of strips of<br />
red and green cloth. Oh, what<br />
a work of art!<br />
We could hear the high<br />
school band practicing Christmas<br />
songs in the cafeteria below<br />
our room. We sang Christmas<br />
carols in Music Class. We<br />
each drew a classmate’s name<br />
from an emptied oatmeal box<br />
so that we could be a “secret<br />
Santa.” We were to bring in a<br />
gift (not to exceed twenty-five<br />
cents) for the person whose<br />
name we had drawn. The gifts<br />
were to be placed under the<br />
tree and would be distributed<br />
by Santa Claus, who was to<br />
visit each classroom on the<br />
last day before Christmas<br />
break. How exciting was that?<br />
Of course, the name one had<br />
drawn was supposed to be a<br />
deep, dark secret, but somehow<br />
became common knowledge<br />
in a very short time.<br />
Brookville is a Christmas<br />
sort of town. Even though<br />
they must have been concerned<br />
about the war and<br />
what it might mean to their<br />
families and their businesses,<br />
the merchants did their best<br />
to spread the cheer, that year.<br />
The windows were decorated<br />
as always, with displays ranging<br />
from toys and ice skates<br />
to kitchen ranges or lovely<br />
lingerie and dresses. Many a<br />
once- sparkling store window<br />
showed smudges left by little<br />
fingers and noses, pressed as<br />
close as possible to the wonders<br />
arranged inside.<br />
Churches, too, were special<br />
during that waiting time<br />
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All Aboard Train Display<br />
Batesville Historical Center<br />
15 W. George – Batesville<br />
before Christmas. Sunday<br />
school teachers told wonderful<br />
stories of the first Christmas.<br />
There were moving<br />
Christmas pageants, with<br />
farmers and teachers and<br />
bankers dressed in various<br />
bathrobes and head wraps<br />
portraying kings and shepherds.<br />
Children sang Christmas<br />
songs and squirmed<br />
under the lights, struggling to<br />
remember the lines to poems<br />
they had memorized. There<br />
was always a “fellowship dinner”<br />
held after the last Sunday<br />
service before Christmas, in<br />
a church basement redolent<br />
with the scent of previous<br />
chili suppers.<br />
In 1941 the Great Depression<br />
was on its last legs, but<br />
families still were feeling its<br />
effects. Our parents were very<br />
frugal. Money was scarce in<br />
our house, so we had learned<br />
to substitute what we had for<br />
what we wanted. While our<br />
Christmas tree might not have<br />
looked so elegant that year,<br />
Julie and I thought it was gorgeous.<br />
Mother was an expert<br />
at making “something” out<br />
of “nothing.” She had gathered<br />
sycamore balls, which<br />
we had wrapped in foil saved<br />
throughout the year, and hung<br />
them on the tree branches.<br />
She had painted the edges of<br />
pine cones with silver, gold,<br />
or white paint. They, too,<br />
were hung on the tree. There<br />
were one or two strings of<br />
colored lights, which died<br />
each time a bulb burned out.<br />
The budget was stretched to<br />
accommodate the purchase<br />
of a 10 cent box of silvery<br />
foil icicles—the final touch!<br />
The gifts under the tree would<br />
go to our aunts, uncles, and<br />
grandparents. They were colorfully<br />
wrapped in Christmas<br />
paper carefully saved from the<br />
Christmas before and ironed<br />
Talk with your local licensed<br />
Humana Sales agent today.<br />
513-857-9513 (TTY: 711)<br />
Talk with your local licensed<br />
Humana Sales agent today.<br />
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.<br />
513-857-9513 (TTY: 711)<br />
Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.<br />
Dan Art<br />
Displayed October – Mid-January<br />
Hours: Thursday & Friday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m. – Noon<br />
Group Appt. or Special Times 812-212-9382<br />
Special Hours Nov – Dec<br />
Batesville Area Historical Society.org<br />
to remove all traces of previous<br />
folds.<br />
I still can feel the excitement<br />
that built up during<br />
those last few days before<br />
Christmas. The culmination<br />
at school was on the last day<br />
before Christmas break. That<br />
day was completely given to<br />
celebrating Christmas. We<br />
were to have a spelling test<br />
to justify having school on<br />
that day, but the words were<br />
“sleigh,” “snow,” and “tree.”<br />
At last, we heard the unmistakable<br />
sound of sleigh<br />
bells, and a loud “Ho, ho,<br />
ho”! He was here—Santa was<br />
on his way to our first-grade<br />
room. We were spellbound<br />
when the red suit filled the<br />
door, and Santa was actually<br />
in the room. He brought<br />
with him gifts for each child.<br />
We opened the brown paper<br />
bags to find that each held an<br />
apple, an orange, peanuts in<br />
the shell, and a striped candy<br />
cane. What a haul! Santa was<br />
very friendly. He made the<br />
rounds of the room, actually<br />
calling some of the students<br />
by name. As he left, he patted<br />
the girls on the head and<br />
shook hands with the boys. It<br />
was wonderful!<br />
When I got home after<br />
school, Mother met me at<br />
the door to see the gift from<br />
my “secret Santa” (a pretty<br />
colored handkerchief—no<br />
Kleenex or Puffs back then!)<br />
and the bag of goodies from<br />
Santa. That was when I was<br />
hit by a dilemma—should<br />
I tell her or not? Would she<br />
be upset with me? I decided<br />
that it was time. “Mother,” I<br />
blurted, “I don’t believe there<br />
is a Santa Claus!”<br />
She blinked a couple of<br />
times and then asked the<br />
one question I was hoping<br />
she would skip. “Why do<br />
you think that?” She asked.<br />
“Didn’t Santa come to school<br />
today?”<br />
“Yes, he did,” I answered.<br />
“But I know who it was in<br />
that suit. It was Daddy!”<br />
“How did you know that?”<br />
she asked, never denying<br />
what I had claimed.<br />
“Well,” I admitted slowly,<br />
“When he patted me on the<br />
head, I saw the ring on his<br />
finger. It was Daddy’s wedding<br />
ring!”<br />
To my surprise, Mother<br />
began laughing. When Daddy<br />
came home and she told him<br />
my story, he laughed, too.<br />
It was kind of a sad year,<br />
1941, when I learned about<br />
Santa and the world reeled<br />
into a terrible war. But I<br />
learned that it was more fun to<br />
keep the secret about Christmas<br />
from Julie, and later, my<br />
younger sister, Ellen. And the<br />
world was learning about the<br />
strength, unity, and courage<br />
that is America.<br />
Respiratory Therapy- Rewarding Possibilities<br />
Dan Art<br />
For more information,<br />
contact: Mike Chaney<br />
MS Ed., RRT, Respiratory Care<br />
Program Chair<br />
Michael.Chaney2@cincinnatistate.edu<br />
Twenty-five Years of Bringing our Community and Businesses Together.
January 2020 THE BEACON Page 11A<br />
8 9 4 2 1<br />
5 3 8<br />
1 5 7<br />
9 5 7<br />
8 6 4<br />
6 9<br />
7 1 6<br />
1 8 7<br />
4 3 7 8 5<br />
Sudoku<br />
Sudoku is a logical puzzle game that may seem difficult at<br />
first glance, but actually it is not as hard as it looks! Fill a<br />
number in to every cell in the grid, using the numbers 1 to<br />
9. You can only use each number once in each row, each<br />
column, and in each of the 3×3 boxes. The solution can be<br />
found on our website www.goBEACONnews.com/print_<br />
edition. Click on the link for Sudoku and view the solution<br />
for this month and last. Good luck and have fun!<br />
M<br />
DEAR<br />
ARIE<br />
By<br />
Marie<br />
Segale<br />
marie@goBEACONnews.com<br />
Dear Marie,<br />
My very good friend is<br />
going to have a total knee<br />
replacement surgery next<br />
month. She is determined<br />
to go home after surgery<br />
and take care of herself even<br />
though she is single and lives<br />
alone. She does, however,<br />
concede that she will need<br />
people to come to check on<br />
her to see if she needs anything.<br />
One of her daughters<br />
has offered to take her to her<br />
home after surgery, where<br />
she will receive loving care<br />
to assist her in her recovery.<br />
I personally know women<br />
who have had excellent care<br />
after surgery and women who<br />
have not. I am convinced<br />
that having supportive care<br />
for a week or ten days can<br />
make all the difference in<br />
recovery.<br />
Marie, I think my friend<br />
is being stubborn. How can<br />
I convince her to go to her<br />
daughter’s where she will get<br />
excellent care?<br />
Janet from Brookville<br />
Dear Janet,<br />
I can understand your concern<br />
for your friend. Having<br />
a knee replacement is a major<br />
surgery. Your friend will be<br />
on pain pills, which could<br />
impede her judgment; she<br />
will need someone to help her<br />
keep track of her medicine<br />
schedule for the first few days<br />
and perhaps up to a week.<br />
As with any surgery, complications<br />
are possible, in<br />
which case she will undoubtedly<br />
need to have someone<br />
who can care for her. Not<br />
only is it wise to have people<br />
scheduled to help care for<br />
you, having all of one’s papers<br />
in order is important. A<br />
living will, power of attorney,<br />
medical power of attorney,<br />
finances, a will, and any other<br />
legal paperwork. My uncle<br />
went in for a routine operation<br />
and died on the operating<br />
table. We were all shocked<br />
and stunned; anything can<br />
happen. There is no such<br />
thing as a simple operation.<br />
Convince your friend to<br />
accept help and stay with her<br />
daughter. She will be grateful<br />
after the surgery to have<br />
had the care her daughter can<br />
give.<br />
Have a pressing issue?<br />
Contact Marie@goBEACONnews.com<br />
From a Dog’s Point of View<br />
By Axle and Tammy Turner<br />
Well hello. My name is<br />
Axle, and I am a four-yearold<br />
Shepherd/Husky mix here<br />
at the shelter. I get to talk to<br />
you about holiday parties.<br />
Now, not to brag, but I am<br />
a real party animal around<br />
here. I love to play with my<br />
toys and run with the other<br />
dogs. My favorite thing is to<br />
spend some one-on-one time<br />
with the wonderful people<br />
who come in and take me for<br />
walks. I get to really tell them<br />
how things are going with<br />
my friends and me. So if you<br />
come and adopt me, I can be<br />
the entertainment for your<br />
holiday get together. I really<br />
am a good boy.<br />
So let’s talk. Hosting a<br />
holiday party or family gettogether,<br />
or maybe a New<br />
Year’s Eve Party? Please<br />
be considerate of your pets.<br />
They are used to having you<br />
around all the time, and may<br />
not be comfortable having a<br />
lot of people around or with<br />
all the commotion that can<br />
come with the holiday parties.<br />
If your pets are uncomfortable<br />
around other people, you<br />
may want to consider putting<br />
them in another room while<br />
the party is going on. Now<br />
that doesn’t mean to shut the<br />
door and forget them for a<br />
while. Remember, all they<br />
really want is to be with you.<br />
Maybe put them in with their<br />
bed or some blankets and toys<br />
and also have the TV on to<br />
drown out some of the noise.<br />
What can also help a pet is to<br />
give them one of your shirts<br />
that has been worn. Your scent<br />
on the shirt can also work as<br />
a comforting agent. Be sure<br />
to check on them regularly so<br />
that they won’t feel forgotten.<br />
Then when the get-together is<br />
over, they are great at helping<br />
with the clean-up. Who<br />
needs to get out the sweeper<br />
when you have a dog around,<br />
right? They feel like those<br />
little scraps have been left<br />
just for them. Make sure the<br />
scraps are things that they can<br />
have, or that they don’t get<br />
too much to cause an upset<br />
stomach. Just because you<br />
overate and are feeling like<br />
a balloon in the Macy’s Day<br />
Parade doesn’t mean your pet<br />
has to as well. Do you keep a<br />
list of the things that dogs are<br />
not allowed to eat? Here is<br />
the list to keep as a reminder.<br />
With the holidays coming, the<br />
last thing you want is a trip to<br />
the vet with an agitated pet.<br />
• Chocolate<br />
• Grapes, raisins, currants<br />
• Tea, coffee, soda<br />
• Alcohol<br />
• Mushrooms<br />
•Avocados<br />
• Salt, high sodium snacks<br />
• Cooked bones (they can splinter)<br />
• Raw fish<br />
• Apple seeds<br />
• Yeast bread, cakes<br />
• Xylitol (artificial sweetener)<br />
• Onions, garlic<br />
• Milk, dairy products<br />
• Macadamia nuts<br />
Here at the shelter, our<br />
Axle<br />
favorite thing is a Kong toy<br />
with peanut butter in it and<br />
put in the freezer for a while.<br />
It’s like having a popsicle, and<br />
it keeps us occupied for a long<br />
time.<br />
So I hope you have a<br />
wonderful holiday, and don’t<br />
forget to stop by here and see<br />
us. We asked Santa for some<br />
new toys and blankets, so we<br />
are all excited and can’t wait,<br />
but our dream is to all get a<br />
home for the holiday.<br />
Wet Kisses & Wagging Tails,<br />
Axle<br />
Old Friends<br />
Luncheon<br />
The Old Friends and<br />
Bright Beginnings will not<br />
have a luncheon in January.<br />
Luncheons will resume on<br />
Thursday, Feb. 6. Details<br />
will be published. Enjoy the<br />
new year!<br />
N I C O L E & J O H N W U E S T E F E L D<br />
A Family Tradition Since 1800’s<br />
Q U A L I T Y S E RV I C E • C O M PA S S I O N • D E D I C AT I O N<br />
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In just one year, you could become a Certified<br />
Medical Assistant.<br />
Medical Assistants perform patient care in<br />
physician offices, clinics and hospitals.<br />
Medical Assisting is among the fastest growing<br />
careers in the Regional economy.<br />
Cincinnati State has been leading the way in<br />
Medical Assistant education for 50 years.<br />
For more information, contact:<br />
Program Director Patricia Christos, M.A. Ed., RMA, CMA<br />
Patricia.Christos@cincinnatistate.edu<br />
513-569-1671<br />
https://www.cincinnatistate.edu/academics/degrees-and-certificates/medical-assistant-certificate<br />
SHOP LOCAL and tell our advertisers you saw them in The BEACON!
Page 12A THE BEACON January 2020<br />
By<br />
Doris<br />
Butt<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
goodolddays@goBEACONnews.com<br />
Grandma, Grandma,<br />
Santa is Gone<br />
Dear readers, I hope you<br />
will enjoy this Christmas<br />
memory.<br />
My story began when I<br />
bought a Santa Claus suit on<br />
sale after Christmas. It rested<br />
at the bottom of our decorations<br />
for many years until I<br />
became motivated to create<br />
the old boy. My inspiration<br />
probably comes from a childhood<br />
memory I can clearly<br />
recall today. I am standing<br />
by Mom in our modest<br />
kitchen, which is complete<br />
with an old wood range, an<br />
oilcloth-covered table, and a<br />
pitcher pump sink. For some<br />
reason, probably sassing, my<br />
mom threatens me with the<br />
idea that Santa is outside the<br />
window watching me, and I<br />
had better be good. Of course,<br />
I rush to the window, but the<br />
spy is nowhere in sight.<br />
I prepare Santa by attaching<br />
the pants and the coat with<br />
gloves attached. I create what<br />
I think is a happy face. When<br />
I am stuffing him, I notice I<br />
have attached the bottom of<br />
his coat onto the top of his<br />
pants (not at the waist), making<br />
him an impressive sevenfoot<br />
tall. Ray donates his best<br />
steel-toed boots to the project.<br />
I also make a large bag with<br />
a tag marked For Good Boys<br />
and Girls.<br />
We put strings in his shoulders,<br />
attach him to the ceiling<br />
of the porch, and position<br />
him by the door where he is<br />
checking on us just as my<br />
childhood Santa did. His full<br />
bag sits beside him. Last, we<br />
add a spotlight, so all boys<br />
and girls are aware that Santa<br />
is in the area and know they<br />
had better be good.<br />
Sadly, the scene does not<br />
last long.<br />
We are enjoying an early<br />
family holiday because Ray<br />
and I plan to be in Florida on<br />
the big day. It is granddaughter<br />
Rachel, then three, who<br />
first notices the great theft.<br />
“Grandma, Grandma, Santa is<br />
gone!”<br />
All that remains are two<br />
dangling strings.<br />
We call the State Police and<br />
the Sheriff. “If you find a very<br />
handsome Santa tossed somewhere,<br />
please return him.”<br />
We report to the local radio<br />
station. “We have a story for<br />
you…” It is on the news immediately.<br />
The next day I put together<br />
a revenge display by<br />
the porch. In the big fellow’s<br />
place, I put a three by fourfoot<br />
sign, which clearly reads<br />
“The Grinch Stole Santa” by<br />
a big pile of coal and sticks. I<br />
doubt if it impresses the thief,<br />
but it makes me feel better.<br />
Three anxious days go by<br />
with no Santa return. Then we<br />
receive a call from the “big<br />
time” news department of<br />
WLW-TV, Cincinnati, Ohio.<br />
“Is this the family that lost<br />
their Santa?”<br />
“Yes, it is, and isn’t it awful!”<br />
They have heard about<br />
our loss from your local station.<br />
Head newsman Courtis<br />
Fuller arrives with his cameraman.<br />
They spend a halfhour<br />
interviewing and filming<br />
us. It is a nervous time. My<br />
teacher thoughts fear I will<br />
misuse a verb or say something<br />
dumb. I do make sure<br />
everyone knows Ray’s best<br />
steeled-toed boots went with<br />
him. I am impressed when<br />
Ray ends the interview with<br />
the comment that it will be a<br />
happy Christmas at our house<br />
anyway.<br />
The next day WLW promotes<br />
“Grinch Steals Santa<br />
Claus” all day. It is fun to<br />
watch. I am pleased my comments<br />
seem rather intelligent.<br />
Surely after hundreds of<br />
thousands hear our message,<br />
Santa will find his way home.<br />
Not so. Days go by with no<br />
Santa.<br />
This all happens while we<br />
are still working. Ray takes<br />
some vacation time and travels<br />
to our mobile in Inverness<br />
early. I will fly down when<br />
my school holiday break<br />
starts. That is why I am home<br />
alone at the farmstead on December<br />
20. It’s a little shaky<br />
time for me, but I tell myself I<br />
can handle it.<br />
One evening around 8 pm,<br />
to be exact, a telephone ring<br />
breaks my solitude. It is a call<br />
from the sheriff’s dispatcher,<br />
“Someone has reported your<br />
Santa on the road near your<br />
house.” I hurry to the front<br />
door, look out at the pitchblackness,<br />
and then fearfully<br />
retreat into the house. Finally,<br />
curiosity overcomes me. I<br />
decide I will brave getting<br />
into our truck and drive down<br />
the road in search of the old<br />
fellow.<br />
I open the side door and<br />
stop in my tracks. Our Santa<br />
is sitting upright in a lawn<br />
chair by the door. Not a<br />
hair has been disturbed. Yes,<br />
he even has on Ray’s best<br />
steel-toed boots. Tucked in<br />
his hand is a note from a kind<br />
person who says he is happy<br />
to return him.<br />
There’s no place like home<br />
for the holidays as proven<br />
by the return of Santa.<br />
I joyfully tug him inside<br />
and place him in Ray’s recliner.<br />
I study my companion.<br />
“And what have you been<br />
up to?” I ask, but there is no<br />
hint of his adventures. It will<br />
forever be his secret.<br />
7247 State Road 46E<br />
Batesville, IN 47006<br />
812.932.3300<br />
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FILL DIRT<br />
GRAVEL<br />
SPECIALIZED HAULING<br />
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North Dearborn Elementary Demolition<br />
Continued from page 3A<br />
dollars if they did not take this<br />
path. They are committed to<br />
returning the property to the<br />
green space it was before the<br />
construction of the school,”<br />
stated Sunman-Dearborn<br />
Community School Corporation<br />
Superintendent Andrew<br />
Jackson.<br />
Dearborn County Planning<br />
and Zoning and the Southeast<br />
Indiana Regional Planning<br />
Commission (SIRPC) have<br />
been working closely with<br />
the Sunman-Dearborn School<br />
board to pursue a grant for<br />
the demolition of the building.<br />
The grant is a part of the<br />
Blight Clearance Program<br />
offered through the Indiana<br />
Office of Community and<br />
Rural Affairs (OCRA). While<br />
the Dearborn County government<br />
is listed as the lead<br />
applicant for the grant, no<br />
county funds will be used for<br />
this project.<br />
“We are happy to work<br />
with SIRPC and the school<br />
corporation in pursuit of this<br />
grant. It would mean that the<br />
large amount of funds needed<br />
for this project would not be<br />
taken away from the school’s<br />
funds that should be used<br />
to educate the kids,” stated<br />
Nicole Daily, the Dearborn<br />
County Planning and Zoning<br />
Administrator.<br />
The first step of the process<br />
is to submit an application to<br />
be considered for the grant to<br />
OCRA. Upon approval of the<br />
application, the grant application,<br />
and any required supporting<br />
documentation will<br />
be completed. A site visit by<br />
OCRA may also be required.<br />
The final award of the grant<br />
may not occur for six to<br />
twelve months.<br />
Once funding is in place,<br />
hazardous material abatement<br />
and demolition of the structure<br />
will begin. The completion<br />
of the project is estimated<br />
to take eighteen months.<br />
Teri Belle’s Catering<br />
Made form the Heart<br />
513.518.1199<br />
www.teribellescatering.com<br />
teribellescatering@gmail.com<br />
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& bright future.<br />
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11/26/19 3:01 PM
debbystutz.thebeacon@yahoo.com<br />
January 2020 THE BEACON Page 1B<br />
S<br />
BEACON<br />
PORTS<br />
SCENE<br />
By<br />
Chris Jack<br />
Nobbe<br />
Zoller<br />
beaconsports<br />
@live.com<br />
sports@goBEACONnews.com<br />
Harrison Football<br />
Claims Conference<br />
Title, Regional Final<br />
The Harrison football program<br />
enjoyed great success<br />
during the 2019 season. The<br />
team claimed the Southwest<br />
Ohio Conference championship<br />
by going 6-0 in conference<br />
play. By The only regular<br />
season loss Maxine for the Wildcats,<br />
a close 10-7 Klump overtime loss,<br />
was to rival East Central in its<br />
second game<br />
Community<br />
of the season.<br />
Correspondent<br />
After tying Edgewood for<br />
the conference title a year ago,<br />
maxineklump.thebeacon@yahoo.com<br />
outright title was another<br />
step in the right direction for<br />
the program. It was the first<br />
outright title the Wildcats had<br />
claimed since 2011 when they<br />
won the old Fort Ancient Valley<br />
Conference.<br />
Throughout the season the<br />
Wildcats proved formidable<br />
on both sides of the ball. They<br />
scored 425 points while only<br />
allowing 146 by season opponents,<br />
and during conference<br />
play, that total was 245 points<br />
to only 53 scored against<br />
them during their conference<br />
title run.<br />
In addition, the Wildcats,<br />
under third-year head coach<br />
Derek Rehage, a former multisport<br />
standout himself at East<br />
Central, were also able to<br />
reach the regional finals of the<br />
OHSAA Division II tournament<br />
by first defeating Canal<br />
Winchester by the score of<br />
24-18 and then taking it to a<br />
traditional powerhouse program<br />
by the score of 42-7. The<br />
Wildcats ultimately fell to a<br />
strong LaSalle Lancers team in<br />
the regional finals by the score<br />
of 45-8, a team that defeated<br />
many Division I schools this<br />
season. This was the first regional<br />
final appearance for the<br />
Harrison program since 2006.<br />
SD Wrestling Opens<br />
Season and New Era<br />
South Dearborn Wrestling<br />
traveled to Elwood for the<br />
third consecutive year to begin<br />
its season at the Rex Leavitt<br />
Super Duals, but it would be<br />
the first under new head coach<br />
Jesse Schaefer. George Gardner<br />
retired from the program<br />
after enjoying tremendous success<br />
over his 32-year career at<br />
the helm for the Knights.<br />
Schaefer, once a wrestler for<br />
Coach Gardner in the early<br />
1990s and a longtime assistant<br />
in the program at all levels<br />
from youth to high school<br />
spanning 20 years, has taken<br />
over as head of the storied and<br />
successful program.<br />
The Knights wrestled solidly<br />
for their first meet of the year<br />
with a lineup sprinkled with<br />
a bit of every talent level and<br />
ability. Some got their first<br />
taste of mat action ever directly<br />
at the varsity level while<br />
other more experienced wrestlers<br />
were able to bring strong<br />
performances from the start.<br />
The team began the day<br />
with a close 39-36 loss to<br />
American Legion Post 452 New Alsace<br />
Newly<br />
remodeled<br />
rental<br />
facility!<br />
South Dearborn junior wrestlers Cade McClanahan, Blake<br />
Bartley, and Dylan McGill enjoy their earned hardware<br />
alongside head coach Jesse Schaefer after claiming<br />
weight-class titles at the Rex Leavitt Super Duals on November<br />
23 in Elwood. (Photo by Chris Nobbe)<br />
Perfect for Wedding Receptions,<br />
Birthday Parties, Anniversaries,<br />
Reunions, Holidays<br />
Reasonable rates, nice atmosphere<br />
Contact Art @ 812-623-2771 or visit<br />
www.legionpost452indiana.org<br />
Next euchre party Jan. 5 & 19<br />
Doors open 12 noon • Games begin at 1 • All are invited<br />
Proudly serving our veterans and the community since WWII<br />
Alexandria and followed that<br />
dual with a win over Tri by<br />
the score of 60-18. After a bye<br />
round, the Knights returned<br />
to action for another exciting<br />
dual that came down to the final<br />
match with Frankton. The<br />
Knights went out to a large<br />
early lead but were unable to<br />
secure the victory and fell by<br />
the score of 40-39.<br />
The last dual in pool action<br />
saw the Knights fall to<br />
a strong Delta team by the<br />
score of 60-24. However, the<br />
Knights were able to secure<br />
a solid win to end the day by<br />
defeating the host Elwood<br />
squad, 58-18, in the placement<br />
round.<br />
Among the individual<br />
standouts for the Knights<br />
were three who claimed<br />
weight-class titles on the day.<br />
Blake Bartley, Cade McClanahan,<br />
and Dylan McGill, all<br />
juniors, went 5-0 on the day to<br />
claim those titles. McClanahan,<br />
wrestling at 170 pounds,<br />
recorded four falls among his<br />
five victories on the day. Bartley<br />
and McGill, competing at<br />
152 and 182 pounds respectively,<br />
won three of their five<br />
match victories by fall.<br />
Three other Knight wrestlers<br />
ended the day with 4-1<br />
records. Junior Eli Otto at<br />
126 pounds won each match<br />
by fall but fell in his one loss<br />
to Payne Blackburn of Delta.<br />
The match with Blackburn<br />
was a solid match, but the<br />
state-ranked opponent was<br />
able to secure the win. Another<br />
junior in Chase Emmert,<br />
competing at 220 pounds,<br />
suffered his only loss of the<br />
day on a close battle with<br />
Jackson Humes of Alexandria<br />
but wrestled well all day.<br />
Sophomore Cooper Barker at<br />
160 had both a fall and major<br />
decision among his wins on<br />
the day while suffering a loss<br />
to Lucas Fox of Delta.<br />
Ava McMahan is shown<br />
with her brother Brayden<br />
during the Parade of Nations<br />
during the USKids Golf<br />
World Championships in<br />
Pinehurst, North Carolina,<br />
where she competed with<br />
154 other competitors in<br />
her age group from around<br />
the world during August 1-3<br />
event. (Photo courtesy of<br />
Jessica South)<br />
Ava McMahan<br />
Claims Tour Titles<br />
and Success on the<br />
Links in 2019<br />
Ava McMahan, an 11-year<br />
old sixth-grade student at<br />
Aurora Elementary School,<br />
has enjoyed competing in the<br />
sport of golf for several years,<br />
and her dedication continues<br />
to pay dividends for the young<br />
linkster. When The Beacon<br />
first wrote about her two years<br />
ago, she was enjoying success<br />
at a young age and was looking<br />
forward to continuing her<br />
pursuit in the game.<br />
That pursuit has led to a<br />
successful year in the many<br />
competitions she has entered.<br />
This past spring, Ava participated<br />
in the USKids Spring<br />
Local Tour referred to as the<br />
Golden Triangle.<br />
The spring tour competition<br />
consisted of seven events. The<br />
competitions on the local tour<br />
are 9-hole events for various<br />
age levels. Her finishes in<br />
the first several events in the<br />
Golden Triangle during the<br />
spring resulted in two firstplace<br />
finishes, two seconds,<br />
and a third. Her best rounds<br />
were a pair of one over par<br />
37s during tour play.<br />
She then placed second in<br />
the Tour Championship on<br />
May 19. McMahan’s accumulated<br />
points for the tour<br />
placed her first for her age<br />
group with 163 points. Even<br />
more exciting was that the<br />
tour win automatically qualified<br />
her for the USKids World<br />
Championships.<br />
The World Championships<br />
would offer an additional<br />
challenge for the young<br />
linkster. While the local tours<br />
are 9-hole competitions held<br />
weekly over a course that<br />
is only around 1900 yards,<br />
the World Championships<br />
would feature three 18-hole<br />
rounds on consecutive days<br />
that would all be 5000 yards<br />
in length. That is definitely a<br />
significant leap and challenge<br />
for any young golfer.<br />
McMahan competed well<br />
over the three-day event. After<br />
opening with an 87, she came<br />
back in the second round to<br />
shoot an impressive 77 and<br />
move into 32nd place. However,<br />
she would suffer a difficult<br />
third round score of 89<br />
to finish the World Championships<br />
with a tie for 52nd out<br />
of 155 total competitors. Keep<br />
in mind that these golfers<br />
were not only from the United<br />
States but also from many<br />
countries around the world.<br />
“I would 10 out of 10 do<br />
it again. It was so enjoyable,<br />
and, believe it or not, I was relaxed.<br />
Even if I did not do my<br />
best, it was one of the most<br />
memorable times of my life.<br />
Ava McMahan (on right) is<br />
shown with a fellow golfer<br />
at the USKids Golf World<br />
Championships at Pinehurst,<br />
North Carolina. (Photo<br />
courtesy of Jessica South)<br />
Ava McMahan is shown<br />
driving during competition<br />
in the USKids Golf<br />
World Championships that<br />
featured 155 golfers from<br />
around the world in her age<br />
group. McMahan finished<br />
the competition tied for<br />
52nd in the event held at<br />
the prestigious courses at<br />
Pinehurst in North Carolina.<br />
(Photo courtesy of Jessica<br />
South)<br />
I got to play with the kindest<br />
kids from all over the world,<br />
and I got to make new friends<br />
that have the same passion for<br />
golf as me,” stated McMahan.<br />
Ava got back to action<br />
in the Golden Triangle to<br />
compete in the USKids Golf<br />
Fall Local Tour. During the<br />
months of September and<br />
October, she spent several<br />
Sundays competing again.<br />
The fall tour resulted in even<br />
further success for the young<br />
golfer. During the six weeks<br />
of competition, she would<br />
place first four times, second<br />
once, and third once. Included<br />
in this was her best round on<br />
September 22 at Twin Oaks<br />
Golf and Plantation Club in<br />
Covington, Kentucky. On this<br />
day, she shot a 34 with three<br />
birdies on the 9-hole round.<br />
In addition, she went on to<br />
win the Tour Championship<br />
with a one over par 37 and<br />
claim the overall tour championship<br />
with 185 total points.<br />
Two tour championships and<br />
one trip to the World Championships<br />
with the chance to<br />
play at Pinehurst certainly<br />
made for a memorable 2019.<br />
McMahan continues to<br />
do well and wants to inspire<br />
other young girls in the area<br />
to embrace the sport. Make<br />
the young lady happy and<br />
get your girls out on the links<br />
with you in the coming year.<br />
SHOP LOCAL and tell our advertisers you saw them in The BEACON!
Page 2B THE BEACON January 2020<br />
BRIGHT/<br />
SUGAR RIDGE<br />
By<br />
Bob<br />
Waples<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
O<br />
ur<br />
Communities<br />
bright@goBEACONnews.com<br />
This month’s veteran<br />
salute goes to Terry Wheat.<br />
Terry served in the US Army<br />
1966-1968. Terry went on the<br />
Honor Flight this fall, and I<br />
asked him to tell me what it<br />
was like for him. “It was an<br />
all-day event from 5 A.M.<br />
until 9 P.M. We flew to Washington<br />
DC to view all of our<br />
national monuments of the<br />
great wars. But to all of the<br />
veterans on the flight, it was<br />
so much more. As a group,<br />
we were shown the love and<br />
respect for our service that we<br />
had not felt before. At every<br />
venue, we were thanked and<br />
applauded. I was given a little<br />
flat stone by an eight-yearold,<br />
which simply said, ‘My<br />
Hero.’ Such acts of love and<br />
respect were repeated many<br />
times throughout the day.<br />
This trip and this honor made<br />
up for the reception we got<br />
when we came home fiftyplus<br />
years ago. There were<br />
many tears, happy tears, shed<br />
on this flight. It was a day we<br />
will never forget.” Thank you,<br />
Terry Wheat at a cemetery<br />
in Washington DC.<br />
Terry, for your story and your<br />
service.<br />
The Sugar Ridge Community<br />
had a neighborhood watch<br />
meeting with Sheriff Shane<br />
McHenry as guest speaker.<br />
Sheriff McHenry shared tips<br />
on how to be vigilant and safe<br />
in our home, our neighborhood,<br />
and our community.<br />
Thanks, Sheriff McHenry.<br />
Yours truly recently spent<br />
time at Hocking Hills, Ohio,<br />
with some very dear friends.<br />
What a beautiful place, and<br />
only about a three-hour drive<br />
from our little corner of the<br />
world. They say the area was<br />
covered millions of years ago<br />
by the Atlantic Ocean. After<br />
it receded, the Wisconsin<br />
Glacier began to melt and left<br />
an impressive area of waterfalls,<br />
rock formations, and<br />
recess caves. A must-see if<br />
you have never been there…<br />
lots of great hiking trails. You<br />
can see in one of my pics that<br />
they even named a cave after<br />
Cub Scout Pack 693 had a dinner for local Veterans.<br />
me...haha.<br />
I am proud to announce that<br />
PV2 Mary Bertke (2019 EC<br />
PV2 Mary Bertke<br />
grad)<br />
completed<br />
her basic<br />
training at<br />
Ft. Sill, OK.<br />
Mary was<br />
the Distinguished<br />
Honor Grad<br />
(graduated<br />
first in her<br />
class), earned the Highest<br />
Rifle Marksmanship, and<br />
received the Physical Fitness<br />
Badge for a perfect score.<br />
Mary is now completing her<br />
training as a 13 Bravo Cannon<br />
Crew member. Congratulations<br />
Mary, I salute you.<br />
A BIG thanks to all the<br />
individuals and businesses<br />
who participated in the North<br />
Dearborn Pantry Giving Tree<br />
Program. Community support<br />
made the project a big success.<br />
Cub Scout Pack 693 (Dearborn<br />
Hills UMC) honored<br />
local veterans with a turkey<br />
and ham dinner. The pack<br />
presented each veteran with<br />
handmade cards and gifts.<br />
I had the pleasure of sitting<br />
with Hunter Scholle (son<br />
of Aaron Scholle, assistant<br />
pack leader). Hunter gave me<br />
a hand-painted card… thanks<br />
again, Aaron and Hunter.<br />
Happy Birthday hugs to everyone<br />
celebrating December<br />
birthdays, and that includes<br />
you Harry Lyness, Shirley<br />
Jacobsen, and Willie Potter.<br />
In closing… Christmas is<br />
not in tinsel and lights and<br />
outward show. The secret lies<br />
in an inner glow. It’s lighting a<br />
fire inside the heart. Good will<br />
HIDDEN<br />
VALLEY LAKE<br />
By<br />
Korry<br />
Johnson<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
hvl@goBEACONnews.com<br />
Happy Holidays! I hope<br />
you have your shopping done<br />
by now. Well, some gentlemen<br />
still have a few days<br />
left. Wink, wink. Take an<br />
evening drive through Hidden<br />
Valley Lake, and you’ll see<br />
many homes decorated for<br />
this festive season. I love our<br />
unique community! Celebrate<br />
the New Year with the HVL<br />
Civic Club’s Polar Bear Dip<br />
Jan. 1, 2020, at 11:30 AM.<br />
The event is always fun for<br />
all ages!<br />
Bob Waples visited Hocking<br />
Hills<br />
and joy a vital part. It’s higher<br />
thought and a greater plan. It’s<br />
glorious dream in the soul of<br />
man.~ Wilferd Peterson<br />
Wishing everyone a very<br />
Merry Christmas and a<br />
Happy, Blessed New Year.<br />
Ronald (Bub) Miller passed<br />
away on Nov. 8, 2019, at the<br />
age of 76. He and his wife<br />
Cindy were married for fiftyone<br />
fun-loving years. They<br />
were among the first families<br />
to move to Hidden Valley<br />
Lake in 1972. Their son, Ronnie<br />
Wayne, is their pride and<br />
joy. Mr. Miller retired from<br />
Seagram Distillery after fiftytwo<br />
years. He was a member<br />
of the Moores Hill Legion for<br />
over fifty years. If you know<br />
Cindy, please give her your<br />
support during this difficult<br />
holiday season.<br />
January Birthdays: Shelby<br />
Lahey, Sarah O’Conner,<br />
Stephanie Armbruster,<br />
Reilly Small<br />
Please email me, Korry H.<br />
Johnson, if you have something<br />
to share in next month’s<br />
article at hvl@goBEACONnews.com<br />
Share your positive<br />
news at The Beacon!<br />
Come dine with Third and Main in our family owned<br />
Restaraunt and Tavern, open since 1891!<br />
Serving mouth watering, dry-aged steaks, fresh<br />
seafood, & dazzling cocktails.<br />
weekly specials<br />
TUESDAY<br />
Half Price Bottle of Wine<br />
\<br />
WEDNESDAY<br />
Seafood Night:<br />
$1 Oysters, $2 Prawns,<br />
$30 1lb Alaskan King Crab<br />
223 3rd Street, Aurora, IN 47001<br />
812-655-9727<br />
thirdandmain.com<br />
THURSDAY<br />
Buy Any Steak,<br />
Get a Salad or Soup<br />
& Dessert on Us!<br />
Twenty-five Years of Bringing our Community and Businesses Together.
January 2020 THE BEACON Page 3B<br />
ST. LEON<br />
By<br />
Debbie A.<br />
Zimmer<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
stleon@goBEACONnews.com<br />
The time has come for high<br />
school seniors to apply for<br />
scholarships. Get in touch<br />
with your school’s guidance<br />
counselors to check out all<br />
of the available scholarships.<br />
So many scholarships go<br />
unclaimed each year because<br />
no one applied for them. If<br />
you are going to study in the<br />
medical field or become a<br />
conservation officer, be sure<br />
to check with the Dearborn<br />
Community Foundation<br />
about the Greg Andres/North<br />
Dearborn Conservation Club<br />
scholarship. Many other<br />
scholarships are available.<br />
Stephanie Bulach and<br />
Blake Collins were recently<br />
married. The family enjoyed<br />
visiting some of the out-oftown<br />
family and friends who<br />
came home for the festivities.<br />
Nicki Hart and Cindy Fasiit<br />
was great to see you both.<br />
The American Legion Act<br />
was recently passed, changing<br />
the requirements for<br />
membership in the American<br />
Legion. The Act fills in the<br />
gaps of war eras. It redefines<br />
membership eligibility dates,<br />
beginning with the bombing<br />
of Pearl Harbor (December 7,<br />
1941) and continuing until the<br />
determination is made that the<br />
United States is no longer in<br />
a state of war. Veterans who<br />
were honorably discharged<br />
O<br />
ur<br />
but whose service did not fall<br />
into the previously defined<br />
war eras may now join the<br />
American Legion.<br />
Deepest sympathy goes out<br />
to the family of Alan Boyce.<br />
He was married to the former<br />
Bonnie Rosfeld of St. Leon<br />
and was a family friend of my<br />
brothers Ron and Greg since<br />
high school. They played a lot<br />
of softball games together. He<br />
will be missed.<br />
Get well wishes go out to<br />
Ruth Bischoff. I hope you are<br />
feeling better soon.<br />
Congratulations to Courtney<br />
and Danny Bischoff on<br />
the recent birth of their son<br />
Owen David. Welcoming him<br />
home is his big brother, Everett.<br />
Grandparents are Janet<br />
and Dave Bischoff and Kathy<br />
and David Bischoff. Great<br />
grandparents are Irene Ober,<br />
Frances Bischoff, and Jessie<br />
and Joe Mettler.<br />
Congratulations to Brittney<br />
and Christopher Bischoff<br />
on the recent birth of their<br />
daughter, Anna Marie. Proud<br />
grandparents are Julie Baker,<br />
Mike Baker, and Tammy<br />
and Andy Bischoff. Great<br />
grandparents are Anna Mae<br />
Callahan, Mary and Wally<br />
Schuman and Doris and Joe<br />
Baker.<br />
January Birthdays– 1<br />
Jerome Fuernstein, 3 my<br />
nephew Nick Fox, 4 my<br />
brother Ron Andres and<br />
cousin Geralyn Brackman,<br />
5 Shari Sterwerf and Dean<br />
Bulach, 6 Grayson Bauman<br />
and Todd Spade, 7 Samuel<br />
Bulach, Bridget Klenke, 8<br />
my nephew Ryan Powell, 9<br />
Sandy Eckstein and Marvin<br />
Good, 10 my nephew Cody<br />
Communities<br />
Several local youth participated<br />
in the Casket Cup<br />
Soccer Tournament held in<br />
Batesville. The Spoo Taculars<br />
are Ella Roope, Callie<br />
Barrett, Jenna Weiler, Ellie<br />
Hayes.<br />
Haag, Carole Ritzi, Gary<br />
Schuman, and cousin John<br />
Baumer, 11 Jon Cleary,<br />
Natalie Stenger, Mike Trabel,<br />
Andy Kraus, and Chloe<br />
Wilhelm, 12 cousin Brenda<br />
Zimmer, 13 Chrisi Fischer,<br />
Emily Stenger, and Rita<br />
Alig, 14 Vaughn Fischer, and<br />
Mary Lou Hilbert, 15 Tammy<br />
Bischoff, cousin Connie<br />
Webb, and Georgia Simkins,<br />
16 Mark Stenger, Tim<br />
Wilhelm, Vic Bischoff and<br />
Daryl Steinmetz, 17 Cliff<br />
Bischoff and Debbie Spade,<br />
18 Susan Schuman, 21 Megan<br />
Hoffman, cousin Anna<br />
Andres and Emily Whitehead,<br />
22 Lexi Andres, Brian<br />
Giltz, Wally Kraus, Mary<br />
Schuman, Kathy Stenger,<br />
Megan Andres, and Butch<br />
Fox, Walter Schuman,<br />
24 Theresa Horstman, 27<br />
Pauletta Pelsor, Jennifer<br />
Neihaus, and my son-in-law<br />
Chad Barrett, 29 Madelyn<br />
Dawson, Kailyn Lobenstein,<br />
and Olivia Schwegman, 30<br />
Miranda Lobenstein.<br />
Please keep in mind the<br />
The East Central High School Class of 1989 recently<br />
celebrated their thirty-year class reunion at the New Alsace<br />
Legion. A special classmate, Jeff Schmeltzer, who is battling<br />
ALS, was able to be in attendance..<br />
Sixth grade Trojan cheerleaders Payton Powers, Lila Lengerich,<br />
Paige Hotze, Ava Schneider, Grace Slusher, Kaylee<br />
Flynn, Carson Scudder, Audrey Robbins, Cheyenne Batta,<br />
and Maddie Mounce.<br />
real reason for the season.<br />
Please keep in your thoughts<br />
our men and women serving<br />
in the military who are away<br />
from their families this Christmas.<br />
Merry Christmas and a<br />
very Happy New Year from<br />
my family to yours.<br />
Get in touch with me<br />
with any news items for the<br />
column at stleon@goBEA-<br />
CONews.com<br />
January/ February in Dearborn County, Southeast Indiana...the Perfect Place to Play!<br />
November 9 - January 5 – Winter Wonderland<br />
Ice Skating - Enjoy ice skating under the pavilion at<br />
Todd Creech Park on Tate Street in Lawrenceburg.<br />
Visit www.visitsoutheastindiana.com, www.<br />
thinklawrenceburg.com or call 812-537-4507.<br />
December 31 - Jan 1 – New Year’s Eve at Perfect<br />
North Slopes - 8:00 pm - 1:00 am. 19074 Perfect Lane,<br />
Lawrenceburg. Admission charged to ski, snowboard<br />
or snow tube until 1AM. DJ in the lodge, party favors,<br />
and fireworks at midnight. Info: 812 537-3754 or<br />
www.perfectnorth.com.<br />
January 1 – New Year’s Day<br />
January 11 – Roots and Boots in Concert - 8:00<br />
pm. Doors open at 7PM for the 8PM performance at<br />
Lawrenceburg Event Center, 91 Walnut Street. Sammy<br />
Kershaw, Collin Raye and Aaron Tippin, known as<br />
Roots and Boots, bring a once-in-a-lifetime experience<br />
to the stage at the Event Center. Tickets are available at<br />
www.ticketmaster.com.<br />
January 12-14 – Special Olympics Winter Games<br />
- Special Olympics held annually at Perfect North<br />
Slopes, 19074 Perfect Lane, Lawrenceburg, Indiana.<br />
Athletes participate in alpine skiing, snowboarding<br />
and snowshoeing. Info: 812 537-3754 or visit<br />
www.soindiana.org/winter-games/.<br />
February 1-Mar 28 – The Call Back Show - Dillsboro<br />
Arts Friendship Gallery, 12926 Bank Street, Dillsboro.<br />
Open Tuesdays 6-8PM, Thursdays 4-8PM, Saturdays<br />
10AM-2PM. Opening reception is February 7, 6-8PM.<br />
Exhibition of invited local and regional artists.<br />
Info: 812-532-3010.<br />
February 1 – Jamey Johnson at Lawrenceburg<br />
Event Center - Doors open at 7PM for the 8PM<br />
performance at the Lawrenceburg Event Center, 91<br />
Walnut Street. Platinum selling artist Jamey Johnson<br />
brings his outlaw country style to the Event Center.<br />
Tickets may be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com.<br />
February 7-9 – Dearborn County Home Builders<br />
Association Home & Garden Show - Lawrenceburg<br />
Event Center, 91 Walnut Street, Lawrenceburg<br />
Friday/5PM-9PM, Saturday/10AM-8PM, Sunday/Noon-<br />
5PM. The largest home show in Dearborn County. Info:<br />
812-320-6099 or dearborncountyhba@gmail.com or<br />
www.dearborncountyhba.org.<br />
February 8 – Be My Valentine - Main Street<br />
Aurora Dancing on Main - 7:00-10:30PM. Second<br />
& Main Street, Aurora. This community event is for<br />
anyone interested in having a good time in Historic<br />
Downtown Aurora. Dinner served by the Lions is $7.00,<br />
with all proceeds going to Relay for Life. Info: 812-926-<br />
1100 or www.aurora.in.us.<br />
February 20 – Blue Willow House Spring Opening<br />
- 9960 Front Street, Dillsboro, Indiana. Three floors<br />
of antiques, home decor, clothing, jewelry, candles,<br />
soaps, lotions and gifts, all located in a lovely home<br />
built in 1912. Thursdays & Fridays, 10AM-6PM and<br />
Saturdays, 9AM-2PM. Info: 812-432-3330 or www.<br />
bluewillowsisters.com or bluewillowhouse9960@<br />
gmail.com.<br />
February 21 – Get Wine(d) & Dine(d) in Aurora -<br />
5:00-8:30pm. Presented by Main Street Aurora, 231<br />
Main Street. Shop participating businesses and enter<br />
to win a grand prize. Info: 812-926-1100 or<br />
www.aurora.in.us.<br />
February 22 – Hollywood Casino Presents Vicki<br />
Lawrence & Mama - 8:00pm. Doors open at 7PM for<br />
an 8PM performance at Lawrenceburg Event Center,<br />
91 Walnut Street. Join Vicki for a unique evening<br />
of comedy and music. This “Two-Woman-Show”<br />
combines stand-up comedy, music, and observations<br />
about real life from both Vicki and her famous alter<br />
ego. Tickets may be purchased at www.ticketmaster.<br />
com.<br />
February 28 – St. Mary Lenten Fish Fry - Cod with<br />
God - 4:00 - 7:30pm, St. Mary Activity Center, 214 Fifth<br />
Street, Aurora. Meals served in the Activity Center on<br />
Fifth Street. Carry-out available in the school cafeteria<br />
at 211 Fourth St. Drive-thru also available. Info: visit:<br />
www.mystmarys.com or 812-926-1558.<br />
Dearborn County Convention,<br />
Visitor and Tourism Bureau<br />
320 Walnut St. • Lawrenceburg, Indiana 47025<br />
1-800-322-8198 or www.VisitSoutheastIndiana.com<br />
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Page 4B THE BEACON January 2020<br />
BATESVILLE<br />
By<br />
Sue<br />
Siefert<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
batesville@goBEACONnews.com<br />
The most wonderful<br />
time of the year…<br />
With Christmas in the air, I<br />
like to focus on Christmas as<br />
the gift of giving without the<br />
expectation of receiving…<br />
forgetting self and finding<br />
time for others.<br />
Some of the most meaningful<br />
Christmas gifts are<br />
not the ones tied with festive<br />
ribbons, gift cards tucked<br />
in stockings, or even gifts<br />
of cash. In my opinion, the<br />
most thoughtful gifts come<br />
from the heart through the<br />
giving of one’s time. Baking<br />
treats for another family<br />
to enjoy, shoveling a<br />
neighbor’s snow, helping<br />
an elderly couple trim their<br />
tree, or just simply taking<br />
time to listen as others share<br />
their memories of Christmases<br />
past.<br />
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if<br />
we shared Christmas joy every<br />
day? I’ve been fortunate<br />
to know some extraordinary<br />
folks who keep the Christmas<br />
O<br />
ur<br />
spirit alive all year as they<br />
unselfishly give of their time.<br />
While my column space only<br />
allows me to share a few<br />
names, I’m sure you can list<br />
many more.<br />
The late Rich Weisenbach’s<br />
heart was full of<br />
hometown pride. Weekends<br />
found Rich walking the<br />
downtown area collecting<br />
trash from the streets<br />
and parking lots to ensure<br />
Batesville retained its inviting<br />
appearance for those<br />
who visited. He’d count the<br />
cars in the local hotel lots<br />
and found satisfaction in<br />
seeing the number of outof-town<br />
guests who spent<br />
time in our city. He served<br />
on City Council, represented<br />
the rural fire volunteer<br />
fighters, and numerous<br />
other organizations benefitted<br />
from Rich’s time and<br />
efforts.<br />
Carolyn Dieckmann<br />
gives of her time from hours<br />
spent at St. Louis parish<br />
and its various ministries to<br />
endless days at the Batesville<br />
Area Historical Society.<br />
From working with the<br />
bingo, parish festival, and<br />
parish youth ministry trips to<br />
ensuring visitors of all ages<br />
are welcome to the Historical<br />
Center’s exhibits that she and<br />
her committee spend weeks<br />
Communities<br />
preparing.<br />
Whitey Weberding has<br />
given of his time and talent<br />
to St. Louis parish through<br />
years of chairmanship of its<br />
annual festival to years of<br />
leadership with the school’s<br />
weekly bingo. He spent years<br />
in the background, ensuring<br />
these events ran smoothly to<br />
benefit others.<br />
Bob Fitzpatrick came to<br />
Batesville as the BCSC’s<br />
Director of Transportation<br />
and soon became a community<br />
volunteer. He can<br />
be found at the Masons’<br />
monthly breakfast as one of<br />
their “chief cooks and bottle<br />
washers,” and at any Kiwanis<br />
function where he repairs<br />
and maintains equipment and<br />
volunteers from sun-up to<br />
sun-down doing whatever is<br />
needed.<br />
What do these folks have<br />
in common? They keep<br />
Christmas in their hearts all<br />
year as they find joy in giving<br />
without the expectation<br />
of receiving. I’ve learned so<br />
much from each, and I hope<br />
as you reflect on people<br />
you know who keep the<br />
Christmas spirit alive, you<br />
remember to thank them…<br />
and consider keeping the<br />
Christmas spirit alive all<br />
year too!<br />
That’s Sue’s news for now!<br />
NEW ALSACE<br />
By<br />
Laura<br />
Keller<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
newalsace@goBEACONnews.com<br />
It’s hard to believe that 2019<br />
is almost over, and 2020 is<br />
right around the corner! We’ve<br />
already experienced our first<br />
snowfall of the year, and everyone<br />
is getting antsy for the<br />
upcoming holidays. I wish each<br />
of you peace and joy during the<br />
last few weeks of 2019 and to a<br />
great start in 2020.<br />
New Alsace recently gained<br />
three new residents. Jon and<br />
Lori Hartman welcomed twins<br />
Luke and Elizabeth (Libby)<br />
born on October 22. They were<br />
welcomed home by big sister<br />
Ainsley. Proud grandparents<br />
include Steve and Jeri Eisele of<br />
St. Leon and Jim Hartman of<br />
Dover. Gabe and Laura Focke<br />
welcomed their third child Sam,<br />
who was born on Nov. 3. He was<br />
welcomed home by big sister<br />
Gwen and big brother Jake.<br />
Proud grandparents include Tony<br />
and Carol Crouch and Jerry and<br />
Bridgett Focke. Congratulations<br />
to the Fockes and Hartmans!<br />
The North Dearborn<br />
American Legion is hosting its<br />
monthly euchre tournament on<br />
Su GREENDALE<br />
By<br />
Gloria<br />
Carter<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
Jon, Libby, Lori, Luke, and<br />
Ainsley Hartman.<br />
Jake, Gwen, and Sam<br />
Focke.<br />
Jan. 5 and 19 and Feb 2 and 16.<br />
Doors open at noon and games<br />
begin at 1 p.m. The entry fee is<br />
$5 per person, with cash payouts<br />
to the four highest scores.<br />
Refreshments are available for<br />
purchase. Call 812.623.3695 for<br />
more information.<br />
I would love to hear from you!<br />
If you have news in the New<br />
Alsace area you’d like me to<br />
share, please contact me at newalsace@goBEACONnews.com.<br />
greendale@goBEACONnews.com<br />
Halloween was a bit windy<br />
and cold this year, and it was<br />
hard to enjoy the costumes. I<br />
finally found one cute creature,<br />
my grandson Korben Carter,<br />
dressed up as a hamburger<br />
head with catsup and mustard<br />
attached. It seems like the kids<br />
didn’t mind the cold, but the<br />
adults were not too happy.<br />
Remember the true meaning<br />
of Christmas and enjoy the<br />
day with your family. Merry<br />
Christmas and Happy Holidays.<br />
Thank you to all of you<br />
who read the Beacon.<br />
Happy Birthday to Donnie<br />
Rowland on Dec. 27.<br />
Korben Carter<br />
Bridget Thompson Lawson<br />
dressed up as an Eskimo<br />
and passed out candy with<br />
her scary friend Hector.<br />
The end of the year is quickly approaching. Consider the<br />
following suggestions to help maximize your tax deductions and<br />
minimize your tax liabilities for this year:<br />
• Make your cash donations before the end of the year.<br />
• Clean out your closets and donate to your favorite charity.<br />
• Make estimated payments, if applicable.<br />
THE LIVERY<br />
of AURORA<br />
• Consider if you have any capital losses that you can realize by<br />
December 31.<br />
• Meet the December 31 deadline if you plan to convert an IRA<br />
to a ROTH.<br />
Make an appointment with us. With the recent tax law changes<br />
we advise scheduling a tax health check-up to ensure everything<br />
is in order for your current and future financial health.<br />
Harrison Tax & Accounting<br />
513.367.5566<br />
513.367.5566 www.HarrisonTaxAndAccounting.com<br />
Reception &<br />
Event Center<br />
wedding, event, special occasion<br />
215 Bridgeway St • Aurora, IN<br />
513-655-9336<br />
Now accepting reservations for<br />
Holiday Weddings & Events.<br />
Twenty-five Years of Bringing our Community and Businesses Together.
January 2020 THE BEACON Page 5B<br />
DOVER<br />
OLDENBURG<br />
By<br />
Sue<br />
Siefert<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
oldenburg@goBEACONnews.com<br />
Christmas Among<br />
the Faithful …<br />
Oldenburgers are faithful in<br />
giving of their time and talent<br />
in caring for their hometown.<br />
When I approached village<br />
volunteers, Gary Munchel,<br />
Jeff Paul, and Mike “Willy”<br />
Wilhelm to seek names of<br />
those who give selflessly<br />
throughout the year, they<br />
were hesitant to name names.<br />
Still, they did share examples<br />
of the “Oldenburg Faithful”<br />
who give of their time without<br />
the expectation of receiving<br />
… thus my reference to “O<br />
Come All Ye Faithful.”<br />
Willy noted, “One example<br />
is the crew that displays and<br />
removes the Village’s Christmas<br />
decorations on the light<br />
poles. While they hope for<br />
good weather, Mother Nature<br />
does not always cooperate –<br />
and these folks remain faithful<br />
until the task is completed<br />
in good weather or bad.”<br />
He added, “There have also<br />
been spring clean-up details<br />
to spruce up Munchel Park,<br />
and after the great flood of<br />
2017, there were volunteers<br />
that walked along Harvey’s<br />
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ALL DAY Monday<br />
By<br />
Rhonda<br />
Trabel<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
dover@goBEACONnews.com<br />
The All Saints Parish Annual<br />
Craft Show and Chicken<br />
Dinner took place recently. A<br />
great deal of preparation goes<br />
into the planning of this meal,<br />
and a lot of volunteers make<br />
it a success. The head of the<br />
kitchen, Pat Brichler, puts in<br />
a lot of hours preparing for<br />
the dinner. She is blessed with<br />
a lot of good kitchen helpers<br />
on festival days, including<br />
Kristy Alig, Tina Connolly,<br />
and Cathy Hoffman. On the<br />
serving lines for the inside<br />
dinner were Mary Beth Gerraci,<br />
Brenda Bruns, Elizabeth<br />
Geraci, Brent Bauman,<br />
Bobbi Bauman, Tom Huber,<br />
and Bill Ward. The event was<br />
made possible with the help<br />
of the Festival Chairperson<br />
Joyce Hansel, and Parish<br />
Coordinator Emily Alig.<br />
Condolences go out to<br />
the family of Joshua Welsh.<br />
Joshua was born on Easter<br />
Vigil in 2004, the only and<br />
deeply loved child of Jessica<br />
O<br />
ur<br />
Branch Creek to collect the<br />
debris.”<br />
Town historian, Gary<br />
explained, “My heart is<br />
warmed when I see how<br />
people who live here keep<br />
it tidy. Often after a busy<br />
weekend at the local restaurants,<br />
cans or wrappers may<br />
be left on the curb. While my<br />
wife Karen and I lived in the<br />
Munchel homestead along<br />
Main Street, we would be the<br />
ones picking it up. However,<br />
many times, I would see a<br />
local out casually walking<br />
who would stop and pick it<br />
up. These, to me, are unsung<br />
heroes. The unspoken motto<br />
of, “Keep the’ Burg Beautiful”<br />
is a mindset that Oldenburgers<br />
have. It’s evident in<br />
how manicured and clean the<br />
streets are kept. When I give<br />
history tours, I often hear<br />
visitors comment about “how<br />
clean everything is.”<br />
Gary added, “Oldenburgers<br />
get into decorating their<br />
homes for Christmas. If you<br />
visit at Christmas, the village<br />
glows. Most everything is<br />
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Mary Beth Gerraci, Brenda<br />
Bruns, Elizabeth Geraci,<br />
and Brent Bauman help<br />
serve the chicken dinner.<br />
Welsh. He had a considerable<br />
family in All Saints Parish,<br />
especially Fr. Meyer and the<br />
Altar Boyz, a close-knit and<br />
specially trained group of<br />
high school boys who serve<br />
at Mass at All Saints. Joshua<br />
was home-schooled and was<br />
very knowledgable in philosophy,<br />
cooking, and the Catholic<br />
religion. He was especially<br />
interested in computer programs<br />
and operations. God<br />
only knows the justification<br />
for the death of such a young,<br />
intelligent person. I’m sure<br />
God has him by his side now!<br />
Rest in peace, Joshua.<br />
On a lighter note, Christmas<br />
is almost here. Most of<br />
us have our plans made with<br />
Church and family, and our<br />
presents bought. I get to spend<br />
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Communities<br />
Pat Brichler oversees a<br />
fabulous display of the delicious<br />
desserts made and<br />
donated for the chicken dinner.<br />
Assisting are Kristy Alig,<br />
Tina Connolly, and Cathy<br />
Hoffman.<br />
mine with my husband, sons,<br />
daughter-in-law, and three<br />
granddaughters whose company<br />
I enjoy tremendously!<br />
We also get together with the<br />
extended family sometime<br />
throughout the season. I hope<br />
everyone enjoys the holidays<br />
as much as I do! I would like<br />
to wish all of our readers a<br />
Very Merry Christmas and the<br />
Happiest New Year possible.<br />
If you have some Dover news<br />
to share, please email me at<br />
dover@goBEACONnews.<br />
com.<br />
decorated. I think the same<br />
pride that the people have<br />
to keep the ’Burg clean is<br />
displayed on their homes at<br />
Christmas. No one is looking<br />
for recognition; they just<br />
enjoy the community connection<br />
of keeping things looking<br />
awesome.”<br />
Jeff Paul commented, “I<br />
chat with Oldenburgers on a<br />
daily basis and am amazed at<br />
their pride in the ‘Burg and<br />
their concern for one another.<br />
One customer made a<br />
habit of paying it forward and<br />
after paying for her groceries,<br />
would donate for me to<br />
help someone in need. When<br />
someone is ill or down on<br />
their luck, the faithful rally to<br />
help, to comfort, and to show<br />
they care.”<br />
With those words, I close<br />
my Oldenburg column for<br />
2019 and wish that you too,<br />
remember Christmas is more<br />
than a day. It’s a feeling in<br />
your heart of peace and happiness<br />
that comes from giving<br />
of yourself all year long.<br />
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MILAN<br />
By<br />
Susan<br />
Cottingham<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
milan@goBEACONnews.com<br />
Shirley Bocock and Gene<br />
Pitts were recognized for<br />
their contributions to the<br />
Milan Lions Club and the<br />
community. Both are past<br />
presidents, secretaries, and<br />
fundraising chairs and have<br />
led various community<br />
service projects. They<br />
are tenured and support<br />
many, if not all, club<br />
projects. In recognition of<br />
outstanding service, loyalty,<br />
and devotion, Shirley and<br />
Gene were recognized as<br />
the newest members of the<br />
Milan Lions Club Hall of<br />
Fame. Shirley has served<br />
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at regular price<br />
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Gene Pitts and Shirley<br />
Bocock being awarded their<br />
plaques by Jerry Smith.<br />
fifteen years, and Gene<br />
served twenty-eight years.<br />
Fourteen past members have<br />
been inducted, including<br />
Barter Dobson, Donald<br />
Myers, Floyd Rayner,<br />
Chris Volz Sr., William<br />
Warn, Hubert Applegate,<br />
Elmer Heller, Daren<br />
Baker, Gary Lauber, Mark<br />
Busching, John Dunnete,<br />
Alvin Bushing, Donald E.<br />
Myers, and Jerry Smith.<br />
Congratulations to Shirley<br />
and Gene, and thank you to<br />
all members of the Milan<br />
Lions Club for the devotion<br />
to our town.<br />
401 2nd st. Aurora, IN • 812-954-1300<br />
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Page 6B THE BEACON January 2020<br />
AURORA<br />
By<br />
Margaret<br />
Drury<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
aurora@goBEACONnews.com<br />
As I began writing this<br />
month’s column, Christmas<br />
songs alluding to COLD<br />
weather come to mind, and it’s<br />
just the beginning of November.<br />
By the time you are reading<br />
this, the Christmas songs<br />
will be more appropriate!<br />
Before the cold weather set<br />
into Aurora, we were able to<br />
get in quite a few fall activities.<br />
To name a few, Main<br />
Street Aurora was busy with<br />
their fall dance, The Ghost<br />
Walk, and another Get Wined<br />
and Dined event downtown.<br />
The second Ribbon Cutting<br />
of 2019 with SEVEN new<br />
businesses being recognized<br />
with new ceremonial scissors<br />
gifted to Main Street Aurora<br />
by Councilman Terry Hahn.<br />
New businesses included the<br />
1819 Boutique, and Wellington’s<br />
Ice Cream Palace. As<br />
our folks at Main Street say,<br />
“Aurora is open for business!”<br />
The Lions club was busy<br />
with its Halloween Parade<br />
and fall pancake breakfast.<br />
Over two hundred ninety<br />
people were served breakfast<br />
with proceeds going to the<br />
Boy Scouts, the Girl Scouts,<br />
and “We Care Packages,” a<br />
non-profit organization led by<br />
Gambles Furniture & Appliances<br />
419 Second Street<br />
Aurora, IN 47001<br />
(812) 926-1677<br />
O<br />
ur<br />
“ I GOT IT AT GAMBLES! ”<br />
Communities<br />
Nick and Judy Ullrich, Nancy Ray, Cindy Rottinghaus, Connie Cleary, Guinevere<br />
Emery, Debbie Smith, Mark Drury, Charlotte Hastings, Rick Denton, Eugene Ison,<br />
Donnie Hastings, Jr., AJ and Shannon Hastings, and Miranda Boyles at the dedication<br />
of the Eagle Carving. Baby Charlotte Hastings is in the baby carrier.<br />
Enjoying the fruits of their labor (or rather fried chicken of<br />
their labor!) at the AFD Chicken Fry are volunteer firefighters<br />
Eric Turner, Zackery Gibbs, and Mikey Childs.<br />
Kathi Prarat that sends care<br />
packages to U.S. troops around<br />
the world. With their proceeds<br />
from the breakfast, Kathi said<br />
they would be able to send one<br />
hundred forty care packages. If<br />
you are interested in volunteering<br />
or donating to this worthy<br />
organization, please call Kathi<br />
at 813-584-0867.<br />
The Aurora Fire Department<br />
(AFD) also had a hectic fall<br />
with two significant events.<br />
One was scary, and the other<br />
was YUMMY! I do have to tell<br />
you, though, I prefer YUMMY<br />
over scary any day! The<br />
proceeds from the fundraisers<br />
will be used for supplies for<br />
their rehab unit that provides<br />
firefighters with snacks and<br />
hydration during runs.<br />
And while we’re talking<br />
about our Fire Department,<br />
did you know that in Indiana,<br />
seven out of ten firefighters and<br />
first responders are volunteers?<br />
Our Aurora Fire Department,<br />
however, is different from the<br />
“norm” as it is 100% volunteer.<br />
Aurora Fire Chief, Jeff Lane,<br />
shared that our fire department<br />
currently has twenty-six volunteers<br />
with a planned roster of<br />
thirty-five. As an incentive to<br />
improve the volunteer ranks,<br />
Representative Randy Frye<br />
pushed for Indiana legislation<br />
to provide college scholarships<br />
for qualified firefighters and<br />
first responders. The bill passed<br />
the House but died in the Senate.<br />
Believing that this is such<br />
an important and worthwhile<br />
endeavor, Ivy Tech Community<br />
College agreed to fund scholarships<br />
for two years beginning<br />
in January 2020. They hope<br />
that this pilot program will provide<br />
information for the state<br />
of Indiana to fund a statewide<br />
program in the future. Scholarship<br />
recipients must be active<br />
volunteer firefighters or EMS<br />
personnel. For more information<br />
about this program, email<br />
Chief Lane at afr501@hotmail.<br />
com or visit Ivy Tech’s website<br />
at www.ivytech.edu.<br />
The November Aurora<br />
City Council meetings were<br />
busy. The Historic Preservation<br />
Commission (HPC) gave<br />
awards for notable preservation<br />
efforts to the Denmure &<br />
Moore Law Firm, Tim Miller,<br />
Josh Mangold, Guinevere<br />
Emery, Bobby and Sherry<br />
Love, Adam Geyer, and<br />
Mark and Leslie Thompson.<br />
Charlie Wilkening, accompanied<br />
by his niece, Diane<br />
Fritz, was thrilled to be part<br />
of a Veterans<br />
Honor Flight<br />
to Washington<br />
DC. He<br />
served in the<br />
U.S. Army<br />
from 1953 to<br />
1955 during<br />
the Korean<br />
Charlie Wilkening War. Charlie<br />
shared with<br />
me that he was not sent to<br />
John Blasdel welcomed<br />
people to Hillforest during<br />
the Ghost walk. (Photo<br />
courtesy of Main Street<br />
Aurora)<br />
Korea, though, because his<br />
last name began with the letter<br />
“W.” The process of assigning<br />
troops to Korea was alphabetical.<br />
Troops with last names<br />
starting with the latter part of<br />
the alphabet were sent to<br />
Europe. Charlie spent most of<br />
his military service stationed<br />
in the small German town of<br />
Badtolz which is the hometown<br />
of Marianne Borgman,<br />
wife to Aurora City Councilman,<br />
John Borgman. What a<br />
small world! Typically,<br />
soldiers in the Army during<br />
that period served a two-year<br />
commitment. Charlie was still<br />
overseas when his two years<br />
were up. Somehow there had<br />
been a mishap with his orders,<br />
and he was not properly<br />
discharged on time. He<br />
Winning First Place in the<br />
Lions Club costume contest<br />
for best homemade costume<br />
is mouse and cheese<br />
Kenna Batchelor and Bo<br />
Barrott. (Photo courtesy of<br />
Main Street Aurora)<br />
remembers his Second Lieutenant<br />
chewing him out for not<br />
calling it to their attention that<br />
his two years were up until<br />
eight days after the fact.<br />
Charlie shared that he enjoyed<br />
the Honor Flight very much.<br />
The Aurora Street Department<br />
has undertaken a new<br />
endeavor in collaboration with<br />
the Aurora Park Board. The<br />
effort will beautify our city<br />
even more. It will create a new<br />
“signature” for the City, AND<br />
save some money. Rather than<br />
completely removing dead<br />
trees on city property, they are<br />
seeking private sponsorships<br />
to have the tree trunks carved<br />
into sculptures. The first<br />
sculpture, an eagle, was dedicated<br />
at Lesko Park in honor<br />
of Mayor Donnie Hastings<br />
Jr. for his twenty-four years of<br />
dedicated service to Aurora.<br />
And LAST but not LEAST,<br />
I have an update on the Aurora<br />
Elementary Third Grade STEM<br />
playground project. Well… the<br />
third graders are now fourth<br />
graders. Aurora City Manager<br />
Guinevere Emery was very<br />
excited to share that the City<br />
of Lawrenceburg Community<br />
Grant Program awarded the<br />
City of Aurora $76,614 for the<br />
ADA compliant playground<br />
that the students helped design.<br />
The playground will have<br />
a baseball theme. More to<br />
come in a future article as the<br />
playground comes to fruition.<br />
Way to go, kids! You’ve hit a<br />
HOME RUN!<br />
God Bless, Merry Christmas,<br />
and Happy New Year.<br />
Main Street Aurora’s<br />
New Year’s Eve Dance<br />
228 Second Street, Aurora<br />
Tuesday, December 31st<br />
Reservations Required<br />
Tickets $20.00 each<br />
Includes admission, dinner, soft drinks, snacks, midnight toast and party favors<br />
Call 812.926.1100<br />
231 Main Street Suite #210<br />
Twenty-five Years of Bringing our Community and Businesses Together.
January 2020 THE BEACON Page 7B<br />
The Bernhard farm house in<br />
the 1940’s.<br />
LAWRENCEBURG<br />
By<br />
Debbie<br />
Acasio<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
lawrenceburg@goBEACONnews.com<br />
Thank goodness it is time to<br />
write this December article! I<br />
have spent the last few days<br />
obsessing about making a<br />
butterscotch cake (don’t need<br />
the extra calories), trying to<br />
find out where my great-greatgrandfather<br />
lived in Morris<br />
(the genealogy dead-end), and<br />
recovering from a wonderful<br />
weekend trip to Shipshewana<br />
(yes, I went crazy in the Amish<br />
bakery). I guess I am enjoying<br />
simpler pleasures these days.<br />
The Eagle Scout project of<br />
Lawrenceburg High School<br />
student Braden Nutley definitely<br />
reminds us of simpler<br />
pleasures. His “Give a book,<br />
take a book, and share a<br />
book” project will consist of<br />
four book stations in Greendale<br />
parks where you are free<br />
to grab a book to take home<br />
or share a favorite. Anyone<br />
interested in donating building<br />
materials, publications, or<br />
cash (to buy materials), can<br />
email bnutley10@gmail.com.<br />
Wouldn’t it be exciting to see<br />
these springing up in all area<br />
parks?<br />
Wednesday is a popular night<br />
in Lawrenceburg. Bagpipe and<br />
drum lessons, anyone? Check<br />
out the Lawrenceburg Fire<br />
House on Wednesday nights<br />
6-9 P.M. for details regarding<br />
lessons given by the 35th<br />
Indiana Pipes & Drums Corp. I<br />
got a chance to see them in the<br />
Farmers Fair Parade, and they<br />
were terrific. Also, don’t forget<br />
the free community meal from<br />
5:15-6:15 provided by volunteers<br />
on Wednesday at Hamline<br />
Chapel. All are welcome!<br />
Cops and Kids is a service<br />
O<br />
ur<br />
Communities<br />
Debbie Acasio, Santa, and Jen Bernhard Awad in 1957 on<br />
the day Santa arrived in Batesville in a helicopter.<br />
Coach Dennis Payne with<br />
son Javier enjoying the<br />
sectional trophy.<br />
provided by The Fraternal<br />
Order of Police Lawrenceburg<br />
that allows needy children to<br />
shop with a sponsor for warm<br />
coats or clothing. Greendale<br />
Policewoman Pam Taylor,<br />
coordinates this valuable<br />
service for the FOP. Donations<br />
can be mailed to the<br />
FOP, dropped off at either<br />
the Aurora or Lawrenceburg<br />
police station. Did you miss<br />
the deadline for Cops & Kids?<br />
This organization also awards<br />
$500 to two seniors in Ohio<br />
and Dearborn Counties each<br />
year through the foundation.<br />
Congratulations to Gavin<br />
Yoon, Lawrenceburg High<br />
football player for breaking<br />
the record of most receiving<br />
yards in a game, most passing<br />
in a game and tied for the<br />
most passing TD in a game.<br />
He made parents Shelly and<br />
Kee Yoon and Grandma<br />
Barb Scherzinger very<br />
proud! Also, congratulations<br />
to Lexi Knight for being<br />
crowned queen of Fall Fest.<br />
She is the daughter of Melissa<br />
and Brian Knight.<br />
Don’t forget to check out the<br />
winter festivities in Lawrenceburg<br />
this season. Besides the<br />
ice skating, Santa’s arrival in<br />
the parade, and small business<br />
Saturdays, the downtown area<br />
Jack Schwier and Jaron<br />
Clonts of Tiger Pizazz clown<br />
around at Coffee Shop Variety<br />
Show with the coffee<br />
condiments.<br />
will introduce a holiday market<br />
under Winter Wonderland<br />
Domes on weekends. They<br />
will feature unique holiday<br />
gift items. For info regarding<br />
ice skating hours, Santa’s<br />
arrival, shopping, and other<br />
planned winter activities visit<br />
www.thinklawrenceburg.com.<br />
AURORA<br />
By<br />
Fred<br />
Schmits<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
aurora@goBEACONnews.com<br />
Hi Neighbors!!<br />
Many of you are familiar<br />
with my friends at the “Liars’<br />
Bench.” One member is<br />
Landon Smith, the “Piano<br />
Man.” He is cheerful, helpful,<br />
and full of laughter<br />
Mr. Smith has lived in Aurora<br />
all of his life. He attended<br />
St. John’s and Aurora High<br />
School with normal youthful<br />
challenges. His studies were<br />
nearly finished by his senior<br />
year.<br />
Mr. Smith has many attributes,<br />
the main focus<br />
involving the piano. From<br />
an early age, he could play<br />
arrangements by ear. Once his<br />
mother realized his talent, she<br />
enrolled him in piano lessons.<br />
The Smiths were encouraged<br />
to enroll him in the Conservatory,<br />
but his father declined.<br />
Landon went to work until the<br />
Army called.<br />
Landon was in the Army<br />
for four years, during which<br />
he played the piano to entertain<br />
the troops. One officer<br />
enjoyed Landon’s playing so<br />
much that he nicknamed him<br />
“the crazy typist.” Landon’s<br />
duty was mainly to type,<br />
but his talent for the piano<br />
changed that.<br />
Landon caught the fancy of<br />
Della Carr, whom he eventually<br />
married. They had two<br />
Landon Smith<br />
daughters,<br />
Cindy and<br />
Debbie, and<br />
were blessed<br />
with fiftythree<br />
years<br />
of marriage.<br />
Mr. Smith<br />
once played<br />
piano in<br />
Nelson Elliott’s<br />
band. He also played<br />
at church concerts and family<br />
outings. He now plays mostly<br />
by ear.<br />
When asked about his most<br />
memorable moments as a<br />
musician, Mr. Smith stated he<br />
was proud to play before over<br />
four hundred people at fundraisers<br />
for cancer research. He<br />
shared he was most embarrassed<br />
when he played with<br />
the band, and the piano was<br />
out of tune! You can’t stop<br />
and tune one of those things<br />
so quickly as other instruments.<br />
In 2012 Mr. Smith was<br />
inducted into the Southeast<br />
Indiana Music Hall of Fame.<br />
A very fitting honor for our<br />
neighbor, the “PIANO MAN.”<br />
Now, did you ever wonder…<br />
do we realize how<br />
blessed we are for our friendly<br />
and helpful nature as a<br />
community?<br />
Let me hear from you!<br />
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SHOP LOCAL and tell our advertisers you saw them in The BEACON!
Page 8B THE BEACON January 2020<br />
The Harrison Five Green Team<br />
HARRISON<br />
By<br />
Elizabeth<br />
Janszen<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
harrison@goBEACONnews.com<br />
Happy Holidays!<br />
The people of our little town<br />
haven’t had much to write<br />
home about when it comes to<br />
football. Until now! In fact,<br />
the last time Harrison’s Varsity<br />
team was in a state semi-final<br />
was 1988. As I write this<br />
piece, the boys in green are<br />
gearing up for their major<br />
matchup against LaSalle,<br />
and I’m sending them all the<br />
luck. Win or lose, the Harrison<br />
Varsity team has much<br />
to be proud of this season.<br />
In addition to their success,<br />
they’ve played the last games<br />
on a grass surface in Harrison,<br />
as the stadium will be transformed<br />
to a turf field by next<br />
season.<br />
Looking up to those varsity<br />
players are the boys in the<br />
HYF organization. The fifth<br />
grade Green Team recently<br />
traveled to Owensboro, Kentucky,<br />
to play in the Kentucky<br />
Cup, and although they came<br />
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Harrison’s City Elections<br />
took place in November, and<br />
Mayor Bill Neyer remains<br />
in office for another two<br />
years. Other officials elected<br />
were Jean Wilson, Ryan<br />
Samuel, and Anthony Egner,<br />
elected to City Council. Doug<br />
Lohman was elected as the<br />
Crosby Township Trustee, and<br />
Matthew Wallace was elected<br />
as Crosby Township’s Fiscal<br />
Officer. William Noes was<br />
chosen as the Harrison Township<br />
Trustee, with Richard<br />
Dole as the Fiscal Officer.<br />
Whitewater Township elected<br />
Guy Schaible as Trustee and<br />
James Brett as their Fiscal<br />
Officer. The Harrison Fire/<br />
EMS Levy passed, and we<br />
elected Jeff Biddle, Linda<br />
Peak, and Tricia Evanson to<br />
the Southwest Local School<br />
Board.<br />
As always, I’d like to<br />
remind everyone that the holidays<br />
are a time to reach out to<br />
your neighbors in need. There<br />
are several food pantries in<br />
our community, in addition to<br />
many churches willing to help.<br />
Have something fun to share<br />
for February? I’d love to hear<br />
it! Email me at harrison@<br />
goBEACONnews.com<br />
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Communities<br />
LOGAN<br />
By<br />
Susan<br />
Carson<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
logan@goBEACONnews.com<br />
At the Barn Winery,<br />
opened in July of 2013, is a<br />
local hotspot in Logan from<br />
spring through December.<br />
The owners, Donnie and<br />
Debbie Stutz, are fellow<br />
graduates of North Dearborn<br />
High School (one year behind<br />
me and Donnie’s sister,<br />
Barb). You guess when.<br />
The barn was built in 1870<br />
by Donnie’s great-grandfather,<br />
James Jacques. The<br />
original property was about<br />
thirty to forty acres and was<br />
a regular working farm with<br />
milk cows, horses, chickens,<br />
etc. Jacques’ daughter,<br />
Edna, married Lester<br />
White and lived next to the<br />
barn. They had a daughter<br />
Thelma Jean, who married<br />
Vernon Stutz and lived next<br />
door to them. Thelma Jean<br />
is Donnie’s mother and, at<br />
97, is the reigning queen<br />
of Logan! In 1992 Donnie<br />
MANCHESTER<br />
By<br />
Lisa<br />
West<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
manchester@goBEACONnews.com<br />
Even though winter is upon<br />
us, the youth and leaders<br />
of our local Manchester 4H<br />
organization are hard at work.<br />
Our community is fortunate<br />
to have a successful 4H club,<br />
The Manchester Rowdies.<br />
This group is part of a U.S.<br />
4H non-profit organization,<br />
whose mission is to “Engage<br />
youth to reach their fullest<br />
potential while advancing the<br />
field of youth development.”<br />
(per their published mission<br />
12683 North Dearborn Rd.<br />
Sunman, IN 47041<br />
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A sideboard from Donnie’s<br />
great-grandfather’s wagon.<br />
bought the last ten remaining<br />
acres of the farm. He<br />
had always had an interest<br />
in wine-making, so in 2003,<br />
he started fixing up the barn.<br />
While cleaning the barn and<br />
doing the necessary repairs,<br />
he found an old piece of<br />
wood with “James Jacques”<br />
painted on it. Donnie tells<br />
me it is a sideboard from the<br />
wagon his great-grandfather<br />
used to take produce to market<br />
(probably in Harrison).<br />
A newer piece of history is<br />
the Logan Methodist Church<br />
stained glass window that<br />
was saved from the church<br />
at the time of the merger<br />
of the Bright and Logan<br />
churches.<br />
But the most fun is the<br />
scoreboard from the North<br />
Dearborn School (High or<br />
Elementary depending on<br />
your age). The scoreboard<br />
was bought at auction at ND<br />
when it closed a couple of<br />
years ago by their daughters<br />
as a gift. It turns out it was<br />
a gift to many of us. Donnie<br />
doesn’t keep score of how<br />
much you drink, BUT if the<br />
language of the customers<br />
gets a little too rough, Donnie<br />
pushes the “foul” button,<br />
and a loud buzzer goes<br />
off, calling attention to the<br />
offender. He keeps pushing<br />
the button until the language<br />
subsides. All in good fun!<br />
Several of their wines<br />
have won awards in contests<br />
around the country, as<br />
shown in the photo taken<br />
in front of their display<br />
shelves. Donnie and Debbie<br />
would like to thank Mike<br />
and Diane Bender, whose<br />
Logan Supermart is conveniently<br />
located across the<br />
street. The Winery doesn’t<br />
sell food, but customers are<br />
welcome to bring in snacks<br />
of their own and frequently<br />
buy from the Supermart.<br />
Cheers!<br />
Autumn Mitchel doing a sheep demonstration at a Manchester<br />
Rowdies 4-H meeting.<br />
At Ripley Crossing we understand<br />
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The Logan Methodist Church<br />
stained glass window.<br />
statement).<br />
We are not sure how the<br />
Manchester club was named<br />
the ‘Rowdies,’ but we can<br />
guess that it was because<br />
of the fun they have! Their<br />
activities center around the<br />
care and upbringing of farm<br />
animals and pets, as well as<br />
projects involving woodworking,<br />
mechanics, farming,<br />
domestic skills, arts, photography,<br />
crafts, wildlife, and<br />
many more. Members can<br />
explore dozens of areas. They<br />
get hands-on training from<br />
the club leaders and other 4H<br />
peers. Experts from the community<br />
also share knowledge.<br />
The highlight of their year is<br />
the local Dearborn County<br />
4H Fair held in June, and the<br />
Indiana State 4H Fair held in<br />
August. The 4H members can<br />
show the fruits of their labor,<br />
with week-long competitions,<br />
shows, and other activities.<br />
I recently spoke with their<br />
leader of thirty-six years,<br />
Rachel Thies. She shared that<br />
4H youth learn lifelong skills<br />
about responsibility to their<br />
animals/projects, their parents,<br />
the fellow 4H kids, and<br />
their clubs. They learn how<br />
to carefully follow directions<br />
on projects to achieve the best<br />
outcome. They learn how to<br />
receive constructive criticism<br />
and improve from that criticism.<br />
Rachel shared, “I love<br />
working with the kids and<br />
seeing their creativity in projects,<br />
and their devotion and<br />
responsibility to their projects.<br />
I love seeing older kids teaching<br />
younger kids how to have<br />
more success with their work.<br />
I love walking through the fair<br />
barn and seeing kids ‘showing’<br />
their animals to fairgoers<br />
and how their faces light up as<br />
they talk about their animals.<br />
It never gets old.”<br />
The Manchester Rowdies<br />
4H group has started up again<br />
for the upcoming 2020 fair.<br />
They meet the first Monday<br />
of each month, 7:00 P.M., at<br />
the church at the corner of<br />
Possum Ridge and State Road<br />
48. Youth from kindergarten<br />
through second grade join<br />
the Cloverbuds 4H group;<br />
third graders and older join<br />
as regular 4H members. They<br />
welcome families from our<br />
Manchester community as<br />
well as surrounding areas.<br />
At the meetings, the kids<br />
perform demonstrations to<br />
help each other learn about<br />
some of the projects that are<br />
exhibited at the fair. During<br />
the year, the club participates<br />
in many volunteer activities<br />
such as Love the Hungry food<br />
packaging event, helping<br />
prepare and serve meals at the<br />
First Presbyterian Church in<br />
Aurora, and doing the same at<br />
the Hamline Church in Lawrenceburg.<br />
If you are interested in<br />
joining 4H, please attend a<br />
meeting or contact Rachel<br />
Thies 513-509-7855 for more<br />
information.<br />
Twenty-five Years of Bringing our Community and Businesses Together.
January 2020 THE BEACON Page 9B<br />
RISING SUN/<br />
OHIO COUNTY<br />
By<br />
PG<br />
Gentrup<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
risingsun@goBEACONnews.com<br />
Our community is served<br />
by three Color Guards,<br />
which will be combining<br />
into one group known as the<br />
Southeastern Indiana Honor<br />
Guard. Our new jackets will<br />
have a patch on the back, with<br />
maps of Korea, Vietnam, Iraq,<br />
and Afghanistan, with the<br />
service patches above this for<br />
the Army, Marines, Navy, Air<br />
Force, and Coast Guard.<br />
Veterans Day is always a<br />
busy time. This year several<br />
veterans were able to get<br />
together at the Lawrenceburg<br />
Library and talk about their<br />
experiences. A special thanks<br />
to Rhonda Stinson for her<br />
hospitality. The cupcakes<br />
and cake were delicious.<br />
The program was held in<br />
the old train depot, where I<br />
used to catch a train to go to<br />
Cincinnati when I was a kid.<br />
Several of us came out of that<br />
small area and worked together<br />
at the power plant including<br />
Clarence Tibbetts, Jack<br />
Day, Mike Johnson, Lanny<br />
Wyatt, Barry Kaffenberger,<br />
Mike LaFollette, and Donnie<br />
Starker.<br />
Tammy Wagner<br />
recently organized a flag<br />
retirement ceremony. Color<br />
Guard members Jerry<br />
Bondurant, Bob Palmer,<br />
Mike LaFollette, and Ron<br />
Spurlock participated.<br />
On Nov. 10, a Veteran’s<br />
worship service was held at<br />
Patriot Baptist Church by<br />
Pastor Mike Jones. That<br />
same day Greendale held<br />
a dedication of the new<br />
Veterans Memorial for police,<br />
Veterans, firefighters, and first<br />
responders with Pastor Tim<br />
Russell as the host. Mayor<br />
Alan Weiss spearheaded<br />
this project, and it became a<br />
reality with the help of the<br />
Greendale City Council.<br />
The American Legion Post<br />
239 recently had a wonderful<br />
display of memorabilia<br />
thanks to Tom Savage, Phil<br />
Plunkett, and Eric Smith.<br />
Recently, tribute was paid<br />
to the World War II Veterans<br />
from Dearborn County. They<br />
received Quilts of Valor<br />
from Sheila Stevenson and<br />
Judi Sauerbrey from the<br />
Rivertown Quilters. Quilts<br />
were presented to Wilbur<br />
Rolfes, who is 101, Bill<br />
O<br />
ur<br />
Hopping, George Klopp,<br />
Willis “Baby Doll” Bentle,<br />
Frank Savage, Bob Savage,<br />
Clarence Cook, Bob<br />
Myers, Bobby Lischkge,<br />
Alice Schuler, Leo Kittle,<br />
Lawrence Lyttle, and Bob<br />
Ernsting. My buddy, Jerry<br />
Bondurant, remarked how<br />
special it was to be able to be<br />
with twenty-one World War II<br />
Veterans in one week.<br />
Grace Church of the Valley<br />
recently presented a video<br />
featuring interviews with<br />
Purple Heart Recipients,<br />
Ebbie Roberts, Tim<br />
Albright, and Brett<br />
Bondurant.<br />
On Veterans Day, Rising<br />
Sun High School held a<br />
breakfast and program<br />
to visit with some of the<br />
veterans. Aurora Elementary<br />
School (AES) also had a<br />
program. My granddaughter,<br />
Carli Walter, did an<br />
excellent job reading about<br />
the Star-Spangled Banner.<br />
Twin brother, Grady, also<br />
had several lines to read. It<br />
does my heart good to see<br />
program like this one getting<br />
the youngsters involved.<br />
Mary Bailey and her staff<br />
did a super job with the kids.<br />
I had the honor of addressing<br />
the students at the South<br />
Dearborn Middle School,<br />
thanks to Principal Jason<br />
Cheek.<br />
Lawrenceburg High<br />
School also had a Veterans<br />
Day program. The students<br />
gave the veterans a standing<br />
ovation. I chatted with<br />
Principal Bill Snyder and told<br />
him what a great job they are<br />
doing.<br />
The statue of the Union<br />
Soldier at Union Cemetery<br />
was recently revitalized. A<br />
formal re-dedication will take<br />
place later when the weather<br />
gets warmer.<br />
My daughter-in-law,<br />
Annette Gentrup, is an avid<br />
runner and recently completed<br />
the Monumental Marathon<br />
in Indianapolis. This is her<br />
second time to complete the<br />
race. A lot of training and<br />
determination are needed to<br />
complete a full marathon.<br />
There is something about<br />
getting out and running in all<br />
kinds of weather that gives<br />
you a certain peace of mind.<br />
By the time you read this,<br />
Thanksgiving will have<br />
passed, and you may have<br />
gained a few pounds. We<br />
should all be very thankful<br />
for all the blessings we have<br />
received from God. Stay<br />
warm and healthy. Enjoy the<br />
holidays, and it’s almost time<br />
to flip the calendar to 2020.<br />
That doesn’t sound possible.<br />
God Bless You.<br />
Communities<br />
MOORES HILL<br />
By<br />
Barbara<br />
Wetzler<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
mooreshill@goBEACONnews.com<br />
Congratulations to Doug<br />
Heller, who was inducted into<br />
the Southeastern Indiana Musician’s<br />
Association Hall of<br />
Fame. The Association honors<br />
exemplary musicians in Dearborn,<br />
Ohio, Ripley, Franklin,<br />
and Switzerland Counties and<br />
who have contributed to the<br />
cultural growth of music.<br />
Moores Hill Elementary<br />
School hosted a program<br />
for all veterans on Nov. 11.<br />
Jonathan Combs, Grade<br />
6, read his thank you letter<br />
for Veterans. In response,<br />
Becky Ingersoll, President of<br />
Moores Hill American Legion<br />
Auxiliary, said, “I want to<br />
thank Moores Hill teachers<br />
and students for the nice program<br />
for our veterans.”<br />
The eighth-grade graduation<br />
class of 1979 Moores Hill<br />
School held a fortieth class<br />
reunion. Following time for<br />
fellowship and food, there was<br />
a memorial service in remembrance<br />
of six classmates. The<br />
‘79 classmates purchased a memorial<br />
stone with an inscription<br />
of the names of classmates<br />
who have passed away: Davy<br />
Hummel, Tracy Frey, Lisa<br />
Webb, Wesley Baker, Shari<br />
Allen, and Terry Peace. The<br />
memorial stone was placed<br />
in Veterans Park, across from<br />
the Legion. A tree was planted<br />
in the Park. Family members<br />
Rosie and Scott Hummel<br />
and Joe and Nina Allen attended.<br />
Much of the planning<br />
was done by Darlene Canfield<br />
Cox, John Moody, and<br />
Fortieth Reunion, 1979 eighth grade class Moores Hill<br />
School.<br />
Sherry Fraasman Burton.<br />
Sherry said, “It was fun just<br />
sitting around talking about the<br />
good ole days… what we can<br />
remember anyway.”<br />
Kudos to Brent Casebolt for<br />
participating in “No-Shave November,”<br />
helping raise money<br />
for kids by not shaving the<br />
month of November. Money<br />
raised benefits Cops and Kids,<br />
(formerly known as Shop With<br />
A Cop), and helps local kids<br />
have a better Christmas.<br />
A community Thanksgiving<br />
dinner was hosted by Dee<br />
Russell and the Moores Hill<br />
Sparta Township Fire/EMS,<br />
along with Misty Russell, and<br />
a team of volunteers and donors.<br />
Dee has put this dinner<br />
together every Thanksgiving<br />
since 2010. Dee says, “It is so<br />
no one goes without Thanksgiving<br />
dinner.” Good food and<br />
fellowship were shared among<br />
those working on Thanksgiving<br />
at the Fire/EMS station<br />
and residents, friends, family.<br />
The Winter Walk activities<br />
are being planned by volunteers<br />
Tamila Wismann,<br />
Bobbi Elza, Pat Holland,<br />
Lynn Allen, Angie Calhoun,<br />
Sherry Fraasman Burton,<br />
Todd Russell, Donna Couch,<br />
Glenda and Kevin Thomasson,<br />
and Josh Holland who<br />
have been meeting and organizing<br />
for weeks.<br />
Winter solstice happens at<br />
the same instant for everyone,<br />
everywhere on Earth – and<br />
this year, it occurs on Dec. 22.<br />
For those who find ole man<br />
winter tough to deal with, the<br />
Doug Heller putting the beat<br />
in music.<br />
knowledge that the planet<br />
keeps on turning and things<br />
will get easier as days get<br />
longer can be a blessed relief.<br />
Such it is with the dawn of a<br />
new year. I still look forward<br />
to the promise of a new year: a<br />
new beginning in many ways.<br />
Get a head start on that<br />
perennial resolution to get<br />
more exercise! Moores Hill<br />
Elementary School is open<br />
Wed. evenings at 7:00, for<br />
adult league basketball.<br />
For those willing to take<br />
on the outdoors, a walking<br />
map/self-guided tour of historic<br />
homes and businesses of<br />
Moores Hill is available. The<br />
tour includes a brief history of<br />
several homes, churches, and<br />
Carnegie Hall. Do you know<br />
which home was once a Trailways<br />
Bus Station? Can you<br />
find the former 1-room Schoolhouse?<br />
The walk is an easy,<br />
mostly flat, 1-mile loop. Free<br />
copies of the historical walking<br />
tour are available at the Town<br />
Office or by contacting me via<br />
the e-mail address below.<br />
If you have news to share,<br />
contact me at mooreshill@<br />
goBEACONnews.com. Merry<br />
Christmas to all.<br />
THINK FAST<br />
Get a new debit card issued the same day.<br />
Instead of waiting in the mail.<br />
FCN Bank Building Stronger Communities.<br />
SHOP LOCAL and tell our advertisers you saw them in The BEACON!
Page 10B THE BEACON January 2020<br />
SUNMAN<br />
By<br />
Maureen<br />
Stenger<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
O<br />
ur<br />
Communities<br />
sunman@goBEACONnews.com<br />
Back in the May edition<br />
of The Beacon, I had the<br />
honor of writing a veteran’s<br />
spotlight telling the tale of<br />
lifelong Sunman resident,<br />
Albert Wagner, surviving<br />
his B-24 Bomber’s crash<br />
during World War II. Mr.<br />
Wagner and the rest of the<br />
crew of The Old-Faithful, the<br />
name of their Consolidated<br />
B-24 Liberator American<br />
heavy bomber, were on a<br />
mission in England in a<br />
different B-24 bomber called<br />
Satan’s Sister when they<br />
crash-landed. Idaho author,<br />
Jan Cline, is writing a book<br />
series called The American<br />
Dream Series, and the third<br />
book will feature the plight<br />
of Satan’s Sister. Mrs. Cline<br />
and her husband traveled to<br />
Columbus, Indiana, to meet<br />
Evelyn Wagner, Albert’s<br />
widow. Two of Albert and<br />
Evelyn’s grand-daughters,<br />
Hope Bohman and Jamie<br />
The Color Guard for The Sunman Elementary School’s<br />
Veteran’s Day Program.Cub Scout Pack 610 Members<br />
Jared Cox, Carson Caudill, and Aaron Rullman; Girl Scout<br />
Troop 43712 Alayna Darringer and Josie Stenger.<br />
Roope, were also present<br />
during the meeting, and<br />
Mrs. Roope shared with me<br />
that they all had a lovely<br />
visit reminiscing about Mr.<br />
Wagner’s legacy and bravery.<br />
Erin Darringer, president<br />
of Sunman Elementary<br />
Tiger PAWS, shared that<br />
the school’s Veteran’s Day<br />
ceremony and breakfast was<br />
a huge success! Everyone<br />
was thankful for the high<br />
attendance and the chance<br />
to honor our community<br />
heroes! I also had the<br />
pleasure of honoring a<br />
particular veteran, my dad,<br />
in my own way as I ran in<br />
my fifth half marathon, The<br />
Honor Run, in Florence,<br />
Kentucky, on Nov. 10. All<br />
proceeds from the run benefit<br />
Honor Flight Tri-State,<br />
which sends local veterans<br />
who have served in World<br />
War ll, Korea and Vietnam to<br />
Washington DC to see their<br />
memorials. This year’s run<br />
raised over fifty thousand<br />
dollars for Honor Flight<br />
Tri-State! My father served<br />
two tours of duty in Vietnam<br />
in the Marine Corps Force<br />
Reconnaissance, and he is<br />
a Purple Heart recipient. It<br />
was a beautiful and inspiring<br />
experience, thank you will<br />
never suffice to all of the<br />
brave men and women who<br />
have sacrificed so much<br />
so that we can live as we<br />
choose!<br />
The Annual Sunman Area<br />
Chamber of Commerce<br />
Dinner was held on Nov 8<br />
at the Sunman American<br />
Legion. Sunman Elementary<br />
Music Teacher, Jessica<br />
Risinger, was the recipient of<br />
the Chamber’s Teacher of the<br />
Hope Bohman, Author Jan Cline, Evelyn Wagner, and<br />
Jamie Roope met in Columbus, IN, to reminisce about their<br />
beloved war hero Albert Wagner and the plight of the B-24<br />
Bomber Satan’s Sister. (Photo courtesy of Jamie Roope)<br />
Year Award, and she shared<br />
with me what that meant to<br />
her. “I cannot express how<br />
grateful and honored I feel<br />
to be chosen for Teacher of<br />
the Year. This truly means<br />
so much to me, and I feel<br />
quite blessed to be a part of<br />
the Sunman School family.”<br />
Congratulations to all of this<br />
year’s winners!<br />
Finally, in the spirit of<br />
the season on Nov. 22, The<br />
Sunman American Legion<br />
hosted Sunman Celebrates<br />
the Season! The event kicked<br />
off with a Christmas parade<br />
that strolled through town<br />
ending at the American<br />
Legion, where an indoor<br />
Christmas Carnival for all<br />
area children was held.<br />
Games, caroling, and even<br />
an appearance by Santa<br />
showcased the evening! Also,<br />
Girl Scout Troop 5525 helped<br />
patrons decorate Christmas<br />
cookies to take home with<br />
them and enjoy. Thank you to<br />
all who worked so hard to put<br />
I ran in the Honor Run Half<br />
Marathon in Florence, KY,<br />
to honor my father, Roy<br />
Schooley Jr., a Vietnam<br />
Veteran and Purple Heart<br />
Recipient.<br />
this fun event on!<br />
I wish everyone a Merry<br />
Christmas. May your heart<br />
and home be happy and<br />
fulfilled. Best wishes in the<br />
New Year. Please continue<br />
to send me your adventures<br />
and town happenings at<br />
sunman@goBEACONnews.<br />
com. I always look forward<br />
to hearing from you!<br />
Join us for inspirational services and some free, fun,<br />
family events as we celebrate the Christmas season at<br />
Bright Church ... where love shines.<br />
brightchurch.org<br />
24457 State Line Road<br />
Bright, IN 47025<br />
(812) 637-3388<br />
LIGHT UP BRIGHT<br />
free events at bright church<br />
LIGHT<br />
SHOW<br />
LIVE<br />
NATIVITY<br />
GREAT<br />
CONCERT<br />
DECEMBER 8, 15, 22<br />
9:00 & 10:30 A.M.<br />
DECEMBER 24<br />
2:30 & 4:00 P.M.<br />
All December enjoy a dazzling light show from the<br />
warmth of your car, with the sounds of the season<br />
synchronized to each display. 6:00-10:00 p.m.<br />
Join us December 14 & 15, 6:00-9:00 p.m. for a<br />
live nativity and free cookies and hot chocolate.<br />
Join us December 15 at 6:00 p.m. for a Christmas<br />
Concert with MY BROTHER’S KEEPER, a<br />
local Bluegrass/Folk band with a contemporary<br />
sound and energetic live shows!<br />
YORKVILLE<br />
& GUILFORD<br />
By<br />
Laura<br />
Keller<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
yorkville@goBEACONnews.com<br />
The thirty-first annual<br />
Yorkville trick-or-treat event<br />
was held on Oct. 27. The fall<br />
day was perfect for enjoying a<br />
hayride and trick-or-treating,<br />
followed by hot dogs and<br />
drinks at Widolff’s General<br />
Store and Tavern. It’s a great<br />
time to gather with friends in<br />
the community. Thank you to<br />
everyone who makes this an<br />
enjoyable event for adults and<br />
children.<br />
As a child, my parents used<br />
to visit relatives and friends<br />
frequently. My brothers and I<br />
did not understand the significance<br />
of those visits – we<br />
were able to play with some<br />
neat toys or enjoy a special<br />
treat they prepared for us.<br />
Through the years, I realized<br />
what a tremendous joy<br />
my parents and I brought to<br />
those we visited, as many of<br />
them were elderly. As I’ve<br />
gotten older, I understand<br />
the truth in the saying, “The<br />
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life, please take some time<br />
to think about someone who<br />
would relish your gift of time.<br />
Whether it’s a neighbor you<br />
wave to as you’re driving<br />
home or a family member or<br />
friend who is confined to their<br />
home, take the time to stop<br />
and visit. I promise it will be<br />
time well spent.<br />
If you have news in the<br />
Yorkville/Guilford area you’d<br />
like me to share, please contact<br />
me at yorkville@goBEA-<br />
CONnews.com.<br />
FRANKLIN<br />
COUNTY<br />
By<br />
Karis<br />
Troyer<br />
Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
franklin@goBEACONnews.com<br />
Franklin County correspondent<br />
Karis troyer will be back<br />
next month. Send news to franklin@goBEACONnews.com<br />
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HOLIDAY LIGHTS<br />
are not trash!<br />
Twenty-five Years of Bringing our Community and Businesses Together.
Donna<br />
Davidson<br />
Community<br />
January 2020 Correspondent<br />
THE BEACON Page 11B<br />
donnadavidson.thebeacon@yahoo.com<br />
W<br />
hat's<br />
Happening By In<br />
BRIGHT John<br />
Hawley<br />
By Purdue<br />
Debby Extension<br />
Stutz Educator<br />
hawley4@purdue.edu Community<br />
Correspondent<br />
Keep Your Gardens<br />
Green in the Winter!<br />
PORTS<br />
SCENE<br />
debbystutz.thebeacon@yahoo.com<br />
The garden plants we<br />
dream of most often are<br />
summer-loving annuals, such<br />
as vegetables, Sfruits, BEACON and<br />
flowers. However, there are<br />
a large number of plants that<br />
provide invaluable environmental<br />
benefits throughout the<br />
dreary winter months. Many<br />
of these, if planted in By a home<br />
garden, would be considered Jack<br />
cover crops. Let’s look Zoller at the<br />
background and benefits of<br />
beaconsports<br />
@live.com<br />
cover crops.<br />
A Not-So-New Innovation<br />
Bare soil has few benefits.<br />
Research conducted by<br />
regional and campus specialists<br />
at Purdue and universities<br />
around the world continues<br />
to indicate this. While new<br />
research reveals benefits previously<br />
unknown, the overall<br />
impact of cover cropping and<br />
leaving fields growing through<br />
winter have been understood<br />
for generations. According<br />
to my partners at Maryland<br />
Extension, many early agricultural<br />
innovators, including two<br />
Founding Fathers (Washington<br />
and Jefferson), are recorded<br />
using cover crops in rotation<br />
with tobacco, wheat, and corn.<br />
Cover cropping has slowly<br />
but steadily gained popularity<br />
in the farming community.<br />
Gardeners are also taking<br />
notice of the benefits provided<br />
by cover crops, with the<br />
obvious being control of our<br />
biggest nemesis… weeds.<br />
Much More than Weed<br />
Control<br />
Improved weed control is not<br />
the only benefit of cover crops.<br />
Soil structure improvements,<br />
runoff reduction, erosion<br />
control, wildlife foraging, and<br />
improved insect populations<br />
are just a few of the additional<br />
benefits offered. Depending on<br />
your goals, you may be able<br />
to accomplish one or all of the<br />
benefits listed above.<br />
As with any other gardening<br />
practices, be mindful of<br />
doing things right. If mistakes<br />
are made, little to no benefit<br />
may be seen. You can waste a<br />
lot of time and money prepping<br />
for a cover crop that may<br />
never grow. Research and<br />
note recommended planting<br />
dates, and watch the weather<br />
for good planting opportunities.<br />
Plan early if you want<br />
to plant winter-killed cover<br />
crops, such as radish.<br />
Preparing for a Cover Crop<br />
System<br />
You don’t need thirty years<br />
of gardening experience or a<br />
half-acre garden to begin cover<br />
cropping. With a little preparation,<br />
anyone can start a successful<br />
cover cropping system<br />
in their garden. The most<br />
significant decision to make<br />
will be what seed mixture to<br />
select. Endless choices are<br />
available, and while going with<br />
a standard rye mixture is not a<br />
bad idea, there may be better<br />
combinations to choose for<br />
your garden. Most local garden<br />
centers will have seeds for sale.<br />
I am working with our<br />
Purdue Master Gardener group<br />
on a few projects at a site<br />
provided courtesy of the City<br />
of Aurora. We recently planted<br />
cover crops in a vegetable bed<br />
alongside native perennials.<br />
We used a mixture provided by<br />
the Dearborn County Soil and<br />
Water Conservation District<br />
that included clover, rye, and<br />
radish. According to my partners<br />
at Minnesota Extension,<br />
mixing cover crops can provide<br />
a better combination of benefits.<br />
For example, you could<br />
combine the erosion prevention<br />
qualities of cereal rye with the<br />
nitrogen fixation (sourcing of<br />
environmental nitrogen) provided<br />
by crimson clover.<br />
I hope the recommendations<br />
in this article encourage you<br />
to explore cover crops as an<br />
option in your garden. If you<br />
would like assistance deciding<br />
on the right mix, please let me<br />
know.<br />
To learn more about managing<br />
your lawn and garden from<br />
our experts on campus, please<br />
search “Purdue Consumer<br />
Horticulture” on the internet.<br />
For additional information<br />
about other agriculture and<br />
natural resources topics, email<br />
me at hawley4@purdue.edu.<br />
Look for my next article<br />
in the February issue of The<br />
Beacon!<br />
By<br />
Melanie<br />
Alexander<br />
The final holiday<br />
By<br />
preparations are Maxine underway.<br />
Like most folks, Klump I’ll be<br />
completing the shopping,<br />
wrapping gifts, Community and baking for<br />
Correspondent<br />
family and friends. Holiday<br />
family events are scheduled.<br />
maxineklump.thebeacon@yahoo.com<br />
Like most folks, hosts<br />
plan the entrée while the<br />
remainder of us provide<br />
specific items (vegetables,<br />
salads, or dessert) to round<br />
out the meal. Each household<br />
also brings an appetizer or<br />
snack to share.<br />
For the family<br />
Thanksgiving, I unearthed an<br />
“oldie but goodie” appetizer<br />
for the early arrivals. Maria<br />
had reminded me how tasty<br />
this snack was earlier this<br />
past fall. I think of it as very<br />
appropriate for the colder<br />
months and decided to share<br />
the recipe before the next<br />
holiday. (Yes, it was a hit for<br />
Thanksgiving.)<br />
Here are some hints that<br />
I’ve used over the years.<br />
If you don’t usually use<br />
Thousand Island dressing,<br />
just combine 3T. Mayonnaise<br />
with 1 T. catsup and 1<br />
teaspoon pickle relish. If<br />
you ask the deli employee<br />
to “shave” the corned beef,<br />
there is little or no chopping<br />
to do.<br />
Reuben Spread<br />
8 oz corned beef, chopped<br />
1 cup Swiss cheese, shredded<br />
½ cup sauerkraut, drained<br />
¼ cup sour cream<br />
¼ cup Thousand Island<br />
dressing<br />
8 oz. cream cheese, softened<br />
Combine the softened<br />
cream cheese with the sour<br />
cream and combine until<br />
smooth. Add the salad<br />
dressing, then stir in the<br />
corned beef, cheese and<br />
sauerkraut. Bake in a 400°<br />
oven until melted (about 20<br />
minutes) or can be heated in<br />
a crockpot: high heat for 2-3<br />
hours or low for 4-6 hours.<br />
Serve with party rye slices,<br />
rye crackers or rye toast.<br />
This recipe for mashed<br />
sweet potatoes is very<br />
different from the traditional<br />
baked sweet potato<br />
casseroles that are very<br />
sweet and covered with<br />
marshmallows and pecans.<br />
Although the recipe calls<br />
for the potatoes to be boiled<br />
in their skins, then cooled<br />
and peeled, I’ve modified it<br />
to pare the sweet potatoes<br />
and place them immediately<br />
to the saucepan filled with<br />
water to prevent discoloring.<br />
Yes, some nutrients are<br />
lost in this way so, if you<br />
prefer, go ahead and cook the<br />
potatoes with the skins intact<br />
and then allow them to cool<br />
until you can remove the<br />
peels without burning your<br />
hands. This recipe is easily<br />
doubled.<br />
Mashed Sweet Potatoes<br />
with Orange<br />
2 pounds sweet potatoes,<br />
cooked until soft<br />
¼ cup butter, softened<br />
Salt to taste<br />
Fresh orange juice to thin<br />
(generally ¼ - ½ cup)<br />
¼ teaspoon ground ginger<br />
2 tablespoons brown sugar<br />
1 teaspoon grated orange zest<br />
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon<br />
Cook sweet potatoes until<br />
soft. Drain, and mash with<br />
a fork (or use an electric<br />
mixer). Add butter and stir<br />
until combined. Add enough<br />
orange juice to thin slightly<br />
and beat until light. Add<br />
remaining ingredients and<br />
mix until smooth. Serve<br />
immediately, or the potatoes<br />
can be placed into a buttered<br />
baking dish and refrigerated<br />
until close to serving time.<br />
May be reheated in a 375°<br />
oven or in the microwave.<br />
Finally, can you believe that<br />
we’re almost ready to enter<br />
a new decade? I send good<br />
wishes for a blessed holiday<br />
season for you and your<br />
loved ones and friends. Merry<br />
Christmas!<br />
Membership & Education<br />
position in Aurora, IN.<br />
Skills needed, Quick books pro, Microsoft<br />
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Include experience, skill level.<br />
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Sunday Services 9:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.<br />
Fresh Worship • Relevant Messages • Warm Welcome<br />
24457 State Line Road, Bright, Indiana 47025<br />
brightchurch.org, (812) 637-3388<br />
Jeff Stone, Lead Minister<br />
LOVE GOD. LOVE PEOPLE. IMPACT THE WORLD.<br />
BUSINESS &<br />
PROFESSIONAL<br />
DIRECTORY<br />
C<br />
FLOORING SHOWROOM<br />
Joe Brandel<br />
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Lawrenceburg IN<br />
812-537-0619<br />
FURNITURE SHOWROOM<br />
557 W. Eads Parkway<br />
Lawrenceburg IN<br />
812-537-0610<br />
HOURS<br />
MON—FRI 8:30—5:30<br />
SAT 8:30—1:00<br />
We buy used cars—call<br />
for pricing!!<br />
800.245.2886<br />
NOW OPEN ON SATURDAY FOR SCRAP<br />
AND AUTO PARTS 8:30am — 1:00pm<br />
Follow us on FACEBOOK!<br />
Check out current scrap prices!<br />
Need a part—go to www.miamitownautoparts.com<br />
and “Search our Inventory”<br />
SHOP LOCAL and tell our advertisers you saw them in The BEACON!
Page 12B THE BEACON January 2020<br />
B<br />
eacon<br />
Vacation<br />
TAKE YOUR BEACON<br />
Sarah, Evan & Sandy Laudick, Ethan Luhring, Abby<br />
Laudick and Anna Andres travelled to Riveria Maya,<br />
Mexico. P.S. - Ethan and Abby were engaged!<br />
Mel and Patti Wilhelm of Brookville took The Beacon with them when they traveled to<br />
Mt. Rushmore with their daughters, son, and six of their grandchildren.<br />
Tom & Marcella McCann, Vince & Marci McCann,<br />
Larry & Beth Joerger, Mark & Kathy McCann, Mark<br />
& Leah Schmidl, Ron & Lynn Burton, Adam & Audra<br />
Steele spent ten days in Alaska sightseeing by land<br />
and sea.<br />
The Wilgenbusch family took the Beacon to Vienna, Austria. Shown are Matt & Bev<br />
Wilgenbusch, Mitch and Sharon Wilgenbusch, Art and Marlene Hoog, Rick and Donna<br />
Hartman, Johnathan Wilgenbusch, Zachary Wilgenbusch, Tyler Wilgenbusch, and<br />
Molly Adams.<br />
ON VACATION<br />
If business or pleasure takes you out-of-town,<br />
take your hometown newspaper along for the trip.<br />
Send your photo, displaying the Beacon, to<br />
editor@goBEACONnews.<br />
Please include where you live. It’s interesting to see<br />
how well-traveled our readers are!<br />
$5 OFF<br />
Purchase of $35<br />
Or More<br />
Buy 2 Items<br />
And Receive<br />
20% OFF<br />
Twenty-five Years of Bringing our Community and Businesses Together.