Beacon February 2021

INSIDE 

The BEACON 

The Indiana Department of Transportation 

has awarded $101 million 

through its Community Crossings 

Grant program. Grants were awarded 

to two hundred forty-one cities, towns, 

and counties who applied for the 

grant. This time, every high-priority 

road project submitted for the grant is 

being funded. 

The Community Crossings Matching 

Grant Program is designed to aid 

local communities with the costs necessary 

for the repair, ongoing maintenance, 

and improvement of roads and 

bridges. 

The Community Crossings grant 

THE 

BEACON 

www.goBEACONnews.com | PUBLISHED MONTHLY SINCE 1994 | February 2021 

Millions in Grants Awarded for Local Infrastructure 

program is a vital part of Governor 

Holcomb’s Next Level Roads program. 

Governor Holcomb shared, “As we 

navigate through the challenges created 

by the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re 

as committed as ever to improving 

and building our state’s infrastructure. 

I’m incredibly pleased that we’re able 

to fund all of the high-priority local 

road projects submitted in this round. 

Taking care of our local roads is key to 

making sure our communities remain 

attractive places to grow businesses 

and create careers.” 

Grants awarded to the area include: 

Batesville $860,696.69 

Brookville $168,854.25 

Dearborn County $1,000,000.00 

Dillsboro $582,874.08 

Greendale $391,571.25 

Lawrenceburg $791,809.07 

Osgood $780,271.98 

Rising Sun $192,118.50 

Versailles $283,054.14 

Grant recipients are required to provide 

matching funds for projects. Cities 

and towns with populations fewer 

than 10,000 residents are required to 

match 25% of the cost. The same applies 

to counties with a population of 

Continued on page 3A 

Bill’s Shoe Repair- 

The End of an Era 

Randy Tyler celebrates retirement 

after fifty-one years serving the 

community. 

Page 7A 

Remember When? 

Logan Correspondent shares 

memories of Charlie Green and 

Jim Helms at NDHS. Page 3B 

Fun and Frivolity 

Lawrenceburg was full of community 

spirit this holiday season. 

Page 7B 

PRSRT STD 

U.S. POSTAGE 

PAID 

CINCINNATI, OHIO 

Permit No. 9714 

THE BEACON 

PO Box 4022 

Lawrenceburg, Indiana 47025 

Friends Chloe Fowkes and 

Nathan Shelton of Harrison 

enjoying a little time on the ice. 

Randi Rabe from Harrison, OH 

By Maureen Stenger 

After World War I the United States 

came to the sober realization that it 

had to beef up its weaponry to ensure 

that, if battle ever reared its ugly head 

again, the country and its soldiers 

would be armed and ready. Existing 

testing facilities were already overwhelmed 

with testing weapons and 

keeping U.S. forces armed, which led 

to Congress authorizing the construction 

of new testing facilities. A new 

training area where weapons would 

be tested and experimented with was 

about to descend into the heart of 

Indiana. Little did its citizens realize 

how their lives would be drastically 

changed forever. 

Jefferson Proving Ground encompassed 

over fifty-five thousand acres 

in Jefferson, Jennings, and Ripley 

counties. The location was thought to 

be selected due to its proximity to the 

railroads, the Ohio River, a powder 

Cadence Denney and Brenna Van 

Guelpen ready to get your skates in 

just the right size. 

Skating 

Away 

Lawrenceburg’s 

Winter Wonderland brings 

smiles to faces of all ages. 

(Photos by Shelly Ulrich). 

The Jackson Family of West Harrison - Easton, Colton, Ellie, Tessa, 

Joe and Ashley - enjoy an afternoon of ice skating together. 

manufacturing plant in Charleston 

Indiana, an ordinance plant, and an 

ammunition storage depot. Those who 

lived in the future proving ground began 

to notice some strange things happening 

around their homes. Airplane 

Fly Ash Pond 

Monitoring in 

Violation 

Tanners Creek Development LLC, 

the owners of the Fly Ash Pond Complex 

at the Former AEP Power Plant in 

Lawrenceburg, IN., have been notified 

by the Indiana Department of Environmental 

Management (IDEM) that they 

have violated deadlines for previously 

approved plans. 

Tanners Creeks Development submitted 

a monitoring well installation 

plan that was approved by IDEM on 

June 5, 2020. The approved monitoring 

well installation plan was to begin 

within one hundred twenty days of 

approval. According to the notification 

sent to Tanners Creek Development 

from IDEM on Dec. 23, 2020, Tanners 

Creek Development had not begun 

installing the groundwater monitoring 

system. 

The monitoring well installation plan 

was originally provided by EnviroAnalytics 

Group, LLC (EAG) on behalf 

of Tanners Creek Development and 

was submitted to IDEM on May 19, 

2020. The letter of submission stated 

that EAG would submit updated geologic 

cross-sections, a Sampling and 

Analysis Plan, and a Quality Assurance 

Project Plan within sixty days after the 

work plan had been implemented. 

The objective of the groundwater 

monitoring system is to allow for the 

collection of groundwater samples 

from the aquifer that represents water 

unaffected by the fly ash pond complex 

and water at the monitoring boundary 

downgradient of the fly ash pond complex. 

The schedule for the monitoring 

well installation plan stated that the 


Old Timbers- A Hidden Gem Rich with History 

Old Timbers located in Jefferson Proving Ground. (Photos are courtesy of 

Dr. Joseph R. Robb, Big Oaks and Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge 

Complex) 

traffic increased and numerous sightings 

of green army vehicles driving 

by were reported. Although residents 

noticed the oddities, nothing could 

have prepared them for that 


Glenn 

Scholl 

Agent 

812-637-3700 glennschollinsurance.com 23947 Salt Fork Rd, Bright, IN 

Glenn Scholl Agent

Page 2A THE BEACON February 2021 

By 

Tamara 

Taylor 

You Light Up My Life 

Yes, we all know that famous 

song by Debby Boone. 

Even if you weren’t around 

back then, I’m sure you heard 

your mom or grandmother 

singing it and can probably 

sing it word-for-word even 

today. Why is it that we can 

remember every word of a 

popular song and yet we can’t 

remember what we learned in 

history class in high school? 

Music touches our lives in 

so many ways. It brings back 

memories and makes us smile, 

just like acts of kindness. I 

recently learned of a heartwarming 

story about one of 

our fellow neighbors touching 

the life of another with 

a simple, thoughtful gesture 

having to do with music. The 

gentleman loves to collect 

sheet music and does so every 

chance he gets. Recently while 

rifling through some sheet music 

at a sale, he ran across an 

old familiar tune that brought 

back a high school memory. 

He remembered the classmate 

who played the song in the 

band and was not surprised to 

find her name scrawled across 

the top of the sheet. Being the 

thoughtful soul that he is, the 

gentleman delivered the sheet 

music as a gift to his classmate, 

Sherri and Chuck Heck 

with grandchildren Lily 

and Lincoln Graf, future 

organizers of the holiday 

display. 

Beverly (Steuver) Hahn. One 

can imagine Mrs. Steuver’s 

shock and delight at receiving 

that sheet music she had 

played over sixty-five years 

ago! The thoughtfulness of her 

classmate truly touched her. 

And the beat lives on. 

My dear friend Cindy 

Rottinghaus lost her beloved 

poodle to kidney failure 

several years ago. As time 

passed, the wound of the loss 

healed and was replaced with 

fond memories. Then the time 

came to look for another furry 

companion with whom to 

share her life. 

Easier said than done. 

The effects of the current 

state of affairs have had a 

wonderful ripple effect on 

pet adoption- very few pets 

are available for adoption. 

After months (and I do mean 

MONTHS) of searching with 

Cindy and another dear friend, 

the perfect furry companion 

was found on social media. 

Really?!! Of all places. 

A post had been put up for 

ten minutes by a loving dog 

owner who had to find a home 

for her beloved poodle. What 

are the chances that we would 

see the post in that short 

period? 

My friend is now the proud 

mom of a beautiful poodle 

named Dixie. The previous 

owner can rest assured that 

Dixie has a wonderful home. 

So wonderful that in my next 

Publisher/Editor 

Tamara M. Taylor 

Publishers Emeritus 

Elizabeth Morris, Celeste Calvitto 

Sales Manager - New Accounts 

Gene Belew, Shelly Ullrich 

Editorial Assistants 

Connie Webb, Cherie Maddin 

Columnists & Contributors 

Debbie Acasio, Melanie Alexander, 

Doris Butt, Susan Carson, 

Gloria Carter, Susan Cottingham, 

PG Gentrup, John Hawley, 

Mary-Alice Helms, Merrill and 

Linda Hutchinson, Korry Johnson, 

Laura Keller, Debbie McCane, 

Chris Nobbe, Fred Schmits, 

Marie Segale, Sue Siefert, 

Maureen Stenger, Rhonda Trabel, 

Bob Waples, Lorene Westmeyer 

Barbara Wetzler, Lisa West, 

Debbie Zimmer 

Production 

FX-Design, Inc. 

For thirty years The Heck family has been sharing holiday 

cheer with their Christmas light display located at the 

corner of of SR 48 and Collier Ridge Rd. 

life, I want to come back as 

my friend’s pet. We all have 

a bet on how long Cindy can 

keep up that huge smile she 

has on her face... 

Yes, Virginia, there is a 

Santa Claus. 

Speaking of lighting up 

one’s life, how about that of 

our entire community? Those 

who have passed by the home 

of Chuck and Sherri Heck, 

located at the corner of SR48 

and Collier Ridge, know 

exactly to what I am referring. 

The Hecks decorate their farm 

with beautiful Christmas and 

holiday displays that will put 

anyone in a festive mood. 

One can only imagine the 

planning that goes into such 

a display. What started out 

in late 1990 as a quick little 

unrelated trip ended with two 

trucks and a trailer full of 

Christmas yard statues and 

lights that were discovered at 

a yard sale. The first display 

the Hecks put up was a 

nativity scene, a far cry from 

what they now display. Their 

collection has since grown 

to over two hundred twenty 

lighted figures. Wow- that 

takes a lot of storage. 

The Hecks install approximately 

fifty- to sixty-thousand 

lights each year, all fed by 

extension cords measured in 

miles, not feet. Naturally, the 

numbers grow every year, 

Over 21,650 distribution & growing! To advertise, call 812-637-0660 

THE 

BEACON 

For advertising rate inquiries 

and to submit news and photos: 

editor@goBEACONnews.com 

Phone: 812-637-0660 

website: 

goBEACONnews.com 

The Beacon is an independent 

monthly publication with 

distribution in Dearborn, Ripley, 

Franklin and Ohio Counties in 

Indiana and Harrison, Ohio. 

Published since 1994. 

Beacon News, Inc. 

PO Box 4022 

Lawrenceburg, Indiana 47025. 

Member: 

Dearborn County 

Chamber of Commerce, 

Ripley County 

Chamber of Commerce, 

Bright Area Business Association, 

Batesville Chamber 

of Commerce 

Perhaps the most touching 

story shared with the Hecks 

is that of a neighbor who 

stopped by one summer afternoon. 

He saw the Hecks outside 

and took the opportunity 

to tell them about his father 

who suffered from dementia. 

For the last three years of his 

father’s life, all he wanted to 

do was go see the beautiful 

Christmas display that the 

Hecks had put up for the community. 

Seeing the display 

each holiday season brought 

him such joy and wonderful 

memories. The neighbor’s 

kind words touched the Hecks 

for years to come. 

So what do Chuck and 

Sherri Heck do in their spare 

time? They plan for the 

upcoming year’s display. No 

two annual displays have 

ever been alike. The layout 

of each vignette is designed 

and coordinated with power 

supplies and music that plays 

throughout the season. 

But that’s not all. The Hecks 

are active members of St. John 

Lutheran Church in Lawrenceburg. 

Sherri is the past 

president of the church council 

and the mastermind behind 

St. John’s “little” (ha ha) annual 

German festival. 

Chuck Heck has made his 

mark on our community in 

another way. Twenty-six years 

ago a few friends gathered in 

Chuck’s family room, sharing 

stories and ideas about the old 

tractors they own and dearly 

love. The gathering turned 

out to be the beginning of the 

F.A.R.M. Club that now boasts 

over three hundred members. 

The club hosts the annual 

Antique Machinery Show in 

Osgood, IN. The organization 

is dedicated to the collection, 

exhibition, restoration, and 

preservation of antique farming 

equipment to preserve the 

heritage of farming. 

Thank you, Chuck and 

Sherri Heck, for lighting up 

the lives in our community. 

Your continued efforts and 

commitment are an inspiration 

to us all. 

As we enjoy the winter 

weather in all of its glory, be 

sure to take time to add a little 

light to someone’s day. You 

never know the great impact 

small acts of thoughtfulness 

can have. 

THIRD & MAIN 

HISTORIC RESTAURANT & TAVERN 

Aurora, Indiana 

THIRDANDMAIN.COM 

Twenty-seven Years of Bringing our Community and Businesses Together.

February 2021 THE BEACON Page 3A 

What is it? 

Last month’s item was 

well-described by John 

Loftus, Hidden Valley Lake. 

He shared, “The tool is a 

spokeshave, a hand tool 

used to shape and smooth 

woods in woodworking jobs 

such as making cart wheel 

spokes, chair legs, paddles, 

Last month: Stanley #81 

spokeshave 

bows, and arrows. The tool consists of a blade fixed into 

the body of the tool, which has a handle for each hand.” 

Harry Lyness, Logan, was even more specific, sharing, 

“It is a Stanley #81 cabinet scrapper which was used 

many years ago by wood workers and cabinet builders. It 

allows me to do away with sanding, and at the same time 

produces a very precise and even finish” 

Correct answers were also submitted by Karen Getz, 

West Harrison, IN; Ed Smith, Yorkville; George Richards, 

Bright; Bill Roleson, Brookville; David Rahn, Sunman; 

Carol Morton, Brookville; and Dan Trabel, Bright. 

This month’s item is definitely an outdoor tool. Please 

e-mail your guesses along with your name and the 

community in which you live to editor@goBEACONnews. 

com by Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. 

sponsored by Cornerstone Realty/Lutz Auction Services 

Fly Ash Pond Plan Violation 

Continued from page 1A 

installation of the groundwater 

monitoring wells was to begin 

within one hundred twenty 

days of approval of this plan. 

IDEM was to be notified at 

least ten days before initiating 

the installation of these wells. 

A report detailing the drilling 

activities, soil boring 

observations, monitoring 

well characteristics, and all 

field documentation were to 

be submitted to IDEM in a 

report within sixty days after 

these field investigations were 

completed. 

In the letter to Tanners 

Creek Development, IDEM 

noted that they had received 

an amended plan for the 

monitoring well installation 

on Dec. 15, 2020. The 

amended plan states that 

“The number, spacing, and 

depths of the monitoring 

systems shall be based on 

site-specific technical information 

that must include a 

thorough characterization 

of the following: aquifer 

thickness, groundwater flow 

rates, groundwater flow 

direction including seasonal 

and temporal fluctuations in 

groundwater flow, saturated 

and unsaturated overburden 

materials, and the confining 

unit materials defining the 

lower boundary of the uppermost 

aquifer.” 

While some of this information 

was made available 

in the post-closure plan, the 

historical information available 

around the fly ash pond 

is insufficient for the proper 

installation of a groundwater 

monitoring system that 

complies with the specified 

requirements. A phased approach 

to the installation is 

being proposed that includes 

a nested well system at five 

locations in the area of the fly 

ash pond. 

The plan is pending technical 

review and requirements 

for additional information. 

BOGGS & 

RACE 

10037 

Western Row 

Dillsboro, IN 

47018 

812.432.3418 

boggsandrace 

.com 

certified 

public 

accountants 

Communities Receive Matching Fund Grants 


fewer than 50,000 people. 

Cities and towns with over 

10,000 residents and counties 

with populations greater than 

50,000 people must provide a 

50% match. All local governments 

who applied for the 

grant were required to provide 

an approved asset management 

plan for providing 

matching funds. 

Funds from the Community 

Crossings Matching Grant 

Program can be used for local 

road or bridge projects. These 

can include bridge preservation 

projects, road reconstruction, 

and small structure replacements. 

Material costs for 

chip sealing and crack filling 

operations are also eligible 

for funding. ADA sidewalk 

and ramp work are eligible so 

long as the work for the road 

project tied to those ramps 

and sidewalks is a minimum 

of a mill and overlay. Milling 

and overlaying is the process 

of grinding asphalt with a 

milling machine, removing 

the debris, and installing new 

asphalt. The overlay must be a 

minimum of 1½ inches. 

Local governments who 

perform their own work, such 

as chip sealing and crack sealing, 

can receive funds for materials. 

Labor and equipment 

costs are not eligible. Road 

and bridge projects submitted 

must be included and a part of 

the local government’s complete 

asset management plan. 

Community crossing matching 

funds awarded to local 

governments must be used on 

the projects submitted and approved 

for funding. The funds 

cannot be spent on other projects. 

Changes in the location 

or scope of the projects are 

not allowed. 

“These projects will improve 

our local infrastructure 

in Dearborn County,” said 

State Representative Randy 

Lyness. “They are picked 

based on need, traffic volume, 

local support, and the 

impact they will have on the 

regional economy.” While 

the grant amounts may seem 

like a lot of money, they don’t 

cover as much as one would 

Year Around Tax and 

Accounting Services 

think. For example, Dearborn 

County applied for the Community 

Crossings grant of 

$1,000,000 to help with the 

paving of only two roads- Mt. 

Pleasant from State Road 1 

to North Dearborn Road and 

Chesterville Road from lower 

Dillsboro Road to the town 

of Moores Hill. The total cost 

of these two projects alone is 

estimated to be $2.2 million. 

Lawrenceburg is applying 

all of the $791,809.07 funding 

to the total roadway rehabilitation 

of Bielby Road between 

Riviera Drive and Heiner 

Heights. The process of soil 

nailing will be implemented 

for the stabilization of the 

hillside. 

Mayor Kelly Mollaun 

shared “how excited we are 

here locally to take advantage 

THINK 

SHOP & DINE 

DOWNTOWN 

of the Community Crossings 

program to continue to 

make critical improvements to 

ensure our roadways remain 

safe.” 

The Community Crossings 

grant program is a partnership 

between the Indiana 

Department of Transportation 

(INDOT) and communities 

throughout Indiana, both 

urban and rural, to invest in 

infrastructure projects that 

will help with economic 

development, create jobs, and 

strengthen local transportation 

networks. 

The Community Crossings 

Initiative has provided funding 

totaling more than $738 

million in matching funds for 

local road and bridge construction 

projects since the inception 

of the program in 2016. 

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Old Timbers Historic Site in Jefferson Proving Grounds 


day in November of 1940 

when they were informed 

that the United States Army 

was taking their land. Some 

people were given as little 

as thirty days to leave and 

relocate. Approximately two 

thousand people were affected 

as well as businesses, schools, 

churches, and numerous cemeteries 

had to be relocated. 

What was once peaceful 

farmland was quickly transformed 

into firing ranges and 

bombing fields. One of the 

longest fences at the time, 

stretching forty-three miles, 

would soon encompass the 

entire area. Displaced families 

took their government compensation, 

which was about 

ninety dollars per acre, and 

attempted to start a new life 

from the ground up as they 

left behind a land in which 

they had been deeply rooted. 

The one-hundred-eleven-yearold 

church, St. Mary Magdalene 

in Ripley County, would 

have to be dismantled to 

make way for the army training 

grounds. The final mass 

celebrated by Bishop Joseph 

E. Ritter took place on February 

16, 1941, with a massive 

crowd in attendance. For six 

years the parish remained 

closed until it re-opened in 

1947 in New Marion after a 

group of dedicated parishioners 

petitioned the Archbishop. 

St. Mary Magdalene kept 

her doors open until October 

27, 2013, when history sadly 

repeated itself as St. Mary 

Magdalene celebrated its final 

mass. The church merged 

with Prince of Peace Parish in 

Madison. 

These were trying times 

for all of those affected by 

the massive changes inflicted 

upon their lives and towns by 

the development of The Jefferson 

Proving Grounds. 

However, not everything inside 

the Proving Grounds was 

demolished. In October of 

1928, businessman Alexander 

Thomson of Cincinnati heard 

about some farm ground for 

sale in Ripley County. 

Mr. Thomson was the son 

of the founder of the Champion 

International Paper Company 

and eventually became 

president himself. He would 

occasionally head to Indiana 

on the weekends to shoot 

with some friends and was 

intrigued to hear of available 

property in the area belonging 

to Emmett and Louise 

Williams. Mr. Thomson went 

to look at the property and 

brought his wife, Mary, the 

following weekend. Mary 

1940 map of land taken 

over by the Army for The 

Jefferson Proving Ground. 

“D” Road was the site of 

John Hunt Morgan’s 1863 

Raid. (Photo Courtesy of 

The Ripley County Historical 

Society) 

immediately fell in love with 

the land. 

The Thomson Family 

purchased the property and 

began construction on a large 

home that would be fit for 

entertaining a great number of 

friends on long weekends and 

holidays. 

Mr. Thomson chose retired 

Cincinnati architect, Gustav 

Elzner, to help design the 

family’s estate. Because a 

plethora of limestone was 

available on the property, Mr. 

Thomson was interested in 

using that to build his home. 

The architect told him that 

limestone from the nearby 

site would be suitable for 

use to construct the home’s 

fourteen-inch-thick limestone 

walls. A gentleman named 

Frank Miller opened a quarry 

just one hundred yards north 

of the home site in March 

1929, and the construction of 

the home that would become 

known as Old Timbers Lodge 

began. The site chosen was at 

the top of a ninety-foot limestone 

bluff. 

The design of Old Timbers 

featured a spacious great 

room measuring sixty-eight 

by thirty-six feet, showcased 

wooden oak beams taken 

from salvaged barns. The 

home had numerous bedrooms 

to accommodate Mr. 

and Mrs. Thomson and their 

children. Interestingly despite 

all of the amenities included 

in the home, it was built 

without bathtubs. The house 

was constructed using natural 

materials from the area 

including three-ton limestone 

pieces used to construct the 

fireplace mantels. Much of the 

403 Walnut St • Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 

(812) 537-2020 • lawrenceburgeyecenter.com 

141 Walnut Street Lawrenceburg IN 

812-577-3348 

The interior entrance of Old Timbers. (Photos courtesy of 

Dr. Joseph R. Robb, Big Oaks and Muscatatuck National 

Wildlife Refuge Complex) 

Old Timbers dining room. (Photos courtesy of Dr. Joseph 

R. Robb, Big Oaks and Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge 

Complex) 

hardware was made on site. 

However, the door hinges and 

other wrought iron hardware 

for the windows were made 

by students at Berea College 

located in Kentucky. 

A gentleman by the name 

of August Rahe was the head 

stonemason on the project. 

He cut and shaped the mantels, 

windowsills, and unique 

spiral staircases for a fee of 

seventy-five cents an hour. 

The large fireplaces in the 

great room were the main 

source of heat and would 

typically burn one cord of 

firewood per weekend when 

it was cold. Being a conservationist, 

Mr. Thomson had 

the Civilian Conservation 

Corps plant approximately 

five hundred thousand white 

pine seedlings near the home. 

Old Timbers Lodge overlooks 

Graham Creek and totals 

nine thousand eight hundred 

ninety-two square feet. It was 

completed in 1932 for a total 

cost of seventy-five thousand 

dollars. 

Alexander Thomson’s son, 

Chilton Thomson, wrote a 

book titled Old Timbers reflecting 

on his youth spent on 

the farm in Indiana. Only one 

thousand copies were printed. 

He reflected on the experience, 

“We had the place only 

twelve years, the house less 

than eight, but every single 

one of us shares one great impression 

about the lodge built 

of stone and old timbers and 

the farm named after it. We 

didn’t “live” the house or the 

farm, it lived us.” When the 

Army took the land to form 

Jefferson Proving Ground, 




Historic Structure Preserved, Lifestyles Forever Changed 

The original St. Mary Magdalene Church and Rectory in 

Ripley County before being dismantled to make way for 

Jefferson Proving Ground. (Photo courtesy of The Archdiocese 

of Indianapolis) 

The interior of St. Mary Magdalene Church in Ripley County. 

(Photo courtesy of The Archdiocese of Indianapolis) 


nearly all structures on Old 

Timbers were destroyed. 

However, Old Timbers Lodge 

remains. 

In 1989 the government 

identified Jefferson Proving 

Ground for closure, and on 

September 30, 1995, the facility 

was officially closed. The 

Exciting News for Dearborn County Recyclers 

By Stefanie Hoffmeier 

With the new year, 

comes good news in Dearborn 

County for recycling. 

Whether you use one of the 

Dearborn County Recycling 

Center (DCRC) trailers to 

recycle or you have curbside 

pickup, you will now be able 

to recycle plastic tubs. Yes, 

that means all of your sour 

cream, yogurt, butter, cream 

cheese, and creamy whip tubs 

are now recyclable. If you 

are using one of the drop-off 

recycling locations, reattach 

the lids and place the tubs and 

yogurt cups in with the plastic 

bottles and jugs. 

Plastic bottles, jugs, and 

tubs are sent to Rumpke Recycling 

in Cincinnati, where 

they are sorted, baled, and 

sent to be recycled into new 

plastic tubs. Rumpke Recycling 

recently received a grant 

that will allow Rumpke to add 

additional sorting equipment 

that can increase the sortation 

of polypropylene. 

Plastic isn’t the only 

recyclable item in Dearborn 

County that will see an increase 

in collection this year. 

This spring, DCRC drop-off 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

began managing the wildlife 

on the proving ground 

in 1996. In 2000 Big Oaks 

Refuge was established to 

oversee the national wildlife 

refuge because of a twentyfive-year 

real estate permit 

from The Army. The Army retains 

ownership, and the Fish 

trailers at several high traffic 

locations will include an 

extra twenty-one-cubic yard 

recycling trailer dedicated to 

corrugated cardboard collection. 

The DCRC was awarded 

a grant to purchase five new 

recycling trailers for the 

collection of cardboard. The 

new trailers will be placed 

at current recycling drop-off 

sites at St. Leon, New Alsace, 

Lawrenceburg, Aurora, and 

Bright. These new trailers 

will quadruple the amount 

of cardboard that is normally 

collected at the sites. 

Corrugated cardboard collected 

through the DCRC is 

sorted and baled at the DCRC 

facility in Aurora. The bales 

of cardboard are sent to a 

regional paper mill, where 

they are recycled into new 

boxes. Corrugated cardboard 

boxes are made from 75% 

recycled material and can be 

transformed from recycled 

material to finished product 

in as little as 14 days. Most 

recycled corrugated cardboard 

is made into new corrugated 

boxes, and the rest is used 

for packaging, like cake and 

cracker boxes. 

Limestone staircase. (Photo 

courtesy of The Archdiocese 

of Indianapolis) 

and Wildlife Service manages 

the land as Big Oaks Wildlife 

Refuge. The mission of Big 

Oaks is to “preserve, conserve, 

and restore biodiversity 

and biological integrity for the 

benefit of present and future 

generations of Americans. Big 

Oaks Refuge provides food 

and shelter for a wide variety 

of plant and animal species.” 

The refuge is home to 

numerous species of birds 

and mammals including the 

endangered Indiana bat. The 

refuge is known as a “Globally 

Important Bird Area,” with 

bald eagles and golden eagles 

occasionally being seen. State 

river otters, once endangered, 

were re-introduced at Big 

Oaks Refuge in the 1990s and 

have made quite the comeback. 

Old Timbers Lodge majestically 

still stands on the 

Don’t let the cold weather 

keep you from recycling. The 

DCRC has trailer pick-up 

schedules on the home page 

of their website at Dearborn- 

CountyRecycles.com. Dearborn 

County residents did a 

great job recycling in 2020. 

2021 is a great year to make 

more recycling one of your 

New Year’s Resolutions. 

513-202-0200 

northern end of the refuge as 

“a symbol of the sacrifices 

endured by those forced to 

leave.” Big Oaks Conservation 

Society (BOCS) is a 

non-profit friends group that 

supports the endeavors of the 

wildlife refuge. It also manages 

and tends to Old Timbers 

Lodge. BOCS works closely 

with refuge staff to educate 

visitors and supports all refuge 

projects. 

What saved Old Timbers 

is that the Army used it as 

its main recreational facility. 

However, these days the 

lodge’s use is more infrequent 

as building codes and handicapped 

accessibility are not 

up to modern code. 

Old Timbers Lodge does 

not receive any government 

funding, but BOCS is actively 

seeking solutions to provide 

the care and attention the 

lodge deserves. Old Timbers 

Lodge has been recognized 

as a gem worth preserving, as 

the historic home was added 

to the National Register of 

Historic Places in 1996. The 

home is a stop on guided 

tours of the refuge and is the 

headquarters for the annual 

Outdoor Women at Big Oaks. 

BOCS hosts a holiday party 

each year, and Old Timbers is 

open to the public each September 

for Lodge Day, where 

Thank You 

for a wine-derful 2020. 

4321 FIRST STREET 

LOREM ET $525,000 

visitors have the opportunity 

to tour the home and learn 

about BOCS and volunteer 

opportunities. 

Due to the nature of the old 

Jefferson Proving Ground 

land use, visitors to Big Oaks 

National Wildlife Refuge 

must watch a safety video and 

sign a yearly waiver before 

entering. This serves as a 

stark reminder of the days 

when peaceful farm ground 

and farm life were completely 

uprooted and forever changed. 

But to everything a season, 

and it seems the old ways are 

making a comeback. Where 

bombs once exploded in the 

night sky, now Henslow’s 

Sparrows and Kentucky Warblers 

quietly nest. The story of 

Jefferson Proving Ground is 

fraught with hardship, sorrow, 

and sacrifice. Yet its story is 

also one of hope and redemption. 

Land that had been 

deemed unusable and tainted 

has found a new purpose. A 

historic estate destined for 

ruin has survived, and what 

stories she has to tell. 

The old farmers who, in 

haste, were given no choice 

but to leave their crops and 

beloved homesteads behind 

may now finally be smiling 

down upon us as peace once 

again is found in the heart of 

Indiana. 

Closed January, February, March. 

Opening Apr. 9 for the 8th season. 

Have fun, stay warm, drink wine. 

The restaurant is decorated, the menu is set! Now 

all we need is you! Join us for Business Casual 

Dining, serving: Pastas, Steaks, Seafood, 

Sandwiches, Desserts, Specialty Beers, Select 

Wines and Beverages. 

205 Harrison Avenue, Harrison Oh. 

YOUR NEW BEGINNING 

STARTS JANUARY! 

Classes start January 19th 

at Ivy Tech’s Lawrenceburg 

and Batesville locations. 

READY FOR YOUR NEW BEGINNING? 

Contact us at R11Express@ivytech.edu 



B 

Beacon 

USINESS 

NEWS ABOUT OUR 

ADVERTISERS 

Dearborn County 

Cardiologist Joins St. 

Elizabeth Physicians 

Cardiologist Ashok Penmetsa, 

MD, joined St. Elizabeth 

Physicians on Jan. 1, 2021, 

keeping cardiology care local 

for the Southeastern Indiana 

community. Dr. Penmetsa has 

been treating adult cardiac patients 

for the past twenty-three 

years in Lawrenceburg. 

“Having Dr. Penmetsa 

continue to provide care in 

Southeastern Indiana is wonderful 

news for our community,” 

says Jacob Bast, Senior 

Vice President and COO at St. 

Elizabeth Physicians. “He is 

an asset to the medical community 

and is well respected 

by his patients and peers.” 

Dr. Penmetsa completed 

both his internal medicine 

Dr. Ashok 

Penmetsa, MD 

residency 

and fellowship 

in 

Interventional 

Cardiology 

at Wright 

State 

University 

School of 

Medicine 

and Affiliated 

Hospitals in Dayton, OH. 

He is board-certified in 

cardiovascular medicine. 

“I have truly enjoyed practicing 

in Dearborn County 

all these years,” noted Dr. 

Penmetsa. “This is an amazing 

community with wonderful 

families and neighbors 

that look out for one another. 

I look forward to providing 

care for this community well 

into the future.” 

As part of both St. Elizabeth 

Physicians and the St. Elizabeth 

Heart & Vascular Institute, 

Dr. Penmetsa is welcoming 

new patients. To schedule 

an appointment, patients can 

call (812) 532-2657. 

Stephanie Back, Children’s Advocacy Center Executive Director, 

accepts a check presented by Heather Davies and 

Friendship Business Development Specialist Amy Fryman. 

Friendship’s Employee 

Generosity Kicks Off 

the Holidays 

The Friendship State Bank 

and Insurance offices looked 

like a blue holiday on Dec. 

1, but Christmas spirits were 

soaring. Friendship employees 

donated $5 each to wear 

Friendship Blue t-shirts or 

sweatshirts. They raised $375 

to share with The Dearborn 

County Clearinghouse and 

Children’s 

Advocacy 

Center (CAC) 

of Southeastern 

Indiana. The 

bank matched 

the funds for a 

total of $375 

for each organization. 

“We really 

wanted to 

double-down 

on our employees’ 

personal generosity, and 

step up to help two terrific 

local charities,” said Friendship 

CEO and President Chris 

Meyer. “We strive to set a 

good example for charitable 

work throughout the year.” 

“The Clearinghouse and 

CAC make a huge impact on 

our communities in different 

ways. It’s a reality check 

when you visit them. I’m 

very thankful for the people 

involved in these places,” said 

Human Resources Specialist 

Heather Davies. “Our employees 

were very willing to 

donate to these two organizations. 

Not everyone is available 

to volunteer their time. 

Giving monetarily still gives 

them the opportunity to make 

a difference.” 

The Friendship State Bank 

Karry Hollan, Clearinghouse 

Executive Director, accepts 

a donation from Friendship 

State Bank Human Resources 

Director Heather 

Davies. 

is your full-service community 

bank and friend for 

your financial life. They are a 

Member FDIC, Equal Housing, 

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Lender. Visit friendshipstatebank.com 

to learn more and 

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Dale Lutz; Rachel Offill, Office Manager; and Randy Lutz 

Cornerstone Realty Relocates 

Cornerstone Realty’s new 

location at Lutz Auction 

Center. 

After being located in 

Bright for years, Cornerstone 

Realty has relocated 

to a new location to serve 

the community better. The 

company is now located next 

to the former North Dearborn 

Elementary School. The new 

3,000 square foot addition at 

the Lutz Auction Center is 

only nine minutes from their 

previous location. Dale Lutz, 

the owner of both Lutz Auction 

Service and Cornerstone 

Realty, is now operating both 

businesses in one location to 

better serve their clients. 

“Cornerstone Realty’s office 

was located in Bright for 

thirty-one years. However, 

we know we can better serve 

you from our new location by 

combining both businesses. 

Again, it is the loyal, repeat 

clients, client referrals, family, 

and staff who allow us to excel 

even during a trying year,” 

shared Dale. 

Dale and Cornerstone Realty 

are multi-million dollar 

producers in real estate sales 

every year. Mr. Lutz has built 

a business that handles both 

estates and downsizing, accommodating 

both real estate 

and personal property liquidation. 

Mr. Lutz is a broker as 

well as a professional liquidation 

consultant. 

Dale has been an auctioneer 

since 1977 and a realtor since 

1983. His son Randy joined 

the business as a realtor and 

auctioneer in 2001. They 

specialize in choosing the best 

way to market each client’s 

situation whether it is conventional 

real estate or property 

to be auctioned, turning their 

real estate and personal 

property into cash in a timely 

manner. 

Mr. Lutz shared, “If you are 

looking to downsize, move, or 

settle an estate, I don’t know 

if you could get as many services 

as you can get here with 

just one phone call anywhere 

else.” 

Cornerstone is licensed in 

Indiana and Ohio for both real 

estate and auctioneering. They 

conduct approximately fifty 

auctions each year. Their expertise 

includes estates, farm 

equipment, firearms, antiques, 

and downsizing. 

The 3000-square-foot 

addition to the Cornerstone 

facility helps them better 

serve auction customers by 

providing the proper amount 

of space for three cashiers and 

a separate room to accommodate 

auctioning specialty 

items or real estate auctions. 

The community is invited 

to visit Cornerstone’s new 

location at 25980 Auction 

Lane, Guilford. As Mr. Lutz 

always says, “One call does it 

all.” 812-637-2220 or email 

cstonehomes@fuse.net. 

Credibility • Advocacy • Education • Visibility 

What Can The Chamber 

Do For You? Just Ask! 

812-537-0814 

www.dearborncountychamber.org 



Heath Doll, 

ECHS 

Audrey Crow, 

LHS 

Emma Beckman, 

O.A. 

Julia Williamson, 

ECHS 

The Lilly Endowment 

Community Scholarship 

(LECS) is a statewide initiative 

designed to help raise the 

level of educational attainment 

in Indiana. It increases 

awareness of the beneficial 

roles Indiana community 

foundations can play in their 

communities. LECS also 

encourages and supports the 

efforts of current and past 

Lilly Endowment Community 

Scholars to engage with 

each other and with Indiana 

business, governmental, 

educational, not-for-profit, 

and civic leaders to improve 

the quality of life in Indiana 

generally and in local communities 

throughout the state. 

LECS recipients receive 

four-year, full-tuition scholarships 

to the Indiana college of 

their choice along with a $900 

yearly stipend for required 

books and equipment. 

LECS finalists receive a 

$1,000 scholarship paid directly 

to the student’s school. 

The Dearborn Community 

Graycie Collins, 

SDHS 

Kayla Stone, 

Batesville High 

Mae Crosby, 

LHS 

Riley Schebler, 

O.A. 

Lilly Endowment Scholarships 

Foundation (DCF) awarded 

the full-tuition scholarship 

to East Central High 

School’s Heath Doll. The 

five remaining LECS finalists 

recognized as 2021 Dearborn 

Community Foundation 

Scholarship recipients are 

Emma Beckman, Oldenburg 

Academy (resident of South 

Dearborn Community School 

Corporation area); Graycie 

Collins, South Dearborn 

High School; Mae Crosby, 

Lawrenceburg High School; 

Audrey Crow, Lawrenceburg 

High School; and Julia Williamson, 

East Central High 

School. 

Kayla Stone has been 

named the Franklin County 

Community Foundation 2021 

Lilly Endowment Community 

Scholar. LECS finalists recognized 

are Ashley Meyer and 

Josephine Selm, both Franklin 

County High School students. 

Riley Schebler is Ripley 

County’s Lilly Endowment 


recipient. 

Shoe Repair Shops- Endangered Species 

By Shelly Ulrich 

At the age of twelve, after 

his daily paper route was 

done, Randy Tyler would 

head to Hastings Shoe Repair 

in Aurora to hang around and 

watch where his Dad, Bill, 

worked. It was only a matter 

of time before he was sweeping 

up and gradually learning 

to do other things. In Oct. 

1969, Bill Tyler opened Bill’s 

Shoe Repair in Lawrenceburg, 

and Randy’s been there ever 

since, working with his dad 

until Bill passed away twentysix 

years ago. Now, after fiftyone 

years of repairing shoes, 

Randy has decided the time 

has come to retire. 

According to Randy, “Business 

has declined terribly 

through the years. The most 

common repairs used to be 

soles and heels. Back then, 

shoes were made better so 

people would invest in new 

soles and heels for their dress 

shoes and work shoes. Over 

time, the quality of shoes 

started to decline and most 

shoe repairs are now gluing 

a sole back on or putting in 

a stitch here and there to try 

to extend the life of a pair 

of shoes a little bit. In 1969 

85-90% of the work was soles 

and heels. Today 20% or less 

is soles and heels.” 

People have been repairing 

their shoes for as long as 

they’ve been wearing them. 

According to the Shoe Service 

Institute of America (SSIA), 

“Shoe repair is the oldest 

recycling industry in the 

world.” Even though leather 

shoes are still available, the 

majority of shoes sold tend to 

be made out of plastic or synthetic 

materials. These types 

of materials are glued together 

instead of stitched and cannot 

be repaired like leather. A 

better quality leather shoe or 

boot allows for repairs. 

The Shoe Service Institute 

of America (SSIA) reports 

that shoe repair shops have 

dwindled from 100,000 in 

the 1930s to 15,000 in 1997. 

Randy attended a shoe service 

convention in 2019 where 

SSIA indicated that only 

3,500 shoe repair shops still 

existed in the country. 

While chatting on the phone 

with Randy, I asked about the 

most unique repair he’s ever 

done. He replied, “Well, that’s 

gonna take some thought. 

There have been plenty of 

unusual things.” Then, as if on 

cue, a customer walked into 

the store and Randy placed 

the telephone on the counter. I 

overheard a gentleman telling 

Randy, “I shot a cape buffalo 

in Africa and was wondering 

if you could make me a 

couple of cell phone cases 

out of the hide.” When Randy 

returned to my call, he commented, 

“Well, I guess you 

just got the answer to your 

question!” 

As for other unusual requests, 

Randy mentioned that 

someone who had a pet deer 

came into the shop seeking 

help. The deer had lost half of 

one of its legs and the owner 

had a wooden leg made. He 

was hoping Randy could 

come up with some way of 

making leather straps to hold 

the artificial leg in place. 

Another time a customer 

came in asking that a leather 

harness be made for his very 

large lizard. Turns out they 

would put the lizard outside 

on a line but it could wiggle 

its way out of its collar. The 

customer had scratches all 

over his arms and Randy 

Randy Tyler with granddaughters 

Kaylee & Kinsley, 

daughters of Andy and Melissa 

Tyler of Louisville, KY. 

(Photo by Jan Tyler) 

asked what happened. The 

lizard had gotten out of its 

collar and climbed a tree. The 

owner had a very difficult 

time extracting him from the 

tree, thus the scratches. He 

wanted to bring the lizard 

into the shoe repair shop to be 

fitted for a harness but Randy 

declined, suggesting instead 

that they take the measurements 

at home! 

“I’ve been looking forward 

to the possibility of retiring 

and decided that Dec. 11 was 

the last day for Bill’s Shoe 

Repair,” said Randy. “I’ve 

been going to work at the 

shoe repair shop for fifty-one 

years. I hope in the morning 

I don’t walk out to my truck 

and head to work!” 

“Plans are for me to be 

semi-retired and open a small 

shop at my house. Things are 

beginning to take shape. The 

drop-off and pick-up of shoes 

will be at the dry cleaner’s. It 

will be good for the dry cleaners, 

good for me, and good for 

my customers. It allows my 

customers to have an option 

for shoe repair.” 

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Dillsboro, IN 47018 

812-432-5684 

DeVille’s Rising Sun Pharmacy 

223 Main St. 

Rising Sun, IN 47040 

812-438-3400 

devillepharmacies.com 



By Linda Hutchinson 

As a coach, I used to love 

challenging my players with 

the trust fall- pairing up teammates 

and having them lock 

arms, all while one scared 

teenager stood high on a ladder, 

ready to fall into their 

arms. Watching students face 

their fears and take that leap 

of faith was cool. But what 

happens when your teammate 

drops you? How do you ever 

trust them again? 

All of us have probably 

been hurt by someone who 

broke our trust. How do we 

rebuild trust after someone 

has let us “fall”? Whether 

it be a spouse, child, parent, 

or friend, can we ever 

truly forgive someone who 

has “dropped” us? And does 

forgiveness mean we have to 

trust them again? 

Ideally, a relationship is 

restored when both partners 

forgive and trust again, but 

that’s easier said than done. 

Learning to separate FOR- 

GIVENESS from TRUST 

often helps a person heal. 

You’ve probably heard the 

adage, “Unforgiveness is like 

drinking poison and waiting 

for the other person to die.” 

Bitterness and anger begin to 

grow inside of us when we 

harbor those negative feelings 

of unforgiveness. 

Forgiveness is a decision 

we can make regardless of 

whether the person who hurt 

us is sorry for what he or she 

did. The decision can set us 

free and bring us peace regardless 

of whether or not the 

relationship is restored. 

TRUST, on the other hand, 

is a two-way street. Trust 

says, “I not only forgive you 

for dropping me, but I’m willing 

to try it again.” For some, 

Rebuilding Trust 

the relationship is worth 

the risk. Maybe it’s trying 

to rebuild a marriage after 

infidelity. Maybe, it’s with an 

adult child after they’ve been 

caught in addiction. Rebuilding 

trust is an essential next 

step, but it doesn’t happen 

overnight. When done correctly, 

however, rebuilding 

trust can make a relationship 

better and stronger than ever. 

STEPS for the OFFEND- 

ER to rebuild TRUST: 

Step One-Take responsibility 

and admit your 

wrongs- This first step is so 

hard for the offender because 

pride gets in the way. No one 

likes to admit being wrong, let 

alone take responsibility for 

hurting someone else. 

Step Two-Be Patient with 

the Offended -The greater 

the offense, the more time is 

needed to rebuild trust. 

Step Three – Mean what 

you say; say what you mean. 

Make sure people can count 

on your word even with the 

little things. 

Step Four – Be Honest 

and Transparent. If you 

want to rebuild trust, you have 

to show the person you offended 

that you have nothing 

to hide, especially with things 

like passwords and whereabouts. 

Step Five– Confess 

Promptly. No one’s perfect, 

so when you do mess up, 

make sure you own it BE- 

FORE you’re caught in it. 

STEPS for the OFFEND- 

ED in TRUSTING AGAIN 

Step One- Remember, no 

one is perfect, including you. 

Search your heart and make 

sure you are not trying to 

hold your offender hostage by 

being unforgiving. Remember, 

unforgiveness only hurts 

YOU. 

Step Two-Surround 

yourself with healthy, safe 

people. Seek wise counsel to 

help you work through the 

forgiveness process. Find 

someone neutral like a counselor 

or pastor who will help 

you sort out truth from lies. 

Step Three-Step back 

and let the emotions settle 

before you make any decisions. 

You don’t want to say 

or do something you will later 

regret. Keep your character 

and integrity high. 

Step Four-Protect yourself 

from any kind of physical, 

emotional, or spiritual 

abuse. Forgiveness does not 

mean you become a martyr 

or a victim. Trust may not be 

possible in the relationship 

if the offender does not own 

their mistakes and take the 

steps to rebuild trust. 

Step Five-Rebuilding 

trust in a relationship takes 

two people and takes time. 

Search your heart for any hurt 

you have caused in the relationship 

and own your part 

whenever possible. Extend 

grace if you see a true effort 

being made. 

Learn these skills of forgiveness 

and rebuilding trust 

now. It’s worth the effort. 

Don’t stay trapped or paralyzed 

by relationship wounds. 

Emotional healing is possible. 

Healthy relationships are 

worth fighting for. When you 

can think back on the offense 

and not feel wounded anymore, 

you’re well on your 

way to true healing and lasting 

peace. 

Linda Hutchinson is the 

Executive Director of Rock 

Solid Families, a faith-based 

coaching organization in St. 

Leon, IN. 

7 3 6 

9 8 6 7 

6 2 7 1 8 3 

1 9 

7 4 

5 2 

8 3 7 5 

9 8 6 

4 1 5 6 7 2 

Sudoku 

Sudoku is a logical puzzle game that may seem difficult at 

first glance, but actually it is not as hard as it looks! Fill a 

number in to every cell in the grid, using the numbers 1 to 

9. You can only use each number once in each row, each 

column, and in each of the 3×3 boxes. The solution can be 

found on our website www.goBEACONnews.com/print_ 

edition. Click on the link for Sudoku and view the solution 

for this month and last. Good luck and have fun! 

From A Dog’s Point of View 

By Roxie and Tammy Turner 

Hi! My name is Roxie and 

I am coming to you from 

PAWS. I am a very beautiful 

three-year-old, female Hound 

mix. I am also very intelligent. 

So why don’t we play a 

game? I will ask you questions, 

and you see how many 

you can get right. 

1. Which breed has been the 

most popular with AKC for 

the last twenty-five consecutive 

years? 

2. What percentage of U.S. 

dogs sleep with their owners? 

3. What famous dog was 

nominated for an Academy 

Award? 

4. Which is the oldest dog 

breed according to 

Guinness World Records? 

5. Which dogs have black 

tongues? 

6. What 

breed was 

originally 

bred to 

fight badgers? 

7. Why do 

dogs sleep 

curled up 

in a ball? 

8. What Roxie 

breed is 

Snoopy of 

the lovable cartoon 

“Peanuts?” 

9. Which is the fastest dog 

breed? 

10. How many teeth does a 

dog have? 

Check out the answers at 

www.goBEACONnews.com 

to see how many you got 

right. 

Hugs & Wags 

Roxie 

A HANDS-ON CAREER 

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–Earn your Associate and Bachelor’s degree at Cincinnati State. 

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CLIFTON CAMPUS: 3520 Central Parkway, Cincinnati, Ohio 45223 


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away from using clichés. I’m an optimist. I believe 

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own words and not rely Davidson on cherries and every cloud has 

overused worn-out descriptive a silver lining. The world is 

phrases. I have always Community tried to your oyster and when you are 

adhere to that advice Correspondent especially 

when writing my column It’s not whether you win or 

dealt lemons, make lemonade. 

for donnadavidson.thebeacon@yahoo.com 

Beacon. 

lose, it’s how you play the 

After I finish a column I game and don’t forget that 

always ask my wife, Saint it’s always better to give than 

Mary, to proofread it. Because 

Happening everyone knows Inthat 

that tomorrow is another day, 

receive. Always keep in mind 

two heads BRIGHT are better than one Rome wasn’t built in a day, 

and an ounce of prevention is and every dog has its day. 

worth a pound By of cure. She’ll Living 68 years on this 

often read it twice, Debby sometimes 

Stutz 

earth teaches you a few 

three times, because the third things. You learn that you 

time is the charm. Community get what you pay for and you 

My wife is the Correspondent cat’s meow should be careful what you 

and a very frugal person. She wish for because you just 

debbystutz.thebeacon@yahoo.com 

keenly realizes that a penny might get it. You might think 

saved is a penny earned and a the grass is always greener 

bird in the hand is worth two on the other side of the fence, 

in the bush. I’ve heard her say but trust me, it’s not. You just 

many times Sthat a fool and his 

BEACON 

have to roll with the punches 

money are soon parted. because into every life a little 

One day I told PORTS 

her that rain must fall. Just hang in 

money isn’t everything and there because it ain’t over 

some even say SCENE 

that money is until the fat lady sings. 

the root of all evil. I said all When it comes to romance 

that glitters is not gold By and it’s don’t ever judge a book by its 

love that makes the world Jackgo 

cover because beauty is only 

‘round. I told her it’s OK Zoller to skin deep. And remember, it’s 

take a few chances because if better to have loved and lost 

beaconsports 

@live.com 

W 

hat's 

By 

Melanie 

Alexander 

Two weeks before Christmas, 

I was busy Maxine planning 

By 

which cookies Klump I wanted to 

bake for family and neighbors 

when my plans Community suddenly 

Correspondent 

changed. For the second time 

in three months, the main 

maxineklump.thebeacon@yahoo.com 

element my oven burned 

out during baking. Fearing 

a more serious electrical 

problem and calculating 

the mounting replacement 

costs, I decided to purchase a 

new range. Two days later I 

completed the purchase only 

to learn the delivery of the 

new appliance could not take 

place before Jan. 6. 

Thank goodness for all the 

overflowing recipe files and 

clippings. 

I was determined to locate 

sweet treats that did not 

require an oven. Fortunately, 

my revised plan included 

English steamed puddings 

simmered in metal molds 

atop the stove, and other 

items requiring no cooking 

or an oven. Along the way, I 

found these recipes which are 

favorites even though I had 

FCN-Jan21-Billboard-Lamar.pdf 1 12/17/20 9:44 AM 

not made them in a long time. 

Cheesy Dijon Chicken 

One 6.5 oz. package Rice a 

Roni broccoli au gratin 

2/3 cup dry bread crumbs 

1 ¼ tsp. dried basil 

1 teaspoon onion powder 

4 uncooked skinless boneless 

chicken breast halves 

2 tablespoons Dijon or 

prepared mustard 

2 eggs lightly beaten 

¼ c. vegetable oil 

½ c. shredded cheddar cheese 

Prepare rice according to 

directions on the package. 

Combine crumbs, basil, and 

onion powder. Spread one 

side of chicken with mustard. 

Coat with crumb mixture then 

dip into eggs. Then dip again 

into the crumb mixture. 

In a second skillet, heat the 

oil over medium heat. Add 

chicken and cook 6 minutes 

per side or until browned. 

Place rice in serving dish 

and top with chicken halves. 

Sprinkle cheese over chicken. 

Cover and let stand for 

about 5 minutes. Yields 3-4 

servings. 

Over the years I have 

modified this recipe for black 

bean soup to use canned 

beans instead of soaking the 

dried beans overnight. If you 

do not have access to a ham 

bone some chopped ham can 

be used. 

Black Bean Soup 

2-3 cans black beans (16 oz) 

1 meaty ham bone 

than never to have loved at 

all. 

When it comes to the 

kitchen remember that a 

watched pot never boils. No 

matter what, cream always 

rises to the top. It’s OK to 

take cooking advice now and 

then but keep in mind that too 

many cooks spoil the soup. 

And whatever you do, don’t 

try to squeeze blood from a 

turnip – it doesn’t work. 

I learned a few things about 

animals while growing up 

on a farm. Did you know 

that you can lead a horse to 

water but you can’t make him 

drink? We didn’t have chickens 

but I hear it’s not a good 

idea to count them before they 

are hatched. I’ve also heard 

you have to be careful when 

gathering your eggs. You 

don’t want to put all of them 

in one basket. 

As I mentioned in a previous 

column, we raised and 

trained English setters when 

I was a kid. My brother and I 

were responsible for feeding 

them and cleaning their kennels. 

We quickly learned to let 

sleeping bird dogs lie. Dad always 

started training the dogs 

when they were puppies. He 

said it was because you can’t 

teach an old dog new tricks. 

Well, time flies when you’re 

having fun. Stay away from 

clichés, don’t take any wooden 

nickels and smoke ‘em if 

you got ‘em. See you next 

month, good Lord willing and 

the creek don’t rise. 

2 cups chicken stock 

1 or 2 cloves garlic, minced 

Place in a large saucepan or 

stock pot. Add enough water 

just to cover. Bring to a boil, 

then lower heat and simmer 

for 30-45 minutes. Add in: 

2 cans condensed onion soup 

2 tablespoons tomato paste 

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper 

Salt and black pepper to taste. 

Simmer for an additional 

20-30 minutes. Serve with a 

dollop of sour cream. 

Stay warm during the cold 

of the winter months. The 

promise of spring is waiting. 

M 

DEAR 

ARIE 

By 

Marie 

Segale 

marie@goBEACONnews.com 

Dear Marie, 

I am having a terrible time 

coping with all that has happened 

in the world this past 

year. And the fact that it is 

still going on. I am feeling 

stuck inside and alone! 

I work from home, I’m 

home at night, and I’m home 

on the weekends. This all adds 

to my frustration. These days 

my big adventure is going 

to the grocery store where I 

become more frustrated when 

I find the products that I normally 

buy are no longer available. 

Life’s current state of 

affairs has forced me to even 

make changes in the products 

I buy and the foods I eat! 

I long for a time when I 

could gather with my family 

and friends. My group used to 

meet up and go out to eat, go 

to sporting events, and go to 

church festivals. 

Those were the good old 

days. Sadly, I have several 

acquaintances who could not 

be with their parents when 

they passed away because of 

nursing home visiting restrictions. 

So many tragedies 

have occurred in 2020. 

I am so tired of this, and 

I want it to be over! Marie, I 

have a terrible feeling about 

this. As if 2020 wasn’t bad 

enough, life could be even 

worse in 2021! 

Debbie in Harrison 

Dear Debbie, 

I understand how you are 

feeling. I have talked to so 

many people who are feeling 

the same way. We all have to 

remember certain principles. 

1. Live with an attitude 

of gratitude. Concentrating 

on the negative is very easy. 

However, we all have so 

many blessings in our lives. 

Focusing on these blessings 

is certainly a step in the right 

direction. 

2. Make a plan to keep in 

touch with your friends and 

family by phone or face time. 

Or have a fun party with 

video conferencing. 

3. Make sure you reach out 

to people when you are feeling 

alone. Often people are 

reluctant to reach out in times 

of need, which is exactly 

when you will have to force 

yourself to make contact with 

someone. 

4. And remember- keep 

calm and carry on. This too 

shall pass. 

Have a pressing issue? 

Contact Marie@goBEACON 

news.com 

Next 

Beacon Ad 

Deadline 

Jan. 25. 



By 

Doris 

Butt 

Community 

Correspondent 

goodolddays@goBEACONnews.com 

One More Time? 

“I think I would like to visit 

Las Vegas one more time.” 

Ray casually mentioned one 

evening as we were eating 

supper. I heard his ‘One more 

time,’ for these travelers have 

had many birthdays and such 

a trip might be challenging. 

But then I thought, Ray is still 

a very good driver, and we 

have a dependable van and 

don’t mind spending some of 

our hard-earned money. 

Visions of bright lights and 

people watching took over, 

not to mention the cling cling 

of the slots. “Yes Ray, I think 

we can do that.” 

After that acknowledgment, 

I had to figure where 

we would stop along the way. 

Ray and I have traveled that 

Southwest route many times, 

but my Vegas visions said, 

“That’s okay. You’ll see new 

sights and it can be a time of 

memories from past travels.” 

Ray and I decide to leave 

in September so that we can 

spend Labor Day weekend 

at Mountain View, Arkansas 

where we join daughter Jennie 

and her husband Frank to 

listen to musicians jam around 

the courthouse. That has been 

a holiday must for us for over 

ten years. 

I know I have to make reservations 

in advance in those 

popular areas for I need an 

accessible room. 

Ray mentions he would 

like to take the train into 

the Grand Canyon. Since he 

doesn’t often have a preference, 

I will honor his suggestion. 

The receptionist for the 

Grand Canyon Railroad had 

many offerings. I choose to 

stay one night. 

Four cheap nights in Las 

Vegas downtown area sort of 

evened out reservation funds. 

Do you get all this? Two 

octogenarians have made 

plans in December for a trip 

eight months later. Now that 

is confidence. 

I am the navigator. I take the 

job seriously as Ray completely 

relies on me to guide him 

along the way. Our GPS helps 

me, but I have my marked 

route and a fair share of AAA 

help with maps and tour books. 

I figure the trip will require 

around five thousand miles on 

878 W Eads Pkwy, Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 

812.926.0273 artisticfloralshop.com 

BRATER - WINTER 

FUNERAL HOMES 

 

 

the road. Much of it will be in 

long stretches that could give 

a passenger some nap time. 

Not me. 

I find ways to entertain 

myself. I am always on the 

lookout for flowers and pass 

on my observations to Ray... 

like he really cares. I check 

for flags in yards and wash 

on the line. I pass that info 

on too. I am thrilled to see a 

train, especially if the track 

is beside our road. If it has 

cars carrying automobiles, 

I wonder if they are Hondas 

manufactured near my 

Indiana home. I appreciate the 

art painted on the train cars. I 

am a great admirer of trailer 

trucks but am disappointed 

that most don’t have where 

they are from on their door 

anymore. I still admire their 

beauty and consider some 

works of art. I am really into 

those painted yellow. I make 

note of every one I see. They 

are hard to miss. 

I usually get the local paper 

By 

John Hawley 

Purdue 

Extension 

hawley4@purdue.edu 

Protecting 

Landscape Plants 

from Salt Damage 

Midwest winters mean college 

basketball, cloudy skies, 

chilly temps, and plenty of 

salt applications on sidewalks 

and roadways. De-icing salts 

can be helpful for transportation 

purposes and avoiding 

painful falls on the driveway, 

but they can also wreak havoc 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

whenever we stop for gas. 

Sometimes I trudge over to 

the station and buy a scratchoff 

ticket or two like I am really 

going to win something. 

I sometimes sing along with 

songs on our satellite Willy’s 

Roadhouse if the roads don’t 

roar and I can hear it. I can 

catch the first note of my 

favorite songs and reach over 

to hit that volume immediately. 

I just want the music 

to surround me. That would 

include Waltzing through 

Texas, The Way I Am. Long 

Dark Veil, She Thinks I Still 

Care and Don’t Worry About 

Me. I have to admit that my 

hearing loss probably hikes 

that volume quite a lot, but 

Ray, who would just as soon 

have it quiet, just tolerates his 

navigator’s wishes. 

The reservations are made. 

First, we will visit Mountain 

View, Arkansas then follow 

Interstate 40 to Williams, 

Arizona where we will take 

the train ride into the Grand 

on many landscapes. In today’s 

article, I will share tips 

for protecting your landscape 

from salt damage. 

According to Dr. Janna 

Beckerman and Rosie Lerner, 

each upper Midwest state applies 

at least 100,000 tons of 

salt to roads, sidewalks, and 

driveways every year! All of 

that salt has to go somewhere. 

After it serves its purpose, it 

often dissolves and spreads 

into our soils and landscapes. 

In many cases, the damage 

is minor. In other cases, the 

damage can be quite severe. 

While the impact of salt on 

the landscape can vary, the 

main concerns are related 

to interference with nutrient 

intake, dehydrating roots, and 

plant stress. 

To identify salt damage, 

first, consider the location. In 

most situations, serious damage 

will occur near those areas 

previously mentioned: sidewalks 

and roadways. Symptoms 

may include browning 

of leaves, dead leaf buds in 

the spring, and stunted appearance. 

These issues will be 

more prevalent on the side of 

the plant facing the street or 

sidewalk and can vary from 

one plant species to another. In 

evergreens, needle-browning 

starting at the tips is common. 

A few plants popular in our 

area particularly sensitive to 

salt include Japanese Maple, 

Apple Serviceberry, Pin Oak, 

and Norway Pine. Popular 

plants known to be more 

tolerant of salt include Honey 

Locust, White Fir, and Horse 

Chestnut. Be mindful that 

virtually any plant will experience 

negative side effects 

from extreme overuse of salt. 

So how can you protect 

Doris and Ray Butt on their 

trip to the Southwest. 

Canyon and spend a few days 

in Las Vegas. 

Do I have thoughts that this 

might be one last time, as 

Ray mentioned? I am just not 

going to think about it now. 

We have traveled in all fifty 

states. That should satisfy our 

travel yearnings. 

(We made the trip with 

no problems, but it is sad to 

admit it was our last. We are 

now homebodies.) 

your landscape and plants? 

At home, the best solution is 

to reduce the use of salt on 

your driveway and sidewalk. 

In cold and icy conditions, 

it can be quite easy to overuse 

any de-icing product, 

especially with thawing and 

refreezing. At-home alternatives 

include coarse sand and 

non-sodium products such as 

calcium chloride or calcium 

magnesium acetate (CMA), 

a melting agent made from 

limestone and acetic acid. 

For salt damage caused by 

public roadways, consider using 

burlap or plastic sheeting 

to cover plants. These protective 

coverings can be especially 

helpful in areas where 

salt spray from roadside gutters 

can venture onto nearby 

property. Improving drainage 

to reduce ponding of salty 

water can also be helpful. 

Salt is certainly not the only 

contaminant stressing our 

landscapes. Be cautious of 

overusing pesticides, paint and 

deck treatment products, and 

dyed mulch. These products 

can all negatively impact 

landscapes. Even dog urine 

can heavily damage grass and 

landscape plants if Spot or Rex 

like to pee in the same spot too 

often! As a homeowner or a 

gardener, it is your responsibility 

to monitor for these conditions 

and prevent or reduce 

damage when possible. 

For more information on 

salt damage in plants, search 

for publication ID-412-W 

on your home computer or 

smartphone. Feel free to email 

me at hawley4@purdue.edu. 

You can also reach my office 

at 812-926-1189. 

Look for my next article 

in the March issue of The 

Beacon! 

CORNERSTONE 

REALTY INC. 

WE’RE IN YOUR CORNER. 

Was 2020 a Buyer’s Market or a Seller’s Market? 

It was both for Cornerstone Realty, Inc. A special thank you to our 

clients for this past year! Cornerstone Realty, Inc. either had the 

buyer, seller, or both for the following transactions in 2020: 

Dale Lutz 

513-266-1859 

Randy Lutz 

513-266-1860 

Brian Losekamp 

513-615-3022 

Anthony 

Losekamp 

513-519-2701 

SOLD 

24948 Henderson Rd 

921 Cleveland Ave 

1905 South Pointe Dr 

1290 Clearview Pl 

5905 Falcon Way 

314 Whippoorwill Dr 

24573 Van Wedding Rd 

328 N 9th St 

29461 Central Dr 

2563 Priest Rd 

3728 Gary Dr 

25634 Hearthstone Dr 

436 Bielby Rd 

3 ac E CO Rd 300 S 

23717 Mt. Meadows Dr 

23220 Brush Fork Rd 

4235 Meadowcroft 

1808 Walnut Grove 

5 ac Old Hickory 

4 ac N Dearborn Rd 

4 ac N Dearborn Rd 

9656 N Dearborn Rd 

1925 CR 750 E Rd 

29486 Central Dr* 

77.9 ac Central Dr* 

46.5 ac Central Dr* 

1.5 ac Schuman Rd 

12ac Weisburg Rd 

1666 See Ave 

2959 Glenaire Dr 

22903 Lincoln Ct 

10528 Winding Way 

4069 N Dearborn Rd 

24404 Park Place Dr 

26401 Farmland Dr 

155 Etta Ave 

24233 Mt Pleasant Dr 

2545 Brookestone Way 

3189 Garden Meadow Dr 

12334 Harrington Rd 

21101 Bellemeade Dr 

8336 Firshade Terrace 

6.9 ac Salt Fork Rd 

6.4 ac Breezewood Dr 

729 South State St 

5192 Country Hill Dr 

.45 ac Stateline Rd 

390 Timber Hill Dr 

2194 Pine Valley Dr 

21906 Salt Fork Rd* 

4766 N. Dearborn Rd 

2.33 ac Mt. Pleasant Rd 

24337 Barth Rd 

27268 Valley Vista Dr 

3.67 ac Coonhunters Ln 

4 Arrowhead Ct 

1 ac Mt. Pleasant Rd 

*Sold at auction 

Moving in 2021? Give 

Cornerstone a call at 

637-2220 for a Free 

Market Analysis. 

Motivated Sellers, be 

sure to ask about our 

“Auction Option.” 

Moving in 2021? Give Cornerstone a call at 

637-2220 for a Free Market Analysis. Motivated 

Sellers, be sure to ask about our “Auction Option.” 

Lutz 

Auction Center 


debbystutz.thebeacon@yahoo.com 

February 2021 THE BEACON Page 1B 

S 

BEACON 

PORTS 

SCENE 

By 

Chris Jack 

Nobbe 

Zoller 

beaconsports 

@live.com 

sports@goBEACONnews.com 

SD Football Wins 

Battle in Rocky Top 

Tournament 

The sixth-grade South Dearborn 

Pee Wee Football team 

traveled south just before 

Thanksgiving to compete in 

the 2020 Battle in Rocky Top, 

Tennessee. This is the fourth 

year the team By has traveled to 

this tournament, Maxine and it proved 

that the “fourth Klumptime” was the 

charm. 

As the 

Community 

Correspondent 

team has played 

together for several years at 

the pee wee level, the coaches 

maxineklump.thebeacon@yahoo.com 

were quite pleased with how 

the players were truly coming 

to understand the game of 

football and the various skills 

and schemes they had worked 

to implement in the squad. 

The 2020 season locally 

was one that started well but 

resulted in a tough one-point 

loss to Lawrenceburg in the 

playoffs. As Head Coach 

Jamey Montgomery stated, 

“Falling short of the [Pee Wee] 

Super Bowl was exactly what 

this team needed when we 

started practicing for the Battle 

in Rocky Top tournament. I 

believe it fueled the kids to 

perform well in Tennessee.” 

The team would take a roster 

of eighteen to the tournament, 

but due to a couple of 

regular roster players being 

unable to travel to the tournament, 

the team added a 

fifth-grade brother and two 

others from Milan to add 

some depth. The team would 

compete in a thirteen-team 

bracket (featuring teams from 

North Carolina, Tennessee, 

Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, and 

Louisiana) of 11-and-Under 

players. They did not receive 

one of the first-round byes, 

resulting in matching up with 

the most competitive team 

in the tournament in the first 

round of play. 

The team would open the 

tournament with a team from 

central Kentucky called the 

Franklin County Rams. The 

Knights would jump out to 

a 14-0 lead at halftime, but 

the Rams capitalized on a 

turnover and special teams 

mistake to tie the game at 14- 

14 in the second half. That is 

how regulation play ended. 

Defense was the hallmark 

of this team all season, and 

they would rely on that to 

gain the overtime victory. 

Carson Vinson and Jackson 

Johnson were able to force 

a fumble in the overtime 

possession of the Rams with 

Johnson recovering the ball, 

but the Knights would still 

have to score their own points 

to secure the win. 

On fourth down for the 

Select 

Location 

1 

Players and coaches of the sixth-grade South Dearborn Pee Wee team celebrate their 

tournament championship. (Photo courtesy of Robin Ashcraft Photography) 

Knights, quarterback Brennan 

Berry rolled out and found 

Johnson for a five-yard touchdown 

for the 20-14 victory. 

Montgomery remarked that 

this was “the best coached 

and most physical team we 

played that weekend”. 

After the victory, Johnson 

recalls thinking, “We’re going 

to win this whole thing. 

I think those last few plays 

helped us get the confidence 

and helped us see that we 

could really do this.” 

Indeed, the next two games 

were strong one-sided performances 

by the Knights 

squad. The Knights squared 

off against the Avon Orioles, a 

suburb to the west of Indianapolis, 

in the second-round 

game. This was the second 

game of the day, played only 

five short hours after the first 

ended. 

The second day would 

start with a semifinal game 

that would match the 18-man 

Knights’ squad against the 

45-man roster of the C.B.S 

Falcons from Louisiana. 

Although the team pulled up 

in a charter bus and made 

a formidable presence with 

their numbers, the Knights 

came ready to play. 

The defense again carried 

the game with its physical play 

by causing fumbles, interceptions, 

and quarterback sacks. 

The offense took care of the 

rest, resulting in a 34-0 victory 

to advance to the championship 

game against another 

Indiana team who advanced 

through the top half of the 

bracket, the Zionsville Eagles. 

This game would be played on 

only four hours’ rest. 

The championship game 

would prove to be another defensive 

battle just as the tournament 

began. The Knights 

were able to strike first in the 

game with a tough 30-yard 

run from Jayden Montgomery 

where he avoided several 

tackles and found the pylon. 

The Knights would also get 

the extra-point attempt, which 

would prove crucial in this 

game. 

The Eagles came back 

on the next possession with 

a touchdown pass, but the 

Knights were able to stop 

their extra-point attempt to 

leave the score at 7-6. This 

score remained until late in 

the fourth quarter. 

In this defensive struggle, 

the Knights were forced to 

punt late and give the ball 

back to Zionsville. With less 

than two minutes remaining 

Getting your refund 

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prep. Safely drop off your docs 

and go – with or without 

an appointment. 

Questions? Call us. 

4 VILLAGE RD 

BATESVILLE | 812-934-4626 

Jackson Johnson makes 

a block for his quarterback 

Brennan Berry. (Photo 

courtesy of Robin Ashcraft 

Photography) 

in the game, the Eagles would 

attempt to go back to the same 

crossing route to their tight 

end that resulted in a touchdown 

earlier. The seasoning 

of this team proved beneficial. 

Montgomery recognized the 

play from earlier in the game 

and immediately jumped the 

route and secured the interception. 

“I picked the ball off, 

and the stands went crazy. My 

friends were on me, and my 

coaches were, too. It was an 

unbelievable and fun tournament. 

I will always remember 

it,” recalls Montgomery. 

Carson Vinson stated, “The 

whole stadium erupted when 

we won the fantastic game. 

The trophy that we got looked 

like the Lombardi Trophy. We 

got individual medals, too.” 

Stephen (Alex) Welz recalls 

“starting to bump helmets and 

shoulder pads with everyone 

after we had won the championship 

in Rocky Top” and 

telling all of his family when 

he arrived home. 

The Knights would be 

crowned the champion of 

their bracket at the Battle in 

Rocky Top and celebrate their 

final trip to this tournament. 

The team’s defense displayed 

their dominance in this tournament 

by holding the two 

best teams to a total of only 

20 points while outscoring all 

of their opponents 99-20 in 

the four games. 

Members of the team included: 

Jayden Montgomery, 

Jackson Johnson, Brennan 

Berry, Carson Vinson, Sam 

Gates, Stephen Welz, William 

Riley, Kaleb Hicks, Caydin 

Davidson, Hunter Miller, Brison 

Hornberger, Mason Benham, 

Jason Chipman, Brycen 

Gilbert, Drake Lee, Brooks 

Johnson, Grant Langferman, 

and Zane Richardson. 

Coaches for the team were: 

Head Coach Jamey Montgomery, 

and assistants Ryan 

Berry, Nick Davidson, and 

Kyle Clark as well Jarrett 

Montgomery, who was an 

SDHS senior athlete assistant. 

IMMUNITY SUPPORT 

Back To 

School 

And 

Back To Work 

Essentials 


Page 2B THE BEACON February 2021 

BRIGHT/ 

SUGAR RIDGE 

By 

Bob 

Waples 

Community 

Correspondent 

bright@goBEACONnews.com 

Happy New Year everyone. 

Our first veteran salute for 

2021 goes to Sam Doll. Sam 

enlisted in the US Marines 

(oorah!) and leaves for Parris 

Island, SC for training in August. 

Sam is the son of Andy 

Doll and Terri Messmore and 

grandson of Mary Beth Doll. 

Best of luck Sam and thank 

you for serving. 

Congrats to Abigail Arkwright 

for her promotion to 

MP Private 1st Class. Good 

luck with your new assignment, 

Abby. 

I would like to recognize 

our North Dearborn Pantry 

for the awesome job they do 

regularly and especially at 

Christmas. They have a ‘Giving 

Tree’ program where gifts 

are provided for the children 

of our neighbors in need. As 

part of this effort, local businesses 

and churches participate 

with donations from their 

customers and congregations. 

Thanks to everyone. 

Wedding anniversary 

congrats to my brother and 

O 

ur 

sis-in-law Jim and Deb Waples-51 

years on 2/14, Jenny 

and Ron Jones (niece and 

nephew-in-law)-33 years on 

2/3. Birthday wishes: Norm 

Burnett 2/20, Natashia 

Wesley (niece) 2/8, Shelby 

Milton (great-niece) 2/16, 

Jeff Milton (nephew-inlaw) 

2/6, Mark Sutton 2/13, 

Reagan Jones (great-niece) 

2/27, Jim Viel 2/19, Jeremy 

Chipman 2/12, Mitch Neyer 

2/4. 

As we move into this new 

year, let’s move forward with 

hope and continue to help 

each other. Remember the 

words of Matthew McConaughey, 

“The problems we 

face today eventually turn 

into blessings in the rearview 

mirror of life.” And… the 

Bengals did beat the Steelers 

27-17. 

Have a great month and 

Happy Valentine’s Day. 

GREENDALE 

By 

Gloria 

Carter 

Community 

Correspondent 

greendale@goBEACONnews.com 

The new year 2021 has 

begun and will hopefully be a 

lot better than last year. I have 

decided to recap 2020 and try 

to put a little humor in what 

Communities 

HIDDEN 

VALLEY LAKE 

By 

Korry 

Johnson 

Community 

Correspondent 

hvl@goBEACONnews.com 

Well, well, well welcome 

to 2021! We have much to 

be grateful for in HVL. The 

Children’s Activity Club 

organized a donation drive 

for local foster kiddos. At the 

entrance of our community, 

Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus 

joined us in a socially distanced 

event where donations 

were collected $2,183.47 

during this two-day event. 

The Closet of Promises gave 

us twenty-four kids Christmas 

wish lists. Incredibly, 

was not a good year. Just to 

let you know, no names will 

be mentioned as I need to 

hide their identity. Have you 

ever coughed while shopping? 

Even if you don’t have 

COVID and you are wearing 

your mask, everyone stops 

and scatters. 

Do you remember the clapper? 

When you clapped your 

hands, the clapper made the 

light turn on, and you clap 

them again to make the light 

go off. That commercial has 

been replaced with mask-on, 

mask-off, MASK ON. 

On Thanksgiving, we usually 

eat turkey, but when you 

are invited to your daughter’s 

home for Thanksgiving dinner 

and she gets COVID, you end 

up cooking spaghetti at home. 

Those of us who grew up 

in Lawrenceburg during the 

1950s remember the horse at 

Lorey’s 5 and 10. You begged 

your parents to put money in 

so you could ride. Mr. Horse 

now sits in a downtown 

Lawrenceburg restaurant with 

his mask on. Going shopping 

is a pain when you discover 

that all of the dressing rooms 

NICOLE & JOHN WUESTEFELD 

residents filled 

all of the requests 

for gifts and other 

items that are 

always needed 

like, diapers, pullups, 

and socks. 

The Children’s 

Activity Club 

bought items and 

gift cards with the 

collected cash. 

The Closet of 

Promises and The 

YES Home both 

received about $1,300 each 

from our drive. This will be 

an annual event for HVL. 

February Birthdays- Angi 

Hall, Walt Shroyer, Katie 

Lainhart, Joe Sparhawk, 

Susan Timberlake, Shelley 

Fricke, Kim Lewis, Carson 

Kitts, Charlie Kitts, Chris 

Kitts, Bobbi Ray, Me! 

Please email me, Korry 

H. Johnson, if you have 

A Family Tradition Since 1800’s 

QUALITY SERVICE • COMPASSION • DEDICATION 

25615 STATE ROUTE 1 • DOVER, IN 

(812) 576-4301 WWW.ANDRES-WUESTEFELDFH.COM 

Santa and Mrs. Claus collected 

donations for those in need. 

Cooper helped organize 

donations. 

something to share in next 

month’s article at hvl@ 

goBEACONnews.com Share 

your positive news at The 

Beacon! 

are closed 

because of 

COVID. 

Problem 

solved- use 

the handicap 

bathroom; 

it makes 

a pretty 

good dressing 

room 

especially 

if you don’t 

want a lot Mr. Horse 

of returns. If 

you want to miss work, just 

have your husband contract 

COVID, and your workplace 

has a rule that requires your 

husband to have a negative 

test before you can get tested 

and return back to work. He 

has been told by the doctors 

he could test positive for up to 

three months. 

So far, he has had four 

positive tests since the first of 

November. 

Some of us with shortterm 

memory loss have lost a 

couple of extra pounds in the 

year 2020. We have walked 

all the way to our destination 

only to discover we have forgotten 

our mask. Back before 

the year 2020, no sunglasses, 

hoodies, or masks were 

allowed to be worn in the 

banks. New rules last yearmasks 

are required to be worn 

before entering the bank. In 

some states, no indoor dining 

is allowed, but we can dine 

outside. Since it is cold, outdoor 

dining has been set up as 

indoor dining and it is ok because 

it’s outdoor dining not 

indoor dining. I think I have 

that correct. What a crazy 

year, but we have survived. 

The City of Greendale will 

now be providing a box located 

at 500 Ridge Avenue to dispose 

of your tattered and worn flags. 

The new service has long been 

needed. The worn flags will be 

collected monthly by Mayor 

Weiss and a member of the 

American Legion and will be 

disposed of properly. 

A speedy recovery to Terri 

Seitz who recently had back 

surgery. Terri is recovering at 

home with her dog Presley. 

Mary Moore is also recovery 

from back surgery. All of us 

miss you at the Adult Center. 

Hope to see you back exercising 

soon. 

Wishing all of you a good 

2021. 



NDHS Band 

LOGAN 

By 

Susan 

Carson 

Community 

Correspondent 

logan@goBEACONnews.com 

This month I will finalize 

my stories of North Dearborn 

High School history. In fourteen 

years of existence, only 

1093 (my estimate) graduated 

from the school. Classes 

ranged in size from fifty-nine 

to one hundred two. The 

school was a good place to be 

in the ‘60s and ‘70s. We were 

fortunate to have some excellent 

teachers. One of them is 

a Logan resident and is still 

in the limelight today. Jim 

Helms was my Senior English 

teacher. He came to NDHS in 

1968 and continued on as a 

teacher and administrator to 

East Central High School, followed 

by being a Chancellor 

at Ivy Tech in Lawrenceburg. 

Some of you will know him 

as the emcee for “Music on 

the River” in Lawrenceburg 

during the summers. Such a 

talented man he is. We never 

O 

ur 

Charlie Green and Jim 

Helms 

knew in class when he might 

break into an Elvis impersonation. 

Mr. Helms was also 

a big supporter of our high 

school band. He is shown 

above with Charlie Green, 

the only band director North 

Dearborn ever had. Mr. Green 

grew the band from sixtyfive 

to one hundred fifty over 

the course of his tenure. The 

NDHS band was the first band 

selected from the state of 

Indiana to play at Riverfront 

Stadium and made ten trips to 

the Indy 500. To raise money 

for the trips we took, we made 

chocolate fudge, lots of it! 

According to the 1973 Viking 

Log, we made 30,000 pounds. 

Thanks for the memories, 

North Dearborn... 

ST. LEON 

By 

Debbie A. 

Zimmer 

Community 

Correspondent 

stleon@goBEACONnews.com 

Our St. Joseph American 

Legion Post 464 and Auxiliary 

Unit has lost three members 

since last month- Rita 

Stenger, Janet Wesseler, and 

Richard Schuman. 

Rita Stenger was a charter 

member of our unit and held 

several offices over the years. 

She helped out whenever 

needed. I always enjoyed the 

fun times Ronnie and I had 

with Rita and Ted at all of the 

legion functions and conventions. 

Janet Wesseler was also 

a good worker. We always 

enjoyed visiting with her and 

Bernie at the Hobo Hut for 

breakfast hour. No matter 

where you ran into Janet and 

Bernie, she always was happy 

and wore her hat. 

Richard Schuman was a 

great person. He could fix any 

type of tractor and lawnmower. 

He enjoyed coming 

into BP in the morning for 

his coffee and “clunker.” We 

had great times with him and 

Pat at many of our legion 

functions and conventions. 

Rich enjoyed going to tractor 

shows, many of which Ronnie 

and I traveled to including 

the Tri-State Gas Engine and 

Tractor Show in Portland, IN. 

Rich drove his beloved 1939 

Chevy in the 2020 Pole Raising 

Parade this October. The 

car was originally his father’s. 

Richard restored it to mint 

condition after it had been 

wrecked and left in a field on 

the farm. Rich was a true IHC 

fan and owned several Cub 

Cadet Lawn Mowers. He also 

was a big Nascar fan and enjoyed 

traveling to the Talledega 

races with his sons-in-law. 

He was a big Cincinnati Reds 

fan. I will miss his smile. 

FebruaryBirthdays– 1 Ella 

Alig, Greg Callahan, Paul 

Volk, and Steve Weigel, 

3 Jeanie Bischoff, Joyce 

Munchel, Doug Dole, 4 Paul 

Stock, 7 Katie Gaynor and 

Kris Bischoff, 8 my sister-inlaw 

Betty Andres, 10 Jenny 

Steinmetz and Gerhard 

Deddens, 11 Emma Brock, 

Carolyn Bulach, Linda 

Hoog, and John Schuman, 

12 Brittany Farrow and 

cousin Gerard Andres, 15 

Macy Lyness, Sarah Herth, 

and Scott Siefferman, 16 

Brittany Bischoff, Jon 

Stenger, and Ben Vogelsang, 

17 Ellie Hoffman, Ashley 

Andres, and Ryan Wilhelm, 

18 Brenda Ratz, 19 Gabrielle 

Cleary, Tim Banks, and 

Paula Rudisell, 20 Harry 

Hartman, Nolan Stenger, 

Rachel Vonderheide, and 

Carter William Barrett celebrated 

his seventh birthday 

on Dec. 5. Skyline and 

cake were enjoyed by all. 

Kendall Robertson, 21 Mary 

Rennekamp, Karen Maune, 

23 Mary Lois Trabel, Peg 

Lyness, Chris Bittner, and 

Tanya Bittner, 25 Mandy 

Vogelsang, 26 my granddaughter 

Brianna Inman and 

Jim “Papa” Dole, 27 Luke 

Vogelsang, 28 Dave Deddens 

and Ryan Walter. 

Get in touch with me 

with any news items for the 

column atstleon@gobeacon 

news.com 

Communities 

www.VisitSoutheastIndiana.com 

Dearborn County Visitors Center 

#theplace2play 

We’re Ready When You Are 

February 2021 

JANUARY 2017 

Although this February looks 

quite different than we are 

used to, we are ready when you 

are here in Southeast Indiana. 

From hiking the Dearborn Trail 

to enjoying our wineries to 

shopping our quaint shoppes to 

skiing at Perfect North Slopes, 

we are prepared to welcome 

our visitors in a safe and healthy 

manner. Thank you for your 

support, and we encourage you 

to contact us with any questions, 

comments or feedback. We look 

forward to seeing you soon! 

Dearborn County Convention, 

Visitor and Tourism Bureau 

320 Walnut St. • Lawrenceburg, Indiana 47025 

Stay healthy. Bring your mask 

and hand sanitizer along! 



BATESVILLE 

By 

Sue 

Siefert 

Community 

Correspondent 

batesville@goBEACONnews.com 

Welcoming 2021 … 

2020 was different as the 

pandemic changed our lives 

with most everything being 

smaller, simpler, quieter, 

further apart… and often, 

canceled. I’ve always tried 

to look on the sunny side but 

struggled at times last year to 

find the sun. 

2020 was different as it 

was a shocker on the job 

front, leaving many more 

cash-strapped than usual and 

small businesses to bear an 

unfair brunt of the economic 

downturn. 

2020 was different as many 

were ill from an unrelenting 

virus and fighting for their 

lives, while others lost loved 

ones at a time family could 

not gather to console and say 

goodbye. 

2020 was different as politics 

divided our nation, and 

even divided some families 

between those wanting “four 

more” and those wanting “no 

more.” 

2020 was different – especially 

in how we celebrated 

Try Our 

New 

Entrees! 

*Lime Only 

$3.99 Margaritas 

ALL DAY Monday 

O 

ur 

A glimpse of Batesville’s “Lights of Liberty” at Liberty Park 

Try Our 

New 

Entrees! 

$4.99 Margaritas 

ALL DAY Monday 

*Lime Only 

$2.49 Bottle 

domestic beer 

Saturday 

the holidays. For me, Home 

Alone became my reality, and 

while I didn’t engage in the 

shenanigans of the movie, I 

took time to enjoy the Lights 

of Liberty, to listen to roaming 

carolers, to wave at our 

drive-by Santa, and to support 

our local businesses. I 

enjoyed life on a less complicated 

level, and I was thankful 

for all the efforts of our 

community in celebrating the 

season “COVID-style”. 

For many, 2020 brought 

out our resilience, our 

generosity, and our compassion. 

We dug deeper into 

our pockets to help those 

who were unemployed and 

to support our local small 

businesses. We learned the 

importance of reconciliation 

and compassion for one another. 

We anxiously awaited 

the vaccine that was being 

distributed as we sang Auld 

Lang Syne. 

2020 had one thing in 

common with past years … 

once again Jesus was born on 

Christmas bringing tidings 

of great joy and hope to our 

world. 

My wish for 2021 is that 

you take a moment to reflect 

on how you survived 2020. 

Celebrate your resilience, 

generosity, and compassion 

– and spread good tidings of 

great joy and hope! 

That’s Sue’s news for now. 

24486 Stateline Road 

Bright 

$2.49 Bottle 

domestic beer 

Saturday 

Communities 

DOVER 

By 

Rhonda 

Trabel 

Community 

Correspondent 

dover@goBEACONnews.com 

The All Saints Parish 

Thanksgiving Day Gobble 

Wobble 5K took place at a 

new venue this year. To be 

compliant with health regulations, 

the decision was made 

to have the race at the St. Leon 

American Legion Post 464 

where more room was available 

for the runners to space 

out. They started on Post 464 

Road by the legion, to County 

Line Road, to Central Drive, 

to Old Hickory Road, and 

back to the baseball fields at 

the legion. A total of 1074 

participated this year- women 

56.2%, men 43.8%. 

Live Race winners were 

as follows: Men’s Run- 1st 

Place- Adam Moster; 2nd 

Place- Joseph Scheele; and 

3rd Place- Benjamin Moster. 

Women’s Run: 1st Place- 

Sarah Robinson; 2nd Place- 

Anabelle McDonald; and 3rd 

Place- Ashtyn Gindling. 

Women’s Competitive 

Walkers: 1st Place- Emily 

Jo Staab, 2nd Place- Laura 

Keller, and 3rd Place- Jackie 

Gaynor. Congratulations to 

all of these winners!! 

Ten states were represented 

in this 5K. Participants came 

from Arkansas (1), Connecticut 

(1), Iowa(1), Illinois(5), 

Indiana (896), Kentucky (17), 

Michigan (3), Ohio (136), 

NEW ALSACE 

By 

Laura 

Keller 

Community 

Correspondent 

newalsace@goBEACONnews.com 

Noah Brown, son of Pete 

and Andrea Brown, and Sam 

Carter, son of Aaron and 

We accept 

We accept competitor’s coupons 

(Limit $5 maximum per when you spend $30 or more. 

coupons 

Or 1/2 price on 2nd meal. 

(Limit 

Not 

$5 maximum 

Valid Friday 

per 

or Saturday.) 

coupon 

When You Spend $30 Or More. 

Or 1/2 price on 2nd meal. 

Not Valid Friday or Saturday.) 

812-747-7262 

812-747-7262 

Organizers of the Gobble Wobble are Sarah Lecher, Fr 

Jonathan Meyer, and Amy Eisele. Representing North 

Dearborn Pantry are Martha and Bruce Lippard (holding 

the check). 

Pennsylvania (1), and Texas 

(3). 

Gobble Wobble proceeds 

help the Sunman Food Pantry 

buy food for Easter, Thanksgiving, 

and Christmas for 

hundreds of families. 

Proceeds help the North 

Dearborn Pantry buy meals 

for families each year. Youth 

from All Saints Parish help 

distribute the meals for approximately 

two hundred-fifty 

families each year. The pantry 

also provides monthly food 

boxes throughout the year to 

more than three hundred fifty 

families. In July and August, 

school supplies are provided 

to children in need. 

The East Central High 

School food pantry will 

also use the proceeds to buy 

school supplies, food, and 

clothing for students of the 

local community who utilize 

this service. 

The profit from this year’s 

Gobble Wobble 5K donated to 

these three pantries this year 

totals $50,500. 

DeeDee Carter, are passionate 

about football. Both 

have played football with the 

Trojan youth football league 

since first grade, Noah playing 

as a Sunman Trojan and 

Seth as a Bright Trojan. Sixthgraders 

at Sunman-Dearborn 

Middle School, Noah and 

Sam were chosen to play on 

Team Indiana, a select football 

team consisting of boys 

from all over in the state of 

Indiana. Noah plays defensive 

end and offensive line, while 

Sam plays cornerback, safety 

and is a member of special 

teams. 

Team Indiana won two 

games, placing them as a 

finalist in the national championship 

game in Shawnee 

Mission, KS. Although they 

were ranked second after pool 

play, Team Indiana was victorious, 

claiming the national 

championship by defeating 

the top-ranked team, the Kansas 

City Outlaws. Congratulations 

to Noah, Sam, and their 

teammates! 

Each year, the Lily Endowment 


Program awards a student 

from each of Indiana’s 

ninety-two counties with a 

full-tuition scholarship at any 

public or private Indiana fouryear 

college or university plus 

a book stipend. This year’s 

Buy 1 Lunch or Dinner 

at regular price 

Get 1 Lunch or Dinner 

at 1/2 price 

Excludes steaks and seafood 

Expires July 11, 2016 

Not Valid Fri. or Sat. 

Not valid with daily specials. 

$5 off on 

purchase of $30 

Expires July Dearborn 11, 2016 county recipient is 

Not Valid Fri. or Sat. 

Not valid with daily specials. 

At Ripley Crossing we understand 

that every person is unique and 

that rehab is a key component to 

improving quality of life. We 

provide care specific to your 

needs. Whether you need post 

surgery care or long term care we 

are your number 1 choice. 

www.ripleycrossing.com 

1200 Whitlatch Way 

Milan, IN 

812-654-2231 

Congratulations to Stef and 

Jake Hiltz who celebrated 

their fifteenth wedding anniversary 

on Dec. 17. Best 

wishes for many more years 

of wedded bliss. 

Condolences to the family 

of Paul Girty, 71, from Dover, 

who passed away on Dec. 15. 

Paul set up his woodshop and 

helped friends make wood 

items for the church and toys 

for craft shows. He spent 

much of his time maintaining 

the property at All Saints 

Parish, St Johns Campus, 

just across the street from his 

home. Paul will be greatly 

missed by his wife Linda of 

twenty-seven years, stepchildren 

Jill (Patrick)Hartman 

of Brookville, Nikki (Neil) 

Christen of Bright, and Kevin 

(Shannon) Redelman of St. 

Leon, and eight grandchildren. 

Rest in Peace, Paul. 

I hope 2021 will be a healthy 

and prosperous new year! 

If you have Dover news to 

share, please email me at dover 

@goBEACONnews.com. 

Sam Carter, Pete Brown 

and Noah Brown pose after 

Team Indiana claimed the 

national football championship. 

Heath Doll, a senior at East 

Central High School. Heath 

is the son of Alan and Cece 

Doll and resides near New 

Alsace. 

While anyone may apply 

for the scholarship, academics, 

community service, and 

extracurricular activities are 

also taken into consideration. 

In addition to holding a 4.2 

G.P.A., Heath is a member of 

the National Honor Society, 

FFA, and the Manchester 

Rowdies 4-H club. He also 

enjoys reading, hunting, and 

spending time with family and 

friends. 

According to Heath, phase 

one of the scholarship process 

consisted of submitting 

an application and writing an 

essay. Two finalists from each 

school in the county were 

chosen to move on to phase 

two, which involved submitting 

an essay, presenting to 

the Dearborn Community 

Foundation, and an interview 

by the scholarship committee. 

Heath received the good 

news that he was selected as 

the recipient in early December 

2020. While Heath hasn’t 

decided which school he will 

attend, he is contemplating 

Purdue University or Rose- 

Hulman Institute of Technology 

and majoring in engineering. 

Congratulations to Heath! 

I would love to hear from 

you! If you have news in the 

New Alsace area you’d like 

me to share, please contact 

me at newalsace@goBeacon 

news.com. 



OLDENBURG 

By 

Sue 

Siefert 

Community 

Correspondent 

oldenburg@goBEACONnews.com 

Oldenburgers tend to be 

resilient when facing uncertainty, 

frugal in allocating 

their earnings, creative in 

celebrating their heritage, and 

hospitable in welcoming the 

world to visit the ’Burg. 

2020 tested the village 

people as the current state 

of affairs changed almost 

everything. Folks bent on 

celebrating their heritage 

through their annual Freudenfest, 

reluctantly bowed to 

the situation and canceled the 

fest, leaving that July weekend 

that normally found the 

’Burg bursting at its lederhosen 

seams with food, frolic, 

and fun, suddenly as a peaceful 

weekend with silent streets 

MANCHESTER 

By 

Lisa 

West 

Community 

Correspondent 

manchester@goBEACONnews.com 

So many of us are doing 

things to support each other 

these days, finding moments 

to make us smile. I recently 

spoke with a group of individuals 

who are doing just that for 

some of our Manchester folks. 

My Brother’s Keeper is 

a band of three brothers, 

Joshua, Benjamin, and Titus 

Luckhaupt, and their good 

friend Wyatt “Sawmill” 

Murray. The Luckhaupt 

brothers grew up in Moores 

Hill and attended church in 

Manchester where they were 

introduced to gospel and bluegrass 

music. Josh shared that 

they have played together as a 

touring band for ten years, but 

their first time performing was 

at the church. They continue 

to play there when the opportunity 

presents itself. Due 

to social limitations, most of 

their shows have been canceled 

recently, but they have 

continued to play live stream 

concerts and are working on 

their fourth full-length album! 

The band members shared 

thoughts about their connection 

to the community: 

Benjamin: “Music helps us 

give back to the community 

we grew up in. During times 

like these people need encouragement 

and we hope that 

we can provide that in some 

small way.” 

Titus: “We’ve been blessed 

to play all over the country, 

but our favorite shows have 

Roaming Carolers. 

O 

ur 

and not a drop of German 

beer on tap. 

The Eagle Fire Company 

canceled its June festival 

and hosted Chicken and Fish 

drive-thrus which rallied the 

locals in record number who 

came to show their support. 

Holy Family Parish canceled 

their October festival, 

and also hosted a Chicken 

drive-thru that snarled traffic 

as folks descended on the village 

for a taste of its famous 

deep-fried cuisine. 

In December, when the 

’Burg’s Holiday Under the 

Village people pulled together 

Communities 

to safely welcome a reduced 

number of guests. Shops, popup 

shops, restaurants, roaming 

carolers, and Santa himself 

threw down the outdoor 

welcome mat while locals 

increased their Christmas 

décor and welcomed visitors 

COVID-style. 

While the Sisters were 

unable to welcome visitors, 

they previously offered the 

public the opportunity to have 

a memorial candle lit in a 

window during the Christmas 

season—and the response was 

overwhelming! I found myself 

feeling lonely at Christmas– 

and drove to the ’Burg where 

I just looked in awe at all the 

candles knowing each one 

represented someone who is 

no longer with us, and I realized 

that sometimes uncertainty 

brings out the best in us. 

My wish for 2021 is that we 

all do our best to be more like 

the village people – resilient, 

frugal, creative, and hospitable! 

Das ist alles von der ’Burg! 

Joshua, Benjamin, and Titus Luckhaupt and Wyatt “Sawmill” 

Murray. 

always been here at home.” 

Wyatt “Sawmill” Murray: 

“Something about being from 

a small town helps us connect 

our music to the audience. 

When we get to play, we know 

the audience because we grew 

up with them. Something 

about that makes the music 

feel much more personal.” 

Josh: “Being a part of a 

community church helps me 

stay connected to my community 

and with God. I attend 

church with my neighbors and 

my friends which is incredibly 

important to me. Many people 

at church helped me grow musically 

and spiritually and for 

that, I am incredibly grateful.” 

Get It Seen, Get It Sold! 

Estate Tag Sales 

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Contact us for a free consultation 

John Crawley with his siblings and parents after signing 

his letter of intent to dive at Ball State University. 

YORKVILLE 

& GUILFORD 

By 

Laura 

Keller 

Community 

Correspondent 

yorkville@goBEACONnews.com 

Cousins Sarah Hornbach 

and Tori Spangler get so 

much joy helping others and 

are always looking for ways 

to support those in need. 2020 

has been difficult for many 

people, so on Dec. 6, the two 

hairdressers offered free haircuts 

to help families in need. 

Approximately twenty-five 

people benefitted from free 

haircuts. What a wonderful 

gesture from these two young 

ladies! 

Congratulations to Luke 

Hornbach, son of Doug and 

Dawn Hornbach, for being 

the only Dearborn County 

player named to the Indiana 

Soccer Coaches Association 

2020 Boys All-State team. 

Luke, a senior at East Central 

High School, was a key defender 

in helping the Trojans 

earn an admirable 15-3-1 

record for the 2020 season. 

John Crawley, son of Michael 

and Julie Crawley, received 

his Eagle Scout Court 

of Honor. John’s Eagle Scout 

project was relocating a storage 

closet to the confessional 

at All Saints Church – St. Paul 

campus and crafting a grotto 

to replace a closet and house 

a statue of Bishop Simon 

Brute, which was carved by 

Deacon Bob Decker. While 

the project was completed 

in 2018, John completed his 

merit badges in 2020. 

But John’s talents don’t stop 

there. He recently signed a 

letter to commit to diving at 

Ball State University where he 

will be a 2021 member of the 

Swim and Dive Team. John 

holds numerous dive records 

at East Central High School 

and has earned several diving 

honors, including a 2020 

EIAC conference champion, 

EIAC conference record 

holder, and a 2020 IHSAA 

State Qualifier, to name a few. 

Congratulations to John on his 

accomplishments! 

If you have news in the Yorkville/Guilford 

area you’d like 

me to share, please contact 

me at yorkville@goBEACON 

news.com. 

215 E. Broadway St, P.O. Box 513 

Harrison, Ohio 45030 

(513)367-4545 Fax: (513)367-4546 

www.jackmanhensley.com 

We believe in going beyond what is 

expected to offer each family a caring 

compassionate service for 

an affordable price. 

“Providing funerals and cremations with dignity and compassion.” 

215 E. Broadway St, P.O. Box 513 

Harrison, Ohio 45030 

(513)367-4545 Fax: (513)367-4546 

www.jackmanhensley.com 



AURORA 

By 

Margaret 

Drury 

Community 

Correspondent 

aurora@goBEACONnews.com 

O 

ur 

Accepting the award for 

SIAG are Marge Beinkemper 

and Terri Keller. (Photo 

courtesy of Main Street 

Aurora) 

This past December in Aurora 

was not as full of holiday 

events as in past years, but 

Main Street Aurora was able 

to host a few activities. I 

heard that the mailbox outside 

of the Main Street office 

had DIRECT mail service to 

the North Pole! Hopefully, 

Santa was able to answer all 

the children’s letters. Main 

Street also held a Christmas 

Decorating contest. Over 

forty businesses decorated for 

the contest! Seeing so many 

beautiful and whimsical decorations 

was a blessing and 

made everyone smile. Some 

of the displays took me back 

to childhood memories of 

Christmas trains and animated 

character displays. Judges 

found selecting only three for 

awards very difficult. 

First place went to a business 

who decorated around 

the entire property… even in 

the back alley! Second place 

went to Southeastern Indiana 

Art Guild (SIAG) on the first 

floor of the old Schuck building. 

Their decorations filled 

all the windows both front 

and side. Such talent! Next 

year they hope to have a large, 

animated display in the corner 

window reminiscent of the old 

Schuck displays. 

Third place went for 

decorating the second story 

of the old Schuck building. 

Every window was filled 

with lights as well as vintage 

lighted Christmas decorations. 

Thanks to all who decorated 

and helped bring on the 

Christmas cheer in Aurora. 

While doing my annual 

gathering of gifts and getting 

ready for Christmas, I discovered 

the marbled rye bread at 

the Third and Main Butchery. 

OH, MY GOODNESS!!! It is 

the best rye bread. Come to 

downtown Aurora; stop in and 

get ya’ some! 

As one ponders the aforementioned 

circumstances, one 

might think that 2020 was a 

complete bust. But it wasn’t 

because along with those circumstances 

came other events 

such as births, weddings, 

healing after long illnesses, 

acts of kindness from complete 

strangers, etc. Both the 

“circumstances” and “events” 

of 2020 cause a multitude of 

emotions to arise including joy, 

fear, pride, sadness, excitement, 

anxiety, disgust, anger… 

just to name a few. I believe 

our emotions are a gift from 

God. They tell us when we 

need to DO something such 

as reconsider our thoughts or 

actions or simply reach out 

to someone. Many say fear is 

among the most powerful of all 

emotions; fear can overcome 

even the strongest parts of our 

intelligence. This past year I 

have seen fear in people (including 

myself at times) who 

I would have never suspected 

to be fearful. This morning 

during my quiet time, I read, 

“…when you focus on serving 

yourself, anything that threatens 

you creates fear. But when 

your heart is turned away from 

yourself and focused on reaching, 

loving, and serving others, 

your fears will be replaced 

with My (God’s) love.” 

That quote really hit a nerve 

Wagon Shed 

Candle Company 

Specializing in all natural soy candles 

and gift baskets made to order 

for all occasions 

DOTTIE SCHIPPER, Owner 

4717 Tall Oak Drive 

Aurora, Indiana 47001-7735 

812-926-1466 Home • 859-512-9792 Cell 

CommunitiesAURORA 

Accepting the award for 

third place is Bob Palmer. 

(Photo courtesy of Main 

Street Aurora) 

and caused me to think back 

to how many times I had been 

fearful or anxious over something. 

Yet when that “something” 

occurred, I was able to 

get through it. It was not until 

I got my “eyes” off ME, that 

the fear or anxiety went away. 

Kind of like exercising. I 

dread it, but I know it is good 

for me, and once I do it, I am 

glad I did. Amazing how that 

works! So… a goal for myself 

going forward into 2021 and 

beyond is to try to do a better 

job of what I know is good for 

me and others in my path. 

Until next month, take care 

of yourself and each other. 

God bless and have a Happy 

New Year. 

By 

Fred 

Schmits 

Community 

Correspondent 

aurora@goBEACONnews.com 

HI NEIGHBORS!! 

The past few articles have 

featured unique people. This 

one will take a look at all of 

us. Actually, with limits on 

being near people and being 

careful to show concern 

for whomever we are meeting, 

NEIGHBOR will be our 

chosen unique feature. This 

article is constructed with 

a masked, self-quarantined 

author. 

Aurora residents are all 

neighbors since, by definition, 

a neighbor is one of us close 

to another. We really are close 

in our community in many 

ways. 

To begin, many families, 

some new and others with 

much history, reside here. 

Aurora is a river town established 

long ago, and some 

of the families are long-time 

The Dillsboro 5K Running Club finished their 5K run. 

DILLSBORO 

By 

Lorene 

Westmeier 

Community 

Correspondent 

dillsboro@goBEACONnews.com 

Christmas is over but we 

cannot forget all of the pretty 

lights and decorations. One 

unique Christmas display was 

at the corner of North and 

Front Streets. It was a 1950s 

display of Santa, Sleigh and 

Reindeer made on printed 

paper glued to plywood . 

This had belonged to Dale 

and Verneda Wendelman 

and was displayed in their 

yard along with their beautiful 

light display. People came 

for miles to see the wonderful 

Christmas display. Later Paul 

Elliott, a friend of the Wendelman 

family, obtained it. He 

in turn donated it to the town 

of Dillsboro. The Civic Club 

had it restored by a local artist 

from Farmers Retreat, Virgina 

Kramer, along with her husband 

Tom, did a beautiful job. 

Homes were beautifully lit 

in Dillsboro. One very elaborate 

display was the home 

of Charlie and Meghan 

Antique Santa from the 1950s. 

Christmas at the Caldwell home. 

Caldwell on E. Adams St. 

Eighteen members of the 

Dillsboro Running Club 

finished their run on Nov. 7. 

The students trained for the 

5K twice a week at school, 

starting in Sept. under Coaches 

JoAnna Hughes, Katy 

Espich, Danielle Rogers, and 

Susan Thompson. Students 

built up their endurance as 

well as working on speed. 

residents. Our churches have 

members joining together for 

services. Our schools serve to 

assist parents with their children’s 

training. We have businesses 

of all kinds in which 

we meet, visit, and purchase 

goods. Our government units 

such as city council, police, 

fire, EMS, utility department, 

and the employees in each 

seem to have Aurora’s best 

interest at heart. Our library 

board provides a base for information 

and services in the 

library and the Depot for all to 

use and enjoy. 

This is our community! 

Aurora residents are the 

very essence of being neighbors. 

They are personable, 

friendly, mostly cheerful, and 

caring. The current life-altering 

circumstance has brought 

out the best in neighbors. 

Calling and caring for each 

other has been demonstrated 

many times this year. 

As the year closes, all 

Aurora residents are eager to 

continue their way of being 

neighbors to all. 

Well, that’s it. Except did 

you ever wonder… where did 

Santa go? 

The runners did an awsome 

job, many with times under 

thirty minutes. The event was 

a first for Coach Rogers as she 

completed her first 5K ever. 

The coaches thank all of the 

many volunteers who helped 

with the event. 

Winter is here as colder 

weather has arrived. A Happy 

and Healthy New Year to 

everyone! 

In the New Year & All Year Long 

Put Your Money where your is 

and 

#SHOPSMALLBEFOREYOUSHOPBIG 

Support the Specialty Retail, Personal 

Services, Professional Services and 

Restaurants of Downtown Aurora 



LAWRENCEBURG 

By 

Debbie 

Acasio 

Community 

Correspondent 

O 

ur 

lawrenceburg@goBEACONnews.com 

Were you ready to kiss 

2020 goodbye? It certainly 

was quite the ride of lastminute 

cancellations of events 

and the invention of virtual 

events. My sweet seven-yearold 

granddaughter’s class at 

Lawrenceburg Primary was 

awarded a pizza party for donating 

the most canned goods 

to the Clearinghouse at her 

school. She could hardly contain 

her excitement on “pizza 

day.” As she went to school 

that day, she exclaimed, “I 

hope it is real pizza and not a 

video that we watch of other 

kids eating pizza!” You have 

to laugh at 2020. 

Good things do happen. If 

you were lucky, the people 

of Lawrenceburg got to see 

Jupiter and Saturn line up for 

the first time in eight hundred 

years and appear as one bright 

shining star in the sky. Called 

the Christmas star, it will not 

The Fraternal Order of Police at the Cops N Kids Benefit. 

appear again until 2080. 

The community again came 

together this holiday season. 

The Fraternal Order of 

Police with their Cops N Kids 

program was able to spend 

$48,795.68 to purchase much 

needed warm clothing and 

gifts for 350 area needy children. 

Approximately $4000 

was raised by them with their 

“Support The Police” signs 

which were purchased by 

Communities 

513-574-9518 

Lawrenceburg grad, Jack Schwier and Lawrenceburg senior 

Owen Schwier enjoying Christmas pie with Grandma 

Debbie Acasio 

individuals in the community 

to display in their yards. 

The Clearinghouse gave out 

approximately two hundred 

turkey Christmas dinners. 

The Dearborn County Young 

Professionals were among 

the many organizations who 

sponsored toy and gift drives 

to donate to SIEOC (partnering 

with Toys For Tots) to distribute 

to area needy children. 

Congratulations to Mae 

Gerard Collins, shopping 

with his wife, gets creative 

when asked to hold her 

purchases. 

Crosby and Audrey Crow of 

Lawrenceburg High School. 

As two of the finalists for the 

Lilly Scholarship, they were 

awarded a 2021 scholarship 

through the Dearborn County 

Community Foundation for 

$1000. 

Congratulations also to 

Randy Tyler on his semiretirement. 

Randy served 

Former pastor at St. John 

Lutheran Church, Lawrenceburg, 

Joe Copek, 

viewing the Christmas Star 

with his two children. 

Susan Sexton and Kary 

Hollan, the Clearinghouse, 

enjoying the employee 

Christmas party. 

Lawrenceburg for fifty-one 

years repairing shoes. He will 

be missed. 

Yes, the year 2020 will 

go down in history as a 

monumental year of challenges. 

Here’s to a prosperous, 

healthy, and happy 2021 

from the great folks who live, 

work, shop, and eat in Lawrenceburg! 

MILAN 

By 

Susan 

Cottingham 

Community 

Correspondent 

milan@goBEACONnews.com 

Our community experienced 

a devastating loss when on 

Thanksgiving Eve the Hog 

Rock Cafe was consumed by 

fire. We are thankful that no 

injuries or loss of life occurred. 

The fire broke out late that 

evening. Overnight numerous 

firefighters from over fourteen 

different volunteer fire 

departments fought the blaze. 

We thank all who assisted in 

any way. However, despite 

all efforts, the building was a 

complete loss. 

This iconic building had 

a long history. As recorded 

in the book, Milan Indiana: 

A Storied Past, by Roselyn 

McKittrick and Darlene 

Gerster, the building was 

originally built by George 

Koenig who purchased the 

corner property at West Carr 

and Main Streets in 1915. A 

house was torn down to make 

way for the new King Hotel. 

Mr. Koenig had previously 

owned and operated the 

original King Hotel which 

was located just a block west 

on the corner of Franklin and 

West Carr Streets. The family 

had chosen to anglicize the 

German family name for their 

business. Mr. Koenig had 

sold the original business to 

William Berner in 1907 who 

operated the business as Hotel 

Milan. The new King Hotel 

had the tavern and family 

dining downstairs with rooms 

upstairs. Both the exterior 

and interior changed over the 

years as ownership changed. 

Other owners included 

Cecil Dennis, the Cooper 

family, Norman Haessig, 

Larry Volz and Chipper 

Cline (The Cozy Inn), Eddie 

Johnson, Roselyn and John 

McKittrick (The Railroad 

Inn), Dawn Broft, Julie 

Detmer and Rick Zumwalde, 

and finally Phyllis Coe who 

leased the Hog Rock to Jeff 

and Chrissy Lanham. Over 

the years, other businesses 

operated in parts of the 

building such as a gas station, 

grocery store, barbershop, and 

a license branch. 

The community has come 

together to give support 

The King Hotel in the early 1900s. 

to the Hog Rock families. 

A drive-by fundraiser was 

organized by Jim Bode, 

Brian Noble, and others. 

They have sponsored a Hog 

Rock Strong apparel sale, 

and Jason Ellison has set 

up a GoFundMe page to 

help the Hog Rock family 

of employees who were out 

of work during the past few 

months. 

Shortly after this loss, 

another tragedy occurred in 

our community when the 

family of Nick and Michelle 

Haugh lost their entire home 

and all belongings to a fire. 

This group of supporters 

again were quick to team up 

with the crew to have a drivethru 

fundraiser offering ribs 

and a baked potato with the 

proceeds going to the Haugh 

family. The response was 

overwhelming with a steady 

stream of cars coming through 

to pick up their dinner and 

leave the $25 donation. The 

ribs sold out in about an hour. 

This building has been in 

7247 State Road 46E 

Batesville, IN 47006 

812.932.3300 

the center of our community 

for over one hundred years. It 

was a place to celebrate our 

lives. As resident Melissa 

Teer shared, “Besides being 

a piece of Milan history, it 

was so much more! We have 

held baby showers and bridal 

showers there. We have cried 

there after leaving funerals. 

We have laughed there and 

celebrated ball games and 

reunions with family and 

friends. Many of us have 

worked there. We have met a 

lot of new friends there. A big 

part of our life has revolved 

around this place. It will be 

missed.” 

The current owner, Phyllis 

Coe, posted the following, 

“Ten years ago I purchased 

a one-hundred-year-old 

building in Milan, Indiana. It 

had so much history. It had 

been a residence and a hotel. 

It had been a stop across 

from a tiny rail station. It 

was called the Railroad Inn. 

After fixing it up, my friends 

and I made a lot of good 

TOPSOIL 

(Regular and Shredded) 

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GRAVEL 

SPECIALIZED HAULING 

& DELIVERY 

Remnants of the fire. 

memories there. There were 

Renegade parties, Halloween, 

Thanksgiving dinners, and 

sometimes I would just sit 

at the bar by myself and 

listen. Good times. Then Jeff 

and Chrissy moved in and 

gave it a soul. They put their 

heart and energy into their 

business, The Hog Rock. I 

Cincinnati, Ohio 

513-451-1134 

felt so fortunate to have such 

good tenants and good people 

fostering a good growing 

business. It breaks my heart 

on so many levels that fire 

has taken it. I think of the 

Phoenix, we might not see it 

now, but maybe something 

wonderful can rise from these 

ashes. Please pray for them.” 

HOURS 

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SAT 8:30—1:00 

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SUNMAN 

By 

Maureen 

Stenger 

Community 

Correspondent 

sunman@goBEACONnews.com 

The East Central Wrestling 

Team carried on with their 

annual Thanksgiving tradition 

of running in the Gobble 

Wobble 5K race this year. 

All proceeds from the race 

benefit the Sunman, North 

O 

ur 

Dearborn, and East Central 

food pantries. The team ran 

the 3.2 miles, finding a way 

to still give back to their 

community even during these 

unprecedented times. Great 

job guys, way to make your 

school and community proud! 

A big thank you to the 

Sunman Beautification 

Committee and the Utility 

Department who worked 

hard to spruce up the town 

for Christmas! Even the town 

Marshal joined in on the fun 

and helped put ornaments on 

the town tree. 

Communities 

The EC Wrestling team at the Gobble Wobble 5K. (Photo courtesy of Lisa Wolf) 

BUSINESS & 

PROFESSIONAL 

DIRECTORY 

Cornerstone Realty, Inc. & 

Lutz Auction Service, LLC 

“One Call Does It All” 

Dale Lutz 

. 

25980 Auction Lane, Guilford, IN 47022 

Office 812-637-2220 

Cell 513-266-1859 

cstonerealty.com lutzauctions.com 

Wilson Electrical 

Services 

Specializing in Residential & 

Commercial Electrical Services 

No job is too small! Call for 

A FREE QUOTE! 

513-659-8403 

www.wilsonelectricalservices.com 

FLOORING SHOWROOM 

Joe Brandel 

20 E. Center St. 

Lawrenceburg IN 

812-537-0619 

FURNITURE SHOWROOM 

557 W. Eads Parkway 

Lawrenceburg IN 

812-537-0610 

Ben Keller enjoying the 

Santa Parade with his 

goody bag. (Photo courtesy 

of Laura Graf Keller) 

All of the pretty Christmas 

décor set the scene for a 

very special visitor as Santa 

Claus came to visit the town. 

Santa’s Parade Route began 

at The Sunman Town Hall 

and traveled through most of 

the town. Prepackaged goody 

bags were given out to all 

the children. A merry time 

was had by all! Thank you to 

everyone who worked so hard 

to put the parade on and bring 

joy to Sunman. 

Please continue to share 

your stories with me, I always 

look forward to hearing them! 

RISING SUN/ 

OHIO COUNTY 

By 

PG 

Gentrup 

Community 

Correspondent 

risingsun@goBEACONnews.com 

Call your 

local 

licensed 

Call your 

local 

licensed 

Humana 

sales agent. 

Humana 

sales agent. 

Y0040_ GHHHXDFEN18 Accepted 

HARRISON 

By 

Debbie 

McCane 

Community 

Correspondent 

harrison@goBEACONnews.com 

An astounding joint venture 

happened in our community 

this holiday season. 

You know amazing things 

are going to happen when 

the Southwest Local School 

District, the Mayor’s Fund, 

Christ’s Loving Hands, This 

City, and others worked 

together to raise food and 

winter clothing for those 

in need in our community. 

The school district had a 

food and clothing drive and 

collected items from each 

school building Dec. 7-11. 

Over twenty-seven thousand 

food items were collected, an 

impressive increase over the 

twenty-four thousand items 

collected last year. Several 

hundred outer winter clothing 

items were collected as well. 

More than one hundred 

families registered with 

the Mayor’s Fund to 

receive assistance. Each 

family received five bags 

of groceries and a bag of 

toys. Then they were able to 

browse the array of winter 

I can’t believe another year 

is in the books. It seems like 

yesterday that 2020 arrived. 

I pray every day for the good 

health of all of you, and now 

that the vaccine is here, we 

may be able to start living a 

more normal life soon. I definitely 

will take the vaccine 

when it’s available. 

Sporting events are taking 

Talk with your local licensed 

Humana Sales agent today. 

513-857-9513 (TTY: 711) 

Talk with your local licensed 

Humana Sales agent today. 

Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

513-857-9513 (TTY: 711) 

Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Dan Art 

Dan Art 

outerwear. The remaining 

food items were donated to 

local food pantries that serve 

the school district. Extra 

clothing was donated to St. 

Vincent DePaul. 

Caitlin Snyder has proudly 

announced that a new reading 

group is being formed. The 

group will focus on the book, 

The Creativity Project. This 

will be a creative writing 

group that will meet virtually. 

The group is intended for 

ages 10-14, but the age limit 

can be flexible, depending 

on the abilities of the writer. 

Meetings will begin on Jan. 

5 and will be held on the first 

and third Tuesdays, starting at 

6:30 pm. On the first Tuesday 

of each month, everyone can 

share their stories if desired. 

Prompts for the next month 

will be given out, and a 

brainstorming session will 

be held. The third Tuesday 

of each month will include a 

workshop, problem-solving, 

and assistance with writer’s 

block. Please share with other 

creative writers. Registration 

is required to receive the 

link to the zoom sessions. 

To register follow this link: 

https://cincinnatilibrary. 

bibliocommons.com/events/ 

search/q=Creativity%20 

project Caitlin is looking 

forward to seeing the 

creativity flow! 

place but with limited spectators. 

I am used to being in a 

gym watching sports but my 

availability has been cut way 

back with limited tickets. Rising 

Sun High School now has 

a swim team for the first time 

and several of the swimmers 

are doing great. 

Congratulations to Landon 

Cole for being named the 

recipient of the Eli Lily 

Scholarship. It’s a full-tuition 

scholarship to any Indiana 

college or university of his 

choice. He is the son of Jacob 

and Rachel Cole. 

Four other students were 

awarded $4000 scholarships 

from the Ohio County Community 

Foundation- Chloe 

Fletcher, Emma Taylor, 

Ashlee Turner, and Madalyn 

Wilson. 

This year our participation 

in Wreaths Across America 

was limited due to the pandemic, 

but Cari Baylor was 

able to get fifty of the wreaths 

to put on the graves of veterans. 

Hopefully, next year we 

can get back in the full swing 

where we can place a few 

hundred. 

The year continues to be 

very busy with the two Color 

and Honor Guards in which I 

participate. Hopefully, we can 

resume our trips to Washington, 

DC. 

Times can be tough in many 

ways right now, so if you 

can help someone else in any 

way, please do so. People are 

struggling with everyday life. 

Some of the things we take 

for granted are very important 

to people, and an act of kindness 

will go a long way. 

Take care of yourself and 

each other, and Thank God 

daily for your many blessings. 

Y0040_ GHHHXDFEN18 Accepted 

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B 

eacon 

VacationPlease stop in the office or give us a call 

This group traveled to Sedona, Arizona to celebrate a fortieth birthday! This picture was 

taken on the Broken Arrow Trail. Suzi Ritzi and Madden Lieland of Batesville, Brooke 

Wise of Bloomington, Lisa Nobbe of New Alsace, Cheryl Lieland of Dover, Bridget 

Klenke and Christie Bauman of St Leon, Wendy Ritzi and Joey Ritzi of St Peters 

Vanessa Taylor and Jody Oursler both of West Harrison 

had an amazing girls’ trip in Maui, Hawaii 

The Helfrich clan went to Lake Norris in a quiet cove (until they got there). From left is 

Ben Ruther, Emily Bradshaw, hubby Tim Bradshaw, their son Lincoln. Next row back 

is Charlie Ruther, Michael, Courtney Ruther, Lily Bradshaw, Ella Bradshaw. In front is 

Jane Helfrich. Next row from front holding the precious Beacon is Nicky Ruther, Kelly 

Helfrich, Oliver Helfrich, Dawn and Pops Helfrich. A good time was had by all. 

Debbie Acasio on vacation marveling at the craftmanship 

of the Shakers and needing to make breakfast 

reservations. 

TAKE YOUR BEACON ON VACATION 

If business or pleasure takes you out-of-town, take your 

hometown newspaper along for the trip. 

Send your photo, displaying the Beacon, to 

editor@goBEACONnews.com 

Please include where you live. It’s interesting to see 

how well-traveled our readers are! 

S 

ALUTE TO THE 

MILITARY 

Frank Trotta. 

Frank and Nick Trotta in 

1970. 

By P.G. Gentrup 

Gene and Sheila Ott are 

residents of Ohio County, 

IN. However, Gene spent his 

childhood in the Sayler Park 

area of Cincinnati. 

Gene Ott eventually entered 

the Army and served 

with the 1st Infantry Division 

also known as the Big Red 

One in Vietnam. He was a 

sergeant and was stationed in 

the Lai Kai area operating on 

Armored Personnel Carriers 

(APC’s). 

Frankie Trotta was one of 

four sons. When his parents 

divorced, the boys were temporarily 

placed in an orphanage. 

When their father remarried, 

he came for the boys. At 

The Trotta family gathered for ther dedication of a brick 

for Frankie Trotta at the memorial in Rising Sun. 

this point in life, Frankie lived 

near Gene Ott, and the two 

became fast friends. 

Frankie Trotta served with 

the Marines. He was serving 

with the 1st Marine Division, 

3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, M 

Company when he was killed 

in action on Sept. 15, 1970. 

Frankie Trotta was awarded 

the Purple Heart, Combat Action 

Ribbon, and many other 

awards. His name can be 

found on the Vietnam Veterans 

Memorial on Panel 7W, 

Line 67. 

Gene was already home 

from Vietnam by the time 

Frankie was killed. The army 

sent Gene from Ft. Riley, 

Kansas to Cincinnati to escort 

Frankie’s body from the airport 

to a funeral home. 

Gene wanted to include a remembrance 

of Frankie Trotta 

at the memorial in Rising Sun. 

He arranged to place a brick 

with Frankie’s name on it, 

and the family met with Gene 

and Sheila Ott to see the brick 

made for Frankie. Gene also 

surprised Nick Trotta with a 

brick engraved with his name. 

The Otts and Trottas knew 

each other in childhood and 

sitll remain friends today. 

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Next euchre party Feb. 14 

Doors open 12 noon • Games begin at 1 • All are invited 

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that the communities of Southeastern Indiana receive the quality care you’ve come 

to expect from us. And now that Highpoint Health is St. Elizabeth, you can be sure 

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Beacon February 2021

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