SUNMAN
DILLSBORO
RISING SUN / OHIO COUNTY
FRANKLIN COUNTY
March 2018 THE BEACON Page 7B
Evelyn Wagner , a long time Sunman resident .
SUNMAN
By Logan Seig
Community Correspondent
sunman @ goBEACONnews , com
Spring is right around the corner , so stay warm and enjoy the winter weather as much as you can while it is still here ! I love the snowy days , but I know many of you would prefer to have some Florida sun up here in Indiana .
History in the making is happening at St . Nicholas ! The new education center and fellowship center are in their beginning stages . A former St . Nicholas student and owner of Seig Surveying , Rob Seig , has been working on the site topography map , which sets the location and placement of the future buildings . A ground breaking date should be released in the spring .
Happy Birthday , Evelyn ! Evelyn Anna ( Rohls ) Wagner was born in 1923 and will be celebrating her ninety-fifth birthday in March . She was born and raised in Sunman . In 1941 , she married Albert Wagner . They had five children , Robert ( Carol ) Wagner , Shirley ( Jim ) Feist , Terry Wagner ( Deceased ), James ( Sandy ) Wagner and Debra ( Jim ) Horstman . Currently , Evelyn is living in Columbus , Indiana and she is doing very well . In her spare time , she enjoys reading , quilting and keeping up with her twelve grandchildren , twentynine great-grandchildren , and one great-great grandchild . Email roopej @ yahoo . com if you would like to send birthday wishes to Evelyn .
Last month ’ s question was , “ What was the Sunman American Legion originally used for ?” The original Sunman American Legion Building was used as a warehouse owned by the Big Four Railroad . In 1921 , the building was purchased by the Legion and named Kenneth
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Rob Seig is working on the topo map for the new buildings at St . Nicholas .
L . Diver Post 337 in memory of the first soldier of Sunman that was killed in action during World War I .
This month ’ s question is , “ Who were the first barbers in Sunman ?” ( Hint : There were six .) Send me an email with your answer !
I would like you to let me know about family milestones , vacation , or a little bit about Sunman and yourself . Share the good news with me at sunman @ goBEACONnews . com .
DILLSBORO
By Rebecca Davies
Community Correspondent
dillsboro @ goBEACONnews . com
The Dora Ernst Memorial Breakfast will be held 11-1 March 18 at the Presbyterian church in Dillsboro . The annual breakfast raises funds to benefit children attending Dillsboro , Aurora , and Milan Elementary Schools .
Dora Ernst retired from teaching kindergarten and second grade in 1984 . She and her husband , Richard , moved to Dillsboro in 1988 . Dora taught Sunday School , and volunteered at Dillsboro Elementary . Following her death in 2008 , church members decided that memorials in her honor would be used to assist children in local schools at the discretion of the building principals . One principal wrote , “ We use our “ Dora ” fund to cover purchases for many students who need clothing and shoes along with school supplies … to cover field trip fees and lunches if the field trip includes a meal out . It is so nice to have the extra money to help children who would otherwise have to do without or miss out .”
Dillsboro just launched a new website : www . dillsboro . in , which should be a good source for staying informed on the workings of our town .
Communities
RISING SUN / OHIO COUNTY
By PG Gentrup
Community Correspondent
risingsun @ goBEACONnews . com
It has been a roller coaster ride with the weather this past month , but we ’ re getting some breaks and praying for good weather soon .
I have lost two very good friends in January . Walt Bryant was one of the murder victims in Aurora along with his daughter , Faith Craig . Walt was a highly decorated military man , including two Purple Hearts , with twentyone years of service in the Army and two tours of duty in Vietnam . Our Color Guard gave him a beautiful funeral with full military rites .
Longtime friend Jimmy Thies passed away . We worked together at I & M for over thirty years . He could fix anything , and we spent a lot of time in his garage working on tractors , mowers , cars , trucks , etc .
Dale Shultz passed away in December . He and I served together for over twenty-five years on the Park Board ; we named a shelter house after him . It ’ s never easy to lose good friends , but we carry on with the great memories we have of them .
FRANKLIN COUNTY
By Alice Priessman
Community Correspondent
franklin @ goBEACONnews . com
I love the change of seasons , but I have to admit that I am always thinking the winter season is way too long . Now is when I start thinking spring . Early , I know . Our grandchildren are itching to get busy with the fishing poles . Our youngest just turned one , and I ’ m sure her job will be to learn from the masters . If we had a new year ’ s resolution , it would be to get the boat out of the barn and hit Brookville Lake .
We ’ ve had good intentions , but this year Little Kevin and Halle will hold us to it . I was looking on my phone for information on fishing the lake in March and ran across an app you might want to try . It ’ s www . fishidy . com . If you try it out , let me know what you think .
A hidden treasure can be found just off the beaten path . I took a few minutes to see what the Tecumseh Landing was all about . What I found was a short path that led to an awesome spot to sit and enjoy nature ’ s beauty . My grandson immediately got a stick and started digging in the sand . The water was making that sound that said , “ Just breathe .” So I did . I ’ m sure the spot changes with the season and water level of the river , but we had a great time playing in the sand and skipping rocks . He plunked , and I skipped them . The spot is located at the south end of town . A plaque by the Visitor ’ s Center parking lot marks the start of the trail .
March is the time to start your garden seeds inside . If you aren ’ t planning a garden and just want to try to cook with a few fresh herbs grown in your kitchen- it ’ s fun and easy .
You never know what Mother Nature will bring in March , so by now , you should have your pruning finished and your fruit trees sprayed . Cut back perennial shrubs like the butterfly bush . Ornamental grasses need to be cut back before the new blades start to grow . I like to use twine to bunch mine together and tie it off . Then I take my little chain saw to it , and we ’ re done in minutes . If you do it early enough and you are away from any electric wires , PVC , structures … you can burn the grass left to get rid of any thatch . Make sure there is no new growth first .
If you have any news about Franklin County , please share it with me . It ’ s always fun to hear what ’ s going on in our community .
Until next time , your friend in the garden , Alice .
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT Sara Berning Davis
“ I am the voice of a child ”
Dearborn Dearborn-Ohio County Child Advocate Program
voiceofachild . net 812-537-8741
1 . How long have you been involved with Dearborn-Ohio County Child Advocate program ? MARCH 2011
2 . Why did you first decide to volunteer with the child advocate program ? Katrina McIntosh asked for volunteers and a current member who is a friend mentioned that there was a need for more community involvement .
3 . Why do you remain a volunteer with the child advocate program ? The satisfaction is knowing that a little child in this big world might be safer , stronger , healthier and at peace with a Volunteer Child Advocate in their shadow .
4 . What would you tell someone who is thinking about volunteering ? The difference you make to a child / family is priceless . However , to note - This program is more complicated and time consuming than I thought . I like to give my all in any type of work or challenge that becomes me so perhaps I like to be thorough . You need to be committed , thorough , and have an aptitude of diverse thinking . Another word – it is critical to be fair and non-biased when dealing with all the people involved .
5 . What has surprised you most about being a child advocate ? How many children are in the system and need care . The statistics are overwhelming and is somewhat a reason why I stay .
6 . Anything else you would like to add ? I would like to see more Advocates join the program that are local community members from diverse backgrounds .
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