March 2018 THE BEACON Page 9A
LST event committee Bill Black , Nick ( and Judy ) Ullrich , Connie Cleary , Debbie Smith , Debbie Peters , Charlotte Hastings , Mayor Donnie Hastings , Margaret Drury , Jerry Hacker , Fred Lester , Doug Whitham . Other members include Paul Elliott , Brett Fehrman , Chris Powell , and Robert Lischkge .
LST Returns for Aurora Bicentennial
The City of Aurora will celebrate its Bicentennial in 2019 , and what a celebration it will be . Plans are already underway to make the entire year memorable , culminating with the return of the USS LST 325 to the Aurora Ferry Landing . The LST last visited Aurora in 2011 when thousands of veterans and families toured the vessel .
The USS LST 325 is slated to arrive in Aurora on Sept . 12 , 2019 , and will be open for tours Sept . 13-16 . The Landing Ship Tank ( LST ) is 328 feet long and can carry twenty Sherman tanks . LSTs were the only ships ever made that could go anywhere in the world and deposit their cargo onto hostile beaches . The main deck can accommodate thirty to forty trucks , fuel , ammunition , and supplies . Soldiers from World War II , Korea , and the Vietnam conflicts were transported on LSTs . The USS LST 325 , in
The USS LST 325 is slated to return to Aurora in 2019 . ( Photo courtesy of Dearborn County Visitors Bureau )
particular , was involved in the invasion at Omaha Beach on D-Day and at Sicily on July 10 , 1943 .
The LST 325 was one of the first ships to be built and is the only operational LST in the United States . Constructed in Philadelphia , it was once one of 1051 ships built over a three-year period that sailed on the rivers to the Gulf of Mexico and then to serve in WWII . Each shipyard was able to complete a ship every
five days . Workers , welders , and equipment installers accompanied the ships down river to complete them en route . The United States never lost an invasion once the LSTs were produced .
Several events designed to involve all of the community are being planned as a part of Aurora ’ s bicentennial celebration . Details and about all of the festivities will be made available as they are finalized .
County Commissioners Welcome Jim Thatcher
Lifelong Dearborn County resident Jim Thatcher was appointed Dearborn County Commissioner by the Dearborn County Republican Party .
Mr . Thatcher is a native of Aurora and now resides in Hidden Valley with his wife , Vicki and faithful canine companions Shadow and Liza . He is chairman of the Dearborn County Republican Party and serves on the Planning Commission , Board of Zoning of Appeals , Dearborn County Community Mental Health Board and the Miller Township Advisory Board . For the past nine years , he has served in various capacities in the Dearborn County Republican Party , and was elected chairman in 2017 . Throughout the years , Mr . Thatcher has served his community as president of the Bright Lions Club , as a member of Hopewell Lodge # 80 and Integrity Lodge # 763 , where he has held leadership positions , and as a member of the Southeastern Indiana Shrine Club . He is a graduate of Aurora High School , Ball State University , and Cincinnati Technical College . He is
Dearborn County Commissioner Jim Thatcher
retired from AT & T , where he worked as a Lead Developer , Lead Systems Engineer and Project Manager .
“ I always want folks to know that my door is open , and so is my mind ,” stated Commissioner Thatcher . “ I intend to be active and working for the residents of Dearborn County . I am a hands-on person who likes to get involved .”
Should you not have the honor of meeting Mr . Thatcher beforehand , he can always be found at the Bright Fireman ’ s Festival where he has donated his time frying chicken and has for the past ten years .
Commissioner Thatcher ’ s term runs through 2020 .
Austin Stanton Merk , of Lawrenceburg and Stafford Elisabeth Hartman , of Lexington , KY , were married Sept . 23 at the historic Fairchild Chapel in Oberlin , OH . The wedding was officiated by Reverend Mark Davis and followed by a reception at the Oberlin College Carnegie Library .
The groom is the son of Dennis and Sheila Merk , of Lawrenceburg . The bride is the daughter of Frances Pinczewski , of Lexington , KY .
The couple met while studying at the University of Kentucky . Stafford and Austin honeymooned in Treasure Island , FL . They reside in Cleveland , OH , where Austin is an accountant and Stafford is a K-12 music teacher .
Witte Earns Eagle Scout Award
Congratulations to Troop 692 ’ s newest Eagle Scout Chandler Witte . Mr . Chandler completed his requirements
Eagle Scout Chandler Witte to earn highest achievement attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America ( BSA ). The designation “ Eagle Scout ” was founded over one hundred years ago .
HOMESCHOOL SERIES : CONQUER YOUR COMPUTER !
Join us for a four-week series designed for homeschooling families . We ’ ll crush Excel , Evernote , PowerPoint , Word , and Google Docs . Bring your laptop or use one of ours . Please register . For students ages 7-18 .
Fridays ▪ March 9 , 16 , 23 and April 6 10 AM Lawrenceburg Public Library
Only four percent of Boy Scouts are granted this rank after a lengthy review process . Requirements include earning at least twenty-one merit badges . The Eagle Scout must demonstrate scout spirit , an ideal attitude based upon the Scout Oath and Law , service , and leadership . This includes an extensive service project that the Scout plans , organizes , leads , and manages . Mr . Chandler will celebrate his achievement with an Eagle Court of Honor in March .
www . lpld . lib . in . us
The Elite 8 %
Filled with a renewed spirit and a desire to create a better future for themselves and their families , millions of Americans participate in the tradition of making New Year ’ s resolutions . Unfortunately , this spirit is often short lived . Only 8 % achieve their New Year ’ s resolutions , and 80 % of those who set resolutions 1 have already failed by February 2 . Why is that ?
I believe the answer is simple . After all of the celebrating is over , life goes on . Work still needs to be done , bills still need to be paid , and we let everyday life get in the way of what we set out to achieve . Second , most people don ’ t have a detailed , written plan to accomplish their resolutions .
For example , every year many people set the goal of saving more money or paying off debt . These two goals make the top 5 most common New Year ’ s resolutions almost every year . However , just because someone enthusiastically sets the objective of becoming better off financially , it doesn ’ t mean that it will happen . Without a detailed plan , this goal is too abstract and sets the stage for failure . Just as Benjamin Franklin said , “ If you fail to plan , you are planning to fail .” 3
If any of us want to achieve our goals in 2018 , we need to get organized . We need to create a map which includes landmarks and guideposts along the way letting us know that we are
on track . Once you solidify your goal , make it as precise as possible by creating and drawing a map on paper . Here ’ s what I mean , instead of just saying that you would like to pay down credit card debt , make the goal specific . Ask yourself , “ How much debt am I going to pay down ? How much extra can I save each month ? Which credit card am I going to start paying down first ? How can I rearrange my finances to save more money ?” Then , set your
“ We are on our way into 2018 , but it isn ’ t too late to establish your goals and get them in writing .” — Roger Ford
monthly budget . For example , “ I will have paid $ 10,000 of credit card debt by paying an extra amount each month on my credit card bills by December 31 , 2018 .”
Finally , look towards the future , the prize in achieving your goal . In paying off this debt , I will better my life and my marriage by decreasing our financial stress . In paying off this debt , it will provide me with the opportunity to save more for my retirement or I can open a 529 plan to help my children pay for college .
Put your goals and map in writing and display them in a prominent location . Stick them on the refrigerator or in a place where you will see them every day . Share them with your spouse , your children or a friend who will hold you accountable to achieve these goals . In doing this , you will be well on your
way to becoming part of the elite 8 % of people who actually accomplish their New Year ’ s resolution .
We are on our way into 2018 , but it isn ’ t too late to establish your goals and get them in writing . Make 2018 a successful year for you and your family . Just as the old Chinese proverb says , “ The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago . The second best
time is now .” 4 Plant your tree !
1 https :// www . forbes . com / sites / dandiamond / 2013 / 01 / 01 / just-8-of-people-achievetheir-new-years-resolutions-heres-how-they-did-it /# 3ec6393c596b
2 http :// www . businessinsider . com / new-years-resolutions-courses-2016-12
3 https :// www . goodreads . com / quotes / 460142-if-you-fail-to-plan-you-are-planning-to-fail
4 https :// www . mindfueldaily . com / livewell / inspiring-chinese-proverb
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