the BEACON Newspaper, Indiana Beacon Oct 2017 | Page 18

Page 18 THE BEACON October 2017

OLDENBURG

By Sue Siefert

Community Correspondent

O ur

Oldenburg Academy freshman class of 2017 . oldenburg @ goBEACONnews . com

We salute Alexis Brown , Oldenburg Academy senior , who has been appointed to the IHSAA Student Advisory Committee as one of eighteen students on the panel for the 2017-18 school year .

The panel is comprised of nominees from four hundred nine Indiana schools . The committee meets quarterly and hosts meetings with student peers , assists with award ceremonies , plans the annual leadership conference and supports the activities of Special Olympics .

Welcome OA Freshmen ! August brought the students back to Oldenburg , and this year the freshmen class of fifty-five students is comprised of 64 % boys and 36 % girls . The former all-girl school first admitted boys in 2000 . This is the first year that the guys outnumbered the gals .

Oldenburg Academy president , Diane Laake , announced that the following staff members have come on board for the 2017-18 school year . Troy Cockrum , Director of Instructional Technology ; Maddie Sterchi , Guidance Office Assistant ; Steven Hensley , Biology / Engineering / Computer Science Teacher ; Janna Stonebraker , Art Teacher ; and Gary “ Ace ” Moorman , Assistant Athletic Director . All the best to the

Join us for fall FUN in Ripley County !

Sept . 23 Lions Club Punkin ', Chunkin ', Versailles Sept . 23 - Bricktoberfest , Osgood Sept . 23-24 Batesville Apple Festival Sept . 23-Oct . 22 , Wkends . Vogt Farm Pumpkin Festival , Batesville Sept . 27-Oct . 1 Versailles Lions ' Pumpkin Show

Oct . 6-7 Ertel Cellars Wine Festival Oct . 6-8 Friendship Music Festival - Bluegrass in the Valley Oct . 7-29 - Fear Factory , Batesville

For details , information on MORE events , or for a brochure : 812-689-7431 ripleycountytourism . com

Communities

educators and their students as another school year is underway !

Interested in exploring and learning in the ‘ Burg ? The Sisters of St . Francis offers free Franciscan Adventure Maps to guide those interested in walking the Motherhouse campus and learning about the historic buildings , shrines , and the Sisters ’ farm located in the heart of Oldenburg . A scavenger hunt is included with items to search for at each of the map ’ s locations , providing challenges for explorers of all ages . Following is an excerpt about the Village of Spires ’ s history :

In 1817 William George and his brother left their Pennsylvania home to strike out for the state of Indiana . Arriving by raft in Cincinnati , they continued west over the hills across the Ohio-Indiana border literally blazing the trail that took them to a site on the north bank of the East Harvey Branch Creek .

Some twenty years later little had changed . A few hardy settlers had formed clearings and begun farming . But a new breed of people was on the way . From Germany , large numbers of immigrants

landed in Cincinnati as the point from which they spread throughout Ohio and Indiana . Some of these immigrants settled near the clearings of William George and others .

The settlement rapidly took on a German flavor with the incoming German Catholics from Cincinnati . Incorporated in 1869 , Oldenburg is called the “ Village of Spires ” because of its churches and religious educational institutions . The huge brick barn on the edge of town is called the Sisters ’ Cow Barn , referring to its original function . It is reported to be the largest in Franklin County .

To receive a copy of the Franciscan Adventure Map , stop by the Motherhouse and ring the bell at 22143 Main Street between the hours of 9-5 . A Sister will greet you and can provide maps for your exploring enjoyment . Copies are also available at the Batesville Chamber of Commerce office at 2 West Pearl Street in Batesville . Good Samaritans … recently S . Marge Wissman fell while walking in Oldenburg and was unable to get up . Once again the caring nature of others was on display as passersby stopped to offer assistance and call for help . Today Sister is recuperating from a broken elbow , and although she did not get the names of those who came to her rescue , she wants them to know how much their care and concern is appreciated !

Das ist alles von der ’ Burg !

Beta Sigma Phi ' s Theta Nu Sorority 45th annual

Sunday , Nov . 5 • 10 a . m . -3 p . m . Batesville Primary School • State Highway 46 W • Batesville

• Seasonal Decorations , gift items , jewelry , wood crafts , and much more with over 100 vendors • Lunch served – Cookie Walk – Raffle drawing

More Information : Sandy • 812-934-2374 batesvilleholidaybazaar @ gmail . com FREE ADMISSION

DOVER

By Ray Johnson

Community Correspondent

rayjohnson . thebeacon @ etczone . com

We have been experiencing some delightful weather this summer . As I write this article , the end of August is here and gorgeous . I am ready for fall , colorful autumn leaves , and pumpkins . This time of year always seems to bring back memories of childhood . It was always fun picking apples , walking on trails in the woods as the autumn leaves fell and raking leaves . Looking forward to making more memories this fall .

The Gaynor family , who I ’ ve known my entire life , had a lot to celebrate this summer . George and Alice Klaserner wanted me to share this special time for Father Jim Gaynor .

Fr . Jim Gaynor C . P P . S celebrated fifty years as a Catholic priest this summer .

Fr . Jim was born on August 17 , 1939 , to Edwin and Alma ( Andres ) Gaynor . He was their fourth child , with two more to follow in the next few years . His siblings are Bob Gaynor , Kathleen Moster , Alice Klaserner , Mary Ann Spialek and Tom Gaynor .

In 1945 , when Jim began grade school at St . John the Baptist in Dover , he already felt a calling to give his life to priestly ministry . At the age of fourteen , he decided to go to Bright High School , a public school , instead of entering the seminary . After Jim graduated from high school in 1957 and experiencing many good times there , the calling persisted and he decided to enter St . Joseph College located in Rensselaer , Indiana . This college was operated by the Precious Blood Order , and many things about this order appealed to Jim .

Fr . Jim spent forty-one years in South America . He served in Chile , La Oroya , a mountainous mining town . During that time , the terrorist group known as the Shining Path were very active in the region . Fr . Jim also served in Columbia , Sondorillo , and Lima Peru , a city of 9,000,000 people . Fr . Jim had taken no Spanish classes in high school or college , so he had a crash course in the language when he first arrived in South America .

A celebration was held on June 30 at St . Charles Center in Carthagena Ohio with Fr . Jim ’ s classmates and family . On July 30 he celebrated at All Saints Parish- St . John the Baptist Campus in Dover with family and friends . Approximately one hundred thirty-five people attended the celebration . It began at noon with Holy Mass , followed by a fried chicken dinner made by the Gaynor boys , and then games , visiting and reminiscing . People came from Indiana , Ohio , Seattle , Washington , Connecticut , New York , Michigan , and Kentucky .

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