AURORA
MOORES HILL
MANCHESTER
Page 18 THE BEACON September 2017
AURORA
By Fred Schmits
Community Correspondent
O ur
Communities aurora @ goBEACONnews . com
HI NEIGHBORS !!!
This month the topic of bridges came up during conversations at the “ friends ’ bench .” The focus of questions and concerns centered on the anticipated use of the money the State will make available to Aurora and Dearborn County for roads and bridges . Will the funds be enough since our needs are great ? Will the necessary work begin soon for changes to be seen in the near future ? These are a couple of the main topics discussed . Unexpectedly , a neighbor , Phee Ellinghausen , was thinking of another use of the word ” bridges ” and offered to provide a story for neighbors to read which is included below .
Friends are one of the greatest gifts of life . The game of Bridge has been a bridge of friendship between ten ladies for over thirty years .
The members of OBC , which simply stands for Our Bridge Club , have played Bridge together since New Year ’ s Eve 1986 . They are from all different walks of life … nurse , social worker , teacher , Purdue professor , community volunteer . They live in different areas … Bright , Batesville , Lawrenceburg , Rising Sun , Dillsboro , Aurora .
The OBC plays Bridge once a month in member ’ s home but has also enjoyed the diversity of playing at other places such as Hillforest , a laundromat , a shopping mall ,
Main Street aurora ’ S
Walking Tour of Aurora Historic District Churches
FREE
Thursday , August 24th 7:00PM
Tour begins at 235 Main Street Aurora Administration Bldg .
OBC members Judy Mosier , Charlotte DeVille , Nanci Ross , Janet Burton , Laura Rolfe , JoDell Koelling . Front Row : Patty Rullman , Meg Harter , Phee Ellinghausen , Kay Raffignone .
Water & snacks provided More information call
812.926.1100
the hospital , even on the old Aurora ferry boat as it crossed the Ohio River .
In 1990 the OBC began the tradition of a four-day Bridge retreat out of town at such places at Kiawah Island , Chincoteague Island , Hilton Head , Kelley ’ s Island , General Butler State Park , Black Mountain North Carolina , Gatlinburg , The Point on Lake Monroe , The Ogle Haus , Clifty Falls State Park , and most recently , Bullwinkles in Brown County , IN . The main activity , of course , is Bridge , but there is always time for sightseeing and shopping . This year at their twentyeighth consecutive summer Bridge retreat , Charlotte DeVille was the champion after two hundred plus hands of Bridge .
In 1991 OBC won first place in the club category for their “ Bridging the Years ” float in the Farmers ’ Fair parade . In 1996 OBC won the grand prize for their float “ OBC in Wonderland ,” followed in 1997 with their “ OBC Plays London Bridges ” float . Club members were featured July 11 , 1996 , on Channel 12 TV when the weather forecast was broadcast from their Bridge table at Applewood restaurant . OBC has commemorative bricks at the Aurora Public Library and Lesko Park . In lieu of exchanging gifts at Christmas , the group donates personal hygiene items to the Dearborn Clearinghouse .
OBC members like to laugh and have fun . They celebrate each other ’ s accomplishments and birthdays . They cry with each other when a club or family member passes . In the early days they played Bridge in the evenings ; but now as they have gotten older , they play in the afternoon . Some of the original members have changed , but the game of Bridge continues . Current members of OBC are Janet Burton , Charlotte DeVille , JoDell Koelling , Shirley Meyer , Kay Raffignone , Laura Rolf , Nanci Ross , Patty Rullman , Marge Waldon , and Phee Ellinghausen .
That ’ s it for now but did you ever wonder …….. how the bridge for Interstate 71 / 75 is going to be changed to be useful for future traffic increases ?
Call me and let me hear from you !!
MOORES HILL
By Linda Ickenroth
Community Correspondent
mooreshill @ goBEACONnews , com
Moores Hill Community Correspondent Linda Ickenroth will be back next month . Send your news to mooreshill @ goBEACONnews . com .
MANCHESTER
By Leona Houchens
Community Correspondent
manchester @ goBEACONnews . com
On July 15 , under a baby blue and cotton ball sky , MAA Ball ended their baseball season with “ Closing Day ” festivities at the Manchester Ball Fields . The day was perfect for celebrating with a water slide , a swim tank , and a good dousing by the Manchester Fire Department ’ s big yellow truck !
Hotter than the summer temps was the news that the 15U Girls ( ages 13-15 ) had won their championship game against East Central 19-5 . Head Coach Chuck Rudisell couldn ’ t stop smiling as he talked about their victory and how hard the girls had worked to achieve it . Other 15U coaches included Scott Greer , Scott Mitchell , and Randy Rupp .
MAA Ball ’ s motto on their facebook page was first coined by Babe Ruth , “ Never let the fear of striking out get in your way .” MAA Ball players have NO Fear and it shows ! Congratulations to the 15U Girls and to all the Manchester players for their fearless efforts this season !
What do you know about the 64 room , 18,000 square foot Victorian style brick building that sits on 10 acres of land at 11636 County Farm Road ? Did you know that it was once known as the
Main Street Aurora ’ s Senior Dances on Main Western Dance Saturday , August 12th
Door Prizes●Live Music●Food●Fun Admission $ 5.00
228 Second Street , Aurora 7:00 PM to 10:30 PM Door Opens at 6:00 PM FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL MAIN STREET AURORA ● 812-926-1100
MAA Ball ' s 15U Champs ( in random order ) - Clarissa Conley , Courtney Greer , Karissa Griffin , Alley Lunsford , Josie Mason , Stephanie Mitchell , Sydney Piles , Haley Rudisell , Makayla Rudisell , Natalie Rupp , Madison Rutledge , and Jennifer Wullenweber .
Dearborn County Poor Farm ? Originally built in 1882 as the Dearborn County Asylum for the Poor , it now functions as the YES Home - Youth Encouragement Services , Inc . James B . Wismann Youth Home .
The YES Home is a state licensed , private , not-forprofit group home , for abused , neglected , and abandoned children . Before the YES Home existed , children used to have to go to jail when a crisis hit their families . The YES Home became a sanctuary for children whose lives were being uprooted by life ’ s dysfunctions .
Since 1981 , the YES Home has been serving the children of five area counties , as well as the State of Indiana as needed . The home provides a structured , nurturing environment for youth ages 14-21 . The YES Home staff works around the clock to provide for the residents ’ needs , all while working with their families towards reunification .
Funding for the YES Home is paid per diem from the State of Indiana , funds from the United Way , and through grants from the Dearborn Community Foundation and other entities . Serving an average of 40-50 children a year , any and all donations are appreciated .
For over 30 years , the YES Home has been a full-time job for Cathy and Phil Piche . The Piches were the first fulltime house parents when the home opened in 1981 . They served the children as such through 1987 . In 1994 , Cathy Piche returned as Director of the YES Home , and Phil Piche returned in 2005 as the Operations Manager . Rarely did they work just a normal eight-hour workday . The Piches were always on call and at the ready to meet the children ’ s needs and solve any problems that arose .
As of June 30 , the Piches are now officially retired . In 30 years , they served nearly 1500 children and their families . As people who could empathize through their own difficult childhoods , their life ’ s passion has been to provide a safe place for troubled children to grow into overcomers . As Cathy said , “ It ’ s been a God thing .” The Piches both declare , “ It has been a pleasure and an honor to serve all the youth who have come through the door .”
The Piches look forward to traveling in their RV and enjoying their grandchildren . Cathy said that she will continue to advocate for the young people of Dearborn County as an active member of CASA , the Dearborn County Clearinghouse , One Community One Family , and the Tri-State Trauma Network .
WOW ! Like so many people I have found in Manchester , God has blessed us with the proactive , selfless generosity of the Piches . May they enjoy a long and healthy retirement !
OUR ADVERTISERS ARE YOUR NEIGHBORS . SHOP LOCAL AND TELL THEM YOU SAW THEIR ADS IN THE BEACON .