~ Barn Mural Features Festival  ~

C. Ruston Baker of Millersburg has completed painting a second barn in Clarington which features the annual Clarington Sunfish Creek Festival. The sign can be seen from SR 7 along Apple Alley in Clarington between the post office and the credit union building (River Museum). To the right of this mural Baker painted a directional sign to the River Museum. The painter has several ties to Monroe County and was pleased to add his artistic work to the area. He also painted “The Liberty” barn in Clarington on SR 78 and Market Street, and has recently restored some of the murals in Steubenville. His work can be seen around the valley.                         Photo Submitted

Graysville Man Arrested

Monroe County Sheriff Charles R. Black, Jr. reports that a Graysville man was arrested on April 14 for alleged various felony charges.

David A. Huntsman, 39, of 38429 SR 26, Graysville, was charged with one count each of attempted rape, attempted kidnapping and attempted abduction.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office received a complaint of the attempts from a Monroe County resident around 5 p.m. on April 14. Huntsman was interviewed a short time later by investigators.

As a result of that interview, Huntsman was arrested and booked into the Monroe County Jail. He is currently housed in the Noble County Jail.

Huntsman appeared before Monroe County court on April 21 for a preliminary hearing. Huntsman waived that hearing and the case will be presented to the next session of the Monroe County Grand Jury on April 29. To protect the identify of the victim, Sheriff Black will not be releasing any further information at this time.

Our Readers Write

Dear Friends,
First of all, I need to apologize for this thank you note being so late. It may be late, but I never forget all the fantastic people that make Warm and Children such a successful program.

For those of you that do not know, Arlean Selvy, co-ordinator of Warm the Children and managing editor of the Monroe County Beacon, has retired. Twelve years ago, Arlean came to me with the idea of Warm the Children, and asked if I would help, and I said yes. If it were not for the Beacon’s free advertising for the program and Arlean’s articles, the program would not have gotten off the ground. Arlean, thank you, for all that you have done for the program the past 12 years. We will mis you and pray God will abundantly bless your retirement. The next thank you goes out to the people who support the program so generously with their donations. I am positive with God’s help that the money we need each year will be donated, in place by the time it is time to pay our bills, and there always has been. There is also a great deal of paper work and phone calls involved in getting ready to go shopping. I cannot thank Teri Majors enough for all her expertise in this area. Teri was a volunteer shopper in the beginning, and then made the mistake of asking if she could help with the paper work. I know her family has to put up with a lot during the WTC campaign, so Todd, Jamie and Hanna thank you for your understanding and sharing your Mother during this very busy time of the year. (Teri even had major surgery during December, but she scheduled the surgery late in the month so she could get all the calling finished before her surgery; (God Bless You). Jamie and Hanna also helped Teri with the paper work, and we certainly do appreciate their volunteering. The final leg of the program is the shoppers, and I cannot say enough wonderful things about them. The shopping involved four to seven Saturdays before Christmas and six to seven hours each day. Our volunteer shoppers have dwindled, but as the saying goes, it is not the quantity but the quality. The terrific shoppers this year were: Helen Cline, Peg Buckalew, and Patty Turner. Thanks for making my job so easy and being there on Saturdays to help the children get their coats and boots.

The Economy Store closed this past year before we began shopping, but I want to thank Frank and his staff for 11 years of fantastic service to Warm the Children. Pamida ordered extra coats this past year so all our shopping was done at Pamida. I cannot say enough about the staff at Pamida, and how much they cooperate with Warm the Children. We certainly appreciate all their cooperation, understanding and help.

There just never seem to be words to express my thanks to everyone that helps make this program such a success. May God continue to bless each and every one of you in your life’s journey.

In Christian Love,
Pandora Neuhart
Woodsfield 

Taylor Abbott looks on as Annie Glenn,
center, and former astronaut and U.S. Senator
John Glenn, right, autograph the book “John
Glenn: A memoir”, given to Abbott by William
E. Moore. 

Countians Attend Gala Event
Honoring John & Annie Glenn 

Over 100 guests, including William E. Moore, 20th District State Committeeman, and Taylor Abbott attended a gala dinner honoring former astronaut and U.S. Senator John Glenn and his wife Annie at Muskingum University in New Concord on Apr. 17. 

The event, entitled “John & Annie Glenn: The Celebration of a Life Together”, helped raise money for the John and Annie Glenn Museum Foundation. Sponsorships to the event started at $1,000 with some sponsors contributing $10,000 dollars or more. 

State Representative Jennifer Garrison spoke of the courage and sacrifice the couple made to get where they are today. 

“I do not know you well ,Senator and Mrs. Glenn, but I know that you represent what it means to be true American icons,” said Garrison.

Congressman Charlie Wilson commended Glenn and his wife for their dedication to each other and to the American people. He said that their legacy will continue to live on in American history. 

Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher spoke of Glenn’s historic orbit around the earth and the effect it had on his childhood.

Fisher said,”I have here with me tonight my diary from when I was a young man. In it I wrote, ‘Today, John Glenn became the first man and American to orbit the Earth. At school today, all of the students and teachers huddled around every radio we could find to listen to the broadcast.’ Right below this excerpt, I now have the autographs of John and Annie Glenn. Who would have ever thought I would get to meet my childhood heroes and forge an extraordinary relationship with them both?”

Addressing the audience following Fisher’s remarks was Governor Ted Strickland. In his remarks, Strickland spoke of Annie’s courage in dealing with a speech impairment and raising the couple’s children while Glenn quickly became Ohio’s most notable citizen.

“We are celebrating greatness tonight. We appreciate John and Annie Glenn's service to our country. I am honored to know them, as are people around the country and around the world,” said Strickland.

Following Strickland, a pictorial presentation, “Where it all Began,” created by Dr. Lorle Porter, displayed photos showing the Glenn's devotion to each other, their community, the nation and the world in which they have lived.

Additionally, a short video, “Out of Silence: The Annie Glenn Story,” produced by Muskingum University's  Dr. Jeff Harman and Dr. Tom German, told the courageous story of Annie's battle with stuttering and how she overcame it. The video described the trauma and hurt experienced by Annie while trying to support her husband and his new found fame and success.

At the conclusion of the videos, the Glenns received a standing ovation as they approached the podium. Annie spoke first, relating a story about how John would break the news to her if he was about to do something or go somewhere which would cause her to worry.

“We vowed we would never say good-bye. He would just say, ‘Annie, I think I'll go down to the drugstore and buy a pack of gum.’ We went through a lot of gum,” she said. “Our life has been one surprise after another.”

Former U.S. Senator Glenn took center stage and said he was “surprised by all the preparation” for their visit and it was “nothing like we were told it was going to be.”

Noting the theme, “A Celebration of a Life Together”, he said, “It has been exactly that. It has never been boring. We have met so many wonderful people and have been through good times and bad.”

Of all the bad times, the assassination of their good friend Robert F. Kennedy had the most effect on them which the short video indicated. The Glenns were with Robert and Ethel Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles during the 1968 Primaries. Glenn was supposed to be on the podium that evening but decided to remain  in the suite with Annie and watch the event on television. When the cameras captured the shooting, he quickly ran down to the kitchen area and followed the stretcher carrying Robert to an awaiting ambulance.

He went on to speak about good times and his public service saying, “Annie and I are involved in the School of Public Affairs at Ohio State University. We don't teach  anymore; we conduct seminars. It's important to inspire young  people. That is what it is all about.”

Guests to the event were served an elegant three course dinner catered by Classic Fare. 

While they ate, a small orchestra lead by a violinist, entertained them.  

At the event’s conclusion, many guests took turns meeting and greeting the honored couple. A few wished them good luck and a “strong tail wind on your way home.”

The Glenns, who live outside of Washington, D.C. in Maryland, flew themselves to the event in their private plane. Senator Glenn, at 89, still pilots the plane while Annie, 90, is his navigator and radio operator. 

William E. Moore, 20th District State Central Committeeman, left, is shown with Annie Glenn, center, and John Glenn. Moore and the Glenns became friends many years ago while Moore worked in Washington, D.C. for  Alaskan Senator Ernest Gruening. 

Around the Burnside  

All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.

Healthy is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die.

Except for the pros, basketball season is over. I forgot to mention one of my gripes when I quit writing about basketball. In my opinion, which no one pays any attention to, the three point goal has changed the game and basketball is not the same. I watched too many players who just dribble down the floor and throw up a three.

On the other hand, if your team has a player or two who can drop in half or more of their three-point shots, you have it made. My team has a player who might drop in eight three pointers in one game and one out of eight the next game. I watched him score 40 plus points in a tournament game in high school.

I sometimes wonder. I read and hear Ohio is going to spend billions of dollars on road construction and repair, resulting in thousands of jobs. This is great! Now that they have quit patting themselves on their backs for this accomplishment, will they have enough blacktop left over to put a top on Rt. 78 from Lewisville to the Noble County line? Anyone who travels this strip of road knows it would really be an improvement. You bump along and, all of a sudden, it’s smooth sailing. You are in Noble County. Travel the other direction and when you hit the bumps, you’re in Monroe County.

What to eat? You hear all the time you are eating too much fat, way too much salt and tons of sugar.

I remember when Dad would put our hams and shoulders in salt brine to cure. Yes, Mom had to soak it before she fried it. It seems to me it tasted mighty good, even the sop gravy was really good. It was kind of a contest who got to the sop gravy first. Is that what they call “eatin’ high on the hog” Talk about fat.

I also remember our canned sausage had a white layer at the top of the can. Was that white stuff fat? We really had good sausage because dad always ground up the tenderloin in the sausage.

Then the fat that was trimmed from the hog was rendered into what we called lard. I don’t know how you could get any fat fatter than that. How long we fed corn to our hogs determined how much lard we had.

If I remember Mom did fry a lot of the food we ate. She would put a splat of lard in the old iron skillet to keep it from sticking. When she had it, she would use bacon grease. Now I get a blurb on the internet that goes in to detail how dangerous it is to use bacon grease. Potatoes and onions fried in bacon grease still are good eating.

Wow, writing about all this good food I’m really getting hungry.

During the winter our old cows cut down on their milk production; then we only had enough milk for some of our best customers. Mom always said, “You have to eat oats because they stick to your ribs.” Because of this I had oats almost every morning. I would pile on the sugar and eat away. In fact, I never liked milk on my oats.

I almost forgot. After the lard was rendered, we had kracklins. Now I never liked to eat them but I had friends who would eat them almost like popcorn. Even bring kracklins to school in their lunch. Could kracklins be called fat free fat?

Now those who know or tell us they know have hit how bad our school lunches are. In fact, they have gone so far as to say that our school lunch program in our schools are a threat to our national security. I think it’s because they have determined the school lunch programs are causing our students to become obese. This is the politically correct word for fat.

Now when I went to school we had no lunch program. We all carried our lunch in a bucket or a paper sack. I still remember our lunch period on the warm spring and fall day, sitting under a big shade tree eating our lunch. We usually didn’t sit long as we gulped it down and were off in some type of activity, softball, touch football or what have you. You should have seen our lunches; we never traded.

Now I ask; how could most of us eat the way I described and still grow up and be called by some the “Greatest Generation”? I don’t believe what and how we ate had much to do with it. Today some think our diet back then was the worst possible. Maybe more later of my opinion or thoughts.

You know you’re in a redneck church if: The final words of the benediction are “Y’all come back now, ya hear.: (Not a bad idea is it?)

I almost forgot; don’t you really like the color pictures on the front page of the Beacon?

Kirt Sloan, Riesbeck's manager, and Nikki Baker, 4-H Endowment Committee member, are ready to serve sausage and ribeye sandwiches on April 30. The event is staffed by Riesbeck's employees and 4-H Endowment Committee members. This annual event will be held 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. in the Woodsfield Riesbeck's parking lot.        Photo Submitted

Firing Up the Grill for 4-H

Where can you get a tasty grilled sandwich and help a good cause at the same time? In the Woodsfield Riesbeck's parking lot, that’s where. On Fri. April 30, Riesbeck's will be having their Spring Sausage and Ribeye Sandwich Sale from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Riesbeck's employees are joining forces with the Monroe County 4-H Endowment committee to raise funds for the local 4-H Endowment Fund. The price includes chips and a beverage (pop or water).

Each year, the 4-H Endowment Committee works to raise funds which are invested with The Ohio State University Development Fund. According to Beverly Armstrong, chairperson of the 4-H Endowment Committee, “As the balance of the 4-H Endowment grows, the yearly dividends we receive grow as well. The Monroe County 4-H Endowment has currently received contributions totaling over $60,000 and our yearly dividend for 2010 will be approximately $2,500.” These funds will be used for a variety of beneficial projects including: college scholarships, state fair scholarships, community service grants, 4-H camperships and personal development scholarships. There are nearly 600 youth and volunteers involved in the Monroe County 4-H Program this year.

Riesbeck's employees will be staffing the grills and preparing the sandwiches. Other food donations for the event have come from Conns Potato Chip Company of Zanesville, Nickels Bakery, Caito Foods and Pepsi. Last spring the sale raised $3,000 for the 4-H Endowment. Over the past six years, Riesbeck's has helped the 4-H Endowment raise over $16,000 through this fundraiser. The 4-H Endowment Committee greatly appreciates all the work and dedication of the Woodsfield Riesbeck's store.

4-29 Classifieds

OBITUARIES 

HERMAN J. BURKHART
Herman J. Burkhart, 89, Woodsfield, died April 22, 2010 at Woodsfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was born April 3, 1921 near Temperanceville, a son of the late Anthony and Rose Hughes Burkhart.

He was a member of St. Sylvester Catholic Church of Woodsfield, Knights of Columbus, St. Francis Society, Barnesville Elks Club, and the Moose Lodge of Woodsfield, and was a former member of the Woodsfield Village Council.

He had worked for Timken Roller Baring, Conalco Corporation, was a former deputy sheriff, former owner of the Corner Grill in Malaga, and was a car salesman for Caldwell Motors, Simmons Chrysler and Knowlton Ford.

Surviving are his daughter, Marlene (Frank) Yonak, Jr. of Centerville; three sons, Donald (Marlene) Burkhart of Malaga, Gary (Victoria) Burkhart of Woodsfield, Terry (Carol) Burkhart of Hillsborough, N.C.; eight grandchildren, Arla (Marvin) Potts, Todd (Niki) Burkhart, Ty (Lacey) Burkhart, Scott (Jayme) Yonak, Kyle (Laurie) Yonak, Tracy (Ron) Bober, Carmen Burkhart and Chad Burkhart; and 13 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Hilda Butler Burkhart Feb. 2001; two brothers, Frederick L. Burkhart, Charles Burkhart; and three sisters, Clara Miller, Margaret Nau and Marie Miller.

Friends were received April 25 at Bauer-Turner Funeral  Home, Woodsfield. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated April 26 at St. Sylvester Catholic Church, Woodsfield, with Rev. Fr. David Gaydosik officiating. Burial in the Church Cemetery, Knights of Columbus and Vigil services were held April 25 at the funeral home.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.bauerturner.com.

JOHN R. PITCHER 
John R. Pitcher, 76, died April 22, 2010 at Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown, NJ. He was born in Martins Ferry, having lived in Woodsfield before moving to Dingmans Ferry in 2005.

He attended West Virginia Wesleyan College on a basketball scholarship and graduated in 1955. He was a U.S. Army veteran serving during the Korean War. He was the MIS Manager at Airolite in Marietta for 10 years before his retirement in 1993. He enjoyed playing basketball and watching his children and grandchildren play sports.

Surviving are his wife, Virginia Todd Pitcher; two sons, David Pitcher of Skillman, NJ, Daniel Pitcher of Central Jersey; daughter-in-law, Julie Pitcher of Hillsborough, NJ; two sisters, Lois (Homer) Stephens of Martins Ferry, Margaret Ann Humphrey of Grove City; and two granddaughters, Sara and Rachel Pitcher of Hillsborough, NJ.

Cremation was private. Graveside services at Union Cemetery in St. Clairsville will be held at a later date.

Arrangements by Hagan-Chamberlain Funeral Home, Bound Brook, NJ.

TERRY L. ROTH
Terry L. Roth, 34, 133 Gladys Lane, Dothan, Alabama, formerly of Woodsfield, died April 22, 2010 in Dothan, Ala., following injuries received in an accident. He was born July 6, 1975 at Bellaire, a son of the late Terry L. Trigg and Vera Schumacher Roth of Lewisville.

He was a steelworker for Sabel Steel Service, Dothan, Ala.; was a Protestant by faith. He enjoyed fishing, golfing and being outdoors.

Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his step-father, John Roth of Lewisville; a son, Austin Lail of Wooster; two sisters, Veronica (Rick) Groves of Woodsfield, Florence-jean Roth of Lewisville; a step-grandfather, John R. (Ruth) Roth of Dover; paternal grandmother, Eileen Trigg of Armstrong Mills; two nephews, Wyatt and Ethan Groves of Woodsfield; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by maternal grandparents, Bernard and Florence Schumacher; step-grandmother, Jean Roth; paternal grandfather, William M. Trigg and a cousin, Cara Goddard Baker.

Friends were received 2-9 p.m. April 28 at Watters Funeral Home, Woodsfield, where funeral services will be held April 29, at 11 a.m., with Paul Ferguson officiating. Burial followed in Fairview Cemetery near Woodsfield.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.wattersfuneralhome.com.

STANLEY SCHAFER 
Stanley “Sonny” Schafer, 61, Alledonia, died April 25, 2010 at his home. He was born April 23, 1949 near Alledonia, a son of the late Herman and Inez Wheeler Schafer.

He was a member of the Church of Christ, a retired employee of Ohio Valley Coal #6 Mine near Beallsville, a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam Conflict, and a member of American Legion Post #768.

Surviving are his wife of 40 years, Shirley Yost Schafer; two sons, Frank Schafer of Bellaire, Trenton (Rachel) Schafer of Beallsville; a daughter, Crystal Schafer of Alledonia; and four grandchildren, Tyler and Garrett Schafer and Elaina and Klay St. John.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant sister, Sarah.

Friends were received April 27 at Harper Funeral Home, Beallsville, where funeral services were held April 28 with Kim McFarland officiating. Burial followed in Belmont Ridge Cemetery near Beallsville with full military honors.

Online condolences may be offered at www.harperfh.net.