Kiwanis Thanksgiving Dinner
Kiwanians Deliver Meals to Elderly, Shut-In and Those in Need

If you know of an elderly shut-in or someone in need of a Thanksgiv-ing meal, please contact Ed Paulus at 740-472-5423 by Sunday, Nov. 21.  

In its 87th year, the Woodsfield Kiwanis Club takes the “We Build” national motto seriously as planning begins for the annual Thanksgiving Dinner project.   In the midst of these uncertain economic times, members of the Woodsfield Kiwanis Club are grateful for an opportunity to serve the needy and elderly in our community with a traditional holiday meal along with a lot of cheer and friendliness.   

In 2009, the club delivered 239 meals.

On Thursday, Nov. 25, Kiwanians will use the facilities of the Woodsfield United Methodist Church to prepare and deliver a meal of turkey and dressing, sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, roll and butter, pumpkin pie and fruit to residents of Monroe County.

The Kiwanis Thanksgiving Dinner project is the result of many hard working volunteers who donate time, food, and supplies to ensure a delicious dinner for all.  Several Key Club members from area high schools and children of Kiwanis Club members help cut pies, wash dishes and deliver meals along with other jobs throughout the event.   Members of the Kiwanis Club are appreciative of the efforts to build youth leadership qualities. “We hope they are on their way to becoming future Kiwanis leaders,” said Ed Paulus, 2010 chairman of the dinner project.   

The Woodsfield Kiwanis Club acknowledges with ap-preciation the donations re-ceived for the Thanksgiving Dinner project from members of the club, Riesbeck’s Food Market, Citizens National Bank, Weber’s Pharmacy and the Monroe County Care Center.  

Special appreciation to Jeanie Dixon and family for preparing the delicious meals, along with community friends who donate their time in various ways.  The spirit of generosity and cooperation en-sures a special dinner for the elderly, needy and homebound of Monroe County.

Around the Burnside   

Keep your ideals high enough to inspire you and low enough to encourage you.

You’re never hurt by anything you never said.

Have you gotten used to slow time yet? I don’t think it is all that bad. I slept this morning until what would have been 10 a.m. fast time. I guess maybe that will ruin my afternoon nap. After a trip to the eye doctor two days in a row, one in Morgantown and the other in Parkersburg. I guess sleeping in a bit the next morning is not all that bad. The good thing is that both visits turned out to be excellent. The eyes have it, a good report all around.

Veteran’s Day! It seems to me the veterans were honored by about every community. I think maybe they had more publicity this year.

For the 10th year I was invited to the Little Hocking Elementary School for their program to honor veterans. They really honor them as do most schools. I was invited to two other schools but was unable to attend because of scheduled trips to the doctors. Maybe next year.

At Little Hocking we were treated to a breakfast table when we arrived and time to visit with other vetsa who were attending. A number had grandkids in school.

We were then divided into small groups to visit several classrooms to share some experiences and answer questions. I visited three classrooms. Most of the students had something they had done to honor veterans and give to each of us.

We were then treated to dinner with the students in a very noisy lunch room. A little later we went to the gym for the program. As usual the singing by all the students at the same time really makes the tears come to your eyes. The bleachers and gym floor were full of students and even the kindergarten students were singing.

A lady who has started a project to send socks made from Alpaca wool or whatever it is called, to service men, brought an Alpaca for the students to see and pet. I didn’t go out as I know what an Alpaca looks like and it was cold.

The first class I visited was the first grade and had just come inside from seeing the Alpaca. Before we started anything the teacher picked up a small bottle of hand disinfectant and squirted each students hands. I thought man, we had water to drink at school and that was it. I wonder how we made it with our dirty hands all day. Sometimes you couldn't help picking your nose or wiping it on your shirt sleeve.

Now that deer season is coming soon and the deer are out hunting for another deer and as a result the insurance companies are trying to teach deer to look both ways before crossing the highway. It isn’t working; the deer have other things on their mind.

I had a reader ask me a question the other day. I do not know the answer and do not even know if it is true or not. The question, If you husk the corn, deer will not eat it. If you leave the husk on, it will eat it. Why? As I said I’m not sure if it is true so I couldn’t answer it. Why do some people crumble crackers in their chili and others drop in a whole cracker or no cracker at all? Me, I prefer to drop little chunks of cheese in my chili because I like it that way. I even like French Onion soup with all that cheese on top. Cheese sticks are good, too.

Another thing happened to make this veteran’s day kind of special. I received a DVD, ‘Iwo Jima A Final Tour.” It was a special tour of several veterans returning to Iwo Jima as it is today along with some action shots taken during the battle. This brought memories and tears.

I was able to get several copies of the DVD to share with a few buddies I served with. In addition, I received a small bag of sand from Iwo Jima. More memories. When I left the island I did not want any part of it. Getting some sand from the beach today really means a lot to me. And to think most of us were just kids at the time.

Well, the football season is over for most of our so called local schools so it’s back to bouncing basketballs. It’s the only sport we had when I was in high school except for our FFA softball team. My joining the softball team and joining FFA, probably started me on what I would end up doing. OK the GI bill also was a big help.

Maybe that’s why I enjoy basketball so much. I have many memories of the Skyvue team that meant so much to the community. The Boosters Club activities which most members have passed on. The memories are good and wouldn’t trade anything except maybe the score of the Championship game. Then as I aid to a Fort Frye fan when she told me she would like to see the tape. I told her, “Lady, you could watch the tape a hundred times and Fort Frye would always lose.” I remember when the parking lot was full before the JV game.

Remember: You do not fight fire with fire; firemen use water.

There’s still plenty of room in church.

Thanks to the generosity of Woodsfield’s Riesbeck’s Food Market, the Warm the Children program will be able to serve more children. Shown, from left, are WTC Coordinator Pandora Neuhart accepting a check for $2,400 from Kirt Sloan, Woodsfield Riesbeck’s Food Market Manager.

BBQ Nets $2,400 for WTC

by Martha Ackerman
General Manager/Editor

The aroma of the ribeye steaks, sausage, soup beans and apple butter filled the air in the Woodsfield Riesbeck’s parking lot Oct. 29.

Manager Kirt Sloan and his crew were getting the grills ready early as they prepared for the annual Warm the Children BBQ, sponsored by Woodsfield Riesbeck’s Food Market. 

This year’s BBQ netted $2,400 for the program, which provides new, warm, winter coats for needy children in the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District.

According to WTC coordinator Pandora Neuhart, the first shopping day at Pamida tallied $7,300. This donation by Riesbeck’s will allow the program to serve more needy children. 

Thanks to the generosity of  Riesbecks, other businesses, organizations and individuals, this program is able to continue despite the economy. All the money collected for Warm the Children is used for coats for children. None of it is used for administrative or advertising expenses. The Beacon takes care of that. All the money stays in Monroe County.

This year Kiwanians, who help sponsor the program, worked with Riesbeck em-ployees to serve the hundreds of sandwiches, soup beans and cornbread.

Riesbeck’s provided the meat, beverages and their employee payroll for the day. Caito Produce and Conn’s Potato Chips also donated items for the event. Carl Slevin tended the soup beans, which were prepared in a kettle over an open wood fire. Also on hand were members of the Monroe County Farm Bureau, who prepared homemade apple butter over an open fire.

Despite the cold weather, hundreds of residents took advantage of the tasty ribeye and sausage sandwiches, the cornbread and soup beans, while supporting a vital program for needy children in this school district.

The ribeye steaks were cooking for the 2010 Warm the Children BBQ, sponsored by Riesbeck’s Food Market. Shown, from front, are: Janice McClelland, Elaine Howell and Woodsfield Riesbeck’s manager Kirt Sloan.    Ackerman Photos

Grass Fires on the Increase
Woodsfield Fire Chief Cautions Residents

“If you’re thinking of burning brush piles etc. please don’t; we'd like to have a day off,” said Woodsfield Volunteer Fire Chief Mike Young. “We’ve been on four brush fire calls since last Thursday (Nov. 4).

The department responded to a large woods fire Nov. 3 on Plainview Road. Mutual aid was called in from Antioch and Lewisville Fire Depart-ments. 

According to Young, a downed electric line to an old, unused well started the brush fire.

The fire, which affected about one-and-a-half acres, was fought for over three hours. According to Young, the first hour or so was fought by hand with water backpacks until a road was cleared to bring trucks in.

Use extreme caution to avoid brush fires!

~ Work Continues on Cameron Bridge ~

Work continues on the Cameron bridge, located off State Route 78, east of Woodsfield. According to Monroe County Engineer Lonnie Tustin, the tentative opening for the new bridge is early December.
Photo by Martha Ackerman         

~ Local Residents Meet Former President and Mrs. George Bush ~

Local residents Richard and Marsha Yoho recently visited their daughter Lisa in Houston, Texas. While there, they toured the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum in College Station. They also had the honor of meeting former President George H.W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush.        
     Photo Submitted

Our Readers Write

Dear Editor,

The official groundbreaking for the new schools took place at 10 a.m. Some school officials made speeches. The officials broke the ground.

Coach Circosta’s speech nearly brought me to tears. It brought him to tears. A semi said, “It’s not a dream anymore when a small town team made it to the finals.”

The band played and cheerleaders cheered. Somebody gave us a math problem and the answer was that he “waited 40 years for a new school. That’s pretty long to wait for the new school when it was promised to you when you were 21.”

Somebody gave the high school a U.S. flag. The part that gives me hope is that people spend parts of their lives to give us a new school.

Then we crowded onto buses and went back to school, had classes and went home. it was a touching day for everybody.

Sincerely, W.E.S. Sixth Grade

Samuel R. Evans

Dear Editor,

I’m glad that we are getting new schools. When we were going up to see where the new schools were going to be built, I thought where are we going. Then I saw why.

When we got up there it was new schools going to be up there by the preschool.

I thought at first that something was going on and when I found out I was happy.

And thank you for helping to build a new school.

Sincerely, Gene Nalley

Dear Editor,

On Nov. 1, I went to the groundbreaking for the new schools. I felt excited and astonishment. I was excited because it’s the first time we get to see the new schools. Astonishment because of its length and its size. 

Once there, I felt cold, even with a coat on. After groundbreaking, we had cookies and punch. A flag was presented to superintendent Larry Elliott and thanks to the taxpayers for making this trip possible.

Sincerely, Chase A. Shuman

Dear Editor,

Our schools are going to be big. A lot of the kids will be happy to see the new schools.

Mr. Calder says he has been rushing time because he has been waiting for the new schools to be built. There were 15 golden shovels.

Thank you Kassie Anderson, you’re a really good principal and don’t you know now that we’re getting new schools you might get a bigger office.

Thank you guys for making new schools and paying for it. When I first found out I was happy. I couldn’t wait until we got new schools.

Sincerely, Randall

Dear Editor,

Today the whole school went to the groundbreaking for the new schools. I saw a bunch of flags and people with hard hats. We had several speakers with speeches. A man gave Mr. Elliott a flag and said “Take good care of our flag.” Then we had the cheerleaders cheer and the band played the fight song.

We had the groundbreaking, then we left on busses packed full with kids.

Caden Nutter

Dear Editor,

I can’t wait till we get our new schools. Monday, Nov. 1, I went to the groundbreaking for Monroe Central High School and Woodsfield Elementary School.

We listened to Mrs. Anderson (Woodsfield Elementary principal) say a prayer then the Monroe Central High School Band played the Star Spangled Banner.

We said the Pledge of Allegiane, listened to speeches and watched the cheerleaders do some cheers.

We listened to the band play the War Chant and the Alma-Mater.

I would like to thank Larry Elliott, Kathryn Anderson, Jerry Calder, Jason Yoss, Scott Dierkes, Gary Balog, Coach Jay Circosta, the tax payers and Jennifer Garrison.

Sincerely, Mackenzie Allen

Dear Editor,

On Nov. 1, the students of Woodsfield Elementary School and Monroe Central High School went to the groundbreaking ceremony for the new schools. We saw a veteran give a flag to Larry Elliott, the superintendent of Switzerland of Ohio School District.

We said the Pledge of Allegiance, listened to the Star Spangled Banner and Mrs. Anderson of Woodsfield Elementary gave a prayer.

There were many speeches, the most emotional speech ws from Jay Circosta. He said, “This is not a dream, this is a reality.” He had tears of joy. He started off a cheer for both schools. For the elementary school, he did give an R-E-D-S-K-I-N-S. The high school cheer was NOLES. Then the cheerleaders came out and performed a few cheers.

Then the breaking of the ground took place. There were 15 shovels; only 13 were used to break the ground. Lots of pictures were taken. We then returned to our school and had cookies and punch.

I would like to give a special thanks to every tax payer in Monroe County.

Sincerely, Jacklynn Christman

Dear Editor,

On Nov. 1 our class and the rest of the school and the high school went to the groundbreaking ceremony and listened to speeches and cheers.

Coach Circosta repeated what the semi said, “It’s not a dram anymore,” and he had tears in his eyes.

And the council started digging with gold shovels for the new school.

W.E.S. Sixth Grade

 Matthew Deskins

Classifieds
■  11-18 Classifieds


OBITUARIES  

LILA L. WILLIAMSON
Lila Lee Walters William-son, 73, Hannibal, died Nov. 2, 2010 at her home. She was born Feb. 13, 1937 in Clarington, the daughter of the late Linus Fredrick and Murga Schaffer Walters.

She was the Postmaster of the Clarington Post Office for 20 years, a clerk for PPG for three years, first graduating class of River High School in 1955 and member of Zion United Church of Christ in Sardis.

Surviving are her husband of 53 years, John Williamson; a son, Jeff (Val) Williamson of Clarington; two daughters, Cheri (Bob) Bovell of Woodbury Heights, N.J., Lori (Scott) Greening of Pittsburgh, Pa.; a brother, Fred (Joan) Walters of Hannibal; two sisters, Louise (Leland) Haught of Clarington, Evelyn (Larry) Fuchs of Sardis; three grandchildren, Rachel Mowder, Andy Williamson, Ben Greening; a step-granddaughter, Chelsea Lowe and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Clark “Duke” Walters.

A memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Lila’s favorite cemetery, Zion Memorial Garden, c/o Zion UCC, 50445 SR 536, Sardis, OH 43946.

Arrangements entrusted to Jarvis-Williams Funeral Homes, New Martinsville, W.Va.

DOROTHY M. WILSON
Dorothy M. Wilson, 56, Bondi Rdg. Rd., Woodsfield, died Nov. 6, 2010 at Ohio Valley Medical Center, Wheeling, after a courageous battle with cancer. She was born Dec. 8, 1953 in Monroe County, a daughter of the late Charles A. and Elsie M. Henthorn Jones.

She was a member of Jackson Ridge Church of Christ, and she loved taking care of children.

Surviving are her husband, Harry (Tim) Wilson of Woodsfield; daughter, Traci Wilson of Woodsfield; three sons, Tom, Ralph and Jim Wilson of Woodsfield; and her angels, Jaren and Sara Hupp; and several friends and family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Thomas A. Jones.

Friends were received Nov. 8 at Bauer-Turner Funeral Homes, Woodsfield, where funeral services will be held Nov. 9, with Evangelist Mark T. Tonkery officiating. Burial in West Union Cemetery near Sardis.

Condolences can be expressed at www.bauerturner.com.

LESTER C. ACKERMAN 
Lester C. Ackerman, 83, 630 Lewisville Rd., Woodsfield, died Nov. 8, 2010 at Woodsfield Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was born March 12, 1927 near Lewisville, Monroefield, a son of the late Benjamin P. Ackerman.

He was a 50-year owner and operator of Lester's Body Shop, Woodsfield; a member of Ozark Church of Christ, and a U.S. Army Air Corp veteran of WWII.

Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Betty Jane Tidd Ackerman, whom he married July 12, 1947; a daughter, Sharon (Mitch) Fetzer of Woodsfield; a son, John (Barb) Ackerman of Woodsfield; a sister, Leota (Willie) Buss of Apple Creek; a brother, Edward Ackerman of Lewis-ville; four grandchildren, Mike (Jennifer) Fetzer, Jamie (Brad) Foster, Jennifer (Scott) Whatley, Heather (Jeremy) Powell; seven great-grandchildren, Kason and Caleb Powell, Madelyn and Andrew Foster, Morgan and Evan Fetzer, Julia Whatley; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by two brothers, George and Walter Ackerman.

Friends were received at Watters Funeral Home, Woodsfield, Nov. 10, where funeral services were held Nov. 11, with Kim McFarland officiating. Burial followed in Oaklawn Cemetery, Woods-field.

RUTH E. HALL
Ruth E. Hall, 72, St. Clairsville, went home to be with the Lord on Nov. 10, 2010 at Liza’s Place in Wheeling, W.Va. She was born June 12, 1938 in Woodsfield, a daughter of Herbert and Clara Brubach Hall.

She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Clairsville.

She attended Holy Family Academy and Silver Lake College in Manitowac, Wisc., and received her master’s degree in education administration from West Virginia University.

Having served in the Franciscan Community from 1952 as a teacher and principal in Plymouth, Wisc. and Mich., she returned to the Ohio Valley as principal of St. Mary’s in St. Clairsville from 1988-2008. Education was her life’s passion. Ruth’s dedication to education touched and enriched many lives through her lifetime. What a legacy and role model. She will be missed.

Surviving are two brothers, Gene (Nancy) Hall of LaVale, Maryland, Dean (Margie) Hall of Marietta; two sisters, Mary (Robert) Wallace, Margie (Jim) Partridge, both from Woodsfield; nieces include Kathy Werner, Lori Robinson, Susan Defibaugh, Shelly Prince, Julie Michels; nephews include Rich Werner, Kenny Partridge, Chris Hall; and several great-nieces and nephews.

Friends were received at Toothman Funeral Home, St. Clairsville, Nov. 14 where a vigil service was held. Funeral Liturgy with Mass was concelebrated by Fr. Bradley Greer and Fr. Thomas Chillog on Nov. 15 in St. Mary’s Catholic Church, St. Clairsville, followed by the funeral dinner in Marian Hall. Burial followed in St. Sylvester Cemetery, Woodsfield.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mary’s Central Library and Resource Center; Liza’s Place or a charity of the donor’s choice.

CHERI L. McMASTERS
Cheri L. Ricer McMasters, 43, of 45662 Road Fork Rd., Summerfield, died Nov. 16, 2010 at her home. Arrangements are pending at Watters Funeral Home, Woodsfield.

CHARLES A. MEYER, SR.
Charles A. Meyer, Sr., Boltz Hill Rd., Clarington, died Nov. 15, 2010 at his home.

Friends will be received Nov. 17, from 6 - 8 p.m. and Nov. 18, 2 - 4 and 7 - 9 p.m. with military services at 6:30 p.m. at Grisell Funeral Home, Clarington, where services will be held Nov. 19, at 11 a.m

JAMES E. MORRIS
James E. Morris, 76, Newport, died Nov. 14, 2010, at his residence. 

Friends were received Nov. 16 at Ingram Funeral Home, St. Marys, W.Va., where services will be held Nov. 17, at 11 a.m., with Monsignor John Michael Campbell officiating.

Condolences may  be expressed at www.ingramfh.com