Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 136, Number 11, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 15 March 2018 — Page 4

Page A4

Advance News • Thursday, March IS, 2018

Back out of the Dark Ages

If you're like me you know most of the lyrics to

the movie "The Wizard of Oz" by heart. I know Ido. Songs like "Ding, Dong, the Witcn Is Dead," "Somewhere

Over The Rainbow," "We're Off To See the Wizard," and "Munchkinland," are part of the soundtrack of my of life. However, there's one song from that movie I don't know by heart I had to look up the words and I'm guessing you don't know them either. They're from a song called "Optimistic Voices." What song is that, you say? It's the song sung by an unseen chorus as Dorothy, Toto, the Scarecrow, the Tm Man, and the Lion survive the poppy field and approach the Emerald Gty! Maybe you've never actually paid attention, but here's what is sung as they rush forward joyfully: You're out of the woods. You’re out of the dark. You're out of the night. Step into the sun Step into the light! Remember now? The song goes on: Keep straight ahead for the most glorious place On the face of the earth or the sky Well, those words came to mind at a glorious moment in our own lives, as my wife Jennie and I approached a glorious door that opened into a place we had not been to in nearly two years! Our hearts filled ioith joy and hope as we approached - The Microwave. For nearly two years we had been shut out of the gates of Eden. That's when our microwave broke and we didn't immediately replace it. At first it toas just balky. It -wouldn't start unless l closed the door just so. I had to land of lift up on the handle, settle the door to the closed position, then hold it in place while I pressed the start button with my other hand. Not even that worked when we had company. Then it would play dead. Then one day it simply stopped. There was some talk about replacing it, but to be honest, you can heat up leftovers in things called pots and pans. Popcorn? But some oil in the bottom of a pot over an open flame and kind of swoosh it around until it starts popping. Stop when there's nothing left to pop. For about a year the microwave a handy place to store things like the No Stick Pan so it didn't get scratched by other things. Then one day we cleaned out the cupboards then hired a contractor to install the new microwave. Voila! Like the travellers approaching Oz, or maybe like the apemen approaching the Monolith in that other movie, "2001: A Space Odyssey," we drew closer, tentatively opened the door, closed it, and opened it again. That’s Jennie and I realized we had nothing to microwave just then. It's been a couple weeks now and I still haven't used our new microwave. Jennie used it once to heat up a cup of water for tea. Right now it's like a museum piece from one of those exhibits about the Kitchen of the Future, so maybe I'll umit for the future before I use it for something. Maybe. Frank Ramirez is the Senior Pastor of the Union Center Church of the Brethren.

Continuous Publication Since 1879 Advance News StivinQ Noppcnoe Ji Wqlksum ; PtfHsM MMkli • (USPS 370-960) Periodical postage paid in Nappanee, IN 46550 PNIIIUItt Please send address corrections to P.O. Box 220, Plymouth, IN 46563 MMhp/HbIhSM Mrecta* Cindy Stockton [email protected] Ummtm BflttP Greg Hildebrand [email protected] EStBT Amy Lant-Wenger [email protected] IpVtS Ur Rusty Nixon [email protected] MM IMMpr Michelle Louderback [email protected] [email protected] MM CndM Angi Rodriguez [email protected] oattniH Sit AH classifieds must be pre-paid. Deadline: Monday at 1130 a.m. Advertising Call Angi Rodriguez at 574-936-3101 for rate information or to place an ad. Deadline: Thursday at 5 p.m. LSOfll NOtICSS Dead,ine: Wednesday at 5 p.m. (Week * prior) SlllCPlltltll Annual subscription price (52 issues) is S3O in-state and $36 out-of-state. To renew or start a new subscription, or to solve delivery problems, call the Circulation Department at 574-936-3101. Uquu| Email news items and photos to [email protected], or drop them off at the Bremen office, 126 E. Plymouth St For possible story ideas, please call 574-546-2941 or ceH, 574-209-0704. Deadline: Friday at noon. ’ i -publisher reserves the right to reject, edt or cancel any advertising at any time with out NabMty. Publisher's HabfDty for error is ■ limited to the amount paid for advertising. 332333

County Road Seven By Frank Ramirez, Pastor

Community

Lessons learned through treasured photograph^

Observing others and reporting on happenings throughout my hometown community has been a part of my life for 29 years. During this period taking photographic evidence of it all has also been an important part of my life. I cherish those photos from both my personal and professional life. In preparation of organizing all

these tubs of photos I've kept, I love reflecting on those already stored and kept dose at hand. There is the photo of my maternal grandmother who filled me with her love of history and tracing our ancestors. I grew quite exrited at fire thought of visiting Europe with her in my adulthood so we could further trace where our family originated. I also longed for the days when she would teach me her craft of decorating cakes as she so lovingly promised. Next to her in the photo album is my grandfather, who I adored and respected beyond measure. As early as I began dreaming of one day being married I envisioned my grandfather continuing on with my own children doing all the things he had done with myself, my brother and our cousins. I knew my sons or daughters would one day grow to love "the ole pea patch" as Grandpa would call his property with love and laughter in his voice and time spent there with their great-grandfather. I pictured my children sitting there with the entire family on the living room floor cleaning peas, beans and com from the garden just as I had done growing up. I knew my kids would enjoy the same rock and sand piles as I did in my childhood—and the tire swing! Looking into another photo album 1 see an image of myself on my yellow 10-speed bicycle. Oh, how proud I was the day I received that gift! It meant I was "old enough" for something much more powerful than the three-speed bicycle I had journeyed on to that point. That two-wheeled vessel also meant the transition from a child to a youth! I would rise each weekday morning on summer break from school—hurry through my list of chores — and rush off to ride that 10-speed bicycle from the west side of town to the Nappanee Municipal Pool. What a thrill it was to feel that independent and free! I met wonderful new people and made some lifelong friends. I began to learn the art of budgeting as I counted out money to enter the pool each day versus money for an occasional purchase from the pool snack bar that didn't cost too much for fear of not having money for entrance the next day. My photo stockpile even gives a few glimpses of my friends from that time in my life. There was Mindy my best friend from school, and Rusty who was actually three years older, and in my big brother's class at school. Mindy and I started out that first summer enjoying the daily trips to spend the afternoon in the sun. I quickly realized I loved the warm water and spent more time in it than at her side sunbathing. She soon began staying home to do her tanning but I continued my journey each day. The pool is also where I met Rusty Elliott. His high dive escapades were magnificent to witness. He tried hard each

100 YEARS AGO March 14,1918 Mathias J. Bowman of West Goshen, 68 years old, was instantly killed when he was run over by a coal car in the Sanders & Egbert lumber yards at 8:15 Wednesday morning. He was an employee of the Sanders & Egbert Co. and was standing behind an end of an empty gondola when a switch engine backed into the other end of the car. The accident was witnessed from a railroad tower nearby by Ira Neff, who said that Bowman was apparently unaware of the approaching engine until it struck the coal car. Bowman was taken to the Culp undertaking establishment, and Coroner Holdeman was summoned from Elkhart. At the precinct meeting at the Wakarusa Town Hall on Friday night, Attorney John J. Eshleman was selected as chairman. Dr. F.B. Rheubottom was the unanimous choice of the meeting as Committeeman for the north precinct of Olive township and George Culp as Committeeman of South Olive. Jeremiah Bechtel was chosen as delegate to the state convention and G.W. Kilmer as alternate.

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All Those Years Ago

Merrie’s M usings By Merrie Chapman, Staff Writer

board in the sky. Several years ago Rusty, his wife and daughter sat dowi with me for an interview on the Elkhart County Specia Olympics. Rusty was both a coach and board member so that program. His wife also helped and his daughter partie ipated as an athlete. When we finished that article raisin] awareness about Special Olympics Rusty seemed aim os embarrassed that I wanted to do a feature article on hin and his work with the Special Olympics. He agreed to d( the article more to promote the Special Olympics progran than himself. Since that article ran in late 2016 Rusty, his wife Rochelle, my husband and I have repeatedly spoken of getting together once our schedules are all free on the same day. My grandmother went to her eternal home while I was still in high school so we never had opportunity to trace our family roots in travels oversea. Before passing she demonstrated for me how to make a rose from frosting but never had opportunity to teach me the fine details of cake decorating. I inherited all her pans, tips and accessories so perhaps one day I'll pursue classes on that art. God called my grandfather home when our boys were still young in age. I will always be grateful that he met them—and they him. I am thankful my sons have an image in their mind at the sound of his name. Still I am sorry that they never got to play in the rock and sand piles—or enjoy that tire swing. While my garden does not hold a candle to the acre size plot that fed my grandparents, and their four children's families, I do grow a little fresh vegetables each year. Through that tradition my sons have learned how to dean beans, and I look forward to snapping more beans with my grandchildren as well. Rusty left this world just last week. The four of us still! had not yet matched schedules to achieve our get together, i Rusty's smile still appears vividly in my mind, and his laugh-1 ter resonates in my heart. His passing taught me the valuable lesson of making time to spend with friends and family, not waiting for it tohappen. I encourage all reading this to make that trip to someone's home and knock on that door for a visit... pick up the phone and ask to reserve a spedfic day on the calendar to spend! time with someone... ask for a schedule of kids sporting events and join their parents to cheer in the stands if that's what it takes... join in volunteer efforts working alongside someone you wish to see... whatever means you must takfl please do so and eliminate the risk of never sharing valuable time with others. May you all experience some wonderful connections being made in the near future. -Blessings

75 YEARS AGO March 18,1943 Wednesday morning of this week a sign was placed upon the doors at the Nappanee Trading Post announcing the store would remain dosed for the duration. R.M. Lloyd says this move is made because of the inability to get merchandise and the red tape connected with the operation of a grocery and market today. Just what method of disposing at the stocks on hand will be taken is not known though it is expected a sale will be held and everything dosed out. Mr. Lloyd came to Nappanee about a year and a half ago and prior to the rationing of gas as well as food products and worked up a real trading area, people coming here for many miles to buy groceries and meats and at same time other stores in Nappanee benefitted by this increased trading area. Along came price ceilings making it harder to do business until today it would be a safe bet there is hardly a man working by the day that is not making more money than our storekeepers. The result, Nappanee loses another store. Bunk Widmoyer announces in an advertisement a curtailment of outside service due to impossibility of securing help. Delivery of meals or lunches are discontinued though food will be prepared and can be secured by those wanting to call for it, under this new order. Coffee, for outside delivery, is out of the picture because of government regulation and while ice cream can still be served in the restaurant there is none to be delivered outside for the duration. 50 YEARS AGO March 15,1968 The Nappanee City Court still is getting only a small percentage of cases following arrests in Nappanee. In February, 79 arrests were reported by the Nappanee Police Department. Of those, three criminal cases and 13 traffic cases appeared before the Gty Court. There were only four cases Saturday. The first was a 19 year old boy who pled guilty to speeding on E. Market St. He was fined $5 plus costs. Another involved speeding by a man driving a truck pulling a house trailer. He was fine $1 and costs. Two young men were involved in a speed contest. The first had his license suspended by the court and was fined sls and costs. The other, because he was only 16, had his license suspended but will probably face further suspension from the State because of nis age and his offense. Judge James McQuinn reminded both that a jail sentence could result if either were caught driving without his license. Dr. Robert Abel from Wakarusa filed as a candidate for re-election to the Wa-Nee School Board from Olive Township. Dr. Abel was appointed by the court to the original Board after the district was reorganized. He was re-elected to another term, at which time he was unopposed. Three persons from Nappanee have filed for two at-large vacancies. They are Mrs. Harold Hoffer, David Stalnaker, and Charles Stump. 25 YEARS AGO March 17,1993 Members of the North Wood High School Dawning Generation show choir are off to Watseka, Illinois for competition at its highest level, along with 20 other high school show choirs from Indiana, Illinois, and lowa. The choir includes Colette Nafziger, Sami Sheets, Alicia Mestach, Gretchen Hess, Yvonne Yoder, Miranda Wolfe, Regina Swihart, Derry Prenkert, Sonja Sheets, Jessica Hickman, Stess Templeton, Chris Yoder, Rick Otis, Tony Gilley, Matt Gilley, Carrie Dearth, Jay Hartman, Lance Mestach, Kim Stuckman, Lori Neufeldt, Aaron Nichols, Marc Landes, Lynn Detwiler, Steve Stutzman, Mike Gottbrath, Chad Newcomer, Betsy Myers, Carolyn Jones, and Brian Hartman. The crew includes Adam Bontrager, Tim Weldy, Tara Gark, Shawn Cobb, Nick Collins, Wes Hartman, Ryan Hill, Andy Martin, Phil Martin, Matt Moyer, Noel Danni, and Scott Weldy.

summer to get me to overlook my fear <BB the high diving board and "just try He always pointed out there were liflSj guards poolside and watching me, anß|| that he would be right there to help BH needed. 1 never tried those dives 1 loveflß watching him perform but by the end oH| each summer he would at some poinH| talk me into at least jumping off that tajH|