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Sept. 20, 2017 UPSP 213-200 Vol. 153, No. 17
Serving Daviess County Since 1864 — Our Best To You Each Week!
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Churches send $8,300 to hurricane victims Needless to say, 2017 has been a terrible year for hurricanes impacting the United States, maybe the worst ever. With all of the news about the damage of Hurricane Irma to Florida, the devastation experienced by the Hous-
ton, TX, area from Hurricane Harvey has been overshadowed. Members of several churches throughout the area, however, have not forgotten the Hurricane Harvey victims. As a result of correspondence
Exploding bearing causes injury Steve Belshe was changing his tire in the shop at his brother Larry’s farm at about 10:40 a.m. on Sept. 13. While working, Steve suddenly came under assault. Steve was checking a ball bearing and had it on the press. He was using a chisel to clean it when the ball bearing blew out of its housing. The bearing, like a bullet or missile, knocked the chisel out of his hand and split his thumb open. He had a gash in his head and various cuts on his face caused by the oil and metal
flying up. A call was made to 911. An ambulance, fire truck and two county deputies soon arrived at the shop located about two miles south of Gallatin, just west off Hwy. 13. Steve was checked over by the ambulance crew. Larry was cleared to drive him to Cameron Hospital, where he had to have four stitches in his thumb. Larry was also affected by the mishap. Larry was standing close by when the incident oc(continued on page 16)
between Houston native Susan Gould Brock and members at Lake Viking Church, donations were collected from several local church congregations – Lake Viking Church, First Christian Church, First Baptist, and the Presbyterian Church all of Gallatin; the Fairview Church of Winston; the Kingston Nazarene; and the Kendall Congregation of Hamilton. Donations are still being accepted to be sent to members of the Willow Meadows Church of Houston, to those who suffered extensive property damage during the hurricane. Money collected so far by our local churches far exceeded expectations. A total of over $8,300 is being sent to directly help Houston Hurricane victims on a local basis with zero administrative costs.
This picture was taken Tuesday, Sept. 19, as clean-up began on the house at 202 N. Franklin. The house is owned by Tony Moore and rented to a tenant.
Firefighters respond to possible structure fire On Friday evening, Sept. 15, at approximately 6:17 p.m., Gallatin Fire Protection District was dispatched to 202 North Franklin for a possible fire in the residence. Engine 101 and Rescue 107 responded with nine personnel. Upon arrival on scene, fire crews found light smoke showing on the east side exterior wall. A 1-3/4 inch hose line was deployed. Crews made entry and found a light haze of smoke near the interior wall on the east side of the house. The wall
was breached open to find a small fire in the area of an electrical junction box and wiring. The electrical power was shut off to the residence, and crews extinguished the small fire with a water can extinguisher. Smoke was then vented from the house. The fire was contained to the wall with no further extension. The cause was found to be overheated electrical wiring. The property is owned by Tony Moore. Fire Crews released from the scene at approximately 7:06 p.m.
Convertible without grand marshals, parade without a crowd
Successful Chautauqua marked by sadness Rain, sudden death dampen festival spirit By many measures, the 32nd Annual Chautauqua in Gallatin was a successful weekend of festival activities and events. Although it did rain on the Chautauqua parade Saturday evening, there were low spirits caused by far more than just the weather. An unmistakable sadness pervaded this community after learning how the honored grand marshals of the parade, Kenneth and Lola Critten, were called away from town Saturday morning due to the sudden death of their son, Kris Critten. The convertible, designated for the grand marshals but empty except for the driver, was still at the head of the parade although damp weather and dampened spirits translated into a short parade before a sparse crowd. An obituary of the 48-year-old alumnus of Gallatin R-5 High School appears on page 7 inside this edition. Rainfall lightened later, allowing for the festival’s talent show and featured musical entertainment to be staged as planned. The following summarizes other parts of the 2017 Chautauqua. 2017 Car Show winners A fundraiser coordinated through the 2017 Chautauqua Car Show in Gallatin netted in excess of $700 before expenses, with net proceeds to benefit the Area Agency on Aging Center in Gallatin. The show attracted over 30 entries with trophies sponsored by local businesses. Car Show results are as follows: 2017 Best of Show -- Steve Beck of Gallatin, 1957 Chevy Suburban; 2017 People’s Choice Award -- Laura Cook of Cameron, 1928 Model A (a tie-breaker determined the trophy winner; others with identical judging scores were John Wilson of St. Joseph and Dan Claycomb, Stewartsville); Top 10 Entries (in no particular order) -- Dan Mason’s 1963 Chevy Impala, Jim Painter’s 1967 Firebird; Steve Brightman’s 1969 Chevy Camaro, Doug Long’s 1971 Chevy Camaro, John Wilson’s 1973 VW van, Brian Suan’s 1978 Chevy pickup, Ron Provin’s 1926 Model T, Larry Burrell’s 1967 Chevy pickup, Eric Knott’s 1967 Camaro, and Brice Terry’s 1933 Chevy pickup. Feel the burn! Chili cookoff winners A chili cookoff was sponsored by Daviess County Business Women’s Association on Saturday. Sarah Smith from Gallatin won the Judges’ Choice and Sherry Pettit Smith of Gallatin won People’s Choice. Pam Howard of Gallatin won the raffle, a three-day vacation (continued on page 16)
High school class ring lost at the lake, then found ...35 years later! by Troy Lesan as if it had been in the water a while, so I could begin this story by saying that the Hiblers took it home and began tryit all started with this July 23 Lake Viking ing to clean it up with a toothbrush and Group Facebook Post: “Has anyone lost toothpaste. In addition to the Albany High an Albany High School class ring at Beach markings, Flint and his son David evenOne lately?” And with that simple ques- tually found the initials C.W. When they tion, a great saga began to unfold, a story brushed a little more, the name Chuck that actually began 35 years ago ...but any- Wilkinson appeared. Further work on Facebook uncovered way, back to the origins of the Facebook a Chuck Wilkinson of Alpost. bany. Mary Hibler, unable Mary and Flint Hibler’s to resist the element of ulti11-year-old grandson, Mamate surprise, sent a Chuck son Hibler, was swimming a “friend” request. Chuck and hanging out at Beach thought about it — he was One, and as kids his age ofreluctant to “friend someten do, scavenging around one he didn’t know or hadn’t in the sand and rocks at waheard of ” — but he accepted ter’s edge in search of treathe request, and Mary imsures. As he ran his hand in Jaycee holds the ring that mediately messaged him: the sand, Mason suddenly her father gave to her mother “Did you lose something at felt something, and when before it was lost in 1982 Lake Viking a while ago?” he pulled his hand out of Chuck didn’t have any idea what Mary the water, a ring had magically found its way around his finger. It was high school was talking about. True, his high school class ring from Albany, Missouri, class sweetheart had lost his ring a long time of 1982. The ring was dull and tarnished, ago – she kept it on a chain around her
neck – but she had no idea where she had misplaced it. When Mary asked Chuck about the class ring, he was overwhelmed. Yes, it was his. He had given it to Beth Ann 36 years ago and, come to think of it, the two had been swimming at Lake Viking once upon a time so long ago. Mystery solved! As it turns out, the discovery of the ring was all the more special because of the complicated history following Chuck’s senior year. It was true, Chuck insists, that Beth Ann was always the love of his life, but she was a year younger and after he graduated from high school they drifted apart. He ended up in California, and she ended up marrying another young man. Meanwhile, Chuck married another woman. As fate would have it, both marriages fell apart, each divorced, they found their way back to each other, and married. A daughter named Jaycee was born from their union. Sadly, Beth Ann died of cancer in 2014 when daughter Jaycee was 14. “Jaycee misses her mother so much,”
Mason Hibler delivers the long lost class ring to Jaycee Wilkinson
Chuck relates. “The discovery of this ring is so meaningful to us. Now Jaycee wears the ring on a chain around her neck just as her mother did.” What a story ...and it was all brought about by an 11-year-old boy, searching for treasure in the sand at Lake Viking.