YOUR
PRIME IN
A quarterly supplement serving Adams, Brown, Clinton, Fayette, and Highland counties
SPRING
2012
Serenity On the water
Photos by Carol Chroust
A couple heads out to try their luck at Cowan Lake. See page 5 for more fishing photos.
Those who fish reel in a positive state of mind By CAROL CHROUST Contributing writer
For many seniors, fishing is a leisurely sport that encourages them to get out of the house and into the outdoors. Remaining active and interested in a hobby or activity helps maintain good health and a positive frame of mind. “Fishing is my life,” said Delmer Rains. “It was always a part of my life, but now it IS my life. There’s nothing like it in the world!” The first nice days of spring found quite a few seniors at Cowan Lake in Clinton County. Many had infirmities that kept them in a wheelchair and housebound last winter. Others had personal losses
that weighed heavily through the long hours shut indoors. The prospect of fishing was something to look forward to! It seems to take peoples’ minds off their troubles and ailments. All were upbeat and happy about getting out with their fishing poles and the possibility of catching a catfish, bass, crappie and, if they were lucky, a few bluegill. Some catch fish for others to enjoy. “I catch enough fish to have enough for a church supper and our family reunion,” said one lady who goes fishing at various area lakes. “I’m one of a family of 12 brothers and sisters.” That’s a lot of fish! “And, it’s so peaceful
YOUR
PRIME IN
Jim Farley of Harveysburg heads to the fishing pier at Cowan Lake. “I saw a man at the river last week,” he said. “He had an oxygen tank and was on oxygen and was still out fishing. He was 80.”
A passion for purple and love of life at 99
A quarterly supplement serving Adams, Brown, Clinton, Fayette, and Highland counties
SPRING
2012
INSIDE... Oldest cheerleader in the NFL Page 11
By ANDREA L. CHAFFIN achaffin@wnewsj.com
The first thing one notices when walking into Evelyn VanDerVoort’s apartment is the birthday cards. She started arranging them on the doors, counter tops and tables, but Sinking Spring resident Mary Wolfe collab- quickly ran out of room orated with writer Pat Lawrence to chronicle at her Cape May Retirethe story of her life. ment Village residence in Wilmington. Last week, she received 165 cards for her in Hillsboro journalist Ohio Pat Lawrence and the Community Media two have produced, After her “The House That By MARSHA MUNDY 90th birthday, Mary Built,” a small Ohio Community Media Mary Wolfe real- book that chronicles A Georgetown couple ized she wanted to Mary’s life and the share her life story changing social land- was recently recognized at the longest-married — not just for her scape around her. couple in Ohio. Marvin grandchildren, but It follows Mary also for their grandfrom her idyllic child- and Margaret Case were included in a nationwide children, to offer hood in the 1920s them a better underthrough her years as a search by Worldwide Marriage Encounter to standing of their own WWII “war widow” find the longest married lives. Her only obsta- and details the prescouple in each state. cles were blindness sures and conseWorldwide Marriage and the difficulty of quences of an Encounter delegates organizing decades of increasingly oppresKeith and Lori Maumemories into a read- sive marriage. rmeier, of Cincinnati, able narrative. Fortunately, she See WOLFE, found a kindred spirit Page 6 See CASE, Page 7
Blindness no barrier
Special work with special children
Evelyn in 1932, in the dress that she wore at her high school graduation and at her wedding.
99th birthday. Many are purple, her favorite color. “You can look at them,” she offered, admiring each one. “Can you believe it?” Born on April 8, 1913 in Clinton County to Earl West and Eva Henry, VanDerVoort is the oldest of three See VANDERVOORT, Page 10
Longest-married couple in Ohio
Page 2
Hero honored Page 10
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out here,” she added. Fishing is a wonderful occupation in settings that are relaxing and uplifting. “I never thought I’d see the day when I could just take off and go fish!” said a newly retired minister. “I worked full-time all of my life. I enjoyed it. I also pastored a church. I enjoyed it too. I recently served two small Methodist churches in the area. I always fished, but not whenever I wanted to.” Treat yourself to a morning, day or evening at the lake, advises one enthusiast. All it takes is a license, pole, line, cork, bait and a little patience. And, as an old fishing adage goes, “Keep a tight line.”
Over 400 Monuments in stock to choose from!
Marvin and Margaret Case in their home in Georgetown.