The
Ogden Reporter
DEDICATED TO MAINTAINING A VIBRANT COMMUNITY VOLUME 138
OGDEN, IOWA 50212 - WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21, 2013
NUMBER 16
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Matthew Blackmore hired as high school principal Ogden High School welcomes Matthew Blackmore as its new principal. Matthew recently served as high school assistant principal and athletic director at Ankeny High School in Ankeny. “I am very excited to work with the students, families and community members that call Ogden home,” says Blackmore. “This year our staff will focus on the overall experience that we offer students. From professional learning communities, to curriculum mapping, our staff is working to develop student success at a higher rate while challenging them in and out of the classroom.” Blackmore received both his BA (special education) and MA (school administration) from Lewis University. He also received his Superintendent Licensure in Advanced Studies from Iowa State University. Blackmore began his academic career teaching special education at his hometown of Lockport, ILL where he coached the Class 8A state champion football team. He then accepted a high school principal position at Plainfield North High School in Plainfield, ILL before taking the position in Ankeny. His wife Megan is employed by Two Rivers Marketing in Des Moines. They have a son and two daughters: William, 9; Finley, 6 and Maggie Shea, 3.
MATTHEW BLACKMORE OHS Principal
Organist tickles the ivories at church one last time “I never did take organ lessons,” confesses Rita Seeman, who after 72 years of playing the organ for St. John’s Catholic Church is retiring her position. “I just went from piano to organ, teaching myself, so I guess I am not really authentic, but at least we had music.” Last Sunday was her final day of accompanying the St. John’s congregation and leading the choir. In recognition of her music ministries and to thank her for her many years of service, a reception will be held Sunday, Aug. 25 after mass. Cards can be sent to her at 325 SE 4th Street, Ogden, Iowa 50212. Seeman began playing at the church when she was 12 years old. The church at the time was located in the northwest corner of town. It has since been torn down with the new one built at its present location on W Division Street. Seeman remembers growing up in a musical family. “Mom was musical and always wanted us girls to sing, so we would perform as trios and duets in contests, at PTA meetings and even between basketball games.” In selecting songs for Sunday masses throughout the years Seeman explained how she would do her best to tie them in with the homily (sermon). But as she was seeing her time at the keys wind down she couldn’t resist sneaking in her all time favorite “Mine Eyes
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. The City of Ogden seats up for election in 2013 include: Mayor, currently held by Keith Berg; and two City Council seats currently held by David Ohlson and Brian Reimers. The first day candidates may file papers is Monday, Aug. 26, 2013. The last day of the filing period is Thursday, Sept. 19, 2013 before 5 p.m. -More on page two.
PRESTON CHURCH First Team All-State
Bulldogs receive All-State recognition Ogden Bulldog senior Preston Church was chosen First Team All-State by the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association (IHSBCA). Teammate Cody Good was named to the IHSBCA Academic All-State First Team. The 27th AllAcademic First Team consists of the top 22 players nominated by their coaches, who demonstrate outstanding academic, moral, and athletic characteristics. Both Bulldogs were instrumental in helping Ogden to a 21-9 record this past season, under Coach Dick Smith. The team placed second in the West Central Conference with a 17-3 mark and was ranked 7th in the final season poll for Class 2A. Church was selected as an allstate pitcher after recording an ERA of .90, striking out 134 batters and finishing the season with an 8-3 record. At the plate, Church blasted 2 home runs, 4 triples and 14 doubles while driving in 34 runs. He completed his season with an on-base percentage of over 50% - .536 while batting .463. Ogden’s senior shortstop and pitcher, Good, who started in all 30 games, led the Bulldogs with 16 stolen bases in 20 attempts. He batted .414 with an on-base percentage of
.468. During his final season, Good posted 3 triples, 10 doubles with 19 RBIs. “Out of only 99 at bats Cody struck out just three times, and that is unbelievable,” said the Bulldog coach. In his 26 innings of pitching Good had an ERA of 3.15. He struck out 35 batters while only walking two, finishing with a 5-2 record. “We think Preston is the first Division I baseball player to come out of Ogden,” commented Smith. “He’s been very dedicated, works hard and puts in the extra time to go to clinics to make himself a better player. Baseball is his true love.” Church will be playing college ball at Northern Illinois University. Smith added, “Both he and Cody are very good athletes and great kids. Their personalities lead the team.”
First Team by Iowa Preps. Ogden held its awards night Monday, Aug. 5. See inside for AllDistrict, All-Conference and team awards. Junior Showcase Following his junior season, Colton Boggess, catcher for the OHS Bulldogs, was nominated for the Baseball Coaches Association Junior Showcase. The Showcase was held Sunday, Aug. 4 at Southeast Polk High School. Boggess was one of 150 Iowa high school junior baseball players invited to this event.
More all-state honors The Iowa Sports Spotlight released its 2013 Iowa High School Baseball All-State teams (based on play throughout the regular season), and both Ogden players made the list, Church as a first team selection and Good a second team selection. Church was also chosen All-State
COLTON BOGGESS Junior Showcase nominee
What it is that draws Meister back to Africa by KATHY PIERCE
REPORTER STAFF WRITER
A RITA SEEMAN Retiring as organist Have Seen the Glory.” Father Bruch questioned her about it after mass. Her response, “I love it and I wanted to play it!” was all she said. One of her other favorite songs she says is “Ave Maria.” Seeman still plans on playing piano when she moves into her new place at the Evangelical Free Church Home in Boone. She just doesn’t know how she’s going to get all the sheet music/books she wants over there.
Ogden woman joins sales team for Mialisia Brenda Fisher has joined the ranks of more than 1,000 sales representatives across the country to bring a new twist to the way women wear jewelry. The company is called Mialisia, and the concept is revolutionary. Mialisia is a direct sales company specializing in what they call VersaStyle™ jewelry. These VersaStyle™ pieces are made with hooks on both ends, which allow women to wear the piece multiple ways, essentially designing their own unique looks. This ground breaking, patentpending concept is revolutionizing the way women wear jewelry. Sean and Annelise Brown, the Founders of Mialisia, are not new to the jewelry game. For the last three years, they have run the successful company BlingTime from their basement in Iowa. Over those
City elections are Tuesday, Nov. 5
CODY GOOD Academic All-State
three years, they processed almost $1 million in sales. They were in the beginning stages of launching in the retail industry when they decided to pursue a direct sales route instead. Sean resigned from his executive position at a national bank and moved to Utah with Annelise where a direct sales model could be more effectively implemented. Since the birth of Mialisia, the company has seen exponential growth. The company has distributors enrolled in 49 states and three American Territories. “The success we’ve had so early on has exceeded our expectations,” Annelise said. “To take our business BRENDA FISHER Please turn to page two
S THE SUMMER following graduation winds down, many high school seniors begin to prepare for college, with an uneasy anticipation. After all, the past 18 years they were surrounded by friends and family. But now, they find themselves packing bags and moving onto a new life with many unknown adventures. Haley Meister still has a year of high school left so it is hard to imagine her feelings when she packed bags for a journey halfway around the world. Meister had gone on mission trips before. This was different. She would not be traveling with wellknown companions and her stay would extend through most of the summer, June 21 through July 30. “I was hesitant,” said Meister of a return trip to Africa. “It would definitely put me out of my comfort zone.” Then she remembered the faces from the 2012 trip she took with the Bethel Youth Church. “My heart truly broke for those people.” According to Meister her decision was a step of faith. “I knew I would be relying on God to guide me.” Meister joined a group of 32 individuals from all over the United States as part of the Royal Servants, a Reign Ministries’ summer mission program. Reign Ministries, headquartered in Minneapolis, MN is a non-denominational Christian mission trips ministry. The two part trip would take them to Sierra Leone’s capital of Free Town for two weeks. A majority of the remaining time was spent in the town of Bo at an orphanage where she met the man who established the orphanage. He just happened to be from Marshalltown, IA. “Sierra Leone is one of the poorest countries in the world,” said Meister. She described the homes
as one room shacks with dirt floors. Walls were made from anything and everything. Whatever was available. “And the neighborhoods were like a maze, She explained. “The closer the shacks were together, the poorer the people were.” While visiting their homes Meister noted that the one thing they do have is relationships. “In their communities they rely on each other. It’s almost refreshing to go into that culture. And they are so hospitable and welcome you so much.” A good portion of their ministry was evangelism. Members of the group visited detention centers and boarding schools where they divided into skills groups. They incorporated the Gospel in drama, dance and puppet presentations. After breaking into small groups they would offer words of encouragement and say prayers. Meister saw first-hand benefits of the World Vision International child sponsorship program. Sponsored children, she says, are provided with food and clothing. Any remaining funds help around the community. Meister says if you are interested in sponsoring a child, to make sure you are with a reliable organization such as World Vision or Compassion International. Their final week was spent in Paris where they went through a debriefing. Meister explained: “They said we would go through a culture shock upon returning home, coming off of a spiritual high. Since the ministry is very much focused on coming home and making sure you apply what you learned, they talked about how to still make serving God and glorifying him at home important in our lives.” Haley is senior at Ogden High School. The crowded streets of Free Port. Although English is the official language Creole is predominately spoken in the villages.
Haley Meister’s heart went out to the children in Sierra Leone, a country that still has a lot of issues with malaria. “Treatment is only $5 but people would be dying because they didn’t have the money,” says Meister.