Rex Miller Announces Retirement From Oregon-Davis

Posted on Author WKVI
Oregon-Davis School Superintendent Dr. Steve Disney

“He could and did fill almost every position in the school system. We’re losing a great employee.” Oregon-Davis School Superintendent Steve Disney said these kind words about Rex Miller as he announced his retirement from the system.

During his tenure, Miller has been, among other things, the athletic director, media specialist, assistant principal, and even subbed as a bus driver occasionally. He retired as the dean-administrative assistant.

“He was an Oregon-Davis Bobcat through and through. He and his wife Brenda moved to this school system, and they never left. Rex was a strong community member who was willing to do whatever he could for the O.D. kids,” said Disney.

Oregon-Davis School Board Seeking Two New Members

Posted on Author WKVI
Oregon-Davis Jr./Sr. High School

The Oregon-Davis School Corporation is searching for two replacements for the school board. Candidates are being sought for a District III position and an At-Large member.

If you are interested in serving on the Oregon-Davis School Board, submit a letter of interest with background information and reasons why you want to be a school board member. Included in the letter should be an explanation of how you could contribute to the success of the Oregon-Davis School Corporation.

Consideration for candidates will be held at the June 18 school board meeting.

Send candidacy letters to Julie McLiver, administrative assistant at the Oregon-Davis School Corporation at 5998 N. 750 E., Hamlet, IN, 46532. Oregon-Davis has a policy of providing equal opportunity.

The Fire Mission Controller – Part Three

Posted on Author WKVI
Jim Hardesty

This week we have followed Jim Hardesty of Hamlet from his time at Purdue University to the invasion of Germany during World War II. It is part of a story written for “Generations the Magazine,” a publication dedicated to telling the stories of those people who shaped our nation one generation at a time.

This final episode features Hardesty’s experience with the allied army as it fought the Germans in the Hurtgen Forest along the German-Belgian border.

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The Fire Mission Controller – Part Three

Posted on Author WKVI
James Hardesty

We have been following the military career of Jim Hardesty of Hamlet this week after he was featured in the latest issue of Generations the Magazine, recounting his military experience in World War II. D-Day was June 6, and every day after that had a number attached. Hardesty landed with the 172nd Field Artillery Battalion on D-8 – June 14.

Today, however, the story focuses on the battles fought in hedgerow country.

Hedgerows were mounds of dirt covered with trees or bushes that were so thick that a tank couldn’t get through them. As the American forces worked their way through this terrain they were forced to endure a considerable cost in lives. The Germans took full advantage of these barricades. Initial attempts at fighting through these barriers consisted of American tanks charging the hedgerows. When it reached the mound it would lift up, exposing the unprotected underbelly. This unarmored part of the tank was vulnerable and, Continue reading →

O-D Special Ed Teachers No Longer Employed By J.E.S.S.E.

Posted on Author WKVI
Oregon-Davis School Superintendent Dr. Steve Disney

Special education teachers in the Oregon-Davis school district are now being employed by the school itself instead of the Joint Educational Services in Special Education cooperative.

The switch is in response to a reorganization of the cooperative. Now being employed by O.D. are Heidi Temme, Robert Kleindeinst, and Roberta Salyer.

The announcement was made by Superintendent Dr. Steve Disney.

The Fire Mission Controller

Posted on Author WKVI
Jim Hardesty

With the permission of “Generations the Magazine,” we are this week presenting a portion of an April – May story about Jim Hardesty of Hamlet. It’s entitled “The Fire Mission Controller,” and chronicles Hardesty’s WWII military career.

Raymond and Anna Hardesty were hard working Indiana farmers who tilled the soil on their land outside the village of Hamlet. On January 29,1922, the young couple had their first child, a son they named James. Growing up on an Indiana farm at that time was an ideal existence.

While growing up, young James was responsible for feeding the chickens, gathering eggs, and cleaning the barn.

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SCYC Hamlet Students Learn About Health Value of Vegetables

Posted on Author WKVI
Cecilia Torres-Bowman and Rev. Kyle Wright and two students show the vegetables they grew in the garden

Remember when you were a kid and mom scolded you for not eating your vegetables? The Starke County Youth Club Hamlet site students have just completed a project that focused on the health effects of eating vegetables.

Last week, the students took visitors on a trip through their garden, showing off the healthy vegetables they had raised. There was everything from radishes to leafy greens in specially-built growing boxes.

The highlight of the program was the presentation of baskets full of fresh vegetables to the St. Mathew’s church and Community Services food pantries.

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Grovertown Woman Receives Community Leadership Award

Posted on Author WKVI

A Grovertown woman was presented with a Community Leadership award from 1st Source Bank. Mabel Paul was announced as the winner of the Ernestine M. Raclin award.

Five employees and five community volunteers who embody the spirit, values, energy, and leadership of Ernestine M. Raclin were given awards. Raclin was the past chairman of 1st Source Bank.

In the announcement of the award it was noted that Mabel Paul had served as secretary of the 4-H fair board for 28 years, and has planned numerous fundraisers and events, mentored children, and given back to the community in countless other ways.

Hamlet Police Department Gets A Humvee

Posted on Author WKVI

The Hamlet Police Department has received a unique addition to its fleet of police vehicles.

A Humvee from the U.S. Government was recently acquired, free of charge, by the department and Hamlet Town Marshall, Frank Lonigro III, says the vehicle will be used for community events and to better serve the community in the winter months when regular police vehicles can not maneuver as well in the snow. Labor, paint and decals for this vehicle were donated by the generosity of the Hamlet police officers.

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O.D. Tax Levy Passed; What’s Next?

Posted on Author WKVI
Oregon-Davis Jr./Sr. High School

Now that the Oregon-Davis property tax levy has passed, what’s next?

Superintendent Dr. Steve Disney said that he’s relieved that the levy passed and now he and the School Board are looking forward to enjoying the end of the school year on a positive note and planning for the 2012-2013 school year. State budget projections are a little vague at the moment, but Dr. Disney is confident that with the passage of the referendum the numbers will fit their needs in order to successfully manage the school. The corporation continues to operate off of its Rainy Day Fund to conduct everyday business.

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O-D Kingergarten Round-up to be Held Wednesday

Posted on Author WKVI

Kindergarten Round-up at Oregon-Davis Elementary School will be held on Wednesday, April 11 from noon to 6 p.m. CT.

Parents should bring the student’s birth certificate and immunization records at the time of registration. Children who turn five before August 1 should attend. Parents who cannot make it on this date can arrange a time to come in by contacting the school at 867-2711.

Oregon-Davis School Corporation is an open enrollment school district and accepts any students in the State of Indiana.

April Events Planned in Hamlet

Posted on Author WKVI

The Annual Easter Egg Hunt for residents of Hamlet is planned for Saturday in the town park. At 1:00 p.m., children will scramble to pick up as many eggs as they can in the hopes of winning one of four grand prizes.

Four age groups have been set up for the event: ages two and under, ages three to five, ages six to eight, and ages nine and up. The eggs for the hunt were provided by the Park Department at no cost.

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Yellowstone Trail Planning Committee to Meet

Posted on Author WKVI

The Yellowstone Trail Fest Planning Committee will be meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the Holy Cross Church, 100 S. Starke Street, in Hamlet, on Thursday, April 12th.

This year, the 100th Anniversary of the Yellowstone Trail will be celebrated. The trail was an early automobile route from Plymouth Rock to Puget Sound. The dates are August 17th-19th. Hamlet celebrates the fact that the town was on the Yellowstone Trail.

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John Goble, Sr. Accused of Theft

Posted on Author WKVI
John Goble, Sr.

John Goble, Sr., former Street Superintendent for the Town of Hamlet, was recently arrested on a warrant for theft.

Police say that in January, Goble and his son, John Goble, Jr., resigned their positions with the street department after a disagreement with the Hamlet Town Board and the Board appointed Town Marshal Frank Lonigro III as the temporary Street Superintendent until a full-time replacement was found.

Lonigro was told by the Town Board members to conduct an inventory of all town equipment with the Street Department. Lonigro could not find a current equipment inventory list so he contacted Smith Farm Store, where most of the town’s equipment is purchased, to get a list of receipts for 2011. Lonigro reportedly found that equipment purchased and was signed for by John Goble, Sr. was unaccounted for in an inventory check. Alleged items that have not been accounted for totals $1,358.65.

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Hamlet Man Arrested after Battery Incident

Posted on Author WKVI
Don Paulson

A Hamlet man was arrested Monday night after a domestic complaint.

An officer with the Hamlet Police Department arrived at 409 Pearl Street and found 54-year-old David Paulson on the front porch and he reportedly began yelling at the officers. Officers learned that Paulson had allegedly held a 15-year-old girl down on the couch and threw a beer can at her. The can hit the teenager in the face. Paulson was reportedly highly intoxicated at the time of the incident, according to police.

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Congressman Honors Robert Tauteris, Jr. on House Floor

Posted on Author WKVI
Congressman Donnelly Honors Robert Tauteris, Jr. on the House floor

Congressman Joe Donnelly took a few minutes to talk on the House floor about Robert Tauteris, Jr., of Hamlet, who died while serving his country in Afghanistan.

Robert’s two sons, Robert J. Tauteris III and Mathew, plus his daughter-in-law, Kayla, watched his speech from the gallery in the House chamber.

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Spc. Robert Tauteris, Jr. Laid to Rest

Posted on Author WKVI
Two children hold up signs to thank Spc. Robert Tauteris, Jr. for his service

Spc. Robert Joseph Tauteris, Jr. was laid to rest yesterday near his mother in a LaCrosse cemetery. Tauteris was killed in action in Afghanistan on January 5th, along with three other members of his platoon.

Hundreds of people attended the services at the Braman and Bailey Funeral Home in North Judson. Included was Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, Congressman Joe Donnelly and State Representative Nancy Dembowski.

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Robert Tauteris, Jr.’s Body to Arrive in Indiana Saturday

Posted on Author WKVI
A U.S. Army carry team transfers the remains of Army Spc. Robert Tauteris, Jr. at Dover Air Force Base

The body of Robert Tauteris, Jr. of Hamlet, will be arriving in Valparaiso from Dover, Delaware Saturday morning at approximately 9:20 a.m. A procession will leave Valparaiso between 9:45-10:00 a.m. and follow the route of U.S. 30 to U.S. 421 to State Road 10 into North Judson. If you wish to safely line the streets to greet the procession, you are welcome to do so.

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