Print Edition Highlights - May 31, 2012

Memorial Day
A day marked by freedom
By Erica Smithson

Photos by Mark Ryder
Tom MacSkimming, Sr. Vice Commander, Dillsburg VFW, salutes the memorial to veterans at the Dillsburg Cemetery Memorial Day services on Monday.

____ In his Memorial Day speech this Monday, Lt. Col. John A. Mowchan reminded a crowd gathered in the Dillsburg Cemetery that the day is marked by freedom. “Freedom from teachers, freedom from homework, freedom from heavy coats and boots,” he said, remembering his childhood anticipation of the day commonly referred to as the unofficial start of summer. With temperatures reaching nearly 90 degrees throughout the weekend, those images are certainly true. But all joking aside, what really warms hearts every Memorial Day is that all servicemen and women, including Mowchan, have fought for the United States with selfless courage to protect the life, liberty and pursuit of happiness of their fellow citizens.
____ The Dillsburg celebration of Memorial Day began at 10:45 a.m. with a parade that departed from the Dillsburg Post 6771 Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) building on Franklin Street. Cub Scouts in Packs 38 and 203, the Boy Scouts, Northern High School’s marching band and flag team, veterans riding in classic cars, the fire rescue engine 64 and the VFW Riders marched or motored their way through Baltimore Street and on to the cemetery. Parade-goers lined the streets, waving and thanking the passing veterans for their service.

Gerald Sabol, Angie Gallo and Wendell Chilcote, all veterans, enroute to the ceremony.

The Northern High School Band leads the parade down South Baltimore Street.

See the May 31, 2012 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

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Local municipalities asked to adopt tobacco-free ordinance
By Erica Smithson

____The Cumberland-Perry Drug and Alcohol Commission is taking on the responsibility of implementing the Young Lungs at Play program within Cumberland County municipalities, townships and boroughs. Carlisle Borough, Lemoyne Borough, South Middleton Township and Silver Spring Township have already put the ordinance into effect. At a Board of Commissioners meeting on May 16, Fiona BeLieu Williston, a prevention program supervisor with the commission, asked Upper Allen Township to consider doing the same. The township has 12 parks within its boundaries.
____The program asks municipalities to consider adopting a tobacco-free ordinance (if they don’t already have one) in their parks, schools, daycares and any other place with a children’s play area.

See the May 31, 2012 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

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Northern Graduation

____The sixty first annual Commencement Exercises of Northern High School will be held Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. at the Christian Life Assembly Church, 2645 Lisburn Road, Camp Hill.

Valedictorian (Nicholas Sooy)

Salutatorian (Katerina Maylock)

See the May 31, 2012 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

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Incoming principal ready for challenges
Mechanicsburg Middle School’s Joel Yohn to take post
By Zach Smith


Photo by Curt Werner
New Principal at Mechanicsburg Middle School. After 41 years, Len Ference, right, is retiring from the Mechanicsburg Middle School. The new principal will be Joel Yohn.

____Joel Yohn says working with stellar teachers who are passionate about education and a supportive PTO have helped him build successful education career.
____Now he is moving forward in that career, which has spanned 15 years. Yohn is set to become Mechanicsburg Middle School's new principal.
____Yohn said he couldn't possible fill the shoes of Principal Leonard Ference, who is retiring after 41 years in education, but rather will have to wear his own. When Ference announced his retirement, the district posted the position internally, which drew a number of applicants vying for the post.

See the May 31, 2012 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

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Going to the
Rodeo

Story and photos by Curt Werner

Jeff Pearson, of Mexico, is assisted by bull fighters Tom Drury, Jr. and Dustin Gingrich during a close call.

____Monday was the perfect day for kids to be a cowboy or cowgirl. Just six miles outside of Dillsburg, the Wellsville Frontier Days club presented its 51st annual rodeo.
____The heat did not stop hundreds of fans from showing up to see what many have only seen on television: an action-packed day of calf roping, 3-D barrel racing, bull riding and many more events.
____Children were involved in some of the fun. Two groups of kids, under 5 years old and over 5 years old, went to the arena for a stick horse race. The children with the stick horse in hand had to run around a barrel to a finish line, and the announcer, Kevin Tracy, was right there with them running the course!

Eric Sheffer, of Dillsburg, tries to hang on to the rope while riding the bull.

See the May 31, 2012 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

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Smutsky wins two medals
Story and photos by Joe Guty

Northern's Bobby Smutsky placed fifth in the Class AAA javelin at the 2012 PIAA State Track and Field Championships.

____Northern senior Bobby Smutsky capped his high school track-and-field career in style last weekend as he garnered two state medals in the PIAA State Track and Field Championships. On a hazy hot humid Saturday at Shippensburg University, Smutsky launched a school record 192-11 javelin throw to earn a fifth-place medal. After his preliminary three throws, which included his best throw and gained his spot in the final round, Smutsky ran to the stadium to compete in the finals of the 200-meter dash.
____The senior speedster ran strong through the first curve and powered down the straight to clock 22.05 and earn the bronze medal. Eric Futch, of Penn Wood, ran 21.70 to claim the Class AAA title. Ronnie Gillespie, of Upper Perkiomen, ran 22.00 for the runner-up spot.

See the May 31, 2012 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.

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