Photo sumitted by Chad Fisher

Dillsburg sculpter capture national attention

Marie Chomicki

   Two statues created by a Dillsburg artist wre unveiled Tuesday, Sept. 3 by the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, Chicago, Ill., to days before their centennial season opener against the Green Bay Packers.

   Chad Fisher sculpted the bronze replicas of the legendary Hall of Famers Walter "Sweetness" Payton and George S. Halas, which now stand outside Gate 0.

 The statues are 12 feet tall and weigh about 3,000 punds apiece. The Payton statue was shipped from Fisher's studio on N. Baltimore Street to its new home last week. Hala was privately unveiled outside the main entrance of Halas Hall on Aug. 23, 2015.

 "It is only appropriate that the father of professional football and the greatest player in the history of the game are being honored in this way, and perhaps no better time for the unveiling than as we kick off our centennial season." Bears Chairman George H. McCaskey said in a Bear press release. "Thank you to the Chicago Park District, Soldier Field and SMG for their support througout the process, and to sculptor Chad Fisher for his artistry in bringing his subjects to life.

   "This is truly a good representation of Walter an who he is," Connie Payto, Walter's widow told the Chicago Tribune on Tuesday. "So we couldn't be prouder."

  According to the Chicago Tribune, Connie Payton said she and the family were exacting about the pose and every other detail in her late husband's statue and even paid Fisher a visit at his studion in Dillsburg to see the clay sculpture.

   "Walter was really particular about how he wore his socs, his spats, his headband, his towel.  He wasn't going out on that field if things weren't just right with the way he looked," Connie Peyton told the Tribune.

   "So, we thought, you've got to get this right. We got him all these new details--and he (sculpture Chad Fisher) did. He followed, he listened, he stdied, and he got it right."

                                Pedestrian struck on Rt. 15 dies of injuries

Peggie Williams

   An Enola man who was struck on Rt. 15 Tuesday night died later at the hospital. His death akes the seventh fatality in a little over a yar along the 8.9 mile stretch of highway through Dillsburg from the Cumberland to Adams County lines.

  Samuel A. Miller, 27, was pronounced dead from multiple traumatic injuries at 9:34 p.m. by a doctor at Geisinger Holy Spirit, according to Cumberland County Coroner Charles Hall.  

   Carroll Township police said Miller was attempting to cross the highway from the Dairy Queen side the Giant parking lot side when he was struck in the southbound lanes at 8:50 p.m. by a driver of a Kia sedan from the 600-block of Range End Road, Dillsburg.

   Officer Michael Lohre, lead investigator, is interviewing witnesses. It is undetermined where Miller came from and why he was trying to cross the roadway.

   The Southbound lane of Rt. 15 was shut down by Northern York County Fire Rescue, fire police and Carroll Township police for five hours. Tractor trailers going south were detoured at the Lisburn Road exit, north of the accident.

Polar Bears to host wildcats, Honor Vietnam Veterans

Joe Guty                                            

   Mechanicsburg is slated to arrive at Bostic Field this Friday night to face Northern H.S. in the Polar Bears’ home opener. Yet there will be much more than football.

   The pre-game ceremonies and the gridiron clash of rival schools has been billed as the Salute to Vietnam Veterans game. In addition to a fireworks display, the large U.S. Flag, honor guard and National Anthem, there will be a Huey Helicopter (courtesy of the Liberty Warbirds) flyover after the anthem. As well, there will also be a Vietnam era Howitzer on display, courtesy of the108th Pennsylvania National Guard.

   Vietnam veterans will be on the field pre-game during the festivities. The Liberty Warbirds is a Lancaster-based organization that promotes the recognition of Vietnam veterans and educational programs for community and school organizations. The Northern H.S. Athletic Department, under the leadership of Gerry Schwille organized the special, pre-game program.

   The Polar Bears, looking for redemption on Friday night, fell to 1-1 last week as host Middletown rolled to a 34-7 win over the injury riddled Northern squad. Meanwhile, Mechanicsburg (1-1), earned their first victory of the season as they blanked Palmyra H.S. 42-0. Northern eagerly awaits the return of senior running back Kyle Swartz, who was injured three weeks ago and missed the two first games. Last week, Middletown’s Jose Lopezstole the show as he rambled for 245 yards and scored four touchdowns.

  Northern also lost the services of defensive stars Zach Mowchan and Hunter Fitterling in the first quarter against the Blue Raiders. Scrambling to make personnel adjustments, Northern still played a solid first half despite giving up a late second quarter score and 19-point deficit.

   “When we were at full strength, we played Middletown as well as we ever have,” said head coach Bill Miller early this week.“I told the team that it’s no accident they (Middletown) have played for three straight state titles.”

   Northern’s lone score was Tyler Weary’s highlight film pick 6 that covered 58 yards. And freshman Mason Yohn showed excellent leg strength with an end-of-first-half, near miss 42-yard field goal attempt that hit the right post. The boot had five yards of air extra time and gave clear indication of Yohn’s potential.

   “I was happy with the way the kids played and some good things happened,” added Miller. “It’s tough to keep a positive composure with all the injuries and setbacks that occurred during the game.”

   Stat highlights were limited for the Polar Bears: Jordan Heisey was 5-for-16 for 48 yards and had nine carries for 50 yards. CJ Wagner had 18 carries for 39 yards. Tyler Yohn had one catch for 20 yards and Aidan Wenger had one reception for 18 yards. Luke Horvath led the defensive unit with 11 total tackles (solo and assists) followed by Donovan Bair (10), Jeffrey Wright (9),Tim Geiser (8), Joe Kostelac (6) and Bay Blaschak (5).

   Here’s how Northern’s 2019 opponents fared last week: Big Spring 33 JamesBuchanan 8; Mechanicsburg 42 Palmyra 0; Camp Hill 28 Greencastle-Antrim 25; Hollidaysburg 27 Mifflin County 0; Red Lion 14 Waynesboro 12; West Perry 62 York Vo Tech 20; and Shippensburg 38 West York 0. 

                                   Bears pour on the offense, open season 2-0

Andy Sandrik

   At the start of the season, Northern boys soccer coach Gaz Davies suggested that the toughest opponents on the schedule just might be the first two teams the Polar Bears faced: Mechanicsburg and Greencastle.

   The Wildcats and Blue Devils, after all, have been a thorn in Northern's side, combining for a 9-0 record against Davies' Polar Bears since the 2016 season.

   Northern finally struck back, with the Polar Bears shutting out Mechanicsburg 4-0 in Saturday's season opener before clocking Greencastle 7-2 on Tuesday evening to open up Mid-Penn Colonial Division play.

   Northern (2-0, 1-0 Colonial), which has won nine of its last 10 regular season games dating back to last season, has seen seven different players score goals over these first two games of 2019.

   The Polar Bears will try to stay hot when they return to the pitch today for a road game at Waynesboro. Northern will then host Carlisle on Saturday, before traveling once again for games at Dover on Monday and James Buchanan on Tuesday.

   Northern 4, Mechanicsburg 0. After three years of getting shoved around by backyard rival Mechanicsburg, Northern pushed back in a big way, routing the Wildcats in a shutout in Saturday's season opener.

   The Polar Bears assumed a 3-0 halftime thanks to a penalty kick goal from Ian Hall in the 14th minute, an unassisted score from Nate Spuler in the 30th minute and a Shep Soisson goal in the 36th minute, which came on an assist from Ashton Davies.

   Northern, which outshot Mechanicsburg by a 22-7 margin, extended its lead early in the second half from Connor Swope that was assisted by Soisson.