Photo by Mark Ryder/Dillsburg Banner

     Salute to Service: Recognition ceremony honors Vietnam veterans and all     who served

Joe Guty

   For those old enough now who remember the summer of 1969, there was Woodstock, the Apollo 11 Moon Landing, the Miracle Mets late season comeback to win the World Series, and a song of the times called "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine in" by the Fifth Dimension.

   There was also a war going on in Vietnam.

   A half century later, veterans and their families gathered in Dillsburg last Friday to reminisce next to an iconic piece of Vietnam history: a fully restored Huey UH1H that saw action in 1968 and the summer of 1969. Huey #823.

   The recognition ceremony that took place before the Northern High School and Mechanicsburg football game honored Vietnam veterans and served as a Salute to Service for all veterans.

   Emotions and images that evening were both somber and spectacular.

   There was a tribute to Northern H.S. alumni who perished in the war: John Wesley Dahr, class of '65 and William Gleixner, class of '63.

   The Liberty Warbirds Asociation, based in Lititz, Pa. provided the Huey static display and then an inspiring flyover, veering out from the South Mountain setting sun backdrop, and across Bostic Field.

   "That is a restored UH1H that was one of the later moels that had a bigger engine," said veteran and Liberty Warbird pilot Chuck Bechtel. "It was in Vietnam for two years in 1968 and 1969. And it was with the Copany C Avn Bn 101st Airborne Division and later with the 170th AHC."

   Bechtel and the Huey go back many years.

   "I was there in '68 and so we (the Huey #823 and I) were there at the same time, but I didn't know it," added Bechtel. "The helicopter has a special impact on the Vietnam vets. If they were like me and spent a lot of time in one, it's like a spiritual thing."

   The sharing of a personal history and memories with that helicopter resonated for those who served and those who didn't.

   "If you look at the door it says 170 on it and looks like it did in 1969 when it was with the 170th assualt helicopter," said Bechtel with pride. "This helicopter is known as a Slick. If you look at it from the front, you don't see gun parts on it. It was used to take pilots into combat, usually about six combat loaded troops would fit in there, there were no seats, you just sat on the floor. We did as many as three combat assualts in one day. Normally in a unit like that, they would have three platoons of the Slicks and another platoon of gunships. The gunships would go in with the troop carriers to cover them."

                                                Cost of trash to go up

Peggie Williams

   Carroll Township residents will be paying more for trash collection in the future. A new five-year contract with Penn Waste was signed during the supervisors' meeing Monday. The new rate for 2020 will be $69.50 a quarter and will rise incrementally each year to $84.60 in 2024.

  But supervisors rejected an option in the contract that would have allowed Penn Waste to collect a $3 a quarter administration fee that would be returned to the township.

   During the workshop meeting last week, township secretary Faye Romberger explained that the money would go toward supporting the township's lawn waste recycling center. At that time Supervisor Brian Schmick called the fee a tax and said he would not support it.

   This week, the other supervisors agreed.

   "We already have a hefty tax rate in Carroll Township and we don't need this money at this time," said Supervisor Andy Ritter.

   None of the supervisors could recall discussing the fee as they hashed out the contract specifics for the bid requests and they wondered where it even came from.

   The only other bid for the trash collector was from Republic.

Wildcats tame Polar Bears; Swartz adds yards to record

Joe Guty

   Mechanicsburg H.S. football fans did not have far to travel to see their Wildcats fight off Northern 35-26 last Friday night at Bostic Field. Senior Kyle Swartz rushed for 291 yards on 35 carries against the ‘Cats but had a formidable foe in quarterback Micah Brubaker who sliced and diced Northern for 303 total yards.

   Northern fell to 1-2 on the year as a road trip to Mifflin County H.S. and start of the Mid Penn Colonial Division slate awaits this Friday. Mechanicsburg improved to 2-1 on the year.

   Swartz added significant yardage to boost his already hefty school record mark to now 3,637 career yards going back to his freshman year in 2016. Northern’s former rushing record holder Mike Lowery was on hand to honor Swartz early in the first quarter as play was stopped and the recognition ceremony took place.

   “Missing the first two games it was a little devastating to me,’ said Swartz after the game. “I wanted to play strong and help the team out. The offensive line was amazing, the blocking was there.”

   Mechanicsburg got out of the blocks quickly as they scored on their third play from scrimmage – a72-yard touchdown pass from Brubaker to Will Hoover at 11:10. The Polar Bears got on the scoreboard at 3:29 in the second quarter on Jordan Heisey’s five yard keeper. The Wildcats answered with Brubaker’s run from three yards out to make it 14-6 at the half. Brubaker opened up the second half with a 50-yard TD run at 9:13 while Swartz, Heisey and Zach Beam got the hosts to the seven-yard line where Heisey scored again. Another big play from Mechanicsburg – this time Keegan Neill’s 82-yard reception and score -- made it 28-13 with five minutes left in the third quarter. Swartz’s TD run at 1:57 brought the Polar Bears closer as the Wildcats led 28-19. Another TD run by Heisey at 6:58 put Northern back in it with the ‘Cats holding a slim 28-26 lead. Mechanicsburg then ran the option with Brubaker finding daylight and the endzone 55 yards away at 5:27.

   “I think there were times throughout the game we got into position to potentially win the game and then we left them off the hook,” said head coach Bill Miller. “Hats off to Mechanicsburg, that quarterback (Brubaker) is an impressive player and they did what they had to do.”

   Northern clawed back but could not get a drive going as time ran out. A gaggle of holding penalties and some fundamental lapses, combined with a new and improved Mechanicsburg opponent, left the Polar Bears on the short side of the 35-26 decision.

   “We have some talent and ability, but we have to play cleaner and more disciplined,” added Miller.

                       Northern wins LVC title; Starliper sets PA record

Joe Guty

   At the Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen Invitational last Saturday, the winning Northern H.S. Girls Cross Country team led the field of 23 teams with 39 points. Senior Marlee Starliper continued her amazing run with a 16:30 time over the 5k course. That mark established a new Pennsylvania state record, eclipsing the 16:43 set by Mechanicsburg’s Louis Brommer back in 1981. Senior Katie Anthony clocked 19:12.90 to place fourth and sophomore Allie Engle was 8th in 19:33.70.

   Junior Madison Saltsburg was 10th in 19:45.50 and freshman Anslee Depasqua was 20th in 20:37.60. Junior Dixie Ramsey (22nd in 20:41.90) and freshman Elizabeth Anthony (39th in 21:55.20) completed the Lady Polar Bears’ top seven. Finishing in the top 100 for Northern: Krista Elicker (22:37.70), Elayna Haring (23:27.20) and Ann Secord (24:39.70). Also competing for Northern were: Elena Stonge (25:44.40), Rebecca Tirko (28:56.40), Mikalan Stauffer (29:46.50), Anna Gamble (30:32.70) and Ava Paterniti (31:43.40). Northeastern H.S. placed second behind Northern with 51 points followed by Cedar Crest (70), Palmyra (95), and Tamaqua Area (151). Individually, junior Gwyneth Young of Cedar Crest placed second overall in 18:30. Junior Margaret Carroll of Northeastern was third in 18:43.

   In the boys’ race, the Northern harriers placed 8th out of 27 teams with senior Aric Graham leading the way in 39th place and time of 17:34.70. Sophomore John Noll was 41st (17:34.90) followed in the Polar Bears’ top seven by junior Shea Fisler (43rdin 17:36.30), sophomore Jaden Hepner (46th in17:38.70), senior Nathan Bishop (54th in 17:46.50), junior Blaise Dibeler (59thin 17:52.80) and sophomore Derrik Stine (66th in18:08.90). Completing the Polar Bear squad: Jackson Hazen (19:10.30), Dylan Hake (19:15.60), Rowan Fisher (19:28.70), Forrest Dohner (19:30.30), Elias Santos (19:58.70), Jack Little (19:58.90), Tyler Beaty (20:01.90), Joseph Santos (20:47.90), Kolby Ritter (20:51.60), Nathan Gamble (21:35), Luke Micsky (21:53.10), Jake Eby (22:56.20), Gavin Fletcher (22:58), Anton Reznikov (23:03.70), Alex Zerbe (23:23.90), Michael Kurten (23:27.20), Aaron Argot (23:28) and Wes Gessaman (23:35.50).

   Northern is slated to compete in the PIAA Foundation meet in Hershey on Sept. 21 and the Carlisle Invitational on Sept. 28. The next regular season meet was scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 10 at East Pennsboro H.S. (along with Bishop McDevitt). On Sept. 17, Northern hosts Camp Hilland Milton Hershey H.S.