Photo by Curt Werner

Lindsey Mann, center, was crowned the 2019 Farmers Fair Queen Monday night. Chloe Harley, left, is second runner-up and Marissa Freed, right, is first runner up.

Farmers Fair Queen Pageant

Dreams do come true

   Ever since Lindsay Mann was a little girl, she imagined being on the Farmers Fair Queen Pageant stage, she said.

   On Monday night, the Northern High School senior found herself not only there, but crowned as the queen at the 64th Annual Queen Pageant held before a nearly full house in the high school auditorium.

   "It's insane," she said with a beaming smile, in between posing for pictures and signing autographs for the little girls whom she hopes to impact as this year's queen. Maybe some of them, she said, are also dreaming of being on this very stage one day.

   "I definitely didn't think I was going to get queen," said Lindsay, daughter of Ken and Julie Mann, who was escorted by her brother, Alex. "I didn't think I deserved it more that the others, but you know what? We're all queens."

   That kind of closeness among the contestants stood out to the pageant organizers, said Audi Kimmel, Farmers Fair Queen Pageant Committee member.

   "They really bonded," she said. "Maybe becaue it's a smaller group than usual."

   Only five young women vied for the title this year--the smallest circle of contestants anyone can remember.

   First Runner-Up is Marissa Freed, daughter of Charles and Ruth Freed, who was escorted by Johnathan Wirth. Second Runner-Up is Chloe Harley, daughter of Angie Harley, who was escorted by Nathan Bishop.

   The other contestants were Makayla Decker, daughter of Shannon and Barry Decker, who was escorted by Ben Barton, and Lauren Sober, daughter of Ken and Shauna Sober and escorted by her father.

   The theme of the pageant was giving back to the community, and the girls were asked to focus their talent presentations on something they are passionate about or a new cause they they learned about, said Jenna Wessels, another member of the Farmers Fair Queen Pageant Committee.

                         Dillsburg honors fallen soldier 52 years later

   More than 200 community members met at Dillsug's square last Saturday to remember a native son who gave his life in service to his country.

   The memorial flagpole dedication ceremony honored Specialist 4th Class John Wesley Dahr, a graduate of Northern High School Class of 1963, who was killed in action in Vietnam on January 8, 1967, three days before his 21st birthday. Dahr was attempting to carry a wounded soldier to safety, his fourth, when he was fatally wounded. He earned the nation's second highest honor, the Distinguished Service Cross, for his actions that day.

   Gold star mother Anna Dahr unveiled the stone monument with the help of pesident Doug Riley, president of the Northern York County Historical Society, and Holly Kelly, president of the Dillsburg Borough Council.

   The monument is made of black granite, the same material used on the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington D.C. The inscription also uses the same font as the war memorial. It was placed on the square the previous Thursday night and covered with a black bunting.

   "It was an honor to be with the Dahr family," Kelly said.

   Peter Dahr, John's brother and Army veteran, said the family is so grateful--the monument is beautiful. He said his mother said it was a "wonderful tribute" to her son, that she was especially pleased to see the radio operator, John Colasurdo, who was with her son the day he died. Colasurdo had the task of identifying his best friend that fateful day. Pete said his mother, who is 96, and doesn't get out that much, enjoyed visiting with everyone, too.

   "It was so moving, absolutely amazing, far more than anticipated," Linda Dahr, Pete's wife said.

   Guests and speakers included retired U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Harold E. Redding, who read the citation Dahr recieved from his commanding offier; Lorin Stough, Northern Class of 1963; U.S. Representative Scott Perry, retired Brigdier General, U.S. National Guard; Nate Wilcox from the office of the State Senator Mike Regan and State Representative Dawn Keefer.

   The program and memorial monument were designed with the guidance, cooperation, and support of Kelley; the Dillsburg Borough manager and council; Ed Andrews, Dillsburg VFW; Eric Selders, American Legion, NYCHAPS; and Northern alumnus Ron Colvin, of Gingrich Memorials.

Polar Bears to face 'Dawgs

Joe Guty                                      

   In week nine of the 2019 season, Northern traveled to Newville this Farmers Fair Friday night to face Big Springs H.S. (4-4 overall).

   Last Friday at Bostic Field, Northern fell to 5-3 on the year and 3-1 in the Mid Penn Colonial Division after Shippensburg edged the Polar Bears 27-21. The Greyhounds remain undefeated at 8-0 and 5-0 in the Colonial.

   In the PIAA District III, Class 5A Power Rankings, Shippensburg also sits atop the leaderboard and Northern is ranked 12th. For Class 5A, a total of 14 teams advance to the Dirtrict III playoffs. Waynesboro, the Polar Bears' last opponent on the regular season schedule (Oct. 25) is currently ranked 14th. Big Springs, a Class 4A team, fell to 1-3 in the Colonial Division last week as West Perry defeated the Bulldogs 35-7.

   Shippensburg scored on their second possesion with a four-play drive capped by Alex Sharrow's 60-yard scamper at 6:32. Norther answered on a fumble recovery and three-play drive ending with Jordan Heisey's touchdown from nine yards out at 3:46. A Manning-to-Houser pass play covered 40 yards for Shipp's second score of the second quarter, Luke Horvath made a key block on a Shipp defender, and Kyle Swartz cut back inside for Northern's second TD of the night. Tim Gieser made two pass deflections near the line of scrimmage to thwart the Greyhound's passing game while a sack by Bay Blaschak game the home team more momentum.

   However, both teams went into the half tied at 14 apiece. Shippensburg's 13-play drive in the third quarter was finished by Jacob Loy's five-yard TD run with 10 seconds left. Northern marched forward in the fourth quarter on a long 11-yard drive of their own capped by Swartz' two-yard TD run at 8:02. The Greyhounds broke the 21-21 tie at 5:38 in the fourth with a 10-yard touchdown run. Northern fought back and got to the 'Hounds' five-yard line but penalties and miscues denied the Bears a trip to the endzone.

   With 1:14 left in the game, Northern recovered a fumble and had 33 yards left for another attempt to score, but it was not to be as Shipp intercepted the pass with 35 seconds left to secure a win. Jordan Heisey was 4-of-8 for 58 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He rushed eight times for 26 yards. Zach Beam had one catch for 12 yards and Tyler Yohn added one catch for 23 yards. Kyle Swartz had 35 carries for 192 yards and two touchdowns. He earned every yard against the 'Hounds as he also upped his season total to 1527 in his six games. His career yardage stands at 4873. CJ wagner recorded 59 yards in kick off and punt returns for a 19.7-yard.

                                  Bears wrap up regular season at 12-6

Andy Sandrik

   The regular season has come to an end for the Northern girls soccer team, with the Polar Bears winning two of their last three games.

   Seth Lehman's squad topped Shippenburg 1-0 on Thursday, lost to Boiling Springs 1-0 on Saturday, then capped off the season on Monday with a 3-2 victory over Chambersburg.

   There is still soccer left to play for the Polar Bears (12-6, 10-2 Colonial Division), who check in at No. 8 in the latest batch of District 3-3A power rankings. Northern will take on an opponent to be determined on Monday in the first round of districts.