Page 2A
THE BEACON
By
Tamara
Taylor
Endings and
Beginnings
I recently saw a backhoe
eagerly ripping into a build-
ing, tearing down what once
was a dream that grew to
serve a community. The
general store that occupied
Negangards Corner, the
intersection of State Road 48
and 101, is no longer. I am
sure that those of you who
ever went to that store, will
remember its eccentricities
with great fondness. The store
carried everything, or at least
so seemed. From ice cream to
lunchmeats, to your everyday
gardening shovel.
I remember stopping at the
store with my uncle not so
long ago. One could imagine
the children of yesteryear
January 2019
The Southern Gateway Chorus, a male a cappella harmony group, rehearse for the
upcoming holiday events.
racing into the store with their
pennies tightly clenched in
their fists as they sprinted for
the cold sodas or the bucket of
penny candy.
But time does not stand
still. What will become of the
corner that thousands pass
each day?
Just as some institutions do
not withstand the test of time,
others continue to delight the
masses for decades. Thanks to
the kindness of a dear friend,
I recently had the opportunity
to attend a practice of the
Southern Gateway Chorus, a
group that has been delighting
audiences for over sixty years.
My curiosity about what hear-
ing an A Capella chorus was
met with amazement. As I
watched over fifty gentlemen
from all walks of life come to-
gether and warm up both their
bodies and minds for practice,
I pondered what could bring
together so many different
people from all walks of life.
Carpenters to accountants.
Teenagers to senior citizens.
And then I froze. The melodic
beauty that filled the room
as they began singing was
mesmerizing.
Members of the Southern
Gateway Chorus have been
delighting audiences for
over sixty years. Thirteen
members of the A Capella
harmony chorus are a part of
our community- Jim Deaton,
Dillsboro; Rock Adams and
George Steelman , Harri-
son; Gus Pelsor and Bayard
Pelsor, Lawrenceville; Al
Geis, Batesville; Stephen Jr,
Dominic, Bernard, John, and
William Reen, New Point;
and Larry Eaton, Versailles.
Three hours of practice flew
by in the wink of an eye and
left me clamoring for more.
Those of you who attended
the US Capital Tree Celebra-
tion in Harrison where the
group performed know pre-
cisely to what I am referring.
What a wonderful gift.
Just as some events are
planned for years, others seem
to spring up on a whim. Both
have an immeasurable impact
on our community. Take the
Bright Parade, for instance. A
friendly gathering over cups
of coffee resulted in almost
three decades of celebration
with an annual hometown
parade. Dale Lutz and his
wife Rachel were a part of
that original coffee klatsch,
along with the Blasdels and
the Littles. Their goal was to
bring more life to what was
then the Bright Fire Depart-
ment Festival. And look at
the parade now. I’m sure that
none of that group sleeps for
weeks prior to the annual pa-
rade as they continue to strive
to make the next parade even
better than the last.
Dale Lutz is one who
certainly pours his heart into
everything he does. Having
grown up on a dairy farm in
Logan, he learned at an early
age what hard work is. Years
later Mr. Lutz took on the
dairy farm himself and later
changed over to beef cattle.
The farm is still active today.
But Mr. Lutz’ sense for
business did not stop there.
He owns one of the most
well-known auction compa-
nies in the area. His voice
can be heard far and wide at
area auctions throughout the
year. But it is his hand that is
quick to shoot up in the air
whenever a nonprofit organi-
zation approaches him in need
of a fund raiser. I’m sure all
of us have attended a benefit
auction where we have ex-
perienced firsthand Mr. Lutz’
quick wit and sense of hu-
mor as he expertly works the
crowd for the best result for
an organization. His time and
efforts have helped countless
groups, thus helping the com-
munity in which they serve.
Often Dale is called upon
to list a piece of property
with his real estate company,
Cornerstone Realty, where he
will spot a medical device no
longer being used that could
benefit a person in need. As
a Bright Lion, Mr. Lutz has
Dale Lutz as a high school
senior at East Central.
And still smiling today.
been known to open the door
of communication between
the owners of medical equip-
ment and the Bright Lions
Club so that these items can
be donated to the club’s medi-
cal device program. Dale has
also been known to bid on
and then donate medical items
himself to the organization.
Countless members of our
community have benefited
from Mr. Lutz’ foresight and
generosity.
One event that has become
iconic in our area is the
Mardi Gras Ball that benefits
CASA and is so much fun!
Of course, adding to the fun
and memories is the auction
performed by Dale Lutz. His
talents and wit are worth ev-
ery penny that is raised at the
event. Don’t miss it this year
on Feb. 23!
Mr. Lutz also gives back to
the community by sharing his
talents as an auctioneer at The
Lincoln Day Dinner, PAWS
benefits, several churches, and
to help the North Dearborn
Food Pantry, This year he
raised over $1000 for 4H at a
pie auction! Sweet. (Okay. I
couldn’t resist.)
Ann Jeffries, the founder of
the North Dearborn Food Pan-
try, shared, “Dale Lutz is one
of the finest people I know. If
he hears of anything he can do
to help someone in need, he is
on it.”
Thank you, Dale, for all of
the lives you have touched
and the impact you have made
over the years.
During this holiday season,
please be sure to support our
community by visiting the
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May the spirit of the season
bring peace and joy to you,
your family, and all of those
in your lives.
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The Beacon is an independent
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distribution in Dearborn, Ripley,
Franklin and Ohio Counties in
Indiana and Harrison, Ohio.
Published since 1994.
Beacon News, Inc.
PO Box 4022
Lawrenceburg, Indiana 47025.
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