the BEACON Newspaper, Indiana beacon12-17web | Page 18

Page 18 O BATESVILLE THE BEACON December 2017 ur Communities DOVER By Sue Siefert By Ray Johnson Community Correspondent Community Correspondent [email protected] Thank you to Ben Eisert for serving our country as a member of the United States Army, serving in the 801st Combat Support Hospital B-Company, and begin- ning a nine-month deployment to Kuwait on October 2. Ben Eisert The 1998 Batesville High School graduate is employed by the City of Batesville at its wastewater treatment facility. He also serves on Batesville’s Fire and Rescue and the Morris Volunteer Fire Depart- ment. His wife, Shelly, is also a member of the Army Reserve but was not deployed on this mission. Mayor Mike Bettice com- mented, “The City of Bates- ville is proud to have Ben, and I can’t thank him enough for his service. We pray for a safe deployment and we will welcome him back with open arms when he returns.” Listen up … Batesville musician Bryce Mullins has released his first classical guitar CD, “First Sip,” comprised of all origi- nal music. The accomplished musician earned a bachelor’s degree from the College Conservatory of Music at Bryce Mullins the University of Cincinnati and a Master’s degree from Austin Peay State Univer- sity – both in classical guitar performance. He is a finger- style player with deep musical roots. His father, Randy is a member of the Southeastern Indiana Music Association’s Hall of Fame. Over the years both father and son have wowed audiences with their talented performances! Exceptional Students! Batesville High School stu- dents Arno Betts and Cody Perdue have been named Commended Students in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program, as announced by Principal Andy Allen. Letters of Commenda- Arno Betts tion from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corp. were presented by Mr. Allen to the two seniors. Cody Perdue Their parents are Bill and George Ann Betts, Lilly Wonnell and Abe Streator were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society and Daniel and Tricia Perdue. St. Louis Catholic School eighth graders, Lilly Won- nell and Abe Streator were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society, a community service-oriented group of seventh and eighth- grade students with a strong academic focus. Students must maintain a First Honors report card and an outstanding citizenship grade. For their community service project, students visited residents of a local assisted living facil- ity. Their parents are Nic and Amy Wonnell, and Randy and Amy Streator. More Arts for the ’Ville! The City of Batesville was one of only a dozen commu- nities to be awarded a creative place-making consultancy by the Indiana Arts Commission. A professional consultant will identify and make recommen- dations to enhance unused portions of the downtown area through arts and culture. The goal is to continue efforts of making downtown a destina- tion for entertainment, shop- ping, dining, and living. The project is expected to begin soon and will be completed by June 2018. That’s Sue’s news for now! Enjoy the season in Ripley County! It’s a great time to celebrate the holidays. Join us for great shopping, food, and family fun. November11 - Tri Kappa Arts & Crafts Bazaar - Versailles November 18 - Batesville Chamber Holiday Parade and Market November 18 - Milan Craft Fair December 1 - Friendship Christmas Walk December 1 - 5th Annual Sunman Celebrates the Season December 7 - Batesville’s Community Tree Lighting Celebration December 8-9 - St. Anthony’s Live Nativity - Morris December 15 - Winter on the Bricks - Osgood For information or brochures on events and attractions in Ripley County 812-689-7431 ripleycountytourism.com [email protected] With Thanksgiving Day ap- proaching, I cannot forget all of the wonderful memories I have experienced through the years. As a child, I always remember sleeping in on that Thursday morning, then waking and watching the parade on the tele- vision. This was followed by me helping my Mom slice the bread that she had left out from the day before to allow it to dry out and make it easier to slice for the dressing. By this time, the aroma filling the house was the turkey baking in the oven. Throw in some side dishes, pumpkin pies, and gathering family around the table- time for more memories to begin. As I am older now, Thanks- giving Day is no longer one of sleeping in. This year the day will once again involve hundreds of people at- tending the Fourth Annual Gobble Wobble 5-K Race at All Saints Parish- St. John’s Campus. The event begins at 9 a.m. on Thanksgiving morn- ing. This is the largest 5-K in Dearborn County. Proceeds benefit the North Dearborn and Sunman Food Pantries. To embrace family tradition and to continue a legacy of sorts, Nicole Wuestefeld Bell- man is achieving great strides. Immediately following high school, Nicole earned a Bache- lor's Degree in Marketing from Xavier University. In August 2017, she completed a year of schooling at Cincinnati Col- lege of Mortuary Science and obtained her Associate's Degree in Applied Sciences