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Centerburg High School graduate earns highest CAP Cadet award

Cadet Colonel Justin Baier being
congratulated by CAP Ohio Wing
Commander Col. Dave Winters.

Civil Air Patrol is pleased to announce that Cadet Colonel Justin Baier, of Centerburg, has earned the highest honor of the CAP Cadet Program, the General Carl A. Spaatz Award, which honors the first chief of staff of the Air Force, and the first chairman of the CAP National Board. The Spaatz Award is achieved by only ½ of 1% of all cadets. Only 1700 cadets have earned this prestigious award since its inception. Cadets achieving the Spaatz Award must pass a comprehensive examination of the entire cadet program on the topics of Aerospace and Leadership. Cadets must also submit and pass a written essay on selected topics of Character Development and must also pass a rigorous Physical Fitness test.

Cadet Col. Baier is a 2007 graduate of Centerburg High School. During his junior and senior year at Centerburg, C/Col. Baier was enrolled in full-time engineering classes at The Ohio State University through the Post-Secondary Enrollment Option Program (PSEOP). He was awarded a 4-year Type 2 U.S. Air Force ROTC scholarship and is currently pursuing dual Bachelors and Masters degrees in Aerospace Engineering at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL. He plans on earning his commission in the United States Air Force upon graduation.

Cadet Colonel Baier joined the Columbus Composite Squadron of Civil Air Patrol in 2003. He has served on the staff of numerous CAP Ohio Wing Encampments held each year at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He has also participated in many National Cadet Special Activities held every summer. In the summer of 2007, C/Col Baier joined a select few cadets as part of the International Air Cadet Exchange Program (IACE) by traveling to Belgium, one of 14 participating nations of the program. C/Col. Baier is the son of David and Nancy Baier of Centerburg.

The CAP Cadet Program focuses on Leadership, Character Building, Physical Fitness, and Aerospace Education. As cadets progress through the 16 achievement levels they earn increased cadet rank, awards, decorations, eligibility for national and international activities and the opportunity for flight and academic scholarships.

The Civil Air Patrol was founded on December 1, 1941, less than a week before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor brought the U.S. into World War II. CAP, the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 55,000 members nationwide. CAP performs 95 percent of inland search and rescue missions, as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, and was credited by the AFRCC with saving 58 lives in 2006. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and counter drug missions at the request of federal, state, and local agencies. Members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to the more than 22,000 young people currently participating in the CAP Cadet Program.

There are more than 1300 members in Ohio.

For more information about volunteer opportunities with the Civil Air Patrol, call 1-800-FLY-2338 or John Morgan, 2nd Lt/CAP at 740-625-6475. Information can also be found on the web at www.gocivilairpatrol.com.

“Mad Science” comes to Centerburg

Mad Science, an exciting performance group, will bring the world of bugs to life during their upcoming performance in Centerburg. This 45-minute bug fest investigates baffling bug mysteries and explores the amazing world of insects.

Mad Science is a worldwide network of performers that provides communities with exciting, interactive educational programs. They help bring science to life with unique, hands-on experiences.

Centerburg Public Library is sponsoring this event as part of the “Catch the Reading Bug” summer reading program. Join in the fun on Tuesday, Jun. 24, at 1:00 p.m. at the Fuller Family Center, 30 Church Street, Centerburg. The program is free of charge and the entire family is invited to attend. If you have any questions, please call the Centerburg Public Library at 625-6538.

The Oldtime Farming Festival names Festival Marshals for 2008

The Oldtime Farming Festival has chosen and is proud to announce, along with First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Centerburg (sponsor once again for the annual parade on Saturday, Sept. 20) that the Grand Marshals for this year’s Festival will be Chuck and Carol Link of Centerburg. They have been members of the Oldtime Farming Festival since 1994 and retired at the end of last year.

Chuck and Carol have been hardworking and dedicated members of the Farming Festival. They have contributed their time to the Kids’ Corner, Demonstrations, Crafts, Grounds and Tractor Committees year after year to help make the Festival a success. Their service has been deeply appreciated and will be greatly missed.

Chuck was born and grew up in Hilliard and Carol in Mount Vernon. Chuck graduated from Hilliard High School in 1948 and Carol from Gambier High School in 1955. Chuck served in the U.S. Navy from 1950 – 54. Petty Officer 2nd class Link was primarily stationed at Patuxent Naval Air Testing Center (26 months) in southern Maryland. He also had a brief three-month assignment in Cuba during the Batista regime.

After the Navy, Chuck had various jobs, with his last being employment at Kenyon College in the maintenance department, from which he retired after 19 years. Carol also was there part-time for 20 years in the custodial department. Carol has also been employed part-time for 20 years with Gantt Homes in Mount Vernon, where she is a caretaker for the mentally challenged.

The Links were married in August 1973. After their marriage the couple moved to a house on South Preston Street in Centerburg, where they resided for 19 years. In 1992 they moved to the 77 1/2-acre farm that Chuck had owned since 1963, which is located off SR 314 on 201/Ramey Rd., where they live today. Farming on this land consisted of corn, soybeans, cattle and hogs through the late ’90s. Since then, Chuck has grown hay each year. The Links have been members of the Farm Bureau of Knox County for approximately 30 years.

Chuck and Carol have three sons, Jim and John (deceased) Lee and Wayne Link. Jim and his wife, Judy, live in Gambier where they operate a gas station/carryout. Wayne lives in Mount Vernon.

In his own words, Chuck says,” that he has been in farming his whole life, 33 years in Franklin County and 45 in Morrow County, mostly part-time.” Since his wife also came from a framing background they became interested in the Oldtime Farming Festival. They both have found working with the Festival very rewarding.

The Oldtime Farming Festival owes a debt of gratitude to Chuck and Carol for all their many years of dedicated service. Our Grand Marshals can be seen in the Heart of Ohio USA Days parade on Saturday, Jun. 28, at 11:00 a.m. Also watch for them at the Hartford Fair Parade, Saturday, Aug. 9, at 10:00 a.m.; the Hartford Days Parade in September at 5:00 p.m.; the Oldtime Farming Festival parade on Saturday, Sept. 20, at 10:00 a.m.; and, finally, the Farming Festival Tractor Parade on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 3:00 p.m.

This year’s Oldtime Farming Festival parade theme is “Celebrating Two Centuries of Farming in Knox County.” The Festival members would like to encourage everyone to attend the parades and express your gratitude to Chuck and Carol for their years of service to the community and the Oldtime Farming Festival.

Village approves rezoning proposal for Creekside
By Lori Cecil

Centerburg Village Council held its monthly meeting on June 2, 2008, and opened with Mac and Tracy Quillin proposing the rezoning of their Creekside property. Mac Quillin stated that he’d been working with the Village for about 20 months, and had been given citizen inputs. He felt the plan reflected those suggestions. Mayor George Shaw thanked Mac personally on behalf of the Village for the hard work he had done. Council approved the proposal for the rezoning.

Next, Natalie Stoyle requested approval for the homecoming parade scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 24. Council approved. Natalie also spoke about the Centerburg Joint Recreation District meeting. One item discussed at the meeting was, in the future, they would like to work with the Knox County Park District to see if they could get help with acquiring land, maintenance of property and how any Park District levy money would benefit the community. They adopted a mission statement – the mission of the CJRD is to financially enhance our current parks and develop recreational programs in the community. Finally, there will be a JRD meeting open to the public set for June 9 at 7:00 pm.

Village Administrator Phil Lohmeyer reported that he’d like to get started on street paving bids. Council approved.

Mayor Shaw expressed his concerns about being in the middle of tornado season. He’d like for Council attend a tabletop session given by Dr. Bill Kramer to learn and clarify roles everyone should take in case of an emergency and walk through a new disaster plan. It will cost $1,000 for Dr. Kramer to do this (total of eight hours of Dr. Kramer’s time). The training session is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, Jun. 7, 2008, for Council to meet in the Town Hall.

The Sidewalk Improvement Project was brought up, and it was agreed that the project should move forward according to the Public Service Committee, improving the sidewalks at the intersections of Landrum and Dally in 2008, and then the remainder in 2009. It was estimated to be around $40,000 for the intersection. However, the Council agreed to also continue into phase 1 of Preston Street only working on the Village’s section. Homeowners would still be responsible for their section. Dally Ally, in front of the elementary school, will have to wait until next year (2009). Shaw and Lohmeyer will attend a school board meeting to discuss the project. Council approved Village Engineer Chuck Coghlan to prepare bids to get exact amounts. He estimated the total cost to be approximately $85,000 for the entire project.

The mayor expressed his concerns with the sewer plan being requested by public services. A meeting is scheduled for July 23 to discuss expansion of the current plant or the building of a new plant. Nothing will happen for quite some time, but the Village needs to stay proactive on the subject. Also, Mayor Shaw reported that the owners of Whitey’s Car Wash are still requesting to have their water rates lowered. Council cannot change the Service Committee’s decision where it was decided to keep the rates the same. Solicitor Stroh stated that it would take a formal ordinance for the Village to change it. Clerk Teri James expressed that with the water/sewer rates increasing they’re barely getting by.

Lastly, several ordinances were passed as an emergency. The ordinance passed to modify council pay, so everyone only gets paid once per meeting. Council authorized Lohmeyer to proceed with painting the water tower, as maintenance is necessary.

Obituary

RICHARD L. BENNETT III

Richard (Rick) L. Bennett III, 54, died unexpectedly June 6, 2008, at his home in Centerburg. He was born June 2, 1954, in Columbus.

He was an avid fisherman and a member of the Centerburg Church of Christ.

He is survived by two sons, Brock Christopher of Columbus and Trey Michael of Centerburg; his father, Richard Bennett, Jr. (Marie) of Hilton Head Island, SC; his grandmother, Myrtle Thomas of Hilton Head Island, SC; two sisters, Debra (William) Burchfield of Columbus and Sharon (David) Zimmerman of Athens; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

His wife, Laura; his mother, Shirley Claffey; and a sister, Karen Underwood, preceded him in death.

A private interment took place at Union Cemetery, Columbus, on June 12. There will be a memorial service on Wednesday, June 18, at 7:00 p.m. at the Centerburg Church of Christ with friend and mentor Roger Crego officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Centerburg Church of Christ in memory of Rick and sent to 3830 Columbus Road, Centerburg, OH 43011. Arrangements are in the care of the O.R. Woodyard Funeral Home.

Last updated: July 3, 2008