SPORTSMAN OF YEAR
The Community Press is accepting nominations for the third annual Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year online contest until midnight Monday, May 16. The ballots are online Friday, May 20, and run until midnight Monday, June 6. For more details, see Sports.
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Felicity celebrating 175 years of history By Kellie Geist-May
Vol. 112 No. 17 © 2011 The Community Press ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
County celebrates Grant’s birthday
James A. Ramage Civil War Museum volunteer and reenactor Bob Clements helps Cara Crawford of New Richmond dress like a Civil War soldier during Grant’s birthday celebration Saturday, April 30. MORE PHOTOS, B1
For a schedule of events, see page A2.
kmay@communitypress.com
Felicity will be buzzing with activity next weekend for the village’s 175th anniversary celebration. Activities and events are scheduled Friday, May 13, Saturday, May 14, and Sunday, May 15, in and around the village. “I’m really excited about all three days, but I’m a little undecided about the weather. We’re hoping for a pretty weekend,” said Jim Shafer, event committee cochair Jim Shafer. “Everyone has been fantastic and we appreciate all the cooperation we’ve gotten from contributors, sponsors and the committee.” Kelly Ausman, who has been working with Shafer and the committee to plan the event, said she’s looking forward to the variety of unique events, especially Friday’s
(THANKS TO SHARON BRUMAGEM FOR THIS PHOTO)
Kelly Ausman, Felicity 175th committee member and organizer, displays a proclamation from the Clermont County commissioners commemorating Felicity’s Sesquicentennial Celebration May 13 through May 15. The event includes three parades, quilt show, live entertainment, cornhole tournaments, baby contest, living history encampments, historical walking tours and more. 1800s parade and the youth Olympics. “It’s going to be an absolutely fun weekend,” she said. “Every-
thing is coming together. My only concern is parking, but I think that’s a good problem to have.” In addition to spending time
Prom king and queen
BAMfest a hit
The 2011 Bethel-Tate prom king and queen are Andy Courts and Tess Jenike. For more photos from the annual dance, see page A8.
BAMFest took place this past weekend complete with the arts and music.
FULL STORY, B8
Bethel cleans up before BAMFest
Members of the Bethel Baptist Church worked to transform the wall on Ohio 125 just outside Bethel in preparation for the Bethel Arts and Music Festival. LeRay Meyer, a member of the Bethel Baptist Church and a resident of Bantam, works to paint American Flag stripes on the wall along Ohio 125 just outside the village of Bethel. FULL STORY, A2 For the Postmaster
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planning and running the event, Ausman said she’s going to take a minute to look at the history displays. “My husband and I have lived here for 15 years and we never knew this town was so rich with history. We’re going to take the walking tour, see the artifacts, read the stories – it will be really interesting.” Shafer said those displays and tours, as well as the historical encampments, are not to be missed. “Take advantage of those and see some of the village’s history,” he said. “This is something that happens once and the community seems to be looking forward to it.’”
KELLIE GEIST-MAY/STAFF
Circus returning to Bethel By Mary Dannemiller mdannemiller@communitypress.com
BETHEL – Don’t be alarmed if you drive by Bethel-Tate Middle School Sunday, May 15, and see elephants in the parking lot. The Kelly Miller Circus is returning to the school for performances whose proceeds will benefit the Bethel Lions Club. There will be shows at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and the public can watch the elephants help build the big top starting at 9 a.m. “The elephants are going to raise the big top Sunday morning and you’ll actually be able to see the big top rise before your eyes,” said Terri Daugherty, who is organizing the event for the Bethel Lions Club. The circus show will feature trapeze artists, clowns, elephants, tigers, horses and a variety of other acts, Daugherty said. “You name it and they have it,” she said. “For a one ring show, it’s phenomenal. I was utterly amazed the first year we had them come out.” After watching the big top go up,
FILE PHOTO.
Elephants will help raise the big top when the Kelly Miller Circus comes to town May 15. The last time the circus was in Bethel was in 2007. people will be able to talk with the animal trainers and get a good look at the animals. “The animals will be fed and watered and then go to a mini petting zoo where you can ask questions of any of the trainers,” Daugherty said. “You can look at the animals up close, it’s amazing. It’s like a circus and a zoo rolled up into one.” Aside from raising money for the Bethel Lions Club, Daugherty said the circus helps promote a
sense of community in the village as residents watch the big top go up, tour the zoo and watch the show. “Not everybody can go to Cincinnati to see a big three ring circus,” she said. “The big draw is this one is local. The local community gets to see the circus come to town.” Bethel Lions Club President George Rooks said he’s looking forward to the show and encouraged people to buy tickets in advance at
either Kate’s Carryout or Community Savings Bank. “You can get the tickets now and the Lions Club gets a better return on them,” he said. “You can get them at the gate, too, but the Lions Club doesn’t get as much in return.” Both Daugherty and Rooks said they hope the public will support the club by coming out to the circus because the club needs a large fundraiser after paying for the village’s walk path to be resurfaced. “We maintain that walking trail and we needed a lot of funds to resurface it,” Daugherty said. “Our funds were kind of depleted after that. We also provide eye glasses and eye care for children and adults in the community and support a lot of other causes.” Tickets for the Kelly Miller Circus are $6 in advance for children 11years-old and younger and $7 on the day of the show. Adult tickets are $10 in advance and $15 on the day of the show. Due to the recent wet weather, the circus will be set up behind the bus barn just west of the middle school.