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Sunday, November 20, 2011
Fallen Heroes Memorial has been unveiled Memorial honors 14 servicemen who died serving their country Sun staff
The Clermont County Veterans’ Service Commission, along with the Batavia Township Board of Trustees, unveiled the Fallen Heroes Memorial on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. The Veterans Service Commission proposed the idea for a memorial to be installed near the Humvee Memorial site at the Batavia Township Community Center, and Batavia Trustees thought it would be a great addition to already the memorial installed. The memorial honors the 14 Clermont County men who died serving the country from the Persian Gulf War forward. “On behalf of the township this is a great honor for us,” Trustee Jim Sauls said about unveiling the memorial. “When we built the Humvee Memorial, that was great, but we couldn’t be more sure of this.” Trustees, Veterans’ Service Commission officials, as well as friends and family members of the fallen men were present for the unveiling of the memorial.
The names of the men were read out loud and family members were given an opportunity to place a rose beside the memorial in honor of their loved-one. “Our hearts go out to you all and we want to thank you for raising such heroes,” Commissioner Bob Proud said before names were read. Staff Sergeant Chuck Kiser (Iraq), Specialist Gregory Missman (Afghanistan), Staff Sergeant Matthew Maupin (Iraq), Specialist Joseph Bauer (Afghanistan), Staff Sergeant Tony Wojciechowski (Iraq), Lance Corporal Nick Erdy (Iraq), Captain Tyler Swisher (Iraq), Lance Corporal Bryan Taylor (Iraq), Lance Corporal Billy Spencer (Iraq), Sergeant Phillip McNeill (Iraq), Captain David Seth Mitchell (Afghanistan), Specialist Jacob Dohrenwend, Senior Airman Todd Rose and Lance Corporal James Lumpkins (Saudi Arabia) were all honored for their service. The names of the men, as well as their dates of birth and death, are engraved on the memorial, which was created by Rolf Monuments. For Staff Sgt. Matt Maupin, whose date of death is unknown, the stone
PHOTOS / KRISTIN BEDNARSKI
Danny Bare, center, executive director of the Clermont County Veterans' Service Commission, concludes the ceremony to unveil the Fallen Heroes Memorial at the Batavia Township Community Center. On the memorial are the names of local men who gave their lives serving the country. From left, Robert Derr, Ken Cook, Bare and Howard Daugherty.
reads “Known only by God.” “It’s wonderful they did that to remember all of them,” Carolyn Maupin, Matt Maupin's mother, said. “That
way they’ll never be forgotten.” For many family members seeing the memorial was bitter-sweet. While it brought
Bethel council opposes beetle plan Members of council feel host tree removal is an abuse of power BY KRISTIN BEDNARSKI Sun staff
Bethel Village Council members passed a resolution Nov. 14 in opposition to the proposed, preferred Asian longhorned beetle eradication plan for Clermont and Brown counties. Council members discussed their feelings about the plan at their council meeting. “This ALB thing is starting to affect all of us,” Councilwoman Donna Gunn said. “I drove down Swings Corner at about 5:15 and it just made me sick. We need to stop this in its tracks.” Gunn also read a poem entitled “I am the tree.” She said it is important for everyone to think about what the proposed eradication efforts would mean for the village if allowed to continue. The eradication plan proposed by the United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service and supported by the Ohio Department of Agriculture, includes the removal of all 5,069 trees infested by the Asian longhorned beetle. In addition, USDA-APHIS is in the process of completing an environmental assessment, in which they intend to propose the removal of an estimated 50,000 high-risk host trees in close proximity to the infested trees. According to USDAAPHIS officials, the removal of the high-risk host trees will ensure that all trees that are infested, or could be infested, are removed from the area. “Look around folks, because it will never look like this in our lifetime again,” Gunn said about the removal of host trees. Councilman Rus Whitley said he has two farms that are affected by the beetle. “I'm going to let them take what they have to,” Whitley said. “Don't let them take our trees that far out, that are not affected.” And while APHIS officials believe host tree removal is the best way to prevent future infestations in Ohio and surrounding states, residents,
who could lose many trees, expressed their opposition to this at a Nov. 7 public meeting. In the wake of the meeting, council members passed Resolution 913 Nov. 14 to oppose the plan “whereas the plan to remove in excess of 50,000 healthy trees in addition to the 5,000 known infested trees is a blatant abuse of power and is an unnecessary and unacceptable plan.” The resolution states that the village withdraws its support of the proposed Asian longhorned beetle eradication plan. It also suggests the use of a chemical treatment on host trees as an alternative to removing them. The resolution, along with a letter from Mayor James Dick was sent to Governor John Kasich. Mayor Dick's letter highlighted the infestation timeline, the proposed method of eradication and discussed how the infestation was handled by APHIS officials. “It is apparent based upon public meetings hosted locally by the USDA that the ODA, Division of Plant Health is leaving the specifics of determining of the eradication
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“They’ll never be forgotten because their names will always be here,” Glenda See Memorial, Page 3
Humane Society dinner auction was a sellout $40,000 raised for homeless animals BY KRISTIN BEDNARSKI Sun staff
The Clermont County Humane Society hosted its annual dinner auction Nov. 5 and raised more than $40,000 that will be used to help animals that don’t have a home. “It was a wonderful, wonderful event,” Debbie Siegroth, development director at the humane society, said. “To have so many people attend and support the cause was just unbelievable.” Siegroth said more than 350 people attended the sellout event, which was held at Norlyn Manor in Batavia. Guests had the opportunity to bid on silent auction items, enjoy a sit-down dinner and bid on live auction items throughout the evening. “We had many wonderful live auction items and silent auction items,” Siegroth said. “This committee worked so hard.” She said items ranged from watches and jewelry to a signed photograph of the Apollo 11 crew. In addition,
there was a raffle held that included a trip to Las Vegas, Nev., an iPod and more. There were also many pet items to choose from at the auction. Siegroth said many sponsors also helped make the event possible and successful, including Terry and Jean Dalhover, Ed and Nadora Hill, Sporty's and many more. And while the money raised at the auction is crucial for the humane society, which Siegroth said relies on donations to operate, the auction also provided an opportunity to spread the word about animals that need adoption. “They had sheets with animals that need to be adopted on the tables for people to view,” Siegroth said. “So they could see what kind of animals we have at the shelter that want to be loved.” Siegroth said she knows of at least one animal that was adopted that night. And her goal for the shelter is to be the place of choice for anyone See Auction, Page 3
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efforts here in Ohio in the hands of the federal government with little regard for the input of local citizens and local and county governments,” Mayor Dick wrote. Mayor Dick also raised concerns about the village, township and county governments not being involved in eradication plans, the inconsistency in the eradication plan that was presented to affected residents and the general public and more. He concluded by asking for a quick response, as eradication efforts began Nov. 14, the same day the letter was addressed. While local governments and residents will have opportunities to provide suggestions and concerns with eradication efforts, Brett Gates, public information officer for ODA said the authority to handle invasive pests are highlighted in the Ohio Revised Code section 927.70. “The director of ODA has the authority in the Ohio Revised Code to get rid of any destructive pest,” Gates said. “We are following the guidance of APHIS and we have this authority to eradicate such a destructive pest.”
back sadness that their loved ones are no longer alive, it also provides a place where the fallen heroes can be remembered.
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Our photographer took this picture on Wood Street in Batavia. The Clermont County Beauty Spot is one of a series of weekly pictures published from nominations from our readers. If you know of a spot, public or secret, in the county you think is without compare, tell our photographer where it is located by calling (513) 732-2511, Ext. 119, or email a photograph of that special someplace to clermontsun@fuse.net.
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