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Free Thanksgiving Meal First Grace Baptist Church, Sheffield, will be hosting a Free Thanksgiving Meal on Thursday, Nov. 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sheffield Inn. The meal is or anyone who would like to attend. Diners can stay and eat or take the meal home to their family. Please RSVP by Nov. 25, by calling 641-892-4421 and leave a message to let them know if you plan on eating at the Inn or taking the meal home, and for how many people.
Men’s Prayer Breakfast
The Sheffield Ministerial Association would like to invite you to our community Men’s Prayer Breakfast. This month it will be on Thursday morning, November 21st at 6:30 AM and will be held at the First Grace Baptist Church. All men are invited.
Texas Hold ‘Em Fundraiser
The Sheffield Betterment Foundation will be hosting a Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament on Friday, Nov. 29 at Ridge Stone Golf Club. Entry fee is $50 with an additional buy-in option; social hour begins at 5 p.m. with the tournament starting at 6 p.m.. Tickets can be purchased from any of the Sheffield Betterment Foundation Board member, Sheri Bogue, Bob Jensen, Deb Hartman, Scott Sanders, Ron Simmons, Cheyene Peterson, Jane Weiland, Jill Rowe, Mark Reiter, Tracy Shreckengost, Shea Jensen, Tony Laudner or Tom Rooney at Pit Row Pub in Hampton. For any questions please contact Sheri Bogue at 641-892-4260.
Geeological Society
The Franklin County Genealogical Society will hold its November meeting on Saturday, November 16, at 10 a.m. at the Hampton Public Library. Interested guests are welcome. Please note the change of location.
Junk dropoff at Hampton Shopko
The Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a used appliance drop off on Saturday, Nov. 16, from 7-10:30 a.m., at the southwest corner of the Shopko parking lot in Hampton. Dennis Swieter is a licensed appliance de-manufacturer and will handling the pickup. Residents can bring any of the following appliances and he will haul them away for free: refrigerators/freezers, air conditioning units/dehumidifiers, water heaters/furnaces, washers/dryers, dishwashers/microwaves and ovens/stoves.
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Eberling retires after 25 years with Navy Reserve By Nick Pedley Amy Eberling knew she always wanted to serve her country, but she didn’t know she’d spend a quarter of a century doing so when she signed up for the U.S. Navy Reserve in 1988. Eberling recently closed the book on 25 years of service at a ceremony held in Des Moines to celebrate her retirement Nov. 2. The event capped Eberling’s long career and brought together many of the Sheffield woman’s former colleagues and current friends to honor her military accomplishments. Eberling was presented the Presidential Certificate of Appreciation, which she said made the night even more special. “Everything went really well,� Eberling said. “It was good seeing people, and to see how people put it together to honor me and my family, it was nice.� Eberling began her military career six days after she graduated from West Central High School in Hartford, S. Dak. She said her father’s career in the navy sparked her own interest, and she signed up as part of the delayed entry program at age 17. The trip to boot camp in 1988 was one of many firsts for Eberling. It was the first time she had ever been away from home, and it began to get to her early on. “Misery loves company, so as long as I had someone there to share it
with, it was okay,� she said. “But of reserve duty, Eberling finally surprise,� she said regarding the being that far away from home for got called up to head overseas to promotion. “It’s a big role in the the first time was sort of tough.� America’s ongoing conflict Navy, and it carries a bigger Eberling enrolled in Navy Hospiin Afghanistan. burden of responsibility. tal Corps School after her recruit Basically, you’re a mantraining. She continued to exA l o n g ager, and you oversee the pand on her medical education with the operation of the medical throughout the 1990s, and in deployment staff.� 1996 she volunteered to attend came a promoEberling received more Field Medical Service School in tion to Chief training during the lead-up San Diego. The move proved to Hospital Corpsto her November 2011 debe a good one, as it evenman. ployment. She was tually opened the “It was assigned to a door for Eberling a rehospital in Kato earn the coveted ally bul upon her title of “Doc� for big arrival, where the 14th Marines, she helped Charlie Battery, in advise the Waterloo. Afghan mili“One of the bigtary’s medigest accomplishcal operaments of my militions. tary career was Since the getting the title war had been of Doc and just ongoing for being with the Ma10 years, Ebrines,� she said. erling said the Eberling continued staff was already on with the Navy Retrained and wellserve for more than versed in medical a decade and helped procedure. Howwith many humaniever, she said tarian missions in adtimes were still dition to her normal rough during her duties. She described stay. Security was her job as a basic med- Amy Eberling shows off her Presidential Certificate of one of the hospital’s ic-type role, but all Appreciation she received at her retirement ceremony main priorities, and that changed on Me- Nov. 2. Eberling recently closed the book on 25 years it was difficult to morial Day weekend of service in the U.S. Navy Reserve. (Submitted photo EBERLING in 2011. After 23 years courtesy of Amy Eberling) to page 8
Sheffield council handles light night Monday
Blabbermouth
“Blabbermouth,� one of 2 plays presented by the West Fork School payers, along with “Crush� last week. More photos on page 7!
By Nick Pedley The Sheffield City Council made fast and efficient work out of a relatively light agenda at Monday night’s meeting. The group began the session by discussing the city’s cemetery fees and policies. According to Councilman Ron Simmons, some price discrepancies arose recently over weekend burials and grave digging costs during the winter. Simmons said some people have been charged overtime for burials during the weekends and also during the winter due to added labor costs affiliated with thawing the ground. However, Simmons said there’s nothing on the books that allow for fluctuating cemetery prices. “We can’t just pick and choose how we change our policies,� he said. Both Simmons and Councilman Nick Wilson stressed the need for one flat burial fee. Wilson said the cost should be enough to cover
expenses in both warm and cold weather, a point in which the rest of the group agreed. The council felt the current cemetery fee of $400 for a full burial and $125 for a cremation burial was sufficient, and there was no need to change it. The group agreed to send letters to area churches and funeral services reaffirming the cemetery policies and prices. “We need to get something in writing, because we have to be fair to everybody,� said Simmons. After approving a small list of routine business, Mayor Jim Saylor informed the council he had received some complaints from residents about certain buildings throughout Sheffield. Saylor said some citizens were concerned the council was neglecting zoning laws because buildings for commercial use have been constructed in residentially zoned areas recently. Some council members felt the zoning commission left the city
with their hands tied. If the commission approves the construction of a commercial structure in a residential area, the council claimed it’s often too late for action before the city hears about it. “If the zoning commission gives them permission, we don’t know about it until the building goes up,� said Councilman Kenny Berding. Saylor was sympathetic with the council’s issues over current zoning codes and admitted they’ve been lax in enforcing them in past years. However, Saylor felt the group should adhere to the rules more strictly in the future to avoid any potential problems. “You’re going to have to change it or else you’ll have a lawsuit on your hands,� he said. “I just wanted to bring that up. I guess you guys just do what you want with it.� Following the zoning discussion, the council approved a finance report from the Renner & Birchem accounting firm. The council had
hired Renner & Birchem to sort through the city’s financial statements and balance accounts over the summer. Additionally, new software was recently purchased that will make monitoring finances much easier and transparent. According to Clerk Amanda Dannen, the city has already started seeing the benefits of the improvements. “Once we transferred that $26,000 from the debt service [account], we saw that we were actually sitting better than we thought,� she said. Other business The group gave the go-ahead for the Harvest Hustle 5K scheduled for this Saturday. Runners may register at the park beginning at 8 a.m., with race planned to start at 9 a.m. Finally, the council agreed to close the burn site on Dec. 1, or after the first measurable snowfall – whichever comes first. The council will meet next on Monday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m.
Local Veterans Day programs see good turnout
80th Birthday
This old Claydigger and swabby will turn 80 on Dec. 1. Send him a greeting at 610 Gilman or a jingle at 892-5018. Love from the P, M, and C, families
Community Calendar
Monday, Nov. 18 West Fork School Board, 5 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19 rAA Meeting at Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Sheffield, at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21 Sheffield Ministerial Assoc. Men’ss Prayer Breakfast, 6:30 a.m. at Firstt Grace Baptist Church. Tuesday, Nov. 26 AA Meeting at Zion St. John Lutheran Church, Sheffield, at 8 p.m.
In this issue: Courthouse .................................................. page 4 Public Notices ............................................. page 4 Area Sports .................................................. page 5 Classifieds ..................................................... page 6
By Nick Pedley Snowflakes and packed gyms greeted visitors at two Veterans Day programs in Sheffield and Rockwell on a blustery November morning Monday. The day’s tributes kicked off at Sheffield in the high school gym. American Legions from Sheffield, Thornton and Meservey were on hand to lead the ceremonies which featured both music and speakers. Legion Commander Dick Brown welcomed guests prior to the posting of the colors. Pastor Art Zewert delivered the invocation and benediction, while the West Fork High School band and choir provided the program’s music. Director Shannon Curtis led the band in “The Star Spangled Banner� and “Where Eagles Soar,� which were followed by the choir’s stirring rendition of “Battle Hymn of the Republic.� The program was highlighted by guest speaker Bill Pick, Capt. ARNG Ret. Pick lives in Sheffield and is a member of local American Legion Post #277. He gave guests a history of Veterans Day, and also touched on why the holiday was important to honor America’s service men and women for their commitment to our freedoms and
Rev. Art Zewert gave the invocation and benediction at the Veterans Day program.
Bill Pick, Captain (Retired), was the featured speaker at the Veterans Day program.
Post #277 Commander Dick Brown directed the program during Monday morning’s ceremony. (Photo by Nick Pedley)
liberties. The program came to a close following a solemn firing squad salute to fallen veterans and the playing of “Taps.� Following the tribute at Sheffield, it was on to Rockwell for a program hosted by Terri Anderson’s eighth grade U.S. history class. The group provided an informative program to an audience comprised of classmates, veterans and members of the public. Kendall Cobb gave guests a history of Veterans Day, which was
followed by a poem and PowerPoint presentation with guitar music from by Ciara Hansen and Payton Kuhlemier. A trio comprised of Lauren Dohlman, Sarah Retz and Aydan Wood sang “God Bless America,� before Talia Rowe’s introduction of the main event – guest speaker Harold Hopp. Hopp shared a few anecdotes from his service in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. His stories highlighted his first impressions of the destroyer he served on, coping with death during wartime and de-
tails of a mission he was involved with that blew up a Korean supply train. However, Hopp’s overarching message to the many students in attendace was simple: be a good citizen to the country in which you live, but above all, be a good person and son or daughter to your parents. The program culminated with a rendition of “Taps� by Daniel Novotney and middle school band director Shannon Curtis. More photos on page 8.