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THURSDAY, JULY 24, 2014
188TH YEAR
SWEET RIDE
ISSUE NO. 30 $1
Aurora Westside residents seek answers
By Chandra L. Mattingly Staff Reporter cmattingly@registerpublications.com
Above: Bill Rowling sits behind the Memphis Belle’s pilot as they pass over the Ohio River near Lunken Airport.
Flying Fortress
Above: Seventy years ago Bill Rowling was shot down over Germany while on a bombing run in a B-17 Flying Fortress. He relived his flying days July 21. Rowling stands at a narrow catwalk over the bomb bay. He said part of his job was arming the bombs once the plane was over the English Channel. Below: Veterans, media and others gather at Lunken Airport.
Above: Rowling enjoys the view from a gunner hatch. Below right: Rowling next to the ball gun turret, where he was assigned. Then a mere 20 years old, Rowling notes “I was a little smaller then... it is a very tight fit.”
World War II veteran Bill Rowling, 90, took a ride on a B-17 Bomber Monday, July 21, at Lunken Airport, Cincinnati. Rowling was a guest of Register Publications during media flights. The last time Rowling was in a B-17, he was shot down over Germany in February 1944. He was a prisoner of war until the camp was liberated in 1945. The public has a chance to check out the Memphis Belle, B-17, at Lunken this weekend, Saturday, July 26, and Sunday, July 27. Flights are $450 per person, but tours are free. The flights are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and tours start generally at 3:30 p.m. For more information go to www. libertyfoundation.org.
Photos by Bruce McLeaster
A special Aurora meeting expected to focus on tree removal instead garnered more questions about the rest of the upcoming street and sidewalk project on Westside Drive and Hanover Avenue. Eighteen residents of those streets and their side streets attended the Monday, July 21, meeting, with city attorney Jeff Stratman explaining the project. Plans are to repave all the streets in the neighborhood, including the side streets. Most are torn up now because the city just replaced the water lines, he said. Originally, plans included replacing all the curbs and sidewalks on Westside Drive and Hanover Avenue, but cost concerns led Aurora Utility Board members, who also are councilmen, to decide just to replace sidewalks that are in bad shape, he said. To do so will require some tree removal. “Some of the trees are actually growing over the curb and into the sidewalk,” said Stratman. “... Those trees have got to come down. If you want to save the trees, the project can't happen.” Since so many residents are upset about the tree removal, another option might be just to pave the streets and not do curbs and sidewalks, he added, turning to public comments. The city has not yet put the project out for bids. Ollie Willoughby, 700 Hanover Ave., spoke first. A resident at the far end of Hanover since 1982, Willoughby said at that time the east side of the street sported no-parking signs. Now only one remains and folks park on both sides of the street. He'd like to see no-parking signs on the one side all the way to the end, he said. Stratman said that would be something to consider after the repaving project. Daphne Spears, 76 Westside Drive, did ask about the trees. “Is it a requirement that they remove
See AURORA, Page 5A
Making a difference runs in the family in a BIG way L’burg gears up for downtown action plan Staff Report City redevelopment director Grant Hughes told Lawrenceburg City council members Monday, July 21, that two copy boxes full of information has been collected ahead of a planned site visit by national downtown experts HyettPalma scheduled for the week of Aug. 11. The information is helping lay the groundwork for a Downtown Action Agenda, which will be defined by the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns and HyettPalma as part of IACT’s Indiana Downtown® program. The plan for a Downtown Action Agenda, was first announced at Lawrenceburg Main Street’s annual meeting in late April.
See L’BURG, Page 5A
Umbrellas in the hallway? It could be at South Dearborn By Erika Schmidt Russell Editor erussell@registerpublications.com
South Dearborn School Corporation has a roof problem. In several cases the school corporation has a big problem. At South Dearborn Middle School, built in 2006, the roof was not in-
stalled properly nor is it up to code. The inspector for the warranty allowed changes, including 10 fasteners per board instead of the required 18 per board, said Brennen Baker, president of Moisture Management. South Dearborn school board heard from Baker Monday, July 21. Moisture Managment, Indianapolis,
was hired to inspect the corporation roofs because there are several leaks in some buildings. Besides SDMS, where the roof is leaking in several spots, South Dearborn High School also has leaks. The leaks are so bad Superintendent Dr. John Mehrle and a SDHS
See UMBRELLAS, Page 5A
Fritch named Register Publications’ general manager
April Fritch, 53, Lawrenceburg, circulation, distribution, Internet, has been named general manager and production. of Register Publications, the “I come from a sales largest print media business background, with the last in Dearborn and Ohio coun18 years spent in print ties and in the Greater Harsales,” said Fritch. rison region of Southwest “We will continue to Ohio. ensure that we provide Fritch, named to the poour readers and advertissition by company owner ers with excellent prodMurray Cohen, has been aducts. The team at Regisvertising director for nearly ter Publications is by far two years. She will retain one of the most helpful her responsibilities as ad diand cooperative group April Fritch rector, but also will oversee of employees that I have daily operations of the media com- ever had the pleasure of working pany’s other departments, including with. Our team will continue to
© REGISTER PUBLICATIONS, 2014
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review our newspapers and special sections to provide the community with compelling, interesting, and useful information.” Fritch, who comes from a newspaper family, said she has been an avid reader of and subscriber to the local papers for the 25 years she has lived in Dearborn County. “I feel many years from now there still will be a place for community newspapers,” said Fritch. “But as trends change, I’m aware that providing mobile apps, and constantly improving our websites, gives our readers more options to
Staff Report Sean and Stephanie Lucier, brother and sister from Lawrenceburg, have been named Big Brother and Big Sister of the Year by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati. Stephanie, 22, is paired with Daminica, and Sean, 18, is paired with Matthew. Both of these mentoring friendships are in the Site-Based program with Big Brothers Big Sisters, and meet at the children’s school. Stephanie first learned about Big Brother Big Sisters in high school, when she was paired with a Little Sister, and wanted to continue mentoring other children when that school program ended. Big Brothers Big Sisters paired adult volunteer mentors with children in the community who can benefit from a positive role model. For Stephanie, Daminica, who’s in fourth grade, is the youngest “Little Sister” she’s been paired with. Stephanie Lucier said “Conversations with Daminica, are relaxed and fun and just take you back to that age.” When she told her about the Big Sister of the Year award, Daminica, “lit up like Christmas. The award made her feel like she was contributing to something bigger than herself.” The experience of being a Big Sister helped Stephanie as well. As she finishes her college education at North-
See MANAGER, Page 5A
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