INSIDE TODAY: GOLFERS ADVANCE TO REGIONAL
theRISING SUNrecorder Thursday, June 12, 2014
www.theohiocountynews.com
Issue No. 24
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CLASS OF 2014 HAPPY TO SAY GOODBYE
CHANDRA L. MATTINGLY
Ohio Circuit Court Judge James Humphrey swears in new Aurora Police Officer Jason Siekman Friday, May 30, as his family watches, from left: daughter Isabel Siekman, 9, sister Kindra Russell and grandfather Donald Siekman, all of Rising Sun.
Army vet joins APD
TIM HILLMAN
Rising Sun High School Class of 2014 graduated on Sunday, June 8. Above: The ceremonial tossing of the cap was voted on by the class. Above: Rachel Romans said a final farewell. Below: Class president Cody Weaver gave the welcoming address after Ashley Veechiola and Jaime Brittain and classmates entered. Valedictorian Sydney Willhite and Salutatorian Sydney Elliott gave addresses while Justine Werner received the final diploma handed out by retiring superintendent Steve Patz.
BY CHANDRA L. MATTINGLY Staff Reporter Aurora’s newest police officer spent three years in active duty in the Army, including a year in Iraq beginning in March 2003. Otherwise stationed at Fort Hood, Jason Siekman said he always planned to go into police work when he finished serving in the military. While not going into detail, Siekman, 33, said during that year in Iraq he saw “a little bit of everything,” from having close friends wounded or killed in combat to encountering improvised explosive devices. “We were in a lot of stuff,” he said, explaining he was a scout with the Fourth Infantry Division. Did the experience change him? He’s sure it did, but he would do it again if asked. “You don’t notice when you change yourself but other people around you do,” said Siekman, a Rising Sun resident. After the Army, the 1999 Rising Sun High School graduate worked 10 years
as a mill operator at North American Stainless, Ghent, Ky., to support his family. He then turned back to his goal, receiving an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Ivy Tech earlier this year. Siekman’s interest in police work was spurred by riding with his cousin’s son David Bradley when Bradley was an Ohio County Sheriff’s deputy. Five years older than Siekman, Bradley later worked as a Greendale Police officer and now is a detective for the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department where he received a Medal of Bravery in 2013. Police work attracted Siekman because it’s “something different all the time, interacting with people, just serving your community,” he said. Officially joining Aurora Police Department Monday, May 12, Siekman volunteered with APD for about a month before that. What’s been most interesting as well as most challenging has been learning
See APD, Page 10
EIGHT IS GREAT
Class of 2014 receives awards, scholarships Sydney Willhite was named valedictorian and Sydney Elliott Salutatorian at the 2014 Rising Sun High School awards program on Thursday, June 5. Academic Honors Diploma: Shelby Armstrong, Ryan Dugan, Sydney Elliott, Alexandria Koons, Austin Martin, Sebastian Mathis, Elizabeth Miller, Taylor Mullen, Bryce Murray, William Nierlich, Rachel Romans, Amber Sporleder, Ashley Vecchiola, Sydney Willhite. CORE 40 Recipients: Sidney Barkley, Dylan McBride, Teresa Beyer, Briar Miller, Cody Beckett, Kalyn Montgomery, Jaime Brittain, Alexis Murafski, Brandon Browning, Jonathan Pickett, Tyler Bush, Cody Reed, Shyla Cantrell, Ethan Roark, Kelsey DuVall, Lucas Roark, Leslie Edwards, Meighan Sullivan, Caitlyn Feldkamp, Riki' Terrill, Arial Fields, Colton Unger, Jill Hummel, Emily Walton, Shawn Hupp, Justine Warner, Trey Hurley, Cody Weaver, Jordyn Hussong, Cayla Yocum, Jordan King, David Yocum. A total amount $488,550 in scholarships was pesented (does not include Lilly winner). The awards presented included: ■■Honors diploma: ■■ Core 40 diplomas: ■■ Career Center ■■ Computer Repair: Devon Radcliff, Zach VanWinkle, Jesse Weber ■■ Cosmotology:Kalyn Montgomery,
Riki Terrill ■■ Dental Assisting: Sidney Barkley ■■ Electrical trades: Cody Reed, DJ Yocum. ■■ Law Enforcement: Teresa Beyer, Destiny Lowe. ■■ Motorcycle/Marine Repair: Tyler Rabe. ■■ Precision Machine Technology: Jordan King. The following students have been nominated as most outstanding RSHS students: Sidney Barkley, Cody Reed, Jesse Weber. Most outstanding student at the Southeastern Career Center from Rising Sun High School: Cody Reed. Southeastern Career Center Technical Honor Society: Alex Bruce, Loren Chapman, and Tera Schweitzer.
Departmental Awards
English 9: Zach Martini, English 10: Kyla Willhite; English 11: Zach McCracken; English 12: Sidney Barkley. Novels and Creative Writing: Taylor Jenkins; English Grammar & Composition: Lily Ramsey; Advanced English Grammar/Composition: Sydney Elliott. Spanish Spanish I: Taylor Jenkins; Spanish II: Jake Uhlmansiek; Spanish III: Sydney Elliott. Industrial Arts: Jacob Rice. Social Studies
Geography and History of the World: Kyla Willhite U.S. History: Whitney Chipman Government: Sydney Willhite Economics: Sydney Willhite Psychology: Jaime Brittain Sociology: Ashley Vecchiola Mathematics Algebra I: Zach Martini; Geometry: Kyla Willhite; Algebra II: Taylor Jenkins; Finite Math: Sydney Elliott Pre-Calculus with Trigonometry: Jake Uhlmansiek; A.P. Calculus: Sydney Willhite Science Biology: Kyla Willhite; Integrated Chemistry/Physics: Mason Uhlmansiek; Chemistry: Mackinzie Scott; Earth & Space Science: Lily Ramsey; Anatomy: Whitney chipman; Physics: Sydney Willhite Business & Project Lead The Way Digital Citizenship: Kyla Willhite; Intro. To Engineering Design: Jacqueline Stapleton; Principles of Engineering: Shelby Armstrong; Digital Electronics: Sydney elliott; Civil Engineering: Trey Hurley. Family & Consumer Science Interpersonal Relations / Preparing for College and Careers:Hali Weber; Nutrition and Wellness & Textiles and Fashions: Emma Seileer; Child Dvelopment: Lily Ramsey.
See CLASS, Page 6
SUBMITTED
Rising Sun senior Austin Martin cleared 6’4” to tie for eighth place in the 2014 IHSAA track State Finals in Bloomington. He was eighth a year ago also.
Road closed Monday
On Monday, June 16 (weather permitting) Hartford Pike Road will be closed for the replacement of Ohio County Bridge # 39. The bridge replacement is located between Nelson Road and Hartford Ridge. Detour signs will be posted.
WEATHER TODAY HIGH ......81 Friday HIGH ......81 Saturday HIGH ......83 Sunday: HIGH ......87 Monday HIGH ......85
INSIDE today
COMMUNITY 3 Partly Cloudy LEGALS/OBITS 4 LOW.....63 SPORTS 7-9 Mostly Sunny LOW.....58 RegisterCopyright Publications, 2014 Partly Cloudy 131st Year, No. 24 LOW.....60 www.ohiocounty news.com Partly Cloudy LOW.....66 Partly Cloudy LOW.....67