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Thursday, June 18, 2020
Flags are retired at two ceremonies By KIMBERLY LEWIS FPS Editor Area veterans honorably retired hundreds of American flags Sunday, June 14, during their annual flag retirement ceremonies. In Carrollton, the Fighting McCooks Veterans of Foreign War Post 3301 and the American Legion Post 428 welcomed members of the Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts to its ceremony at the VFW Post. VFW Quartermaster Jim Newbold spoke briefly, noting that the “fact that
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FPS Photo / Kimberly Lewis
we are all here (to honor the flag) is proof we are still a free nation.” Legion Commander Rodger Barto explained the flags would be retired after their service. Legion Chaplain Tom Barnett gave a prayer. VFW Chaplain Chuck Pearson played “Taps.” Officer of the Day Brice Tinlin lit the fire. Following the service, the VFW Auxiliary presented the Scouts with pins for participating in the service. In Minerva, the Don V. Cross American Legion Post 357 conducted the service with assistance from members of the Sons of the American Legion
Members of the Fighting McCooks Veterans of Foreign War Post 3301 and American Legion Post 428 are joined by members of Cub Scout Pack 141, Boy Scouts from Troop 141 and the Carrollton Girl Scouts Troop during the flag retirement ceremony held Sunday, June 14, at the VFW Post.
Squadron 357 and Minerva residents, including VFW Auxiliary Past President Pat Alexander. Conducting the service were Commander Mike Lee, Sons of the American Legion Adjutant Bill Towns and member Dan Toalston and residents Ritsuho Lee, Gary Thewes, Paul Somers, Luke Somers and Kyle Somers. The ceremony was held at Minerva Veterans Memorial Park Sunday, June 14.
Photo courtesy of BIll Towns
Preparing to place flags on the fire at Minerva Veterans Memorial Park Sunday, June 14, are (from left) Veterans of Foreign War Past President Pat Alexander, Sons of the American Legion Squadron 357 member Dan Toalston, Ritsuho Lee and American Legion Post 357 Commander Mike Lee.
Malvern student killed while visiting family By JORDAN MILLER FPS Sports Editor FPS Photo / Georgette Huff
On hand to inspect “Old Betsy” were (from left) Assistant Chief Jim Moore, Steven Barnett, Ed Trushel, Jakob Green, Chief Fred Barnett (seated), Zeb Casper, Joel Barnhart, Todd Guess, Mary Willis and Ben Ocel.
‘Old Betsy’ comes home By GEORGETTE HUFF FPS Contributor
Smiles and nostalgia reigned as members of the Fox Township Volunteer Fire Department gathered at the fire station in Mechanicstown on Tuesday evening, June 9, to welcome a special guest, “Old Betsy,” a 1931 Chevrolet pumper that happens to be the first piece of equipment purchased by the fledgling department, in 1952. Chief Fred Barnett explained that charter memberships of $25 per household provided the seed money to form the Fox Township VFD in 1951, and were used to purchase the pumper from the Minerva Fire Department in 1952. “Old Betsy” – the vehicle was named by Minerva firefighters as a tribute to its reliability - was in use for several years, and was a popular feature in area parades. In fact, Barnett said, “Old Betsy” took top honors competing against newer, brighter, bigger fire engines at the 1976 Highlandtown parade. Time took a toll, though, and as the department updated its fleet, the outdated, little pumper fell into disrepair and eventually was moved to a barn at the lumberyard in Mechanicstown owned by Joyce and Glenn Guess. There it remained, until 2001, when Jim Carlton asked Joyce Guess if he could have a look at what was in her barn. Now a Carroll County resident, Carlton lived much of his life in northern Ohio. He became somewhat famil-
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Malvern resident, Landin Robinson, 16, and his cousin, Klayton Manning, 18, were shot and killed on the evening of Tuesday, June 9, while riding a utility terrain vehicle on a country road near Luling, Texas. Bryan Haynes, 34, of Austin, Texas, was arrested on June 11 and has been charged with two counts of capital murder. Haynes allegedly shot the two teens multiple times. News reports say that he told his brother he shot two “aliens” who were chasing him. “We’re hoping we get justice,” said Landin’s mom, Amber Hise, following the arrest of Haynes. “Landin was a good kid. Klayton was a good kid.” Landin’s mother was at home in Malvern when she learned of her son’s death. “I was going to lay down. My kids were in Texas visiting their dad and I texted them every night ‘I love you’. There was not one night I didn’t tell
LANDIN ROBINSON my kids I loved them,” said Hise.
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COVID-19 by the Numbers
FPS Photo / Georgette Huff
Fox Township Assistant Fire Chief Jim Moore (left) and Fire Chief Fred Barnett (right) prepare to take “Old Betsy” for a spin after owner Ron Dennis brought his refurbished fire truck back to the Fox Township fire station.
iar with this area from visiting cousins in the Mechanicstown area and said he occasionally stopped at Guess’ lumberyard to pick through items that were stored in the basement, and became curious about what might be in the barn. One day, Mrs. Guess unlocked the barn door. And there sat the forlorn little pumper. A few days later, Carlton made an offer and was told he was second in line
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to a prospective buyer who was in no hurry to make up his mind. Carlton persisted until Mrs. Guess took his offer to the fire department, which accepted it. For over a decade, “Old Betsy” more or less languished at Carlton’s
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These statistics are as of presstime Tuesday, June 16. Ohio - 38,911 confirmed cases; 42,010 total; 7,007 hospitalized (1,784 ICU admissions); and 2,597 deaths. Median age is 48. Carroll County - 37 total cases; 30 confirmed cases in Augusta (2), Brown (3), Center (7), East (2), Harrison (5), Loudon (2), Monroe (2), Perry (4) and Rose (4) townships; 6 probable cases (2 in Center and 1 each in Brown, East, Loudon and Rose townships); 9 hospitalized; and 3 deaths. Recovered: 27. Of those cases, there were 5 that are 80 or older (1 hospitalized, 2 deaths); 4 that are 70-79; 6 that are 60-69 (4 hospitalized, 1 death); 7 that are 50-59 (1 hospitalized); 7 that are 40-49; 3 that are 30-
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39 (1 hospitalized); 2 that is 20-29 and 3 that is 0-19 (1 hospitalized). Eighteen are females and 19 are males. Columbiana County - 921 confirmed cases; 141 hospitalized; and 57 deaths. Jefferson County - 71 confirmed cases; 17 hospitalized; and 2 deaths. Harrison County - 11 confirmed cases; 3 hospitalized; and 0 deaths. Stark County - 881 confirmed cases; 181 hospitalized; and 105 deaths. Tuscarawas County - 406 confirmed cases; 54 hospitalized; and 9 deaths. It is now being recommended for residents to wear masks when they are out in the public or in stores. For more information about COVID-19, please see coronavirus.ohio. gov or carroll-lhd.org.
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