There were 40 Clermont County residents who sacrificed their lives during the War in Vietnam and according to author Gary Knepp, each one left a legacy behind. Knepp gave some background about how the concept for his new book, “Beyond the Names” was initiated.

Union workers from United Steel Workers Local 498 at Smurfit Stone Container Corporation in Blue Ash recently held their annual toy and food drive. Their generous donations during the past month filled a large drum to over-flowing, but when the group didn’t receive any requests from union members for help they had to look for other places to donate the goods.

It began at a Native American Powwow Jan. 25, 2008, when Cameron Williams, then age 9, drew some pictures and sold them to raise money for veterans. She raised $38 that day for the local VFW and since that time, she has raised more than $4,500.

Ruth Ann and I attended the Batavia United Methodist Church Christmas program and it was extremely good. Some of the young folks had the parts of the animals at the birth of Christ. These kids would make the sounds each animal made, one little one was the sheep and boy did they give it all they had. It was beautiful.

I can hear a resounding chorus of voices saying,

Meshelle Lynn Moeller and David Paul Laird were united in marriage Nov. 14 at the Dodsonville United Methodist Church. Marvin Cohn performed the double-ring ceremony. The bride is the daughter of Beth Dillion of Blanchester and Keith and Rita Moeller of Waynesville. Parents of the groom are Jim and Vickie Laird of Batavia. The bride was given in marriage by her father. She wore an organza ivory gown.

The village of Batavia celebrated Holiday in the Village Saturday, Dec. 12. Visitors from all over the county joined the residents and Mayor John Thebout in an evening of family fun. The Association had approximately 1,600 lights along Main Street.

As the approach of the holidays speeds up, the sports schedules of Clermont County’s high school teams begin to slow down accordingly. Milford skimmed by Glen Este 46-44 in an inner-county, next door neighbor showdown in the Buckeye Division of the Fort Ancient Valley Conference. The visiting E-Gals were in command at each intermission 11-4, 21-18, and 36-27 before the Trojans gathered together for a determined rally in the last eight minutes of the fray to close the gap considerably.

The new head coach at the barony is Craig Mazzaro, who formerly was the very successful head coach of the Amelia boys basketball program. The Blue and White began the campaign with a 2274-2121 loss to McNicholas’ Rockets in non-league play. Vestring led all bowlers with his two-game total of 416 pins.

Glen Este’s male varsity cagers continue their unblemished ways having racked up four consecutive victories. Finneytown was a flop trying to top the Trojans. The Purple and White won out over their hosts 59-43 commanding quarter leads of 14-11, 26-17, and 39-30 in this non-conference contest.