Shut-Down Paper Mill Burns

Excerpts from news story, courtesy of Terre Haute Tribune-Star:

A large black shroud of smoke could be seen as far away as Riley, about eight miles from the former International Paper facility at 2401 Prairieton Ave. Firefighters responded about 2:25 a.m. Sunday to heavy smoke and flames at the closed paper plant, said John Gardner, public information officer for the fire department.

Gardner said Sunday the cause of the fire has not yet been determined. The facility is being dismantled. “The only thing we can come up with so far is that maybe some contractors were using torches as they were disassembling and something caught fire,” Gardner said.

A heavy tractor was used to cut a trench across an area of the fire to preserve more valued equipment that was to be removed from the facility, Gardner said, and allow the remainder of the plant to burn itself out.

Smoke could still be seen high in the air by 9:30 a.m. Sunday, when the temperature hovered at 8 degrees.

Firefighters remained on scene for about nine hours, with the blaze finally extinguished about 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Gardner said.

Protective clothing helped firefighters battle the cold at the closed paper plant, yet firefighters were limited to one or two hours at a time fighting the blaze, depending on the situation, “if they were wet or if they were protected from the wind,” Gardner said.

“The American Red Cross had a heated school bus that was used as a command center and the Prairie Creek [Volunteer Fire] Department had a rehab unit with heat, plus all the fire engines have heaters,” he said, adding that Honey Creek Fire Department also assisted.

“Fighting the elements makes it extremely rough on firefighters and equipment, when it gets wet, freezes up and gears freeze up. Plus, you have to pay attention to exposed skin and just battle pure exhaustion,” Gardner said.

Charlie Dreher Will Be Remembered By Many

Courtesy of Terre Haute Tribune-Star:

Charles Edward “Chuck” Dreher, 78, of West Terre Haute, died Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008, in Indianapolis. He was born on Nov. 30, 1930, in Terre Haute, to Charles Louis Dreher and Muriel Evelyn Dowell Dreher. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Carole Nichols Dreher; three sons, Douglas Dreher and his wife Cheryl, Charles Eric Dreher and his wife Judy, all of West Terre Haute and Michael Dreher and his wife Darci of Covington; two daughters, Regina Foradori and her husband John of Terre Haute and Susan Paulin and her husband Jim of West Terre Haute; 14 grandchildren, Peter Morris and his wife Marcie of West Terre Haute, Amanda Woelfle and her husband Todd of Terre Haute, Sara Nickles and her husband Dusty, Charles Trevor Dreher, Clifford J. Paulin, Brittany Paulin, and Jenna Dreher, all of West Terre Haute, Angelica Foradori and Mario Foradori of Terre Haute, Dane Dreher, Colton Dreher, Tanner Dawson Dreher, Zachary Black, and Gabriel Dreher of Covington; three great-grandsons, Anthony Morris and Luke Morris of West Terre Haute and Gavin Woelfle of Terre Haute; three sisters, Betty Waldrop of Clinton, Mary Vrabic and her husband Donnie of Terre Haute and Pauline Kelsheimer of West Terre Haute; one uncle, William Dowell and his wife Wiladeen of West Terre Haute; two aunts, Audrey “Sis” Scott of Clinton and Doris Farmer of Terre Haute; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; a granddaughter, Jacki Dana Morris; and several aunts and uncles.Chuck worked as a production scheduling manager at Wabash Fibre Box Company in Terre Haute. He retired in 1993, and celebrated the event by taking his family to Disney World in Florida. He was a member of the St. Ann Roman Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus Council 541. Chuck graduated from Fayette High School in 1948. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951 through 1953, during which he was stationed in Germany. When he was younger, he played baseball and softball. He enjoyed working in his yard, traveling, spending time with his children, grandchildren, extended family and friends. He loved cheering on family at sports events such as softball, baseball, football, basketball, cross country, track, running events, and gymnastics. He volunteered at several events over the years at St. Ann, the K of C, and the former Schulte High School. Mass of Christian burial will be 11 a.m. Thursday in St. Ann Church, 1440 Locust St., in Terre Haute, with the Rev. Darvin Winters officiating. Entombment is in Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum. Visitation is 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Fitzpatrick Funeral Home, 220 N. 3rd St., West Terre Haute, and also from 9:30 a.m. until service time in the Church on Thursday. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Ann Community Outreach Services, 1440 Locust Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home and the church.

Sometimes We Just Need To Laugh

My thanks to Ken Boehm for the following — just one of a bunch of good ones he sent. I’ll post them from time to time.

Gene Verostko Passes Away

Courtesy of the Terre Haute Tribune-Star:

Gene Verostko, 18-time winner of Men’s City Golf championship, dies at 81

TERRE HAUTE — Eugene A. Verostko, 81, of Terre Haute, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008, in his home. He was born on Feb. 7, 1927, in Terre Haute, to John Verostko and Mary (Soltis) Verostko. Gene worked as a printer at Wabash Valley Fiberbox in earlier years. He was a member of the American Legion Post 104, Marine Core League and a member and past president of the Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Survivors include his children, Gary Verostko and wife Dee of Bloomington, Gayle Fountain and husband Larry of Carbon, Paul Verostko and wife Candy and Daniel Verostko, all of Terre Haute, and Sandra Dunn and husband Michael of Bloomington; grandchildren, Jennifer Fountain, John Knauer and wife Angel of Marshall, Ill., Paul Verostko of Terre Haute, Hogan Dunn of Bloomington and Madisyn Verostko of West Union, Ill.; great-grandchildren, Gabrielle and Kendra Knauer; many nieces and nephews; special nieces and nephews, John Verostko, Sharon Oakley and Darcy Gray; and close nieces, Debbie Donnenhoffer and Carolyn Davis.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Joann, who passed away in 1985; one grandchild, Conner Dunn; two brothers; and 10 sisters.

Gene was one of the most talented athletes ever to be graduated from Gerstmeyer Technical High School. Whether it was basketball, baseball, football or golf, he demonstrated skill levels that only most could hope to emulate. Playing on the Tech basketball team, he helped the Black Cats to the semi-state round of the state tournament. On the gridiron, he once scored the game’s only touchdown when he ran to the left while his team blocked to the right. Les Brown, a former Gerstmeyer five-letter man recalls a basketball game in which Gene, guarded on both sides, shot the ball from behind his back over his own head in the basket.

After high school, Gene concentrated on his primary interest which was golf. He began caddying at the age of 12. He once said, “The first time I saw someone hit a golf ball and watched it fly through the air, I knew it was the game for me.” Once Gene Verostko put his mind on becoming Terre Haute’s premier golfer, it took little time for him to become a legend on local fairways. He won his first city title in 1951 and his 18th in 1975. He later annexed his fifth Casey, (Ill.) Amateur in 1993. Gene was capable of par golf at Hulman Links well after he reached the age of 70. In a golfing career that spanned more than 50 years, Gene won well over 100 tournaments with a silky smooth swing and a putting stroke that allowed him to hole putts from anywhere on the greens. Twice he shot 64s in tournaments on courses he had never played before.

Good friend, Bill Doan, summed up Gene Verostko’s golf game when he said, “Gene was a winner because of the size of his heart. He willed himself to many of his triumphs. Add that to a work ethic that was second to none in regard to practice, and you have Gene Verostko, a champion for the ages.” Being in Gene’s company was always a pleasure. To say he was someone special would be an understatement of the century.

Funeral services are noon Monday in Thomas Funeral Home, 2200 N. 13th Street. with the Rev. Darvin Winters officiating. Visitation is 3 to 8 p.m. Sunday and 11 a.m. to service time Monday in the funeral home. Burial is in Calvary Cemetery, in Terre Haute, with American Legion Post 104 performing military honors. In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to JR Golf Program of the Boys and Girls Club.

Retirement Isn’t So Bad

Our thanks to Ken Boehm, who sent in the following: (He sent some other good stuff too, but I’ll feature it later.)

____________________________________

And They Ask Why I Like Retirement !!!

Question:  How many days in a week?
Answer:  6 Saturdays, 1 Sunday

Question:  When is a retiree’s bedtime?
Answer:  Three hours after he falls asleep on the couch.

Question:  How many retirees to change a light bulb?
Answer:  Only one, but it might take all day.

Question:  What’s the biggest gripe of retirees?
Answer:  There is not enough time to get everything done.

Question:  Why don’t retirees mind being called Seniors?
Answer:  The term comes with a 10% discount.

Question:  Among retirees what is considered formal attire?
Answer:  Tied shoes.

Question:  Why do retirees count pennies?
Answer:  They are the only ones who have the time.

Question:  What is the common term for someone who enjoys work and refuses to retire?
Answer:  NUTS!

Question:  Why are retirees so slow to clean out the basement, attic or garage?
Answer:  They know that as soon as they do, one of their adult kids will want to store stuff there.

Question:  What do retirees call a long lunch?
Answer:  Normal

Question:  What is the best way to describe retirement?
Answer:  The never ending Coffee Break.

Question:  What’s the biggest advantage of going back to school as a retiree?
Answer:  If you cut classes, no one calls your parents.

Question:  Why does a retiree often say he doesn’t miss work, but misses the people he used to work with?
Answer:  He is too polite to tell the whole truth.

And, my very favorite ….

Question:  What do you do all week?
Answer:  Monday through Friday, NOTHING….. Saturday & Sunday, I rest.

For Lovers Of Word-Play

Our thanks to Ron Hanks for the following:

I wondered why the baseball was getting bigger. Then it hit me.

Police were called to a day care where a 3 year old was resisting a rest.

Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He’s all right now.

The roundest knight at King Arthur’s round table was Sir Cumference.

The butcher backed up into the meat grinder and got a little behind in his work.

To write with a broken pencil is pointless.

When fish are in schools they sometimes take debate.

The short fortune teller who escaped from prison was a small medium at large.

A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.

A thief fell and broke his leg in wet cement. He became a hardened criminal.

Thieves who steal corn from a garden could be charged with stalking.

We’ll never run out of math teachers because they always multiply.

When the smog lifts in Los Angeles, U.C.L.A.

The math professor went crazy with the blackboard. He did a number on it.

The professor discovered that her theory of earthquakes was on shaky ground.

The dead batteries were given out free of charge.

If you take a laptop computer for a run you could jog your memory.

A dentist and a manicurist fought tooth and nail.

A bicycle can’t stand alone; it is two tired.

A will, is a dead giveaway.

Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

A backward poet writes inverse.

In a democracy it’s your vote that counts; in feudalism, it’s your Count that votes.

A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.

If you don’t pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.

With her marriage she got a new name and a dress.

Show me a piano falling down a mine shaft and I’ll show you A-flat miner.

When a clock is hungry it goes back four seconds.

The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine was fully recovered.

A grenade fell onto a kitchen floor in France, resulted in Linoleum Blownapart.

You are stuck with your debt if you can’t budge it.

Local Area Network in Australia: The LAN down under.

He broke into song because he couldn’t find the key.

A calendar’s days are numbered.

A lot of money is tainted: ‘Taint yours, and ‘taint mine.

A boiled egg, is hard to beat.

He had a photographic memory which was never developed.

A plateau, is a high form of flattery.

Those who get too big for their britches will be exposed in the end.

When you’ve seen one shopping center you’ve seen a mall.

If you jump off a Paris bridge, you are in Seine.

When she saw her first strands of gray hair, she thought she’d dye.

Bakers trade bread recipes on a knead to know basis.

Santa’s helpers, are subordinate clauses.

Acupuncture: a jab well done.

And Another Harley Sighting!

I guess last Sunday’s newspaper didn’t use all the pictures from Harley’s group trip to Great Britain — today’s has a few more. Here’s one of Harley and Ann.

(Courtesy Terre Haute Tribune-Star. CLICK TO ENLARGE)

Harley’s Been Traveling!

I was looking at today’s newspaper and was surprised to see a picture of our old pal, Harley Bennet, who was apparently vacationing in England with his wife and a group of club members. Looks like he’s having fun!

(Photo courtesy of Terre Haute Tribune-Star. CLICK TO ENLARGE.)

What’s Your Funny Phrase?

Got a note from Ron Hanks with one of those funny little statements that describe someone who is – shall we say – not quite on top of things. Ron’s phrase describes someone who is “a half a bubble off plumb“.

I’ve always liked those. Here are a few I got from a website called Jokes Place.

• 1. A few clowns short of a circus.
• 2. A few fries short of a happy meal.
• 3. A few beers short of a six pack.
• 4. A few peas short of a casserole.
• 5. The wheel’s spinning, but the hamster’s dead.

They have a lot more if you want to click the link — or maybe you have a favorite you’d like to submit. You can do it below with a comment.

Memories Of Barney

Just thought I’d repost this picture of Barney. It’s also on the picture site (link in the right column) but I thought I’d put it here because it so perfectly captures my memory of how it looked to walk into his office and talk to him.