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St. Elmo News

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thursday, June 23
• Art shows in Fayette County Museum, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Friday, June 24
• Art shows in Fayette County Museum, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Saturday, June 25
• Wheatland Township Cleanup Day 8 a.m.-3 p.m. See info following the Announcements.
• Fayette County Fair Cleanup Day, 9 a.m.-noon at the Brownstown fairgrounds.
• Art shows in Fayette County Museum, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Fayette County 4-H Food and Clothing Show at Brownstown Elementary School. Check-in time is noon-1 p.m. and judging will start at 1 p.m.
Sunday, June 26
• Fayette County Museum art shows final day of exhibiting, 1-4 p.m.
Monday, June 27
• Fayette County HCE Board, 10 a.m., Vandalia Extension Office.
• St. Elmo Lions Club 6 p. m, Mary Ann’s Restaurant – officer installation.
Tuesday, June 28
• St. Elmo Unit of Home and Community Education, 1:30 p.m., St. Elmo Public Library.
Thursday, June 30
• Exxon Mobil Annuitants, noon, Vandalia Ponderosa.
Wheatland Township Cleanup Day
Wheatland Township will once again have a cleanup day for Wheatland Township residents.
Residents may take their items to the dumpster that will be at the township building in St. James. Assistance to unload items will be available.
Anyone who needs curb-side pickup can contact a township official or Mark Lash at 322-3805.
Residents must have items sitting at the road and have notified a township official; there is one pickup truck load per address allowed.
These items will not be accepted – tires, batteries, chemicals, paints, yard waste or electronics.
Blood Drive at St. Elmo
Seventeen pints of blood were collected from 29 presenters at the American Red Cross blood drive held the afternoon of June 13 in St. Mary’s Catholic Church Parish Hall. The quota was 25.
Scott Ealy of Effingham received a 2-gallon pin.
Donors who have donated 50 or more units of blood are: Pat Logsdon of St. Elmo, 121; Wayne Lovett of Brownstown, 89; Lisa Koberlein of St. Elmo, 79; Dale Roll of St. Elmo, 67; and John Krost of St. Elmo, 50.
Chairman Karen Denning recognized the donors and presenters, Joe Reck for putting up posters, the St. James Hornets 4-H Club for donating cookies, St. Elmo Women’s Civic Club for covering the canteen expense, and Deb Hough and Pat Porter, who helped with registration, etc.
The next blood drive scheduled for St. Elmo is Monday, Aug. 8
Lions Club
Dave Maxey opened the June 13 meeting of the St. Elmo Lions Club held at Mary Ann’s Restaurant with the Pledge of Allegiance, and Dan Laack gave the meal blessing.
The 17 members present included Don Crawford, Pee Wee Denton, Roger Fulk, Max Hollinshead, Holly Huffer, Mark Lash, Bob Lowe, Richard Lowe, Le Mar Marchman, Al Nevergall, Rex Reeder, Lloyd Stanley, Bob Wells, Will Williams and Randy Wolf.
A bill for the new Deacon Park sign was presented and plans for the Labor Day Parade were discussed.
Officers for the 2016-17 club year will be installed at the June 27 meeting at Mary Ann’s Restaurant.
American Legion
At the American Legion Post #420 meeting held the evening of June 14 at the Legion Home, a card was read from Dan Miller of the Joliet area, who expressed his appreciation to speak on the Wounded Warriors Program at the Memorial Day service at the Veterans’ Memorial. He said the St. Elmo Veterans’ Memorial is the best he has seen.
There were 285 attendees this year and the Boy Scouts distributed water as needed that was supplied by the Legion. The Scouts’ request to furnish the water for the 2017 Memorial Day service was approved.
Final plans for the June 18 fundraiser at the Legion Home were made.
This year, flags for veterans’ graves were placed in Maplewood, Guy and Spring Hill cemeteries. Next year, they plan to add Crum’s Chapel, Loudon Township, Post Oak, Stein/Stine and Sidener cemeteries.
Don Bartel is getting the concrete pad ready for the Legion propane tank to set on it.
Present at the meeting were Doyle Beck, Charles Bosomworth, Dave Cox, Marvin Forbes, Bill Goodwin, Bob Heckert, Bud Himes, Clement Lilly, Richard Lowe, Ernie Myers, Al Nevergall, Jack Sproat, R. W. Smith and Laverne Wright.
Avena Township Park Board
Present at the June 14 meeting of the Avena Township Park Board held in the St. Elmo Community Park Centennial Building were Daryl Calvert, Jim Caraway, Daphne Oldfield and Janice Russell.
Peg McKinney of the water department is putting chemical tablets periodically in the old swimming pool to help control the mosquitoes. Mayor Ernie Myers said he would see if the St. Elmo Fire Department will drain the pool.
The first bidding advertised for demolishing the pool neglected to have the prevailing wage listed, so advertising for bids has to be repeated.
Another board item that is taking longer then expected is the removal of the city fire whistle located in the park. To demolish the pool, the electricity has to be shut off; it is on the same fire whistle pole, which cannot have the electricity cut off.
Possibly, the pole should be moved to another location – the St. Elmo Community Park is on the Avena Township land, not the city of St. Elmo land. All people in Avena Township have to pay taxes for the community park in St. Elmo, but the people who live in areas outside of the city limits do not pay taxes to the city. Those who live in the city pay taxes for the Deken Park, the city park.
Why the fire whistle was put in the swimming pool area is probably a legal issue that will have to resolved legally with the city of St. Elmo, fire department and Avena Township Park Board.
The board agreed to accept the whistle when it was put in, but the demolishing of the pool needs to be done as soon as it can be to eliminate the problems it is causing.
Avena Township Park Board members receive much criticism for the work they are trying to do and haven’t been able to do. Anyone who has questions is welcome to attend the board meetings.
The board is short a couple of members. If anyone is interested in being on the board, let the members know because needed members can be appointed by the board to serve until the next election.
The next board meeting is on Tuesday, July 12, at 7 p.m. in the St. Elmo Community Park Centennial Building.
First UM Father’s Day
Father’s Day was observed at the First United Methodist Church June 20 worship service. After Richard Tucker played the organ prelude, the congregation sang “This is My Father’s World.” After the Call to Worship, the congregation sang “Faith of Our Fathers.”
Dave Maxey called on Andra Carson to present gifts from the church to three fathers: Zane Belden, at age 31, the youngest father present: Richard Lowe, at age 92, the oldest father present; and Michael Maxey, who had a son who traveled the farthest to be present.
In addition to prayer concerns, offering, sharing the love and children’s time, the hymn “Spirit of the Living God,” was sung. After Pastor Dan Laack’s sermon, the service closed with song.
With Tucker at the organ, Joanne Maxey played the piano for the music.
After the service, several youngsters from the children’s department were at the doors to give each man a candy gift.
The Lighthouse Pregnancy and Health Services baby bottles that were given out on Mother’s Day were collected on Father’s Day.
The annual Church/Community Picnic is scheduled for 4-8 p.m. on Sunday, July 17, at Deken Park.
Marchman’s 90th Birthday
Le Mar Marchman observed his 90th birthday on June 20, but an open house was held in his honor the afternoon of June 18 in the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.
His daughter, Melissa Marchman, assisted by her brothers, did the planning. There were three cakes on the serving table – one on the left said “Husband,” the middle one said “Dad” and the one on the right said “Grandpa.”
The room was decorated in hanging blue stars and white ribbons, blue cloths were on the tables and the serving table, in addition to cake and punch, had blue napkins.
LeMar graduated from the Brownsville Community High School in Brownsville, Texas,  in 1944. He joined the Navy in May 1944, a few weeks before his 18th birthday. After boot camp at Camp Wallace, near Galveston, Texas, he went aboard the LST 681 (Landing Ship Tanks), where he served throughout the war. He achieved the rank of MM3C (motor machinist mate third class), served in the South Pacific and participated in the invasion of Lingyon Gulf in the Philippines and Okinawa in the islands of Japan. He was discharged in June 1946.
At Kingsville, Texas, he went to Texas A & I and graduated with a degree in chemistry.
He married Billye Jo Wagner and as newly married, they moved to St. Elmo in 1952. He worked for his father, Grady Le Mar Marchman, who had the Marchman Well Service Company, then was employed by Contel Telephone Co. at Altamont for 22 years.
He and Billye Jo have three children: Lee and his wife Mary of Tallahasse, Fla., Jay and his wife Lori of Hensley, Ark. (near Little Rock) and Melissa Marchman of Antioch. They have two grandsons (children of Jay and Lori): Chris of Kansas City, Kan., and Tim, who goes to college in Fayetteville, Ark.
Years ago, Le Mar and his Navy buddies started having annual get-togethers. The last one was three years ago in Evansville, Ind., where LST325 is currently docked.
The only current survivor besides Le Mar is Capt. Jerry Stangler of Texas and he was able to attend the last reunion.
On the tables were information on “What Happened in 1926,” and in the list are following: St. Louis Cardinals win the World Series over the Yankees, the U.S. President was Republican Calvin Coolidge, most popular songs in the USA included “Bye, Bye Blackbird” and “Five Foot, Two Eyes of Blue” by Gene Austin and “Fascinating Rhythm” by Fred Astaire and George Gershwin.

 

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