Brownstown-Sefton News

By Panzi Blackwell

Autumn Weather Was In The Air And…
…two of the “Merry Woodsmen Crew,” namely Don and Jill Jenkins of Decatur, arrived bright and early Sunday morning to saw up and split about three pickup loads of firewood.
Jill manned the log splitter, Don wielded his chainsaw, Bill floated – whatever and wherever needed, and Panzi drove the wheelbarrow and stacked the wood.
Stopping only for a drink of water, Dr. Pepper or 7-Up, and then a break for a hearty home-cooked spaghetti dinner, the crew worked until all was done and they were about “done in.”
In spite of the hard work, it was enjoyable, peaceful and accident/injury free. The crew-of-two from the north plan to come back for more of the same in the future. They are also planning on bringing more help.
Busy Times Are Beginning…
…so start marking your calendar’s now with the opportunities coming in the months ahead.
Announcements
Brownstown Elementary School Open House…
…this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. Be sure to go on deck and visit the pirate ship in the library.
128th Sefton Townships Churches…
…Convention will be held this year this Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Liberty Christian Church.
There will be specials presented by each church, and John Heischer will deliver the sermon. An ice cream social will follow in the church fellowship room.
Brownstown Sports Booster
“All You Can Eat” Fish Fry…
…Friday, Sept. 24, including catfish filet, walleye, popcorn shrimp, and chicken strips, potato salad, cole slaw, applesauce, baked beans, hush puppies and drink…at the elementary school cafeteria, from 4:30-7 p.m. Carry-outs will be available.
Adults-$8 and children 12 and under-$6. Proceeds from this event will be used to new uniforms and equipment for grades 5-12.
This is a new fundraiser the club will be doing the sports boosters purchase all uniforms for baseball, girls and boy’s basketball, volleyball, cheerleading and scholar bowl.
The price on uniforms have skyrocketed and the club tries very hard to keep the uniforms nice and in style.
This fish fry fundraiser has been selected to eliminate the burden of fundraiser on parents and sports teams.
Advanced tickets may be purchased from any student in sports, cheerleaders and the high school office or at the door. Bomber fans and the community have been very supportive of this club, and they are asking for continued support in this event.
Support is needed, as the club must have a minimum of 300 tickets sold prior to the event. Tickets would make a nice birthday, anniversary or no-special-reason gift to someone.
A Tip of Our Hat
and Roses to…
…“Captain” Melvin Willms, “First Mate” Jerry Reed, elementary school librarian Verla Reed, and the BES principal, Mrs. Reeter, for their caring, effort, time, labor, and ingenuity “above and beyond the call of duty,” in making reading more fun and interesting for the elementary students.
“Shiver Me Timbers” (timbers which Captain Melvin donated, along with other ship-building needs) there is a pirate ship dry-docked in the elementary school library.
Verla came up with the idea, Mrs. Reeter approved it, and Melvin and Jerry made it happen, an amazing feat for two of Brownstown’s finest who have never before built a ship of any kind.
The ship has a tall mast, with authentic-looking weather-beaten sails and a fish net hanging from the bow with a red lobster entangled in it. Gold coins, barnacles, seashells, coconuts  and many other pirates’ treasures abound in the bay of the library.
Verla painted it the night before school started in purple and gold, of course, because, Verla said, “We will be Bombers next year.”
The large pirate’s ship is now anchored in the library, with many of the treasures associated with a pirate’s ship (but not the “bottle of rum”). It has seating on the deck for the students to sit and read their books. Part of Leslie Lloyd’s 3-A class came in to demonstrate the seating efficiency.
Check out the elementary library and the pirate’s ship at the Brownstown Elementary Open House this Thursday, beginning at 6:30 p.m. You will be very impressed and surprised, mates!
A Tip Our Hat
and Roses to…
…the Brownstown Sports Boosters, who work to help the students, parents and schools, and contributes to the self-esteem and financial ability  of all students who wish to participate in sports and the scholar bowl. Help them help the kids by supporting their fundraisers.
Coming & Going
Supper with Aunt Dorothy
Bill and Panzi Blackwell enjoyed supper at The Huddle House in Greenville last Thursday with Bill’s sister, Ava Taylor of Mulberry Grove, and their aunt, Dorothy Maples of Washington.
Mrs. Maples arrived in Illinois to attend the Snow reunion, and remained to visit family and friends for several weeks.
Visiting With Tennessee Friends
Panzi Blackwell joined cousins, Pauline Tackett, and Dora and Ray Weaver at Robbi’s Restaurant in Vandalia last Monday (Aug. 30) to share breakfast and a visit with Gertrude and Shelby Hollis of Springfield, Tenn.
Betty Miller Donates 125th Anniversary Scrapbook to Brownstown Branch Library
Thanks to the efforts of many local residents and businesses, the Brownstown Branch Library has reopened.
Recently closed because of heavy flooding due to the heavy rains, the library had to be totally evacuated, professionally cleaned and waterproofed. A grand re-opening was held on Aug 11.
The Friends of the Brownstown Branch Library met at the Brownstown Village Hall on Aug. 24.
Betty Miller, representing the family of Jesse Miller, made a special presentation of a scrapbook, that she put together on the occasion of the 125th anniversary of the founding of Brownstown.
Betty’s late husband, Jesse Miller, was Brownstown’s mayor at that time, and they put together a wonderful scrapbook filled with pictures, newspaper articles, schedules and letters from state and federal dignitaries, etc.
The scrapbook will soon be on permanent display at the library. The group also discussed upcoming events including the following fundraisers:
•Oct. 23 – Soup Night, 5-8 p.m., Brownstown Fire Station.
•Nov. 12 and 13 – Book Fair, Country Store and Used Purse Sale at the Golden Years Building. If you have books you would like to donate for the library or for the used book sale, you can take them to Deer Park Distributors in Brownstown during regular business hours.
•Nov. 20 – New Purse and Jewelry Sale, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., at the Good Old Days Banquet Center.
For questions about the library, please call the library at 427-3848.
Brownstown United
Methodist Church
Betty Miller played the prelude as the congregation of the United Methodist Church gathered for the Sunday morning worship service.
Pastor Bigley extended the welcome and reviewed the announcements. A note of appreciation was read from the Behrends family. Birthday blessings were sung for Carol Severns.
Bigley led the opening prayer concerns and needs. Jeffrey Kelly served as acolyte. Kelly and Bradley Schwarms presented the tithes and offerings. Carol Severns served as liturgist.
Bigley led the children’s time. He delivered the sermon and served Communion, assisted by Bradley Schwarms and Jeffrey Kelly. The pastor closed the service with the benediction. Jenna Townsend and Renna Kelly led the children’s worship and fellowship prior to their Sunday school classes.
Announcements
•The Lighthouse Pregnancy Center Baby Bottle Campaign will continue until Oct. 3.
•Wednesday at 6 p.m. – Choir practice for Emmanuel Brownstown UMC.
•Thursday at 10 a.m. – Bible study will resume at Brownstown UMC, with Jim Green as leader.
•Saturday at 7 p.m. – The Sefton Township Sunday school convention will be held at Liberty Christian Church with an ice cream social and fellowship to follow.
•Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. – UMW Salad Supper at the church, with installation of officers and program by Bigley. Officers are hostesses.