Life’s Reflections: Everhart book contains many familiar names

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Tom Everhart and his wife, Becky, are shown at an event quite a few years ago. She passed away recently and will surely be missed. (Courtesy photo)

As always, I enjoy interviewing Tom Everhart, especially when he comes up with another book he gets published.

I am really not that interested in basketball, but his latest book, titled Basketball Chronicles: Independent Basketball Association (IBA), dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the local sport in this area.

He kept all of the news clippings on the group ever since it lasted and those clippings and some photos are featured in that limited edition.

What I enjoyed about it was that I knew a lot of the ball players named throughout the book.

Names that I recognized from the Ansonia area are Donn Thornhill, Jerry Henkaline, Tony Printz, Rick Bickel, Ron Smith, Tom Prosyk, Joe Young, Ken Blackburn, John Batten, Chris Bennett and Gary Depweg.

Here is a basketball “jersey” Tom Everhart still has in his possession. (Linda Moody photo)

I also knew some other ones named from the Darke County area are Shearl Pitman, Lowell Hawkins, Mike Shannon, Wayne Pratt, Jan Jasenski, Joel Stevens, Rolland Brinley, Tony Lindamood, John Crossley, Kenny Phlipot, Jessie Camacho, Kim Baker, Lee Everhart, Russ Willis and of course Tom Everhart.

Sorry if I left anybody out, but I couldn’t believe I knew all those names.

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I was also privileged to cover the Miss Annie Oakley Shooting Contest this past week and help with the scorekeeping as I’ve done for a number of years.

It was fun, and I congratulate all of the winners. Everyone did a great job.

Miss Annie Oakley for 2024-25 will be Lauren Wright. I mentioned in my initial coverage of the competition that she was also named the first-ever Little Miss Annie Oakley in 2010.

What a special part of local history that will be in years to come!

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Jamie and I extend our condolences to the families and friends of Gary “Happy” Young, Jack C. Frantz, Donald Boyer, Urban Dirksen and Thomas Mowery.
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Seeking prayers for these people: Linda Johnston, Amy Brewer, Jené Riffell, Patricia Maier, Ken Wombold, Delores Beisner, Mike Hopkins, Jodi Gilpin Snyder, Charlie Bulcher, Ron Moody, Charlyee Severance, Justin Fritz, Jeremy “Jerm” Burke, DeWayne Yohey, Katrina Hoening, Kent Snyder, (cousin) Carol Byrd, Gladys Neff, Kara Didier, Carl Francis, Craig “Cheese” Thompson, Bridget Brown, Don DeBord, Otis Stewart, Chris Clark, Slug Midlam, Bob Peters, Phyllis Brumbaugh, Judy Collins, Linda Gasper, Carol Hemmerich, Stephanie Klingshirn, Brenda Schlechty, Betty Burnfield, Dan Lockhart, Roberta Hall, Pam Norman-Penticuff, Kelly Kelch, Mike Mayse, Steve Waymire, Nikole Baldridge, Chester Bryant, Lester Beisner, Mark Lovejoy.

Also, Judy York, Donald Booker, Dennis Leeper, Connie Stachler, Randy Heck, Ronnie Norton, Gary Eichler, David Pretzman, Clinton Randall, Ralph Byrd, Sonja and Dan Coppess, Bruce Kaiser, Amanda Mote, Paul Gigandet, Doug Whittington, Tracy Pratt, John Rimmer, Joan Keen, Larry P. Fitzwater, Jim Thomas, Neal Gray, Judie Hathaway, Randy Garrison, Kathy Gragorace, Donna Bixler, Cathy Melling, Scott Clark, and all others who are suffering from other life-altering illnesses.

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Happy birthday:
Aug. 1 to Jeff Riffell, twins Ron and Rick Bickel, twins Sharon and Karon Strait, Terry Longfellow, Leon Sprowl, Jason Menchhofer, Fred Matix and Irene Rosenbeck Siler.
Aug. 2 to Dane birt, Zane Keller, Gloria Hodge, Melinda Bryson Frantz, Adam Cothran, Denney Heck, Mike Williams, Mitch Eiting, April Staver, Payton Brubaker, Kathy Hiestand and Allison Dynes.
Aug. 3 to Sharon Miller, Scott Walters, Ethan Mann, Joyce Wendel, Judy Striegel Brandenburg, David Bryant, Nicole Rice and Dorothy Tomlinson Miller.
Aug. 4 to Jerry Barga, Patty Fellers, Mark Shiverdecker, Adrien Lore, Janell Randall, Cody Thwaits, Norma Highley and David Loewer.
Aug. 5 to Todd Brumbaugh, Adam Klipstine, Tara George, Jo Langenkamp, Kim Klipstine, Carla Hill-oClark, Toni Wombold, Terri Hall and Marilyn McEldowney.
Aug. 6 to Cindy Lovejoy, Troy Gasper, Laura Turner, Slug Widener and Tia Rhoades.
Aug. 7 to Shelba Kelly, Dave Fitzgerald, Hunter Burns, Zoey Burns, Hadyen Burns, Barb Hess, Allen Newbauer and Rick Hyatt.

Happy anniversary to Harold and Holly Riffell on Aug. 1; and Duane and Kelly Sanning on Aug 4.

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Think about it: “Friendship isn’t a big thing; it’s a million little things.” –Author Unknown