The 21st Annual Conservation Poster Contest recently concluded and the winning posters were recognized with awards. This year’s contest focused on the theme “Dig Deeper—Mysteries in the Soil”. The theme encouraged students to show the importance of soil and soil health in our world. Soil not only provides the everyday needs of humans and animals, it is also the richest area of life on earth. There are more soil microorganisms in one teaspoon of healthy soil than there are people on earth. The 2014 poster contest was sponsored by the Sullivan County Conservation District, Dushore Borough, and White Ash Land Association. Honorable mention recipients were awarded ribbons, while the first–, second–, and third–place winners in each grade level received a plaque, t-shirt with their poster image, and $10 gift certificates. The overall winning poster received an additional $20 gift certificate. The winning entries are as follows. 4th grade First place was presented to Kassidy Beinlich. The second place award went to Naomi Brown. Honorable mentions were presented to Zoe Pedro, Chloe Burke, Grace Betts, and Ryan Smith. Due to an error in judging, there was no third place recognition. 5th Grade First place honors went to Gerhett Parrish. Wilson Reeser captured second place and third place was awarded to Shannon Taylor. Joshua Heess, Colby Heaton, Tia Baldwin, and Bethany Beinlich
;
The Sullivan County boys’ soccer team began the last week with a hard fought 1-0 win over Millville on the Quakers’ home field on Wednesday night. The Griffin defense held up well, keeping the Millville squad from getting any shots on goal. The only score of the game came on a breakthrough by Tom Blasi with 12:57 left in the first half. Tom hit teammate Doug Shrimp with a deft pass in front of the goal, enabling Doug to make an easy tap in for the score. Sullivan ended with six shots on goal and three corners to Millville’s two. On Friday evening the Griffins traveled to Warrior Run where they dropped a tough game to a very talented squad 8-0. Then Saturday morning they traveled to Williamsport to meet St John Neumann, where they were able to come away with a 4-2 win. Doug Shrimp scored three goals in leading the Griffins to victory. The first goal was assisted by Trey Richlin, the second by Conner Wylie, and the third was unassisted. Jake Gavitt scored the fi nal Griffi n goal on an assist from Tom Blasi. The team was able to put together some good passes and controlled the ball well during most of the game. They had many hard shots with near misses and balls that hit
;
Two members of the Trail Trotters 4-H Horse and Pony Club took part in District IV Horse Show competition at Alparon Park in Troy on Saturday, September 8. Fallyn Russell showing her Arabian gelding, BJ, competed in Western Grooming & Showmanship, Jr. Division and Western Pleasure Ponies, placing 4th. Hannah Corson showing her Quarter Horse mare, Moons Melody, competed in Western Grooming & Showmanship, Jr. Division and Western Novice Walk-Jog Pleasure and Equitation. The State 4-H Horse Show will be held in Harrisburg in October.
Sullivan County High School Junior and Shooting Sports Team member Aurora Keen spent two weeks in Colorado Springs, Colorado this June and July competing in USA Shooting national competitions at Fort Carson. In June, Aurora competed against the nation’s top women in International (Olympic) Skeet at the 2012 USA National Championship. This was her first appearance at the USA National Championship. Aurora shot well scoring a 198/250, tying for 7th place overall and securing the Silver medal for her shooting classifi cation in the junior division. The competition was very close as Aurora missed the fi nals by two targets. In early July, Aurora returned to Colorado Springs to compete in the 2012 Junior Olympic National Championship. She scored her personal best of 104/125 targets against outstanding junior lady competitors. The competition came down to the last round with very close scores. There were ties for 2nd and 3rd positions and a three-way tie for 4th, 5th, and 6th positions overall going into the finals. Unfortunately, Aurora missed the fi nals by three targets and was one target from the Bronze medal in her division. Aurora had an outstanding performance at both the 2012 USA National Championship and the 2012 Junior Olympic National Championship. She is at the beginning of the Olympic path and hopes to be selected for the
;
With the weather cooperating for a cross country meet, Southern Columbia, Warrior Run, Williamsport, Loyalsock, and Hughesville arrived in Laporte ready to compete on Thursday, September 13th. The races proved to be filled with action and excitement. In varsity boys’ action, Kelby Mullen (19:42), from a field of 48 runners, set a new course record on this year’s newly designed course. Lucas Hatton (21:16) and Jordan Beinlich (21:22) were the next Griffins over the line in the 8th and 10th spots, respectively. Bob Polcrack (22:13) and Tom Choplick (22:27) earned 15th and 19th place finishes. Noah Krieg and Kassidy Brown completed the roster. The Griffins earned three wins: 21-34 over Warrior Run; 15- 50 over Loyalsock; and 15-50 over Hughesville. However, they suffered their first two losses for the season: 29-26 to Southern Columbia and 31-25 to Williamsport. The harriers’ record now stands at 6 wins, 2 losses for the season. In varsity girls’ action, the ladies, with all team members present, came ready to compete in the field of 42 harriers. Bridget Paonessa (26:47) led the Griffins with a 5th place overall finish. MacKenzie Doyle (28:18) and Alexis Kiess (29:25) were the next lady harriers to complete the race, claiming the 10th and 12th place spots. Teammates Kelly Kramer (29:35) and Bethany Lambert (29:44) earned 18th and 19th place
;
[twocol_one]y 2011, time, weather and circumstance had taken their toll of the venerable Blue Building at the Forksville Fairgrounds. Rot had invaded the wooden doors, rust had ingratiated itself into the light fixtures and several decades of insects had given their lives in a never-ending effort to obliterate the windowsills behind the failed screening. The total effect somewhat reduced, shall we say, the aesthetic ambience when the Blue Building (hereinafter referred to more intimately as BB) acted as the display area for the Sullivan County Council on the Arts’ annual Fall Art Expo. The Art Expo, held each year during the Sullivan County Fall Festival (this year, October 13-14), is a serious showcase for artists from across a broad area of north central Pennsylvania and south central New York. With that in mind, what to do to make the place more presentable? The SCCA approached Chesapeake Energy, a major operator in the Marcellus Shale gas fields, asking if the company could make a donation to cover the cost of materials for the BB’s “extreme makeover.” The Arts Council would assure all volunteer labor. Chesapeake provided the donation, for which we extend our sincere thanks. The initial SCCA work party concentrated on a hosing down of the interior, plus extensive employment of scrub brushes, mops and brooms. A follow-up work party
;