Published: September 02, 2009 03:21 pm         

Valley Briefly: Sept. 6, 2009

Farmersburg

Farmersburg woman celebrates 80 years

Naomi May Drake will celebrate her 80th birthday on Sept. 10. She was born to James and Hazel Watts on Sept. 10, 1929.

Naomi has been a lifelong resident of Sullivan County, married to the late Carter Drake. She has five children, Carta, Janet, Arley, Harley and Farley.

Cards are welcome and may be sent to 10418 N. State Road 63, Farmersburg, IN 47850.

Terre Haute

TH man celebrates 90th birthday

On Aug. 19, Loren Butts celebrated his 90th birthday at a party hosted by Frank Walker of Plaza North Dairy Queen. Loren led his buddies at a round of golf at the Landing afterward. Attending were Frank Davis, Jon Rhodenbaugh, Carl McKee, Jerry Baker, Jack Myers and Don Tyler.

Loren was a sergeant major in the U.S. Army Medical Corps serving in World War II in Europe. He is retired from the U.S. Postal Service and is still a great putter.



Crane

Crane to host POW/MIA ceremony

The Crane Army Ammunition Activity will join with Naval Support Activity Crane, and Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, in hosting the annual Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Recognition Ceremony at 10 a.m. Sept. 17. The ceremony will be conducted at the site of Crane’s POW Tree and Monument. In the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be in the center gymnasium.

During Crane’s 2008 ceremony, 25 former POWs, or families of deceased former POWs, were honored. Guest speaker for this year’s ceremony will be former World War II POW and retired Indiana University professor Gene Lawlis.

Lawlis, who wrote “Winking at Death: Memoir of a World War II POW,” was an Army Air Corps navigator whose B-25 bomber was shot down in the Pacific Ocean. His book details his accounts as a POW in a Japanese prison camp.

A luncheon to honor the former POWs will be at Crane’s Club Lakeview immediately following the POW/MIA ceremony.

Terre Haute

Parks Department taking reservations

The Terre Haute Parks and Recreation Department will start taking outdoor shelter reservations for the 2010 season on Tuesday. To reserve a shelter call the Terre Haute Parks Department at (812) 232-2727.



Terre Haute

Woman’s Department Club to kick off fall

The Woman’s Department Club of Terre Haute will kick off its fall programs when the organization’s past presidents are honored Saturday in the Country Club of Terre Haute at Allendale.

A social time will begin at 11:30 a.m. and a luncheon will be served at noon. An afternoon musical program will entertain the club’s honored guests.

Cost of the luncheon is $15 with advance paid reservations due no later than Tuesday by calling Madonna Glick at (812) 533-2463 or Shirley Hendricks at (812) 535-3953.

The Woman’s Department Club, one of the oldest women’s groups in the Terre Haute area, was organized in 1920. The WDC clubhouse at 507 S. Sixth St. was built in 1873 and later restored, and is included in the Farrington’s Grove Historical District.



Clay City

James Michael family reunion Saturday

The James Michael family reunion will be Saturday at the shelter next to the playground in Clay City Park. Lunch will be served at noon. Bring a well-filled basket lunch to share. Meat and drink will be furnished.

Terre Haute

Diehl family reunion planned Sept. 13

The Diehl family reunion is set for Sept. 13 at the VFW Shelter in Deming Park. Friends and relatives welcome.