Friends and Neighbors: Cowan grad finishes Basic, Advanced Training

• Private Nathaniel Thomas Combs, a 2016 Cowan Junior-Senior High School graduate, is serving in the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

After his graduation from Basic Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, in March, 2018, Combs then completed his Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma in May. He is the son of Amy Elrod Combs and Rusty Combs.

• On Nov. 1, the Henry County Republican Club hosted its 22nd Annual Speech Contest for High School Students.  Results were as follows:

Champion:  Samuel Pederson, junior, Indiana Academy for Mathematics, Science and Humanities; son of Bart and Iris Pederson of Jefferson Township

Runner-Up:  Drew Shirey, senior, home-schooled; son of Ed and Marla Shirey of Stony Creek Township

Third Place:  Daryl Frith, sophomore, Tri High School; son of Daryl and Jane Frith of Franklin Township

Other competitors included: Silas Alton, Tyler Combs, Sam Goble, Christian Harding, Grayson Joslin, Jessie Lanzer, Hannah McKellar, Vince Shirey and Josie Stevenson.

Awards were: Champion, $100; runner-Up, $75; third place, $50. All competitors received a one-year associate (non-voting) membership in the Henry County Republican Club.

• Local heroes making a difference for others were inducted into Signature HealthCARE of Muncie’s Hall of Fame recently. Since 2003, the annual Hall of Fame has celebrated the contributions of patients, employees and volunteers including hometown heroes, nationally recognized servicemen, authors, entrepreneurs and more, according to a release.

Honored during the Nov. 8 program at Signature HealthCARE of Muncie were:

Donald Kelly, who served in the United States Navy during the Korean War on the USS Bellatrix and was part of two missions to the 38th parallel.

Max Frederick Kehoe, who led the Ball State football in rushing yards and touchdowns before graduating in 1950. Fred began a ministry to prison inmates and has received many awards including: Indiana Angel Award sports category, the Bill Shuman Outstanding Volunteer Award for the Heart to Heart Crisis Pregnancy Center and was also presented a key to the City of Muncie for outstanding dedication to the church, Ball State and the citizens of Muncie.

Joe Oliver, who took dozens of kids on camping and high adventures during his 11 years as Cub Master of Park and 25 years as Scout Master.

• A Ball State University professor is among 70 authors participating in one of the biggest events in the history of the Indiana Historical Society's (IHS's) Holiday Author Fair. The free annual event will be Dec. 1 at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, 450 W. Ohio St., in downtown Indianapolis. The History Center will be open 10 a.m.-5 p.m., with the Author Fair taking place noon-4 p.m.

Wes Gehring, distinguished professor of TCOM at Ball State, will copies of his latest work, "Buster Keaton in His Own Time: What the Responses of 1920s Critics Reveal." 

The day of the Author Fair, IHS will offer free admission to the Indiana Experience and its popular holiday exhibit, Festival of Trees, open Nov. 16 -Jan. 5.

• Kathy Clouse, a restorative aide at Stonebrooke Rehabilitation Center, and Natasha Taylor, lead cook at Waters Edge Village, were among 88 frontline employees of American Senior Communities centers honored for providing stellar service to patients and residents.

They were recognized during ASC’s 18th Annual Quest for Excellence awards in downtown Indianapolis.