Boomer Magazine March 2015

BOOMER
March 2015
www.boomermagonline.com
VACUUMS,
MUSIC AND
PRAISE
Larry Banjo Latshaw
credits good life
to the Lord
OLD SCHOOL
BASKETBALL
Gene Miiller recalls
coaching days
at Vincennes
WREATHS ACROSS
AMERICA
Don and Cindy Crouse deliver
truckload of wreaths to Arlington
100 YEARS OF
SERVICE
Vincennes Rotary
celebrates centennial
RETURN TO HIS ROOTS
Bill Collins brings his talent back to Lawrenceville with Roots Florist
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EDITORS DESK
y daughter announced at the dinner table that her science

teacher told the class that human beings dont get colds from
getting too cold. There is no doubt she was trying to vindicate
herself for defying parental instruction, as she once again had left the house
without a coat or hat. Temperatures had been
well below freezing, and winter was upon us, but
to her, she was oblivious and dressed like it was
spring.
And, as girls often do, she left for school with
the hair on her head still very wet. Soon enough
it had caught up with her, and she had a drippy
nose and cough.
I fully understand the cold and flu virus,
and her science teachers lesson for the day. Of
course its true that the common cold is passed by
virus. I just didnt need the science teacher helping her cause. But now she
fully understands that colds and flus are caused by viruses, and while they
do seem to circulate more in the cold-weather season, they are not directly
related to getting too cold.
Funny then why it is that about a week after I have found myself
freezing at some point, I catch a cold. Oh, yeah, thats because, despite my
efforts to Lysol every doorknob and common shared area, we pass around
viruses like Easter candy.
But is there not some truth to what our parents and grandparents
taught us? The science teacher might not agree, but Ill still stick with
their advice any day. Put on your coat and hat in the winter, and dress
appropriately for the weather. Dont go out with wet hair. And, if you do
catch a cold, try a vinegar/honey mixture for congestion. A swig of whiskey
if youre desperate. Put Vicks VapoRub on your chest, and on your feet with
socks at night to get rid of the cough. Then, feed a cold, starve a fever.
The older generation should know. They learned all this the hard way
you know when they walked 5 miles to school uphill both directions.
Thanks for reading Boomer!
BOOMER
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Melody Brunson
(812) 698-1626
DESIGN EDITOR
Natalie Reidford
(812) 568-8991
ADVERTISING SALES
Kim Schoelkopf
(812) 881-9286
Graphic Artist
Alice Schwartz
PHOTOGRAPHY
Joy Neighbors, Bill Richardson
and Bernie Schmitt
WRITERS
Brad Dillon, Madison Frederick,
Todd Lancaster, Elise LeBlanc,
Angie Mayfield, Joy Neighbors,
Lindsay Owens, Bill Richardson
and Bernie Schmitt
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Boomer is published seven
times a year, serving the Knox
County area. The subscription price
of $25 per year can be mailed to P.O.
Box 471, Washington, IN 47501.
4 March 2015 Boomer

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CONTENTS
4
Editors Desk
Wet heads and cold viruses
By Melody Brunson
25
When is the Right Time to Leave

Home?
Photo by Bernie Schmitt
Talking to a loved one about assisted living
100 Years of Service in Vincennes
Vincennes Rotary celebrates 100th

anniversary
By Lindsay Owens
Photo by
Joy Neighbors
March 2015 Vol. 7, Issue 4
Page 20
Courtesy of MCC
26
Wreaths Across America
Bruceville trucker and wife deliver wreaths for

Arlington National Cemetery
By Bernie Schmitt
30
Financial Wisdom
What if you lost up to 50% of your wealth in

a single day?
By Brad Dillon
31
The Sonic Boomer
In the other 49 states, its just basketball
By Todd Lancaster
32
Still Old School
Gene Miiller remains the same whether it is in

green and orange or black and gold
By Todd Lancaster
47
36
Courtesy of MCC
The Boomer 1040
Dos and donts for paying your tax bill
48
37
Retirees concept of time
38
Calendar
Real Food is Good Food
Ron and Terry Jones cook up sumptuous meals

daily at McCormick Senior Center
By Bernie Schmitt
43
Larry Banjo Latshaw
Repairing vacuum cleaners and praising the

Lord
By Bernie Schmitt
Bringing it Home
Bill Collins returns to his roots with Roots

Florist
By Bill Richardson
16
Dentistry 101
The link between diabetes and dental health
By Elise LeBlanc
Contra/Colonia Dance, Sock Hop to benefit

Blue Jeans Center
12
Page 26
Page 32
Boomer Humor
By Madison Frederick
50
Making it Personal
Knox County gearing up for 2015 Relay for Life
By Lindsay Owens
52
Preparing for the March
Area teams get ready to March for Babies
By Lindsay Owens
On the Cover: Tulips welcome the spring

sunshine.
Photo courtesy of MCC
Photo provided
Yeah, Im a Boomer, But ...
Ernie Pyle discovered America by getting out

there
By Bernie Schmitt
18
Boomer Toys, Trappings and Trivia
Admission to Disneyland for ... $3.00?
By Todd Lancaster
20
The Boomer Connoisseur
Shopping for healthy, one word at a time
By Joy Neighbors
22
The Converted Cynic
Snow days: No way
By Angie Mayfield
24
Attorneys Corner
Understand and avoid elder financial fraud
Courtesy of MCC
6 March 2015 Boomer

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100 YEARS OF SERVICE IN VINCENNES
Vincennes Rotary celebrates 100th anniversary

By Lindsay Owens
he city of Vincennes is known

for quite a few things. Its the
home of William Henry Harrisons Grouseland, Vincennes University,
and the George Rogers Clark Memorial.
A lesser known fact about the city that
serves as the county seat of Knox County
is that it is also home to the first Rotary Club in a city under 100,000. The
club will turn 100 later this month and
will be celebrating its centennial with a

banquet on March 28 at Green Activities Center on the Vincennes University
campus. Special guest speaker for the
celebration will be Rotary President
Gary, C.R. Huang. The Vincennes club
is one of only a handful of the thousands
of clubs around the world that has had
the honor of having Huang visit.
Rotary, one of the first service
organizations in the world,was started
in February 1905 by Paul P. Harris,
as a place for professionals with diverse

backgrounds to exchange ideas and form
life-long friendships. The name of the
group was derived from its early practice
of rotating the location of meetings from
the offices of each member.
The clubs, which can be found
around the world, have a deep commitment to service and now boast more than
one million members, all dedicated to
service.
Vincennes residents fought hard to
bring Rotary to the area. In fact, letters
from the International Association of
Clockwise from top left: A special Rotary Club project was to paint and landscape a Vincennes home for someone in
need; Interact clubs were started in Knox County a few years ago and continue to gain popularity; I Like Me books are
given to kindergarten students; Rotary golf outings are always popular.
Photos by Steve LaRoche
8 March 2015 Boomer

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Rotary, left, is committed to community service and helping others in need. The new Rotary Point, center, was installed in
2006. At right, Doug Steele, current Vincennes Rotary president, speaks at a district meeting.
Rotary Clubs rejected the city in 1913
due to its size. At the time, Rotary Clubs
were only located in cities with a population of at least 100,000. Persistence paid
off, though, and the Vincennes club was
organized on March 12, 1915 and was
issued Charter number 151 on April 1,
1915.
Over the last 100 years, the Vin-
cennes Rotary Club has had many

notables and the future of the club, made
of up more than four dozen members,
looks bright.
Doug Steele, the current president
of the club, said the group is working on
district grants and deciding on projects.
Last year, we did Rotary Reading
Corners at schools, said Steele.
The Rotary Reading Corners featured books and other materials donated by the club. Later this month, club
members will get their hands dirty as
they install new playground equipment
at Lester Square. The club matched a
$3,500 district grant to provide the new
equipment that cost about $10,000.
The new equipment has a
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At top, Rotary members participate in many activities and special projects.

Above, Ukrainian Visit November 2012. The Open World program continues
today.
fire truck theme, said Steele, adding
equipment is a centennial gift to the city
from the club. Our club will be putting
the new jungle gym together.
Steele said the Rotary club will also
continue to provide the personalized All
About Me books to Knox County kindergarteners. The I Like Me books started
in 1997 and continues to be a popular
project with the Vincennes club, as well
as others in District 6580.
We have high school students who
have been at our Rotary programs that
say they remember getting those books
when they were in kindergarten and
some of them say they still have the
books today, said Jim Gislason, who has
held a variety of positions within Rotary
International, including district governor.

Its a great thing for the kids.
The Vincennes Rotary has also started Interact Clubs for students at Lincoln
and Rivet high schools. The Interact
Clubs are continuing to gain popularity
with students at both schools.
Steele said plans are in the works to
also get college students involved in the
service organization. We hope students
want to become a part of Rotary when
they come back here after college, said
Steele. We have to plan for the next 100
years of Rotary in Vincennes. Everyone
who joins hopes to give back to their
community in some way, shape or form.
Its really self-fulfilling.
10 March 2015 Boomer

3/4/15 4:21 PM
Highlights from the last 100 years of the

Vincennes Rotary Club
1913:
Letters from the International

Association of Rotary Clubs rejects
Vincennes request for a club due to the
size of the city.
April 1, 1915: Charter No. 151

is issued to Vincennes Rotary making it the
151 club and the first club in a town with a
population under 100,000.
July 1, 1915: Local Rotarians vote

to build a fountain at the corner of College,
Seventh and what was then Fairgrounds
Avenue. The fountain, completed in 1916,
became known as Rotary Point. The fountain
was replaced with a new granite monument
in 2006.
1918: John Napier Dyer, a farmer,

was installed as president of the Vincennes
Rotary Club and was also elected District
Governor of Indiana. Rural Urban Nights
started the same year to bring farm and city
businessmen together to figure out how to
do business together better. Dyer was later
nominated for election as President of the
International Association of Rotary Clubs.
He lost on the third ballot after his supporters had to catch their trains home.
1920s:
Rotarians sponsored Christmas

parties for children in the orphanages. The
parties continued until 1979.
March 10, 1935:

celebrated 20 years in Rotary.
The club
1940:
Rotary founder Paul Harris visits

Vincennes. He toured the George Rogers
Clark Memorial. T. Max Shircliff and his wife
Martha, travel to Cuba for the International
Rotary Convention. Shircliff was named
Governor of District 156.
April 1958: Rotary begins sponsorship of Cub League Baseball. The club still
sponsors the program today.
1970s: The club helps found the Spirit

of Vincennes Rendezvous. Members also
sponsored and manned a food booth selling
French Lemonade and Gaulette cookies. The
booth was discontinued in 2010.
1983:
Rotarians started raising money

to help fight polio. Local members pledged
over $34,000 to help put an end to the
disease. At the time, over 375,000 new cases
of polio were diagnosed annually. Today, the
number of cases diagnosed has dwindled
tremendously.
1986:
Vincennes Rotary establishes a

Rotary International Record by having three
District Governors in the same family. T. Max
Shircliff (1940-1941); son Robert (19751976) and son James (1986-1987).
1990:
Women are introduced to the

club for the first time. Mary Gladys Wheeler,
Earlene Holland and Carol Smith all became
members.
1994:
Club Board of Directors approves

a motion to form a charitable foundation
called Vincennes Rotary Foundation.
The Foundation has total net assets of
$414,295.58. The initial transfer from the
club to the foundation was $14,244.48.
1995:
Rotary Galas become an annual

event until 2014.
1997:
I Like Me book program for kindergartners is started. The program continues

today.
1998:
Rotarians donate $4,500 to help

construct the Bettye J. McCormick Senior
Center.
Oct. 2000: Open World visits

Vincennes from Russia. Since the first group
in 2000, five other groups have visited.
2012:
Interact Club is formed at Lincoln High School. A second club is added at

Rivet in 2013.
March 28, 2015:
Vincennes
Rotary celebrates 100 years of Rotary with
a special centennial celebration. Several
events are scheduled throughout the day.
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Boomer March 2015 11

3/5/15 1:00 PM
BRINGING IT HOME
A structure that once housed Lawrenceville, Illinois U.S. post office is now home to Roots Florist. Owner Bill Collins
selected the spot for his business after a couple years of searching for the right location. A table inside the shop, below,
holds Valentines Day assortments.
Photos by Bill Richardson
Bill Collins returns to his

roots with Roots Florist
By Bill Richardson
ts 10 a.m. the day before Valentines

Day and Bill Collins literally has his
hands full.
The owner of Roots Florist
in Lawrenceville, Illinois, Collins
casually engages in chitter-chatter with
customers and fellow workers while at
the same time filling orders and doing
what he does best designing floral
arrangements.
A 44-year-old Lawrence County
native, he grew up south of Lawrenceville and graduated from Red Hill High
School in 1989. Collins spent two

decades after high school working in the
floral business, mostly in big cities in the
southern part of the country something hell always treasure.
It was great, Collins said of his

time away from Lawrence County. I
loved it, really. I had a great time. Mostly,
I learned a lot.
Hed have been happy to continue
on that path, and would have no doubt
been successful. However, returning to
his roots (thus the name of the flower
shop) was always in the back of Collins
mind, if not in the forefront. It was
important, he says, to be near his mother
and other family members.
After taking a couple of years to
search for just the right spot, Collins
purchased the building at 616 12th
Street, just north of Lawrencevilles historic town square. Its a building with a
lot of history. In the 1800s, the structure
served as the towns U.S. Post Office,

p12-15Roots.indd 1
3/4/15 10:55 AM
according to Collins, but it had been

vacant for decades.
The renovation took a lot of hard
work, but when it was done Collins
had the perfect place to display what he
creates. The room is large, and filled with
not just floral arrangements, but other
unique and interesting items that are
designed to catch ones eye.
Floral design is more than a vocation for Collins, and even more than an
avocation. Its more like a calling.
Ive always had an interest in horticulture and design, primarily design, he
said. Even when I was young, I enjoyed
working with my hands and with Gods
creations. I didnt want to get in any
trade where I wouldnt be working with
my hands and with flowers.
As a teenager, Collins was fortunate
to find avenues for his interest to grow.
He worked on local farms, including one
owned by John Finley, Sr. and gardened
with Jack and Idelle Snyder both of
whom are recently deceased in rural
Lawrenceville.
Bill Collins outside his business,

Roots Florist. Collins recently returned to Lawrenceville after two
decades away, working in the floral
business in large cities in the South.
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p12-15Roots.indd 2
3/4/15 10:55 AM
When I was 14, Jack and Idelle

moved back into the county, Collins
said. They asked me to help with the
flowers in their yard and I learned so
much. Its the same with the farmers
I worked with. I enjoyed it and they
taught me a lot.
Offering flowers and other plants
would be enough, but Collins doesnt
stop there.
To that end, you never know what
youll find at Roots. Collins has been
known to make displays out of things
hes found in ditches. The shelves could
contain a metal rooster, candle-holders,
wind chimes or even a wooden elephant.
I dont want it to look like a flower
shop you see all across the board, he
said. Ive been in a lot of them over the
last 22 years. Roots is a little different.
I have a different concept of the way
I want my shop to look, other than
normal, and Im happy with it. I like
antiques. I want the store to have a different feel, more naturalistic.
Designing floral arrangements for
weddings is also a specialty. Collins got
into wedding design during his time
Bill Collins sprays an arrangement of
roses in his shop.

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3/4/15 10:55 AM
D U TC H
PA N T R Y
Handmade deli
sandwiches served
throughout the day
Selection of homemade
Potato Salad, Macaroni
Salad, Ham Salad, &
Chicken Salad
Chili &
Potato Soup
available
during cold
weather
months
Jo Rankin Evans creates an arrangement at Roots Florist.

away and now finds himself in demand.
Usually, he says, a wedding will take
two full days of work.
I love the wedding work, he said.
Its a whole different ballgame now,
compared, to say, 15 years ago. It used to
be a lot more formal, but now people are
a little more relaxed. It allows (wedding
designers) to be a little more creative,
which I like.
Collins is frequently called to work
weddings in Nashville, Lexington, Kentucky and Atlanta.
He takes pride in the fact that people
often recognize his work.
Theyll see my work in a venue and
know I did it, he said. That speaks
volumes.
Collins has also joined in the efforts
to revitalize Lawrencevilles downtown
area, which are currently under way.
Once he became a business owner, he felt
it was his obligation.
Lawrencevilles had its struggles,
like every other small town, Collins
said. But its always kept going, which is
wonderful to see.
Plans are to repair sidewalks, erect

new streetlights, give face-lifts to storefronts, and purchase urns for massive
floral displays.
I jumped on that quickly, due to
having pride in my hometown, Collins
said of joining the committee. I want
to see downtown the way it used to be, a
thriving, welcoming downtown.
Hes committed to the community,
to the point that he recently bought a
farm house in rural Lawrence County.
It wont be a traditional farm, but
Collins envisions natural gardening,
organic gardening and some flower fields.
Its a new adventure, an adventure
in the urban lifestyle, he said.
It also means that downtown Lawrenceville will have a unique flower shop
for decades to come.
The seeds been planted, he said.
(Buying a home) was the next step. This
is where Im going to stay.
Indeed, Bill Collins has returned to
his roots.
Homemade
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p12-15Roots.indd 4
3/4/15 10:55 AM
YEAH, IM A BOOMER, BUT...
Ernie Pyle learned about America by getting out there

By Bernie Schmitt
wenty years ago this

April, accompanied by
a German foreign exchange student, I attended an
event in Dana, Indiana, which
marked the
50th anniversary of
Ernie Pyles
death.
Pyle, of
course, is
the Indiana
native who
became famous in the 1940s
for the dispatches he wrote
from the frontlines of World
War II. He did not write about
the generals or the politicians
or how much territory was
won or lost. He focused on the
average American soldier.
Pyles columns, distributed by the Scripps-Howard
newspaper chain, were read
religiously by mothers, fathers,
wives, and others who wanted
news of their boys overseas.
He won the Pulitzer Prize, one
of journalisms highest honors,
a year before he was killed by
a Japanese sniper on the island
of Ie Shima.
What made Pyle such
a good reporter, and good
company among soldiers from
all parts of the U.S., is that he
had likely been to their home
states, if not their hometowns.
During the Great Depression
of the 1930s, Pyle traveled all
over his native land, writing
columns about the average
people who inhabited it.
His normal routine was to
visit places, talk with people,
and hang out awhile before
moving on to the next stop.
He rarely had an agenda. He
went where he wanted to go, when he

wanted to do it. Hed gather notes and
then find a hotel room where he would
crank out six or more columns in a
weekend.
Starting in 1935, Pyle visited every
state in the country at least three times in
the course of five years. He was accompanied only by his wife, Jerry, when she was
able, otherwise he ventured out on his
own. Just imagine: These were the days
before cars had the creature comforts
they have today, when there wasnt a gas
station or convenience store every other
mile, and highways were considered good
ones if they were paved.
Pyles work is sometimes criticized for its simplicity. He wrote about
uncomplicated things in a complicated
world. It was the everyday person he
sought, the people who worked in soda
fountains, or who built bridges. He
wrote about riding through a dust storm
in Kansas, about three pals in Baudette,
Minnesota, about a female trapper north
of the Arctic Circle.
At times his editors would request a
specific story. Sometimes he did them,
sometimes he didnt. When an editor
suggested that he take a look at government relief efforts in a city he was headed
to he dismissed it as too important.
Pyle wrote stories about people, true
human interest stories that did not result
from the epic machinations of government or what hot items were leading the
news.
He once wrote that if he ever lost his
job as a roving reporter that he would
be a good traveling salesman. For I
know all the back roads, the jerkwater
hotels, and the cracker-box vernacular of
two-thirds of the states in the Union.
The job wasnt as easy or romantic as it
sounds. It bothered him that his friends
thought he had an easy job.
They think its just a vacation,
he once wrote. They think Im getting
paid just for seeing the world. My poor,
simple friends. They dont know what
it is to drive and dig up information all
day long, and then work till midnight

writing it. One story a day sounds as easy
as falling off a log. Try it sometime.
It was indeed work, but Pyle would
rather be out there, finding stories,
talking to people, witnessing what was
going on than be stuck in a smoke-filled,
stress-laden newsroom editing other peoples copy. This desire to be out there,
to be a part of the action, was what drove
him to report from so many locales
during World War II.
There have been many other travelers through America since Pyles time.
One of my favorites was the late Charles
Kuralt, whose roving On the Road
pieces had the homespun flavor of Pyles
Americana. Kuralt even won an Ernie
Pyle Memorial Award for his newspaper writing in 1956. In the forward to
Ernies America: The Best of Ernie Pyles
Travel Dispatches, Kuralt wrote:
Ernie Pyle was there first. He
showed everybody else the way. He
wrote plain pieces about plain people,
never straining to find lofty significance
in their lives, rarely analyzing them or
trying to make them fit into the big
picture. He was not a sociologist. He was
a reporter.
Pyles work from the 1930s provides
a literary portrait of America as it once
was, as it will never be again. He introduced newspaper readers to people who
would have otherwise gone unnoticed.
He allowed Americans to see themselves
as themselves.
Its worth remembering fellow
Hoosier Ernie Pyle this April, when the
warmth of spring brings on wanderlust
and makes us want to get out there.
A freelance writer and photographer,
Bernie Schmitt also is an assistant professor of English at Vincennes University. He
lives with his wife, Nancy, and family in
Vincennes.

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3/4/15 3:33 PM
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Boomer Toys, Trappings and Trivia

By Todd Lancaster
The Mustang was the ultimate stallion of the mid-60s,

but by the time this 1978 Mustang made the scene, it
was ready for the glue factory. The Mustang had lost
its speed, style and sexiness. In return you got a twodoor version of Ford Maverick engine, body and half
vinyl roof. And you question how Toyota became the
No. 1 car in America?
Sgt. Schultz was everyones favorite

Nazi prison guard during his four
seasons on Hogans Heroes. Ill bet
you didnt know Jon Banner was an
Austrian Jew, whose family spent time
in a German concentration camp before
the war. After coming to America,
Banner served in WWII as a member of
the U.S. Army Air Corps.

p18-19ToysTrappingsMarch15.indd 1
3/4/15 10:58 AM
The 1961 Lincoln in which President Kennedy was assassinated may

be the most-viewed automobile of all time. So what happened to
that car after that fateful day in November 1963? Is it in storage or a
museum somewhere? No, it stayed in service as part of the presidential
motorcade until 1976.
In 1967, on a beautiful June day,

if Mom and Dad wanted to take
Dick and Jane to Disneyland, have
a couple of hot dogs and buy a pair
of Mouse ears, it would have cost
about $20 or 1/10th of the average
weekly salary. Today, it is just
under $800, which is great, as long
as you make $32,000 a month.
Recently Kanye West called into question

the integrity of voters in the Grammys.
How could that have happened? After
all, that is that same organization that
voted the Partridge Family as best
new act of 1970. The only problem was
that only David Cassidy actually sang
and Shirley Jones provide one track of
backing vocals. The Manson family had
more legitimate musical ability than the
Partridge family.

p18-19ToysTrappingsMarch15.indd 2
3/4/15 10:58 AM
BOOMER CONNOISSEUR
Shopping For Healthy One Word At A Time

By Joy Neighbors
ore than 81 percent

of American families
choose organic foods
when shopping, at least some
of the time. Thats according
to the Organic Trade Associa-
tion, which reports that sales of

organic products in the United
States rose to $35.1 billion in
2013, up 11.5 percent from
2012: thats the fastest growth
rate in the past five years. The
strongest growth occurred in the
organic condiments category
with sales up 17 percent
totaling $830 million. Organic
fruits and vegetables also rose 15
percent from 2012 with $11.6
billion in sales.
Of those shoppers choosing organic foods, 41 percent
regularly purchase foods labeled
organic. Nearly 60 percent
buy products that have natural on the label, but only 6
percent of consumers purchase
merchandise listed as biodynamic, possibly because they
confuse the word biodynamic
with genetically engineered.
In an industry rife with
vague and confusing terms, its
difficult to decide which foods
are healthy, and which ones are
labeled for hype. Here are nine
commonly used food terms,
and what they really mean.
along with the natural phases of the moon.

By adhering to these natural rhythms,
biodynamic farmers believe that they have
a better feel for their crops and a greater
understanding of the cycles of life on the
farm. Austrian philosopher Rudolf Steiner
was the first to discuss biodynamic agriculture in 1924. He described it as the first type
of farming to oppose the use of chemicals.
In 1928, the Demeter Association developed
the idea to verify farms as biodynamic. Today, over 5,000 biodynamic certified farms
exist throughout the world, encompassing
more than 370,000 acres that produce products like wines, juices, teas, rice and pasta.
vague, there are several shades of organic. The USDA (United States Department
of Agriculture) has ruled on the definition
of several of these terms; but some they
have no definition for, so its best to be
informed about the meaning of each.
Organic
USDA Organic (or Organic)
The term organic didnt come about

until the 1950s when J. I. Rodale, founder
of Rodale, Inc. coined the word in one of
his publications. Organic was first used
by Rudolf Steiner to describe his belief
that the farm was a complete organism.
But organic agriculture actually emphasizes that its the different parts of the farm
that matter, not the farmstead as a whole.
According to the U.S. Department of
Agriculture National Organic Program,
organic means any food or other agricultural product (that) has been produced
through approved methods that integrate
cultural, biological, and mechanical
practices that foster cycling of resources,
promote ecological balance, and conserve
biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage
sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used. Whew!
And to make matters even more
According to the USDA, at least 95

percent of the product contains organic
ingredients, excluding water and salt. No
synthetic fertilizers, pesticides or genetically
modified organisms used in production,
although some synthetic chemicals can
be used if they are not harmful. Animals
must be fed organic food, allowed access
to the outdoors and be free of antibiotics.
The other 5 percent of allowed ingredients
makes up a long list, and can include flavors,
colors, acids, and other nonagricultural or
nonorganically produced substances allowed
as ingredients in or on processed products
labeled as organic. These products can
display the USDA Organic Seal.
100 percent Organic

This phrase means just that; this
product does not contain any ingredients
or additives that are not organic. This
means no GMOs (genetically modified
organisms) or GE food (genetically engineered). The USDAs NOP Organic Seal
may be placed on these products.
Made With Organic

Ingredients
This phrase lets consumers know that
the product has at least 70 percent and up
The term organic can mean many things, so its best for consumers to be
informed about the type of organic product they are buying.
Photo by Joy Neighbors
Biodynamic
In biodynamic agriculture,
the farm is seen as a whole, or a
self-contained system that encompasses the farm ground, soil,
crops, animals (both wild and
domesticated) and the humans
who inhabit it. The farm runs on
the seasonal cycles of the earth

p20-21BoomerConnMar15.indd 1
3/5/15 1:53 PM
to 94 percent of organic ingredients. It can also be labeled with a specific percentage as long as it falls between 70 percent and 94 percent
organic. But it does not fall into the guidelines of what the USDA
considers organic, therefore, the USDA Organic Seal cannot be used.
Less Than 70 percent Organic

Any product that contains less than 70 percent of organic
ingredients can be labeled as being made with a specific percentage
(69 percent to 1 percent) of organic ingredients. There is no legal
entity to certify these products so there are no restrictions concerning the non-organic ingredients. The label cannot indicate that the
product is organic, and the USDA Organic Seal cannot be used.
Certified Naturally Grown

This is a grassroots alternative to the certified organic label.
The Certified Naturally Grown Council is an independent nonprofit network of 800 farmers (20 located in Indiana) who work
on the honor system. They inspect one anothers farms to determine if the crops and animals are being raised according to CNG
guidelines. A product that is labeled certified naturally grown is
produced without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides and GMO seeds. The council has its own label to place on its
products and is not affiliated with the USDAs NOP.
Natural
The only USDA regulation for the term natural concerns meat
and poultry. According to the USDA guidelines, natural means no
chemical preservatives or artificial ingredients has been used. It does
not necessarily mean the animal is antibiotic-free, hormone-free, or
has had time outdoors. However, the Consumer Reports National
Research Center reports that nearly 60 percent of shoppers look
for the word natural because they believe it means the food does
not contain pesticides, artificial ingredients or genetically modified
organisms. Unfortunately, the U.S Food and Drug Administration
has yet to create an official definition, so for now, anyone can place
natural on any label.
Genetically Engineered Foods

Genetically engineered foods have been genetically altered to
have greater control over a foods genetic structure, but the health
risks associated with GE foods have not been clearly identified. Other terms include genetically modified organisms (GMOs), genetically
altered and genetically improved. While organic certification allows
for adventitious GMO presence in certain crops, biodynamic
farming does not. If a crop tests positive for GMOs, it will not be
certified as biodynamic. Many ag products, including wines, pasta
and rice, have taken it a step further and are now being labeled as
Non-GMO Project Verified meaning no GMOs in the food.
With more Americans buying organic products, it makes sense
to learn what words indicate which foods have been grown the
cleanest, without additives or the use of pesticides. The next time
you shop, remember that a food labeled natural or 60 percent
organic may not be the healthiest choice for your table. Look for
100 percent organic and biodynamic-labeled foods if you want to
get the best health benefits for your food dollars.
Joy Neighbors, from eastern Illinois, knows the wine industry well.
She writes a weekly wine blog, has judged national wine competitions,
and speaks nationally and internationally. Follow her blog at http://
joysjoyofwine.blogspot.com.

p20-21BoomerConnMar15.indd 2
3/5/15 1:53 PM
THE CONVERTED CYNIC
Snow days: No way

By: Angie J. Mayfield
hey say be careful what

you wish for because
you just might get
it. Well, after wishing and
waiting for snow all winter, it
finally came. Yes, it was beautiful, and yes, I finally had a
much-needed day off
work to rest,
relax, and
catch up.
However,
two days later with frigid
temperatures
that drove my electric bill up
and my immune system down;
a driveway more slippery than
any slide at Holiday World;
and two poster children for
Ritalin who were bored,
annoying, and hyper enough
to make Super Nanny cry,
I would have rented a snow
plow or hitchhiked with a serial killer just to make it back
to work.
I now have a whole new
appreciation for stay-at-home
moms. Even if I had married
a millionaire who didnt want
me to work or if welfare suddenly paid double my salary
(wait, that might already be
true), my lack of patience and
my independent nature could
never allow me to spend my
day refereeing, waitressing,
cleaning, and running errands.
Its just not in my DNA. I
once took three children to
Florida on a so-called vacation
and contemplated driving
my car off a cliff on the way
home. Of course, there were
no handheld video games or
vehicle DVD players then to
babysit. A near shark attack
one morning and a visit to the
emergency room that evening
could also have been contributing factors. A series of tests
and a night in the hospital
finally confirmed that my son
didnt suffer from appendicitis
after all. Prompted by his older brother,

he had eaten a poisonous frog. But you
cant say no to a double dog dare, can
you, Mom? he explained. Of course not.
Why was I even upset?
I love kids, and I consider myself a
caring person, but after two snow days
cooped up in the house, I went from
Betty Crocker playing games and baking
cookies to Hitler, ready to annihilate the
entire human race. Either play in the
basement or go outside ... stop whining,
stop arguing, or else, and ... theres cereal,
bologna, or Tostitos pizzas. Those are
your choices. Oh my gosh, I was turning
into my father. I blame my lack of social
etiquette on my less than nurturing role
models, who included a redneck farmer,
my cowboy uncles, and my fathers coon
hunting, Wild Turkey drinking buddies.
At least my fridge was stocked with milk
and bologna and not Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and wild game.
I also appreciate the 70s much
more now than I did then. I remember
Dad sending my brother and me out to
shovel the sidewalks and driveway after
it snowed. Except the blizzard of 1978
when we couldnt even find the car.
We werent even allowed in the house
til dusk. We did what we were told and
we didnt talk back because we knew the
consequences. Todays kids are soft and
spoiled, and its our own faults for allowing it. If theres not a smart phone app
to do it for them, they give up. Getting
my kids to even clean their room requires
blackmail, bribery, and mom going just a
little ape shit.
The month of February has also
given me a new appreciation for those
who live in colder climates. My friends in
Montana endure snow and ice 5 months
a year and life goes on. We contemplated moving there once. My bones are
thankful that notion of insanity ended.
However, as farmers, we cant just snuggle up with hot cocoa on the couch with
a blanket and wait for Mother Nature
to calm down. We have animals who
depend on us and chores that must be
completed, regardless of the temperature.
My husband and I bundle up in our coveralls, hats, gloves, and boots, and deliver
hay, chop ice and carry water, and feed
and nurture chickens, dogs, goats, pigs,
cows and equines to ensure they are tolerating snow days as comfortably as pos-

p22-23ConvCynicMar15.indd 1
3/4/15 12:36 PM
sible. Remarkably, they adapt well, but

we did add some heat lamps for the baby
pigs and heated pads on the back porch
for the dogs and cats to sleep on. I also
put out corn for the coons and squirrels
and black sunflower seeds for the birds.
I hate to see any creature cold or hungry.
My dad would probably say Ive gone
soft too, but then again, I remember us
having baby pigs lying around the woodstove almost every winter as a kid. I guess
I didnt fall far from the tree after all.
Following a week of single digit February temperatures and face-biting wind
chill, the temperature rose to the low 30s
on Sunday, so we bundled the boys up
in their best abominable snowmen attire
and headed outside for some sled riding.
Finally, everyone could play in the
snow we had all wished for. I videoed the
boys racing down the pond dam followed
by Daisy, our bloodhound. She jumped
on the sled, the sled teetered, and they
all tumbled in a tangled ball down the
hill. We laughed hysterically, and Daisy
bounced in the snow, enjoying the time
of her life. An hour later, we came in for
hot cocoa and watched more snow fall
out the window.
Oh no! Doug said. I hope theres
school tomorrow. I smiled, relieved I
wasnt the only one who thought one

snow day was great, but more than that
was, well, just too damn much.
Angie J. Mayfield is an associate professor
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p22-23ConvCynicMar15.indd 2
3/4/15 12:36 PM
ATTORNEYS CORNER
Understand and avoid elder financial fraud
Courtesy of MCC
lder fraud is a financial

crime that targets older
men and women who
are often unable to recognize
they are being victimized. Elder
financial fraud is a broad term
that can be applied to a host of
crimes, from stealing money or
property directly from an individual to using an older persons
property or possessions without
permission.
Many seniors are targeted
through telemarketing scams in
which elders are scared into giving money out of fear of losing
their homes. Some are exploited
by people closer to home who
forge signatures or get an older
person to sign over deeds or
power of attorney.
Criminals often see elderly
men and women as easy targets.
Seniors may be suffering from
declining physical and/or
mental health, which compromises their ability to defend
themselves or even recognize
they are being taken advantage
of. Seniors also may be embarrassed that they were duped
and not share their experiences
with others as a result. But elder
fraud also can be perpetrated by
family members who aim to acquire an elderly relatives assets.
Recognizing scenarios
where fraud may be committed
can help men and women protect their elderly relatives from
being victimized by elder fraud.

gest shortcuts and blending services. Such

professionals are not necessarily criminals,
but they may have ulterior motives in
mind and not be overly concerned about
you or your loved ones financial well-being.
Pay attention to your accounts. Unusually
large withdrawals from automated teller
machines or cashed checks with signatures that do not match the signature
on the account are both indicative of
fraud. If you are monitoring a loved ones
accounts, question any surges of activity
in accounts that are normally somewhat
inactive.
Ask a loved one to keep you abreast of

changes in their will. Abrupt changes in a
will or other financial documents should
also cause concern. Family members
caring for a senior should be aware of any
major changes to important documents.
Monitor a loved ones purchases. Sudden
purchases, whether its an updated insurance policy or unnecessary home repairs,
may be indicative of elder fraud.
Elder financial fraud targets an often

vulnerable segment of the population, and its
often up to loved ones to protect their elderly
relatives from being victimized by such crimes.
Seniors in declining health are vulnerable to elder fraud.
Confirm professionals
are who they say they are.
More than 170 designations and certifications are
used within the financial
industry to identify professionals. Some of them
do not necessarily mean a
person is qualified or can
be trusted to handle an individuals assets. Always ask
a financial advisor if he is
overseen by a government
agency or is authorized
to provide advice under
the fiduciary standard of
care. Be especially careful
when dealing with advisors
who try to push certain
products or those who sug-

p24-25AttyCornerMar15.indd 1
3/2/15 4:36 PM
When is the right time to

leave home?
Courtesy of MCC
ew people like to admit their age is

affecting them. However, as we age, it
may no longer be practical for aging
men and women to remain in their homes, or
at least live there alone.
Comfortable living alone may be a signal
to an older adult that he or she still has independence. Taking away a license or suggesting
a move may cause feelings of animosity. But at
some point, friends or family members of an
aging man or woman might need to broach
the topic of moving to an assisted living
facility. Such a discussion can be difficult,
but having some evidence that a change is
necessary may make the news easier to process.
Sometimes the older adult may have already
made the decision that a move is necessary,
which will make the process even easier.
Moving should never be a knee-jerk
reaction unless there is a sudden medical
emergency that necessitates fast action. Under
normal circumstances, moving should be a
gradual process that begins even before a parent, grandparent or other relative really needs
to change residences. Here are some steps to
keep in mind.

Make sure to develop a strong relation-
ship with your loved one. This relationship should be consistent and keep you in
frequent contact so you can best assess his
or her living situation.
Talk things over with other siblings or
relatives to see if others feel the same way
you do. Perhaps they have a different
point of view.
If there are problems at home, make your
case by pointing them out. Show the elder
adult how day-to-day life has grown more
difficult and how certain burdens may be
lifted by changing living situations.
Indicate that access to health care and
a safe environment are some of the key
benefits of moving to a senior community. Point out other benefits, such
as companionship with similarly aged
people, activities, transportation, and the
presence of a maintenance staff to ensure
nothing falls into disrepair.
Do your research and have the names and
amenities of different residences available
to discuss. Request brochures from senior
communities and offer to make trips to
view the homes together with your senior
relative.
If the idea of a home is not what your
loved one has in mind, discuss the options
of moving in with a relative and if this
Although some seniors dread the conversation about moving to a retirement

community, there are many advantages.
would be a more comfortable situation.

You may need a mediator or help with
finding the right fit for a loved one.
Consider hiring a geriatric care manager to help you organize your thoughts
and priorities regarding a senior living
transition. These individuals provide services that include helping families locate
appropriate housing and care services for
their loved ones.
Not every senior needs to leave home, but

the topic should be broached if assistance with
day-to-day activities is needed.

p24-25AttyCornerMar15.indd 2
3/2/15 4:36 PM
WREATHS
ACROSS
AMERICA
Cindy and Don Crouse in front of the big rig owned by T.S. Boyd Grain in Washington. The Crouses delivered hundreds of
wreaths to Arlington National Cemetery in December for the Wreaths Across America project.
Photo by Bernie Schmitt
Bruceville trucker and wife deliver wreaths

for Arlington National Cemetery
By Bernie Schmitt
rom the cab of his big rig, Don

Crouse has seen the nations
purple mountain majesties, its
magnificent vistas, and lots of American
towns and cities. What he did during the
holiday season exemplifies his feelings for
his country and those who fight to keep
it free.
A veteran truck driver from
Bruceville, Crouse and his wife, Cindy,
joined other over-the-road colleagues
in December to deliver thousands of
Christmas wreaths that decorated the
gravesites of soldiers buried in Arlington
National Cemetery.
Crouse has been driving big rigs
across the United States for more than 40
years. When he learned help was needed
in transporting Christmas wreaths from

Maine to Arlington, Va., he knew he had
to be involved.
Ive never been in the military,
Crouse said, but I appreciate the freedom we have. The soldiers buried there
gave their lives in the name of freedom.
The least we can do is to help honor
them.
The Crouses were one of 71 big-rig
trucks that delivered wreaths for thousands of soldiers graves at Arlington.
They drove from Indiana to Columbia
Falls, Maine, a small town 30 miles south
of Canada and a mile from the Atlantic Ocean. It is home to the Worcester
Wreath Company which donated the
wreaths.
We arrived there on Dec. 9, and the
wreaths were loaded on Dec. 10, Crouse

said. It had been raining for a couple
of days and it was snowing as we headed
south. We made it down to Newburg,
New York, the first day and to Carlisle,
Pennsylvania, on the second day, where
we had the truck and trailer washed.
The famed Rolling Thunder Honor
Guard motorcycle riders met a convoy of
trucks at the Hall of Heroes in Washington, D.C. and escorted them down
Constitution Avenue to Arlington National Cemetery on Saturday, Dec. 13,
for ceremonies. Thousands of volunteers,
including active-duty military personnel,
helped to organize and lay wreaths on
220,000 graves.
One of the neatest things about this
was seeing all the small children there
with their parents, Crouse said. It was
one of those times where if you didnt
have a tear in your eye there was something wrong with you.
Wreaths were taken to 1,100 oth-

p26-29TruckinWreaths.indd 1
3/4/15 8:45 PM
er military cemeteries throughout the

country and some to foreign nations.
The second Saturday in December has
traditionally been the day U.S. Presidents have laid wreaths on the Tomb of
the Unknown Soldier. In 2008, Congress designated that second Saturday as
Wreaths Across America Day.
This wasnt the first time Crouse has
helped deliver wreaths. He was a part of
it in 2008 and in 2011. He and Cindy have sweatshirts with the Wreaths
Across America logo on them, as well as
the quotation: Dont say I should have,
say I did.
We really have to thank my boss,
Tom and Marsha Boyd of T.S. Boyd
Grain in Washington, Crouse said. I
cant thank them enough. I was willing
to pay my way, but needed the use of
the truck. But they paid for the fuel, the
highway tolls, and they paid us for our
time.
Crouse also wants to publicly thank
Logan Graber, Mike VanLue, and Mark
Headley for their help in working out the
logistics for their trip to 1,700-mile trip
from Indiana to Maine, and then down
to Virginia.
For many years Crouse was an independent driver, having bought his own
truck back in 1974. He would be out on
the road for three months at a time. The
job has sometimes put a strain on truckers and their families. He put around 2
million miles on his last truck and had
to decide whether to go into debt for a
new one or drive for someone who had
a truck fleet. Thats when he applied for
Boyd Grain.
Wreaths decorate soldiers graves at Arlington National Cemetery (top). Some of

the semi trailers that delivered wreaths to Arlington were decorated to commemorate veterans and their service.
Photos provided

3/4/15 8:45 PM
Naval personnel and other military men and women were on hand to help
decorate 220,000 soldiers graves at Arlington National Cemetery last December. This group helped unload the truckload of wreaths Don and Cindy Crouse
hauled to Arlington.
Photo provided
Its nice because were home a little

more often, Crouse said.
Crouse knew nothing of the Facebook social network on the Internet until
he won an iPad at a truck show in Dallas
about four years ago. He met, or rather
re-connected with Cindy upon sending
her a Facebook message three years ago.
Both are graduates of North Knox High
School. He was graduated in 1966 and
Cindy was graduated in 1967. They

married a short time after that.
We have a good time together,
Cindy Crouse said. I like it. He had me
in 42 states in about six months.
Don does the driving, refueling,
and maintenance if needed, and Cindy does the paperwork and prepares
meals. They have seen about every scenic
mile this country can offer. Cindy likes
being home more often, but she misses

the mountains. She also likes being in
the Seattle area where her children and
grandchildren live.
She had no idea how many
Walmarts, Lowes or Home Depots we
would stay at, Crouse said.
Over the years Crouse has hauled everything from lumber to tennis shoes. He
once hauled the entire Peter Pan Show to
Branson, Mo. Another time he delivered
a load of Harley-Davidson motorcycles
from Pennsylvania to California.
There are a lot of hijacking networks in the U.S., Crouse said. The
most popular things they like to steal
are loads of energy drinks, shoes, and
laundry detergent. That because its high
dollar and easy to move.
Truckers are not permitted to carry
firearms, but they take along their dog
Bella who is a pretty watchful companion.
You cant carry anything to protect
yourself, except a dog, Crouse said.
And shes very protective.
He credits radio personality Dave
Nemo, whose show is now syndicated
and broadcast on satellite radio, for
getting him into trucking. Nemo got his
start at the famed New Orleans station
WWL, which continues to have a latenight show for truckers. It was listening
to Nemo when Crouse learned about the
Wreaths Across America project.
Years ago, we listened to that station
and if your family had to get in touch
with you they could call that station and
theyd put a message out. This was in the
days before cell phones. My family knew
Are you looking for a change?

See whats happening at
Good Samaritan Hospital.
www.gshvin.org
812-885-3373

3/4/15 8:45 PM
to request the song Give Me 40 Acres

and whoever requested the song, Id
know who to call.
Crouse says the second best thing to
happen in truckers in this modern age is
satellite radio. The number one thing, he
said, is female truck drivers.
Thanks to them we now have private shower facilities at truck stops, he
said. They are the best thing to happen
to trucking.
He and Cindy hope to deliver
wreaths again next year. Hes hoping to
talk his boss into painting a mural on the
side of the trucks trailer in support of the
project. Hes even got a drawing sketched
out.
Well see, he said. It would be
nice to let everyone know about this
project. We want to get the word out.
Its important for kids to know the
facts about how they have the freedom
to do what they do, Cindy Crouse said.
We hope to be a part of that.
For more information about the Wreaths
Across America project, log onto www.
wreathsacrossamerica.org. Learn about
the man who started the project, Morrill
Worcester, by logging onto www.msnbc.com
and look for Taking the Hill.
Don Crouse has been driving a
big rig for more than 40 years. The
Wreaths Across America project is
one of the most satisfying things he
has done.
Photos by Bernie Schmitt

3/4/15 8:45 PM
FINANCIAL WISDOM
What if you lost up to 50 percent

of your wealth in a single day?
By Brad Dillon
othing is more satisfying for advisors

and their clients
than planning, investing, and
watching
net worth
gradually
increase.
And,
nothing
is more
disheartening
than
having a significant portion
of portfolio value disappear as
the result of an unanticipated
event. There are many situations that can affect portfolio
value. Many of them can be
avoided. Here are a few to be
wary of:
Upheaval in the stock

market
The greatest single day
decline in stock market value,
as measured by the Dow Jones
30 Industrials Average, was
Oct. 19, 1987. On that day
the market lost 22.61 percent,
according to The Wall Street
Journal. Keeping your eye on
long-term goals may help overcome the feeling of panic that
market volatility can inspire.
Divorce
Today, more than onehalf of all marriages in the
U.S. end in divorce. Property
settlements often divide assets
evenly, which can significantly
diminish your personal wealth.
If you have divorced, it is important to change your beneficiary on qualified plans, IRAs,
and life insurance policies. If
you dont, your assets may end
up going to your ex-spouse
rather than your current spouse
and/or children.
Dying without a formal estate plan

If you die without a formal estate
plan, your estate tax exemption may
not be properly applied and could result
in tax dollars being paid to the government unnecessarily. Each American has
an estate tax exemption of $5 million
through 2013. If a surviving spouse files
a properly completed estate tax return,
even when no estate tax is due, he or she
can later use his or her unused estate tax
exemption, plus the unused exemption of
the deceased spouse.
Dying without a will

In many states, if you have minor
children and fail to leave instructions for
guardianship, your children are entitled to one-half of the property of the
deceased parent. Without a valid will, a
guardian can be appointed by the court.
That guardian will control the assets
of any minor children. If the surviving
spouse is not named as guardian, then he
or she may have little say in how funds
are spent or invested on behalf of their
children.
Untimely death of a key person in

a privately-held business
The value of a familys business may
be reduced dramatically by the death of
a key person. In some cases, it may be
necessary to sell the business to create the
liquidity necessary to pay the estate taxes,
which generally are due nine months after the owners death. Key man insurance
can help prevent this.
Regardless of the unwelcome surprises life may hold, you can often protect
the wealth youve accumulated.
The above material was prepared by Peak Advisor Alliance.
Brad Dillon is managing director of Carson

Wealth Vincennes. In his spare time, Brad
enjoys spending time with his wife, Shannon
and beautiful daughter, Harper. He is also
an avid golfer and sports enthusiast.
Investment advisory services offered through CWM, LLC,
a Registered Investment Advisor. Securities offered through
LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC. LPL Financial is
under separate ownership from any other named entity.

p30FinWisdomMar15.indd 1
3/4/15 11:05 AM
THE SONIC BOOMER
In the other 49 states, its just basketball

By Todd Lancaster
here is an old saying

that if March comes
in like a Hoosier it
goes out like a Cardinal.
In other words in
Southern Indiana, the
layover
between
March
Madness
and
Opening
Day is
measured
in little
more than hours for the
average sports fan. One
rarely has to wait long for
one passion to end before
the other begins.
However, before Cardinals, Reds and Cub fans
can begin their seven-month
verbal rumble, the basketball season must come to its
natural conclusion. And as
anyone can tell you, basketball is still what Indiana is
all about. At least that is still
the perception from the 49
surrounding states.
Yes, there is an infatuation with open wheel racing,
mushroom hunting and
lemon shake-ups at fall festivals, all of which can easily
identify Hoosiers from, say,
a group of barefoot, slackjaw, banjo-playing neighbors
to the immediate south.
However, I digress.
To anyone in his 50s
or older, basketball means
sectionals, regionals and
holiday tourneys. It means
standing in line for tickets,
pep sessions and senior
cords. However, for the rest
of the nation, Indiana is still
defined by its relationship
with a certain red-sweaterwearing gentleman, with a
proclivity for profanity and
a propensity for plaid.
Its funny. I rarely meet
anyone who actuallyremembers Bob

Knight and still excuses his antics and behaviors. Most just look at his conduct as
something that might have worked in a
different time and place, but would never
accept todayin a coach, boss, teacher or
spouse. However, there is still a fondness,
maybe even a yearning to remember how
much pride there was when his teams
of mostly Indiana kids battled on cold
February evenings across the Midwest.
And when Indiana won, every
barbershop with an IU calendar hanging
up behind a chair won. And the next
day, every diner and coffee shop between
Milan and Michigan City became a chat
room with opinions being tweeted out
verbally from the next table.
Diner conversations revolved around
Big Red and the General and every
junior high coach in the state used the
latest Knightism to make a point about
ball screens and back cuts.
There were only two reasons Bob
Knight might be sitting in your high
school gym: a 6-2 well-disciplined point
guard or world-class pheasant hunting in
your area.
And the funny thing is it wasnt just
Bob Knight. Gene Keady expected that
exact same things out of his kids at Purdue, and lets not beat around the bush,
the former Pittsburgh Steeler lineman
was far from sensitive and nurturing. In
fact, one of the dirty little secrets that
those Indiana basketball fans of a certain
age share is that until the arrival of Bob
Knight (the successful version in the

mid-70s, not the one who arrived from
Army whom most never wanted to hire),
most people were Purdue fans, especially
during the days of Rick The Lebanon
Rocket Mount in the late 60s.
However, there is only one other star
that shines as brightly in the Knight-time
sky and that is Larry Legend. If you dont
believe me, dig out all your early 80s
Celtic gear and explain to your 12-yearold why every member of your company
softball team still fights over who gets to
wear No. 33.
For a short period of time in the late
70s, Terre Haute was the state capital
and an unassuming former garbage
collector from West Baden was the
Governor. Bird was the embodiment of
the perfect Indiana basketball player. He
had an aw shucks personality, pass-first
mentality, sniper range with an Einsteinish basketball IQ, completed with a back
story that would make Horatio Alger
blush.
For years, in the winter, while the
rest of the country cursed the dark,
Hoosiers basked in the warm glow of
gymnasium lights until spring arrived.
And when it did there was plenty of time
for baseball, because it was eight months
until the next basketball season started.
Todd is a former sportswriter who enjoys
BBQ and Blues. He can be reached at
wthlancaster@gmail.com

p31SonicBoomerMar15.indd 1
3/4/15 4:29 PM
STILL
OLD SCHOOL
Gene Miiller remains the same whether it
is in Green and Orange or Black and Gold
By Todd Lancaster
here are few places with as rich a

tradition of high school basketball
as Vincennes Lincoln. With 70
sectional titles and a pair of state championships, Lincoln basketball can be traced
back to Indiana high school basketballs
earliest days.
In fact, Vincennes and Washington
hold the distinction of maintaining the

states oldest continual rivalry. And there
are plenty of things that have contributed
to that rivalry staying hot, and currently,
one of them might just be the one man
who has posted an incredible legacy
coaching at both schools Gene Miiller.
Long before Miiller won his third
state championship with the Hatchets,
he was building his Hall of Fame rsum
The 1992 sectional after Lincoln beat North Central 55-52.
as the long-time head coach of the Alices.

Miiller spent 17 years in Vincennes,
becoming the second-winningest coach
in Lincoln history. Miiller amassed a
302-106 record that included 15 sectional titles in 17 years and an appearance
in the 1984 State Final, all while on his
way to 630-plus wins and a spot in the
Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.
When Miiller came to Vincennes
Photos provided

p32-25GeneMiiller.indd 1
3/4/15 5:26 PM
pal flipped on the lights and I just fell in

love with the it. I guess Im a traditionalist, but I love the old gyms.
Miiller said he spend eight years in
Adams and nine in the new gym, but one
of his most special memories was the last
game played at Adams.
I think the game I remember the
most was the last game in Alice Arena.
We had at least one player from every
team going back to 1926 be introduced
that night. It was very special, he said.
I knew when I got here that Vincennes fans were very knowledgeable and
passionate. We had some great fans, said
Miiller. One of the first things I heard
was that (possession of ) the chairback
seats at Adams where one of the items
that people used to fight over in divorce
settlements.
Miiller, a former South
1629 Hart St., Suite C., Vincennes, IN 812-882-0571
in fall of 1981, he had the tough task of

not only following Hall of Fame coach
Orlando Gunner Wyman, but following him the year after bringing Lincoln
its first title since 1923.
In an odd twist of fate, Miiller would
repeat that situation again in the fall of
2005, when he replaced Dave Omer in
Washington, again, immediately after a
championship season.
Im not sure, but I think I am the
only coach to ever do that, laughed
Miiller.
Miiller said he knew right away that
Lincoln was a special job.
Adams Coliseum is a great place,
very special. The first time I saw it was
the day I interviewed there. I had never
been to Vincennes and they asked me if I
wanted to see the gym, said Miiller. We
walked in and it was dark, so the princi-
PROPOSE. BEFORE
SHE MEETS ANGELO.
Gene Miiller cuts down the net at Roberts Stadium.

3/4/15 5:26 PM
Coach Miiller at Wabash College in

the early 70s. He is now a member
of the Wabash Hall of Fame.
Newton and Wabash College player was
just 28 when he left Kankakee Valley and
accepted the Lincoln job. He still has
very fond memories of that first team at
Lincoln.
Tim Vieke (who later coached at
Rivet) was my only returning starter
from the championship team. He and
Robin Talbott, who was my main guy
coming off the bench that year. We had
a lot of young guys around them and we
had a very good year.
Miiller said that going to the state
final in 1984 is the first thing he thinks
about when he thinks back about his
Vincennes days.
I think the semistate final was the
best feeling though, just watching the
clock rundown with a 13-point lead on
Floyd Central, said Miiller. I think that
was the first time semistate was played at
Hulman Center (in Terre Haute), so it
was a little different, said Miiller.
We had four guys that scored in
double figures and one guy that got
about 9 (per game) that year. We had
Dean Tolbert and Randy Hobson, our
two starting guards score 31 and 30 in
that game between them. Tim Swan
was our leading scorer, but he picked
up some early fouls and didnt play
that much. We had Charlie Waggoner
who started as a sophomore and Paul
Hendrixson. They were one of the most

competitive teams I ever coached.
Miiller said he never dreamed he
would be coaching with Big 8 rival
Washington.
I never once thought I would
end up in Washington. If fact, I never
thought I would leave Vincennes, said
Miiller. All of my daughters (Hanna,
Heidi and Heather) all started school and
finished school there. It was great place
for them, said Miiller.
After Heather graduated, the opportunity came up to go Lafayette Jefferson.
The girls were grown, it was close to
home and Jeff was the school that everyone kind of looked to in that area. It was
in the North Central Conference which
was the states best conference at the
time, we said if it is ever going to happen
then now is the time to do it.
Miiller had another interest twist of
fate when he left Jeff. He left Jeff to take
the Washington job exactly 63 years after
Hall of Fame coach Marion Crawley left
Washington to take the Jefferson job.
I grew up watching Marion Crawley coach at Jeff, he was one of the guys I
really respected as coach, added Miiller.
Miiller said going to Jeff first actually made the transition to Washington a
little easier.
It was a little odd for my daughters at first to root for Washington. It is
different now than during the first couple
of years, but I think everyone is used to
it now, said Miiller. It is nice because I
get a chance to reconnect with people.
We had some great games with the
other county teams back then. I think the
first game I coached against South Knox
was just crazy. There were some really
intense games with Rivet as well early on.
One of those players who has spent a
significant part of his life with Miiller is
current Hatchet assistant Brandt Schuckman. Schuckman has not only been an
assistant for Miiller in Washington and
Jeff, he was a four-year player for Miiller
at Lincoln (1988-92), and a towel boy
for the Alices when he was in junior
high. He later went on to play at Cornell,
after a successful prep career with the
Alices.
I went through Genes summer
basketball camps as a kid and his style of
coaching hasnt changed, said Schuckman. Practices are as similar today as
they were back then. He doesnt have
many weaknesses as a coach.
I think I learned the most that

3/4/15 5:26 PM
At top, Coach Miiller at Market Square Arena with one of his All-Star players,
Sean Daugherty, of Vincennes Lincoln, in June 1994. Above, Coach Miiller
talks to his team before a game in the early 1990s.
eighth grade year, just sitting on the bench
and being in the huddles. It helped me
tremendously as a player. I wanted to win
four conference championships and four
sectional championships in my four years
and we accomplished that.
Current Lincoln coach and athletic
director Jeff Hein says Gene is one of the
people he respects the most in the coaching profession.
I go way back to my playing days
at Heritage Hills. I just remember how
much respect my coach had for him,
said Hein. I have been lucky enough
to coach against him at Boonville, Bosse

and Lincoln. He is still the exact same
gentleman, fully deserving of all respect
he is given.
Gene married his wife of 39 years,
Debra, in 1972 and they were together
until her passing in 2011. Gene remarried recently to Linda Donovan.
Gene is also a proud father and
grandfather. Hanna (Stowers) lives in
Washington, Heidi (Tiesing) lives in
New Albany and Heather (Garrison)
lives in Noblesville.

3/4/15 5:26 PM
THE BOOMER 1040
DOS AND DONTS FOR PAYING

YOUR TAX BILL
By Elise LeBlanc
bout three-quarters of
individual taxpayers
received refunds last year,
according to Internal Revenue
Service statistics. However, many
people find that they do owe taxes
when April 15 comes around.
If you fall into that group, the
Indiana CPA Society offers these
recommendations on the best way
to settle your bill.
Dont rush to charge it

Its always best to use
available cash for your tax bill.
Remember that you will be
charged interest if you dont pay
off your balance immediately,
which will just add another cost
to covering your taxes. Your
CPA can help you adjust your
withholding, if necessary.
Do pay what you can

If you dont have the money
to pay your bill, contact the IRS
to let them know your situation
and send in as much as you can by the deadline. The IRS will often work with taxpayers
who are having financial troubles to help
them reconcile their tax debt.
Dont fail to file

If you do, it could be costly. The IRS
will usually charge you a penalty of 5 percent
of your unpaid taxes for every month you
are late in filing a return, up to 25 percent of
your total unpaid taxes. If you file a return
but cant pay your taxes, you will usually
be charged a much lower amount of
1 percent of your unpaid taxes for each
month youre late, up to 25 percent of your
unpaid taxes, so its best to file even if youll
come up short on paying your entire tax
debt. (You will also be charged interest on
the outstanding amount.) The penalties may
be waived if you can demonstrate reasonable
cause for the failure to file.
Do remember the Fresh Start

Program
The IRS Fresh Start program offers a
number of options for taxpayers who are
struggling to meet their tax obligations. It is
possible, for example, to request an installment agreement in which you pay your tax
bill in monthly direct debit payments over

up to 6 years. If you believe you will be unable to pay your entire outstanding tax bill,
another possibility is the IRS Offer-in-Compromise program, in which a taxpayer and
the IRS agree to settle the tax bill for an
amount that is less than whats owed. The
IRS generally will consider a settlement offer
if it believes the taxpayer wont be able to
pay off the amount in a lump sum or in a
payment plan.
The taxpayers income and assets are
among the issues the IRS examines in considering a settlement.
Do consider an extension
If you simply need more time to file your
return, you can ask the IRS for an extension
of your deadline. Remember, though, that
you will still have to pay at least 90 percent of
your tax bill by the original due date or face a
penalty, so you will have to estimate what you
owe and submit payment on time.
Turn to your CPA

If youre not sure youll be able to file on
time, or pay your taxes due, be sure to contact
your local CPA. He or she can help you
resolve any related issues and get your tax situation back on track. And remember to call
on your CPA throughout the year to discuss
all your financial questions or concerns.
2014 The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

p36Boomer1040Mar15.indd 1
3/5/15 2:07 PM

M
a r1
c h2 3 4 5 6
MARCH 13
Contra/Colonial Dance, 7 p.m., Old Town Players Theatre, Fifth and
Broadway streets. Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend.
Dances are interactive with dancing in groups or partners. Contra dancing
is easy and fun with beginner levels. Practice is at 6:30 p.m. and dancing 7
p.m. to 9 p.m. Dress is casual with comfortable shoes a must. Bring a friend
and a dish or drink to share. No alcohol or smoking allowed.
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
MARCH 15
Ballet Magnificat
Stratagem, 7 p.m. at the
Red Skelton Performing
Arts Center. Tickets $20 for
adults, $15 for students. Call
812-888-4354 for tickets.
MARCH 17
Preferred Parking (comedy
show), 8 p.m. at the Red
Skelton Performing Arts
Center. Tickets $8 for adults,
$5 for students and seniors.
Call 812-888-4354 for tickets.
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
MARCH 22
Hometown Melodies RSVP
sponsored event, 2 p.m. at
the Red Skelton Performing
Arts Center. Tickets $10,
children under 10 free. Call
812-888-5880 for tickets.
MARCH 27
Knox County Parks and Recreation Department Sock Hop,
7 p.m. to 10 p.m., Blue Jeans Community Center, Monroe
City. Live music will be provided by Josh Starlite and the Full
Nelsons with DJ services by Kenny Deetz. Donations are
appreciated with all proceeds going to the Blue Jeans Center.
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
MARCH 28
The Indiana Military Museum, 100th Anniversary of the 2nd year of World War I (the war to end
all wars). The event will include a 100 yard re-creation of Allied and German trenches, a restored
French 1914 Renault field hospital truck, Kaiser Wilhelms naval battle flag, living history displays,
daily battle re-enactments and much more. Re-enactors wishing to participate should contact
Dave Fornell at dfornell@sgcmail.com or (847) 347-7470 or call the Indiana Military Museum at
(812) 882-1941. Please visit the museums website, http://www.indianamilitarymuseum.org
28 29 30 31
APRIL 3
Contra/Colonial Dance, 7 p.m., Old Town Players Theatre,
Fifth and Broadway streets. Admission is free and the public
is welcome to attend. Dances are interactive with dancing in
groups or partners. Contra dancing is easy and fun with beginner
levels. Practice is at 6:30 p.m. and dancing 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Dress is casual with comfortable shoes a must. Bring a friend and
a dish or drink to share. No alcohol or smoking allowed.

1 2 3
April
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
APRIL 16
Vigo Elementary School
Carnival, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
at the school. Raffle, silent
auction, games, snacks and
more. Donations accepted
and are tax deductible.
APRIL 17-19
Old Town Players
production of Steel
Magnolias. Times vary.
Contact the theatre
for tickets at 812-8821639.
11 12 13 14 15 16 17
APRIL 17-19
VU Theatre Department spring play
Romeo and Juliet. Times vary by
day at the Red Skelton Performing
Arts Center. Tickets $7 for adults, $5
for students. Call 812-888-4354 for
tickets and show times.
APRIL 24
Shadows of the 60s,
7:30 p.m. at the Red
Skelton Performing Arts
Center. Call the Alumni
Office for tickets at
812-888-4354.
18 19 20 21 22 23 24
APRIL 25
99th Army JROTC Anniversary and Guinness Record 5K Run, noon, Vincennes Lincoln High School., Are
you up to the challenge of breaking a Guinness World Record? Join us in celebrating two historic events,
the 99th Anniversary of JROTC (Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) and the City of Vincennes attempt
to break the Guinness World Record for the largest multi-location 5K Run. The Lincoln Army JROTC will
conduct a 5K Color Run, 1-Mile Color Run/Walk and a 10--Mile Bicycle Ride. Concurrently, more than
1,200 JROTC programs throughout the world will begin the run at the same time.
APRIL 30
VU Music Department
Guitar Fest, 7:30 p.m.
at the Red Skelton
Performing Arts Center.
No tickets required.
25 26 27 28 29 30
p37CalendarMar15.indd 1
3/4/15 11:34 AM
REAL FOOD IS GOOD FOOD
Terry Jones is the cook at the Bettye J. McCormick Center and her husband,
Ron, is the manager of the Centers wood shop. Together they have been
cooking up some great meals and satisfied customers.
Ron and Terry Jones cook up sumptuous

meals daily at McCormick Senior Center
By Bernie Schmitt
bout seven years ago Ron Jones

decided to retire or at least
he told himself that and so
he signed up to get his monthly Social
Security.
But after two months of not working

he was bored.
I had to do something, he said. Im
not the kind who can just sit around.
Then he learned that the Bettye J.
McCormick Senior Center, a program of
the local YMCA, needed a manager for its

woodshop. It was the perfect solution for the
lifelong carpenter and former owner of The
Pine Box. He has built his share of kitchen
cabinets, gun cases, and fireplace mantles.
I cant read a newspaper very well,
but I can sure read a tape measure, he
quipped.
I came in for an interview and was
halfway across the parking lot when they
called and asked if I wanted the job, he
said. I never really intended to work in
the kitchen.
Yet planning and preparing daily
meals, and managing the Senior Centers
kitchen, is what Jones and his wife, Terry,
a manager at PeaFections, are spending
much of their time doing these days.
Terry Jones is the Centers cook, and
she has worked hard to provide quality
meals for the Centers clients the last two
years. She has a background in food service, having worked years ago as a teenager at the former Charlies New Caf. Her
expertise has led to a bit of excitement
for the clients who take their lunch at the
Senior Center.
The meals here have improved
immensely, said Nola Davis, executive director of the Bettye J. McCormick Senior
Center. They are excellent. The other day
we had pork steak and gravy with mashed
potatoes and it was great.
Terry insists that she and her husband
are not doing anything special. She likes
to prepare food the old-fashioned way,
by scratch, and refuses to serve things
that are pre-processed and warmed-up in
a microwave. Sometimes it takes a little
more time and a little more effort, but
the meals served daily meet governmental
guidelines, the Centers budget guidelines,
and are tasty as well as nutritious.
Theyre getting real food here, Terry
said. And its good.
On a chilly February evening the couple was poring over menu options for the
next several weeks, along with the kitchens inventory. Clients pay only $1 for a
meal at the McCormick Senior Center.
We have to find a way to provide
good food for only a dollar a meal, Ron
says. It took me forever to figure out how
to do that. I figured and re-figured for the
longest time. Its getting harder and harder
to do. The best I can do is $1.06 a meal.
Davis insists that the price charged
for a meal at the Center stays at $1.
We dont want to raise our rates,
Davis said. Not for our elderly population. This is a service to people

p38-41RonTerryJones.indd 1
3/4/15 8:52 PM
Terry Jones decorates the dessert the Senior Center served on Valentines Day.
People You Know, Taking Care

of the People You Love...
413 North First Street, Vincennes, IN 47591 812-885-2767 800-345-0820 Toll Free www.americannursingcare.com

3/4/15 8:52 PM
Ron Jones helps direct traffic when lunch is served.

who are already on fixed incomes.
Davis praises the couples efforts
because of their dedication.
They are very committed, she said.

They often come in when they dont have
to, and Ron often donates his time. They
are very community-minded and will help

in any way they can. Terry is very creative,
too, sometimes having Smores at the
fireplace or making homemade ice cream.
Even if there is a mistake, she will make
something of it.
Ron and Terry are up and at the
Center early, before Terry goes in for her
shift downtown at 9. Ron is at the Center
throughout the day, mostly managing the
wood shop, but also helping out in the
kitchen. Terry gets out of her fulltime job
at 5 p.m., and except for Fridays and Saturdays, she is back at the Center around
6:30 p.m. preparing the next days meal.
Ron comes along, volunteering his time in
the evenings, so that Terry isnt by herself.
Together they work on preparing the next
days meal. They avoid working Friday
and Saturday nights.
Im old school, Terry said, while
stirring a huge pot of homemade chili. I
actually prepare and cook good, old-fashioned meals. Theyre nothing fancy, but
everyone knows that when you make
baked beans you put a little bacon in
them. Thats something they had not been
getting here.
While planning meals they have to
be careful to allow for a variety of food
allergies, those with diabetes, and other
Leave a Legacy today...

For your children
For your grandchildren
For your community
For all of those you love.
Contact the Knox County Community
Foundation today to learn more about
how you can leave a legacy.
The Knox County Community Foundation.

For Good. Forever. For Knox County.
20 N. 3rd St., Suite 301 Vincennes www.knoxcountyfoundation.org Ph: 812-886-0093 Fax: 812-886-0133
3/4/15 8:52 PM
Nola Davis, director of the McCormick Senior Center, serves meals (top) that
Terry Jones (above) prepares in the Centers kitchen.
special diets. They make accommodations
accordingly. The food has to be ready for
the Centers steam table by noon.
The Center would like to know if
people are coming for lunch, so that Terry
can prepare the right amount of food.
There are some walk-ins, Davis said,
but there is usually enough for a couple
of extra plates. Terry and Ron try to plan
accordingly, so there is no waste.
They are not over-cooking, Davis
said. There are some days when we think,

Are we going to make it? but we usually do. They are doing a good job saving
money and preventing waste.
Anywhere from 80 to 100 people are
served daily at the McCormick Senior Center, numbers that are staying fairly steady
thanks to the meals Terry and Ron prepare.
Every now and then people come up
to us and say, Man, that meal was really
good, Ron says. We love to hear that.

3/4/15 8:52 PM
p42BoomerMagOnlineMar15.indd 1
3/2/15 4:50 PM
Larry Banjo Latshaw

Larry Latshaw credits his good health to the Lord. At 78, he has no plans to retire as owner of Wabash Valley Vacuum
Center.
Repairing vacuum cleaners and

praising the Lord
By Bernie Schmitt
arry Latshaw has been earning a

living by repairing vacuum cleaners
for nearly 30 years. At age 78 he
has no plans to retire.
Ive had three back surgeries, but
Im not going to retire, he said. Who
wants to retire when there is still stuff to
do?
The Wabash Valley Vacuum Center,
located at 121 N. Second St. in Vincennes is the only vacuum repair service
between Terre Haute and Evansville, its
owner says.
If theres another one I dont know
about it, Latshaw said. There might be

one down at Jasper.
Latshaw recently bought out parts
and materials from another former
repairman, Fred Saltsgiver, south of St.
Francisville, Ill. The parts are vital for
Latshaw to bring ones favorite vacuum
cleaner back to life. He and his wife,
Beverly, work to provide quality customer service and solid repair work.
Our repair business is better than
our sale of vacuums, he said. Its hard to
compete with all the Wal-Marts and Lowes selling junk from China. Vacuums are
not what they used to be. Theres so much
out there that really isnt any good.
For instance, Electrolux used to be a

top-of-the-line vacuum, but since things
have changed since the company was
bought out by Eureka. Nowadays, the
Electrolux brand doesnt stand up like it
used to, Lastshaw says, because its really
not a true Electrolux. The quality and
craftsmanship has changed. Nonetheless,
he and his wife do their best to service
their customers vacuums when they can.
Business comes and goes in spurts,
Beverly Latshaw said, but it depends
on the season, too. When customers do
come in, there are usually two, three, or
more behind them, but its not constant.
They try to do all their business locally. They chat with their customers and
deliver a much-needed service.
Latshaw prides himself on doing
good work for a fair price. His Wabash
Valley Vacuum Center is some-

p43-46Vacuum.indd 1
3/5/15 9:57 AM
what of an old-fashioned business, but

with the technical knowledge of the
21st Century. When one of those Chinese-made vacuums cannot be repaired,
or if the price of a new part is too expensive or not available, hes honest with his
customers. In a world where credit and
debit cards seem to have replaced cash,
this business doesnt take them.
We take cash or check, he said.
Always have.
Before starting his repair business
Latshaw worked for 21 years at what
used to be Johnson Controls when he
worked there it was Reynolds where
he was a welder. He found the work
interesting, but he could no longer do
it after injuring his back.
Thats when I decided to do this,
he said.
He learned about vacuum repair
while training at the former Electrolux
Shop on Main Street. It was here he met
Beverly. She was enrolled in a summer
sales program for college students. They
went to an evening church service at
Bethlehem General Baptist Church.
Thats how we got together, Beverly
said.
If he gets the chance, Latshaw also
will tell you about the greatness of God.
People need to hear about God,
he said. Im bold when it comes to the
Lord. The Bible tells us to be bold. I have

to throw a seed in for the Lord.
He and Beverly are faithful to the
Bunker Hill Baptist Church as they never
miss a Sunday service. He knows of
several situations where sick people have
gotten well and others have lived longer
due to the power of Gods grace. Latshaw
himself suffered a ruptured appendix in
early January. Doctors said there is no
way he should have lived four days with
the rupture.
I just thought I had pulled a muscle, Latshaw said. God protected me. I
had trust in the Lord.
He also has lived through a lot of
night-life as a musician playing country
music in bars and clubs, and his most
recent check-up showed that he is still in
pretty good shape. He attributes all of this
to God.
The Lord changed me, Latshaw
said. I wasnt smart enough to realize it,
but He did. The Lord has to slap me with
a wet mop to get my attention, and He
knows how to do it.
He enjoyed his music-playing days,
going by the nickname of Banjo. He
enjoyed it because the men he played
with were good musicians and they all
got along well. He used to sit in with
Gary Dawson, who was well-known in
Tri-State area.
The Wabash Valley Vacuum Center, located at 121 N. Second St. in Vincennes,
is the only vacuum repair service between Terre Haute and Evansville, says
owner Larry Latshaw.

p43-46Vacuum.indd 2
3/5/15 9:57 AM
No one wanted to be a big shot,

he said. We had a lot of enjoyment in
that. Some would follow us wherever we
played.
It ended when one of the band
members got sick and another moved
away. The night life got old, too.
Praise the Lord I dont enter those
places anymore, he said.
Latshaw has been a member of the
Masonic Lodge No. 1 in Vincennes
since the early 1960s, and as such was
involved with the Scottish Rite and the
Hadi Shriners. He used to drive one of
those miniature yellow Corvettes that
are featured in local parades. He got
some notoriety in the early 1990s when
during a Labor Day Parade in Bicknell
he flipped the Corvette and was pinned
under the car until rescued. The moment was forever preserved when a local
newspaper photographer captured the
accident and shared the picture with the
Associated Press.
After that we got calls from all
over, Latshaw said. I got a call from
Ontario, Canada, and one time a call
from the Los Angeles County
Larry Latshaw met his wife,

Beverly, while training at the former
Electrolux Shop on Main Street.
FAMILY
DENTISTRY
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p43-46Vacuum.indd 3
3/5/15 9:57 AM
Sheriffs Department.
We got mail from everywhere,
Beverly said. We had a box full of newspaper clippings from all over the world.
Latshaw was talked about on the
syndicated Bob & Tom Show, and even
raced a mini-Corvette on a dirt track
with Mark Patrick, the former host of
the Hoosier Millionaire television show.
I was supposed to let him win,
Latshaw said, laughing. But when it
came down to it we were neck and neck,
and I had more power and just dusted
him.
After the event, Latshaws Corvette
was displayed on an elevated platform
and dozens lined up to get his autograph.
They wanted to give him $1,000, too,
but he refused. Instead money was donated to the local Shriners Club to help
children.
We had a lot of good times with
that, he said. Weve had a lot of fun
over the years.
Larry Latshaw got some notoriety in
the early 1990s when during a Labor
Day Parade in Bicknell he flipped a
Hadi Shriner mini Corvette and was
pinned under the car until rescued.
The photo was picked up by the
Associated Press.

p43-46Vacuum.indd 4
3/5/15 9:57 AM
DENTISTRY 101
THE LINK BETWEEN DIABETES

AND DENTAL HEALTH
Courtesy of MCC
egular dental checkups

are essential to maintaining oral health. In
addition to preventing dental
caries and removing tartar
that contributes to gum disease, dental checkups can alert
patients to other potential
health problems. For example,
symptoms of periodontal disease may be indicative of the
presence of diseases that stems
from outside of the mouth,
including diabetes.
Diabetes, a condition of
uncontrolled blood sugar or
insulin production, can affect
many areas of the body, including the mouth. Diabetics
face a high risk of oral health
problems because of fluctuating levels of blood sugar,
which impairs white blood
cells. White blood cells are the
bodys main defense against
disease and are dispatched
when a virus or bacteria is
present. Should white blood
cells be rendered less effective,
the bodys defense system is
compromised and infections
can occur in the mouth and
elsewhere.
Those with diabetes may complain

of certain oral symptoms. Uncontrolled
diabetes can result in a decrease in saliva
flow, which leads to dry mouth. Saliva is
important to wash away bacteria in the
mouth.
Gum inflammation can occur
because diabetes causes blood vessels to
thicken, slowing the flow of waste and
nutrients from bodily tissues. An increase
in bacteria and the compromised state of
white blood cells makes for the perfect
environment for periodontal disease.
Furthermore, uncontrolled diabetes can
make it more difficult for the mouth
and other areas of the body to heal.
Therefore, there may be recurrent mouth
infections, sores and other symptoms
of irritation. Thrush, a condition of
overabundant yeast in the body that can
cause white patches and soreness in the
mouth, is also more prevalent among
diabetics.
The American Diabetes Association says that not only are people with
diabetes more susceptible to serious
gum disease, but serious gum disease
may have the potential to affect blood
glucose control and contribute to the
progression of diabetes. Many people are
unaware they have diabetes until an oral
health exam raises a red flag that warns of
uncontrolled blood sugar.
Those who are aware of their diabetes should take treatment seriously to
keep blood sugar levels in check. They

also should discuss their diabetes with
a dentist and other oral health practitioners so that a custom exam and
screening schedule can be implemented.
It is vital for diabetics to maintain oral
health to reduce the risk of infections
of the mouth that can spread elsewhere
throughout the body.

p47Dentistry101Mar15.indd 1
2/28/15 10:19 AM
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Time is important when dealing
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We can help you understand these
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BOOMER HUMOR
SERVING THE AREAS LEGAL

NEEDS FOR OVER 100 YEARS
Retirees concept of time

By Madison Frederick
appy spring, dear

friends! We are almost
through wintertime
again and even though it is not
my favorite season of the year,
I must admit
that it seems to
go faster each
year. While
I was stuck
inside by the
fire this winter,
I had time to
reflect on the
concept of time for boomers.
Many of us are retired
from our primary careers, but
do we have more time than we
did when we worked full time?
Heck, no!
I recall a statement I often
hear: Im retired. All Ive got is
time.
I wish I could say that!
Retired folks that I know are
every bit as busy as those who
are not retired. After all, working
full time is a good excuse to not
be in charge of something in the
community or at church or for
your children and grandchildren.
But if folks know that you are retired, then look out. Youd better
start screening your calls if you
arent already. Before you know it,
you will be in the 12-items or less
grocery checkout line and fighting cart rage against the person
in front of you whose cart is full
because you dont have TIME to
stand in line!
There is no doubt that as we
age we learn the value of time.
We often wonder how much
time we have left or how much
time we have left with those we
despise (as in, I cant stand her
much longer!) or those we love as
we begin to lose precious people
from our lives.
Ive heard many retired
people say, I just dont have time
for that in my life anymore.
Really? Retired people should
have time to do anything they
want to do. Havent we worked
hard to earn this golden time? My
grandmother used to say, The older you get,

the more time flies. And she was right about
that ... and many other things.
We need precious time with our families,
friends, and for ourselves. Isnt this the time
we were going to take up hobbies? Or finish
projects we couldnt do while working?
You know it is a good thing that we do
have more unencumbered time when we retire, because we have harder choices to make
on how to spend it. And beneath it all, is the
feeling that time is passing and we cannot
stop it. (Thats why we dont have time to
waste standing in a grocery line!)
I have often thought about how long
months seemed to be when I was a young
mother. Who-wee! On a snowy day it took
forever for Daddy to get home! Now even
the yucky months are beginning to fly by.
Ive noticed that I work at least one month
ahead in my calendar. It gets filled up so
fast. The voice in my head keeps taunting
me with, Now is the time to do it! You
dont know what tomorrow brings. You can
rest later when you cant get around.
I really believe that most retired people
work hard to spend their time wisely because there are very few of us who havent sat
with a sick friend or comforted a dying one
and realized just how valuable time is.
I will leave you with a funny story from
a friend of mine regarding his retired parents
who were at the doctors office. His mother
was waiting in the waiting room, not so
patiently. His dad was outside in the car
waiting. When 30 minutes was up and she
had not been called back to see the doctor
yet, she proceeds to the office window and
informs the receptionist that her time is up.
She has to go. Her husband is waiting for
her in the car and she has no more time to
spend in the waiting room! Both of these
dear people were retired!
However, they did not choose to spend
their valuable time waiting in a waiting
room. As she glanced around the room, she
saw several other patients who were on their
lunch hour from their jobs, waiting patiently to be called back. I rest my case.
Most retired people are good at knowing how to spend time. Hope you enjoy
your springTIME!
A writer from North Carolina who started her

career at the lifestyle magazine Bangle, Madison
Frederick uses a pen name because she likes to write
about personal amusing stories from her girlfriends.
She is a semi-retired, happily married mother of grown
children.

p48BoomerHumorMar15.indd 1
3/4/15 11:47 AM
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3/4/15 8:57 AM
Making it Personal
Knox County gearing up for 2015 Relay for Life

By Lindsay Owens
nox County is gearing up for one

of its biggest parties of the year
the 2015 Relay for Life. The rockin relay is moving back to Gregg Park on
May 16 and 17 for the 24-hour event that
raises money for the American Cancer
Society or ACS. This year Relay organizers
hope to raise $100,000 and have nearly
40 teams involved in the annual event
that will be celebrating its 21st year in
Knox County.
So far we have over 20 teams already
registered, said Stacy Lee, event leadership team member, who added teams
can register online at www.relayforlife.
org/knoxcountyin or by contacting Brian
Kramer at 812-881-7990. Our theme
this year is Making It Personal.
Lee said that the Making It Personal
theme has allowed participates to not only
share why they Relay, but also provided
Below, Sheila Everett, Elizabeth Hornby and Bobe Coffman took part in the
Knox County Relay for Life. Coffman lost his battle with cancer earlier this year
but members of his family continue to celebrate his life. At bottom, Chris Coan
is seen at his Western-themed campsite. The Knox County Relay aways features
ornate campsites.
Photos provided
teams on social media with challenges for

each day. Some of those challenges are
as simple as tagging and thanking fellow
Relay participants and sharing Relay
memories.
There are no set minimums on the
number of participants each team is
required to have, but it is recommended
that each team member raise a goal of
$100 to earn their Relay for Life shirt.
Cancer survivors can also sign up to take
part in the event.
We love our survivors. They are the
reason we Relay, said Lee. Last year, we
had 150 survivors participate and we are
hoping for more.
To help meet the goals set by the
leadership team, many teams have been
scheduling fundraisers ranging from
spaghetti dinners and pizza fundraisers to
Easter basket silent auctions and apparel.
The ever popular Relay for Life candy bars
are available for purchase as well. Other
items teams are selling include cookbooks,
wren houses, bows, scarves, blankets and
more. The Vincennes University Bowling
Center will also hold a special charity
league on Mondays for the next several
weeks. Teams participating in the league
could earn up to $208 for their team.
Lee said a list of fundraisers can be
found on the Relay for Life of Knox
County Indiana Facebook page.
In addition to the monetary and
team involvement goals, Lee and the
other organizers hope to gain at least 20
ACS CAN or Cancer Action Network
members. ACS CAN is the leading cancer
advocacy organization in the United States
that works to make cancer issues a national priority. Anyone donating at least $10
can become a member of ACS CAN.
ACS CAN lobbies for research
among other things, said Danielle
Matlick, community manager for Relay
for Life, of the nonpartisan, nonprofit
advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer
Society. ACS CAN worked to get rid of
lifetime insurance caps and increase the
tobacco tax in Indiana.
Prior to the Relay, teams will be
participating in bucket brigade events
on Saturdays and Sundays from April 11
through May 9.
Well have the bucket brigade at
15th and Hart streets and Washington
Avenue and St. Clair streets from 9 a.m.
to 1 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. until 5
p.m. Sundays, said Pete White.
Teams can also take part in the Knox
County Relay for Life yard sale at the

p50-51RelayForLife.indd 1
3/5/15 2:21 PM
Riverfront Pavilion on April 25 from 8

a.m. until 1 p.m.
Well have food at the event and our
survivors will also be honored during the
yard sale event, said Lee.
Gregg Park will be transformed into
a big party beginning Saturday, May 16
at 10 a.m. and the public, excluding furry
friends, is welcome to attend.
We have a lot of really exciting
events going on during Relay this year,
said Lee. Several of our teams will be
preparing food as part of their fundraising
efforts and we have several activities that
will take place around the park.
Some of those events include a Miss
and Mister Knox County Relay for Life
pageant, a car and motorcycle show, K9
demonstrations and live entertainment.
Those participating in the Relay will
have activities scheduled all 24 hours
of the event. We have photo booths,
bounce houses, theme laps and a ton of
other activities our teams can participate
in throughout the Relay, said Lee, adding
the survivor lap and luminaria lighting
events are still on the schedule.
The luminaria ceremony is one of the
most amazing parts of Relay for Life. This
year, in addition to the torches and white
luminarias, we also have purple ombre
The Knox County Relay for Life is always a popular event. This year, the Relay
will return to Gregg Park on May 16.
luminarias that will be available to honor caregivers, said Lee. Sometimes our
caregivers get overshadowed and we want
to make sure they are recognized too.
Teams can have themed campsites
and will have the chance to take part in
spirit awards based on their campsite.
Our Make it Personal theme will be what
inspires the teams this year, said Lee. We

are excited to see why you have joined in
the fight against cancer.
For more information on the Knox
County Relay for Life, visit www.
relayforlife.org

p50-51RelayForLife.indd 2
3/5/15 2:21 PM
PREPARING FOR THE MARCH

Area teams get ready
for March for Babies
By Lindsay Owens
hether you realize

it or not, nearly
everyone knows
someone who has been
touched by a preterm birth.
That someone may be you,
your neighbor or the person
who works in the office next
door.
We are really excited about March
for Babies, said March of Dimes Community Director for Southwest Indiana
Ashley Murray. We have a great group
of committee members here in Knox
County that work really hard to put on
this event each year.
The March of Dimes was started
during World War II by Franklin D.
Roosevelt as the National Foundation of
Infantile Paralysis and originally focused
its efforts on polio research and helping those diagnosed with the disease.
One of the other tasks associated was to
form local chapters of the organization
that could raise funding and deliver aid
during polio epidemics. March of Dimes
efforts resulted in grants being provided
for polio research. Dr. Jonas Salk was one
of many who received a grant from the
organization and is now known as the
man who created the polio vaccine. Since
the Salk vaccine was licensed in 1955,
the number of polio cases had declined
from thousands of cases per year to a
handful of cases each year.
In 1958, the organization started a
new mission: birth defect prevention, a
choice that would allow the March of
Dimes to continue to focus on disabilities and disorders affecting infants
and children. WalkAmerica, which was
renamed the March for Babies in 2008,
started in 1970. It was also during the
1970s that the March of Dimes added
premature birth and low birth weight to
its mission.
The efforts of the March of Dimes
have reduced the number of preterm
births from 12.8 percent in 2006 to 11.4

percent in 2013. The reduction in the
number of babies born preterm has also
saved $10 billion in excess health care
costs from babies born too early.
Information provided by the March
of Dimes shows that in a study of employer insurance claims, 11 percent of
babies covered by employer health insurance plans are born premature and those
babies cost businesses $54,000 per birth.
Healthy births cost just over $4,000.
Dr. Jonas Salk was one of

many who received a grant
from the March of Dimes
and is now known as the
man who created the polio
vaccine.
In Indiana we have a rate of 10.9
percent of preterm birth, said Murray.
Thats one in nine and is down from one
in eight last year. Were proud of these
achievements and we are encouraged by
them but we arent satisfied.
Murray added that the goal for Indiana is to reduce its rate to 9.6 percent.
The Knox County kickoff event featured Good Samaritan Hospital Family
Nurse Practitioner Miranda Schneider
as a special speaker as well as the Sarah
and Joshua Morrison family, this years
Ambassador Family.
Murray and other members of
the local committee have set a goal of
$30,000 for the event this year that will
be held April 18 at Vincennes University.
Last year, we raised more than our
goal, said Murray.
For more information or to form
a team, contact Murray at amurray@
marchofdimes.org or visit www.marchforbabies.org.

p52-53MarchOfDimes.indd 1
3/4/15 11:58 AM
SARAH AND JOSHUA MORRISONS STORY
y husband and I were due with our second

child Aug. 26, 2008. We were thrilled to be
expecting for the second time and overjoyed
for our little girl, Zaela, to get a baby brother.
Our first pregnancy had been completely uneventful. Flash forward two years: I was working as a
nurse in the OB department and frequently checked
on our little man. Everything seemed to be progressing well until I hit my 34-week check-up. Suddenly,
I was measuring two weeks ahead of schedule. Six
days later, our world would be forever changed.
It was a normal Tuesday morning. I felt a
quickening sensation in my belly something I had
never felt before. It almost felt like hiccups, but more
turbulent. I sat straight up and it happened again. I
realized I hadnt felt our sweet boy move in a while.
I tried everything. I drank a big glass of water
and juice, laid on my left side and still nothing.
Finally, I called my doctors office and they told me to
come in right away.
A co-worker from the OB department took me
to the back room and began the futile search for our
sons heartbeat. We all worked together and we had
all experienced this together before. I never thought
it would be me.
After an agonizing amount of time and with
tears flowing, I called my husband and told him
to come in. My husband walked through the front
doors carrying Zaela, and with a puzzled face, he
struggled to understand what I was saying to him.
Hes gone. I sobbed the words and fell into
his arms. I dont remember the walk to the ultra-
sound area. I remember getting up on the table and

laying my head down on the pillow, silently praying
that we were wrong praying that this was all just
some crazy mistake. I closed my eyes and prayed
for the beautiful pulse of his tiny, little heart, a
sound I had become so accustomed to hearing over
the past eight months. There were no sounds. There
was only silence.
We opted to be induced that evening. But I
wasnt ready. I still secretly held on to the idea that
it would be fine. He would be perfect and we were
wrong. He was placed in my arms, so perfect and
beautiful. He had his daddys butt chin and sisters
stubby toes. He had my mouth and nose and sweet
chubby cheeks.
He was a healthy 5 lbs., 13 oz and 18.5 inches
long. We held him close and we cried for our sweet
boy. The realization hit that we would never get to
see him grow into a toddler, boy or a man. Every
first holiday without him that year felt so empty.
In 2011, my OB manager and I launched The
Share Program at Daviess Community Hospital to
assist other families in the grieving process after a
pregnancy or infant loss. I really feel this is where our
true healing began, although nothing helps more than
the passing of time. It has been six years since we
said hello and goodbye to our sweet Silas Rigby. He
is always with us in our heart and minds. It has taken
time, but we have found HOPE in life once again. We
see it every day in the smiles of our kids or in their quiet
breathing as they sleep, and we are thankful.
Sarah Morrison
Joshua and Sarah Morrison with

their children. The Morrisons are
this years ambassador family for
the March of Dimes.

p52-53MarchOfDimes.indd 2
3/4/15 11:58 AM
HOW TO PLANT YOUR

GARDEN FROM SCRATCH
Courtesy of StatePoint
lanting a garden from scratch

can sound like a daunting task,
especially for those who are new to
the hobby. But with the right knowledge,
you can plan a successful, fruitful green
space and expect to have a great harvest.
One way to get a head start on your
garden is to start your seedlings indoors
and then transplant them later into an
outdoor garden. This time-tested technique can save you hundreds of dollars
annually, as young plants at a nursery can
be pricey. Here are some tips and tricks
to make the most of this method:
Dont start your indoor plants too
soon. They can grow in about four
weeks or less if you use a high-quality garden starter. Check seed packages to learn when to plant outdoors
in your area, and then start them
indoors one month earlier to your
transplanting date outdoors.
Consider using a seed-starting system that takes some of the gardening
guesswork out of the equation. For
example, the Aerogarden Seed Starting
system allows you to start up to 66
seedlings indoors with no dirt or mess,
nurturing seeds with optimal amounts
of water and nutrients for reliable
germination and healthy growth.
Add new nutrients to the seedlings
every two weeks and keep the water
at full level. Feeding your plants more

than the recommended amount will
not make them grow faster. In fact, it
could hurt the plants.
Before transplanting, seedlings need
to be hardened off. Skipping this
step will almost certainly result in
some or all of your plants dying.
Hardening off seedlings eases their
transition to the outdoors, where
they will be exposed to the elements.
The process involves gradually
exposing plants to the outdoors,
protecting them from full sunlight,
temperature variations and wind.
Dont let sprouts get too big before
transplanting them outdoors. Ideally
they should be about 4-6 inches tall.
If possible, wait to plant your seedlings on a cool, cloudy day. If your
seedlings get too large before weather
will allow transplanting outdoors,
transplant them into small pots with
high quality potting soil. Keep fully
watered in a sunny space until weather permits transplanting outdoors.
After transplanting seedlings outdoors, be sure to water them daily
for the first two weeks, especially if
the weather is dry and sunny.
Save and reuse your seed starter tray
for the next season. Once the spring
plants have been transplanted outdoors, you will be free to get a head
start on your summer crop.
For true green thumb bragging rights, grow your garden from scratch. Just be
sure you know the tricks of the trade.
Photo courtesy of StatePoint

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Boomer Magazine March 2015

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