Martin Libhart

You should have received an email several days ago asking for your input regarding a 70th Birthday Party in Newton sometime next year. We look forward to your response regarding the options presented.

Connie Hale (Rhodes)

From Rhodes Cafe

There have been several classmates contact me about Saturday. I'm sorry for not replying back to you, My new cell phone is just not cooperating. Anyway, at this time side dishes and desserts spoken for are....

June/brownies, Bob H/5-bean casserole, Jim/Chips, Barb Smith/Blueberry Muffins,

Others coming feel free to bring a side-dish/dessert or just come as you are.

John might appreciate some help at the grill: (brats, hamburgers, hotdogs, and chicken breast) Also, the house might be chilly and opened up to the screened porch... so dress weather accordingly. We look forward to seeing you Saturday. JD and Connie

Prudy and those driving distance.. safe travel, see you then.

Terry Bernowich (Schmitz)

Has anybody else besides me and Becky Davis received and email from Lee Buller? The subject line says

How are you? Please I need you to do me a favor. Thanks, Lee

I didn't open my message but Becky did and it is requesting to have you purchase gift cards for someone suffering from cancer. I can't remember everything Becky told me when she called me. I just now was checking my email. I received my message at 7:24 am today, 10-9-19.

Leroy Buller

I was hacked this week.  Please disregard email that ask for money.  I was hacked. 

Lee

Connie Hale (Rhodes)

All is looking good for Saturday's cookout... see you then.

Terry, I did open the email with Lee's need help and I did return answer back. Thought maybe it was something to do with this Saturday. Anyway, Lee said he would be at the Breadbaske at 9:00 just incase someone shows up there. Thank you  Lee.

Connie

Terry Bernowich (Schmitz)

Thank you Connie! Can't wait until tomorrow! Thank you so much for hosting all of us!

Connie Hale (Rhodes)

One of life’s little pleasure’s is taking the opportunity to enjoy good food with friends and the freedom to just laugh together.  JD and I had a great time hosting our Saturday lunch cookout. We want to thank everyone for helping setup and putting away chairs and food etc.. Thankyou goes to John Nikodemus for bringing two space heaters that keep the chill off. June and Kemmie for coming over Friday night to help finalize. Also, I want to thank someone for leaving me their cozy red-checked hoody. It will be just perfect for bus driving on those chilly days… or was it left by misstate? LOL!  Blessings to you all. JD and Connie

Martin Libhart

You previously received an email asking for your input regarding a "70th Birthday Party" in Newton sometime next year. We have received a few responses, but would like many more in order to make a decision regarding the event.

- Are you in favor of a 70th Birthday gathering?

- If so, what time of year, i.e. Spring, Summer, Fall?

- A Friday evening and Saturday afternoon/evening, Saturday only, or.........

- any other thoughts or comments you would like to add.

NOTE:  do not reply on this website - send your response directly to me at:  

                          libhart@cox.net

Thanks all! We look forward to hearing from you!

Martin Libhart

The "Reunion Team" met earlier this week. We spent time discussing the 70th Birthday Party idea, and ultimately agreed that we will not plan to have one in 2020. There were a number of reasons for the decision, but the key ones were:

1.) limited interest after repeated requests for input on this website, and as also sent by email to the 128 classmates for whom we have contact info;

2.) increasing costs for venue, catered food, entertainment, etc. With limited attendance, the cost per person was probably going to be considerably more than our 50th Reunion;

3.) the wide range of ideas on format, number of days, entertainment, etc. expressed by the classmates who did actually respond to my emails regarding the possibility of having a birthday gathering. There really was no "consensus" on the options discussed;

4.) limited local “manpower” to do all the work and make it happen.

If anyone is planning to be in Newton during the coming year, please do let us know. There would surely be some "local classmates" anxious to meet you for breakfast or lunch.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you all.

Roger Morton

Terry Bernowich (Schmitz)

Thank you Martin and all the others who worked on this. I appreciate all your efforts. It is a lot of work that goes on to plan our reunions and birthday partys.

Terry Bernowich (Schmitz)

I had a real good and fun visit with Bill Seeney today. He was in our class but didn't graduate with us. I told him about our class breakfasts and suggested he come to one of them. He lives in Bel Aire and happened to be in Newton today.

Leroy Buller

Attention all sleepy heads....

January 11, 2020 Breakfast will be at the Breadbasket but at a new time.  10 a.m.  So, the excuse that the time is too early is not longer valid  See you there.

Lee

Vickie Yotter (Moore)

Greetings Everyone:

Just thought I'd drop a line to you to tell you we have moved from Louisville, Kentucky to Tellico Village, Tennessee. We live in a 55 and over community consisting of over 5,000 situated along Tellico Lake in Eastern Tennessee. Our address is 115 Nunnehi Trail, Vonore, Tn in the Kahite Community. We decided it was time to downsize and try something different. My husband's brother lives about 1/2 mile away so now we have some family near us. The move and getting reestablished was a nightmare but we are adjusting and pretty soon it will all be memory. We gave away or sold half of our house and barn contents and there are times now that we ask ourselves "Why did we get rid of that?". I have access to three golf courses along the lake and all the recreational and club activities anyone could imagine. Now, I just have to get myself out of the house and out there to take advantage of them. Time is marching on and I figure we don't have that much time left so why not do all those things we want to do on our "bucket list". I got so tired of upkeep on 7 acres with tons of trees and so much yardwork that now I live on a postage stamp lot along a golf course. I wish you all well and hope your dreams have come true, as mine have, and you live many, many more years to enjoy them. Bye for now.   

Brenda Drake (Anderson)

You are going to love it.  Changes are hard, but they are a part of life we have to accept. I am sure you and your husband will make lots of friends and it will feel like home again.

Connie Hale (Rhodes)

Vickie,

I totally understand the downsizing thing… it can be a stressful thing to go through. But sometimes it's really about ones inner-attitude towards making such a life changing adjustment. You are blessed with a posive one. What you shared is a good remindeer to us all that it might be better to start doing instead of thinking about it.

I’m just thankful to get out of bed and walk upright to the bathroom still holding my bladder. LOL! Anyway, I thank you for sharring your remarkable downsizing exerience.. May I be so brave as I continue downsizing 'stuff' around the house and property.. I know I can't take it with me and I sure don't want to leave my 'stuff' behind for John to deal with.

Sending you a huge “CONGRATULATIONS’ for your bravery to successfully challenge a life changing move that will enhance and enrich your lives to the better.

Hugs from Newton

Connie 

Peter Preheim (Preheim)

Y’all,

I have sad information to pass on to the class members.

Last Saturday, February 1st, our classmate Nathan Stucky and his wife Suzanne Daughton were on an airline flight from Cancun to St. Louis.  Enroute, Suzanne’s heart stopped.  Medical professionals who were passengers administered CPR.  The flight was diverted to New Orleans.  Once back on land, Suzanne was transported to a local hospital where she died.

Please join me in sending Nathan condolences in his loss of his wife Suzanne.

Peter Preheim 

Terry Bernowich (Schmitz)

Thank you Pete for sharing information about Nathan Stucky and his wife. I will keep Nathan and his family in my prayers.
 

Terry Bernowich (Schmitz)

Hi Vickie! Thanks for sharing about your downsizing. I noticed you had a profile update with the city you live in. I figured you moved and I am so glad you filled us in on the details. It is so hard to go through belongings and downsize. So glad you did it now instead of later. Sure do miss you. I always have a good time with you when you are here for our reunions and parties. You are always such a big help! Keep us posted on how things are going in your new home. Sounds like you will be able to stay busy which is so important.

Terry Bernowich (Schmitz)

Hi Barbara! I can't wait until you move back to town! You are one of the reasons I always try to attend the reunions. It will be so nice to see you at our monthly breakfasts! Let me know if there is anything I can help you with on this end.

Erle Miller

Connie Hale (Rhodes)

Hello out there…. it’s been awhile since I’ve checked in.

Sending you all BELATED Birthday Wishes for a good year.

With care facility lock downs, my 97+ year-young mom gets a little confused now and then, and.I’m so thankful knowing that she’s being well taken of. However, yesterday I got a call from the front desk saying that mom dragged (while in her wheelchair) trash-bags filled with her clothing, a floor lamp, and box of bingo winner knickknacks. She told them she won’t need them anymore and to just get rid of it!  Whew! If this continues all that will be left in her room is the bed. She’s still full of spunk and vinegar. I’m am blessed.

Connie 

PS> the staff snuck all her things back into her room when she was out doing activities. LOL!

Maureen Koehn (Fast)

Connie,

I enjoyed reading the anecdote about your mom because we will probably be doing the same thing.  You have experienced great loss and grief, but have chosen to lift our spirits.  Thank you for that.

Easter blessings to you,

Reenie Koehn Fast

Martin Libhart

I hope this message finds you “healthy” and safe during this difficult time in our world. As I look back I recall as a youngster getting our polio vaccinations (later replaced by vaccine on a sugar cube). Our parents worried about the threat of Smallpox, Red Measles and the Asian Flu when we were very young. In later years I recall standing in line to get my Swine Flu shot. Then there was SARS, H1N1,....... and now COVID-19. 

Little did we know - when the decision was made a few months ago to not have a Class 70th birthday get-together this year - that we would be in this current situation. I feel better now about that decision.

I’ll end with this........ please be safe, take care of yourself, and call, email or text friends to see how they are doing. As Tom Collier, our classmate and friend used to always say, “be well”.

Martin

Barbara Gabel (Gabel)

I was extremely disappointed when the 70th Birthday Party was canceled. I probably would be sitting in Federal Prison right now due to fighting with the airport security in trying to make my flights or for sneezing on the airplane due to seasonal allergies. So I'm thankful you kept me out of prison and saved my life when you made the sad decision. I'm very thankful! Maybe we can have a 71st BDay party to celebrate the end of this chaos and life as we fondly remember it. Looking forward to joining in on all the fun by the end of this summer.