By: Kamryn Poe

This year, New Haven hired Mrs. Gretal Ehrhard for our high school secretary position. Recently, she put in her notice that she will be leaving our school for her husband’s work. She has been a huge help to our school and she will truly be missed around the halls.

Although Mrs. Ehrhard is our secretary, she has made many students feel more comfortable and she creates a fun, easy-going environment for everyone. It will be hard to find someone else with a caring personality like hers.
    
"[Mrs. Gretal] You have done a wonderful job this year keeping everything organized! Also you are really easy to talk to, which not a lot of faculty are,” Lauren Hoerstkamp commented.

Students here at NHHS would like to send Mrs. Ehrhard off with our final goodbyes.

“I want [Mrs. Gretal] to know that she truly brightens many students’ days every day with her amazing personality,” Addison Tolar voiced.
    
Lauren Hoerstkamp exclaimed, “[Mrs. Gretal] You will be missed!  I will for sure miss talking to you before and after I go to A+, and of course, not seeing you and Anna at church every Sunday.  I will for sure come visit!”

“She has made me realize that I shouldn't sweat the small stuff,” Julia Unnerstall stated. “...she is the best secretary ever!”

“Mrs. Gretal did a wonderful job while she was here,” Olivia Williams added. “When Mrs. Borcherding left, she left some pretty big shoes to fill. Mrs. Borcherding had been doing this job for so long, the tasks she did looked easy. After she left, we quickly figured out this was no easy job. Mrs. Gretal took on the challenge and did great! She learned how to do everything! She always greeted students with a smile! New Haven High will miss her and I wish her the best of luck!”

“[Mrs. Gretal] you are so awesome and I would have never thought I would have to say goodbye. I am going to miss you and you can always come and visit,” Lydia Otten added.

Miranda Durbin added her thoughts, “Mrs. Gretal, I will always miss the smiling and joking first thing in the morning as I am signing out to go to teacher aide. Although I won't see you before you leave, since I changed my schedule, I am glad that New Haven was able to be touched by your kindness before you had other adventures to pursue in life. Thank you for your time here at New Haven, and know that you are and were appreciated while you were here.”
    
Thank you for all that you have done for us, Mrs. Ehrhard. We wish you the best in Chicago and we hope you know that you will be missed.

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The New Haven School District is looking for someone to accompany students at concerts and district music festivals.

Primary Location:  High School
Salary:  $11.oo/Per Hour, Part-Time
To apply for this position, visit the New Haven School District Website @ www. newhavenschools.org

New Haven Middle School has announced Ella Kuhlmann as Student of the Month.  Ella is the daughter of Robert Kuhlmann and Elizabeth Jackson. Ella enjoys playing soccer and reading.  After her time at New Haven Schools, Ella wants to attend college and become a Zoologist.

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Front row (left-right): Rachel Otten, Lexi Yochim, Payton Hecktor, Shelby Tallent
Back row (left-right): Coach Dan Long, Bailey Fleer, Alayna Lagemann, Katie Holtmeyer, Morgan Guehne, Sophia Long, Coach Amy Hecktor

The popular annual Maple Sugar Festival is expanding to embrace many more aspects of winter.
WILDWOOD, Mo.-- The dead of winter is anything but dead. Just because the temperatures drop, doesn’t mean it’s time to stay inside. Anyone willing to put on an extra layer and venture out can experience nature in a whole new way. Leaf-free trees offer breathtaking vistas hidden other times, trails and natural areas are decorated with snow and ice, local fishing spots have just as many fish and fewer anglers, bird feeders explode to life with cardinals, juncos and woodpeckers, and sap flows through sugar maple trees that can tapped into sweet treats.
To celebrate everything wintertime offers, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is holding the Winter in the Woods Festival, Featuring Maple Sugar, Saturday, Feb. 2 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Rockwoods Reservation in Wildwood.
Known for years as the annual Maple Sugar Festival, the popular event is now expanding to embrace other aspects of the season.
In addition to maple sugaring, MDC and other local partnering organizations will help uncover many different outdoor activities winter offers at this free event. St. Louis Audubon will make sure winter birds are well-represented, and binoculars will be on loan for examining Rockwoods’ feathered residents. The Missouri Nature and Environmental Photographers will have inspiration for great winter photo opportunities. The Endangered Wolf Center joins the festival to teach visitors some unique strategies canines use to survive challenging winter conditions. MDC educational displays will show how other animals cope with cold weather.
Everything that made the original Maple Sugar Festival popular is still there. Visitors will see firsthand how Native Americans and early settlers harvested sap—and boiled it down over an open fire to create sugar and syrup. Living history staff from the Historic Daniel Boone Home will show how maple sugaring was important to the Boone family. Guided hikes will teach visitors how to identify and tap sugar maple trees. Tasting sugar on snow, a toffee-like treat created when warm maple sap mixes with the cold snow, is popular with attendees of all ages. There will also be fun crafts for the kids.
Other activities will include fly tying and casting demos, courtesy of the Fly Fishers at the Crossing, winter camping ideas from the Alpine Shop, GPS challenges by the St. Louis Area Geocachers, food trucks, and more. It’s a day the whole family will enjoy. This is a rain or shine event, so visitors should dress for the weather.
The entire event is free, and no reservations are required. The festival will offer off-site parking exclusively with free shuttle service to and from the event. Parking locations will be located at Pond Elementary, 17200 Manchester Road, and the St. Louis Community College Wildwood Campus, 2645 Generations Drive. Onsite parking will be reserved only for those with disabilities.
MDC’s Rockwoods Reservation is located off Highway 109 in Wildwood. For additional information on the festival, call 636-458-2236.  

New Haven area residents are invited to bring recyclables to the recycling bins at New Haven High School.  All hard plastics, metals, glass, and paper/cardboard are eligible for this single stream recycling program.  Please use the bins before 8am or after 3pm.  Styrofoam is a non-recyclable product, please do not put any in the bins.  Plastic bags are not recyclable through this program because they gum up the sorting machines.  Recycle your plastic bags at Schnuck's, Wal-Mart, and Kohl's.  

​Putting things off is something we all do – getting your oil changed in your car, cleaning out the refrigerator or even going to the doctor for an annual checkup. For Bobby Hinson, it was getting his high school diploma.
 
“I’m an eighth-grade dropout,” Hinson admitted.
 
The father of four works for the Missouri Department of Transportation as a maintenance worker.
 
“On any given day I’m mowing, fixing pot holes, putting up street signs or plowing snow,” Hinson explained.
 
While Hinson enjoys his job, he wanted more. “I want to become a superintendent at some point,” he said. “They supervise all the work sites. They decide what priority is and how the process should be done.”
 
Unfortunately, he knew any promotion was out of reach without more education. That’s when he decided to get his High School Equivalency (HSE) through the East Central College Adult Education and Literacy Program (AEL).  It provides free classes to improve a students’ skills in math, reading, writing, social studies and science in order to pass the High School Equivalency Test.
 
“I didn’t want my younger kids growing up thinking it’s okay to give up,” he explained. “I decided it was time to do something about it.”
 
He admits he was scared to start the process, but the AEL staff soon put him at ease. Hinson says he tried to get his GED back in the late 90’s, but he didn’t have much success.
 
“The program wasn’t focused on the teacher-student relationship,” he explained. “They handed you a book and you were on your own.”
 
Through the AEL Program, Hinson worked one-on-one with instructors and volunteers, receiving custom instruction and constant guidance. “It was a good surprise,” he said. “It’s not what I was expecting.”
 
During the process, he also received continuous support from his employer. It helped him stay on track.
 
“There were a few times [MoDOT] would have something come up at the end of the day,” Hinson said. “I would volunteer to help, but they wouldn’t let me. They didn’t want me to miss class.”
 
Hinson was a model student. It didn’t take long for him to make it to the finish line.
 
“The amount of time and effort put into the program and the starting skill levels determine when an individual is ready to take the final test,” said Alice Whalen, Director of AEL. “Despite the number of years he had been out of school, Bobby was determined. He put in the effort and dedicated himself to achieving his goal.”
 
Hinson passed the final test with flying colors.
 
“The night after taking the last test, my wife had balloons and a cake waiting for me when I got home. We went out to dinner to celebrate,” he said. “My kids were ecstatic about it!”
 
He had even more to celebrate when he went back to work - he received a promotion! While he says he’s proud of his accomplishments so far, he knows there is more to cme.
 
“I don’t want to stop with just my HSE,” he said. “I want to keep pushing forward. I want to get a college degree.”
 
The AEL Program is free to everyone and offers several class locations with morning and evening sessions. To learn more about obtaining your High School Equivalency, email ael@eastcentral.edu or call 636-584-6533.
 
Students who have earned a high school equivalency diploma (HiSET) through the AEL program at East Central College are eligible to receive a tuition waiver for a three (3) hour college credit class at East Central College. In order for a student to qualify for the incentive, a student must have completed the HiSET program and/or exam with East Central College within twelve (12) months prior to enrollment and it must be his or her first time attending any college.
 

Saturday January 5: ​The 6th grade boys won consolation in the New Haven tournament.  ​Pictured from left: Coach Michael See, Dylan See, Ryan Westermeyer, Reid Lueckenhoff, Logan Burkett, Michael McFerrin, Dane Oelrichs, Coach Brian Lueckenhoff

Front row: from left to right: 
Manager Tenley Scheer, Tori Stringer, Grace Inman, Alex Fortner, Kaedynce Strong, Rihanna Bates
Back row: Claire Hellmann, Megan Hoerstkamp, Coach Tim Scheer, Tatum Scheer, Madison Steelman, Chesni Jones, Coach Molly Munsinger
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The New Haven 4th Grade Girls Basketball team played in the Spring Bluff Basketball Tournament on January 4th and 5th.  Five teams (Immaculate Conception, Hermann, Spring Bluff, Bourbon and New Haven) were in the 4th grade bracket.  New Haven played Spring Bluff in the Championship game and it was a very exciting game with New Haven winning by a score of 17 to 14, taking home 1st Place in only their second tournament of the season.  Spring Bluff finished in 2nd place and Hermann with 3rd place. 

​Front Row left to right;  Chloe Skirvin, Avery Langenberg and Chloe Overschmidt
Back Row left to right;  Alessia Michiosy, Addison Pehle, Taylor Scheer and Madyson Yates
Not pictured; Coaches Tracy Langenberg and Terri Scheer

New Haven High School has named Kamryn Poe as their student of the Month.  Kamryn is the daughter of David and Teresa Poe.  At NHHS, she is involved with FBLA, FCCLA, StuCo, NHS, track manager, basketball manager and plays on the varsity softball team.  When she is not at school, Kamryn enjoys hanging out with her siblings.  Her favorite thing to do is family game night.  She also likes to hang out with friends and go to the movies.  After high school, Kamryn plans to attend Missouri State University and earn a degree in Business.

​On 1-3-19 warrants were issued for the following; 29 year old Kyle Floyd from Lonedell for Burglary 2nd, 2 counts of 1st degree Property Damage and Felony Resisting Arrest bond was set at $25,000. 26 year old Dakota Hopper from Lonedell for Burglary 2nd, 2 counts of 1st degree Property Damage and Felony Resisting Arrest bond was set at $35,000. This case is still under investigation awaiting reports from Washington County regarding the stolen truck. The third person is still actively being sought.
 
Steve Pelton
Franklin County Sheriff

Esther C. Walkenhorst, nee Nething, of New Haven was called to her eternal home on January 1, 2019 at the New Haven Care Center.  Esther attained the age of 90 years.
She was born on September 22, 1928, in New Haven, the daughter of Regina (Ohse) & Gottlieb Nething.  She was baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Port Hudson.  She received her education at Liberty School.  
She was united in marriage to Oscar H. Walkenhorst on April 24, 1976 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Washington.  They made their home at rural New Haven.   
Esther, prior to her marriage, was employed for most of her working career at Wonder Maid Garment Factor in Washington.  She cared for both of her parents into their advanced years.  After her marriage she was a homemaker.  She was a wonderful seamstress, sewing her own cloths and that of her mother as well.  She pieced and quilted many beautiful quilts.  She also sewed doll cloths for some of her nieces.  Esther and her husband Oscar enjoyed traveling and were active in the Rural Mail Carriers Association.  Oscar was a rural mail carrier for 29 years on Route 2, New Haven.  Esther was active in Lutheran Women's Missionary League and served in various leadership roles in that organization.  She was a past member of Trinity Lutheran Ladies Aid Society.  She resided at the New Haven Care Center for almost 7 years.  During the past 6 months her health gradually declined.
Esther was preceded in death by her husband Oscar on September 18, 2009, by her parents, and five sisters; Stella Hoffmann, Dora Hollenberger & husband Leland, Laura Luecker & husband Elwin, Flora Reinke & husband August, and one sister in infancy.
Her survivors include; one brother-in-law, Gilbert Hoffmann, of Perryville, Missouri; nieces and nephews, Gary Walkenhorst, Gene Walkenhorst, Wanda Walkenhorst, Nancy Shockley, Bob Hoffmann, Patricia Hoffmann, Linda Hoffmann, Barbara Gilbert, Betty Altemeyer, Kenneth Ohse, and Janet Redhage, by many great nieces and nephews, and friends.
Visitation will be held Saturday, January 5th  from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, New Haven, where funeral services will follow at 11:00 a.m., with Rev. Jacob Ehrhard officiating. 
Burial will be at Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Washington, Missouri.  Memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church or New Haven Care Center.  C/O Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home.

​At approximately 3:30 a.m. on 1-2-19, a detention deputy was notified of a medical issue involving a female inmate. The detention supervisor determined that it was a drug overdose and began life saving measures where she was ultimately transported by EMS to Mercy Hospital, Washington, MO. Within an hour of the first overdose, 2 more female inmates displayed symptoms of a drug overdose.  Life saving measures were performed on one of these females to include CPR.  EMS transported both these females to Mercy Hospital, Washington, MO.  Investigators learned the three females allegedly obtain heroin from another female inmate who was being held due to an arrest from a search warrant executed by Union Police Department on 1-1-19.  Two arrests resulted from the Union PD warrant service: a 25 year old male and a 33 year old female.  They were both was being held at the Franklin County Jail pending filing of charges with the Franklin County prosecutor.  Investigators determined the female suspect smuggled illegal drugs into the detention facility by concealing them inside a body cavity. Names are withheld pending formal charges.
 
The three female inmates recovered from their overdose symptoms and have been returned to the Franklin County Detention Center where they are under staff observation.   
 
 
Steve Pelton
Franklin County Sheriff

On 12-29-18, Deputies, Detectives with the Multi-County Violent Crime and Narcotics Unit, and Washington Police conducted a search warrant in the 1000 block of Karen Lane in Washington, MO, in reference to selling/distributing narcotics. Deputies arrested a 27 year old male from St. Louis and a 29 year old female from Washington after locating suspected Heroin. During the time frame of December 26, 2018, and December 30, 2018, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office responded to 13 heroin overdoses. The high volume of recent heroin overdoses  indicates the heroin entering our community seems to be very potent and possibly laced with Fentanyl.  This investigation is on-going. If you know someone with substance addiction check their well-being frequently and keep encouraging them to embrace sobriety.  Please call the Franklin County Narcotics Office at 636-239-9700 or the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at 636-583-2560 to provide any information regarding suspected drug trafficking.
 
 
Steve Pelton
Franklin County Sheriff

Anna Mae Owens, 81, of Gerald, MO, passed away Saturday, December 29, 2018 at New Haven Care Center.
Anna was born in Etlah, Missouri on March 14, 1937, a daughter of the late Henry & Agnes (Bruening)Fieselmann.
She worked for Hodges Badge Company in Washington, for Langenberg Hat Factory and as a hairdresser. 
She was the widow of Franklin D. Owens.
Anna is survived by two daughters, Sheryl Downing, of Des Moines, Iowa; and Suzette Brown, of Grant, Alabama; a sister, Rose Bollinger, of Ferguson, Missouri; four grandchildren, Shana & Joshua Brown, and Mike & Dawn Downing, and five great grandchildren, Ricky, Romeo, Keegan, Colby, and Franklin.
 Anna loved to travel.  She was a Girl Scout Leader in Berger and a manager of a girls soft ball team.
Visitation will be held Tuesday, January 1st from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home, New Haven.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at Ebenezer Stone Church, Gerald, Missouri.
Burial will be at St. John's Cemetery, Berger, Missouri.  Memorials may be given to cemetery. C/O Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home.

James "Jim" W. Willimann, 55, of Berger, Missouri, passed away Friday, December 28, 2018 at his home. 
Jim was born in Washington, Missouri on July 3, 1963, a son of Walter & Dorris (Von Behren) Willimann.
He proudly served his country in the United States Air Force.  He worked for Chrysler Automotive for many years until his retirement and was a member of the UAW.  He was currently working part time for Crown Suites Hotel in Hermann. 
Jim is survived by his parents, Walter & Dorris Willimann, of Berger; a daughter, Jamie Willimann, of Berger; a son, Christopher "C.J." Willimann, of Truxton, Missouri; a granddaughter, Alana Grace Willimann, of Berger; two sisters, Theresa Menke & husband Wendall, of New Haven, Missouri; and Vicki Gardner, of Berger; by two nieces, Tiffany Femmer, of Berger; and Tonya Whitman, of Dutzow, Missouri; a nephew, Ryan Hurd & wife Nicole, of Shreveport, Louisiana, his girlfriend, Marlene Opps, of Rolla, Missouri, and  many aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Jim was a family man.  He loved spending time with his daughter, granddaughter, and other family.  He enjoyed being in the outdoors, whether it was hunting, fishing, or doing yard work.  He also loved his animals, his dogs and cats.
 
Visitation will be held Wednesday, January 2nd from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home, New Haven, where funeral services will be held Thursday at 10:00 a.m., with Pastor David Poe officiating.
Burial will be at New Haven Cemetery.  Memorials may be given to families choice.  C/O Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home.