The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1083834
The Press-Dispatch Sports Wednesday, Februar y 20, 2019 B- 5 1969 Continued from page 1 out as he was leading the scoring for us with 31 points. That is when the two Steves, Meadors and Barrett, took over the scoring duties. Between the two of them, they racked up 15 points to seal the championship. Security at Hatchet House had ropes all around the court. This did not last as the ropes came down and was covered entirely by Mill- er Nation. What an exciting time in our lives. I can see the team taking their turns, along with the cheerleaders, cutting down the nets. I can still see the cars bumper to bumper that night driving back to Otwell. We arrived back to an open gym, a bon fire and free dogs provided by Elmer Buchta at his office head- quarters. We celebrated into the night. We continued the next afternoon with anoth- er victory rally in the gym. Then on Monday morning, another pep session and school dismissed for the rest of the day. What a memora- ble week in our small town. However, our season was ended the next Saturday in the Hatchet House by the Vincennes Alices. In the single class system of basketball of those days, it took not only talent to be one of the final 64 teams vy- ing for the state title, but al- so desire, determination and self-discipline. The 1968 -69 Otwell Millers had all of these characteristics. Not only did they win their first sectional that season, but were also the Patoka Valley Conference Champs. This was impressive for a high school with an enrollment of 148. In looking back at this wonderful time, I came across a letter to the edi- tor of this paper by an OHS freshman student in 1969. She wrote that to her, OHS had been the most enjoyable part of her life. She contin- ued by stating she knew ev- eryone in the school and this was one advantage of attend- ing a small school. She con- tinued writing how this team never gave up in their sec- tional win and regional de- feat. She wrote that my dad, Andy Anderson, "has a heart of gold, fists like steel, and he's tough as nails when it comes down to brass tacks." This was so true of my dad and still is today. In 1969, I was in the fourth grade at the Otwell School. I grew up in the OHS gym, as it was a second home to my sister and I. My mom was also a big part of this team over the years. She washed uniforms and fed players, in addition to taking cheerlead- ers to games. We scouted opponents as a family, with myself learn- ing how to keep shot charts at a young age. I walk into that gym today and all of those fond memories come rushing back. I can see folks sitting in the bleachers, re- membering where every- one sat. Now, 50 years later, I am back in the fourth grade at Otwell as I am the fourth grade teacher at Otwell Mill- er Academy. I am so happy and proud to be back in the community where I grew up, helping to educate and teach young people. Each day, I try to provide these students with a sense of be- longing and a comfortable learning environment. I talk to them frequently about the past and the rich heritage of our school and community. I want them to experience the wonderful time of being in a small school as my class- mates and I did here in Ot- well. This community was, has been and will always be spe- cial to me. I talk often about the year 1969 to my students. I tell them about winning the sectional, the players, the cheerleaders, the exciting time. I tell them what a won- derful time this was. On March 2, 1969, at the victory rally in the OHS gym hung a banner. On this ban- ner were the words, "How Sweet It Is." Yes, it was sweet and 50 years later, it still is sweet. To the 1968 -69 Otwell Mill- ers, thank you for a lifetime of wonderful memories, not only for this forever young girl, but to the Otwell com- munity. You were and still are champions. Team members includ- ed Rick Weisman, Mike Vaughn, Steve Meadors, Tim Garland, Jim DeMotte, Ellis Gray, Tim Teague, Er- win Traylor (deceased), Bob Whaley, David Elkins, Steve Barrett and Neal Pauw. Team managers were Walter Hazelton and Nick Meadors (deceased). Cheerleaders included Ri- ta Whaley Weisman, Brenda Summett Rish, Larna "Pep" Dickson Young, and mascot Angie Anderson Merkley. Team coaches were How- ard "Andy" Anderson, head coach, and Richard Helton, assistant coach. Clockwise from top left: Steve Meadors drove to the bucket against Washington in 1969 Sectional action. The Millers boxed in their opponents. A strate- gy that helped them all the way to sectional glory. The team was honored after the sectional win in a rally the day after. The theme was "How sweet it is!" The Miller fans had a lot to cheer about. The team won the PVC championship with a perfect 7-0 re- cord for the first time in the school's history. They proved they could play with major schools by blow- ing out the host Hatchets in the Washington Sectional. The fans were delirious as the Millers took out Barr-Reeve and came from behind to capture their first sectional championship in the final game with North Daviess. Although they were defeated in Regional play by the Vincennes Alices, the Millers proved to all Hoosier fans they were for real all season long, with a record of 20 wins and only 4 losses, also a school record. Reserved turkey hunt permits available at hunting.IN.gov Turkey hunters can apply for a reserved turkey hunt online by visiting hunting. IN.gov through March 22. Click on the "Reserved Hunt Info" link. The online meth- od is the only way to apply. turkey No late entries will be ac- cepted. Applicants must pos- sess a valid hunting license for the species they wish to hunt. The application process is now consolidated into the online services website along with Licenses, Check- In Game, and HIP registra- tion. An Indiana Depart- ment of Natural Resourc- es online account is not re- quired to apply. Hunts without registra- tion fees will follow the same process as those with a fee. For hunts with no fee, ap- plicants still will be asked to "Add to Cart, Proceed to Checkout and Place Or- der." If the transaction total is $ 0, the applicant will not be asked to enter their cred- it card information. For draw-hunt results, there is a "click here" link on the home page, or appli- cants can log in to their on- line services account. The link from the home page will only show hunts that the applicant registered for when the date of the hunt is still upcoming. Logging in online to the applicant's ac- count is required to see the full history of the applicant's past hunt registrations from previous years. Hunters will be selected through a computerized, random drawing. Draw- ing results will be available at https://secure.IN.gov/ apps/dnr/portal/#/home. Applicants can click on the link in the Reserved Hunt Box to see the status of their hunt registrations within two weeks after application deadlines. An email will be sent to applicants when re- sults are posted. Turkey hunts open for ap- plication are: • Atterbury Fish & Wild- life Area: April 24-26; April 27-29. • Aukiki Wetland Con- servation Area: April 24-26; April 27-28; April 29 - May 1; May 2-4; May 5 -7; May 8 -10 ; May 11-12. • Big Oaks National Wild- life Refuge: April 24-26; April 27-29. • Chinook Fish & Wild- life Area: April 24-26; April 27-28. • Crosley Fish & Wild- life Area: April 24-26; April 27-28. • Deer Creek Fish & Wildlife Area: April 24-26; April 27-28. • Fairbanks Landing Fish & Wildlife Area: April 24-26; April 27-28. • Glendale Fish & Wild- life Area: April 24-26; April 27-28. • Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area: April 24-26; April 27-28. • Hillenbrand Fish & Wildlife Area: April 24-26; April 27-28. • Hovey Lake Fish & Wildlife Area: April 24-26; April 27-28. • J.E. Roush Lake Fish & Wildlife Area: April 24-26; April 27-28; April 29 - May 1; May 2-4; May 5 -7; May 8 - 10 ; May 11-12. • Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area: April 24-26; April 27-28; April 29 - May 1; May 2-4; May 5 -7; May 8 - 10 ; May 11-12. • Kingsbury Fish & Wild- life Area: April 24-26; April 27-28; April 29 - May 1; May 2-4; May 5 -7; May 8 -10 ; May 11-12. • LaSalle Fish & Wildlife Area: April 24-26; April 27- 28; April 29 - May 1; May 2- 4; May 5 -7; May 8 -10 ; May 11-12. • Mississinewa Lake: April 24-26; April 27-28; April 29 - May 1; May 2-4; May 5 -7; May 8 -10 ; May 11- 12. • Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge: April 24- 25; April 26 -27; April 28 -29. ( Youth only: April 20 -21). • Pigeon River Fish & Wildlife Area: April 24-26; April 27-28; April 29 - May 1; May 2-4; May 5 -7; May 8 - 10 ; May 11-12. • Salamonie Lake: April 24-26; April 27-29; April 30 - May 2; May 3-5; May 6 -8; May 9 -12. • Sugar Ridge Fish & Wildlife Area: April 24-26; April 28 -29. • Tri-County Fish & Wild- life Area: April 24-26; April 27-28; April 29 - May 1; May 2-4; May 5 -7; May 8 -10 ; May 11-12. • Willow Slough Fish & Wildlife Area: April 24-26; April 27-28; April 29 - May 1; May 2-4; May 5 -7; May 8 - 10 ; May 11-12. • Winamac Fish & Wild- life Area: April 24-26; April 27-28; April 29 - May 1; May 2-4; May 5 -7; May 8 -10 ; May 11-12. Only one application is al- lowed per license holder. No changes can be made once the application is submitted. More information is avail- able at dnr.IN.gov/fish- wild/5834.htm.