The Press-Dispatch

COMFORTING COMFORTING CHEESY POTATOES CHEESY POTATOES MEALS IN Monica's MINUTES Share your favorite recipe! www.facebook.com/mealsinminutes Monica's Meals in Minutes PO Box 68, Petersburg, IN 47567 mealsinminutes@pressdispatch.net FACEBOOK MAIL EMAIL By Monica Sinclair From the time I was a child, I have loved potatoes. We would gather around the table for dinner and half of my plate would be mashed potatoes. Not only are they deli- cious and easy to make, but you can pair them with al- most anything. This week, I found a fantastic recipe for cheesy potatoes that will go perfectly with your main dish, or just make it your meal. You could even add in ham, bacon or hamburger to make it a one-dish meal. Enjoy! INGREDIENTS • 1 can (10 -3/4 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted • 1 cup sour cream • 1 small onion, fi nely chopped • 1/4 cup butter, melted • 3/4 teaspoon salt • 1/4 teaspoon pepper • 1 package (32 ounces) frozen cubed hash brown po- tatoes, thawed • 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided DIRECTIONS 1. In a 4-qt. slow cooker, combine the fi rst 6 ingredients. 2. Stir in hash browns and 1-1/2 cups cheese. 3. Cook, covered, on low until potatoes are tender, 4-5 hours, sprinkling with remaining cheese during the last 5 minutes. Source: tasteof home.com REAL ESTATE TRANSFERS Logan C. Wineinger and Stephanie N. Wineinger quitclaim to Calvin B. Wineinger and Christy J. Wineinger, real estate as re- corded in Pike County. Pike County Auditor and Billy Beach con- vey to Halifax Financial Group, LP, real es- tate as recorded in Pike County. Pike County Auditor and Orgle E. Myers convey to Halifax Financial Group, LP, real estate as recorded in Pike County. Pike County Auditor and William Eugene Shoaf convey to Halifax Financial Group, LP, real estate as recorded in Pike County. Pike County Auditor and Diane Bernardi convey to Halifax Financial Group, LP, real estate as recorded in Pike County. Brian Stone conveys to Madison Soultz and Alexander Harmon, real estate as recorded in Pike County. Steve Etherton and Heather Etherton con- vey to Lyle C. Nolcox, real estate as record- ed in Pike County. Pike County Sheriff, Charles G. Redmond and Michelle L. Redmond convey to First Robinson Savings Bank, NA, real estate as recorded in Pike County. Virginia A. Deen, Virginia Deen and Mi- chael W. Deen AIF convey to Dustin Michael Morton and Brookelyn Michelle Morton, re- al estate as recorded in Pike County. Timothy Steven Gray conveys to Justin Steven Gray, real estate as recorded in Pike County. Stephen Lee Nicholson and Brenda Jo Nicholson convey to Chase Brenton, real es- tate as recorded in Pike County. Tom Culbertson conveys to Stella-Jones Corporation, real estate as recorded in Pike County. Quail Ridge Land Management conveys to Daniel R. Gutzweiler and Karole L. Gutzwei- ler, real estate as recorded in Pike County. Leona Jane Gatwood Estate and Michael D. Peelman, Executor, quitclaim to Terry L. Hyndman and Linda K. Hyndman, real es- tate as recorded in Pike County. Charles L. Feistel and Eugenia A. Feistel convey to Edward L. Sollman and Nikki A. Sollman, real estate as recorded in Pike County. Rodney W. Hudson and Tammy S. Hud- son convey to Zachery J. Wickham, Shellie J. Wickham, Sarah L. Wickham and Grego- ry James Wickham, real estate as recorded in Pike County. Garrett Michael Shafer conveys to Michael C. Shafer and Brittany R. Peavler, real estate as recorded in Pike County. Troy Lyn Sullivan conveys to Rickey Lee King and Stephanie Jo King, real estate as recorded in Pike County. S. Wayne Hall and Ellyn Marie Hall con- veys to Kacy L. Tharp, real estate as record- ed in Pike County. M and L Properties, LLC conveys to Hai- ley R. Lubbehusen and Brady Like, real es- tate as recorded in Pike County. Give students some grace By Laura Keys Youth First, Inc. Well, here we are – still in the midst of a pandemic, mostly back in school, most- ly back at work, but not quite back to normal. Most Hoosier children returned to school by La- bor Day. Some schools have had to close intermittent- ly because of staff and stu- dents testing positive for COVID-19, but all of them are trying very hard to stay open. It's no question that stu- dents benefi t from in-per- son learning. Schools also recognize that some stu- dents do not have the sup- port and consistency in food, nurturing, and shelter at home. Youth First partners with over 90 schools across the state of Indiana, and ed- ucators are focusing on two things right now: 1) making the most of the days school buildings are open, and 2) engaging with and check- ing on the students who ar- en't showing up. Educators are teaching at a rapid pace, and the worry over potential school build- ing closures is taking its toll on teachers, students, and parents. It's also affect- ing student achievement. School personnel know on- ly too well about the "sum- mer slide," that time when students are out for a cou- ple months and not being challenged with the rigor of steady schoolwork. Well, the pandemic has es- sentially doubled the "sum- mer slide." From March to August 2020, there was not a structured rigor of academ- ics that kept our students fresh and ready to learn. I've heard from countless parents and teachers that students who were making A's and B's are now making C's and sometimes D's. Most students did not return to school ready to learn. One may assume I'm mentioning this decline to recommend applying ex- tra pressure on students in order to meet the academ- ic standards that were lost over the past few months. Shouldn't we push them to do just a little more so that they don't continue to lose language arts and math skills? No, quite the opposite! At the beginning of the school closures in March, we stressed that parents should give themselves some grace while trying to juggle at- home learning along with many other stressors. We need to extend the same grace to students right now. The toll that this pandem- ic has taken on children's mental health has been well-documented. Separa- tion from friends and fami- ly, disruption in routine, and the fact that there is no clear end in sight all impact the mental wellness of students. Those pressures, com- bined with the doubled "summer slide," should give us a pretty clear indication of why students may be be- hind. Take it from a moth- er and a mental health pro- fessional, your kids will catch up. Students will gain ground once the ground be- neath them is steadier. Although schoolwork is important, it is not the most important thing. Caring, nurturing environments for kids are the most important thing right now. In my opin- ion, children need to be al- lowed to skip some beats on schoolwork and teach- ers need to be allowed to let them. We really need to take care of everyone right now, not put more pressure on them. Kids are resilient and ca- pable, and as long as they feel loved at the end of the day, especially with some ex- tra grace sprinkled in, they will turn out just fi ne. This column is written by Laura Keys, LCSW, Vice Pres- ident of Social Work & Pro- grams for Youth First, Inc., a local nonprofi t dedicated to strengthening youth and fam- ilies. Youth First provides 64 Master's level social workers to 90 schools in 11 Indiana counties. Over 60,000 youth and families per year have ac- cess to Youth First's school so- cial work and community pro- grams that prevent substance abuse, promote healthy behav- iors, and maximize student success. Hi stars and welcome to the big stage all lit up in bright au- tumn lights and dec- orated to help cel- ebrate with all our stars who will have a birthday or anni- versary in the week of November 12-18. Come up onto this stage and take a bow. November 12-Brandi Book- er turns 35; Heather Booker Smith turns 35; Dilland Joe Gallant turns 32; Candace Downey turns 48. November 13-Dani Hall turns 23; Hayle Roach turns 17; Brian Nelson turns 36; Ja- son Houchins turns 32; Steve and Brooke Schriefer cele- brate 16 years. November 14-Stella Kayte Lamey turns 3. November 15 -Karley Mills turns 27; Alexis Nicole Gay- hart turns 9; Robert Shane McDonald turns 38. November 16 -Madeline Messmer Montee; DeWayne Spaw turns 53. November 17-Keanon Hart- ley turns 18; Brooklyn Storm McLaughlin turns 12; Dalton Miller turns 25. November 18 -Sophie Car- nahan turns 17; Peggy Hin- kle turns 73; Tammy Moss; Ron Bacon turns 74. May all our stars have a re- ally great day and may all your wishes come true. Keep in your heart and in your prayers all our stars who have COVID-19, those with colds and allergies, those go- ing through surgery and re- covering; and those who suf- fer with the aches and pains of everyday life. Another lovely person, Juanita Franklin, 97, passed away on October 21. I med Juanita at the General Bap- tist Church and again talked with her where she lived in the Goosehill part of Winslow, across the street from where Norm took down his fi rst cab- in. Juanita had a lovely smile and was friendly to everyone. She will be missed by those who knew her in the Town of Winslow, so remember the great times and share your memories, and more memo- ries will be add- ed. EVENTS November 11-Veterans Day. Novem- ber 12-Peters- burg Lions Club meets at 6 p.m. November 16 -Winslow Fire Dept. training at 6:30 p.m. at the station house. November 19 -Winslow Parks Board meets at 7 p.m. at the Community Center. November 26 -Thanksgiving Day with family and friends. Winslow and Petersburg se- niors will not meet again un- til Governor Holcomb gives the okay. Sweets Column, Winslow, IN 47598 received no post- cards this week. The Winslow Patoka Riv- er is full to the rim from the rain we got at the end of Oc- tober. I though the winds we had would have taken all the colors out of the viewing sec- tions, but there are still fall colors to see and enjoy their beauty. Friday, October 30, I was taken over to stay the week- end until Tuesday with Mom because she wasn't feel- ing well enough to come to Winslow. Norm and Laura didn't stay. They went back the same day. The fi elds from all the rain had ponds of wa- ter from the Patoka River. The Wabash River still had the sandbar and the Little Wa- bash River fl ooded over. The trees of color were beautiful all the way and the Halloween decorations were amazing to see each one. Saturday, Halloween, was the trick-or-treat day and Mom didn't have any chil- dren come to the door. I heard Norm had one boy in Winslow who got treats. Halloween was also Mom's 94th birthday and she got a birthday card with a cake on it from the eye doc- tor, a witch on a cloud that rolls across the fl oor, a pic- ture of fl owers of all colors and a lovely saying, two pairs of winter gloves, clip-on ma- ple leaf, a pumpkin with a smi- ley face and a witch's hat, an- other card with a rose on it, green sweater, gray house shoes and blue fuzzy socks. She also had some pump- kin pie with whipped cream. Mom also saw some pictures of her Christmas cactus that bloomed for Halloween. The night sky was red, white and blue with the full moon, then turned into a beautiful red- dish orange sky on a no-jack- et wearing night. Since the time change on Nov. 1, has anyone experi- ence waking up an hour earli- er like Norm has? Maybe this will work itself out to a normal wake-up time, I hope. I am so sorry to not hand out the little treat to all our yard decorators on Halloween in the city limits of Winslow, and there were lots more this year. They all looked great for all the children and adults to enjoy. But when family needs you, like Mom, you need to be there for them. I do hope that the night of trick-or-treaters were abundant and they were as gracious to receive their treat as the years before have been. To the trick-or-treaters, I do hope you all had fun as you dressed up in your cos- tume and the treats you got. I hope all of them were what you like. Did you all have fun? Tuesday, George and Deby brought Mom and me back to Winslow. The sunshine was hot as it came through the window, even though it was a little chilly outside. How- ever, it was a nice day to trav- el. Mom will be here until No- vember 14. When Norm got off work, he took me to the Communi- ty Center gym to cast my vote like many others have done this Election Day. Norm had voted before he went to work and the line was already long outside. When I was there in the afternoon, there were a few, but more were coming in after I left. The workers there, when I asked if they were having fun, the answer was a unanimous "yes, we are." We all laughed. Vernon was there as a worker and it was his birthday. We saw some of the county stars running for some offi ce outside with their chairs and they were also hav- ing fun. Have you ever started to go somewhere and then you couldn't go for some reason or another? Our nephew got to Hawaii, then transferred to another fl ight to another coun- try, but was told that no fl ights were going there because of some disaster that had hit there, so his plans were put on hold. George and Deby were going to pick him up at the St. Louis McDonald Douglas air- port, but he did see some of Hawaii. Thursday, November 5 was our Winslow Lions Thanks- giving Meal meeting with turkey and all the fi xin's from lots of great cooks. All of the food was so delicious that a nap was heard from many Li- ons. Instead, we had our meet- ing where Paula Taylor was pinned as she was sworn in as our newest Lions. Her sponsor was Lion Linda. Not all of our Lions could make this meal, but we were glad to see Lion Henry, who was feeling a lot better. We also had decided to hold our Dec. 3 meal meeting, a Christmas meal, with more delicious food from our great cooks. While over at Mom's, I was listening to the news and heard where Superman was getting a new coat of paint that he needs and he is also wear- ing his mask in the city of Me- tropolis, Ill. Since the weather has brought out more colors on the trees, and if you are look- ing for something to do, hop into your vehicle and tour around your area, and see the wonderful colors of fall before they all fall to the ground. As the lights begin to dim this week, I hope you all keep an eye on family and friends, even if it's just to listen. Slow down and see all the beauty and deer in your area. Stop for school buses. As always, smile, wave and say "hi" to everyone you see this week. The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, November 11, 2020 B-11 HOME LIFE TO ADVERTISE: Call: 812-354-8500 Email: ads@pressdispatch.net Visit: 820 E. Poplar Street, Petersburg Deadline: 5 p.m. on Monday To enter the Birthday Club, email your name, ad- dress, phone number and birthdate to birthdayclub@ pressdispatch.net. Only the person's name, town and birth- day will appear in the paper. As an added bonus, one lucky person each month will re- ceive a free three month Press-Dispatch subscription. This month's birthdays have a chance to win a $25 gift certifi - cate from Huntingburg Merchants Association. THIS WEEK'S BIRTHDAYS Kevin Myers .............................. Petersburg ......... 11/11 Becky A. Shoultz ....................... Petersburg ......... 11/13 Marvin Vaughn ........................ Oakland City ....... 11/16 THIS MONTH'S SPONSOR facebook.com/huntingburgmerchantassociation Sweet's Column By Barbara Sweet

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