Emily Meerdink, Akron-Westfield student, placed fifth in the junior division, individual performance with her project entitled, “Rachel Carson: Actions Towards a Legacy of Environmental Conservation.” Emily was also the Outstanding State Award winner in the Junior Division. She was among 12 Iowa students who earned national honors at the National History Day contest at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD, June 14-19. Congratulations Emily! Also competing at National History Day from A-W were Jayde Ostermyer, Kylee Reed, and Haley Coyle in the Junior division, group performance. Watch for more information on National History Day in a future issue of The Akron Hometowner.

A selfless act by a 1985 Akron-Westfield graduate in the Gaza Strip was recognized by both his employer, the United Nations Relief and Work Agency (UNRWA) and the United Nations Security Council. Retired U.S. Army Major Scott Anderson received a letter of commendation for his “prompt and courageous action” on Jan. 15, 2009, to prevent the combustion of fuel stored in the UNRWA Gaza compound. According to the letter, an independent Board of Inquiry found that without Anderson’s “action to move burning fragments from underneath a fuel truck, many deaths and injuries and further destruction could have been caused. The report noted that (Anderson) took this initiative at considerable personal risk and despite incoming artillery shells.” “I am truly proud of all of the United Nations staff who brave difficult and dangerous circumstances to help those in need in Gaza,” wrote UNRWA’s BAN Ki-moon. “Even within this extraordinary group, your actions stand out as going beyond the call of duty and fulfilling the highest ideals of the international civil service.” Anderson is the son of Eric and Marlys Anderson; the grandson of Maxine Anderson and the late Lesley Anderson; and the nephew of Susan Anderson; all of Akron.

By Julie Ann Madden

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series on the Greater Hoyt School property. It’s the only country school in Union County left standing, and what to do with it is the question that the Greater Hoyt School Board must decide in the next year. “Greater Hoyt owns it,” said Board President Greg Heeren at the school board’s June 16 meeting. “Nobody else gets it. It’s ours to do with as we want.” According to the Union County Registrar of Deeds Office, the first mention of the Great Hoyt School District property in county records was a March 10, 1943, warranty deed from Akron Savings Bank to W.J. Davidson of Akron. At this time, Davidson purchased the south half of Section 24 “except one acre in the northwest corner of the Southeast Quarter of said Section, used for school purposes.” An actual deed for the school property wasn’t filed until Dec. 28, 1993 when Richard K. Aalfs of Akron deeded the one-acre gift to the Greater Hoyt Independent School District No. 61-4. Now, the Greater Hoyt School Board is hoping an organization can be formed to preserve the facility. “My suggestion is to form a Greater Hoyt group,” said Heeren. “They own the property...and raise funds to try to save the building or improve the building or property, or whatever needs to be done.” “It’ll be up to the group organized to get money donated to keep the building standing,” said Board Member Lynn Johnson. “The group needs to get organized so we can turn over the property to them when the time comes,” said Heeren, who hopes that the group will not only keep the property but serve as a watchdog to keep Greater Hoyt students attending Akron-Westfield Community School after Greater Hoyt School District ends on June 30, 2010. It was noted the building needs some work, including foundation and furnace repairs and possibly a new roof in the near future. Board members voiced their concern that there have been some inquiries about the property that would lead to the destruction and removal of the building. Anyone interested in being a part of an organization dedicated to the preservation of the Greater Hoyt School building and its students is asked to call Board Member Pat Benton at (605) 565-3616. The Greater Hoyt School District’s one-room country school doesn’t look much different than it did when it was closed more than 40 years ago. Inside there are school desks, books, and a teacher’s desk as well as maps hanging and a chalkboard in tact. The Greater Hoyt School Board still holds their monthly meetings in the building except for this past winter. The building’s furnace system quit in the Spring of 2008 and meetings were held in the Dave Heeren farm office last winter. As of now, the board meetings will again be held in the school building. The next school board meeting is scheduled for 8 p.m., July 7. All are welcome to attend. “At least the property is here for those people who make some effort to save it,” said Heeren

by Hank Krause

The Le Mars Gehlen Catholic ladies came to Akron-Westfield for a showdown on Monday, June 15. The awaited showdown became a blowout as A-W scored a 10-0 win in six innings. Jordan Harris pitched a three hit shut-out. She scattered three hits through the game as she fanned four hitters. A-W scored three runs in the bottom of the first to grab the early lead. A-W then scored in the third, fourth and fifth innings to hold a 7-0 lead. A-W then pushed three in the sixth to end it for the night.Leading A-W at the plate was  Brandi Davis and Alison Kusler. Both players had two hits. However, all players had a hand in the win. At this point the A-W girls are improving every game. A-W has four seniors but some of the younger kids are really playing well.

by Hank Krause

It took the Akron-Westfield girls ten innings but they came through in a very tough game, 6-4 as South O’ Brien played host on Tuesday, June 16. A-W fell behind 3-1 in the third. In the fourth Brandi Davis, Karly Groon, and Alison Kusler all delivered timely hits to score one run. A-W then tied it up in the fourth as Melissa Kroksh and Tasha Johnson got hits to score Kroksh to make it interesting. In the ninth Groon got on by an error to later score on Kroksh’s fielder’s choice. SOS came back in their half of the ninth to score one run on a hit, a sacrifice and an error to knot it at four. SOS threatened in the tenth as they put together two hits and a base on balls. Groon threw out a Wolverine runner at second but SOS still had two runners on before Jordan Harris coaxed a fl y-out to end it 6-4. Harris gave up nine hits but struck out 12.

by Hank Krause

A-W girls nips St. Mary’s

by Hank Krause

The Remsen St. Mary’s Hawks were the visitors on Wednesday, June 17. The game was a small nail-biter but it was tense. A-W 3, St. Mary’s 0. St. Mary’s is a much improved team but A-W showed some weariness as the effects of the 10 inning battle with South O’Brien the previous evening was evident. Jordan Harris pitched a four hit shut-out but not without a couple of scary moments. Harris sat down 18 of the first 21 Hawk hitters before yielding three straight hits in the seventh to make it a little on the nervous side. Harris also struck out 11 Hawks before she tired in the seventh. Alison Kusler opened things up in the second as she singled, stole second and third before Sheridan Eastman drove her home. A-W led 1-0 until the sixth when Monica Harvey got on by an error. Harvey later scored as the Hawks committed two more errors to give A-W a 3-0 edge. St. Mary’s threatened in the seventh, bunched three kids, with one out. With an out Harvey had an unassisted double play as she snagged a line drive then tagged the base to force the runners who had strayed a little too far off the bag.