Ottumwa Courier Week 19

Iowa Thunder Ride 

Robert “Beagle” Beghtol, right, gives a sticker to a Christian Motorcyclists Association member Sunday after the group blessed his bike. The group had gathered to bless bikes before heading on a ride to Des Moines to attend Iowa Thunder, an event that was created to honor veterans of war.

Christian Motorcyclists Association members bless a bike Sunday before a group ride to Des Moines. The blessing is said with the idea to help protect the driver and any passengers from any dangers associated with the road.

     The sound of engines was in the air Sunday morning as a group of Christian Motorcyclist Association members, as well as family and friends, prepared for a group ride to Des Moines. 

    The trip was organized so the group could join with hundreds of other bikers for Iowa Thunder, an event created to honor military veterans. All the groups converged at a meeting place and paraded to the capital. There family members and friends of veterans spoke about their loved ones and the service they had provided for their country. A bell was rung for each veteran from Iowa that had been lost in the last year. 

    The event was created by a man named Rabbi 25 years ago. Twenty years before that Babbi’s grandfather was asked to honor a man he had served with overseas at the soldiers funeral and asked Rabbi to come with him. Rabbi said this experience taught him about respect and honor and inspired him to create the Iowa Thunder Ride. The event started with a focus on honoring Vietnam Veterans and has now branched out to honor veterans from all wars. 

    Jim Schaffner lead the riders from Ottumwa to Des Moines and picked up other bikers on the way. Schaffner and many of the other Christian Motorcyclist Association members have been making the ride for Iowa Thunder for may years. 

    “This ride means that our freedoms that we have in this country have been brought by the many lives that have been sacrificed and the freedoms we have to ride and to do many other things, ” Schaffner said.

Features/Sports

Michelle Rimato, right, shovels a hole to plant flowers in Friday at Horace Mann Elementary. The fifth grade students participated in the beautification day and learned about math and science in the process. The students used math by finding the parameters of the planting areas and science by learning about the plants they were using.

Junior player Papay Kruah fights for control of the ball Monday during the Ottumwa boys soccer game.

Luise Gladson poses for a portrait with her lilac bush Thursday at her home in Eldon. Gladson planted the lilac bush over 15 years ago and has tended to it ever since. “I was told to trim it down every year after it bloomed, I think thats why it’s grown so big,” Gladson said. “Over the years its become my pride and joy.” 

Ottumwa Christian School Graduation 

The Ottumwa Christian School seniors wait to enter the gym Saturday before their graduation ceremony began.

Richard Schlotter, left and Elijah Frederick joke around Saturday before their graduation ceremony began. Both Schlotter and Frederick plan to attend Indian Hills Community College to further their education. 

Monica Ruiz crosses the stage after receiving her diploma Saturday during the Ottumwa Christian School graduation. Ruiz plans to pursue a degree in nursing and join the Army to serve as a combat medic.

     Saturday was a special day for the four seniors graduating from Ottumwa Christian School. 

    This small graduating class is double the size of last years class and illustrates the small group learning style of the school. Family and friends of the students filled the gym and waited for the graduates to line up on the stage. 

    The graduates were joined on stage by Alan Menninga, Board Chairman, Pastor Richard Schlotter, and Principal Arnie Van Wardhuizen. Menninga welcomed the family and friends and introduced the four seniors to the audience and the Pastor Schlotter gave the keynote address. 

    “If there was ever a day to rejoice it would be today,” Schlotter said. “We just saw our kids grow up, achieve and mature.”

    Hannah Cavanaugh, one of the graduating students, gave the senior address. Cavanaugh attended the school for two years and said she grew to love everyone there. 

    “Many memories were made over the last two years,” Cavanaugh said with a laugh. “I will remember something about every one of you, but I will especially remember that the boys loved to play pranks on me.”

    Cavanaugh went on to tell stories about the students she was graduating with and tales of the achievements they have accomplished so far and what will be in their futures.

    These achievements could also be heard from the voices of family members of the graduating students. One by one each student had a member of their family come to the stage and told the audience about their graduate. From stories of epic star wars battles in the back yard as kids to blessings for the future, each speaker gave some insight into the lives of the students who are about to start a new chapter.