State/Area News

Members of the St. John’s Lutheran Church Youth Confirmation Class of 1976 are pictured following their confirmation on April 11, 1976. Pictured in the front row, left to right, are Linda Sprick Kruse, Brenda Johnson Gibbs, Lori Nicol Reed, Cheryl Scheiderer Leeds, Stephen Worbs, Richard Hilts and Bruce Selking. In the second row are Gary Kasper, Tony Blumenschein, Amy Wolpert Brack, Kimberly Nicol Murphy, Kathleen Scheiderer Fite and Mary Jo King Gallogly. In the back row are the Rev. Ervin Junkans, Jim Gruenbaum, Wayne Kleiber, teacher Lorne Jones, Principal William Knaggs and teacher Sally Thiele Ward. The class will celebrate its 50th confirmation anniversary during the 9 a.m. worship service Oct. 25. Classes from 1966, 1956, 1951, 1946 and earlier years will also be recognized, with a breakfast brunch following the service. (Photo submitted)

Benjamin Logan fifth graders enjoy Timbits while revisiting letters they wrote last spring as part of the school’s “Future Me” project. The letters, inspired by the opening of a 1976 West Mansfield Elementary time capsule, describe life as a fourth grader in 2026 and will be stored until 2076. Timbits were first introduced in 1976, providing students with another connection between the past, present and future. The treats were provided by Dave Evans and Sherry Pugh. (Photo submitted)