Like all good legends, the story of the Christmas stocking stuffer has many versions. The original story has evolved to allow for differences in culture, time period, and good old fashioned story-telling. So it’s hard to pin down exactly how the Christmas stocking tradition started, but too much exactness isn’t any fun, anyway. And certainly not in the spirit of Christmas. So stop by Eagles Pizza and get yours before you forget.
Donations are now being accepted for Dan and Karen Thompson at Eagle Pizza. Stop by Eagle Pizza anytime during normal operations to donate to help the Thompson family.
Danny did well through the night. He is still fighting the infection in his lungs and sinuses, but the antibiotics should take care of it soon! He had a trach put in this morning and the ventilator removed. The respiratory specialist said they have the trach set to allow him to self monitor his breathing and he seems to be doing well on his own! The feeding tube was also removed this morning as they put a feeding peg directly into his stomach. The doctor is hopeful that both of these procedures will help quicken his recovery. It is such a blessing to see Danny’s precious face again, now that everything has been removed from his nose and mouth!
Continue to pray for Danny’s healing…brain swelling to subside and his body to begin and continue to regulate itself. It will be a long road ahead, but God has brought Danny so far in a week’s time! Thank you for your continued prayers and encouragement.
A favorite song of ours by Chris Tomlin says it best today:
“Our God is greater! Our God is stronger! God, You are higher than any other. Our God is healer; awesome in power; our God, our God. And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us? And if our God is with us, then who could stand against?”
“I will proclaim Your greatness, my God and king; I will thank you forever and ever. Every day I will praise You forever and ever. The Lord is great and is to be highly praised; His greatness is beyond understanding.” Psalm 145:1-3
If you want to help and prefer to mail in your donation you can do so by: filling out your check or money order to Dan and Karen Thompson, in the memo field put gift, and mail your donation to Eagles Pizza – PO Box 162 – New Albany, Ohio – 43054
This may sound like a broken record, but things still remain about the same with Danny today. The neurosurgeon and nurses keep reiterating that “remaining the same” is a good thing when looking at the big picture. There continue to be small signs of encouragement that the family recognizes and holds onto. Medications and equipment continue to change each day as the needs arise, all of which helps in Danny’s healing process in the best possible way.
If things continue to progress in a positive way, they will perform a procedure tomorrow that will put in a trach and also a feeding peg in Danny’s stomach. The ventilator and feeding tube in his nose can then be removed. The doctor says that patients tend to recover more quickly and have less agitation when they remove all the tubes in their mouth and throat.
The family continues to praise our amazing God for His presence, His healing power, His provisions, and His love shared through so many! Thank you all for your encouragement and prayers. You don’t know how much it means to all of us.
Our scripture that we want to share today is from 1 Thessalonians 5:18, which reads: “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” We thank our God for his amazing grace, for our wonderful friends, and for all He is doing in and through Danny!
Eagle Pizza, the staff, and Dan’s family members are grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers and support the New Albany community has sent. In response to this, Eagle Pizza is in the process of setting up a fund for donations to be made to help Dan’s family through this hardship. Information will be posted as soon as this process is complete.
KEESEE Thomas Griffiths Keesee, 83 of New Albany, Ohio died peacefully at home surrounded with family. He was born December 31, 1928 in Columbus, Ohio to Catherine (Griffiths) and Everett Lenwood Keesee who both preceded him in death. The 1946 North High School Graduate worked as a bee keeper for Deer Creek Honey Farms of London, Ohio until entering the Navy on October 11, 1950. Discharged April 9, 1954 as a Hospital Corpsman Second Class, he served aboard the USS Muliphen. Married July 12, 1953 to Marjorie C. Doran of New Albany while home on leave, he and his war bride recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary. He also worked at White Westinghouse in management before obtaining New Albany’s Eagles Villa Pizza in 1971 and Johnstown’s Villa Pizza in 1973 where he was called “Boss” by hundreds of employees over the last 41 years. Active in community, he was a member of the New Albany Lion’s Club, New Albany Country Club, 32 Degree Mason (Triangle Lodge), Faith Life Church Veteran’s Group, had coached Little League Baseball and participated on many early New Albany planning committees. Member of Franklin United Brethren Church for many years but presently worshiped at his son Gary’s Faith Life Church. Known for his quick witted sense of humor, this giving and respected businessman is survived by brother, Everett (Mike) Keesee; wife, Marjorie Keesee; son, Gary (Drenda) Keesee; daughter, Krista (Rick) Eldridge; daughter, Rhonda (Eric) Adams; and son, Dennis (Teresa) Keesee. He is the loving Grandpa to 17 grandchildren, Kasey, Ryan, Randall, Roland, Rodney, Kara, Amy, Timothy, Gary Thomas, Pollyanne, Kirsten, Corey, Rachel, Megan, Elias, Jacob, Tirzah and one new great-grandchild Journey. Visiting hours are extended to all, Monday October 8, 4-8:30 p.m. and Tuesday 10 a.m., with services to follow at 11 a.m., at the FaithLifeChurch, 2407 Beech Rd, Johnstown, OH 43031. Pastor Gary Keesee officiating. Internment at MaplewoodCemetery. ARRANGEMENTS MADE BY SCHOEDINGER NORTHEAST CHAPEL. Visit www.schoedinger.com to share a special memory or extend condolences.
Published in The Columbus Dispatch on October 7, 2012
Reynoldsburg Raiders nip the visiting New Albany Eagles (New Albany, OH), 10-9 in a non-league test.
See more pictures at our “New Albany Schools Sports Page”
It was an impressive sight when the New Albany football players wrapped up their morning practice by circling the seniors and spelling out E-A-G-L-E-S while doing jumping jacks.
Approximately 110 players, including 85 from grades 10 through 12, covered the field with burgundy and old gold.
Head coach Mark Mueller, who has been around the program since the team played in Division V in 2000, shook his head talking about the old days. There were 45 players on the roster.
“We’d be playing these barn-burners against small schools,’’ he said. “Those early years were tough. We’ve grown quite a bit. I knew we would grow. Now, we feel we can beat any team we play. The days of the big, big wins are past. We’re prepared to win every time we go out there.’’
In 2011, New Albany had what is becoming a typical season. It finished 9-3, won at least a share of the Ohio Capital Conference Capital Division for a third straight year and qualified for the Division II playoffs. It lost to Tri-Valley in the second round.
The optimism and goals are even higher this year. The Eagles want to go beyond winning a regional championship, and that probably will mean defeating Tri-Valley. They have lost to Tri-Valley two straight years.
“We want to see them again,’’ Mueller said. “They are good. We beat them and that’s an accomplishment.’’
New Albany arrived as a high school football power in 2004 under Mike Golden by winning two playoff games, including a rout of traditional power Ironton in the second round.
Golden left for Upper Arlington, but the beat has gone on under Mueller, who graduated from Finneytown High School and Ashland University. Under him, the Eagles made the playoffs in 2005, ’0 6, ’10 and last season.
This season, there are 20 seniors. Each is considered to be a captain. The biggest name is receiver and defensive back Darron Lee, an Ohio State recruit.
New Albany is a wealthy community, but do not make the mistake of thinking the football team is comprised of a bunch of boys who win because they have the best of everything.
The Eagles have developed the reputation of being a smash-mouth team. They defeated DeSales the previous two years and Big Walnut the previous four.
“It’s just a lot of hard work,’’ Lee said. “For us, it all starts in the weight room. It’s a physical and mental test. We do get mentally strong in there.’’
The weight room isn’t just the clanking of iron and huffing and puffing. Sometimes the players can’t hear themselves think.
“It’s a lot of loud music, screaming and everyone running around encouraging one another,’’ two-way senior lineman Cameron Horch said. “We have a weight chart and our strength coach keeps track of our progress. We know where we stand.’’
The players know where they stand on the field, too. If they are wearing full pads during the week, it’s because the coaching staff wants them to maintain their toughness.
Two years ago, when the Eagles were pushing opponents all over the place almost every week, Mueller had them practice in shorts most of the time.
The players take it to the limit even when they’re not in full pads. At the end of practice on Monday, the running back carried the ball 50 yards downfield on every play. When the ball was whistled dead, the players dropped to the ground, did a pushup and ran back to the huddle.
“We take it all the way,’’ senior running back and defensive back Alan Watson said. “That’s our motto.’’
Mueller relies on the players – especially the seniors – to police everyone on the roster. Coaches everywhere will tell you that a football team operates more smoothly when they don’t have to repeat themselves or sweat the small stuff.
New Albany coaches don’t believe in selecting a handful of captains. All seniors are captains.
“It’s not one person on this team,’’ Watson said. “You have just a few players watching over the team and they can get haughty. We look at every week as a new season. We want to go 1-0 every week. It’s the way we motivate ourselves.’’
Junior Joe Siegenthaler, a safety, said the players have been given a lot of responsibility.
“Coach said this isn’t his team, but it’s the players’ team,’’ he said. “I think we’re going to have a really good team because we have a good senior class that will lead. It’s more than winning. It’s what is important (in life and school).’’
Mueller concedes that he has it made coaching and teaching in a school system that has everything. The team has a full-time strength coach, two athletic trainers, eight assistant coaches who teach in the building and a stadium that looks to be small college.
“Next year, we’re going to have artificial turf in the stadium,’’ Mueller said. “We have one school district. We have great academics. I worry about maybe five kids a year when it comes to grades. That’s pretty good.’’
mznidar@dispatch.com
@markznidar
www.dispatch.com/…/08/…/01-goin-camping-new-albany.htm…
Please exercise added caution and patience as you travel in and around New Albany this weekend as our community welcomes the 6,000 plus participants of Pelotonia, a two-day grass roots bicycle tour aimed toward raising funds and awareness for cancer treatment and research.
On Saturday, riders will leave Columbus at 7:00 AM on a route that will pass through New Albany and stop at Bevelhymer Park. Residents can expect to see heavy bicycle traffic from 9:00 AM to Noon along Beech, Kitzmiller, Central College, Walnut and especially Bevelhymer.
On Sunday, the remaining 1,500 riders who will be completing 155 or 180 mile rides will be arriving at Market Square in New Albany – right in front of the library from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Be sure to watch for some road restrictions along Market Square and for all the riders as they approach from the north along State Route 605 to Village Hall Road past the police station and Village Hall, and ultimately to the library.
There will be plenty of areas to support participants, especially along Village Hall Road near the finish line on Sunday. Parking will be available at various places in the Village Center including the McCoy Center and behind the medical offices next to CVS. Come early and grab lunch or ice cream at a local eatery and visit the steps of New Albany Village Hall where Scouts from Troop 364 will be manning a “sign table” to welcome your favorite rider at the big finish.
Remember to give yourself more time to arrive to your final destination this weekend.
