Octorara townlively.com
AUGUST 2, 2023
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
Octorara, Air Force Academy graduate honored
Support group to resume for those who are grieving BY FRANCINE FULTON
BY FRANCINE FULTON
After an absence because of the pandemic, GriefShare sessions will once again be offered for the community at Gateway Church, 160 Cowan Road, Parkesburg. GriefShare, which will be facilitated by Paul and Twila Ranck, is a free support group for those who have experienced the death of a family member or friend.
ctorara’s own 2nd Lt. McKayla Mickel, who graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy on June 1, was recently recognized for her accomplishments. Atglen Borough Mayor Darren Hodorovich presented Mickel with a certificate for her accomplishments as she begins her military career. Mickel is a 2019 graduate of Octorara Junior-Senior High School, where she was on the honor roll and was a multi-sport athlete for four years. She played soccer and basketball and also competed in shot put and javelin. “I always knew I wanted to go into the military from the time I was pretty young,” said Mickel.
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Meetings will begin on Tuesday, Aug. 15, at 6:30 p.m., and they will run every Tuesday through Nov. 7. People can attend GriefShare at any time because each meeting is selfcontained; participants do not have to attend in sequence. The Rancks have been facilitating GriefShare sessions since 2002. “(During the pandemic,) we were in the middle of a session, and (it) See GriefShare pg 4
After touring and then ruling out the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., Mickel focused on attending the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. “You have to get an appointment to apply from a Congressman or woman or a senator; without that, you can’t even get in the door,” Mickel explained. “They only have a certain amount of slots to give. It’s very selective. They only admit (about) 1,200 applicants each year.” At the academy, Mickel majored in behavioral science and minored in Spanish. She noted that attending a military institution provides a very different experience than attending a traditional college. “In military college, there are three pillars - academics, military and athletics. You have to be proficient in all of these,” she stated. “You have to go through basic training for six weeks before you get into the cadet wing.”
Paul and Twila Ranck
Cochranville church to present Music Fest BY FRANCINE FULTON
Atglen Borough Mayor Darren Hodorovich (left) presented a certificate to 2nd Lt. McKayla Mickel.
She said that her first year at the academy was particularly demanding. “In freshman year, you can’t wear civilian clothing, you can’t be friends with upperclassmen and you can only call people by their last names,” she said. “There is also intense physical
training and military training.” She said that the pandemic made the experience even more challenging. “COVID hit and changed the experience so much. That was a tough time for all of us,” she recalled. “We had to stay in our room, had to do
The community is invited to enjoy an evening of music at Cochranville United Methodist Church’s Music Fest, set for Sunday, Aug. 13, at 3 p.m. The event will take place outdoors in the church parking lot. Attendees are asked to bring lawn chairs for seating. Featured will be the Rockdale Boys from Delaware County, which will perform bluegrass and gospel music. “They have been playing together for 20 years,” noted pastor Jimmy Montgomery. “They play at
See Octorara graduate pg 5
Longwood Gardens, at Delaware County’s Summer Fest at Rose Tree Park and at churches and camp meetings.” “Our music is bluegrass and acoustic, mostly gospel since we’re playing at the church,” noted band member Debbie Durant, who plays the bass and is a vocalist. “We have four lead singers and sing a lot of harmonies. We have fun on stage, too.” Montgomery’s granddaughter, singer Jamie Marie, will be the other featured performer. She will highlight songs from the 1940s, See Music Fest pg 6
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“I am ready to see what the Air Force has in store for me.”
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