Forest Lake – After an absence of 21 years in Goldfield, Colorado, T. R. Taylor is spending some time at his old home in Forest Lake. Mr. Taylor has been engaged in gold mining during the period of his absence, and is an expert on gold ore treatment. He is visiting his brother, E. H. Taylor and sister, Mrs. G. L. Shelp, expecting to remain two months. He was called home by the death of his brother, Grant Taylor.

Forest City – J. W. Jones was elected for one month to act as a “clean up” officer and see that tenants and property owners around the town get their premises “slicked up” during the month of May. Mr. Jones promised to go at the job diligently. Also it is reported that the Hillside and D. & H companies are favorable to bearing their share of the expense of a good macadam road, with asphalt or tar dressing, on South Main street, between the end of the brick pavement and the county line. A committee was appointed to visit the land agents of the companies in relation to the matter.

Montrose – This is Old Home Week at Zion A. M. E. church and special exercises are being held. On Wednesday evening a concert of jubilee melodies was creditably given under the guidance of Mrs. Ella Case, and on Thursday evening Rev. Mr. Blackburn delivered a stirring sermon and Zion’s ladies served a supper in the basement of the church. This evening, under the direction of Mrs. Maggie Thompson, the children of the Sunday school will give a program in connection with the service, to which the public is invited. Also Charles R. Sayre will come to Montrose about May 1st and open “Rosemont” as an all the year round inn. Mr. Sayre expects to now reside here, permanently, as he is to be a general agent of an indemnity company, which will make such residence possible.

St. Joseph – Rev. .J. E. Donnelly, Jr., of Scranton, passed through Montrose, Thursday, on his return from St. Josephs, his old home, and called on James Passmore, the marble dealer, who has lately erected a monument to the memory of his parents, James and Katharine Donnelly, and brothers, Walter and Peter, the design of the monument being of the Grecian Sarcophagus style of architecture—and a genuine work of art. Father Donnelly was both surprised and delighted that work of this class could be turned out in Susquehanna County, all of which is very complimentary to Mr. Passmore.

Tunkhannock – Because he told Samuel Durling, a farmhand to “help himself” and because Durling took too much and went home and beat his wife, Roland McNab, a painter here, was sentenced to pay a fine of $50 and spend 30 days in the county jail. Since court refused ten hotel licenses in that county, no liquor has been sold here. McNab went to Pittston on Saturday last, where he purchased two bottles of whiskey. He treated his friend on Sunday and was arrested yesterday.

Springville – N. M. Titman failed to appear in the Scranton courts to defend a damage claim presented against him by Giles A. Philo, a farmer living up in the Abingtons, and the jury gave judgment in favor of Philo, but a new trial has been granted. Titman’s auto struck Philo’s wagon up at “the Notch” and wrecked the outfit. Titman wasn’t in court for the reason that his lawyer, Richard Holgate, Esq., “had long since disappeared from the county” and Titman had not been notified the case was ready for trial.

New Milford – The case of Charles Walker, proprietor of the Walker House, was called for argument in the court. [Walker has been accused by the ministers of the town of selling liquor to minors, violating the Sunday law, and keeping a disorderly house]. Judge Little said he would not be justified in revoking the hotel’s liquor license. The violations occurred prior to the 1914 license. He was convinced the hotel was run carelessly, but was a case for a jury. He continued rule till August term to allow petitioners, if they desire, to bring an indictment.

Lenox – Mrs. Susan E. Guard, aged 81 years, died April 13, 1914, in Taylor’s Falls, Minnesota. Deceased was a daughter of the late Asaph Fuller, an early pioneer of Lenox township. She is survived by two children, Nellie and Edward, of the former place, and two sisters and two brothers, Mrs. Lydia Belcher, of Gibson, Pa., Mrs. Whitney, of Wisconsin, and James Fuller, of Gibson and Theodore Fuller, of Scranton. Also in Glenwood, Bert Cameron is very poorly at this writing. He is not gaining as rapidly as his friends would like to have him. He was recently remembered by his nephew, George Burnett, of Lake Villa, Ill., and cousin, Mrs. Judson Atherholdt, of Luzerne, Pa., with a box of fruit and confectionary, etc.

South Ararat - Mrs. Cordelia Walker was the guest of her niece, Mrs. Henry Davis, Saturday. She is very smart for a lady of her age—80. She drove her own horse and seemed to enjoy the trip very much.

Gelatt – Mrs. George Whitmarsh was greatly surprised when the Woman’s Christian Temperance Union met and took possession of her home, but she soon regained her composure and joined in with the rest to help the time pass merrily. There were 25 present and all reported a fine time and good dinner. The next meeting will be held with Mrs. Carrie Thomas, the second Friday in May. All members are requested to be present. Election of officers and paying up dues.

Brooklyn – We regret to learn that two members of the High School faculty have resigned their positions for the next year: Prin. J. B. Cogswell, to go to College, and Asst. Prin., Miss Anna Stephens, to accept a position in her home town, Towanda.

Rush – The new Methodist pastor will preach in the churches next Sunday according to regular schedule. Rush, 10:30 a.m.; Beaver Meadows, 3 p.m. and at Rush Center, 7:30 p.m. Rev. W. H. Corkwell is an eloquent and versatile young man—among the best young preachers of this large conference.

Little Meadows – Loretta Butler is getting along good now, just after having an operation on her neck at the Wilson Hospital, Lestershire.

West Auburn – The traveling men are all talking about the fine road built last year across the flat by ex-Supervisor Wm. Baker. All citizens of Auburn township, who have not seen this road, should come over and look at it.

I met Kevin McHenka in August 1995.  I had been dating his youngest daughter, Maggie, for about 2 months.  Maggie was attending college in Binghamton, while her parents still lived in Yorktown, Virginia, where Kevin was stationed with the Air Force.  He had just received a new assignment at an Air Force Base in Panama – so he made the trip up to New York to visit with his daughter before he left the country.

At that time in my life, I did not have much experience with military personnel – and my perceptions of the military were based upon television and movies.  When Maggie told me that she wanted me to meet her father, I was concerned that Kevin would end up being a drill sergeant-type akin to Clint Eastwood in Heartbreak Ridge.  And given that I was dating his baby girl, I had some apprehension about what he would think about me.  Maggie did nothing to ease my anxiety.  When she talked about her father, you could literally feel her love, respect and admiration.  Her father was her hero, her friend, and her role model.  My fears proved to be badly misplaced.

The moment I met Kevin I knew that he was a special and gentle soul – and I would later learn that he was the eye of a family hurricane.  With a wife and three daughters, he seemed to be the calm in the middle of seemingly endless emotional storms.  I have met very few people who smiled and laughed as much as Kevin – and did it with such sincerity and joy.  In those first moments, he put me at ease with a strong handshake, a bright smile and a quick laugh.

Then, Kevin took me golfing – and he hooked me just as surely as his daughter had already done.  Maggie had already told me about his athletic achievements in wrestling and baseball – and I knew he was an athlete.  As we set off on the first hole, I was convinced to impress him with my game.  Imagine my dismay when I located my ball nestled underneath a small pine tree near the first green – but my resolve was set and I slowly worked my way into the pine needles in the hopes of getting some kind of swing at the ball.  Then I heard his laugh again – and he told me to pull the ball out of there before I hurt myself.  I would later learn that Kevin never wanted to waste his time with bad lies – and he did not want to see anyone he cared about struggling with a bad lie.

When I called Kevin to ask him for his daughter’s hand in marriage, he responded by telling me that he had always wanted a son – and he was happy that it was going to be me.  From that moment, Kevin would sign off any emails or cards that he sent me with a simple “Dad.”  I never called him “Dad,” but it never stopped him from referring to himself as “Dad” when he was writing to me.

On the day of our wedding, Kevin saw me at the church, grabbed my hand, shook it and told me that he was surprised that I was actually there.  When he saw the shock on my face, he simply winked and told me that I could never blame him for not warning me.  I started to laugh – and I knew that Kevin was doing what he did best – getting me to relax and enjoy the moment.

For the past 19 years, I had the privilege of watching Kevin as he lived his life – in his role as a husband, as a father, and as a grandparent.  My daughters would regularly call him at night before bed – to talk to their Pop Pop in Virginia – and he would spend 10 to 15 minutes on the phone with them.  Most nights, I had no idea what my girls were talking about and I am pretty sure that he was even more lost than I was – but he would laugh and my girls would laugh and call him “silly Pop Pop.”  My wife would then get to talk to him briefly – and I could see and hear her love for him – stronger than ever – and our world was such a special place.

When our first daughter was born, my wife told me in a very solemn voice that a little girl needs her daddy - and I knew that I could not even begin to comprehend what she was saying – but I had the privilege of watching just how much she needed her daddy and how much that relationship meant to her.  She has reiterated this advice to me over the past 6 years – and with two little girls at home now – I think that I am starting to get it.  I also know that I have big shoes to fill in my wife’s eyes – and I am not sure that I will ever really get there – Kevin is a hard act to follow.  But Kevin has certainly showed me the way – a path filled with love and laughter – and I just need to walk it now with my girls.

Kevin died unexpectedly on Holy Saturday, April 19, 2014.  He was up here for Easter – and that heart that was so filled with love finally burst.  I read something one of his friends wrote when they heard the news: Kevin received a standing ovation when he got to heaven.  Amen. 

Right now, here on earth, his family and friends are struggling with this sudden and terrible loss.  My wife and girls are devastated – and I find myself wishing that I could have learned a little more from Kevin.  He would have known what to say to bring light into the darkness – but that time is now tragically past – and it is up to us to take what he did teach us and live it.  If we can do that, we will keep his memory alive and make our world a little better place.  After all, life is too short to be hitting from a bad lie – live, laugh and love.

Please submit any questions, concerns, or comments to Susquehanna County District Attorney’s Office, P.O. Box 218, Montrose, Pennsylvania 18801 or at our website www.SusquehannaCounty-DA.org or discuss this and all articles at http://dadesk.blogspot.com/.