By: MILAN VRACARICH Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

Vermont is known for maple syrup, Ben and Jerry’s ice cream and its beautiful fall foliage.

The New England state is now also the home to one of the most challenging races available — the Death Race.

This weekend Manheim Township police officer Chris Dissinger is competing in his second (yes, second) Death Race. In case someone is wondering, the website may be more intimidating than the name of the race itself: www.youmaydie.com.

"Anybody can enter a 5K race," said Dissinger on his decision to compete. "[They're] not as exciting – it’s a boring thing. This is more challenging."

Dissinger was born in Ephrata and still has family here. He attended Lancaster Catholic High School where he wrestled and played football and baseball. He spent four years in the Army after graduating from high school. Since then he’s been a patrolman for nearly 15 years with the Manheim Township Police Department.

For someone who describes himself as not being big into running races, he’s picked arguably one of the toughest races one can find.

By: TODD RUTH Review Sports Editor truth.eph@lnpnews.com, Staff Writer

One of the biggest dilemma’s Ephrata Firecracker Run Co-Race Director Dave Lloyd faced since last year’s race was which course would they use for the 34th annual event which is set for Monday, July 4.

Would they go back to the original, grueling course, the course set up a few years ago when construction in town forced some changes, or the one put in place last year that was highlighted by a two-mile stretch jaunt on the Ephrata Linear Trail?

Well, the people have spoken.

After receiving much praise about last year’s course, Lloyd and the powers-that-be decided to keep that layout in place for at least another year.

"We just received so much positive feedback," Lloyd said Monday of the newest course. "We are going to head back through the linear trail and back to War Memorial that way. People liked it, and we are very excited about using it again this year."

Lloyd also reported good pre-registration numbers, heading into the final two weeks prior to the annual run.

The Ephrata Tidal Waves swim team was in mid-season form this past Saturday at the 29th annual Woodridge Classic held in Lititz.

The Tidal Waves captured third place in the overall team standings with 217 points, trailing only champion Skyline (371) and runner-up Overlook (243).

Individually, Kailee Freeman led the way for Ephrata, earning three gold medals on the day in the girls Under-8 Division. Freeman captured firsts in the 25 free (17.30), 25 back (22.83) and 25 fly (19.99).

Cameron Reeder added a pair of golds (25 back & 25 fly) and a silver (25 free) in the boys Under-8 Division, while Jonathan Husson captured the only other gold on the day in the boys 15-18 Division, winning the 50 free with a time of 26.46. Husson added a bronze medal in the 50 breast for Ephrata.

And Caitlin Davies also turned in a fine day, securing a pair of silver medals (50 free & 50 fly) and a bronze (100 IM).

The following are Ephrata Tidal Waves’ complete results from the Woodridge Classic Meet held Saturday, June 18:

WOODRIDGE CLASSIC

U-8 Girls

Rose M. (Windish) Sweigart, 80, of Denver, passed away Monday, June 6, 2011 at Reading Hospital.

Born in Allentown, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Rose (Dominek) Windish. She was the wife of the late Horace S. Sweigart.

A homemaker, Rose was a member of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church in Ephrata.

She is survived by her three children: Michael L., husband of Karen E. (Ansel) Sweigart, of Millsboro, Del.; Andrea L., wife of Stephen Berrigan, of Norcross, Ga.; and Christopher L., husband of Pamela A. (Mathews) Sweigart, of Wernersville; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three sisters: Elsie Becker, of Denver; Margaret Rutter, of Denver; and Dorothy Crouse, of Sinking Spring; and her brother: Robert Windish, of Denver.

Besides her parents and husband she was preceded in death by her brother: Joseph Windish.

A mass of Christian burial was held at Our Mother of Perpetual Help Catholic Church June 10. Final commendation and farewell took place in the Fairview Cemetery Annex in Denver.

Memorial contributions in Rose’s memory may be made to the St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Victor J. Armer, 84, of Ephrata, passed away Thursday, June 9, 2011 at Hospice of Lancaster County in Mount Joy.

He was born in Bart Township to John and Lillian May (Rineer) Armer. He was the husband of Elsie (Enck) Armer. They were married 62 years in December.

Victor served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1944 to 1946 in Texas and the Phillipines. He was a member of the Brunnerville United Methodist Church, where he served as an usher, and VFW Post #5956 of Manheim.

Victor worked as an ice cream maker for Penn Dairies for 43 years. Following retirement from Penn Dairies, he became a Lancaster New Era delivery person for 18 years.

Victor enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending time at the family cabin in Sullivan County. He was a Phillies fan.

In addition to his wife he is survived by four sons: Steven, husband of Cindy (Kauffman) Armer, of Lititz; Rick, husband of Diane (Crumling) Armer, of Windsor; Thomas, husband of the late Tamra (Sensenig) Armer, of Lancaster; and Victor Jr., husband of Linda (Zigment) Armer, of Lititz; a daughter: Linda, wife of Carl Hess, of New Providence; 16 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and a brother: Chester, husband of Jean (Hammick) Immel, of Rothsville.

Sarah W. Mellinger, 96, of Fairmount Homes, formerly of Ephrata, died Sunday, June 12, 2011 at Hospice of Lancaster County.

Born in Earl Township, she was the daughter of the late Daniel S. and Ellen (Witmer) Stauffer. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ivan S. Mellinger, in 2001.

Sarah worked for 31 years at the former Fleet-Air Shoe Factory in Ephrata and enjoyed gardening and piecing quilt tops. She was a member of Village Chapel in Voganville.

Surviving are three children: Dorothy, wife of Donald Hiester, of Ephrata; Ivan L., husband of JoAnn (Kennedy) Mellinger, of Ephrata; and Chester R. Mellinger, of Tucson, Ariz.; four grandchildren: Susie, wife of Tom McGarvey; Vicky, wife of Richard Stephens; Randy, husband of Lucinda Mellinger; and Jared, husband of Michelle Mellinger; and 10 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son: Harold L. Mellinger; a grandson: Bryan, husband of Sherrie Mellinger; four sisters; and a brother.

Funeral services will be held June 16 at 10 a.m. at Groff-High Funeral Home, 145 W. Main St. in New Holland, with Pastor Jeff Horst officiating. A viewing will be held on Thursday from 9-10. Interment will take place in New Holland Mennonite Cemetery.

Mildred (Bingeman) Snader, 88, of Akron, passed away Tuesday, June 7, 2011 at Brethren Village.

Born in Hopeland, she was the daughter of the late Ralph and Ella (Hensel) Bingeman and was the wife of the late J. Ivan Snader.

Mildred was a lifelong member of Hopeland U.M. Church and was treasurer of the United Methodist Women’s Group. She was a volunteer at the Ephrata Public Library and a member of the Christian Women’s Club, the W.W. Moyer 25-year Club, the Ephrata Rec Center PC Club and the Young at Heart Club.

She is survived by her son: Randall Scott, husband of Rebecca Jean (Shelly) Snader, of Manheim; three grandchildren: Kari H. Monk; Ginny K. Snader; and Molly E., wife of Ryan Donough; one great-grandchild: Maddox; two brothers: Harold, husband of Nancy (Weaver) Bingeman, of Ephrata; and Larry H., husband of Gaile (Raker) Bingeman, of Elizabethtown; and a sister: Myrleen, wife of Stanley "Skip" Kline, of Stevens.

She was preceded in death by her sister: Alverta Leed.

Hopeland United Methodist Church hosted funeral services June 10. Interment took place in Hopeland Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Mildred’s memory may be made to Hospice of Lancaster County, P.O. Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604.

Pauline A. Wealand, 83, of Ephrata, passed away Saturday, June 11, 2011 at Ephrata Community Hospital.

She was born in West Cocalico Township to Earl L. and Sadie (Enck) Goshert. She was the wife of the late Cleon Wealand.

Pauline was a member of Hopeland United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school and she was part of the Visiting Club. She was also a member of Leisure Hours Club of Brickerville and The High Beamers. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, gardening, reading, cooking and baking as hobbies.

Pauline worked as a seamstress for Dutchmaid Company of Ephrata, Ship & Shore of Brownstown, and worked at Cinderella Knitting Mills of Denver until her retirement.

She is survived by a son: Philip L., husband of Elva C. (Worley) Wealand; two daughters: Martha L., wife of Van L. Reitz, of Ephrata; and Mary F., wife of John H. Duing, of Ephrata; a brother: Ralph I., husband of Kathryn (Weidman) Goshert, of Florida; a grandson: Jason J. Duing; step grandchildren: Sandra Kissinger, Rickie Engle and Sherry Smith; five step great-grandchildren; and three step great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded by a brother: Robert Goshert; and a sister: Edith Lutz.

Titus D. Bender, 78, of Coudersport, formerly of Ephrata, died peacefully Thursday, June 9, 2011 at home following a brief illness.

Born in Colebrook, Lebanon County, he was a son of the late Henry A. and Ruth (Hoffer) Bender. He was the husband of Darlene (Boyer) Bender for 54 years on March 10.

A 30-year employee of Ephrata Manufacturing Foundry, Titus retired in 1995. He attended Calvary Baptist Church in Coudersport and was a member of Mohler Church of the Brethren in Ephrata, serving as an usher at both churches.

Titus enjoyed hunting, fishing, word search and jigsaw puzzles, cards and games with his family. He loved watching NASCAR and football, especially Penn State and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In addition to his wife he is survived by his sons: Ronald Bender, of New Holland; and Michael, husband of Shirley Bender, of Strasburg; daughters: Violet, wife of Ron Coates, of Manheim; and Deborah, wife of Joseph Kohl, of Denver; nine grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; a brother: Troy, husband of Dolly Bender, of Lititz; four step sisters: Betty Boyer and Mary Lou Smith, both of Manheim; Patricia, wife of Robert Youtz, of Ephrata; and Ruth, wife of Lelan Aurick, of Lancaster; and nieces and nephews.

Samuel Paul Boggs, 81, of Sinking Spring, died peacefully surrounded by his loving family in his home Monday, June 6, 2011.

Born in Altoona, he was a son of Samuel Newton and Edna (Tilson) Boggs. He was the husband of Patricia Lee (Hupert) Boggs for 53 years.

Retiring from Bollman Hat Factory in Adamstown, Samuel was a member of Adamstown Rod & Gun Club and enjoyed fishing, camping, bowling, HO trains and watching classic TV shows.

Also surviving are his two daughters: Deborah Lee, wife of Cecil Hahn, of Stephenson, Va.; and Vicki Sue, wife of Andrew Geris, of Ephrata; two grandchildren: Rocky Yohn and Shelby Geris; two great-granddaughters; and two sisters: Marie Berkheimer and Jane Kemberling.

Paul was preceded in death by a brother and four sisters.

Funeral services were held June 10 at Good Funeral Home in Reamstown with the Rev. Sandra L. Gideon officiating. Burial took place in Cedar Grove Cemetery in Adamstown.