The Ephrata Area School District is hosting an open house to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Ephrata High School.

Help celebrate by attending the event this Friday, Oct. 21. Self-guided tours will run from 3 to 6 p.m.

Please use the main entrance on Oak Boulevard or the auditorium entrance.

A new policy went into effect at the Monday night meeting, halting the invocation with which the Cocalico School District Board normally began their meetings. This follows a federal appeals court ruling that found prayer at public school meetings with students present to be unconstitutional. For full story, see page A9

It has been a month since Lancaster County experienced the devastation left behind by Tropical Storm Lee. However, local residents are still feeling the impact of the damage left in the wake of this life-changing storm. Local churches, businesses and organizations have come together to embrace and meet the needs of neighbors and friends.

The response was immediate. In the first few days following the disaster, collection efforts were implemented to assist the affected families. Brian Ingraham, Director of Youth and Outreach Ministries for Reformed Presbyterian Church in Ephrata, has helped coordinate efforts by Ephrata churches. Those who have been affected by the flood or are in need of further assistance should contact him at brian@ephratarpc.com or 733-0462 extension 212.

Heather Butler and Josh Grine, from the Leola Worship Center, also set up and manned an on-site help center at the most impacted section of Ephrata for the two weeks following the flood.

Lititz Record file photo
Warwick forward Emma Rissinger (center), shown here going to the net against Manheim Township last year, is one of several key returning seniors for the Lady Warriors' this fall.Lititz Record file photo
Warwick forward Emma Rissinger (center), shown here going to the net against Manheim Township last year, is one of several key returning seniors for the Lady Warriors' this fall.

Ephrata High School has announced the nominees for the 2011-12 Homecoming Court. The six young women competing for the crown are Rochelle Groff, Mariah Hatt, Tessa Hoffman, Loran Kachel, Paying Moua and Lauren Overly.

Rochelle Groff

Groff is the daughter of Les and Judy. She has been a member of Spanish National Honor Society since her sophomore year. Groff helps manage the Ephrata field hockey team, and she works at Ace Hardware. Outside of school, Groff teaches kindergarten and first grade at her church, enjoys spending time with friends and family, and likes to bake. After graduation she plans to go to college to become a physical therapist.

Mariah Hatt

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

For the first 24 minutes Friday, Cocalico, with just three seniors dressed, looked like a typical Eagle team of recent years past.

The Eagles dominated visiting E-town in the first half in workman-like fashion. The running game was going, the defense was opportunistic, and the Eagles made few mistakes in building a commanding 28-7 half-time lead.

The second half, however, was far from perfect. But in the end, the first-half performance was enough to carry the Eagles held to a 31-20 Section Two victory over the winless Bears.

"I thought we played a real good first half," Cocalico coach Dave Gingrich said following the win. "With the exception of a couple breakdowns defensively, I thought we played very well. In the second half, we just weren’t getting a good push and again their kids were playing with some spunk and some energy. Now I’m not making any excuses but we had three seniors dressed tonight. We started two freshmen on the offensive line. I don’t think we know how to play a complete game. And until we figure it out, we are going to be in situations we don’t necessarily need to be in."

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

Cocalico Coach Krista Page knew her team had to cash in on every chance it had going into Tuesday’s L-L semifinal matchup with Penn Manor at Manheim Central.

With the explosiveness of the Comet offensive attack, the Lady Eagles couldn’t let scoring opportunities slip away.

Unfortunately for them, that’s exactly what happened. And despite a valiant effort defensively by the Lady Eagles, the Comets (18-2) scored once in the first half and added two second half tallies to earn a 3-0 shutout win at Elden Rettew Field.

Manor sophomore Rachel Suter scored a pair of goals while fellow 10th grader Michelle Enck added a score as the Comets advanced to Thursday’s final. They’ll face Warwick– a 1-0 winner over Donegal Tuesday– in the championship game at Warwick, beginning at 7 p.m.

"We executed remarkably well," Penn Manor Coach Matt Soto said. "I’m very proud of our girls tonight. I thought our passing game was working very well tonight."

But it was Cocalico (15-5), which was playing without injured midfielder Carissa Witmer, that came out with the early spark. Unfortunately, the Lady Eagles couldn’t sneak one past Manor goalie Karla Mylin before the Comet offense got going.

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

The Ephrata boys soccer team did all it could Tuesday night vs. Lancaster Mennonite in the first round of the L-L League playoffs at Warwick.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t nearly enough to slow down the Blazers.

Mennonite scored two early goals to set the tone, then buried three more shots the rest of the way en route to a convincing 5-0 shutout win over the Mounts.

Keegan Rosenberry led the impressive LMH attack with a pair of goals while CJ Sturges, Caleb Cole and Sam Stoner also added tallies for the Blazers (15-2), who will advance to Thursday’s semifinals at Manheim Central where they’ll face Hempfield (17-1-1)– a 2-0 victor over Manheim Central Tuesday.

As impressive as LMH was for long stretches Tuesday, Ephrata actually played better than they score indicated. The Mounts had several chances on the night but unfortunately came up empty every time.

"They came at us quick in the beginning," Ephrata Coach Rob Deininger said. "We made two mistakes and they capitalized. I actually thought we played a pretty good game. It’s just that they had their opportunities and converted. We had some opportunities and we didn’t convert. They were the better team tonight."

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

Ephrata's Tyler Sensenig (left) duels with Elizabethtown's Nate Kreider in the stretch run of the L-L Meet Tuesday in Ephrata. (Photo by Preston Whitcraft)Ephrata's Tyler Sensenig (left) duels with Elizabethtown's Nate Kreider in the stretch run of the L-L Meet Tuesday in Ephrata. (Photo by Preston Whitcraft)

What was billed as a wide-open race turned into a two man duel Tuesday afternoon in the L-L League Meet held at Ephrata Middle School.

Lancaster Mennonite’s Jared Schatz and Penn Manor junior Harrison Schettler were neck-and-neck as they came down the home stretch Tuesday. A late stumble by Schettler was the only break Schatz would need as he hit the tape first to remain unbeaten on the year and win his first league title in a time of 16:30.

"There are 10-12 boys that can challenge for the win on any day," Ephrata Coach Mike Hershberger said. "Schatz was impressive this year. He won every Lancaster Lebanon meet. Schettler ran a very impressive race but lost to Jared by inches."

It was a nailbiter.

The Ephrata girls field hockey team’s first appearance in the L-L League playoffs since 2007 did not go so well Saturday afternoon vs. Section One champion Penn Manor.

In the game played at Hempfield, the Comets opened up a 3-0 lead in the first half before exploding for five more tallies in the second to earn a convincing 8-0 decision over the Lady Mounts.

Erin McCoy scored a pair of goals to lead the Comets while six others had single tallies in the win. With the victory, Penn Manor advanced to Tuesday’s semifinals to face Cocalico.

Ephrata (11-8), the Section Two runners-up, generated just one shot on the day while Penn Manor (17-2) blistered 28 on Lady Mounts’ freshman keeper Katie Hammaker, who stopped 20.

Playing without starters Rachel Stauffer, Hannah Reimel and Erica Brown, the Lady Mounts were hit with more bad news when sophomore defender Emma Frees took a ball off the face and was forced to leave the game late in the first half. She did not return but was not seriously injured.

Frees is expected to be back in the lineup Saturday morning when the Lady Mounts face Cedar Cliff (11-6) in the play-in round of the District Three playoffs at Lower Dauphin High School, beginning at 11 a.m.

Thelma L. Ziemer, 76, formerly of Denver, entered into rest Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011 at Fairmount Homes after a lengthy illness.

She was the daughter of the late William and Elva Lausch. She was married to Raymond H. Ziemer for 57 years.

Thelma was a member of Peace United Church of Christ. She was retired from Conestoga Wood Products. Previous to her illness, she especially enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren, flower gardening and bus trips with her sisters.

She is survived by her husband: Raymond; three children: Sandra, wife of James Bair; Bruce, husband of Diane Kiesel Ziemer; Patti, wife of Richard Martin; six grandchildren: Abby Malone, Jordan Ziemer, Molly Bair, Ellyn Bair, Joshua Martin and Elisabeth Martin; one great grandchild: Dallas Ziemer; two sisters: Esther Schlouch and Kathryn Light; and one brother: Clayton Lausch. She was preceded in death by a sister and brother: Arlene Groff and William Lausch.

Thelma’s funeral was held at Peace United Church of Christ, Denver, on Oct. 10. Interment took place at Center Union Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Thelma’s memory to Fairmount Homes, 333 Wheat Ridge Drive, Ephrata, PA 17522.