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

As first reported on The Ephrata Review Facebook page late last Wednesday afternoon, Ephrata Head Football Coach Jim Vieland announced his resignation from the post he held for four seasons at the school.

Ephrata Athletic Director Tommy Long received the news last Wednesday morning in a letter from Vieland, and the coach announced to the team immediately after school Wednesday that he was stepping down.

"I’m sorry to see Jim leave," Long said by e-mail this week. "He worked really hard on and off the field to help our athletes."

Vieland, who assisted at Hempfield and North Penn high schools prior to getting his first head coaching job at Ephrata, went 5-35 overall in his four years at EHS, including a 1-9 campaign this past season.

Reached this week, Vieland said his decision came down to several factors but most importantly he wanted to commit more time to his family.

By: JOHN CRAWFORD Review Correspondent, Staff Writer

Ephrata opened the 2011 ice hockey season with an 8-4 loss to Annville-Cleona on Monday night at Lancaster Ice Rink. Josh Buohl picked up two goals and an assist.

The team honored Nate Haller with a moment of silence prior to the game. Haller played for Ephrata from 2004 to 2006 and was a member of the 2006 championship team. He was killed in a car accident last March.

The Dutchmen have a bigger team than the Mounts and have some players with extremely hard and accurate shooting skills. They came out running and gunning and managed five quick shots to go along with other excellent opportunities during the opening half of the first period. Only strong goaltending by Dylan Bowen kept the game scoreless.

"He was keeping us in the game," said Coach Kevin Davis. "We only one shot in the first. He faced nine shots in the period."

The Mounts struck gold with their first shot of the season when Buohl buried the puck past the A-C goalie with 6:51 left in the period.

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

Saturday was anything but normal for local football fans who ventured to State College for the Big 10 showdown between Penn State and Nebraska.

Yet, after the scandal at Penn State that rocked both the university and the country last week and cost several notables their jobs, including legendary coach Joe Paterno, the game itself was therapeutic in a sense for those 106,000 people who made it into Beaver Stadium for the big game.

Cocalico football coaches Dave Gingrich, Matt Gingrich and Bryan Strohl, along with fellow Eagle supporter Jim Kidwell, were among those who made the trek to Happy Valley. Armed with sideline passes, the foursome took in the surreal scene and talked about their experiences with The Review.

According to Kidwell, who grew up in the State College area, the pre-game festivities which included the entire Penn State team walking out arm-in-arm as well as a prayer at the center of the field involving both teams, the deafening silence stood out in the stadium.

Todd Ruth

Ephrata Review

Sports Editor Can’t say I was shocked at the news that Jim Vieland turned in his resignation as Ephrata football coach last week, but I am saddened just the same.

In recent weeks, Vieland was carrying the heavy weight of his fourth-straight losing season and it was obvious that it was too much to bear. Something just told me it was finally enough, even though Vieland never once verbalized it.

You could see it in his face, in his body language…It was a tough thing to see him go through week after painstaking week. Even after the Mounts finally did win a game in Week Nine with their amazing second-half rally at Cedar Crest, I could just tell that he had had enough.

Certainly, he takes his share of the blame for what was a dismal four years in the win/loss column (5-35), as he well should. He pushed plenty of buttons and tried just about everything to right the ship but to no avail.

Pauline K. Werner, 95, of Ephrata, formerly of Reamstown, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011 at Ephrata Manor.

She was the widow of the late Ira W. Werner, who passed in 1998. Born in Steelton, Pauline was the daughter of the late Elijah S. and Mary (Shimko) Kireta.

She was a lifelong member of Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church in Ephrata, where she was a member of the Legion of Mary.

Pauline was employed at the George W. Bollman Hat Factory in Adamstown for 25 years, retiring in 1979 as a trimmer.

Collecting music boxes was a favorite hobby of Pauline’s.

Surviving are a son: James K. Werner, of Ephrata; a daughter: Patricia A., wife of Perry W. Ansel, of Stevens; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a brother: Charles Kireta, husband of Fay Kireta, of Enhut.

In addition to her husband, Pauline was preceded in death by a son: William, two sisters: Irene and Mary, and six brothers: Fred, Cyril, Andrew, George, Joseph and John.

A mass of Christian burial was held on Nov. 11 at Our Mother of Perpetual Help Church, Ephrata. Final commendation and farewell will be in Cedar Hill Cemetery, Ephrata.

Melvin D. Weachter, 89, of Lititz, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2011 after a brief illness.

Melvin was the husband of Ella E. (Patterson) Weachter. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Oct. 12.

Born in Clay Township, Melvin was the son of the late George R. and Anna (Meiskey) Weachter.

He was a U.S. Army veteran and served during World War II. Melvin worked in various knitting mills in the area, Dutchmaid, Sylvania Mill and also was a TV repairman for Kreider Bros. in Ephrata.

He was a former member of Hopeland United Methodist Church and was a current member of the Ephrata VFW.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter: Denise A. Koscielny, of Lititz; a son: Luray M. Weachter, husband of Jennifer Weachter, of Lancaster; a step-son: Dale L. Peters, husband of Marian Peters, of Ephrata; six grandchildren; 10 great- grandchildren; one great-great grandson; and a sister: Mae Hibshman, of Denver.

He was preceded in death by his brothers: Charles and Ralph Weachter.

Funeral services were held at Paul L. Gravenor Home for Funerals on Nov. 5. Interment with military honors took place in Lincoln Cemetery, Ephrata.

Mark David Ulrich, 18, of Robesonia, passed away Friday, Nov. 11, 2011 at his residence.

He was born in Ephrata to Troy David and Melody A.(Martin) Ulrich.

Mark was a member of Swamp Lutheran Church, Reinholds. A 2011 graduate of Cocalico High School, he attended YTI and worked for Texter Mountain Pines. He was an avid hunter, fisherman and Phillies fan. He enjoyed sprint cars, tractor pulls and riding mopeds with his friends.

He will be missed by his family who felt, "his hard work and the way he stepped up every day at home to do the things that we couldn’t do was a blessing. We are proud to call you our son and brother."

In addition to his parents, Mark is survived by a sister: Adrienne J. Ulrich, at home; maternal grandmother: Carrol A. (Stuber) Martin, of Denver; godparents: John H.and Sharon S. (Ulrich) Levan, of Robesonia; many loving aunts, uncles and cousins; his girlfriend: Hannah E. Gapinski, of Denver; and his beloved dog: Maddie.

He was preceded in death by a maternal grandfather: Paul B. Martin; and paternal grandparents: Lester W. and Eva V. (Ressler) Ulrich.

Edward N. Steffy, 71, of Rothsville, passed away Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011 at Ephrata Community Hospital, while serving in the line of duty for the Rothsville Volunteer Fire Company.

He was born in Lititz to the late John H. and Eva E. (Ehrhart) Steffy and was the husband of Rosene K. (Kreider) Steffy, to whom he shared 51 years of marriage.

Edward served in the U.S. Army Reserves and was a member of the Salem United Methodist Church, Rothsville. He was also a member of Rothsville Volunteer Fire Company. He enjoyed camping, square dancing, traveling and reached his goal of visiting all 50 states. Edward was employed in retail sales of automotive and truck parts, retiring from Ephrata Auto Parts in 1999.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons: E. Nevin, husband of Janice (Singer) Steffy, of Millington, Md.; Mark C., husband of Dawn (Myers) Steffy, of Lititz; four grandchildren: Elizabeth Anne Steffy, Kathryn Marie Steffy, Nathaniel C. Steffy and Gabrielle E. Steffy; two sisters: Eleanor, wife of William Nelson, of Camp Hill; and Audrey Slater, wife of Dr. Richard Leader, of Dunnelonn, Fla.

Timothy Eugene Rodman, 53, of Brownstown, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011, surrounded by his family and friends following a three-year courageous battle with cancer.

Tim was a special husband and loved his wife, Barbara A. (Hornberger) Rodman. They would have celebrated 20 years of marriage in June 2012. Born in Lancaster County, he was the son of Harold and Pauline (Krantz) Rodman, of Strasburg.

Tim was employed at Dart Container Corporation, Leola, for 30 years. In his early years, Tim loved driving and working on his Chevelles and riding motorcycles. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. Tim shared the joy of collecting coins with his grandsons. He was a life member of the Strasburg Sportsman’s Association and the NRA. Tim attended Emmanuel United Methodist Church, Brownstown.

In addition to Barbara, Tim is survived by a brother: Terry Rodman, of Strasburg; a sister: Lori, wife of Bill Dinkel, of Landisville; mother-in-law: Dora F. Hornberger; brothers-in-law: Ronald, husband of Dolly Hornberger, of Quarryville; John, husband of Sandy Hornberger, of Strasburg; sister-in-law: Joan Gappa and companion Chris Brandt, of Gordonville; and a large extended family.

Mary H. Nolt, 89, of Stevens, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011 at her residence.

She was born in Farmersville to the late David and Lydia (Hoover) Horst and was the wife of Allen S. Nolt. The couple celebrated 67 years of marriage this past Jan. 16.

A homemaker, she was a member of the Springville Mennonite Church, Ephrata (Weaverland Conference).

In addition to her husband, Mary is survived by five sons: Mervin H., husband of Ruby (Kandel) Nolt, of Apple Creek, Ohio; Glenn H., husband of Ruth Ann (Swartzentruber) Nolt, of Dalton, Ohio; Leon H., husband of Anna Mary (Oberholtzer) Nolt, of Stevens; A. Ray, husband of Nancy (Ressler) Nolt, of Ephrata; and Luke H., husband of Janice S. Nolt, of Ephrata; two daughters: Erma H., wife of Noah K. Weaver, of Jonestown; and Mary Ellen, wife of Abram Z. Zimmerman, of Ephrata; a brother: Eli H., husband of Anna (Wise) Horst, of Leola; 25 grandchildren; and 45 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a daughter: Irene Nolt; sisters: Susanna Weaver, Lizzie Wenger, Annie Horst, Sadie Zimmerman and Lydia Wise; two grandchildren; and two great- grandsons.