Today we feature Tammi Helka. Tammi is the Library Director at the Oakwood Public Library. She’s a hard worker with a creative spirit, and makes sure that Oakwood has some fantastic programming!

What are your top 3 favorite movies?

The Notebook
The Art of Racing in the Rain
The Fox and the Hound

Have you played any good board games lately?

Taco, Cat, Goat, Cheese, Pizza (it’s a card game)

What are two things that you are really happy that you get to do right now?

If you were to make a mixed tape, what would you put on it?

This is a tough question. I listen to all kinds of music and frankly I don’t keep track of the titles or singers to make a tape.

Have your ever disliked something and then changed your mind?

If you had only one sense (hearing, touch, sight, etc.), which would you want?

What is your definition of “success?”

If you could only read one book for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I don’t know if I could answer that question, but a good book I just recently read is A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum.

You have to get takeout for dinner; where do you go and what do you get?

What do you want people to know right now?

With everything going on with the Coronavirus and being on lockdown. I feel everyone should relax and enjoy the slower pace of things. Pick up that book you wanted to read when you had time. Play games with your kids. Work on projects in your home. Maybe we all needed this time to just sit back and reflect on what’s important.

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The Oakwood Public Library Board voted to eliminate late fees for patrons beginning March 11. 

The measure included waiving previous fines on all library cards, even if a patron had not been to the library for years. The only fine that remains is on cards with lost or damaged items.

“We are hoping this encourages more patrons to use the library and the free services we provide,” Oakwood Librarian Tammi Helka said. “We understand people get busy, sick, or other things come up that they don’t have the time or just forget to get the items back on time. We are no longer charging for those late items as we understand life just sometimes gets in the way.”

Oakwood began talking about the possibility of waiving fees as they became aware that large libraries in Chicago, New York and St. Louis are all fine free.

“With Oakwood’s population being smaller and some are lower income this will help give more people access to the library and not have to worry about any fines if they are late,” Helka said.

Books that are checked out longer than 30 days past the due date will incur a fine, but if the book is returned, the balance will be brought back to zero on the account. 

Helka said the goal of the library is just to get the items back, not to keep patrons from using the library.

Oakwood Public Library offers a large variety of books, audiobook, and magazines for patrons to check out. 

“We also have Kits, that include books, dvd’s and games for kids to have a hands on learning in several topics,” Helka said. “We just started checking out puzzles,  board games, and even baking kits. We offer three different apps for patrons to download books, movies, and music to their device all just with using their library card.”

A librarian will be at Oakwood Grade School on Wednesday, March 18 and Thursday March 19 from 4-7pm for anyone that wants to check their accounts or sign up for a library card.

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We will provide information on how to get your sale listed as soon as that becomes available.

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Five Comets earned postseason recognition on either the Vermilion Valley all-conference team or the Vermilion all-county team.

Senior Katelyn Young was a member of the 10-player first team on both honor squads.

Senior Aubrey Wells and junior Aaliyah Denius were members of the seven-player special mention list on both squads.

Addie Wright, who was selected to the 10-player honorable mention all-conference team, was elevated to the seven-player special mention all-county squad.

The other Oakwood player to earn recognition was sophomore Ashlynn Pinnick, an honorable mention all-county pick.

Denius and Pinnick were team scoring leaders in at least one game. Denius, Pinnick, Wells and Wright all had multiple games where they scored in double figures.

Young averaged a team-best 22.7 points per game for the 23-8 Comets.

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Young will also be invited to play in the annual IBCA all-star game at the end of the school year.

Young broke Oakwood’s all-time scoring record – for girls or boys – by amassing 2,361 points in her four-year career, including 658 points as a senior.

She was the Comets’ top scorer in 28 of the 29 games she played as a senior for the 23-8 squad. For the season, she averaged 22.7 points per game.

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fred@mahometnews.com

The Comets more than held their own in the first half on Wednesday against unbeaten and state-ranked Bismarck-Henning in a semifinal game of the St. Joseph-Ogden Class 2A boys’ basketball regional tournament.

Oakwood held the lead at halftime 28-25 before falling 62-52.

Josh Young led the Comets with 14 points. Jayden Cox added 10 points. Jackson Powell scored nine points and teammates Elijah Harden and Dalton Hobick finished with seven points apiece.

B-H/R-A (31-0) used a 22-14 third-quarter spurt to take a five-point lead into the final period.

Oakwood hit 7 of 8 free throws.

On Monday, for the third time in four games this season, the Comets topped Vermilion County rival Georgetown-Ridge Farm on the basketball court.

Oakwood prevailed 59-50 in a first-round game of the SJ-O regional.

Young hit a team-high 13 points and was one of four squad members to score in double figures. Cox and Harden each tallied 11 points. Brevin Wells finished with 10 points.

Young was the team’s top scorer in 11 of the final 14 games this season.

G-RF led 14-12 after one quarter, but Oakwood had regained the lead, 30-26, at halftime.

The Comets hit 20 of 29 free throws. G-RF made 7 of 16 free throw attempts.

Oakwood ends with a 17-15 season record.

Young was the team’s top scorer this season in 15 games. Wells set the pace in 13 games. Isiah Ruch led in five games, Powell in three with Kade Anderson and Harden leading in one apiece.

Wells knocked down 71 three-point shots this season, accounting for two-thirds of his 107 field goals. Powell drained 41 three-pointers and Cox netted 24.

Oakwood’s top single-game point totals were 24 by Wells, 23 by Harden and 23 by Young.

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The Comets fell behind by 15 points at halftime on Friday at Schlarman Academy, and suffered a 67-59 Vermilion Valley Conference setback.

For the first time this season, Oakwood had five double-figure scorers in the same game.

Brevin Wells and Josh Young each netted 12 points. Jaydon Cox hit for 11 points while Elijah Harden and Jackson Powell tallied 10 points apiece.

Schlarman led 17-11 after one quarter and 36-21 at halftime.

Oakwood (16-14) returns to action Monday in the fourth meeting with rival Georgetown-Ridge Farm in the 7 p.m. first-round Class 2A regional game at St. Joseph.

Oakwood leads in the season series 2-1.

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Gage Reed truly earned a first for the Oakwood/Salt Fork program.

Until Saturday, the Comets had a total of 12 individual state placers in wrestling, but no Oakwood athlete had ever earned more than one medal.

Reed became the first while also becoming a state champion.

The junior dominated his final two matches – not allowing a point in either– and took top honors in Class 1A at 113 pounds with a 3-0 championship-match decision over Tolono Unity’s Tavius Hosley at the UI State Farm Center.

Reed placed fifth in the same weight class as a sophomore, losing a one-point decision in the semifinals.

He ends his junior season with a 43-3 record.

Head coach Mike Glosser pinpointed one key difference in his standout.

“He really turned the corner on his mindset,” Glosser said. “This year, he believed he was one of the best wrestlers in the state.”

His game plan was similar for virtually all opponents.

“Non-stop offense,” Reed said. “Stay aggressive on offense.

“Offense. Offense. Offense.”

Wrestling is a sport that requires discipline, commitment and patience.

As great as the season ended – and perhaps the reason the season ended so well – a mid-season meet provided a critical learning opportunity for Reed.

The date was Jan. 7, and it was the first meet of the new calendar year. The Comets went to Unity and also faced Mount Zion that night.

Reed wasn’t in the lineup. He didn’t make weight.

Even though Oakwood/Salt Fork was forfeiting the next weight class (120 pounds), coach Mike Glosser had no inclination of allowing Reed to bump up and fill that spot in the lineup.

“He has to know it’s unacceptable (to not make weight),” Glosser said. “Wrestling is a sport of discipline and character.”

It was a tough night for Reed as he sat on the sidelines.

“Sitting out, watching my team get beat, was one of the hardest feelings,” Reed said.

It may have also been the best thing for him.

“I knew, ‘OK, it’s time to get my act together.’” Reed said. “There were times I was undisciplined (eating). I’m glad Coach reacted the way he did.

“If I didn’t have that, it could have haunted me in regionals or sectionals.”

From then on, Reed was unstoppable while reaching the highest pinnacle possible.

“He got on a mission, a little bit,” Glosser said. “He was more fanatical with his nutrition and his weight was great.

“It was a good lesson for him and he grew up from it.”

By keeping his weight under control, Reed didn’t need to expend energy before weigh-ins to drop a few extra ounces.

It showed.

“He had lots of energy in his matches,” Glosser said.

The only time Reed didn’t know what to do on the mat came when the final buzzer sounded in his 113-pound state championship match.

“I had so many emotions,” Reed said. “It was the greatest feeling.

“I didn’t know whether to jump up and down, scream or put my hands in the air.”

Showing restraint, Reed did none of the above.

“I try to stay as humble as I can,” Reed said. “I hate it when people celebrate against me. I did not do any of those things.”

Once he left the mat, however, Reed let loose.

“I don’t think I’ve ever jumped so high,” he said, recalling his leap into Glosser’s outstretched arms.

Twenty-four hours after achieving a state title, the celebration had barely slowed down.

“It’s still non-stop happiness,” he said. “Me and my family have been celebrating like there’s no tomorrow.”

Reed was treated to a homecoming parade on Sunday in Oakwood.

“I didn’t think so many people would show up,” Reed said. “That was awesome. I never expected to get something like that.”

Even the coach – who tries to be calm and maintain an even demeanor – got caught up in the moment.

“It was a pretty cool experience,” Glosser said. “A lot of people showed up for him. The town lined the streets.”

It’s a good thing Reed doesn’t need to weigh in today. His celebration involved stops at a couple of restaurants.

“I had a good breakfast (on Sunday) at Hank’s Café,” Reed said. “I haven’t been to Hank’s since wrestling started.”

His plate included an omelet with gravy and hash browns.

For lunch, he joined family and friends at another local favorite, the Little Nugget.

“I had a 12-ounce steak and fries,” Reed said. “I’m going to have to go and run tomorrow.”

Reed came through a tough bracket at state. Among his wins during the three-day tournament were over athletes who placed fourth and fifth.

The state crown is the second for an Oakwood wrestler. The first title was captured by Charles Lomax in 1974 at 119 pounds.

This year marked the third time in the last five years under Glosser that the Comets have had an individual in the championship bout. In that five-year span, the program has produced six state medal-winners.

The other Comets who recently reached the Grand March and then competed for a state title – Cody Ayers and Mason Ajster – paved the way for what happened early Saturday evening with Reed’s breakthrough in the finals, Glosser said.

“It got kids to believe anybody can do this no matter where you’re from,” Glosser said.

The ripple effect from Reed’s championship weekend came quickly for Glosser.

“It kick-starts it,” Glosser said. “I’ve had kids texting me already wanting to know when the next practice is. They’re saying, ‘I want greatness like Gage.’

“I hope this is a turning point, not just for Gage, but the kids around him. They’re talking about taking it seriously all 12 months and not just for four or five.

“They are hungry for more. I can see the look in their eyes.”

For the second year in a row, the Oakwood/Salt Fork cooperative program had two state-placers.

Freshman Reef Pacot (42-7 season record) ended sixth at 106 pounds. He was decisioned 4-3 by Riverdale’s Collin Altensey in the medal round.

Pacot lost by a point in overtime in Friday’s semifinal round and then dropped a 6-3 decision in Saturday’s first match.

The program’s third state-qualifier – 132-pound Joe Lashuay – also won a match at state, but fell short of earning a medal.

Lashuay’s win was 8-4 over Nazareth’s Josh Fowler. He was ousted in the wrestlebacks by Sandwich’s Braulio Flores, 4-3. For the season, Lashuay was 28-8.

From Glosser’s perspective, he will remember more about Reed’s season than where he stood on the podium for the awards’ presentation.

“He never stopped having fun,” Glosser said.

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Two Oakwood/Salt Fork underclassmen have advanced into the semifinal round of the IHSA Class 1A wrestling state tournament at the UI State Farm Center.

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The Comets assured themselves of an above-.500 season on Tuesday by overpowering visiting Georgetown-Ridge Farm 63-36 on Senior Night at Fithian.

Oakwood, which has a four-game winning streak, led 34-28 at halftime and then allowed the Buffaloes just eight more points thereafter.

Josh Young scored nine of his team-high 22 points in the first period as the Comets spurted into a 19-13 lead.

Elijah Harden tallied 10 of his 16 points during an 18-0 third-quarter run.

Brevin Wells scored nine points and Kade Anderson added seven points for Oakwood.

Anderson, Harden and Jayden Cox were the seniors who played in their final home contest.

Oakwood (16-13) returns to action on Friday in its regular-season finale at Danville Schlarman Academy.  The Comets are 9-3 in Vermilion Valley Conference games.

Oakwood and G-RF will play for the fourth time this season on Monday at 7 p.m. in a first-round Class 2A regional game at St. Joseph.

Oakwood won the first meeting in three overtimes, but G-RF captured the second game by 12 points. Friday’s win gave the Comets a 2-1 lead in the season series.

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