Stephen Edward Pitstick died on Friday, July 10, at the age of 58. He was the son of Arthur and the late March “Jane” (Cornwell) Pitstick and lived most of his life on the family farm outside of Yellow Springs. Seven years ago he moved into Hope Homes in Fairborn.

JoAnn Fischi Mahle died of cancer on July 9 at the Hospice of Dayton. JoAnn was 72. She was born Sept. 17, 1936, to James and Mamie Fischi in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. JoAnn grew up in Daleville, Pa., but went to high school in Scranton.

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The often contentious issue of annexation sparked conflict between Council members during the July 6 meeting of Village Council. At issue was the language in the Yellow Springs Comprehensive Plan, which was recently revised by Planning Commission. The plan, which is the land use plan for the village, is revised by the planners and submitted for Council approval every five to seven years.

Just before his jury trial began on Monday, July 13, former Yellow Springs resident Phillip Cordell pled guilty to the 2004 murder of local resident Timothy Harris. Cordell, 48, was sentenced to a mandatory five years in prison, with no chance for judicial release, which is the maximum sentence for his plea, according to Greene County Prosecutor Suzanne Schmidt on Tuesday.

At the July 9 school board meeting, Treasurer Joy Kitzmiller reported that the Yellow Springs school district ended the financially challenging 2008–2009 fiscal year in the black.

On an ordinary street in town, there is an ordinary brick ranch with two ordinary maple trees planted in the front yard. But inside this ordinary house is a woman with an unordinary history. It’s a personal history that reflects advances in civil rights and decolonization. It’s the history of one woman with a pioneering spirit, keen leadership skills and a love of learning.

The Major League youth baseball standings are unchanged after six weeks of play, as the Twins remain undefeated at 10–0. The Twins won the first of three games on July 1, defeating the Royals 12–4.

Phyllis Hitchcock died on July 11 at Friends Care Center of Yellow Springs. She was 87. Phyllis was born in Shreve, Ohio, to Howard and Lena Leiner on Jan. 24, 1922. She grew up in the adjacent village of Millersburg.

On Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, July 20, 22 and 23, from 9 to 11 a.m., “swing sessions” will be held at the Young’s Jersey Dairy driving range. All Yellow Springs High School students planning to participate in varsity golf are invited to begin preparing for the upcoming season.