Lakeman is HCP's oldest carrier
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Josephine Lakeman, known as "Jo" by her friends and family, is the Highland County Press's oldest newspaper carrier. Jo, who will be 92 in April, and her daughter, Ruth Durham, are volunteer carriers for Small Road and parts of Herdman Road, located off of route 771. Ruth drives and Jo bags and throws papers "for exercise." Jo and Ruth say that they have received thank you cards in the mail from people grateful for their volunteer service.
Jo, who served in various capacities in school boards, the PTA, and other educational organizations in the Fairfax area of Cincinnati for decades, is also retired from bookkeeping and running a roofing business with her husband. She currently cooks, gardens, knits, and attends activities at the Highland County Senior Center. Jo credits her longevity partly to her love of food and said that the reason she has kept active all her life is because she has a "speech impediment."
"I always tell people I have a speech impediment," Jo said. "If someone asked me to do something, I couldn't say 'no.'"
Thank you, Jo, for your service to the community and to the Highland County Press!