Helping the homeless
Thumbs-up to everyone in the community who contributed to a project to renovate two apartment buildings into seven apartments for homeless families and an office for Anchor House Family Assistance Center in Seymour. Projects such as this one would not happen without the financial support and volunteers doing as much of the grunt work as possible.David’s TreeThumbs-up those involved in established a permanent memorial to memorialize Trinity Lutheran High School teacher David Sandhage who died May 19, 2014, after falling from a ladder at his home. That includes Trinity’s Class of 2014 who came up with the way to keep Sandhage’s memory alive for years to come with a sculpture called David’s Tree. The stainless steel and iron sculpture was made by about 20 students in Blake Hackman’s welding classes at Brownstown Central High School.
A special day
Thumbs-up to the 250 or so employees with Seymour Engine Plant and Cummins’ Columbus headquarters who participated in a community workday in Jackson County. This year’s community workday had special meaning to all those who showed up because it happened to fall on Sept. 11, which has become a national day of service and remembrance. An extra focus was placed on helping senior citizens this year.A related thumbs-up to everyone involved in organizing a Sept. 11 ceremony at Gaiser Park. The event was designed to honor veterans, firefighters, police and medical personnel and is the first such public remembrance of the events of that day back in 2001.On the airThumbs-up to Seymour’s Bud Shippee, who is in his 40th year of broadcasting Seymour High School sports. Shippee has matched his father, Bob Shippee, with his run of broadcasting Owls sports.
Top Owl
Thumbs-up to Sue Blythe, who recently stepped down as secretary for the Seymour High School athletics department after 44 years of service.Hat trick specialistThumbs-up to Trinity High School sophomore Maddie Roark, who has recorded five hat tricks in eight Cougar girls soccer games and is second in the state in scoring with 19 goals.
No explanation
Thumbs-down to the oil companies who charged motorists different prices for gasoline from community to community. On Sept. 11, the price of a gallon of gasoline was $1.99 at some Indianapolis convenience store, while the same company was charging $1.37 a gallon in Seymour. Why the difference?