Finalist

Thumbs-up to George Hoffman of Seymour for being named a Top 10 finalist in a nationwide contest to find the Janitor of the Year. Hoffman, who has spent the past 48 years as a school custodian, was nominated by the staff at Seymour Middle School for his dedication to providing a clean environment for students, staff and the public. The 71-year old, who has been at the middle school since 1981 and worked at Shields Junior High School before that time, has a chance to win $10,000 if he collects the most votes in the contest sponsored by Cintas Corp. Half of that money would go to Seymour Middle School. To vote for Hoffman, visit cintas.com/JOTY.

Remembering a fallen Marine

Thumbs-up to Brittney Hogan, the Gold Star wife of Marine Lance Cpl. Hunter “H.D.” Hogan, for establishing the H.D. Hogan Memorial Scholarship in the memory of her husband. Hunter, who was raised in the Norman area, was killed in action June 23, 2012, while serving in Operation Enduring Freedom in Helmand Province in Afghanistan. The 2009 graduate of Brownstown Central High School loved the rodeo, and that’s why the scholarship is available to a senior member of any state’s rodeo team who wants to continue the sport in college. Hunter Hogan had four scholarship offers but declined them to enter the Marine Corps.

Critical thinking

Thumbs-up to Seymour High School’s Noah Beatty for finishing second in the critical thinking category during the ninth annual Jobs for America’s Graduates State Career Development Conference on March 17 at Indianapolis.

Helping hands

Thumbs-up to the members of the Brownstown Central High School football squad who spent a couple of days picking up debris left behind in the yards and fields of their neighbors in the Vallonia, Tampico and Wegan areas after a series of storms, including an EF2 tornado, moved through the area March 1.

Thumbs-up to the Boy Scouts of Troop 529 in Seymour for the hours they spent on Feb. 18 helping out by removing floor coverings and unneeded equipment from the Seymour Museum at Third and Chestnut streets in downtown Seymour.