Remembering

Thumbs-up to the organizers and all those who participated in the annual V-J Day Parade on Sunday in downtown Seymour. It’s important to take the time to recognize the events of Aug. 15 that marked the end of Second World War in Asia. More than 100 million people from around the globe where involved in the war that left 419,000 Americans dead including 72 from Jackson County.

Hope

Thumbs-up to the 200-plus people who attended the fourth annual HOPE Medora Goes Pink dinner and pie auction on Saturday night at Medora Christian Church. The event raises money to help with the annual HOPE Medora Goes Pink held on the second Saturday of each October. To date, the main HOPE Medora Goes Pink in October has raised $62,800 to help for those struggling with cancer and their families with expenses. A related Thumbs-up to all the cooks and servers for the meal; those who baked items for the pie auction and auctioneer Larry Bennett and his assistant, Roger Hurt, who sold the cakes, pies and cookies. Hurt deserves another thumbs-up for supplying the sound system for the event.

Dogged

Thumbs-up to the more than 60 dogs and their owners who brought their canine companions to the second K9 Campers’ Seymour Summer Splash. The event allowed pet owners to let their dogs to jump into the pool at Shields Park and swim for a few hours before the pool officially closed for the summer. It also raised money and awareness for the Jackson County Dog Shelter project.

Breathing easier

Thumbs-up to those involved in an asthma-friendly program being put in place at schools in the county. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, asthma is a leading chronic illness among children and adolescents in the United States and also is one of the leading causes of school absenteeism. Jackson County along with Fountain and Perry counties have been targeted for high rates of asthma among school-aged children and emergency room visits related to the respiratory condition. Those involved in the effort to decrease absenteeism related to asthma in the county, the CDC, Indiana State Department of Health, Indiana Department of Education, Schneck Medical Center and the local school corporations are working with the American Lung Association to roll out the asthma-friendly school program.