All-state singers

Thumbs-up to the three Seymour Middle School choir students who performed Jan. 12 with the Middle School All-State Honor Choir, sponsored by the Indiana Music Education Association, in Fort Wayne. The three, Millie Hays, Carly Kaiser and Liza Stuckwisch, recorded auditions in October 2017 before being chosen to perform with the 140-member choir. The three also had to be members of Circle of State with Song, a statewide choral festival for elementary and junior high/middle school choirs.

Blanketed

I’d like to give a thumbs-up to Brownstown and Seymour schools in their collaborative effort to collect blankets for the annual Sertoma Christmas Miracle. The students collected 700 blankets this year, which were delivered to the Sertoma Club of Jackson County. Also a thumbs-up to Anytime Fitness and St. Paul Lutheran Church-Borchers for collecting and delivering new hats, scarves and gloves to Sertoma. These initiatives are driven by the Jackson County United Way, and to date, approximately 3,800 blankets have been donated to Sertoma Christmas Miracle.

Bonita Dobbs

Helping out

Thumbs-up to everyone who kept an eye out for their neighbors during the recent stretch of winter storms and cold temperatures. It never hurts to provide a helping hand whenever the occasion might arise because there may come a time when you might need a similar pick-me-up.

A shining star

Thumbs-up to everyone who contributed to Brownstown/Ewing Main Street’s project to rehabilitate the 105-year-old former Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Railroad freight depot in Ewing. The depot is a shining example of what a community can do to capture its past while paving the way for the future.

Spreading warmth

Thumbs-up to the congregation of Cana United Methodist Church in Uniontown, which is distributing coats throughout Jackson County this month. There is no deadline for the giving of these coats, and if you need one, don’t hesitate to stop by the church on State Road 250 just east of Interstate 65 or call 812-599-9547.