Good deed doers

Thumbs-up to the recipients of Brownstown Exchange Club’s ninth annual Community Service Awards. They are Jerry Hounshel, Proudly We Hail; Wayne and Judy Gilbert, Community Service; Lt. Andy Wayman with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Officer of the Year; Maggie Rohlfing, Student of the Year; Luke Nolting, Brownstown/Ewing Cultural Heritage; Blake Hackman, Book of Golden Deeds; and Claire Smith, Jenny Runge, Emma Zabor, Madison Klinge, Rohlfing, Shelby Stuckwisch and Stuart Hayden, Students of the Month.

Ride to Remember

Thumbs-up to the riders involved in the Indiana Patriot Guard Riders’ eighth annual Ride to Remember. They made a stop June 10 in Brownstown to conduct a memorial service to remember Marine Lance Cpl. Hunter “H.D.” Hogan for the sacrifice he made while in the service of his country. Hogan, who grew up in the Clearspring area, was killed in action June 23, 2012, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. A related thumbs-up to Mason and Tawnya Fleetwood and family and their employees for opening up their restaurant, Blondie’s Pizzeria & Pub, for the service after heavy rain fell, threatening to delay the start of the service.

Getting out the vote

Thumbs-up to the 9,688 people out of 27,758 registered voters in Jackson County who found the time to vote in the May 8 primary election either at a polling site or by absentee ballot before Election Day. According to the Office of the Indiana Secretary of State, just two counties had higher turnout than Jackson County.

Budding artists

Thumbs-up to Stacey Williams who led the sixth annual Jackson County Young Artists’ Theatre children’s theater workshop. This year’s weeklong workshop drew a record number of boys and girls ages 6 to 18. A related thumbs-up goes to Karen Haas, who was Williams’ co-instructor; Megan Keller, the art director, who also helped the students with backstage work; Kathy Nelson and Matt Nieman, who ran the evening workshop for teens; and the teen volunteers. The workshop is sponsored and organized by the Jackson County Community Theatre board.

Confined

Thumbs-down to people who allow their pets to run free, which can lead to injury and even death to pets belonging to others.

Give them a break

Thumbs-down to people who leave their pets in parked vehicles while shopping. Pets are no different than people and won’t last long when it’s this hot.