Making it work

Thumbs-up to everyone involved in making the Seymour Oktoberfest a success each year. That list includes the 15 members of the board of directors and all of the volunteers who help the board, the three girls, Kinley Bishop, 7, Lillianne Forister, 9, and Anniston Rennekamp, 8, who competed for the princess title Thursday night and the one boy, Dayton Smith, 10, who entered the prince contest. It takes a lot of volunteers to pull off the three-day event, now in its 46th year.

Helping Hands

Thumbs-up to the 30 or so members of Sakura Helping Hands for making and selling traditional Japanese arts, crafts and gifts during the Seymour Oktoberfest. Each year, the group of women donated about $2,500 in proceeds from their booth at Oktoberfest to Seymour Community School Corp., Jackson County Public Library, Schneck Medical Center, the city and other groups. Sakura Helping Hands was started 26 years ago as a project to help get Japanese women, who live in the Seymour area temporarily while their husbands work at local Japanese-owned companies, more involved in the community and as a way to teach others about their culture and heritage.

Singer saluted

Thumbs-up to Amanda Massengale for being selected to the Indiana Music Education Association All-State Honor Choir. In January, the Seymour High School sophomore will sing with the 250-member choir during the association’s Professional Development Conference at Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne.

Wall of Famers

Thumbs-up to the five Seymour High School alumni inducted into the school’s Wall of Fame on Sept. 28. The five are 1973 graduate Brian Hunterman; Bradley Ault, Ph.D., 1979; Roger Pardieck, Shields Senior High School, 1955; James Thompson, (posthumous) Shields Senior High School, 1940; and Dr. David Stout, 1969. The five join 49 other graduates inducted since the first class was recognized Sept. 27, 1996.

Champions

Thumbs-up to members of Seymour High School’s boys tennis team for winning the school’s third sectional title in four years and 10th overall. The squad includes No. 1 singles player Adam Berry, No. 2 singles player Isaac Hardin, No. 3 singles player Trey Hohenstreiter, the No. 1 doubles team of Brandon Hubbard and Will Reinhart and the No. 2 doubles team of Sam Schmidt and Andrew Levine.

Absent

Thumbs-down to absentee landlords who don’t bother to take care of their property, allowing it to become rundown and an eyesore. Abandoned homes often become havens for drug activity.