Thumbs up, thumbs down for July 17
Above and beyond
Thumbs up to Adilee Phegley and Tonya Disque, who live near the family of Brandon Stuckwish in Vallonia. The pair along with many others in the community put together a fundraiser Saturday for Brandon, who was seriously injured in a July 2 crash near Cortland. The initial goal was to raise $200 to help the family with the financial burden related to Brandon’s injuries. The event, however, raised $5,342 for the cause. A related thumbs up to everyone who came out and supported the fundraiser.
Also, a thumbs up goes to Mecka Schroer of Seymour, who witnessed Brandon’s crash, called 911 and grabbed her first aid kit and ran to assist the victims. Schroer, who turned 19 that day, used some of her training from the certified nursing assistant class she is taking to help out before other emergency workers arrived.
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Shed for You
Thumbs up to the Leadership Jackson County social concerns project team of Kathy Brown, Megan Cherry, Derek Glaze, Julie Hirtzel and Sasha Norman, who recently established a Shed for You community building at the old Pershing Township Volunteer Fire Department in Freetown. The purpose of the second Shed for You established in Jackson County (the other is in Brownstown) is to help address food insecurity in the community. The team also plans to start a Feeding the Community Coalition to address food insecurity throughout the county. A related thumbs up to members of Brownstown Central High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes, who will stock and organize items at both locations, and T-Mobile for donating the Freetown shed.
Patriotic
Thumbs up to the organizers of the Freetown Freedom Festival, including President Cheryl Long and her committee, for their work to pull the event off this past weekend. The committee chose to give a portion of the proceeds from the patriotic festival to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1925 in Seymour.
Backing the blue
Thumbs up to Seymour-Jackson County Elementary School teachers Debbie Atchison and Tammy Hubbard, who in partnership with Bob Poynter GM recently conducted a Back the Blue campaign to support hometown heroes on the front line every day keeping others safe. The two collected snacks, bottled water and gift cards for local police and sheriff’s departments.