Dedicated

We would like to express our profound gratitude to the Leadership Jackson County team who helped to make dedication week for the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial expansion project such a success. Thank you to Skylar Earley, Candace Foist, Steve Cissna, Sehrish Sangamkar and Maci Baurle. All your professionalism and enthusiasm for the project made this inspiring and impactful week possible for thousands of people in our community.

Timothy and Bridget Molinari, Seymour

More dedication

A related thumbs up to the Molinaris and their son, Tim Molinari, for their efforts to raise the funds for two statues depicting Tuskegee Airmen that were installed and dedicated at the memorial at Freeman Municipal Airport in Seymour on Saturday. Another thumbs up to the individuals and businesses who donated to the cause that began with the younger Molinari’s Eagle Scout project in 2015. Anyone who would like to be part of helping fund future programming may do so with tax-deductible donations to the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Endowment. Donations can be made by sending a check to the Community Foundation of Jackson County, P.O. Box 1231, Seymour, IN 47274, or by donating online at the foundation’s website, cfjacksoncounty.org.

Growing hope

Thumbs up to the many volunteers who helped organize and pull off the 13th HOPE Medora Goes Pink breast cancer awareness event Saturday. The celebration of hope held on the second Saturday of October for those struggling with cancer has become one of those must-attend events each year. A related thumbs up to Debra Wayman and her daughter, Deven Wayman-Shirley, who founded the event in 2009 to remember Debra’s mother, Helen Sipes. Sipes had recently died after the breast cancer she had spread to other areas. More than $208,000 has been raised by the event over the years to support those battling cancers of all types in all 50 states.

Conservation champion

Thumbs up to Charlie Fox, who recently was selected Jackson County Conservation Farmer of the Year by the Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation District. He and his wife, Nancy, who live and farm in the Reddington area, own farmland that has been in the Fox family for more than 150 years. Fox has spent a lifetime pursuing opportunities to address soil variations to farm the ground for what it’s best suited.

Violations

Thumbs down to motorists who continue to ignore some of the most basic state traffic laws, including stopping at stops signs and driving well over the speed limit no matter where they are. It seems to be a common occurrence anymore.