From left, Steve Bennett with Central Christian Church and Aiden Pierson, Gavin Murphy and Ethan Rader with The Point sort items at the Anchor House East Shelter in Seymour on Monday as part of Martin Luther King Jr. Day service activities.
Zach Spicer | The Tribune
“A day on, not a day off”
Thumbs up to the nearly 30 Seymour youth who woke up early on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and spent several hours helping their community. On Monday, youth from The Point in Seymour — who did the same thing a year ago — were joined by kids from Central Christian Church and Emmanuel Church, both in Seymour, and some members of the Boys & Girls Club of Seymour Torch Club in completing service projects. Some helped with pantry day and organizing the warehouse at Anchor House Family Assistance Center and Pantry, while others sorted donations and other items and cleaned at the Anchor House East Shelter. Others painted the inside of dugouts at Shields Park and cleaned at the Seymour Community Center to help the Seymour Parks and Recreation Department.
Leading the way
Thumbs up to Pershing Township Volunteer Fire Department firefighters Todd Brumfield and Chris Gilbert for being named co-Firefighters of the Year. Brumfield earned the honor for the fourth year in a row, while it was the second straight year Gilbert received the honor.
Another thumbs up to the Hamilton Township Volunteer Fire Department firefighters who were honored during that department’s annual gathering. A few members were recognized for their service. Tommy Hoffmeier was named EMS Provider of the Year, Jeremy Kleber was named Volunteer of the Year, Tyler Wetzel was named Officer of the Year and R.C. Wayt was named Firefighter of the Year.
Hornets of the Month
Thumbs up to the Medora R.E.D. Hornets of the Month for December. They were sophomore Peyton Spence and eighth-graders Dalton Kessner and Waylon Burrell. The monthly award is designed to promote responsibility, empathy and determination among the students of Medora Community School Corp.
Braves of the Month
Thumbs up to Brownstown Central Community School Corp. Students of the Month for December. They were first-grader Camden Vague, junior Cody Burnside and sixth-grader Gabriella Hall.
Timely arrival
Thumbs up to everyone involved in the project to install the first tornado siren in the small southwestern Jackson County town of Medora. Town Marshal Jeff Walters initiated the effort about a year ago and was finally able to make it happen just in time for spring, which arrives March 20. The city of Seymour also helped make it possible by giving the town a siren the city was no longer using. The Community Foundation of Jackson County along with the Owen-Carr Township Community Endowment also helped by providing much of the estimated $7,000 it took to install. Mitchell & Stark Construction Co. of Medora donated the use of a crane to help with installation of the siren on a utility pole installed by Jackson County REMC across the street from Medora Community Schools.