Helping hands
Thumbs-up to the more than 150 volunteers who woke up early on the morning of Christmas Eve to help deliver gifts to children as part of a Christmas Eve tradition in Jackson County — the Sertoma Christmas Miracle project. This year’s effort, the 46th annual, served 783 kids and 290 families — compared to 755 kids and 311 families in 2017.
Thumbs-up to everyone involved in the Crothersville FFA Toy & Food Drive, including members of the school’s FFA chapter and alumni of that organization, personnel with the Crothersville-Vernon Township Volunteer Fire Department and other community members. This year, toys and a record 15.7875 tons of food were delivered to 98 families by more than 60 volunteers.
Thumbs-up to the private donors and businesses who helped with Anchor House Family Assistance Center & Pantry’s Adopt a Family at Christmas program. This year, enough supporters stepped up to provide gifts to the seven families living in apartments at the facility for the homeless and 10 families that most recently left there.
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Thumbs-up to those who recently gathered at Spurgeon Funeral Home in Brownstown to put together gift bags to deliver to veterans in Jackson County nursing homes. Wayne Gilbert, an Army veteran, started the program more than 10 years ago. Helping with the program this year were The Elks, Brownstown Exchange Club and Brownstown Electric Supply.
Promoting literacy
Thumbs-up to the Leadership Jackson County team of Lola Snyder, David Good, Amy Nierman, Chuck Olson, Amy Tracy and Kendra Zumhingst for publishing "The Adventures of Jack and Sonny" and giving free copies of it to about 700 pre-k and kindergarten students in Jackson County. While there’s the fictional story in the book, it also contains factual information about places in the area, including Fort Vallonia and the Medora Covered Bridge. That makes the book, designed to promote literacy and parents reading to their kids, unique along with it being written and illustrated and including photos snapped by Jackson County residents. Around 300 more copies were printed for people to purchase at the Jackson County Visitor Center and Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge bookstore, both in Seymour.
Trustees recognized
Thumbs-up to Robert Spicer and Ralph Hillenburg who recently attended their last meeting as members of the Crothersville Community School Corp. board of trustees. Spicer, a former teacher and administrator, spent 20½ years serving on the board, while Hillenburg served on the board for 14 years.
Business of the Year
Thumbs-up to Midwest Environmental Services Inc., which was recently named the Charlestown Chamber of Commerce’s 2018 Business of the Year. The company, founded in 1982 in the back of a pizza parlor in Brownstown, provides the transportation and disposal of hazardous and nonhazardous waste, as well as industrial cleaning services, vacuum trucks, excavation of sludge, liquids, solids and "whatever may need cleaned out," President Jayson Sterling said.