Editor, Times-Union: We would like to thank the Town of Winona Lake and especially the police department for superb help in our very successful Light the Night Thursday evening in beautiful Winona Lake. There are many volunteers to whom we are very grateful, who helped us succeed with over 500 walkers and more than $24,000 raised for research of leukemia and other blood-related cancers, as well as patient aid.
We are especially thankful for so many leukemia and cancer survivors who came out to walk and carry the cherished white balloons.
Thanks again to all who made this such a great success.
Marla LaRue, Logistics Chairperson
Special Olympics
Editor, Times-Union: It is time to update everyone on some of the exciting events that have been taking place with the athletes of Special Olympics Kosciusko County.
The softball team finished its season with a loss in the opening round of the Area 2 Sectional. The season was exciting for the 14 players that made up the team, as they compiled a record of 2-4 in league play.
Everyone improved in some area of the sport throughout the season. R.R. Donnelley Division Director Grant McGuire and his staff gave a pizza party in their honor recently. R.R. Donnelley also provided the practice field all season and a group of talented softball players to practice against our team when needed. We thank all of them for their time and effort.
The Bowl-A-Thon held at Warsaw Bowl in July raised in excess of $2,000. Our thanks to the athletes and everyone else who worked so hard to obtain pledges.
Of course, this would not have been a success without all the generous people willing to donate not only to the bowlers but also the many local business owners for prizes as well. A special thank-you also goes to Johnny and Carrie Hersha at Warsaw Bowl for their hospitality and support, not only for the Bowl-A-Thon, but also all year long.
Our local golfers made quite a showing in the Area 2 Golf Sectional. Of the four pairs of golfers (one athlete and one coach) that participated, there was a first, a second, a fourth and a sixth. All four athletes participated at the state meet in individual skills and three teams participated in the team event.
In skills testing, they finished with one first, two seconds and a fourth. In the team event, they finished with a first, a fourth and a fifth.
Congratulations to the athletes and their coaches for their hard work and great effort.
Upcoming events: Bowling: Tuesday league bowling started Tuesday at Warsaw Bowl. Saturday bowling is continuing at Warsaw Bowl. Watch for upcoming dates in the community calendar. Special Olympics Kosciusko County local bowling tourney will be held at Warsaw Bowl Oct. 5th beginning at 1:30 p.m. This will be used as a qualifier for the Area 2 Bowling Tourney at Chippewa Bowl in South Bend Nov. 9 at 11:30 a.m. The state tourney will be held in Indianapolis Dec. 7 and 8.
Football: Flag football is in full swing. Kosciusko County will host a round-robin flag football tourney for Area 2 Saturday at Tippecanoe Valley High School. The first game will begin at 11 a.m. and the final game will start at 4 p.m.
If you know of an athlete that is at least 8 years old, is mentally handicapped and would benefit from participating in Special Olympics, please give our county coordinator a call. If you would like to volunteer to help out in some way, contact Special Olympics Kosciusko County coordinator Becky Walls - 594-2962 or walls@maplenet.net
Gene Hughes Mentone on behalf of the Special Olympics Kosciusko County
Board of Directors via e-mail
Light The Night Thanks
Editor, Times-Union: I want to thank all the people who participated in our Light the Night. The over $24,000 will be used for research of leukemia and other blood-related cancers, as well as patient aid that stays in our local area. Special thanks to our local banner sponsors - Grace College and Seminary, The Village at Winona, Zimmer and all our many other sponsors who made this event a huge success.
We are very proud that the greater Warsaw community turned out more walkers than Fort Wayne Light the Night the evening before. This is due in large part to the participation of schools - especially Madison Elementary, which raised more than $6,100 with about 200 walkers. We look forward to an even greater year on Sept. 18, 2003, with more schools and residents involved.
Mary Crane, Light the Night Chair
Dalton Foundry
Editor, Times Union: This is regarding the recent discussion on the Dalton Foundry. I live just a block away from Dalton. I experience everything Charlie Smith described to the council.
The dust, dirt, grit or whatever it is that settles on us is becoming more of a problem. Although the grime that settles on and stains our houses, windows, cars and anything else outdoors can be a nuisance to clean up - I am more concerned about what it is doing to our lungs (we breathe the stuff 24 hours a day). I thought this was just something else to put up with (like the low, continual hum).
Every time I drive to Fort Wayne, I am struck by how clean the Steel Dynamics plant is - and how dirty Dalton is when I return home (side note: Even though Steel Dynamics has been in production for only a few weeks, it would just take a few days for enough "Dalton Dust" to be visible from quite some distance - my white siding is perpetually a rusty gray). Though they do not do exactly the same things, I am impressed by the lengths Steel Dynamics went to run such a clean plant - possibly a result of the negative response from the surrounding community regarding their choice of locations. A clean metal works has been a proven possibility when a company chooses to hold itself to higher standards! If our neighborhood united to, not shut Dalton down, but just to get them to clean up their act a bit, do you think they would respond? I'm getting kind of eager to find out.
I don't mind the little things one has to put up with by choosing to live by a factory (like the noise and vibrations). In fact, I very much appreciate it being there - I have friends and relatives who earn their living there. I just wish that they would choose to run a cleaner operation - or that someone would force them to do so!
