Thumbs up
Patriot
Thumbs-up to 93-year-old Shirley Shade of Seymour for being recognized for her patriotism by Mayor Craig Luedeman, who proclaimed Nov. 19 “Shirley Shade Day.” Shade, who has participated in every one of the city’s 71 V-J Day Parades since August of 1947, also has served as president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1925 Ladies Auxiliary in Seymour and as president of Indiana’s District 9 VFW Ladies Auxiliary. She was No. 1 in Buddy Poppy sales from 1980 to 1984.
A reason to give
Thumbs-up to 6-year-old Daelyn Freese and her 11-year-old sister, Lariah Neal, for their decision to conduct a raffle sale for the two Hatchimal toys they were going to receive for their birthdays. The two decided to hold a raffle, with the Hatchimal toys as prizes, and use the proceeds and other donations of toys, gloves, scarfs and other items for the children of the Gatlinburg, Tennessee, area, who suffered from losses after the recent forest fires. A related thumbs-up to the local businesses including Wischmeier Trucking of Brownstown and Bob Poytner’s trio of auto sales locations for organizing the Tennessee Wildfire Relief effort to help those who homes were damaged or destroyed by the wildfires.
Warmed up
Thumbs-up to Becky Wilson and her daughter, Becca Hattabaugh, for continuing their annual Warm Hearts Warm Toes project, which provides new shoes and socks to local schoolchildren. The duo were able to do it despite the closure of their parish church, Our Lady of Providence in Brownstown. The program is funded by St. Vincent de Paul Society, an international Catholic organization that helps less-fortunate people with a variety of services, and community members.
Parade success
Thumbs-up to everyone who made the 44th annual Medora Christmas Parade and the Medora Christmas Festival on Dec. 3 a success. It takes a lot of effort to pull off such an event, and it’s even better when a small community is able to do it year in and year out.
Thumbs down
No tailgating
Thumbs-down to motorists who tailgate, especially when road conditions aren’t always the best. It can create a lot of problems for all concerned.