Thumbs up

Unselfish

Thumbs-up to 10-year-old Kaylee Gerbig, a student at Seymour-Redding Elementary, for being the person she is and being willing to give up all her Christmas gifts if her papa could only have his sight. I love you.

John Gerbig, Seymour

Santa’s helpers

Thumbs-up to the members of the Jennings County Color Guard who purchased toys for children hospitalized over the holidays at Schneck Medical Center. Dozens of toys were presented to the pediatrics unit at Schneck on Dec. 19 by color guard coaches Seth and Cathy Hulse. The color guard was established in 2003 as an extracurricular group and continues to function independently. Members are responsible for raising their own money, through fundraisers and donations, to participate in the group.

Helping each other

Thumbs-up to everyone who pulled together and helped the families who lost their businesses and homes to a fire on Jan. 4 on West Second Street in downtown Seymour. As one of those affected by the fire said, tragedies, such as the fire, only make communities stronger. That strength can be seen in those who aided the firefighting efforts, such as the Carr Township firefighters, who brought water to the scene for their fellow firefighters to drink, to the business owners and churches who also immediately began collecting donations and gift cards from individuals wishing to help.

Hoops help

Thumbs-up to members of the Seymour Noon Lions Club, who have been organizing an Indiana Special Olympics district basketball tournament in Seymour since the winter of 1983. Seventeen teams participated in this year’s event, conducted Jan. 7 at Seymour Middle School. A related thumbs-up to all the volunteers the club recruits to help put on the event each year, including the Seymour High School freshman boys basketball team this year, and to the businesses who donate food and drinks to feed the players, coaches and other staffers.

Thumbs down

Unneighborly

Thumbs-down to those who play their music loud in the wee hours of the morning, creating issues with neighbors who might be sleeping.