Letters to the Editor 05-31-2001
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Special Olympics - Leesburg Parade - Memorial Ceremonies - Freshman Academy - Diabetes Danger
Special Olympics
Editor, Times-Union:Saturday May 12 was a day when 275 athletes would descend on the campus of Notre Dame, give their all to win and be happy to just compete. It was a day filled with cheers and high-fives. It was a typical day for Special Olympics.
Many of those cheers were for the 34 athletes from Kosciusko County. When the final gun had sounded, the last stopwatch shut off and the final medals awarded, the sun reflected brightly off the Kosciusko County athletes: 21 individuals competed in individual events and brought home 21 gold medals, eight silver medals, 17 bronze medals, nine fourth-place ribbons, three fifth-place ribbons and one sixth-place ribbon.
The 13 athletes competing on the 3 on 3 Basketball, two- and four-person Bocce, and 4x100-meter relay teams brought home four silver medals, four bronze medals and two fourth-place ribbons. Every athlete that went came home with at least one medal. Congratulations on a job well done.
Twenty-eight of the 34 athletes will be competing at the State Games in Terre Haute on June 1st, 2nd and 3rd in track and field events, 3 on 3 Basketball, bocce and bowling. If you see or know one of these athletes - wish them luck and congratulate them on their performance Saturday.
Also on Saturday, the Hughes family (Bea, Gene and Teri) was selected as the Area 2 Family of the Year. They will be competing against other area families at the Special Olympic State Conference in Indianapolis during October.
If you want to know more about Special Olympics, want to get involved or know a mentally challenged individual (at least eight years old) who could benefit from participating in Special Olympics, then give Special Olympics Kosciusko County Coordinator Becky Walls a call at 594-2962.
Gene Hughes
On behalf of the Special Olympics Kosciusko County
Board of Directors
via e-mail
Leesburg Parade
Editor, Times-Union:The committee for the Leesburg Memorial Day parade was extremely pleased with the community participation as well as the great gathering of spectators. Prizes for the parade entries were provided by National City Bank.
The ceremony at the Leesburg Cemetery was very well attended. Pastor Rick Smith was the speaker and Justin and Randy Hartman provided the music.
Refreshments were served at the Robert and Sandra Allen residence after the service.
Sue Charlton
Leesburg
Memorial Ceremonies
Editor, Times-Union:Ceremonies Memorial Day at Oakwood Cemetery were never better in the many years I've attended. Weather perfect. Attendance and Warsaw High School band best yet. The invocation by Lt. Ken Locke of the Salvation Army and the address by Jerry Hogan were topnotch. The cemetery grounds are so well-kept.
It seems more flags are being displayed than usual. Could it be that we U.S. citizens are returning to being more patriotic, more appreciative of this country and all the benefits we have?
A suggestion by way of Al and Dee Meerzo: "How about a parade, as many towns do, for this occasion?"
Lila O'Connell
Warsaw
Freshman Academy
Editor, Times-Union:I find it very interesting to hear that educators from all over the U.S. are calling our school district to find out about our high school's "Freshman Academy."
It makes me wonder if our kids have suffered more as ninth- graders in the last 10 years by being preyed upon, oppressed or just being completely overwhelmed by the larger situation than they would have been had we kept our freshman high school.
In closing, I just have to hope that 10 years into the future we don't discover that smaller, community-based elementary schools were actually better for kids, but that they were destroyed, so we have to develop a program to make our elementary schools feel smaller, safer and more in touch with the communities they serve.
Dan O'Daniels
Winona Lake
Diabetes Danger
Editor, Times-Union:Having been involved with this disease through my wife, I would like to share some of my experiences with others with the intention of helping those who are suffering with this problem.
In September of 1972, we discovered my wife, Aggie Dotson, was a diabetic. Our family doctor had moved back to Oregon and we were without a family doctor. Aggie started having symptoms of tiring easily, being extremely thirsty, having problems with her eyes and frequent urination. She kept ignoring these problems. Finally, I talked her into going to the Manchester Clinic where Dr. Smith did blood work. He went on vacation and made an appointment to see him in two weeks. Just by chance, I started working with a young man on my job named Bob Wells. His father was a diabetic and he understood Aggie's problems very well. He informed me that Aggie should see a doctor immediately. Since her doctor was still on vacation, we persuaded one of the other doctors to look at her blood report. Her blood sugar was 640 and she was admitted to the hospital immediately. I am convinced much of the damage was already done before she consulted a doctor.
Some of the ravages that Aggie suffered as a result of her diabetes included many laser treatments on her eyes, the installation of a pacemaker and failing kidneys, which eventually failed completely. Although the doctor was able to control the diabetes with insulin, there is still no cure. I thank God for the help she received from the medical society, but the disease is still terminal.
I took early retirement before she went on dialysis. We vacationed quite a bit and had quality time together. Aggie spent 3-1/2 years on dialysis, three days a week. It sure changed our lifestyle. Then on April 23, 1998, Aggie lost her right leg. Her arteries were plugged in both legs. On Jan. 6, 1999, she lost the other leg. She passed away on Jan. 25, 1999.
Oct. 7 in North Manchester at the high school, we put on a southern gospel concert for the American Diabetes Association where we cleared $10,135. We are planning another concert Sept. 1 with Heirline, the New Hinsons from Nashville, Tenn., and a local couple, The Dotsons (John and Yvonna, our son and daughter-in-law), who will open for them.
Let me share some devastating statistics that will illustrate just how far-reaching this disease has become. It is currently at an epidemic proportion. Paula Keswick, district manager of Northwest Indiana American Diabetes Association, has informed us of these figures. In the immediate area of North Manchester, Wabash and Warsaw, there are 27,000 people who have diabetes. Nearly 16 million Americans have diabetes nationwide. Each year 798,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease. Paula said that it is the sixth leading cause of death by disease in America, killing more people than AIDS or breast cancer. This year alone, Keswick said, more than 180,000 Americans will die from complications of diabetes.
For more information, feel free to contact: Ralph Dotson, 14533 N. 300W, Silver Lake, IN 46982, 982-8019; The Dotsons, 982-7714; or Paula Keswick, district manager of Northwest Indiana ADA Office, Heartland Region, 53631 Fir Road, Granger, IN 46530, telephone 273-4013, or fax 273-4315.
Ralph Dotson
Silver Lake
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- Special Olympics - Leesburg Parade - Memorial Ceremonies - Freshman Academy - Diabetes Danger
Special Olympics
Editor, Times-Union:Saturday May 12 was a day when 275 athletes would descend on the campus of Notre Dame, give their all to win and be happy to just compete. It was a day filled with cheers and high-fives. It was a typical day for Special Olympics.
Many of those cheers were for the 34 athletes from Kosciusko County. When the final gun had sounded, the last stopwatch shut off and the final medals awarded, the sun reflected brightly off the Kosciusko County athletes: 21 individuals competed in individual events and brought home 21 gold medals, eight silver medals, 17 bronze medals, nine fourth-place ribbons, three fifth-place ribbons and one sixth-place ribbon.
The 13 athletes competing on the 3 on 3 Basketball, two- and four-person Bocce, and 4x100-meter relay teams brought home four silver medals, four bronze medals and two fourth-place ribbons. Every athlete that went came home with at least one medal. Congratulations on a job well done.
Twenty-eight of the 34 athletes will be competing at the State Games in Terre Haute on June 1st, 2nd and 3rd in track and field events, 3 on 3 Basketball, bocce and bowling. If you see or know one of these athletes - wish them luck and congratulate them on their performance Saturday.
Also on Saturday, the Hughes family (Bea, Gene and Teri) was selected as the Area 2 Family of the Year. They will be competing against other area families at the Special Olympic State Conference in Indianapolis during October.
If you want to know more about Special Olympics, want to get involved or know a mentally challenged individual (at least eight years old) who could benefit from participating in Special Olympics, then give Special Olympics Kosciusko County Coordinator Becky Walls a call at 594-2962.
Gene Hughes
On behalf of the Special Olympics Kosciusko County
Board of Directors
via e-mail
Leesburg Parade
Editor, Times-Union:The committee for the Leesburg Memorial Day parade was extremely pleased with the community participation as well as the great gathering of spectators. Prizes for the parade entries were provided by National City Bank.
The ceremony at the Leesburg Cemetery was very well attended. Pastor Rick Smith was the speaker and Justin and Randy Hartman provided the music.
Refreshments were served at the Robert and Sandra Allen residence after the service.
Sue Charlton
Leesburg
Memorial Ceremonies
Editor, Times-Union:Ceremonies Memorial Day at Oakwood Cemetery were never better in the many years I've attended. Weather perfect. Attendance and Warsaw High School band best yet. The invocation by Lt. Ken Locke of the Salvation Army and the address by Jerry Hogan were topnotch. The cemetery grounds are so well-kept.
It seems more flags are being displayed than usual. Could it be that we U.S. citizens are returning to being more patriotic, more appreciative of this country and all the benefits we have?
A suggestion by way of Al and Dee Meerzo: "How about a parade, as many towns do, for this occasion?"
Lila O'Connell
Warsaw
Freshman Academy
Editor, Times-Union:I find it very interesting to hear that educators from all over the U.S. are calling our school district to find out about our high school's "Freshman Academy."
It makes me wonder if our kids have suffered more as ninth- graders in the last 10 years by being preyed upon, oppressed or just being completely overwhelmed by the larger situation than they would have been had we kept our freshman high school.
In closing, I just have to hope that 10 years into the future we don't discover that smaller, community-based elementary schools were actually better for kids, but that they were destroyed, so we have to develop a program to make our elementary schools feel smaller, safer and more in touch with the communities they serve.
Dan O'Daniels
Winona Lake
Diabetes Danger
Editor, Times-Union:Having been involved with this disease through my wife, I would like to share some of my experiences with others with the intention of helping those who are suffering with this problem.
In September of 1972, we discovered my wife, Aggie Dotson, was a diabetic. Our family doctor had moved back to Oregon and we were without a family doctor. Aggie started having symptoms of tiring easily, being extremely thirsty, having problems with her eyes and frequent urination. She kept ignoring these problems. Finally, I talked her into going to the Manchester Clinic where Dr. Smith did blood work. He went on vacation and made an appointment to see him in two weeks. Just by chance, I started working with a young man on my job named Bob Wells. His father was a diabetic and he understood Aggie's problems very well. He informed me that Aggie should see a doctor immediately. Since her doctor was still on vacation, we persuaded one of the other doctors to look at her blood report. Her blood sugar was 640 and she was admitted to the hospital immediately. I am convinced much of the damage was already done before she consulted a doctor.
Some of the ravages that Aggie suffered as a result of her diabetes included many laser treatments on her eyes, the installation of a pacemaker and failing kidneys, which eventually failed completely. Although the doctor was able to control the diabetes with insulin, there is still no cure. I thank God for the help she received from the medical society, but the disease is still terminal.
I took early retirement before she went on dialysis. We vacationed quite a bit and had quality time together. Aggie spent 3-1/2 years on dialysis, three days a week. It sure changed our lifestyle. Then on April 23, 1998, Aggie lost her right leg. Her arteries were plugged in both legs. On Jan. 6, 1999, she lost the other leg. She passed away on Jan. 25, 1999.
Oct. 7 in North Manchester at the high school, we put on a southern gospel concert for the American Diabetes Association where we cleared $10,135. We are planning another concert Sept. 1 with Heirline, the New Hinsons from Nashville, Tenn., and a local couple, The Dotsons (John and Yvonna, our son and daughter-in-law), who will open for them.
Let me share some devastating statistics that will illustrate just how far-reaching this disease has become. It is currently at an epidemic proportion. Paula Keswick, district manager of Northwest Indiana American Diabetes Association, has informed us of these figures. In the immediate area of North Manchester, Wabash and Warsaw, there are 27,000 people who have diabetes. Nearly 16 million Americans have diabetes nationwide. Each year 798,000 Americans are diagnosed with the disease. Paula said that it is the sixth leading cause of death by disease in America, killing more people than AIDS or breast cancer. This year alone, Keswick said, more than 180,000 Americans will die from complications of diabetes.
For more information, feel free to contact: Ralph Dotson, 14533 N. 300W, Silver Lake, IN 46982, 982-8019; The Dotsons, 982-7714; or Paula Keswick, district manager of Northwest Indiana ADA Office, Heartland Region, 53631 Fir Road, Granger, IN 46530, telephone 273-4013, or fax 273-4315.
Ralph Dotson
Silver Lake
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