Thorns & Roses

July 18, 2008 12:21 pm

— Thorns & Roses is a weekly feature highlighting the best and worst of the week.

Roses

• To 20-year-old Jenna Langley and the other contestants in the annual queen contest at the Cass County Fair. Langley, this year’s queen, is an example of the fact that persistence pays off. She was second runner-up in the contest a year ago.

• To the Miami Correctional Facility’s PLUS Unit, which recently donated $2,500 to help the Logansport Juvenile Correctional Facility in opening its own unit. The program provides an opportunity for offenders to explore and choose alternatives to criminal behavior through an emphasis on spiritual issues and character development. Money for the donation came as a part of each participant’s requirement to donate 300 hours of community service. The PLUS Unit raised money for the donation through the sale of pizza and soft drinks.

• To the Indiana Department of Transportation for naming a 1-mile stretch of U.S. 24 in honor of Indiana State Police Master Trooper Detective David E. Rich, an 18-year state police veteran who was shot and killed in the line of duty in July 2007. The road from west of Stitt Street to east of Ind. 115 in Wabash is now known as the Master Trooper Detective David E. Rich Memorial Mile. Rich was the 42nd Indiana state trooper to die in the line of duty.

• To Logansport’s Grant McCloskey on his selection as the Pharos-Tribune’s Loganland Player of the Year. McCloskey led his team in batting average, hits, home runs, RBIs and slugging percentage and was second in runs scored. Behind the plate he threw out five of the 11 runners trying to steal a base. Logansport coach Jim Turner called McCloskey a team player who delivered many key plays for the Berries. The Berries will be without his skills next year as McCloskey heads off to Wabash College.

• To those involved in staging the annual Circus City Festival in Peru. The annual event is a community effort involving more than 200 children and their families, but the event took a major hit in May when fire destroyed the building next door to the Circus City Center. Organizers were determined, though, that this month’s festival would go on and go on it did. The festival continues with performances at 7 p.m. today and at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday. There will be a parade at 10 a.m. Saturday. For tickets to the performances, call (765) 472-3918.

• To the participants and organizers of the annual Iron Horse 4K run/walk last weekend. Contestants ran through a steady rain, but many said they found it a welcome change from July’s usual heat and humidity. From all indications, the event was a great success.

• To Jack and Sue Pentland, who donated a miniature donkeys to be auctioned off by the 4-H Horse and Pony Club. The proceeds will go toward a college scholarship for nine- or 10-year 4-H members and to the club itself. The Pentlands, who have two grandchildren in the club, made a similar donation last year. Then, the miniature donkey Turbo sold for $500. Wildfire will be sold as part of the 4-H livestock auction on Saturday at the fairgrounds.