Especially Kidz celebrates Dave Roller's retirement
Dave Roller had a lifetime of memories flash before his eyes Wednesday afternoon at Especially Kidz. Having spent the past 37 years working at the rehabilitation center in Shelbyville, Roller took a few moments to reflect on his career as photos of his life flashed on a flatscreen television across the room. There was the one child who held onto his chest as he worked overnight, needing that contact. Years later, still a patient at age 36, she wanted him to pick her up, with
SW students celebrate fundraiser success with wrestling match
The lights went out, and with students screaming in anticipation, Southwestern Elementary School prinicipal Joshua Edwards awaited his opponent on the wrestling mat in the gymnasium Thursday afternoon. And out walked … the school mascot. Edwards, clearly unimpressed with his opponent, waved the Spartan away before the two playfully started to act like they were about to wrestle. But it turned out the school mascot wasn’t Edwards’ opponent in an event that served as a reward f
MHP's smoke-free program celebrates three families
Major Health Partners found that prenatal smoking for patients had risen to 25.2 percent. To address that problem, the national cessation program for pregnant women and their families, Baby & Me – Tobacco Free, was brought to Shelby County in 2017. Since then, the prenatal smoking rate has decreased to 17 percent. And the past two quarters show that the 17 percent consists of mothers who declined the program or did not receive prenatal care at MHP. On Monday, the first three
Santa Protectors take area youth on shopping spree
Raising the funds to make Santa Protectors a reality can be challenging. Finding first responders to volunteer to take area youth shopping is no problem at all. A local tradition now more than two decades old continued Saturday with the annual Santa Protectors event in Shelbyville. Area youth were selected by school counselors then the Santa Protectors took over. We use the school system for that. We try to stay hands off with that since the counselors work with the kids ever
Cancer Association of Shelby County celebrating 60 years
Donna Harrell has seen some miracles over the years working at the Cancer Association of Shelby County. A co-worker of her’s had cancer all over her body, but completely healed. In another case, Harrell didn’t expect a young man who visited to heal, but she later learned from his wife that he received a life-saving liver transplant. “There’s been a lot,” Harrell said. “A lot of positives, but there’s been a few negatives, some that you get attached to. I’ve seen friends of mi
Waldron senior awarded Lilly Endowment scholarship
Madeline Robinson’s jaw just about hit the floor when she walked into a room full of representatives from Blue River Community Foundation on Thursday morning. Happy tears soon followed. Told to go to the front office to grab some papers at the copier, the Waldron High School senior walked in thinking nothing of the request. But she immediately knew what the real reason was when she walked in. “I usually tell you what you receive but obviously you know,” Julie Alvis, BRCF yout
SCS special education coordinator wins national award
A Shelbyville Central Schools employee won a national award for her work while employed by a special education services organization in Franklin. Kris Baker, who is now the special education coordinator at SCS, won the 2019 Early Career Special Education Administrator award for her work at Earlywood Educational Services as the coordinator for autism and assistive technology. The award is given to a member of the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE) who is wit
Special Olympian authors book on magical basketball season
“A Magical Season” by John Wheeler is a small book overflowing with excitement and joy as he describes this magical season of basketball. Basketball is obviously a game he loves, and he takes us through the games of their 2018-2019 championship season. John has been involved with Special Olympics Shelby County for over eleven years. According to the short biography on the back of the book, he also has been involved in track and field, softball and flag football. I am sure he
