Published: April 26, 2008 12:43 am            

Cheers & Jeers - Saturday, April 26, 2008

Outstanding medical professionals

William Hayes, Tipton, sends this Cheer to Howard Regional doctors and staff:

“I would like to take this opportunity to express my most extensive gratitude and thanks to the Doctors and staff at the Howard Regional West Specialty Campus located on the northwest side of Kokomo. Special people and outstanding personnel made my recent stay there a true pleasure under the circumstances. Extra thanks to Drs. Vossberg, Reed, Washington, Hussein and Kingsley.

“Super therapists in the physical and occupational departments, all the nurses and all the respiratory staff, Rick, Kathy, Lisa, Giselle, Terri and Tammy. Kudos to the cooks, the very lovely lady in charge of nutrition and anyone else I might have overlooked. What an outstanding, personable, cohesive unit of medical professionals! I highly recommend this facility to anyone who might be in need of any sort of re-habilitation. Thanks again folks and may God bless and keep each and everyone of you.”

Thanks for the tax help

David Johnson, Kokomo, sends this Cheer to volunteers who prepared free tax returns seniors:

“A dedicated group of certified AARP TAX-AIDE Volunteer Counselors provided free income tax preparation assistance to more than 1,300 local taxpayers this past filing season: Richard Abel, Elma Brantley, Harry Chmiel, Ron Conyers, Joe Copeland, Larry Cracraft, Bill Dague, Ted DeGarmo, Vivian Heronemus, Bob Janes, Madonna Johnson, Judy Jones, Jerry Maden, Neil Munsey, Diane Myers, Mae Padfield, Sarah Purcell, Bill Sahm, Gene Sweeney, Don Tomaszewski and Bill Wanke.”

Shame on inconsiderate driver

Erica Huffman, Kokomo, sends this Jeer to the driver who hit her family’s dog:

“On Friday, April 18, my sister and brother-in-law’s dog went missing on 400 West, by Glendale Airport. He had been in the yard sunning himself and my brother-in-law went inside to answer the phone. A few minutes later he heard their dog Hank bark and when he went outside to see what he was barking at he was gone and nowhere to be found.

“Several of us went looking for him and after several hours to no avail of driving around and talking to people, we decided to call the local radio stations.

“WWKI, Shine 99 and Z92.5 all aired the fact that Hank was missing. Unfortunately, on Saturday evening Hank was hit and killed on 350 West. I would not be writing this except for the fact that Hank was my 3-year-old niece’s dog and she loved him very much and called him her best friend.

“Hank was a 7-month-old Harlequin Great Dane puppy and would have been very hard not to see standing in the road. We have a local tow truck company that has a very negligent, cold hearted and calloused driver working for them. Several witnesses started that at approximately 8 p.m., a tow truck with a white cab and black lettering (with another color of writing as well) carrying a car behind it, was speeding down 350 West and slammed into Hank and sent him flying into a yard on the side of the road.

“This driver did not attempt to miss Hank, slow down or even stop after he hit him. Thankfully the people who witnessed this terrible situation went to Hank’s aid to see if they could help, but he was killed instantly. My niece had to be told on Sunday that Hank would not be coming home and that he was in Heaven.

“The family wants to thank the people who called to let them know about Hank and for their willingness to get him veterinary care if it would have been possible. Also thank you to the local radio stations for their help getting Hank’s information out to the public. To the tow truck driver, may you never have to see a child’s heart break and see their face afterwards.”

Acts of kindness are appreciated

Bob Croll, President of Friends of Howard Haven sends this Cheer to all those who bring cans to Howard Haven:

“We teach our children that simple acts of kindness and generosity make a difference in our world. Every day Howard Haven experiences the goodwill from unknown supporters who take time to drive to the County Home in order to donate aluminum cans.

“For almost two years, Friends of Howard Haven (FOHH) has collected aluminum cans to help pay County Home residents’ prescription drug co-payments. When we started our group decided to pay 50 percent of each resident’s co-pay. As the can program grew, we agreed to pay 80percent, and the recycling program is so successful that FOHH now pays 100 percent of each resident’s medication co-pay.

“I want to thank all of the anonymous individuals, church groups, school children and others for their simple act of kindness and generosity in bringing their aluminum cans to Howard Haven, 3600 W. Boulevard, Kokomo. You are making a difference!

“To learn more about how you may become involved with FOHH, please call Bob Croll at 453-2979 or Tom Tolen at 271-3826.”

        

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