Committee asks for clean-up help (08/09/07)

To the editor:

We, the Welcome Home to Portland Committee, would like to take Jack Ronald's excellent suggestions a step further.

We would like to ask all businesses, building owners, the city and residents to help make our town look inviting and clean.

We might suggest sweeping your sidewalks, washing the windows or sprucing up the entrance to your business/building to make it look inviting - just like your home.

If you have antique items relating to your business or the engine and tractor show, display them in your windows or in front of the store. Possibly you know someone with an older tractor or pedal tractor. Ask them to allow you to display it during the week. If your building is empty, it would be a great place for an "old" display.

The Welcome Home to Portland festival will be held on Aug. 19. A tractor parade will begin at 3:30 p.m. and proceed from the fairgrounds to downtown Portland. The festival will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on West Main Street.

We hope to make our visitors feel welcome and remember our lovely town. Let's make them want to come see us again.

Sincerely,

Dave Frasher, Sharlette Cole, Emily Roberts, Steve Zielinski, Cindy VanSkyock and Mike Hickerson - The Welcome Home to Portland Committee

Disappointed

To the editor:

I am writing to express my disappointment with the Commercial Review's coverage or rather lack thereof, of the 4-H part of the Jay County Fair. There were numerous photo opportunities of the 4-H kids working on their projects, assisting with set-up/clean-up, working with other 4-Hers and of course the winners of different awards. Some of the most notable accomplishments without a photo were the Supreme Achievers group with sponsor Dr. Steve Myron, the 4-Hers showing the grand champion heifer, the grand champion dairy beef steer and the reserve grand champion heifer and steer. These kids work extremely hard during the year and they deserve all the recognition they can get. They do the projects because they enjoy it and it takes lots of time and hard work.

Do you know that there is a club called the Special Clovers for "special" kids? I'm not sure who actually started this club, but it serves a big purpose. I watched some of the kids in this club show their animals and do so with pride. They also exhibited projects in the exhibit hall. This is what the 4-H program stands for ... "to make the best, better," which happens to be the 4-H motto. Where was the coverage of their accomplishments?

And while I am on my soap box, there are numerous adults who donate countless hours and lots of money to make the Jay County 4-H program function and run smoothly. What a great group of volunteers! The only rewards they receive are seeing the 4-Hers do well and see them get recognition for a job well done. I will say thank you to any and all who give of their time, talent and treasure to help support the 4-H program in Jay County.

Thanks to WPGW radio for great coverage. They do interviews with 4-Hers and run them on the air. What a great way to make the kids feel special. And I will not leave out the Commercial Review. Thank you for what part you did; it just wasn't enough. Please do a more thorough job of covering in the future years. These 4-Hers are going to one day be your paying customers.

As a 10 year 4-H member, a former club and project leader and also the 4-H program assistant, I appreciate all that 4-H has done for me, my family, my community and my world. Please just give these kids the recognition they deserve.

Sincerely,

Beth Stephen

Portland

(Editor's note: By our count, The CR published more than 100 photos of this year's Jay County Fair. Of those, more than 70 were of 4-H activities. More than 400 column inches of copy about 4-H activities was published, and that does not count two front page features on 4-H. Are we proud of our fair and 4-H coverage? You bet we are. We'd stack it up against any newspaper in Indiana. In fact, we'd stack it up against any newspaper in America.)

Caring

To the editor:

To families with friends or relatives in Iraq - Our church, Hopewell of Life Ministries, has sent care packages to a man in Bosnia, a lady in Iraq, and a soldier in Iraq.

We would like the name(s) and address of a soldier in Iraq to send a care package to (items such as food, razors, bath items, etc.).

So if you know someone who could use a package, send the information to: Rev. Herb Hummel, 1107 Detroit Ave., Portland, IN, 47371, or via e-mail at [email protected].

If any other church or organization would care to be involved, their help would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Janice Hudson

Portland[[In-content Ad]]