Two cheers for Wildcat Park work

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Eagle Scout grateful for help at Wildcat Park

I would like to thank all of the community volunteers who helped to rebuild Wildcat Park as part of my Eagle Scout project. Eighty volunteers contributed more than 300 hours of work on the project.

The Rotary Club of Corvallis, under the leadership of Gerry Kosanovic, provided volunteers and a generous monetary donation, which allowed me to purchase the wood, bolts, screws and other supplies for this project.

I also want to thank the volunteers from my church and the Wilson Elementary neighborhood who helped to repair the park. All of those people helped to make Wildcat Park a safer and more enjoyable place for kids for many years to come.

Bobby Rampton

Troop 166

Corvallis

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Hard-working team revived Wildcat Park

An army of 45 spirited volunteers descended on Wildcat Park's play structure in May armed with hammers, crowbars, power drills, saws and lots of spirit and energy. Their mission: remove the dry rot wood and replace it with new lumber to extend the life of the Wildcat Park.

I want to thank Crescent Valley High School student Bobby Rampton for leading the charge and helping to orchestrate the efforts of this project; the Rotary Club of Corvallis for a generous contribution of $2,000 to buy lumber and supplies; and the Wilson PTA and Wilson parents for contributing time and energy to the project. Special recognition to Carol Dion and the Corvallis Disposal and Recycling Company for the donation of a large Dumpster for removal of all discarded materials.

Gerry Kosanovic

Principal

Wilson Elementary School

Pharmacies helped stop cough spread

Thanks and great appreciation to the pharmacies that offered free antibiotics to close contacts of whooping cough cases in April through July this year! When the whooping cough outbreak started, Benton County Health Department called local pharmacies to request donations for prescribed antibiotics. Bi-Mart on Ninth and Circle, Fred Meyer on Kings and Buchanan, Samaritan Pharmacy on Elm Street in Albany and Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center made medicines available to some people who had been exposed to whooping cough and had no insurance to pay for them. Such medicines helped limit the spread of disease to others. Our local business partners help to make Benton County a healthier place to live.

Eileen Marma, RN

Public Health Nurse

Benton County Health Department

Bus rescued man from the heat

I would like to share my thanks with other Corvallis residents to the Corvallis Transit, aka "the buses."

During the 104-degree day July 23, I was out trying to get my errands done when I unfortunately missed my connection. As a wheelchair person, this was a near-disaster. I made it to the First Alternative Co-op, where I tried waiting for the bus. The bus shelter was oriented facing the west sun and I baked as I waited. It was too much, so I went inside for relief, but I missed the bus again.

After another failed attempt, the co-op let me use their phone (a hearty "thank you!" to them, too!) to call the transit service. They offered to stop the bus even though no one would be in the shelter. The bus did stop, and I boarded. Then I transferred in town and I was allowed to ride around in the comfort of the air conditioning, so I could recover.

I finally did regain my strength and was dropped off a couple blocks from my home. I was saved. We have a good service and even better people/drivers. Try them out!

Michael Clark

Corvallis

Art teacher will be missed by many

For the past five years, Annette Orrock has been among my select group of artists in ArtCentric's in-school residency program, AIE. I have watched her work her magic time and again with children of all ages and artistic capabilities. She never fails to inspire and encourage, from the eager achiever who has always loved art to the stubborn, arms-crossed, "You-can't-make-me-like-this" kid in the back row — and that's just the students! Ask any teacher, principal or PTA chair in Benton or Linn county what they thought of their weeks with Annette, and you'll hear nothing but admiration, thanks and praise.

To say she will be missed in this community is an understatement. Annette has touched so many lives here for almost 20 years with her incredible gifts of teaching, artistry and simple love. Like many of you, I'm already grieving her loss, but wish her the very best in her new life in Utah. Bless you, Annette!

Mary Van Denend

Residency Coordinator

ArtCentric

Dental work left kids smiling

Thanks to the Southern Willamette Dental Society for its donation of 90 toothbrushes and to Dr. Cam Little of Corvallis for his donation of 90 tubes of kids' toothpaste used for the dental screening of the children of migrant workers at the HeadStart program in Independence.

Christ's Church: Methodist and Presbyterian in Monmouth sponsored the dental clinic and procured the Northwest Medical Team dental van. The treatment was provided by volunteer professionals.

Carol Busby

Dental project

coordinator

Christ's Church

mission team

Skilled doctor provided kind care

The family of Sadelle Haber would like to express their appreciation to Dr. Ulrike Guempel for her outstanding medical care of Sadelle. Dr. Guempel is the kind of doctor that every family wants to have taking care of their loved ones. Not only is she a brilliant diagnostician with a kind heart, but she has the courage to make the kind of medical decisions that are best for the patient.

Wendy and Leslie Haber

Alsea

CHS band members a big hit

Thank you to the Corvallis High School band for an excellent year. The band members not only performed five concerts, they also provided CHS and Corvallis residents with music at five football games and 20 basketball game.

The CHS band members also participated in many sports during the year such as cross county, volleyball, wrestling, skiing, track and baseball. They are a very active group of enthusiastic individuals.

Their most important accomplishment was their academic achievement. The OSAA awarded them third place among 4A schools for their combined grade point of 3.68. What an honor it is to work with these students. Thank you to the students and their families for supporting the Spartan way this school year.

Marshall Price

CHS band director

‘Imagination' team had support

Philomath Elementary School's "Destination Imagination" Team would like to thank these businesses and individuals for supporting the team at the Global DI Tournament in Knoxville, Tenn.: Appearances Design Team, Betty's Salon of Beauty, Cake Time, CPS/PES Parent Club, DOJ's Stump Ranch, Endex Engineering, Hands-On Healthcare, PC Chiropractic Clinic, Kim Howard Construction, Les & Bob's Sports & Apparel, Mid-Valley Gravel, Northwestern Mutual Financial Network (Jon Burnham), O'Brien Dental Lab, Paperworks, Philomath Fire Department, Philomath Lions Club, Philomath Rotary Club, Starker Forests, The Color Wheel Co., Town & Country Realty, Viking Automatic Sprinkler Co., Wade Haslam DMD PC, Wal-Mart, Wells Fargo Bank, Helene Churchhill, Kurt Cleveland, Charles and Juanita Darling, Jan Duncan, Al and Dorothy French, Mary and Gary Gaffney, Peggy Harman, Paul Kesecker, Susie Kesecker, Mike McCall, Mark and Betsy McCambridge, David McGraw, Jeffrey and Janice McGraw, Ruth and Jerry Mock, Lorenzo and Jodie Muller, Raymond and Fran Richmond, Fred Shaub and Gloria Sica. Their generosity and support are greatly appreciated!

Lori McGraw

Philomath

School kids enjoyed gym

Many thanks to RE/MAX 2000 for donating its inflatable gym for Wilson Elementary's Field Day celebration. The Wilson PTA was looking for an active reward to celebrate the kids' monthly "Walk to School Day" efforts. Bouncing in the gym was great fun for all.

Carol Walsh

Corvallis