GREENE PRAIRIE PRESS
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INSIDE NEWS
Carrollton Library receives grant funding, donation By CARMEN ENSINGER Greene Prairie Press
Spartan cheerleaders place third. See page A3 NFPA encourages prompt removal of Christmas trees. See page A7
SPORTS
Lady Spartans fall to Lady Rockets, 50-33. See page A8
T
he Carrollton Public Library had a very merry Christmas this year with two grants awarded and one donation made during the month of December that total $7,500. The library received $5,000 from the Tracy Family Foundation, $1,500 from the Stanley Frech Charitable Trust and a $1,000 donation from an anonymous donor.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are going to have some wonderful improvements coming to the library in early 2020 thanks to receiving this money,â&#x20AC;? Head Librarian Angie Custer said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We want to improve what we have to offer for the little ones and the adults alike, and this money will allow us to do that.â&#x20AC;? The $5,000 grant from the Tracy Family Foundation will be used to create a play and story time center in the basement of the library. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have outgrown our current childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s library space on the main floor with our growing attendance for our birth to five program,â&#x20AC;? Custer said.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;We plan to expand our childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s library space by creating an additional childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s play center and story time area in an underutilized space in our basement.â&#x20AC;? The new play area will include a variety of educational toys that allow dramatic play, sensory experiences, fine motor activities, a light table with manipulatives, rhythm and movement and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) opportunities. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In this space, we will provide educational toys as well as furnishings including child-sized seating, tables,
shelving and storage space,â&#x20AC;? Custer said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will also expand our security system on our lower level to ensure the safety of our families. This area will be used to nourish the relationships between families and children by interacting in creative play.â&#x20AC;? Custer said studies point to the importance of play for children â&#x20AC;&#x201C; play that can also be used as a learning experience. â&#x20AC;&#x153;According to an article by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s never just play,â&#x20AC;? (See, LIBRARY, A2)
Carrollton food pantry moves to new location By CARMEN ENSINGER Greene Prairie Press For more than 30 years, patrons of the Carrollton Food Pantry have gathered at the Carrollton United Methodist Church to receive their food, but with the coming decade comes change. The Carrollton Food Pantry has been distributing food from the Carrollton United Methodist Church basement every Wednesday between 1
and 3 p.m. but starting Jan. 8, patrons will have to go to the Lifepoint Church Parsonage to receive their food. Kathy Harms, Director of the Food Pantry said the reason for the change was due to the aging population. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At the Methodist Church, you have to go down several stairs to reach the food pantry, which is in the basement,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were concerned (See, FOOD PANTRY, A2)
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North Greene Spartan coach Justin Vinyard gives a fist-bump to Kylen McGee after Kylenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s dad, Anthony, was recognized before the varsity game of the Coaches vs. Cancer event Friday night. McGee was joined by his wife, Mandy. See another photo on A2.
White Hall Nursing and Rehab Director of Admissions Brian Elliott, right, presents a check to Boyd Hospital Administrator Deb Campbell, middle, for the Greene County Gas Cards for Cancer program. The program received over $3,100 last week from donations. The program provides gas money to cancer patients to go to their doctors or for cancer treatment.
North Greene holds Coaches vs. Cancer event
Donations fuel gas card program for cancer patients
By CARMEN ENSINGER Greene Prairie Press The North Greene Spartans did their part to help stamp out cancer last Friday by holding a Coaches vs. Cancer event against the Routt Rockets. Both the boys and girls JV and Varsity played, and prior to the varsity game, two coaches diagnosed with cancer were recognized. Anthony McGee is a 2007 graduate of North Greene High School and is one of the current junior high boys basketball coaches. McGee played basketball in high school for North Greene, Decatur Eisenhower and Decatur MacArthur. McGee, who works at
By CARMEN ENSINGER Greene Prairie Press The Greene County Gas Cards for Cancer Program has seen several donations come in the last couple of weeks, amounting to more than $3,100. The program provides gas cards for cancer patients to help with the expense of traveling back and forth to doctor visits or treatment in both Greene and Calhoun counties. The program is administered through Boyd Hospital. Boyd Hospital Administrator
Deb Campbell explained how the program got started. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This started up a long time ago when we had a person who had cancer tell us that while they had good insurance to cover the doctors and treatment, they were having a rough time paying for the gas to go to their treatments,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;She said that that was an expense that no one thinks of, so we started this program to help people with the expense of travel to and from their treatments.â&#x20AC;? (See, DONATIONS, A2)
Westown Ford in Jacksonville, is battling Stage 4 colon cancer and is doing well. He and his wife, Mandy, are expecting their second son in April. They have one son, Kylen. McGee has coordinated the North Greene Menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basketball League for the last seven years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are honored to recognize Anthony and his family tonight,â&#x20AC;? Athletic Director Brett Berry said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wish him continued hope and strength as he battles cancer.â&#x20AC;? Marty Rhoades is a 1967 graduate of North Greene High School and currently runs Cloverleaf Feeds in Roodhouse after his retirement from teaching and coaching at North Greene.
Rhoades was head coach of the North Greene Spartans from 1991-2005, amassing a record of 309-126 in his 15 seasons at the helm. Rhoades was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2018 and was fortunate enough to ring the bell at Passavant Hospital on Dec. 27 to commemorate the conclusion of his chemotherapy treatment. Rhoades was joined by his wife, Nancy, and four sons â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Brian, Matt, Tony and Patrick. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are honored to recognize Marty and his family tonight for his contributions to the North Greene community,â&#x20AC;? Berry said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We wish him continued faith to live cancer free.â&#x20AC;?
Carmen Ensinger/Greene Prairie Press
Better late than never Community Chorale Director Tim Reif introduces a song at the Community Chorale Christmas Concert held Sunday at the Carrollton Methodist Church. The concert was scheduled to take place in December, but inclement weather forced the cancellation of the concert. Since the members had spent so much time in rehearsal, it was decided to have the concert anyway, even though Christmas had passed.