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THE WEST
WINFIELD
VOLUME 131 - NUMBER 9
& BROOKFIELD COURIER
Bridgewater, Brookfield, Cassville, Cedar Lake, Cedarville, Clayville, Columbia, East Winfield, Leonardsville, Litchfield, Millers Mills, Plainfield, Sauquoit, Unadilla Forks, West Edmeston, West Exeter, West Winfield
YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER FOR 131 YEARS WEST WINFIELD, NY
M A I L I N G L A B E L Participants in a recent Law Enforcement Torch Run
Joshman and Neil Case holding the Law Enforcement Torch Run torch.
By Mary M. Doremus Have you heard about the Law Enforcement Torch Run (LETR)? I’m sure you know about the Special Olympics. First a little information about LETR, then on to the “rest of the story”. LETR was created by Police Chief Richard LaMunyou in Wichita, Kansas in 1981. The run was developed to give law enforcement an avenue to be active in their community and support Special Olympics Kansas at the same time. In 1983 the International Association of Chiefs of Police endorsed the Kansas “Torch Run”, putting LETR “on the map” for Special Olympics (now the largest awareness & fundraising group for Special Olympics). Law enforcement is known as “Guardians of the Flame” and now law enforcement members and Special Olympics athletes carry the “Flame of Hope” into opening ceremonies at local, state, regional, national and the World Games. The flame symbolizes courage & celebration of diversity uniting communities around the globe. “Torch Run” has now grown to include Plane Pulls, Polar Plunges, Tip-A-Cops and more. Since the beginning, LETR has raised over $600 million for Special Olympics programs! This year’s Special Olympics World Games is being held in Austria in March. 2700 athletes and 1100 coaches from 107 countries will participate in snowboarding, figure skating, speed skating, alpine skiing, Nordic skiing snowshoeing, floorball, floor hockey and stick shooting from March 14th to March 25th. So how is this all connected? A local Winfield resident will be carrying the Law Enforcement Torch in Austria leading up to the Special Olympics events! I recently interviewed Trooper Neil Case, Troop C Underwater Recovery Team Senior Diver about his upcoming trip to Austria. Trooper Case is the Southern Tier Regional Director for LETR and was selected by a group of his peers to carry the “Flame of Hope” throughout Austria. (There were thousands of torch runners vying for this honor.) He will join a team of ten law enforcement officers and a Special Olympics athlete in Austria to bring awareness to the public about Special Olympics. Continued next column...
...Continued from previous column Neil is the only law enforcement representative from New York State taking part in the Law Enforcement Torch Runs! Neil described what his days will be like once he arrives in Austria. His team will make a 1 to 3 mile run into several cities/towns in Austria. At the end of each run there will be a L to r: Judy VanDuren, volunteer, 1 year of service; Jennifer Crosby, site manager; Joan small ceremony Merrick, volunteer and substitute site manager, 13 years of service; Russ Miller, driver; and speeches, Martha Welden, volunteer, 12 years of service; Connie Pope, volunteer, 3 years of service; then onto a bus Ellen Burdick, volunteer, 1 year of service. to get to the next run location. No, not your typical “vacation,” but he sure will get to see a lot of Austria. Neil, a 2001 Mt. Markham graduate. He went on By Russ Miller On President’s Day, the folks from the Focal Point to earn his degree from Binghamton University with the intent of becoming a teacher. In his junior year, meal site at Scott House in West Winfield had the day he changed his major to Law Enforcement. Neil’s off, so it was decided to have a little get-together at career started at the Cooperstown Police Depart- Kyle's Dinner. Several volunteers met for “Tea and ment. From there he went to the NYS Police in Nor- Crumpets”, otherwise known as a coffee break. Each wich (7 years), then Oneonta (2 years) and finally at volunteer works one day a week at the meal site Troop C Headquarters in Sydney where he was intro- packing meals to be delivered. Plus, they help with duced to the Troop C Dive Team. He now is head of the serving of the meal for those who eat at the Scott the team based in Richfield Springs, with a team of House. Not present due for a variety of reasons, Doug Capraro, volunteer and substitute driver, 5 seven. So why did Trooper Case become involved with the years of service; Anne Kantor, volunteer, 2 years of Torch Run and Special Olympics? Neil’s son Joshman service; Marge Chase, volunteer and has helped for Case is a Down syndrome child, so Neil has been a many years. Marge is like Russ Miller, been there part of the LETR and Special Olympics for many forever! Thank you to EVERYONE for all your help years. Joshman is 9 years old and attends school and your years of service! at Notre Dame in New Hartford. He plays flag football with the Ilion Angels, which includes special needs children from ages 6 to 18. Joshman also plays baseball and takes music lessons at KindermusWould you like to make a donaik in Chadwicks. I met Joshman when interviewing tion to Neil’s special fund? his Dad, he is an energetic 9-year-old and is very www.specialolympicsinc.donordrive.com, proud of his baby brother. (There are six children in click Donate To This Event, then type in his family ranging from age 2 to 22!). Neil Case in the search box and follow the What a fantastic way to make the public aware of instructions Special Olympics and all they do for children & adults OR with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics pays Send a check to: the cost for Neil to travel to Austria, almost $10,000. Special Olympics Neil felt it would be nice if he could raise enough ATTN Victoria Rivers money to cover the amount Special Olympics is 1133 19th Street NW spending for his trip. That way Special Olympics can Washington, DC 20030 then use their money to help the many children & Include in the memo area: adults connected with their organization. FINAL LEG – NEIL CASE See donation information in box next column.
“Tea and Crumpets”