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THOMASVILLE
Times
See Page 7
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Sunny, 93/68
119th Year - No. 132 50 Cents
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United Way celebrates campaign Pacesetters
Community unites in support of Thorntons
BY ERIN WILTGEN
BY ELIOT DUKE
Staff Writer
Staff Writer
United Way of Davidson County celebrated its Pacesetter luncheon Tuesday, marking the end to the beginning of the organization’s campaign and occurring almost simultaneously with the release of its new Web site. Held at the Tom A. Finch YMCA, the luncheon boasted a crowd of about 70 loaned executives, board members, representatives of the 16 Pacesetter companies
A simple phone call made all the difference in the world. Kate Thornton, a fiveyear old Thomasville girl who is battling leukemia, had only been out of the hospital a day when the phone rang Saturday morning. On the other end was pop star Joe Jonas, a member of the famous band the Jonas Brothers, who would spend the next 30 minutes trying to cheer up a little girl who desperately needed it. “[Kate] was so happy,” Kat Manzella, Kate’s godmother, said. “She kept telling him how much she loved him. We couldn’t believe it was really him. He absolutely made her day. It was the cutest thing ever. She was so excited and it was a good day. With so few good days, that one really counted.” Jonas learned of Kate’s plight from someone who read about her story and wanted to help. Since Kate’s prognosis took a turn for the worst last Tuesday, acts of kindness have been flooding the Thornton family. Kisses4Kate, a nonprofit organization that is trying to raise money to put the Thornton family in a new home suitable for Kate’s many medical needs, has
TIMES PHOTO/ERIN WILTGEN
‘They’re setting the pace for the rest of the campaign — they’re leaders for the campaign.’ — Kristi Hege United Way
At right, Kathy Young, who recently found ‘Saturday’ limping along a local street, looks on as Veterinarian Karl B. Milliren of Thomasville Veterinary Hospital assesses his patient’s condition.
SAVING SATURDAY Help available for abandoned, neglected animals BY ERIN WILTGEN Staff Writer
and partner agencies. Pacesetter companies are those who agreed to hold campaigns in the month of August, kick-starting United Way’s campaign, which spans from Sept. 1 to Nov. 15. So far, the companies have raised $139,362.32 via internal fundraisers such as jean day, bake sales and jewelry sales. “They’re setting the pace for the rest of the campaign — they’re leaders for the campaign,” said Kristi Hege of United
See CAMPAIGN, Page 12
he 8-month-old pit mix puppy limped along the street. Every few steps he paused, squatted into a semisitting position and attempted to scratch his red and inflamed hide. Kathy Young’s heart leaped into her throat at the pathetic site. A Humane Society of Davidson County volunteer, Young was delivering dog food to a gentleman in the neighborhood. She asked him who the dog belonged to, and he indicated a house across the street. As Young approached the house, the puppy began walking up to the door. A woman came
T
out, bending down to pet the animal. Despite the familiarity between human and dog, the woman denied that she owned him. Young just couldn’t leave the puppy there, not in the state he was in. She wrapped him up with a sheet and transported him to Thomasville Veterinary Hospital, dubbing him “Saturday” for the day she found him — Aug. 28. “What’s troubling is I don’t understand how people on that street could watch this puppy go up and down the street and not call, not do something,” Young said. “The condition of this little guy is just incredible.” Besides the red rash on his skin, Young could tell Saturday was under-fed and dehydrated. “You could put your fingers in between each rib,” she said.
“It was just so sad. When we got him to the vet he would no longer stand up. He was jut done.” The vet diagnosed him with hook worms and demodectic mange, a non-contagious disease caused by a microscopic mite that lives inside hair follicles. “These mites are in every dog,” said Dr. Karl B. Milliren, veterinarian and founder of the hospital. “It just doesn’t cause a problem when the immune system is keeping it at bay.” If the immune system weakens, however, the mites can cause serious skin disease. Saturday contracted a more serious form — generalized demodicosis — which affects the entire dog, causing patchy fur, skin infections and scaly skin.
See UNITES, Page 10
See SATURDAY, Page 6
TPD holds swearing in ceremony for officers BY ELIOT DUKE Staff Writer
TIMES PHOTO/DAVID YEMM
From left, are Joseph Sutton, Chad Bussell, Sgt. Jason Annas, Lt. Toby Smith, Sgt. John Elgin, the Rev. Michael Hall and Jason Rowe.
Thomasville Police Department held a swearing in ceremony Tuesday in the City Council Chambers to welcome some new additions as well as congratulate officers who are moving up the ranks. TPD Chief Jeff Insley promoted three officers, added a new face and introduced two reserve officers who will volunteer their time while learning the ropes of the Chair City. Insley also introduced a new chaplain to the department who will be there in a supporting role for officers who need someone to talk to after a difficult day on the job. “It’s a special time for me,” Insley said. “We get to bring new people into the family. We’re still putting together our management team and it’s great when you bring in new blood and new ideas.” Sgt. Toby Smith was promoted to lieutenant and will be new director of planning, research and management. Insley said Smith will be overseeing various
Kate Thornton
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See OFFICERS, Page 6
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www.thomasvillemedicalcenter.org/quality
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