07/19/2007

Northern Notes

High school rodeo queen competes nationally

By Stephanie Beach
Local columnist
sbeach@
record-eagle.com

Read past Northern Notes

Emily Hill of South Boardman is on her way to represent Michigan at the National High School Rodeo Association's finals, July 22-28, in Springfield, Ill.

The national association is a scholarship-based association that promotes academics and sportsmanship. Its first finals rodeo was held in 1949.

Emily qualified for the competition in all seven events in which a girl can compete. These include pole bending, barrel racing, goat tying, breakaway roping, team roping, cutting and the queen's contest. For the national queen contest, Emily will be judged on modeling, a two-minute speech, an impromptu speech, personality, appearance, horsemanship and personal interview.

This is the first time in the history of the finals rodeo that a girl has come to the national competition in all seven events and there will be a special presentation for Emily at the finals to recognize her accomplishment.

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Kristal Firman of Interlochen would like to thank Melissa Stevens for helping her with a flat tire.

Kristal was driving home from work at about 10 p.m. and noticed that her vehicle sounded very loud and the steering was terrible. She pulled into the Holiday gas station at South Airport and Cass roads to investigate and discovered a very shredded tire that had been on the rim. She called relatives for help after finding that she didn't have a jack or tools of any sort that might help.

"As I waited for help, Melissa drove up to ask if I had a jack, but I politely told her I had assistance coming. After she filled her van up, she pulled over to help me, using her own jack and tools,” Kristal wrote. "Her jack, unfortunately, was not strong or high enough to use ... and when my family arrived another jack was called for. Melissa had her two young children with her, Ryan and Monique. Ryan also was a big help and poor Monique was very tired. I am so grateful for her help and am glad to see Traverse City does have its Good Samaritans, which I have not (encountered) for quite some time. It pleases me to be wrong on this subject.”

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The 2-year-old daughter of one of Kelly Steinebach's friends was severely burned downstate recently and admitted to Hurley Burn Center in Flint. Kelly, who lives in Grawn, wanted to make a care package for her that included balloons and called Michigan Paper Products to have a balloon bouquet made up so she could take it down to Flint.

"Robin, the assistant manager, let me know that latex balloons were not allowed in hospitals anymore and suggested a mylar with a 'Beanie' as the weight,” Kelly wrote. "I told her that would be great and arranged to pick it up later that afternoon.”

When Kelly went to pick up her order, there was a beautiful balloon with colorful streamers attached and two Blue's Clues "Beanies” used as weights. Robin had marked the order "paid in full.”

"What a wonderful thing for a person to do when they do not (even) know the parties involved,” Kelly wrote. "It is nice to know that there are still people out there with compassion. A big, huge thank you to Robin at Michigan Paper Products for her generosity and kindness!”

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Candace Lee and the Unitarian Universalist crew wonder if the community knows that socially conscientious generosity is not, after all, incompatible with successful business.

"Those of us who prepare, serve and use the Community Meal Program at Friends Church at Oak and Fifth streets sighed in relief when Max's Service donated a refrigerator,” Candace wrote. "The vital item is brand new, roomy and was transported free. Thanks to Max's for the boost!”

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The Senior Expo held in June was a huge hit and more than 300 senior citizens took part in the fun, informative event.

The Senior Expo Planning Committee would like to thank the following sponsors for their support, because without them this event would not have been possible: Village at Bay Ridge (Premier Sponsor), Covell Funeral Home, Excel Rehabilitation, Heartland Home Health and Hospice, Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, Rizzo & Associates, BATA and Prime Time News.

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Items for this column may be sent to Northern Notes, Record-Eagle, P.O. Box 632, Traverse City, MI 49685-0632; e-mail sbeach@record-eagle.com.