Connect Bridgeport It’s Happening: It's Happening: The Rest of the Stor(ies)

It's Happening: The Rest of the Stor(ies)

By Julie Perine on February 12, 2017 from It’s Happening via Connect-Bridgeport.com

Occasionally, I like to follow up on stories I write – letting readers know “the rest of the story.”

Let's start with little Richie Adams, a five-year-old kindergarten student at Nutter Fort Elementary. Just a month ago, I wrote about Richie, who had been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and was undergoing chemotherapy treatments at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Donations at Richie’s Go Fund Me page have reached $4,130 of the $5,000 goal. Also, a Prom Fashion Show, held Friday at Lincoln High School and sponsored by the LHS Key Club raised nearly an additional $1,000 for this local family. I was able to attend and see these kids – including the gal at the helm of operations Shelby Swiger and my friend, Key Club member Darian Darway - in action toward this wonderful cause. And the best news of all: As of Thursday, Feb. 9, Richie was in total remission from his illness. He has been home for the weekend, but returns to the hospital Monday for another round of chemo.

Contribute to the Go Fund Me page here: https://www.gofundme.com/richard-michaels-medical-fund

Stay up to date at the Go Richie Go Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/gorichiego/?fref=ts&ref=br_tf&qsefr=1

Send Richie and his family cards and encouragement at:

Ronald McDonald House

Adams Room 24
c/o Ronald McDonald House Charities
350 Erkenbrecher Ave
Cincinnati, OH 45229

Or at his home:

Richard Michael Adams
403 Elm Street
Clarksburg, WV 26301

Since the tragic, untimely death of our friend and my daughter’s cousin by marriage Kurt Myers, I’ve written a series of articles focused on the dangers of underage drinking and binge drinking and the importance of getting immediate help for someone who has consumed too much alcohol. A 17-year-old boy with a huge heart and love for the outdoors, Kurt died after drinking a large amount of vodka. His friends dropped him off at his house and he passed out in his yard, never waking up.

“Keep the Boots Walking” has been a campaign in Kurt’s honor to keep his story going. Kurt was from Wheeling, but has family in the area. Included is Pam Heaster, a teacher at Lewis County High School. The school recently picked up on Kurt’s story, making it the focus of a film making project which was entered in The West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration’s No School Spirits video contest, sponsored by State Farm.

Through a social media campaign, the YouTube video has been shared extensively. Recently, media productions teacher Lesley Garton White told me some amazing news. The video won second place in the contest – a $2,500 prize for LCHS. The filmmakers were told that the only reason the video didn’t capture first place is that it could not be condensed into the time parameter outlined in the contest. Because the WVABCA felt the project was such a great one – and that nothing in it could be edited out – they are still creating a PSA to be run statewide, warning kids – and everyone – about the dangers of underage drinking and binge drinking. Tomorrow, the first steps will be taken in the project and in April, the WVABCA will present LCHS with their cash prize and likely debut the PSA.

Jackie, Wil, Lauren and Greg Myers have been so brave and selfless in their loss, praying earnestly and taking action that their tragedy help open eyes and thus save lives of others. And the efforts of these high school students are to be commended; putting their time and talents into this important project.

Finally, in a recent blog I offered some pats on the back to a former Bridgeport High School DECA teacher Mary Kay Maxwell and city administrators and staff members of the 1970s era. At the time, John “Jack” Hodge was mayor. He now lives in Kennesaw, Georgia, and after reading the blog,

he wrote to me – in a real letter on paper through the U.S. Postal Service. That, in itself, made my day, but what the letter said made it even better. He talked about how the city staff under his administration – Bill Spears, Keith Boggs, Debbie Kinney, Norma Duez and Judy Lawson, among others – contributed greatly to the advancement of the City of Bridgeport.

“Tons of stories could be told about each and every one of them and their dedication to their community,” he said.

Hodge said that his intent upon running for mayor back in the ‘70s was to assure a safe and comfortable community to live in.

“It was anticipated that I would someday retire there and that my children and grandchildren would enjoy living there too,” Hodge said. “It was not to be, but it does give me a great deal of satisfaction to see others, many of them good friends, benefiting from what was done many years ago to make the City of Bridgeport what it is today.”

Hodge said he reads Connect-Bridgeport each and every morning to keep up with what’s happening in our city. He loves watching the city develop and he did a little reminiscing about his era and how things have changed in the last 40 years.

“When one thinks of a $4 million budget, it is a far cry from the 1972 budget which was $155,808,” he said. “In 1973, the budget increased to $201,509 due to the B&O tax being passed the previous year. The largest B&O taxpayers were Ace Hardware and Carroll Lumber. The annexation of Bridgeport Hill, in 1977, caused the budget to increase to $600,000 and with the completion of the Meadowbrook Mall, the increase was even more.”

“I often think back to the days spent in Bridgeport, I recall standing by the old water plant with Tinker Steele and saying, ‘Wouldn’t it be great if the city could purchase the RISH Building?’”

Hodge said the building – which, did, of course become City Hall – wasn’t even in city limits at that time.

Thank you Mayor Hodge for writing to me – and to your city!

Read the blog titled Firing Up 40-Year-Old Memories of City Hall and BHS DECA here:

http://www.connect-bridgeport.com/connect.cfm?func=view§ion=Community&item=Its-Happening-Firing-Up-40-Year-Old-Memories-of-City-Hall-and-BHS-DECA25227

Julie Perine can be reached at 304-848-7200, ext. 2, julie@connect-bridgeport.com or follow @JuliePerine on Twitter.

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