Published: April 14, 2009 06:49 pm      

LETTERS: April 15, 2009

Huge thanks from Clark County Red Cross



On March 28, the Clark County chapter of the American Red Cross was honored and privileged to rub shoulders with some of the kindest and most generous individuals we have yet encountered.

The inaugural Ride for the Red was a huge success, despite the rainy weather, and the stage has now been set for this to become an annual signature event for the Clark County Red Cross. All proceeds from the Ride for the Red will provide disaster relief in our local community.

The 90-mile poker run was in the planning stages for several months, under the dutiful leadership of co-chairs Michael and Marilyn Greenwell — local residents, avid bikers and longtime Red Cross volunteers. Marilyn and Michael led a contingent of dedicated volunteers who handled the multitude of details involved in planning this type of event.

Marilyn also constructed a Web site promoting the event and allowing participants to save time in line by preregistering for the ride. The Web site, http://ride4thered.org, now has photos and comments from participants of the ride and invites them to participate in a post-ride survey to help improve upon the event in future years. There are sponsorship opportunities now available for the 2010 Ride for the Red, so local businesses can be a partner of this fun and exciting event next year.

While the Ride for the Red has been completed for 2009, the excitement is not over yet. In conjunction with the ride, the Clark County chapter is giving away a 2009 Honda Rebel CMX250C motorcycle, approximate value $3,500. A limited number of raffle tickets are still available at $5 each or five for $20 — until Saturday. The lucky winner will be drawn at Thunder Over Louisville and does not have to be present to win. For more information, call the Red Cross at 812-283-8416 or visit the Web site at http://ride4thered.org.

Our sincere thanks go to Tina Bryson and Derrick Korte at S&S Powersports Clarksville; Delbert and Phoebe Curry and the officers and board of the Clark County Casting and Conservation Club; the world’s greatest rock cover band, Flathead Screw; photographer Roger Fisher and his crew, Budget Print Center; Clark County Sheriff’s Department; Scott Johns and the Utica Police Department; Clarksville Police Department; Charlestown Police Department; New Chapel EMS; the Christian Motorcycle Association; Brian Rose and American Bikers Aimed Towards Education; Jeffersonville Parks Department; Mary Wallace and Order’s Up Catering; David Orem and The Locker Room Screenprinting; Debbie Keehne at Wild Bill’s Saloon in Salem; Jerri Ettel at The Pirate’s Cove in Charlestown; Jenny White at The Pub in Scottsburg; Lowe’s Home Improvement (Chris Brown at Clarksville and Jim Merkle at Dixie Highway); Derby Dinner Playhouse; Jenny Summitt at Xtreme Transportation; Jughead Rivers at Body Art Emporium; O’Reilly’s Auto Parts; R&W Tires; Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, Clarksville; Logan’s Roadhouse, Clarksville; The Evening News; the Courier-Journal; Harley at 95.7 WQMF; Tommy Lee at WXMA 102.3 the Max and WLRS; Don Nordin at 107.7 SFR; Brandi Bachman and Renee Murphy at WHAS-11; Cindi Sullivan at WAVE-3; Craig Hoffman at Louisville’s CW Network; Cheetah Trikes; Lowery Siding and Gutter; All Care Chiropractic and Massage by Dana; Karen Decker and EcoQuest; Advance Auto Parts; Margaret Joiner and Deanna Smith at New Attitudes; Hooters in Jeffersonville; and the many volunteers, participants, and supporters too numerous to list.

Without the help from all of these great people and businesses, the Ride for the Red could not have happened. We look forward to having the honor again next year.

— Phyllis Wilkins, executive director, Clark County chapter of the American Red Cross



Reader questions explicit details included in stories

While reading the story on Sheila Granger, I was shocked you put so many details about the alleged abuse to the 12-year-old boys for the public to read. I am sure those boys wouldn’t have wanted it told.

Then, in the next day’s Evening News story, I read about a helpless female resident at Hillcrest Centre being sexually assaulted by a male resident there. The details you included about that alleged incident were absolutely shocking.

If those were your loved ones, would you want detailed information like that told about them for just anyone to read?

I certainly wouldn’t want things like that told about anyone. The Evening News is a local paper with local news about local people. In my opinion, it can do more harm than a national newspaper.

I do want to applaud you for all the great things you do include in the paper. The paper has greatly improved with so many local stories (positive in nature) and pictures.

— Teresa Craig, Jeffersonville



Editor’s note: It’s always a tough call when deciding what details to include or omit from sensitive stories. We always try to protect the identity of victims of sexual abuse by not listing names and as few family details as possible. However, sometimes not listing details leaves a story open to conjecture and rumor and we strive to quell that.