Amherst News-Times, 2001-05-30

              See Page 7 for Memorial Day photos     Local athletes advance to state — Dage 8
Amherst News-Ti
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Wednesday, May 30, 2001
Amherst. Ohio
50 cents
i Plenty of residents and well wishers turned out for Monday's an-
j nual Memorial Day parade and festivities. Local veterans groups
j    placed markers at the cemeteries in Amherst and the surrounding
Giving thanks for freedom
community and then joined the Amherst Comets Marching Band
and other revelers for a parade through downtown to the lawn of
Town Hall. At left, members of the Jets show they are full of pride
while riding in the parade, and at right, mayor John Higgins addresses the crowd from the bandstand. More pictures of the Memorial
Day parade are on Page 7.
More than 300 to graduate on Sunday
by YVONNE GAY
News-Times reporter
The lives of 303 students at Marion L. Steele High School will
never be the same again after this
weekend
That's because in just a few days
those informative years, coupled
with sweet sixteen parties and giggling crushes, will be laughingly re-,
tend to as, "the good old days."
From now until Sunday, seniors
will roam the halls of their alma mater, scavenging for signatures, and
pressing their best friends to write
something "thoughtful" in their
memory books. They will also be
preparing for one of the biggest
days of their lives.
Commencement for the senior
class of 2001 is scheduled to take
place at 2:30 pjn., Sunday, June 3,
at the Palace Theatre.
"This was one of the most- talented classes I've ever seen, and
I've been doing this for 31 years,"
MLS principal Fred Holland said
Friday.
Holland, who will be retiring at
the close of the school year, said
this year's graduating class excelled
in a number of areas that included
academics, athletics and music.
"It's been fun because they've
done so many things. It's been a
great year," he said.
And guidance counselor Bob
Harcula couldn't agree more.
This class was great all around
in athletics and academics," Harcula
said. "This is (one of the best) classes Amherst has ever had."
To prove that point, MLS seniors
earned more than $1 million in
scholarships this year. Also, 10 students received national merit
awards, and four students were
named national merit finalists.
This year's top five graduating
students are Gretchen Zsebik, Lara
Petredis, Timothy Schneider, Jessica
Moennich and Zachary Crowther.
All five students are in the running
for valedictorian and salutatorian
spots. However, those final names
won't be revealed until a day or two
before graduation ceremonies take
place.
While senior students left school
early on Friday in order to prepare
for a night of prom magic, parent
volunteers worked frantically around the building, getting decorations up for after-prom festivities.
This year's theme placed after-prom
goers in a carnival setting, complete
with plenty of games, prizes and
balloons.
In keeping with tradition, this
year's senior class presented two
gifts to the school. With the help of
student council, championship flags
were given for the gymnasium and
two AED units were also presented.
According to Holland, the portable
computer driven defribulators will
be used in the school's office and in
the athletic department. The AED
machines, which cost an estimated
$3,000 each, were purchased widi
die help of delations made by several outside organizations.
Michael Dixon, (sitting) gets comfortable in
his new position as principal of Marion L.
Steele High School. After more than 30 years
in education, current MLS principal, Fred Holland will retire next month.
Michael Dixon will lead
high school as principal
by YVONNE OAY
News-Times reporter
Michael Dixon knows he
has big shoes to fill, and he
is more than ready to take on
that challenge.
The Hymouth High School
principal will replace current
Marion L. Steele High School
principal Fred Holland next
yesr. Holland, who announced
hit retirement earlier this
year, will be saying goodbye
next month lo a career in
education that spanned 30
years. Before accepting the
principal's position at MLS,
Holland spent time in seven
schools, including Kent State
University, where he worked
as a graduate *\tmi **tt— teacher
and fltrittsnt ftwMbt'l coach.
Along with his experience
as a division VI high school
principal, Dixon will be bring
with him a diverse background gathered from teaching
and coaching experiences. Dixon worked at Meadowbrook
and Whitehall- Yearling high
schools, as an occupational
work adjustment coordinator.
he was a mathematics, science
and reading teacher at Roae-
more Junior High School and
he was a speech teacher al
Hastings Juinor High School.
"We started out with 32
applications and cut that
down to 16," achooi superintendent Robert Boynton explained. "We interviewed the
16, and Dixon was the first
person interviewed in that
round. After dial, we cut the
Add down to four, and again
(the school board) waa impressed with the way Dixon
CONTINUED on paga 6
New ID stickers will help
aid lost, injured children
by YVONNE GAY
News-Times reporter
More than six years ago, a 1-year-
old boy in Illinois was rushed to the
emergency room bearing no forms
of identification. If it hadn't been
for a nurse who recognized him, die
child's parents would have spent
hours worrying about the whereabouts of their son.
"The mother was concerned about this happening to someone else,
so we worked with her and came up
with the sticker," Susan Hocker, an
occupant protective coordinator at
the Illinois Department of Transportation said.
The CHAD program, named after
the 1-year-old boy, stands for Children Have An iDentity. The program
encourages parents and guardians to
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child's name, date of birth, address.
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CONTINUED on page 5
Her life's gone to the dogs,
but that's OK with Jeanette
by YVONNE OAY
News-Times reporter
"Stay, Buster stay...Good dog,"
Jeanette Smith said, her voice full of
admiration.
Although she had explained that
Buster isn't as tully trained as some
of the other animals she works with,
the dog seemed to be holding his
c vn in the chilly wet weather. After
going over several more commands
in the empty parking lot the two finally headed back home.
Buster, like most of the animals
Smith has owned over the years,
was rescued from an animal shelter.
"Some people choose animals
that aren't suited for them," the
Washington state native explained.
Smith, a longtime animal lover
has turned her passion for pets into a
lifelong career. Long before her
show, "Speaking of Pete"
CONTINUED on paga 2
.Jeanette Smfth and her dog Busier give a brief positive
demonstration lest month. Sntth's show, "Speaking of Pets'
seen on Amherst osbls television.
can be