Red Cross recognizes local heroes

Seven Hometown Heroes will be honored Tuesday, March 9, during a breakfast at Nelson Commons on the Ohio University campus. (This is a correction from the print article, which incorrectly stated that the event occurred this past Tuesday, Feb. 16.)

The Athens Red Cross organized the project in hopes of honoring "œeveryday people who have performed extraordinary acts that made a difference in another's life." The heroic event must have occurred during 2009 in the Athens Red Cross unit's service area of Athens County (or local resident military personnel stationed elsewhere).

The Hometown Heroes include the following people and groups (with short excerpts from the nominations):

Rhonda Bentley

Nominated by Lucy Juedes

Bentley is the founder of the Nelsonville Community Center where on average 80-100 people drop in. "No one is turned away. Everyone is welcome and more importantly, made to feel valued and at home..."

Wesley Schoonover

Nominated by Gloria Balch and Paul Grippa

"Students were trying to figure out what to do when he (Wesley) jumped up, ran around the table an did the Heimlich maneuver and the hot dog came out," Grippa said. "The kids with Zach (who was choking) were trying to figure out what to do, and Wesley just jumped up and did what was needed. There were six adults in there supervising students, but he took care of it before anyone noticed...

Kevin Dotson

Nominated by Dorothy Gettle

"Kevin's life ambition is to foster growth and viability for Nelsonville and the surrounding communities. He works tirelessly and often unbeknown, to create a better place to live and work for all calling our locale home. He does this with outward respect for his community and those who share it."

IPAC (Integrating Professionals for Appalachian Children)

Nominated by Lynn Harter

"I can think of no organization more worthy of recognition than IPAC. IPAC is a rural health network composed of university, community and consumer partnerships aimed at strengthening southeastern Ohio's health-care delivery system to meet the health-care and mental-health needs of children and their families in not only Athens County but also Meigs, Hocking and Vinton counties..."

York Twp. Volunteer Fire Department

Nominated by Evelyn McKnight

"I recommend the highest honor to these volunteer firemen... [They] put their training to the limit when they arrived on the scene "“ their quick response to the accident (Sept. 21, 2009) scene kept this gentlemen from bleeding to death due to the partial loss of limb."

Jane Linscott

Nominated by Lois Harkins

"There should be a Jane Linscott wing at one of the buildings on the Federal Hocking (school district) campus because of Jane's continued compassion and care to the students and community members comprising Federal Hocking. Lucky are the students and employees who see Jane each day as her positivity is catching!"

Major James Ninnis

Nominated by LTC William Hauschild

"Major Ninnis' ongoing commitment to community service... (he volunteers) his time and providing expertise to the Richland Area Volunteer Fire Department. In 2009, Major Ninnis responded to over 65 incidents involving fires, brush fires, auto accidents, medical emergencies and hazardous spills... He leads high-risk events in an effort to recognize and honor policemen, firefighters, and military men and women for their service. These events draw outstanding comments from OU and the Athens community alike..."