“Here today, gone tomorrow.” That statement seems to describe just what our weather has been this spring. The several days of unusually hot weather we had two weeks ago burst the tulips, daffodils and flowering trees into an awesome array of beauty, yet two short days later Mother Nature whopped us back to fall temperatures, and the flowers bowed their heads in defeat, while the trees shed their colors, and only the ground was covered in pink and white petals.
Sometimes I think weather equates with life — joy-filled days we expect to continue are suddenly replaced with hurt and sadness. The murder/suicide of Breanna Ballor by her estranged husband, Glenn, is a devastating example of how quickly life can change.
Breanna’s life revolved around caring for young people incarcerated at Porter County Juvenile Detention Center and helping to turn their lives around. They knew she cared about them and their future. But one storm wiped out the sunshine and flowers in their lives and left a 2-year-old without parents.
I hope and pray that the impact of such unbelievable violence will penetrate the minds and hearts of the youth Breanna served and loved, spurring them to honor her memory by pursuing a better life. My heart goes out to those who loved and needed her.
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Pet person of the week: Another super success story from the Porter County Career and Technical Center: Portage senior Noah Simmons has been promoted to the head groundskeeper at the U.S. Steel Yard in Gary, home of the RailCats baseball team. And this has happened a month before he even graduates from high school.
Every game depends on the condition of the playing field, and Simmons’ knack for combing sod, seed and sunshine, coupled with hard work, has given him a lifelong career opportunity while he is still in high school. Congratulations, and best of luck in the future, Noah. You rock and are my pet person of the week.
The Career Center boasts other outstanding students as well. At the recent Health Occupation Student Association conference in Indianapolis, three students qualified for national competition. Washington Township’s Luke Soliday will compete in Job Seeking Skills, and Diamond Cabrera of Portage High School and Ashley Vode of Hobart High School will both be competing in Dental Terminology.
Hooray for all of you for taking advantage of the excellent programs offered to all students at the Porter County Career and Technical Center. You are our future, and the future is looking good.
Kids at work: So often our young people do so many good things, volunteering for all kinds of activities and events. Not too often do they get recognized for their time and talents. Recently a group of eighth-grade Hebron Middle School students took to the streets of their town, and cleaned it up to keep it looking good. And guess what — the project was coordinated by two eighth-graders.
Lily Bolda and Lilly Doe organized the effort, which included cleaning the school, the Little League field, Main Street, the bowling alley, and even the trash along U.S. 231. The 90 students did it all in two hours, and even supplied the gloves, first aid, trash bags and buckets. They even sorted out the 60 garbage bags full into trash and recyclable items.
Then there are the Key Club students throughout our county who volunteer for so many needs all year, even during the summer. You’ll see some of them at our Area Special Olympics events from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Valparaiso High School.
So if you notice a teen doing something good, give them a high five, a pat on the back or a thank you because we couldn’t do without them. Then I hope you have a great day because you deserve it. Thanks for reading. Fly your flag.
Lorrie Woycik is a freelance columnist.