Applause for jobs well done

With Election Day just hours away, I've been trying to catch up on odds and ends after a very busy time. So, for this week, let's keep this column upbeat and positive by applauding some of the people who've made news recently - and some whose deeds may have gone unnoticed.

First, hats-off to our local candidates running for office tomorrow. Thanks for putting your names on the line and agreeing to undergo what is, without a doubt, a grueling and sometimes painful process.

One candidate, referring to the public scrutiny over the past few months and the certain degree of less-than-kind chatter all candidates face, has felt like he's been walking around naked. I believe him, but thankfully, we have people willing to put themselves through the process.

No matter what the election results are tomorrow, we all owe candidates our gratitude for wanting to represent us.

Next, thanks to the Perry County Chamber of Commerce for hosting Tuesday's Witches Walk. Downtown Tell City was filled with nearly every imaginable character - pretty and creepy.

I suspect the total crowd easily surpassed 1,000 and Home Mutual Insurance reported giving away more than 1,000 pencils during the evening and the turnout was the biggest I've seen over the years.

I glimpsed several masked trick-or-treaters making their rounds Wednesday evening and First United Methodist Church deserves mention for their Trunks for Treats gathering that evening.

Halloween has become quite the decorating event for many people and the area certainly had its share of creepy porches and yards. Some businesses even got involved.

Troy firemen have been busy lately, hosting a pre-Halloween party at the firehouse and then preparing kettles of their sought-after soup this past Sunday as a department fund-raiser.

Well-deserved congratulations go to Perry County Memorial Hospital and its hard-working paramedics and emergency-medical technicians. The hospital's emergency-medical service won the provider of the year award for the third time. We had the story in Thursday's edition.

No one wants an ambulance summoned on their behalf, or that of a loved one, but it's good to know we have trained men and women standing by around the clock when the need arises.

With Halloween behind us, the attention of many will turn to year-end holidays. There are several ways to reach out to others.

United Way of Perry County and its Holiday Helpers United program is once again coordinating programs designed to help brighten the holidays for others through coat and toy drives.

As we reported Thursday, several businesses are collecting winter coats, including Maurice's, T's Car Care, Directions, Golden Living Center-Lincoln Hills, Tell City junior-high and high schools, Fifth Third Bank, Peebles Department Store and Wal-Mart.

Toy drives are planned by Branchville Correctional Facility employees, Golden Living Center-Lincoln Hills and Toys for Tots.

Food Drives will be conducted by Perry County License Branch, Branchville employees, T's Car Care, Golden Living Center-Lincoln Hills, Perry County employees, Perry Central staff members and Taco Bell.

Angel Trees will be hosted by Old National Bank, First State Bank and Wal-Mart with Fifth Third Bank planning to sponsor a Mittens for Kittens hat, scarf, and mitten drive. Area police officers plan another "Shop with a Cop" program.

Though I have nieces and nephews to dote on at the holidays, helping others remains something I enjoy doing. Spending a few dollars I might otherwise fritter away warms my heart and no doubt remains a lasting memory for those needing warm coats for the winter, new clothes in the closet and a toy or two under the Christmas tree.

If you can help out, please do so.