Although Steve Loos leads the Cub Scout oath each week with “On my honor, I will do my best,” he’s rarely one to ask for an honor. Loos, Cub Master for Pack 91 in Troy, has earned the recognition for his years of service to both the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, according to fellow den leader Ernie Cristobal. He is the heart and pulse that keeps Pack 91 going,” Cristobal said in his letter nominating Loos for the Suburban Journals Celebrate Your Neighbor Award.
Category: Newspaper Writing
Celebrating Neighbors: A Believer in Involvement
Richard “R.J.” and Russell Krause know the meaning of victory. They’ve coached teams to victory on the court and watched victory from the sidelines at local sporting events. But according to the brothers, the real victory is in the smiles of the thousands of children in the East St. Louis and Washington Park communities that they have mentored for more than 40 years. “Richard and Russell have continued to help the young people that need it the most,” Lynn Miller said in her letter nominating the East St. Louis natives for the Suburban Journals Celebrate Your Neighbor Award. “Almost 100 percent of their kids are considered to be at risk for their well being.”
From Blue Collar Life to Police Brass
Tom Coppotelli describes his childhood in Washington Park as something straight out of "Leave it to Beaver," complete with days playing ball on dusty baseball diamonds, roaming the streets with friends and hurrying home for dinner with his dad who worked on the railroad. Back then, it seemed he was destined to follow in his father's footsteps into a blue collar life. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Celebrating Neighbors: A Caring Group of Fire Fighters
They volunteer to risk their lives to save others. They spring out of bed in the middle of the night to fight fires. They host fundraisers and assist the neighboring areas of Columbia. The selfless acts of the Columbia Volunteer Fire Department are what prompted Gloria Jahr to nominate the entire team of fire fighters for the Suburban Journals Celebrate Your Neighbor Award. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Finding a good cause in unwanted luggage
When people see him coming up the driveway at local garage sales, they usually send George Schneider away packing. Schneider, president of the Collinsville Noon Lion's Club, spends his Friday and Saturday mornings at area yard and rummage sales collecting suitcases for foster children. Read the rest at http://www.suburbanjournals.stltoday.com
City manager cooks up plans and food
After a long day managing city departments, implementing a strategic plan and fussing with budgets, it only takes a little food to relax Collinsville City Manager Robert Knabel. Knabel, 58, is amateur gourmet chef, a hobby few who interact with him at City Hall know about. "I've always been interested in cooking. It's therapeutic for me," Knabel said recently. "It allows me to focus on something different." Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Collinsville teacher charts growth in new learners
Published in the Suburban Journals/Collinsville Herald: 8/18/09 Decorated with bright yellow borders and character cut-outs, Doris McFall's classroom at Jefferson Elementary School in Collinsville has all the essentials of a typical kindergarten space, complete with crayons, markers and fairy tale books. But it's also filled with something more difficult to pin down, McFall said. "I tell my kids I love them and I mean it," McFall said as she prepared her room for her new batch of 24 students before the start of school last week. "No matter how old they are, you treat the kids the way you want to be treated." Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
At Ashmann’s, Just ‘Ask Lenny’
Brief version published in the 8/9/09 issue of the Suburban Journals/Collinsville Herald He’s the go-to guy. He’s the one to ask about how to treat a wasp sting, how to test blood sugar and how to relieve a sunburn or rash. “Let me ask Lenny” is a common phrase heard throughout the aisles of Ashmann’s Pharmacy in Collinsville. Lenny Locus, owner of Ashmann’s for the past 11 years, has been a fixture in the store since 1967. It’s not his hard work or long hours that most notice – it’s that he is a people person. Read the rest at http://www.shannonphilpott.com
Hospice of Southern Illinois Comforts Entire Family at the End of Life
Margaret Hettenhausen is not afraid to die. Lying comfortably in a chair in her own home, she strokes her beloved cat, Missy, and says, “I’m not afraid; I’m ready.” Two months ago, Hettenhausen was driving a car; today she is unable to walk without support. The 92-year old is suffering from ovarian cancer. She may live two more days – two more years.
Faith, Overwhelming Support Gives Family Hope
He plays with his brothers – Jack and Joey – attends first grade, sits in the pew next to his parents each Sunday and goes about life as most –year olds do, but J.D. Maher is not your average –year old child. His name is on numerous prayer lists, including several in diocese. His grandmother, Althea, who lives in Arkansas, sends mailings to national prayer groups to pray for her grandson who is in desperate need of a liver transplant.
Shannon Philpott-Sanders 