By Staff
Quick response
saved Ben's life
To the Editor:
On June 30, Quitman High School celebrated a class reunion for the classes of 1960-63 at the Howard Johnson Convention Center.
Events for the reunion were progressing as planned until a situation at 9:30 p.m. drastically changed the event. An employee of the convention center, Mr. Ben Evans, suffered a heart attack.
With a life-or-death situation happening, Patsy Daniels, a registered nurse and member of the class reunion, sprang into action. Faye Barentine and Virginia Doggett both nurses also attending the reunion assisted her, as did Quitman firefighter Scotty Daniels.
My staff made two calls, one to 911 requesting help and the other to let me know that Ben had a heart attack and they did not think he was alive. When I arrived, I found out he had not died and the EMTs were putting him into the ambulance for transport to Jeff Anderson Regional Medical Center. He remained there until July 6, and was then moved to Jackson.
The quick knowledge and unselfish acts of these professionals makes them heroes in my eyes. Without their quick responses, the circumstances might have been different for Ben and his family.
After the class reunion, I received countless phone calls from members of the reunion asking about Ben's status.
I am so very grateful to them for their kindness and caring. This is not something I see every day, but now I have so much more hope. For this reason, I am so glad I am a part of the hospitality industry. This is caring that helped a total stranger.
Thank you for letting me share this story, and thanks so much to everyone involved.
Debbie Joiner
Howard Johnson Inn
and Convention Center
Meridian
Logistical problems
at Bonita Lakes for
4th of July show
To the Editor:
I am writing in reference to the 4th of July concert at Bonita Lakes. Let me start out on a positive note. The symphony orchestra and the fireworks were fantastic. The show was well thought out, the music was wonderful, and the fireworks were beautiful.
Having the show in that particular spot, however, is a "headache." The location is not accessible, and it is especially difficult for older people. My husband and I went with three friends all in our mid 50s to mid 60s. We were not about to park on the lower road and get hung up in all that traffic when the concert was over. We chose to park at the mall and ride the shuttle.
We were let out of the shuttle at the bottom of a hill, which then had to be climbed before we could get to the concert spot. The driver told us he had no idea where we could meet him to ride back to the mall.
We managed to do the climbing; however, I am wondering about people who were older than we are. I did see a golf cart coming down the hill, but young people were riding in that.
When the concert was over, the only option we had was to walk back to the mall parking lot, which I am sure, was over a mile and much of it uphill.
I feel that if we are going to continue to use the Bonita Lakes area something will have to be done. I am not an engineer, but it seems to me that there is going to have to be another access road built to the area and, if possible, a good size parking lot so that traffic can be controlled like it is when you go to a football game.
I know I am not the only one that feels this way. I have heard others complain. I will not go to the concert next year. I probably will go to the mall lot to view the fireworks. I would like to be able to attend all of the festivities.
Betsy Littleton
Meridian
Weidmann's now
has a future
To the Editor:
Monday night was exciting for the Meridian community. Fred Wile, Bruce Martin and Rick Snowden, along with Sela Ward and Mayor John Robert Smith, Dr. Malcolm Portera and Fred Carl, gave an excellent presentation about the renovation of the historic Weidmann's Restaurant.
Famous chefs Nick Apostle of Jackson and William McGehee from Atlanta will be the restaurant operators.
Mrs. Marks Rothenberg Straus
Meridian
Enjoys reading
The Star
To the Editor:
We all enjoy The Star, I mean in the Kemper County area. I was born and raised here but lived many years in Meridian after I married. I had one daughter who attended school and church, same as my husband, on South Side. I went to beauty school there and my husband worked for Ready Mix Concrete, later going into business for himself.
We moved to Bellamy, Ala., and lived there several years and he worked for Allison Lumber Co. After a few years we moved to the Bahamas for 13 years with Owens-Illinois (timber). We transferred from there to Texas and then decided to move back to Mississippi, where we built our home on land we owned.
I lost my husband to leukemia in July 1996. But I feel that Lord led us back for a reason. Our son, Doug, and 12-year-old grandson now live near.
So, I enjoy all of The Star, especially business, editorials, Landers, Connections and the new educational feature is great. I really liked the recent page on Hawaii. We are wildlife people and love the outdoors, too. We also keep up with the obituaries.
I also love to read about Carl Fitzgerald, Earle Aycock and Ken Rainey I remember Danny and the Dudes. I keep them all in my prayers. Those were the "good ole days."
Emma J. Wilder
DeKalb
Celebrating that
51st reunion
To the Editor:
On June 8th and 9th, I celebrated a reunion with my 1951 classmates. The planning, scheduling of activities for all, the decorations, the entertainment and, last but not least, the food and fellowship we enjoyed were relished. I'm sure some were astonished at the perfection of our five-year 1951 class reunion presentation.
I will never forget all of our 10 and five year reunions, but this last one outdid them all. We just keep getting bigger and better. I cannot in just a few words thank everyone who was on the planning committee. It would be impossible.
We remembered those classmates who had died and couldn't be with us through a pictorial display. The reunion and all we did was in their memory. God willing, I pray to be with my classmates next time.
I love each and every one of you.
Jackie Crabtree Banes
Meridian