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One summer during my college years, I had a roommate who suffered from suicidal thoughts. She’d attempted suicide before we met, and been hospitalized, but continued to struggle. Back in the late 80s, there was very little public understanding of mental health issues, and the stigma was even stronger than it is today. Our other roommate and I didn’t know what to do, or where to turn.
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Arthur Wissman Unit 150 American Legion Auxiliary, donated dictionaries to the third grade Avon elementary class on September 14.
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1. Know your tractor. Read and understand the Operator’s Manual before using the equipment and always keep your equipment in good condition. 2. Use ROPS and seat belt whenever and wherever applicable. Foldable ROPS should be folded down only when absolutely necessary and folded back up and locked as soon as possible. Don’t wear the seatbelt when the ROPS is folded. Most tractor fatalities are caused by overturns. 3. Be familiar with your terrain and work area. Walk the area first and identify any debris or obstacles that might hinder safe driving. Use extra caution on slopes, slow down for all turns and stay off the highway when possible. 4. Never start an engine in a closed shed or garage. Exhaust gas contains carbon monoxide, which is colorless, odorless and deadly. 5. Always keep your PTO properly shielded. Make a habit to walk around your tractor and PTO driven implement, never over, through or between the tractor and implement, especially if either is running. The PTO rotates with enough speed and strength to kill you. 6. Keep your hitches low and always on the drawbar. Or else, your tractor could flip over backwards. safety first, then take your time and do it right.
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Someone asked me recently, “Whydosomeruralcommunities “thrive,” and some don’t?” I have pondered that question manytimesandhaveproduced many answers. But after much deliberation, I will reduce it to one word…resilience.
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This year, marks Mr. Poppe’s 33rd year in education at The Avon School District. He's been teaching for 35 years and has taughtinAvonfor33years.When asked how he spends his summer breaks,herespondedwith,“Updating the technology at school and spending time outdoors with his wife and grandchildren.” If Poppe were to win the lottery and give up teaching he said, “He would love to travel the world with his wife.” Mr. Poppe defines a “good day” at school as, ''when all the technology and computers are working, and seeingallthekidsbeingsuccessful and accomplishing their goals, is the highlight of his teaching career” says Mr. Poppe. For him, the best thing about teaching is working and seeing the students every day, and can't say anything negative about teaching. When he wasaskedabouthowhethinkshis studentswillrememberhisclass, he responded with, '' working hard, but still having lots of fun in the classroom”. In addition to teaching, Mr. Poppe has been a well-knownandwell-lovedcoach. He has coached boy’s basketball, girl’sbasketball,volleyball,track, football, and golf. His funniest moment in teaching was a couple of years ago, when the schedule had changed, but he didn't know it,wenthomeforlunch,andforgot that he had a whole classroom full of kids with no teacher! His motto is “Enjoy every new day that you are given, because you never know what will happen”.
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Lindsey Fathke became the new K-12 principal this year at Avon School District. Lindsey started at Avon as a sixth grade teacher, and continued for four years. Before Avon she taught at Bon Homme for eight years. When asked about her morning routineasaprincipal,sheresponded saying, “When I get to school in the morning I load up my computer, check my emails, my phone messages, check my planner, and make a small to-do list for the day.” Lindsey imagines a day at work as making a list of what she may need to do and/or anything that gets brought to her attention. She likes to walk through the hallways and bops through classrooms throughout the day.
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