High Points of the Valley (Graphic Illustration)

* It’s never too late to set a goal — and then crush it, as proved by 100-year-old Betty Hutchinson of Belpre, who celebrated her birthday earlier this month by walking across the Belpre Bridge. She was joined by her orthopedic physician Dr. Jeffrey McElroy, given that part of her celebration was recovery from multiple major orthopedic surgeries. “Fifteen years ago, she asked me, ‘How long will my knee last?'” McElroy said. “I told her it would probably last her lifetime. She said, ‘Well, how do you know?’ I told her I didn’t. And she said, ‘Well, when I turn 100, I’m walking across the Belpre Bridge. Are you going to walk with me?’ I said, ‘Sure.'” How could he turn down a challenge like that? Hutchinson, one of Belpre’s original “Rosie the Riveters” during World War II, is an inspiration, as she continues to remain active and independent enough to take on feats that would make those half her age shy away. Well done! And, congratulations on the milestone.

* Jon Six Food Ministry, Coplin Health Systems, Latrobe Street Mission, West Virginia University at Parkersburg Foundation, Jobs and Hope West Virginia, the Salvation Army of Parkersburg, Moon King, the B2L Foundation, and the Children’s Home Society of West Virginia teamed up with the Resiliency Center in Parkersburg to collect food for and then distribute 120 boxes Dec. 19. Two-thirds of that food was distributed within the first hour of availability; and within the first two hours, nearly all of it was gone. “We had a line of people right when we started this morning,” said Wood County Resiliency Center Director Sydney Weber. The need is great. Thank you to those organizations who worked together to try to help meet it.

* Jackson Middle School students also stepped up this season, with Operation Christmas, which matches families in need with local donors to ensure students and their families have gifts and essentials for the holidays. “I like seeing other people happy and not all people get to experience Christmas like I do,” Jillian Farley, student council president, said. “Everyone deserves a good Christmas.” Indeed, they do. Thank you to the students, teachers and donors who helped make that happen.