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Local News

Monday, October 26, 2009

House readied for Parsons' homecoming
Horizon Eyecare - Findlay
By CHANDRA NIKLEWSKI

for the courier

FOSTORIA -- Iraq War veteran Shane Parsons is another step closer to coming home and Hope for the Warriors is one step closer to giving him and his mother a home to come back to.

The Parsons family will be moving into a new home in Fostoria soon. Although the exact date is unknown, Cindy and Shane should be inside their own house for Thanksgiving.

At least, they'll have a place for guests to sit when they visit.

A truck carrying furniture made its way to the Parsons family home last week from Furniture Fair in North Carolina. The furniture was sold at cost and paid for by Hope for the Warriors with help from various donations.

"We have, for the last year and a half, been remodeling the Parsons' home," Robin Kelleher, president and chief executive officer for Hope for the Warriors, said.

Kelleher said she did not expect the delivery to capture the attention of so many people, but explained representatives of Hope for the Warriors traveled to Fostoria to speak to the media and organize volunteers.

Hope for the Warriors, a non-profit organization whose mission is "to enhance quality of life for U.S. service members and their families nationwide who have been adversely affected by injuries or death in the line of duty," according to the Web site for the group, became involved with Parsons' case because of the unique consequences of his extensive rehabilitation after he was severely injured in Baghdad in 2006.

Parsons, who was serving his second tour in the Iraq War, volunteered to go out on a mission on his day off when his Humvee was struck with a roadside bomb. Both of his legs were amputated above the knee and he suffered traumatic brain injury. His mother left their home in Fostoria to care for her only son.

While he was recovering at Brook Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, a leak in the Parsons' home caused black mold to spread. The damage was so extensive the house had to be condemned and subsequently demolished.

"This was an extreme case," Kelleher said.

When the word got out about Parson's situation, help came from all over the country. Turner Construction Company of New York City utilized the help of Lathrop Company, a contractor in Ohio of which Turner is the parent company.

Lathrop took care of the construction of a new house free of charge and Vocon Architecture, Cleveland, donated the design work. Endless Pool Company also took 50 percent off the cost of a rehabilitative pool for Shane and did not charge for delivery of the equipment.

The North Carolina furniture company is just one more in a long line of companies wanting to take part in the project to bring Shane home.

Cindy will come home first with Shane to follow. Kelleher said she is hoping volunteers can donate a few more things to making their homecoming special.

"Obviously, they've been gone a long time so there's no food in the house," Kelleher said.

Kelleher is asking for people to help stock cupboards and the freezer with products the Parsons family can use.

Leslie Hunt, project manager for Hope for the Warriors, was on hand when the furniture was loaded into the house.

Kelleher said being a part of this project has meant a lot to the organization.

"We love them. We absolutely adore the Parsons family and they have been incredibly grateful... And they've been a part of the whole process and approving the plans," Kelleher said.


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News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.