By Sue Moore
Karla Piper, owner of Siesta Silver Jewelry in Vicksburg, has long supported one of her best friends from Vicksburg High School’s class of 1987, Penny Toornman Major, in her battle with a brain tumor. Penny has had multiple surgeries but keeps a cheerful outlook, according to Piper.
She has a fundraiser for Penny on her web site. But more than that, she has been organizing events to raise money for her friend’s health care. In November and December there have been five such events with a mug club raffle at Distant Whistle, a Jaspare’s 10 percent off all sales, a Hideaway funder, a Windfall and Rise & Dine collaboration. Dawn Waldron has also set up a Facebook page to raise funds for Penny.
All of this so that Penny can afford to have 24/7 in-home health care. She struggles to keep her balance while just moving around her home on Scott Street in Vicksburg. The tumor is on the left side of her body, but the right side of her body is not working. She is in a wheelchair most of the time and tires easily. She has a twin sister, Laurie, who is her main care-giver while still holding down a full-time job.
People have been so supportive, Piper said. “This is why we love our community. The folks here are so supportive of our own. That’s just what we do.”
Winter Team Sports Pictures
This issue of the South County News was scheduled to run pictures of Vicksburg’s and Schoolcraft’s winter sports teams. Due to the snowfall on Monday, November 26, with school being called off, we were unable to take the Schoolcraft team pictures. We are choosing to run both schools’ pictures in January even though the seasons are already underway.
McCauley Connection to Vicksburg
Jack McCauley coached high school football in Vicksburg for 25 years and was inducted into Vicksburg’s Hall of Fame in 2015. His son Kent McCauley was a football star for Vicksburg in the late 1970s. Both have been outplayed by their grandson and nephew, Josh McCauley, who is the starting center for the University of Arizona Wildcats football team. At a strapping 292 lbs., he is the starting center on the Division 1 football team. His parents are Kraig and Anne McCauley, both Vicksburg High School graduates; class of ‘83 for Kraig and ‘84 for Anne, whose mom is Terri Clark of Fulton.
Village Lights
Vicksburg’s downtown store front windows look fantastic. They have largely been decorated by Justin Cook who works at Rise & Dine and Natasha Hanichen who is employed by Paper City. The village Department of Public Works guys have done a masterful job with Christmas lights on the streets. All together it makes for a charming winter wonderland in the village.