The Press-Dispatch

Press DisPatch Page 2 Thursday, May 11, 2023 ernment Presidents and Vice Presidents and other officers to help plan throughout the year and make decisions. The freshmen are in charge of find- ing Riley families to celebrate, the sophomores are recruiters for the event, the juniors are in charge of fundraising and the seniors choose the food. One of the fundraising ideas that was most popular for the 2023 marathon was allow- ing the girls to wear athletic shorts that do not meet dress code on Fridays for a charge. Vinnedge said that raised around $1,000. Her daughter, Tessa, came up with the idea to "flock" people's houses in Pike County. You could pay to have flamingos on sticks placed in someone's yard. Then the homeowner had to pay to have them removed and moved to another yard. They could even pay for flock insurance. Vinnedge added, "It raised a ton…over $1,000!" Another successful fund- raising strategy was "Miracle Minute" at basketball games where buckets went around quickly for one minute to raise some extra cash. There was also a way to fundraise online through Chil- dren's Miracle Network, and many students simply reached out to family and friends for support and donations. The students have prizes that they could win depend- ing on how much they raise for the marathon, and if they raised $500 online, they win a patch for their letterman jack- ets, Vinnedge said. Kennedy Willis and Tessa Vinnedge were the students who really put forth great ef- fort for this cause. Tessa was the only student to raise over $2,000. Five different students raised over $1,000 this year for the first time. One cool, and tricky, as- pect of the Riley Dance Mara- thon is that the students are not allowed to sit down at all from the start of the event at 4 p.m., all the way to the end at 11 p.m. Vinnedge explained. "We stand for kids who can't." During the marathon, there are many games the kids can play, and she said it is like "an- other post prom." They could play games like dodgeball and corn hole, and there was a "rave" with glow sticks and necklaces at 8:35 p.m. Also, the students work throughout the evening to learn bits and pieces of the 15 -minute Riley line dance. Vinnedge added that it is re- ally fun and silly. The Riley families that are honored mostly come from Pike County. "We try to keep local," explained Vinnedge." Mabel McCrary is a Riley kid and Pike Central student who Vinnedge highlighted. She is 17-years-old and has had 23 different surgeries. "She is a guest speaker here every year," said Vinnedge. Another local child that attended the event was little Riglee Robinette, son of Jake and Heather Robinette. Jake spoke to the students about the open-heart surgery he had to undergo as an infant and many other battles that he has overcome while hav - ing Down Syndrome. "Always with a smile," said Jake. He told everyone there to come and say "Hi" to Riglee at any sporting events because he "does not know a stranger." A few different students were seen carrying him around and showing him love throughout the evening. Another Riley kid honored was Kenley Mullis. Vinnedge explained that she had seven inches of her fibula removed to now become her femur while battling cancer. Vinnedge expected this year to be another record- breaking one, and it truly was. "We have really pushed this year," she said smiling. At the end of the night, IU represen- tatives totaled up the remain- ing money, and the final total was announced to end the marathon. "I knew on Friday that we were sitting in a really great position to be above the previ- ous year's total, but once the PCDM starts, I stop looking at the amount being raised. I do not want to know the final amount until the kids do…that final total…that was some- thing I never expected," said Vinnedge excitedly. She added that they always just want to do a little better than the previous year, "but these kids just shattered their goal." She wants all to know that all success goes straight to their students and most especially, the Riley Execu- tive Board. "They worked so hard all year and every bit of praise belongs to them," end- ed Vinnedge. RILEY Continued from page 1 All PCDM members with the total amount of money raised by Pike Central. Getting their groove on playing Just Dance are Hannah Cassada, Easton Bailey, Cooper Hartke and Abby Boyd. Telling the story of his son Riglee's heart surgery is Jake Robinette. Riglee was a featured guest at the Dance Mara- thon. Enjoying the attention of freshman class president Heidi Woodford and ju- nior class treasurer Jaidyn Gogel is Riglee Robinette. The newest members of the $1000 and $2000 Club: Alli Hardin, Alyssa Young, Brenton Fryrear, Tessa Vinnedge and Kennedy Willis. These students all raised over $1000 for Riley with Tessa Vinnedge being the first student in the 9 years of the PCDM to raise over $2000 in a year. Cradle of Liberty DAR Chapter attend Lafayette Trail Marker Several members of the Cra- dle of Liberty DAR Chapter attended the Lafayette Trail Marker honoring the pathway of the Marquis de Lafayette's final visit to America. Chap- ters attending the marker dedication laid wreaths at the Lafayette Springs site. A reception followed at the Blue Herron Winery. General De Lafayette met with local pio- neers at Lafayette Spring on May 8, 1825 after his steam- boat "Mechanic" sank in the Ohio River during his Fare- well Tour in 1824-25. Lisa Sims, Shirley Jenkins, Sandy McBeth, Jeannine Houchins, Trea McCandless, and Jennifer Uppencamp. Julien Icher of the Lafayette Trail Organization and Cherie Baxter, Indiana State Regent. Several members of the Cradle of Liberty DAR Chapter attended the Lafayette Trail Marker honoring the path- way of the Marquis de Lafayette's final visit to America. not yet agreed. The mother was called and stated that the student was not to go home with Carroll. During a conversation with police, Carroll and mul- tiple students admitted that Carroll had been selling kids tobacco and alcohol approxi- mately two months ago and then again as recently as two weeks ago. Upon agreeing to a search of his vehicle, police located Carroll's cell phone that had Carroll sending a photo to a student containing six vap- ing devices. Carroll also sent pictures of himself shirtless, playing with his chest to the student. Carroll had also been messaging another student and sending pic- tures of vaping devices and pornography. Carroll was arrested and charged with Possession of Child Pornography, Dissemi- nation of Matter Harmful to Minors and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor. PORN Continued from page 1 at this year's event. Mem- bers call the day "Saturday in the Park, that goes to the song by Chicago according to O'Rourke. "This year I'll probably bring the 1956 Thunderbird," We buy cars with 100,000 miles or less and drive them another 100,000 miles, so that's how I get away with my hobby," O'Rourke said with a big grin. The Timeless Classics of Pike County Car Show for Saturday, May 27, starts at 8 a.m., with registration end- ing at noon. Trophies will be awarded at 3 p.m. There will be a D.J., food trucks and 80 trophies. The first 100 cars will get dash plaques. Those looking to join the club can attend their monthly meetings at the 423 Smoke- house in Petersburg on the first Thursdays of the month, beginning at 6 p.m. The cost is $10 to join the club. "I knew a lot of guys in the club when I was young," O'Rourke said. "It felt natu- ral to get into the middle of it all and have some fun with those guys." CLASSICS Continued from page 1

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