By NEAL MCNAMARA
Showing true character, three Valley Grove Elementary School students presented a $350 check to the Community Hospital Foundation Sunday at the Mounds Mall for a charity coat drive.
What better way to kick off National Character Counts! Week?
Hundreds gathered at the mall Sunday afternoon for a “block party” celebrating the launch of Character Counts week. Many activities were offered including a cash machine, clowns, face-painting, a magician, fingerprinting by the Madison County Sheriff’s Department, and DNA kits from Anderson Police Department school resources officers.
Even Safety Pup, the national mascot for basic safety, made an appearance.
The Center for Character Development at Anderson University, the city of Anderson, and Anderson University were the co-sponsors for the event, which bears the theme “Celebrating the Character of Madison County.”
Michael Shunneson, assistant principal at Anderson Elementary, said he came to the character celebration because it provides a constant and consistent message to youth.
“I think that one thing (Character Counts week) does is it gives a consistent message to the whole community,” said Shunneson. “When kids go from home to school, they hear the same message.”
And that message has been bouncing around the county since 1998. In that year Anderson became an official Character Counts! Community. Anderson University just launched in the spring of 2006 its own undergraduate program geared toward character development.
Even President George W. Bush got into Character Counts! Week by issuing a proclamation.
“America’s strength is found in the spirit and character of our people,” the president wrote in a press release. “During National Character Counts Week, we renew our commitment to instilling values in our young people and to encouraging all Americans to remember the importance of good character.”
This upcoming week has a full plate of character-driven activities including:
* Just Say No To Drugs! rally at Reardon Auditorium, Anderson University, at 6:30 p.m. Monday. The program, open to the public, will feature a magic and illusion program, "The Magic of Wiz Wingo."
* Operation Character! celebration featuring Sandi Patty and Colts tight end Ben Utecht. The event runs from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Wigwam.
* Pillar Friday, where students from around the county will wear Character Counts! pillar colors (blue, yellow, green, red, orange, and violet), which represent the six pillars of character.
Local News
7:31 p.m.: Character Counts kicks off with block party
- Local News
-
-
Humane Society volunteers call event a success
Jennifer Bridges hunkered down into the concrete kennel with her bunkmate for the night — pit bull Jake.
-
Democrats unhappy with redrawn county districts
New County Council district lines approved late last year have drawn the ire of county Democrats who complain that the changes were made without public input.
-
Close-out sale draws shoppers before Sears leaves city
The end is near for Sears in Anderson.
-
Analysis: Exceptional voice seemed lost in Houston's excessive fame
Whitney Houston’s numerous comeback attempts never gelled into anything the public cared about.
-
First Merchants takes over Shelby County Bank
First Merchants Bank, which has eight branches in Madison County and is based in Muncie, has reached an agreement with the FDIC to take over Shelby County Bank.
-
Arrest Log: Feb. 12
Arrests made by Madison County law enforcement on Friday and Saturday, based on Madison County Jail records. Charges are recommended by arresting officers but are not final until the Madison County prosecutor reviews the case and files official charges.
-
Business Briefs: Feb. 12
A compilation of business news items from the Madison County area:
-
Wall Street atmosphere alive at AU
Surrounded by a stock market ticker and television screens showing the latest stock prices and world financial news, Federico Boscaini purchased 230 shares of Chevron stock for more than $24,000. He did it in a financial stock trading room at Anderson University — and with university funds.
-
Candidates are in for May primaries
Friday was the deadline for candidates to file to run for office in the primaries, and 10 more people signed up before the noon cutoff.
-
Man sentenced to 40 years for sex with teen
A man convicted of having a sexual relationship with a minor was sentenced Monday to 40 years in prison.
- More Local News Headlines
-
