2016 hometown heroes

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November 11, 2016

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Changing Lives: Ravalli County students write about their real life heroes PERRY BACKUS Ravalli Republic

Everyone needs a hero in their life.

This summer, students from several Ravalli County schools reminded us all that heroes can be the person who lives right next door.

Trapper Peak Outfitters and AmeriGas Propane asked Bitterroot Valley middle and high school students to write an essay about their hero as part of a community event they called FallFest.

They received several hundred replies.

In this years’ Ravalli Republic, we are reprinting a few of our favorites as a reminder of the thousands of people in this community who are stepping up and doing what’s right for the next generation each and every day.

Many of the young people said their parents were their heroes

for a variety of reasons. Beyond that, the essays featured teachers, neighbors, grandparents and even classmates willing to make a stand against the injustice of bullying.

Hamilton sixth grader, Gavin Turner, summed it up nicely in the essay that he titled “Sometimes Heroes are Regular People.”

His hero was his great grandfather who fought in both WWI and WWII. Turner said his grand grandmother a “heroic mom” too.

“His wife and 3-year-old child had to walk 300 miles to survive without him,” Turner wrote. “His wife and child had to survive Russians shooting at them and bombing them…In conclusion, you can see that through hardship, the love of a father and mother can overcome terrible situations by never giving up and hoping beyond hope to keep their family together. You see, ordinary people are capable of heroic things.”

Those things can be as simple being kind to each other.

Hamilton sixth grader Grace Fussell said her mother has four jobs, three kids, goes to college, and yet finds time to be generous and supportive of everything we do.”

“My hero is also extremely loving,” Fussell said of her mom.

“She takes everyone in as her own kid, no matter who you are. My mother will always be the one who makes you happy inside and confident for who you are. I love that when my mom looks at life, she looks at the cup as half full instead of half empty.”

We hope you enjoy the essays.

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Ravalli Republic, Friday, November 11, 2016 - 3

Hero: Gino Rizzon

by Simona Rizzon, 6th Grade, Hamilton Middle School

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Simona Rizzon holds a photograph of her brother Gino Rizzon.

He fights in the Army. He is strong and a brave soldier. He learned how to be in the Army in Fort Sill Oklahoma, and was stationed in Afghanistan. That is why my brother is my hero.

My brother’s name is Gino Rizzon. When he turned 19, he went into the Army. He went to basic training in Fort Sill, Oklahoma. That way he could be ready to fight in Afghanistan.

He has a stepdaughter named Lili and a son named Emilio. Also his wife’s name is Celinda.

My brother was born in Glendora, California.

Right now he is 28 years old and he still likes his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle collect. His is CRAZY! He is my hero because he fought for the Army. Even if I don’t see him a lo,t I am happy whenever I see him.

When he was ready, he went to Afghanistan.

He stayed in Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010.

When he came back from Afghanistan, he did more training so he could be stronger. He did more training so he could learn more about the Army.

When he went back to Afghanistan he stayed there from 2012 to 2013. He much, much more tougher and more brave. He also knew a lot more. He finished the Army and now goes to school full time and now has a family. He loves his family so much, especially his son, Emilio.

So now you know why my brother is my hero.

He is strong and brave. I love my brother and I want to be strong and brave just like him when I grow up. I love my brother so much. I am so lucky Gino is my brother.

4 - Ravalli Republic, Friday, November 11, 2016

Hero: Nicki Arndt by Rachel Lowitt, Most people don’t think of people who aren’t world-known or rich, but the person I recognize is only special in my eyes. She is very important.

I am in the 4-H dog project and there is a project leader also known as the dog trainer.

This lady’s name is Nicki Arndt in Darby, michelle mcconnaha/RAVALLI REPUBLIC Montana. Nicki doesn’t just work with the Nicki Arndt of Darby.

4-H dogs, but she even trains dogs for a living and my favorite, sled dogs!

Nicki is always so encouraging. There were days when my dog, Penny, wouldn’t listen at all or certain things she didn’t quite know how to do or want to do and I would give up.

No! Nicki couldn’t, wouldn’t let me do that, I had already worked too hard at training her. Nicki kept my confidence up and told me I could succeed. Each time Nicki did this, the better I got.

Sometimes I would almost get the hang of a subject in dog training but then Penny still wouldn’t do it. Nicki could always get her to do it.

Nicki is usually busy with her training business but that didn’t stop

6th Grade, Hamilton Middle School

her from donating her time for me and the other 4-H kids for more practice. Since I wasn’t at home with my dog all the time, she personally practiced with a bunch. She seemed determined to get me ready for fair.

Penny got better by the day and fair got closer by the day. I wasn’t ready for the agility class so I just entered Showmanship and Family Dog. As fair, the big week approached, I was so excited.

Throughout the year Nicki inspired me to keep doing the dog project no matter how hard it was because the challenge was the part where I would learn and the fun part. She had taught me a lot and I expected to do dogs for a long time. It was am activity I wouldn’t miss for the world.

It was here; The Fair. The stress struck me like a lightning bolt. I stood with Penny and waited for my first class, Family Dog. When I went up there me and the other competitor tied and got 98 out of 200 poinst but John won the tiebreaker. In Showmanship I won Grand Champion Showman, I was so proud of Penny and I. Nicki was too.

In conclusion, l learned great things from Nicki. She is encouraging, helpful, supportive, and inspiring. She has taught me so much, I look forward to continue working with her. That is why Nicki is my hero.

Thank you to our Hometown Heroes!

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Ravalli Republic, Friday, November 11, 2016 - 5

Hero: Thad Widmer Emerson Widmer

Hamilton Middle school, 6th grade I have many heroes but the one that stands out as my real hero is my dad. He is my hero because he is nice and generous, he works hard and is a great dad.

My dad’s name is Thad Widmer.

He was born in part of San Diego, michelle mcconnaha/RAVALLI REPUBLIC California.

He loves surfing, skiing, watchThad Widmenr of Hamilton. ing and coaching all of my sports, especially baseball which me and my dad love playing together. My dad and I are very close and spend a lot of time together.

The first reason my dad is my hero is because he is nice and generous. One example is that whenever my family goes to a big city, we always try to do community service. The last time we did community service is when we went to San Diego. We went to the local homeless shelter and served lunch to homeless people.

Another reason my dad is my hero is because if someone is asking for help, he always helps them. Like if one of his clients needs to have an extra time with him he always does unless it interferes with his family.

He is always sacrifices his time for me and my family. An example is that he coaches my all-star baseball team all summer long every night for two hours.

He is also my hero because he works super hard. One example is that he has ADHD, which means it was harder for him to learn growing up but he worked so hard that he got his masters degree and graduated college with a 4.0.

My dad is my hero because he works hard, is nice and generous, he always helps out and loves his family. My dad is hands down my hero.

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Kaliah Borwer

Hamilton Middle school What makes a hero, someone who fights a million men and has super strength? Or is it someone who is kind and helpful to everyone.

Well, I would think that it is someone who is kind and helpful.

That is the most important thing in a hero. That hero I think is Thad Widmer. He is a therapist in Hamilton, Montana. He is so kind and helpful to everyone. He even helps me and he inspires me in so many ways.

Thad Widmer is my hero because he cares for everyone.

My story with Thad Widmer began when I first moved over here to Hamilton, Montana. Thad Widmer was the Washington schools therapist for quite some time. When I met him I thought that he was the nicest person ever and that’s a good thing for him, he is a therapist after all.

I think he is the nicest person ever because he cares for everyone, even though sometimes he has to be a parent, right? But when I say he cares for everyone like he does what he can to help.

He is trying to help the community, well, the kids of the community. Thad Widmer is trying to open a skate park for the kids who like to do tricks and cool stuff like that. It is helping the kids stay active and not just staying inside all day and sitting on their phones.

Most importantly he inspires a lot of people. He inspires me because I want to be just like him and I say this because I have had some experience with him. He has been with me ever since I moved to Hamilton Montana. I had some troubles back then and I still do which is why I go to him now and he is helping me a lot.

In conclusion, that is why Thad Widmer is my hero. You should get to know him. He is a really great guy.

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6 - Ravalli Republic, Friday, November 11, 2016

Hero: Patty Jo Thomas

by Lilianna Thomas,

6th Grade, Stevensville Middle School

Patti Jo Thomas took me into foster care and she helped me become a better person because I came from a drug addicted family and so when I came to her I was a real monster.

I would have a meltdown and I would yell, scream and kick because michelle mcconnaha/RAVALLI REPUBLIC I was really mad. I really missed my Patti Jo Thomas and Lilianna birth family when I was little.

Thomas So five years ago Patti Jo adopted me. So every year on the day I was adopted, we celebrate by giving me a present and a really big loving hug. The day that I got adopted is a very important day for me because it means that I know that I have a safe and loving family to be with. I know that they love me because they tell me that they love me.

I am very grateful that she took me in because she taught me how to take care of animals and how to love someone and how to take care of myself. I can now trust many different people. So now at the age of 12, I can talk real English and I now know how to take care of donkeys because I have seven of them and two dogs.

I live in a house and I have a real room, my own bed and nice

clothes. I have gone a long way from where I started and now that I am 12 I am much more responsible and I know how to swim and read. So I will always be so grateful for her and I know that many people in the world need that help I needed. Everyone in my family put a lot of work into making me a better person.

Now that I have been adopted two years, I have a really amazing life thanks to Patti Jo. Because of where I am I have become a very good piano player, a very good wrestler and also becoming an artist. I have been in two plays because I have learned to speak loudly and plainly. Because of Patti Jo I have learned how to express my thoughts and have become a good leader.

Because of my life I have learned how to be sympathetic and understand that other people have problems also. I also try to help them as much as I can. I also like to learn about new things and visit new places and learn about those new places. I have learned to be a very caring person because of the care I have received.

My hero has taught me how to be a very grateful to others and to myself. And because of my hero I have a loving family and caring life. Because of this paper it almost makes me cry thinking of how much work my hero has put into making me a better person.

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Ravalli Republic, Friday, November 11, 2016 - 7

Hero: John T. Boatwright

by Ellie Lint, 8th Grade, Hamilton Middle School

What is a hero? A hero is someone exactly like my grandfather John T. Boatwright.

My incredible grandpa is caring, strong, and astonishingly intelligent. There are a plethora of reasons he is my hero, those three don’t even begin to explain him.

On top of all that, my grandpa is also an active community member who would help anyone in a heartbeat.

My grandfather became my hero when he held me in his arms for the very first time. He always takes time out of his way for me and my family. If we ever need help with anything, he’s there right away. No matter what comes along and tries to break him, he stays strong. Just recently my grandpa moved here from New Hampshire to be closer to my family. Now we can see him whenever we want too. He is my true hero and means so much to me.

MIT was the college my grandpa went to, isn’t that crazy? He went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and graduated, that’s one of the multitude of ways that show how he is extremely intelligent. When my grandpa was little, he had two parents who were deaf and could not speak. But now, to this day, he speaks perfectly and still has his hearing! I think that is amazing. Also my grandpa made his father a hearing aid that allowed his dad to hear for the very first time.

If I ever have any questions no matter how petty, small or random, he knows the answer. My grandpa is an incredible role model who is extremely intellectually gifted.

Lastly my grandpa John is so strong and caring. He cares so much about me and my family and would do anything for them.

He even took us on a big vacation two years ago, I will never ever forget that vacation, and how much he loves us. If he isn’t having the best day, I come give him a hug and I can tell how much of a difference it makes.

Being my true hero, he is always making a difference in my everyday life. I always look up to him and how much he has accomplished. My grandpa John Boatwright is the best grandfather out there, and I’m the luckiest granddaughter.

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Hero: B.E.A.R.

by Molly Craig,

8th Grade, Hamilton Middle School

Have you ever seen a bear 16 miles into the woods? It’s pretty neat. I got that chance with a program called B.E.A.R., or Bitterroot Ecological Awareness Resources.

B.E.A.R. is a local group focused on getting teens outdoors. I am in the Camping Club portion of B.E.A.R. If I were asked who my heroes were, it would be Diane Olsen, Neil Massey, and Amy Gladwin, the Camping Club leaders of B.E.A.R. Together all three are my heroes because they protect, entertain, and teach me how to be a better person.

and that he was setting a bad example.

Of course, nobody else was allowed to jump, and nobody ever did, but it was very funny.

Although he was the entertainment, he was also very caring. On the last trip I went on I was actually leading the trip with him and Amy. The trip was for younger children and was interesting to see how worried he was for them, especially Able and Alec, the youngest kids on the trip.

Neil, Amy, and Diane have taught me so many things.

Four years ago I didn’t even know what backpacking was and now I can basically survive on my own. Diane taught me how to start a fire on my michelle mcconnaha/RAVALLI REPUBLIC Diane has been the second trip. I was terrified of Left to right: Neil Massey, Diane Olsen and Amy Gladwin from B.E.A.R. main leader on most of the fire in general, not to mention B.E.A.R. sponsored trips I’ve starting one. Now I can start been on. fires, cook meals, set up camps, hang food, and just about anything She is a great leader because she truly cares about us and our else on my own. safety. We, who are all teens going on the trip, can act fairly idiotic.

My heroes have made me think more positively which is We do things like jump off rocks into lakes and push down dead extremely hard when you are walking up hill with a 40-pound backtrees, which typically isn’t safe. pack for miles that seem to last forever.

Diane always makes sure we don’t do what could be harmful, like At the end of every trip we do an appreciation circle. This is when burn down a forest with bug spray flame throwers. you tell everybody in the group their strengths at the end of the While Diane keeps us physically safe, Amy makes sure we all feel trip. We learn a lot on focusing on people’s strengths rather than good, and are handling things mentally. I’ve always thought of Amy their weaknesses. as the Mama bear of our group. She always says the perfect heartMy favorite Diane quote is: “Don’t tell people what not do, but warming thing that keeps everybody happy. what you want them too.” You would think that would come across On my first backpacking trip, when I was only 9 years old, I was as a little rude, but it really does work. The leaders have really walking at snail speed because I was so tired. The rest of the group, taught me better communication skills. made of kids who were much older, moved on. Amy stayed with me As you can see the three are heroes for the abundance of work the whole trip as I slugged behind the group barely keeping up. they have done for me and other kids just like me. I hope to be just Neil, who is the third leader, is also my hero because he is so like Neil, Diane, and Amy in my future career, volunteering, and entertaining. Once, Neil jumped off a ledge into a moving stream. social life. I hope to inspire youth the way that B.E.A.R. has inspired For days we continued to mock him, saying that he almost died me.

Ravalli Republic, Friday, November 11, 2016 - 9

Hero: Mary Vermillion Selway Vermillion

Hamilton Middle School, 8th Grade

Meakin Vermillion

Hamilton Middle School, 8th Grade

My mom Mary Vermillion is a hero to me Imagine this, you are in the hospital but not for a variety of reasons. She is a great labor for getting hurt you work there. and delivery nurse and Marcus Daly Memorial That’s my mom. Her name is Mary Hospital. She is a member of Emma’s House Vermillion and she works two jobs. She is children’s advocacy center and she is the best a labor and delivery nurse at Marcus Daly and most loving mother I could ever wish for.

Memorial Hospital she is also the forensic My mom is a great person because she is interviewer at Emma’s House Child Advocacy a labor and delivery nurse at Marcus Daly, Center. which I think would be very hard because you My mom is my hero because she is everywould help people birth their child and its thing that a hero is. She is loving, caring, sometimes their first so the patient could be strong, kind and is nice to everyone she very stress and afraid. My mom is also great meets. Once there was a baby that was born by working there because if she gets a premaand it wasn’t breathing and it started turning ture baby she has to stress about it making it purple, but she knew what to do. She picked through the night. up the baby even though she could tell that My mom also has another job and it is all of the other nurses wanted to just shove a being the nurse and Emma House, which in oxygen mask in its face. She stayed calm and my opinion would be a very hard job because got it breathing again. you would have to see these kids that have a My mom also works at Emma’s house she michelle mcconnaha/RAVALLI REPUBLIC scarred mind and a scarred body and the scars is the forensic interviewer and something else Mary Vermillion in front of Emma’s House in tell me the story of their life. but I can’t remember, anyway she works with Hamilton.

One more amazing thing about my mom is kids that have been abused and she helps that she is the most loving and caring mother that you could ever them feel safe and secure at Emma’s House. have which is my favorite part about her especially when she has I don’t know about you but I think she is a true hero. I love you more than one day off because we usually go camping or somemommy! thing fun like that.

In conclusion, my mom is the best person in the whole entire world for all of the listed reasons that I just talked about.

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10 - Ravalli Republic, Friday, November 11, 2016

A Sudden Superhero

by Madison Fisher, Hamilton Middle School

Before you think he did anything super spectacular, he was just a normal guy with a normal job in a normal town.

Bill Fischer (the coolest dad ever) was born in 1960. He taught me how to weld and ride a dirt bike (I haven’t had hands on welding yet, but I’m getting there).

Dad is 56. He was born on January 31. He is a pump man, and owns his own business B&D pump service. He has three kids and has been married to my mom (Sonja) for 27 years.

So now that you know my dad a little bit more, how about I tell you what happened? One day we were coming home from school, I opened the door of our car and heard a meowing from an 80-foot pine tree.

Looking up I saw my cat Angel (who is not an angel at all) up that tree.

“Dad, Angel is in the tree.”

“Well how high up?”

“About 80 feet.” (This isn’t the first time. My sister and I got our 2M guy to climb up a tree to get another one of our cats out of another tree).

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Rushing inside, he grabbed some food a bed spread and a pillow case. He sprinted back outside to his business truck, which has a crane on it.

Backing it up to the tree, Dad started to shake the branch to get her to climb down. Our first attempt didn’t work very well, so next we tried the bedspread, which almost worked but didn’t. Instead she climbed farther out on the branch.

Finally, he climbed up the tree and put Angel in a bag (which sounds bad but she was totally calm during those 30 seconds).

Climbing down he pulled Angel out of the bag and set her down. I was so glad to have Angel and Dad out if the tree. Now every day when he comes out to start his truck she thanks him.

Well, now that you know his story, why don’t you go out and change the world for yourself? All you have to do is be nice, say hello to someone, help someone. You can be a superhero to someone else.

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Hero: Serica Lucas

by Caitlyn Lucas,

8th Grade, Hamilton Middle School

Ravalli Republic, Friday, November 11, 2016 - 11

proud of my sister and I when we get good grades.

My mom is one of the most amazing people I know. She has done so many things that other people don’t even get the chance to do.

How many people in the world give someone a kidney and then run their first half marathon three months later? She now has four half marathons completed. I haven’t heard of anyone else that has done that. As you can see, there are a variety of reasons why my mom is the most astonishing hero you will ever meet.

Do all heroes have to save lives? Probably not, but my mom did. My dad’s kidneys were failing and my mom, with no hesitation gave my dad one of hers. This is just one reason why my mom is my hero.

My mom, Serica Lucas, is my hero for a plethora of reasons, and because of her bravery and determination, she is the best hero of all.

My mom has done so many amazing things.

First of all, she gave my dad a kidney.

My dad had suffered from kidney failure for quite a while, which was caused by his diabetes michelle mcconnaha/RAVALLI REPUBLIC

by Denali Lucas, that he has had since he was 9 years old. His Serica Lucas (middle) with her three children.

6th Grade, Hamilton Middle School kidneys were slowly going downhill and we were just waiting for the day that he would have to My hero isn’t just your normal hero, she has done stuff that a lot of have a kidney transplant. That day came when his kidneys were at only 20 percent function. If my dad didn’t get a kidney soon he would have to people won’t even consider doing. She is my mom and the best hero I could ever imagine. go on dialysis.

She always helps me when I am stuck and that is just one reason why My mom immediately called to be considered. A few other people she is my hero. were put on the list as well, like one of my dad’s friends who was fully First my mom’s name is Serica Lucas and she likes to play with my willing to do it. The thing was my mom had to lose 25 pounds in order dogs, she likes to golf, and she also likes to go to Disney World. She to even be considered. We went home and she lost those 25 pounds grew up in Belgrade, Montana. She works a paper job so she delivers in one month. We called the hospital in Seattle and they were shocked. papers in town. She is also off and on with a work from home job.

We drove back to Seattle for her testing and it turned out that she was One reason why my mom is my hero is because she gave my dad a the only one on the list that could give my dad a kidney. kidney to save his life and ran her first half marathon three months after!

They scheduled the transplant right away and my dad was healthy She had to lose 25 pounds to qualify for the transplant. Then two years again. That only lasted about two years before my dad got a very rare after the transplant, my dad got a rare cancer and he died May 27, 2013 cancer called neuroendocrine carcinoma and died May 27, 2013 at 7:27 at 7:27 a.m. a.m. with mom by his side. He put up a good fight, but there was nothAnother reason why my mom is my hero is because she is a single ing else they could do. mom of three children. She has a paper job and a work from home job Another reason my mom is my hero is because since my dad died and she still has a lot of time for us. she has been a single mother of three children. She provides us with Another reason why she is my hero is because she run half marathons everything we need and much more. She even takes us to Disney World, every year in June while pushing a stroller and she finishes in a few hours which has been our family tradition since my fourth birthday. It was a very like a lot of people. special tradition before, but I love that we have been able to go since Another reason why she is my hero is because she used to home my dad died as well. It is symbolic in a way, as it reminds us that we can school me and my sister for many years. She started me and my sister still have fun and that life can still be good, even after suffering such a a year early in school. With my brother, she is going to put him in premonumental loss. school because he is so social unlike me and my sister when me and my Lastly, my mom is my hero because she will do anything for us to sister were his age. succeed. She wants us to be successful in school as well as just life in Those are just some of the reasons why my mom is my hero. She is general. When my sister and I get home from cheerleading practice, the the best. She helps us out when we need it and she does anything she first thing she asks us is “Do you have any homework?” and if we do she makes sure we get it done. If we have to study for a test, my mom makes can to help us any way possible. up fun games to help us remember information. She is always very

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