Sports Parr enjoys volunteering with Upward Basketball league

Chuck Parr was born in Indianapolis. His parents moved to this area in 1968 after his father retired from RCA. They lived on the Barbee Chain. Parr moved back to Wabash about 20 years ago. He still has a lakehouse here.

Parr is a longtime volunteer with the Upward Basketball league, a North Webster United Methodist Church program.

“I’m one of the referees. I’ve been doing it for 20-plus years. It’s a great organization. It’s all Christian based. It’s not AAU. They share inspirational stories during practice. At halftime of each game, they give a devotional type message to the athletes.

“I have enjoyed watching the kids grow up through our program. Many of the kids go on to play sports at Wawasee and Warsaw. I’ve been in sports all of my life. I still play softball at the CCAC in Warsaw. We play for the churches of North Webster: The North Webster Church of God and North Webster United Methodist Church,” said Parr.

“Kindergarten through first grade, second through third and fourth through fifth graders progress from tucking the ball and running with it to dribbling and shooting the ball.

“On the devotional side, there are quite a few families to come through the program who have probably never been to church. Some just come on Sunday to visit and see if this is something they want to do. We’re not actively recruiting, but we’re just trying to introduce them to Jesus and the Bible,” he said.

“Our associate director of the Upward Basketball league, Chris Strombeck, had a group of kids come in over the summer. They were practicing and then had a break for devotional time before they were getting ready to practice some more. The group practiced and then started their devotional.

“Chris was taking them back into the gym to resume practice and they told him they wanted to learn more about the devotional story he was giving before they resumed their practice,” said Parr.

“One of the reasons I’ve stayed involved is because of the kids. The smiles on their faces says it all. They’re learning about the Bible. They’re learning about basketball.

“Many of the kids coming in don’t have much of a skill set. It’s more of a learning league. It’s a mixture of young athletes who have never touched a basketball and some who have basketball roots in their family and they are thrown into the mix as well.

“Being a referee is fun because it’s not like being a regular referee. I also do Special Olympics. If they are doing something they shouldn’t be doing, during breaks we will tell them what they’re doing wrong and teach them the correct way to play the game of basketball,” said Parr.

“We make the trek up here to the gym every Saturday. The league is an eight-week league that starts in January and is finished the second week of March. At the end of the season, they have a large party for the kids. They have entertainment. Local merchants will donate prizes.

“Each athlete receives a raffle ticket and their name is drawn out of a hat for a prize. It could be a camp adventure or any different number of prizes. They have a cruise on the Dixie boat. Basketballs are given away.

“Entertainment is always Christian-based. There is a guy who throws paint onto a canvas sheet and it turns into a beautiful piece of art.

I’m not sure his name, but his work is fantastic. He shows the kids how he practices his art,” he added.

“It’s not like refereeing a high school game. Fans don’t insult your calls. Parents and athletes will thank you for refereeing the games. It’s very rewarding,” said Parr.

Never too old for an allergy

A neighbor who recently became an octogenarian just reported she’s allergic to peanuts. She broke out in hives one evening while munching her favorite snack.

There are several reasons for allergic breakouts among oldsters. Seniors are moving from colder climates to warmer and then back again. Everyone has become cleanli- ness conscious and rely on such external precautions as masks and hand sanitizers that some science indicates weakens our natural protection.

The sources of allergies seem to have multiplied — seafood, dairy products, an array of vegetables, beef, latex, pet dander, you name it.

Allergies can manifest themselves in several ways, the aforementioned hives, itching, difficulty breathing, sneezing, itching and tingling of the mouth and face, and red blotches, just to mention a few.

When any untoward feeling occurs, make of list of what you’ve eaten last, record the symptoms and make an appointment with your primary care physician. If your reaction is serious, such as an increasing shortness of breath, call 911 and get emergency treatment.

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