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Love Your Heart
Charlie Duggan
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www.theplainsman.com
Thursday, February 10, 2011
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Rebekah Weaver / Assistant Photo Editor
Noah and Matthew watch a roping demonstration Feb. 5 at Storybook Farm’s “Cowboy Roundup” event. There will be another roundup Feb. 11 and 12.
Cowboy Roundup
At Storybook Farm, kids are able to interact with horses and enjoy Western crafts Kate Jones Writer
The cowboys and cowgirls were out in full force Saturday night as Storybook Farm held its second annual Cowboy Roundup to benefit its ministry of providing equine therapy to disabled and terminally ill children, as well as children who have suffered a tragedy. The roundup was open to the public. The farm has 15 horses, a miniature horse and other animals, and the children had the opportunity to walk around the barn and visit with the animals. Dinner was provided by Longhorn Steakhouse and was included in the entry fee. In addition to the animals, a puppet show, roping demonstration and a bonfire with s’mores attracted the children. Photographs were taken in a photo booth. Coordinated around the father-daughter dances in the area, Lucy Little, development director of Storybook Farm, said the roundup is directed at boys and gives them something to do with their moms while the girls and dads are at the dance. “The boys love it because it is like being outside on the ranch at night,” Little said. The roundup benefits Storybook’s ministry, which is of no cost to riders.
Riding the horses provides psychical therapy by stretching the child’s muscles across the horse. It also helps improve posture, balance and self-confidence. “Children can be very cruel, and if someone looks different or acts differently, they can sometimes be the center of attention, unfortunately,” Little said. “So they can come out here, and there is a saying that everyone is equal on the back of a horse, and it’s kind of that way.” For children that cannot get on a horse because of physical limitations, Storybook has a miniature horse, Tinkerbell, for them to bond with. “It’s nice to have an animal where they can look directly in their eye, and that’s what Tinkerbell is for,” Little said. Storybook Farm uses approximately 1,000 volunteers through IMPACT, and students can also earn class credit by volunteering at the farm. Brian Lazzari, junior in math education, volunteered last semester for his foundations of education class and now works with the children and horses. Lazzari said the most rewarding part of his experience at Storybook has been talking to the parents. “I love the kids,” Lazzari said, “(but)
Rebekah Weaver / Assistant Photo Editor
Cowboy Tyler Burt holds his horse-shaped balloon at Storybook Farm’s “Cowboy Roundup” Feb. 5. The event benefits Storybook’s ministry to children with special needs. knowing that the parents are getting a break from a stressful life with a kid that has special needs, and they are just telling you that they appreciate all that you do and knowing that you are helping the family out even more so than just the kid—that’s the best thing. It’s awesome.” Founded in 2002 by Dena Little, the director of Storybook Farm, the ministry began
in Auburn when she thought there may be two or three children in the area who have a need for horse therapy. Almost 10 years later, the farm has serves 600 children. Cowboy Roundup will continue Feb. 11 and 12 from 6 to 8 p.m. More information can be found at www. story-book-farm.org.
Survivor in Wooten accident files lawsuit After being hit by a car Nov. 5, 2010, Frankie Bell is suing for damages Jillian Clair News Editor
Frankie Bell, 39, of Opelika, has filed a civil suit against the driver of the 1994 Chevrolet Cavalier that injured her and killed COSAM Dean Marie
Wooten Nov. 5, 2010. Mark David Sawyer, 58, is the defendant named in the lawsuit filed by law firms McCollum, Crutchfield and Wilson, P.C. and Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis and Miles, P.C. “He was the gentleman driving the car that hit Mrs. Bell,” said attorney Wes McCollum. Bell and Wooten were jogging across South College Street at Donahue Drive and were struck at approximately 5:45 a.m. “The defendant was
headed south on College Street—headed out towards the interstate—and that’s when the two of them were hit right there in that intersection,” McCollum said. McCollum said Bell is suing for damages inflicted from the accident. The civil suit filed against Sawyer includes a negligence charge and a wantonness charge. “Until we have done some discovery and have determined if there are any other additional charges that are
warranted, that’s all that there is at this point,” McCollum said. Julia Beasley, partner and attorney at Beasley Allen, said Bell is still unable to walk and has not been back to work as a math teacher at Loachapoka High School. “She is still in a wheelchair,” Beasley said. “She is one tough cookie. They wanted to amputate her legs, and she said, ‘No.’” Bell is undergoing weekly physical therapy and will need more surgery on her right leg and shoulder,
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She is one tough cookie. They wanted to amputate her legs, and she said, ‘No.’” —Julia Beasley Bell’s attorney
Beasley said. The lawsuit was filed Dec. 30, 2010, and a scheduling
conference has been set for March 1. Lee County Circuit Court Judge Jacob Walker III will preside. The case will also be presented to the grand jury, McCollum said. A grand jury is a panel of people who determine whether there is enough evidence to begin a criminal trial. “Normally when there’s a death like that, the cases will be presented to a grand jury just for the grand jury » See Bell, A6