Mt. Vernon Register-News

Local

Related Photos

  • Representatives of the Mt. Vernon Eagle Riders were on hand Monday afternoon to present Tom Duff of the United Methodist Children’s Home with 45 tickets to a game between two Southern Illinois minor league baseball teams, the Gateway Grizzlies and the Southern Illinois Miners. The Eagle Riders are all members of the Mt. Vernon Eagles, are one of three such riding clubs in Illinois. KANDACE MCCOY/REGISTER-NEWS

    eagles
May 9, 2008

UMCH youths off to ballgame thanks to Eagles

Listen To The Story

By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — A local riding club has made it their goal to keep giving to those in need in the area, and their first stop this year was the United Methodist Children’s Home. For the past year and a half, through fundraiser rides, raffles and 50/50 drawings, the Mt. Vernon Eagle Riders have been working toward giving the youths of the UMCH a special gift — tickets to attend a minor league baseball game between the Gateway Grizzlies and the Southern Illinois Miners.

“We secured enough for every kid and chaperones to attend,” said Eagle Riders member Kenny Heck.

The group presented 45 tickets to Tom Duff, treatment manager at UMCH.

“It’s overwhelming,” Duff said. “We don’t usually get something for all the kids.” Duff added that the baseball game will get the youths out and experience the “normalcy of a regular baseball game.”

He added sometimes there is a misconception about the UMCH and the work they do with youth. “A lot of times, publicity is bad,” he explained. “A lot of times we’re confused with an orphanage. What we’re doing is helping kids in need. A good portion of the youth here has never been to a [baseball] game.”

Heck said that the Eagle Riders felt that the youth of the UMCH often do not get the opportunity to do things others their age do. “That’s why we made the effort for these kids to have some normalcy. We’re people helping people. It’s a really good cause.”

“We want to be an organization the UMCH [and others] can turn to if in need,” said Dale Mays, vice president of the Eagle Riders. “This teaches our kids to give back.”

Heck, who along with his wife, Mary, adopted two children many years ago, said it was important to him to give the tickets to the UMCH. “It’s very special to me,” he said.

All members of the Eagle Riders are members of the Mt. Vernon Eagles Club. The riding group is one of three clubs in Illinois. Seven representatives of the group will also accompany the youths to the game.

Text Only
Local
  • Start Smart program to start second season

    MT. VERNON — The Mt. Vernon Department of Parks and Recreation will host a second season of Start Smart, a program that helps parents teach their children sports skills.

    February 8, 2012

  • Mayor declares February Black History Month

    MT. VERNON — February is Black History Month across the United States, but it is officially Black History Month in the city of Mt. Vernon as well.

    February 8, 2012

  • Church to host revival

    MT. VERNON — Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church will be hosting a three-day Black History Month Celebration/Winter Revival in conjunction with Jefferson County Crusaders for Change.

    February 8, 2012

  • City approves track construction plans

    MT. VERNON —  The Mt. Vernon City Council on Monday approved a resolution allowing a rail spur to be built onto Continental Tire the Americas property.

    February 8, 2012

  • fire fighter Fire fighters tour with military truck

    MT. VERNON — Mt. Vernon Fire Department firefighter and Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Chris Heiken brought a military tactical fire fighting truck to the 42nd Street Mt. Vernon Fire Department station on Tuesday.

    February 8, 2012 1 Photo

  • Chamber of Commerce seeks nominations

    MT. VERNON — Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its 2012 Citizen of the Year and Small Business Person of the Year.

    February 7, 2012

  • Crime Stoppers to release Watchdog Quarterly

    MT. VERNON — The Jefferson County Crime Stoppers is gearing up to release its first Watchdog Quarterly.

    February 7, 2012

  • Two plead guilty in controlled substance cases

    MT. VERNON — Jefferson County courts recently saw two guilty pleas in controlled substance cases.

    February 7, 2012

  • The soccer field at Lincoln Park now named Steve Harrison Field

    MT. VERNON — The Mt. Vernon City Council on Monday approved a resolution to name the soccer field at Lincoln Park Steve Harrison Field.

    February 7, 2012

  • Yeager Local woman's first book is published

    MT. VERNON — Janet Yaeger’s first children’s book, “Matilda’s Upside Down Smile,” is being released this week through Casa de Snapdragon Publishing Company of Albuquerque, N.M.

    February 7, 2012 1 Photo