Sunday, October 7, 2007

Spanyers, School Featured In Crete News

The Oct. 3 edition of The Crete News features two Dorchester-related stories. We felt both are worth mentioning to Times' readers who may have not yet read them.

Article one spotlights Dorchester area resident and Saline county treasurer Deb Spanyers and her remarkable efforts to overcome the effects of the West Nile Virus and Guillain-Barre Syndrome. The front-page story recounts Spanyers' rehabilitation efforts, including being honored recently at the 13th Annual Chairman's Goal Awards luncheon at Madonna Rehabilitation Hospital in Lincoln.

Spanyers contracted West Nile after being bit by an infected mosquito in August 2005. Early in her rehabilitation, "holding her head up, dressing, and even eating became the hardest things" for Spanyers, according to the article.

Despite physical and emotional struggles, Spanyers returned as county treasurer in March 2006. Today, she now drives herself to her physical therapy sessions and gets her wheelchair into the car by herself. She credits her daughters, Morgan and Erica, for pulling her "out of the low spots." Spanyers won re-election last November. For more on Spanyers' story, click here.

Another Crete News story, this one on page 3, updates readers on the Dorchester School renovation which was approved 61%-39% last month by school district patrons. Superintendent Don Peiper "guaranteed the new high school and elementary facilities under (construction) ... will be open for the beginning of the 2008-2009 school year," according to the story.

Construction on the western portion of the project will start yet this fall -- possibly within the next two or three weeks, Pieper said. By early spring 2008, the west side "should be totally enclosed." Demolition of the 1927 building will then go ahead. The new construction -- including new high school classrooms, multi-purpose rooms and administration offices -- will total 33,500 square feet.

2 comments:

  1. Would like to thank Deb and her family for setting such a wonderful example of courage. They are truly a team effort without complaints, just determination, love and smiles.
    Congratulations Deb on your award.

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  2. I always thought Deb was pretty special - but she is more than just that. She is one tough cookie. This has been a long and difficult road for Deb and her family.
    Going through something like this shows what a person is made of. We all need to have that sort of determination. I'm proud to know Deb.

    ReplyDelete

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