Letters to the Editor

I am writing this letter to inform your readers of a Gothenburg resident who was responsible for saving my family’s Christmas. On the afternoon of Dec. 22 our family was passing through your fine town on our way to meet our extended family in Michigan. As we were leaving the gas station, the stick shift in our car broke.

The woman working in the store gave us a list of auto mechanics and said call Jim first. I followed her advice and called Jim Stevens owner of Performance Truck & Trailer Repair, and am I glad I did. Jim told me he was out of town at the moment but to call him back if I couldn’t find anybody else.

After going through the whole list, our prospects for finding someone to help before Christmas were bleak, so I called Jim back. He told me that it was not a problem and that he would send his son Mitchell out to take a look. Soon Mitchell was there and he spent a couple of hours out in the cold trying to fix the problem.

The right parts would not be available until after Christmas. He was not able to fix it, but he didn’t give up. He told me his dad would call me as soon as he got back to town. I received a call around 10:15 that night, it was James informing me that he was back in town and he was going to pick up our car and take it back to his shop to fix.

Around 12:15 a.m. the phone rang, It was James just calling to say that he had fixed our car and that he would deliver it to our hotel. When James arrived, he refused to take any money, despite my insistence.

It is not an exaggeration to say that without the kindness and generosity shown by James Stevens and his family, not to mention the other great people we met, we would not have made it to Michigan.

Given our experience with the wonderful people of Gothenburg, I’m sure it would have been a great way to spend our holiday. Thanks Gothenburg.

On Dec. 27-29 the Gothenburg boys and girls basketball teams were privileged to have the opportunity to participate in the Cabela’s Holiday Shootout in Sidney. Obviously, one of our goals as basketball teams is to win the games in which we play. But that is not our only goal. Our boys also have a goal to “do the right thing ON and OFF the court.”

While we were in Sidney both our boys and girls teams were complimented many times on their conduct. From the hotel staff to the employees at restaurants, I as a coach repeatedly heard how well behaved our teams were. I have heard similar comments while traveling with other groups/teams numerous times over the years I have been employed by GHS.

I want to take this opportunity to let the people of Gothenburg know how well these young men and women represent their community, school, parents and team. If the old saying, “It takes a village to raise a child” is true, then Gothenburg you are doing a great job!

I feel honored and privileged to have the opportunity to work with such fine young adults.

I wanted to reach out the first moment I could to many of you, and journalists around the globe, who reached out to us at The Bee to send thoughts, prayers and asking how you can be of help to our community—especially those immediately impacted by the Dec.14 massacre at Sandy Hook School.

The outpouring of support has been, and continues to be overwhelming. But it has created opportunities for scams and legitimate organizations that are taking pass-through and/or processing expenses before delivering donations being made.

Newtown Savings Bank has assured me through its president and CEO that its survivors fund will be distributing 100 percent of every donation to assure the immediate victims are being cared for—including any expenses related to specialized counselors and responders who need to be brought in and put up in close proximity to Newtown. I will be discussing with them in the near future ideas about how any future surplus from donations can continue to serve victims and especially children affected by this and other similar tragedies.

If any media outlets are inclined, they can drive readers, viewers and listeners to http://www.nsbonline.com for information on donating to this fund. Having friends of my own who lost children, and many more who were immediate to the incident, I can’t begin to articulate the horror this unwanted event has showered on us, but your thoughts and prayers will make a significant and positive difference.

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Jesus spoke about children in this manner, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God. Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” Even people who do not believe that Jesus is the son of God or believe in God for that matter, can recognize that a man of that era with this insight, was remarkable.

In America, Christmas is a national holiday. Many people exchange gifts and celebrate the birth of Jesus with family and friends. The giving of gifts is especially focused on children. Many of these gifts are essentially lumps of injection molded plastic, but still parents enjoy watching the anticipation, excitement and joy that lights up the eyes of their children as they unwrap the desired lump they have been waiting for.

In the wake of recent horrific events, I would like to suggest a gift that in my opinion would be more lasting. Thinking of my own shortcomings as a parent, I think we should strive to give the gift of greater involvement in our children’s lives. Hold them close and love them. We can’t know that the next time we watch as they walk away and see them turn to wave, won’t be the last time.