Legacy Group to host inaugural awards
By BRIANNA SADLER, staff writerWINTERSVILLE - Members of the Indian Creek Local School District Legacy Group will host their inaugural Golden Arrow Awards Banquet to show appreciation for the Indian Creek community.
Members of graduating classes from the former Mingo, Wintersville and Wayne high schools formed the group to raise awareness and support of the recently passed bond issue that will go toward the construction of a new middle school, as well as to encourage a sense of community throughout the school district, according to event organizer Dan Bruno.
The 3.45-mill levy will supply the needed local shares for the construction of a new middle school in Mingo Junction, and will provide funding for the district to make repairs to existing buildings through an included 0.75-mill permanent improvement portion.
"We did a lot of things over the summer to bring our school district together," Bruno said, adding the group hosted its first Legacy Alumni Night during an Indian Creek High School home football game, held rallies and organized phone committees to spread the news about the bond issue.
Now that the bond issue has been passed and construction plans are under way for a new middle school, Bruno noted the time has come to bring the Indian Creek community together again to recognize those who helped during the campaign process.
"We just wanted to recognize the people who worked to pass the levy and donated money to the cause," Bruno said.
The event is slated to begin at 7 p.m. Jan. 21 in the Wintersville Elementary School gymnasium. Bruno noted almost 300 invitations had been sent out and he is expecting between 125 to 150 people to respond.
"We were able to raise money to hold this event through private donations," Bruno said, adding that the food for the "progressive hors d'oeuvres banquet" is being provided by Indian Creek teachers and Parent-Teacher Organization members.
Other organizers for the event include Superintendent Jene Watkins and Patty McLane, Angie Penner, Donna Ardito, and Julie Robinson, as well as other Legacy group members.
"We're doing everything ourselves," Bruno said of the event. "We made the hors d'oeuvres, mini meals and desserts, and several high school students will dress as waiters to serve the food."
During the event, invited guests will receive a Golden Arrow award and a certificate of appreciation, while members of the high school media club present a slide show "to highlight all the activities that took place in the school district" in the past year, as well as information on the new school, Bruno noted.
The event should take about an hour and a half, he noted.
Bruno added the Golden Arrow Awards Banquet will continue yearly to recognize members of the district who do volunteer work.
"We appreciate the community, and we're trying to be one as a district," Bruno said. "Part of doing that is recognizing the people who support you."
(Sadler may be contacted at bsadler@heraldstaronline.com.)
