The good guys thread

[kuhio98]

Clearwater Fire crew saves ducklings

CLEARWATER, FL - When a mother duck called for help, the Clearwater firefighters answered.

The Clearwater Fire Department officials say a citizen called them Monday afternoon and told them about a duck standing over a drain on Court Street and making noises of distress.

It turned out the ducklings were trapped in the drain under the grated cover. The firefighters got them out in no time, according to the Department's report.

The mother duck and six babies seem to be doing fine.

[Scooter's Mom]

[kuhio98]

Snow plow driver praised for steering Sylvania wrong-way driver to safety
SYLVANIA, Ohio -- They often don't get much respect, but now one Ohio Department of Transportation snow plow driver is being cheered for what he did to save lives.

Around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 26, highway tech George Seambos was driving his snow plow along US 23 in Sylvania near the Michigan border. Seambos was on snow and ice patrol in the frigid temperatures. While driving, he noticed a set of headlights coming right at him in the wrong direction.

Immediately, Seambos called 911 and turned on his flashers to warn oncoming traffic. He then maneuvered his truck in a way that forced the driver of the wrong-way vehicle to turn around. Seambos then followed the vehicle, of which he assumed an intoxicated person was driving, until police caught up to it.

The driver of the wrong-way vehicle was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence, and due to the quick-thinking of Seambos, a 17-year ODOT veteran, possible tragedy was avoided.

"Every day, ODOT employees do amazing things but what George did for everyone on the road that night is beyond amazing," said ODOT Director Jerry Way. "We will never know if his actions avoided a tragedy...but what we do know is George had the courage to do something..."

The courageous act came less than a year after multiple wrong-way crashes in northwest Ohio killed five six people in a two-week span. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, alcohol is the leading factor in wrong-way crashes that kill hundreds of people each year.

[kuhio98]

Andrea Roberts Helps Orphans With Down Syndrome Find Homes

Andrea Faris Roberts figured her new son, born in 2002, got his almond-shaped eyes from her husband, Rich.

But when doctors confirmed that Reece had Down syndrome, "I couldn't stop crying," says Andrea, whose prenatal tests were normal. "I thought, 'What's tomorrow going to be like?' "

The answer: Reece has not only enriched his parents' lives but inspired his mom to save kids with Down syndrome around the world. Researching her son's condition, Andrea learned that in many countries, babies born with the disorder are often abandoned and left in orphanages.

Launching Reece's Rainbow in 2004, the former account manager wrote grant applications and networked with adoption agencies, ultimately dispersing over $4 million to fund adoptions of more than 850 children from Russia, China, Mexico and elsewhere.

Parents like John and Charissa Urban of Owasso, Okla., wouldn't know the love of Ava, now 8, adopted from Ukraine in 2008 without the help of Reece's Rainbow. They turned to the organization to help with funds to bring home little Ava – who weighed only 19 lbs. and was unable to roll over at age 3.
Though she initially had to use a walker to get around, Ava is now running, jumping and playing with her six siblings, including two who are adopted also (one of whom also has Down syndrome). "She's the center of our family," Charissa says. "We're so grateful."

Andrea says that families are being built every day.

"What is wonderful about Reece's Rainbow, is that families can go and see children's photos on the website and know that money is being raised to help with the adoption costs," says Andrea. "They see that it is a better possibility for them to be able to afford to adopt without the years of painful heartbreak in waiting to try to raise funds."

Today, 10-year-old Reece is in the 5th grade and loves playing basketball with his little brother, Owen, 7, in the family's yard in Gaithersburg, Maryland. He's also challenging his father at golf.

"He's got a better golf game than my husband any day of the week," laughs Andrea, 40. "He's got a wonderful swing."
Andrea insists that children with Down syndrome in institutions around the world are not forgotten and would be adopted if more families could afford the typical $25,000 fee (which includes home study costs, travel and adoption expenses).

"After six and a half years, all I can say to the world is, 'I told you so. I told you these kids were wanted,' " says Andrea. "Today, 850 children are not hidden away in institutions anymore. We have new connections every single day."

She adds: "If we had a full grant for every child on our website, we would have no children on our website. The cost is what is hard for people but every life is worth it. If we had more sponsors who could write a check for each of these kids and they would all have families. All of them."

And the proud mother says that her son Reece continues to be an inspiration.

"Reece," she says, "has helped so many families begin."

[kuhio98]

The Gary J. Lynn Foundation

I was born with Cerebral Palsy with no hope of ever functioning. Although I am still in a wheelchair I am now in college and an A student. My mother always had my three brothers and I do volunteer work a few times during the year. I decided since I have cp I should start my own foundation and raise money to help with the research of cerebral palsy hoping to one day eradicate wheelchairs and give a voice to those who cannot be heard. Since I have wonderful doctors that I am so grateful for I am raising money for the things they need in their research for cp and to help improve the quality of life for those already afflicted with this disorder. I feel so good being able to give back to the doctors who do so much for me. They have now become more than doctors and their concern for me is overwhelming. My website is www.thegaryjlynnfoundation.org and I am raising money for my doctors at Texas Children's Hospital, cerebral palsy division.

[kuhio98]

Local firefighter called a hero after saving dog

CLERMONT COUNTY, OH - A volunteer firefighter is being called a hero after saving the life of man's best friend.

Danny Redden, a Felicity firefighter, risked his life to save a dog from a frozen lake.

Dog owner Larry Trammel admits that his 9-year-old dog, Brownie, has gained a bit of weight over the years. She has gotten too heavy, in fact, for the ice.

Brownie was chasing ducks when she wandered onto the ice of a fishing pond. The ice broke under the dog's feet leaving Brownie stranded in the middle of the pond.

"I thought she was going to drown," said Trammel. "I knew I couldn't walk out on [the ice]. She was pitiful sounding, you know, barking and crying and fighting."

Trammel called 911. Moments later, the Felicity Fire Department arrived at the scene.

Danny Redden went out on the ice with a rescue basket while Lt. Scott Colyer held on to a safety rope.

"We went about five feet when the ice gave way and consumed every bit of my body," said Redden. "The only thing I could keep up was my head."

Redden kept swimming toward the dog and managed to secure Brownie in the rescue basket. Redden says his feet could not touch the bottom of the lake but his fellow firefighters pulled him and Brownie to safety.

Redden says he has never done a cold water rescue before. However, he credits the save to his training.

Redden, a dog lover himself, got into a medic unit to recuperate. Brownie warmed up in her usual spot next to the fireplace.

[kuhio98]

Homeless man returns ring accidentally given to him

KANSAS CITY, MO - A woman trying to help out a homeless man on The Plaza ended up giving away a lot more than a little change. She accidentally gave him her engagement ring, but the twist to the story is what the man did with it.

People hearing this story might think the homeless man's luck would similar to winning the lottery - you live under a bridge, then, the next thing you know, you end up with platinum and diamonds. For some, it could be a life changer.

Billy Ray Harris got that change and then some last Friday.

"The ring was so big that I knew if it was real, it was expensive," Harris said.

He didn't notice it in his orange cup until almost an hour after its original owner unzipped her wallet and dumped her change into it.

"My rings were bothering me, so I put them in my coin purse," Sarah Darling explained.

Darling said she didn't realize what she'd done until the next day.

"I was so incredibly upset because, more than just the value of the ring, it had sentimental value," she said.

Her high emotions were justified because the item she had accidentally dumped into Harris' cup along with her spare change was her engagement ring after all.

Harris didn't know that, but he knew plenty well how sentiment matters more than money.

"She squatted down like you did like right there and says ‘Do you remember me?' And I was like, ‘I don't know. I see a lot of faces.' She says, ‘I might have gave you something very valuable.' I said, ‘Was it a ring?' And she says, ‘Yeah.' And I said ‘Well, I have it,'" Harris said.

"It seemed like a miracle. I thought for sure there was no way I would get it back," Darling said.

Some may wonder, based on Harris' current situation, why he didn't just pawn it and start a new life.

"My grandfather was a reverend. He raised me from the time I was 6 months old and thank the good Lord, it's a blessing, but I do still have some character," he said.

"I think in our world we often jump to like the worst conclusion, and it just makes you realize that there are good people out there," Darling said.

Harris had lots of great lost and found stories to tell, including one that happened, a long time ago, during a Chiefs-Raiders game. There was a retired Raiders player in The Plaza with his friends. They'd been drinking, and he jumped into Brush Creek, that runs alongside the entertainment district. The retired player got out and told everyone he lost his Super Bowl ring in the creek. Harris found it, later, on the pavement here. He walked all the way over to the Intercontinental Hotel, where he figured they were staying, told the desk clerk and got it back to its owner. He got a generous reward that time and a three-night stay in the Rafael Hotel.

Darling also gave Harris a reward – she gave him all the cash she had in her wallet at the time.