On March 2 at Rocky Gap State Park, 900 special people “plunged” for special reasons.
Jake Reynolds, our World Special Olympics Gold medalist and Hooley Plunge King plunged to thank all his supporters.
Jake and Doug Schwab turned a $5,000 challenge into $10,000. Michael Nelson plunged for the Cumberland Rotary and helped them raise over $10,000 for our local developmentally disabled.
Skip Miller and Darren Bosley plunged for their daughters Chelsea and Cheyane. Mike Calhoun and Steve Wilson plunged as principals for Allegany and South Penn schools.
Officer Dave “I love the Steelers” Broadwater, lost a bet, raised over $1,000 for Cumberland Outdoor Club, and wore a Baltimore Ravens jersey with his head painted purple into the Plunge! So many teachers and students from the Allegany County public schools went in that I can’t name or thank them all. Everyone had their special reasons for doing the Plunge!
While everyone complains about taxes, sequesters, gas prices and the cost of living everyone year they still come together to support Allegany County Special Olympics and our local developmentally disabled.
The Allegany, Fort Hill, Mountain Ridge, Career Center, Bishop Walsh and Calvary High School students led the way for all their feeder schools.
Braddock, Mount Savage, Washington and Westmar Middle Schools led the way for all the elementary schools. Beall, Bel Air, Cash Valley, Westernport, Cresaptown, Flintstone, Frost, Georges Creek, John Humbird, Northeast, Parkside, South Penn and West Side all had teachers and students who “pledged or plunged”
Ask any student in Allegany County public schools why they plunged and they will all tell you they did it for special reasons. They did it for their special “best buddies” or for SHOP, Students Helping Other People.
They plunged to support the kids they go to school with. They did it for Inclusion Sports, Special Olympics in our high schools. They did it for their classmates and friends. They did it because they care.
Dr. Cox, the Allegany County public schools superintendent, won the “Chazz Offutt Community Service Award” for the 9th Annual Hooley Plunge.
He led the way for all the teachers, staff and students in the school system. He also helped raise awareness all month long leading up to the Plunge. All the county schools were well represented.
Bishop Walsh came out strong with their whole basketball team plunging together, from first grade to 12th they went in as a Sea of Burgundy.
There were waves of Roll Tide Red, Royal Blue, Black and Red Miners, and Calvary Blue. Rivals 364 out of 365 plunging together one day a year. The Fort Hill, Allegany and Mountain Ridge Cheerleaders led us in a group Hooley Plunge Cheer and marked our thermometer up over $100,000 together.
When the last plunger came out we had over $111,000.00 and still collecting! That’s excellent community service from our students and their mentors. Job well done!
A special thanks to Rocky Gap Lodge & Golf Resort who made us feel very at home Friday night for the Shanty Irish Pre-Freeze party as well as the Saturday morning Pre-Plunge Breakfast.
The Army of Alhambra did an outstanding job once again. Registering 900 Plungers in three hours. Feeding the hungry and trying to keep everyone as warm as possible. Alhambra’s Brad Stafford won the Hooley Plunge Unsung Hero award for the “Millions” of things he does all year to run the Plunge.
There is no way to properly thank everyone who helped. To our sponsors and challenge leaders thank you. No matter how cold it is. No matter how wet we get.
We all still do it for our own special reasons. Thanks to everyone who plunged or pledged. Thank you 111,000 times.
Sean McCagh
2013 Hooley Plunge chairman
Cumberland
Letters
Thanks to Hooley Plungers
- Letters
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‘Forgotten warrior’ not forgotten
The Korean War is often called “The Forgotten War.” My generation remembers the Battle for LZ X-Ray at Ia Drang, The Tet Offensive, and Khe Sahn of the Vietnam War.
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Organization needed to help utilize the Potomac River
I am a committee remember on the Tamiami Trail Scenic Highway which stretches from Palmetto to Venice, Fla.
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Reducing meat consumption can help ease climate change
A review of 12,000 papers on climate change, in the May 15 issue of “Environmental Research Letters,” found that 97 percent of scientists attribute climate change to human activities.
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Maryland has stopped being “The Free State”
I am a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans and, last but not least, the National Rifle Association. I am a yearly member of the American Legion.
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Save the Bridge Program
Please do not close the Frostburg United Methodist Church Bridge Program. The community and many families need this program. Let me enlighten you about a few things.
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Town of Westernport needs a police force and a curfew
Since the consolidation of Bruce and Valley high schools the town of Westernport rapidly deteriorated from what was once a quite respectable community to a community in a decline in residents, and along with that came a collapse in local government due to lack of knowledge and bad decisions that set the town of Westernport back 60 years.
One bad decision was to give up their police force, and with no constant visual law enforcement it has created an open range for drug dealerss, addicts, thieves, drunks and speeding vehicles that choose to ignore our city laws and speed limits and have totally disregard for the safety of the citizens who are on the streets, especially the children who are like deer, you don’t see them until their in front of you. -
Financial gutting will damage school system
I am writing in response to the Allegany County Commissioners’ efforts to cut local education spending to the lowest possible level allowed under state law.
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Cemetery organization plans events to mark Memorial Day
This upcoming Memorial Day marks the 30th anniversary of the Cumberland Historic Cemetery Organization (CHCO).
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Outside water customers pay for town’s mistakes
The following is the opinion of the individual and in no manner reflects the opinion of any other person or organization.
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We’re twisting the meaning of the Founding Fathers’ words
I really had to chuckle when I read a recent comment someone made in a northeastern publication: “I’d like to suggest that Congress make a tiny change in our Second Amendment that would more accurately reflect the Founding Father’s intent (to wit): “A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear muskets, shall not be infringed.”
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‘Forgotten warrior’ not forgotten
