Timeline From The Past: International Special Olympics, Warsaw Speedway
Editor’s note: This is a retrospective article that runs a few times a month on InkFreeNews that relies on files from the Kosciusko County Historical Society
1999 – Charges in the case involving the Aug. 12, 1996, death of 4-year-old Kaelie Cusick were dismissed earlier this year, and those from the Nov. 23, 1996, death of 7-year-old Anthony Cusick were dismissed the week of Sept. 13. Sherrie Cusick, stepmother of Kaelie and Anthony, was accused of murdering her stepchildren. She and her attorneys held a press conference Sept. 22 “to clear the air and try to remove any tarnish that has been put on (Sherrie’s) name.”
Aug. 7, 1991 – Living, learning and excelling on the basketball court have always played an important role in the career of Warsaw native Jeff Grose, and now he is using his basketball background to share some of what he has learned over the years.
Grose, 24, along with his wife Rachel, are in the process of taking a slice of “Hoosier Hysteria” overseas for a series of basketball clinics.
Aug. 11, 1980 – Van Gurley accepted his first-place trophy from Aimee Valentine after winning the season championship in the sprint division at Warsaw Motor Speedway. Den England finished second.
Aug. 12, 1975 – “Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”
That’s the oath taken by those fortunate enough to be selected to participate in the International Special Olympics – held this year on the campus of Central Michigan University at Mt. Pleasant, Mich., last week.
Among those who were fortunate enough was Becky Mann, who attends the Cardinal Learning Center in Warsaw. For 21-year-old Mann, winner of four gold medals and a silver in the state Special Olympics last June, the International Games was indeed something special. Not only did she win the first-place gold in the standing long jump, a second-place silver in the 220-yard dash and a fifth-place ribbon in the 440-yard relay, she also made a lot of friends in the process.
“I had a real good time,” Mann said after arriving home Monday afternoon to a massive celebration at the Center, complete with a “Welcome Home Champ” banner. Mann and her coach, Maxine Burcham, had been gone since Thursday to participate in the games.
– Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels