The Greentown Grapevine – 1999-04, 06:04

              on page 22
Volume 6, Issue 4
uclsy Babies - Happy Parents
Catherine White holds her daughter Virginia. The Wingates, left to
right, Rachel, Julie holding Natalie, Kerry and Ryan.
Photo by R. Jenkins
Two mothers fiom eastern Howard
County recently returned from China
with their baby daughters, adopted fiom
the Wuhan Children's Welfare Home.
They traveled together, along with
others fiom throughout the United
States, who brought back eight baby
Julie Wingate and her husband Kerry,
2515 S 400 E, Kokomo, have a five
year old son, Ryan. They had checked
into domestic adoption and learned that
it would take 2- 10 years, and then there
is a risk that the birth mother may
girls.
change her mind. Two years ago they
adopted adaughter, Rachel from China.
Julie states that, " We were so pleased
with that adoption, that we decided to
try again". They worked, in both
instances, with Families thru
International Adoption, based in
Evansviue: They started the paper work
for the second adoption in May 1998.
The group left on February 20, 1999
and returned March 6. Julie and her
mother, Beverly Sartain, who
accompanied her on the trip, as well as
a friend, carried eleven month old
Natalie. Kerry had stayed home to take anyone has a desire to adopt, they would
care of Ryan and Rachel. Beverly recommend the efficiency of the agency
explained that it takes two adults to they used. A common misconception is
bring back a baby since you have to take that you must be young to adopt. The
with you all you will need for the child fact is that, for Chinese adqtions, the
as well as for yourself. " That makes for minimum age of parents is 30 and a
a lot of luggage". n- uxknumo f 65 or a fbrmulaused with
Catherine White, Harrison Court, the ages of husband and wife. The
Greentown, karned of the agency founder of the agency taught law at the
through a friend who had adopted. She University of Peking, where he made
started paper work in Saauary 1998 and local contacts It was while there that he
got word in December that a baby was fonncd the idco~ f helping people adopt
waiting for her. Her new daughter is Chinese babies. At first he only worked
one year old Virginia. Catherine was with China, butnow handes adoptions
one of two single mothers in the group. through some other countries as welL
The Wingates and Catherine The Wingates mentioned that the
explained that because o€ China's one chances of ahealthy adoptedbaby fiam
child law, mothers leave infants where China is greater than fiom the United
they wiU be found and taken care of by Statesbecause they generally don't have
the government or, hopefully, adopted the drug and alcohol pr& hs we have.
outside the country. It is considered an As the women mavedaround the city
act of love for them to leave the baby, as with the baby girls, waiting for the
in the past many were killed. The paper work to be cumpleted, Chinese
mothers usually leave them in a public people would surround them. They
place where they are likely to be found, heard a particular phrase over and over
Natalie was found in a railway station. and asked for a translation. They were
Virginia was found on the banks of the told the people were saying, '' Luclq
Yangtze River. The mothers will often baby, lucky baby". As the children's
leave a note stating the bkthdate- If not, homes in China are so C I - Q W ~ w~ ~ e,
the children's home estimates the date. must wholeheartedly agree, lucky
Julie and Catherine stressed that if babies.
mrrrdct mt? s+ Ze+ ehinq
didtoricaeSociety to S, ondor
~ LotogPa. LCyo ntQdt
Approximately 130 patrons of the
Greentown Public Library were treated
to an evening of humorous antics bv a
The Greentown Historical Society is
launching its first project by the
establishment of a photography contest.
Planned as an annual event, the
photography contest is designed to
enwurage youth, amateur, and
professional photographers to document
some aspect of life in eastern Howard
County. Lynne Kurtz, chairman of the
society's Current History Committee,
states that, " It is important that we
collect records of life as it is today, since
today will be tomorrow's history".
The theme for the 1999 contest is
Buildings. The subject may be a house,
barn, church, business or any other
structure. The photographs may be in
black and white or color. Mixmation
must be included such as location, any
fscts about the structure, and
names of nxogr. uzable people. Model
releases must be obtained from
recognizable people.
Cash prizes will be awarded as talented cast of local " characters"
follows: Youth category, first place recruited by Director Renda Hurst and
$ 75.00, second place $ 50.00, third place Assistant Director Mindy Hobensack.
$ 25.00; Amateur category, first place The colorful cast was present at a
$ 100.00, second place $ 75.00, third " Mystery Writer's Seminar" conducted
place $ 50.00. Professionals will receive by " Miss Jessica Fetchmg" played by
award certificates. Honorable mention Barbara Loomis. Each of the would- be
certificates may also be awarded. writers introduced themselves in Act I.
Award winning photographs will They included Amelia Meeke ( Karmin
become the property of the Greentown Reeves; Daddy Bigbucks ( Doug
Historical Society. Winners will also be DuPouy); Wanna Bigbucks ( Sheryl
asked to submit two additional Dean); Ron Born ( Bryan Mohr), John
photographs of the winning image. Deere ( Tom Farr) and Wilhelmina
Reade ( Cindy Ekhelbarger). Act I1
ApEriln t1r0y faot mGrmeeynbteoomb tAanintieqdue* Mall, finds Rev. Billy Bob Dollar ( Greg
First Farmers Bank & Trust, Lake City Dryer) dead after a swig fiom a flask.
Deputy Dnunmand Phyfe ( Brandon
cBhainldkr, e nK'sg rlsibarnalrsi ebso, tha ntdh e Gardeuelnt toawnnd Kendall) deputized the audience and
AnimalHospital. Entry forms~ naya lso asked their assistance in solving the
mystery. InActIIIthemurdererfinally
coafessed and was escorted off the stage
berequestedhGreentown Historical
Society, PO Box 313, Greentown, IN
46936. Deadline for submissions is by Deputy Phyfe.
July 1,1999 ( more about play on page 7)
Deputy Drummand Phyfe ( Brandon
Kendall) escorts an unremomful
Jessica Fetching ( Barbara Loomis)
. away to tfie " pokey" in the mystery play,
" Murder We Wrote", presented March
27 at the Greentown Public Library.
Photo by R Jenkins