Shatter the Stigma — Take Action Coalition of Clinton County holds Overdose Awareness event
Cara Loddeke, one of the organizers for the Overdose Awareness event, speaks to those in attendance at the Aug. 31 event.
Guest speaker Nellie Baity speaks about her use with drugs and alcohol, and the recovery process. Shatter the Stigma! The members of the Take Action Coalition of Clinton County are working to “shatter the stigma” in an ongoing campaign to recognize that there is a problem with drugs and alcohol in the county with an Overdose Awareness Day that was held Saturday evening, Aug. 31 at Northside Park in Breese.
The free event was sponsored by the Take Action Coalition of Clinton County.
This was the coalition’s seventh year of bringing together addicts and families who had a message to share — that there is help available, and organizations who are able to provide that help.
A memorial table was laid out at the Aug. 31 Overdose Awareness event at Northside Park in Breese, where attendees could show their support to loved ones who were affected by substance abuse. The Overdose Awareness Day coincides with the International Overdose Awareness Day, always held on Aug. 31 of every year, which is the world’s largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember without stigma those who have died and acknowledge the grief of family and friends left behind.
Founding member of the Take Action Coalition of Clinton County, Cara Loddeke of Aviston, along with her parents, Craig and Deb Loddeke, said, the coalition’s goal is “to shatter the stigma in Clinton County, with overdoses and substance abuse.”
Craig and Deb Loddeke addresses the crowd at the Overdose Awareness event about their experiences as parents, watching their daughter go through addiction and rehabilitation. They began the Overdose Awareness event in 2017, following the deaths of Adam Knapp, 32, of Beckemeyer, in May 2016, and Jacob “Jake” Mitchell, 29, of Breese, in October 2016, to overdoses.
Cara Loddeke said she and her friend, Gentry, didn’t want Knapp’s and Mitchell’s deaths to be in vain, and to let people know they were talented individuals, but “did bad things because of drugs.”
Loddeke, a registered nurse with Chestnut Health Systems, is a recovering addict who has been through rehabilitation. She will have eight years of sobriety in October.
Breese Journal editor passes away
Breese Journal editor Bryan Hunt passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 28, after a courageous eight-year battle with cancer.
Bryan was hired as editor of the Breese Journal in 2019, replacing Melissa Wilkerson.
Prior to being at the Breese Journal, Hunt worked at the Morning Sentinel and the Union Banner newspaper. In his earlier years, Hunt did production work at KTVO 3, an ABC affiliate in Kirksville, Missouri, and the Daily Democrat newspaper in Fort Madison, Iowa.
He’s been a familiar face in the local community for nearly three decades, covering school board and council meetings, human interest stories and events around the community.
Bryan was a kind and generous man, and as a friend would say, “just a quiet man with a giant heart for the goodwill of the people.”
Bryan fought neuroendocrine cancer for eight years, all while remaining loyal to his work, family and community. He left a lasting impact through his dedication to journalism, photography, and his community.
Many in the community have expressed their condolences via social media, thanking and praising him for his service and commitment.
In an August 2019 article welcoming Hunt to the Breese Journal, he said he was always "up to the task" of writing more, where it gave him a chance to illustrate more of his written work, and was always looking forward to continuing coverage of the county.
Cougars pick up big 24-21 win over visiting Highland on Friday
Tuck it and run — Central senior quarterback Preston Baker runs for a first down in the first quarter of the Cougars’ 24-21 win over visiting Highland on Friday night in week one. Baker ran for 34 yards and threw for another 121 yards. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO The Central Cougars took a punch to the face early on, but took advantage of three Highland turnovers to win their first game of the season in fine fashion with a 24-21 victory over Class 5A power Highland on Friday at Robert J. Astroth Field.
“You can’t turn the ball over against good football teams,” said 14-year Highland head coach Jim Warnecke. “That’s on me, I didn’t have my team ready to play. They were out of shape and we didn’t play four quarters of football.”
The Bulldogs took the opening possession of the game 65 yards in just four plays when Tyson Rakers rumbled in from two-yards out for a 7-0 lead for HHS just 69 seconds into play.
Both teams went two drives without scoring before the Cougars’ defense made a play when CHS junior Clayton Jansen picked up a Highland fumble and ran it 72 yards for a touchdown and a 7-6 deficit for the Cougars with 77 seconds left in the opening quarter.
“They got in their power set, and we talked to the guys about having to stop that power set and that was a huge play by Griffen Becker to stay disciplined and stay is his spot and Jansen to scoop it and score,” said Central head coach Brian Short.
The Cougars’ defense went right back to work when senior corner Griffen Becker picked off a Blake Gelly pass on the very next play to set up the Cougars’ offense for their first scoring drive.
Elusive back — Central junior running back Cole Davis breaks the tackle of Highland defender Evan Strubinger in the second quarter of the Cougars’ three-point win over the Bulldogs on Friday at Robert J. Astroth Field. David had 18 yards rushing. PHOTO BY JEREMY CHAWGO The Cougars ran the ball six times on the drive that was capped off by a one-yard touchdown run from Kaden Rakers before Preston Baker hit Benny Lehman for the two-point conversion and a 14-7 lead.
The Cougars got the only other score of the second half when Highland went for it on fourth-and-12 from midfield where a pass from Gelly hit the ground incomplete giving the Cougars the ball at their own 47.
Baker ran for 14 yards before the Cougars went to a steady dose of Kaden Rakers.
Rakers ran the ball five-straight times before capping the drive with a three-yard touchdown with 1:48 left in the half as the Cougars took a 21-7 lead. The drive went seven plays for 53 yards.
Page 1 of 2
