Hi fellow alumni. Welcome to the new and improved Knox website. Prepare for a trip down memory lane as the website provides a doorway to all those wonderful memories of Knox Memorial High School. The success of the website will, in a large measure, be determined by your interest and participation. Please encourage as many alumni as possible to sign on and/or to keep their e-mail addresses updated.
Remember the website also provides a "connect" with the present as you may wish to contact past classmates and friends. We encourage you to send us your ideas, articles, announcements, or pictures you feel would be of interest to your fellow alumni. The website is a work in progress. We look forward to its continued growth and development. Enjoy!
As a way to honor friends and alumni of K.M.C.S., the Alumni Association has been accepting donation “in memory of”. As donations in an individual’s name reach $100.00 their name is placed on a “K.M.C.S. Memory Plaque”. The plaque is on display at the Russell Museum throughout the year, and is brought to each annual meeting/dinner of the Association. The “Memory Plaque” has been well received by friends and alumni of K.M.C.S.
(Click on thumbnail to view Donation List)
Kudos to Janet Bacon Wiese (Knox class of 1978) for her recent induction into the Edwards Knox Athletic hall of fame!
Class of ’43 Knox alumni Earle Kirkbride has published a book titled ‘Letters Home‘. See the official press release below:
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July 7, 2009
For Immediate Release
For further information:
Earle Kirkbride
4626 Paladin Circle
Vero Beach FL 32067
Earle42127@comcast.net
772 778 0090
Letters Home is the title of a book about post WWII Japan just published by former Degrasse resident, Earle Kirkbride.
The book is based on the letters his late wife, Norma Jean Cone, wrote to her parents, sister, and brother in 1946, 47, and 48. She was the first American woman to be part of a team inventorying the assets of the Bank of Japan in Tokyo during the occupation by the U. S. Army.
Through Letters Home, the reader gets a personal view of what life was like for a young American woman who was a civilian employee with General Douglas MacArthur
Gary Bushaw has sent in a picture of the volunteers who helped with Alumni Banquet mailing this year. “A special thanks to Dave and Tracy Charleson for donating their time and materials in printing the invitations.” And thanks to Gary for the picture.
Knox alumni Marcia and Ronnie White have opened a new bed & breakfast in the town of Russell.
The Guest House Bed and Breakfast is open year round, and The Guest Cottage is open from May to October and is located on the river. They are two separate rentals at two separate locations.
There will be a Knox Memorial Alumni Meeting on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at 6 PM at the “NEW” Russell Library.
Would love to see you there!
Sue
Co-Chair
KMAA
Russell: The Knox Memorial Alumni Celebration Weekend will be Friday, August 14-Sunday, August 16th, 2009. All alumni including faculty & staff are asked to updated contact information at www.knoxmemorialalumni.com or call Tricia (Bullock) Bush at 315-287-7761 to be included with our mailings (up to the Class of 1990). Mark your calendars –
Friday, Aug. 14th
Public servant wears many uniforms
EVANSVILLE — Tom Alisankus cemented his career path after saving his first life during his freshman year of college.
“There’s something about giving somebody their life back that is unparalleled and kind of a natural high,” said the 49-year-old rural Evansville man, who gave CPR to a diabetic peer who had passed out and stopped breathing. “I knew I had to stay in some sort of public service.”
His public service started when he won his bid for the local school board in New York at age 19.
In the decades since, Alisankus has held many job titles, ranging from deputy coroner to assistant fire chief. He has served as Evansville’s municipal judge since 1991, and he is a criminal justice professor at Rock Valley College in Rockford, Ill., and part-time police officer in Milton and Brodhead.
He also chaired a committee in Union Township that developed an ordinance to regulate wind energy. The committee’s document is becoming the foundation for many other municipalities facing the same issues.
Alisankus also is a volunteer driver for EMS and helps answer legal questions, EMS Coordinator Mary Beaver said.
“He’s a huge asset to our service, obviously,” she said. “He’s a great person to work with … He does a lot for our community.”
Raised on a farm in upstate New York, Alisankus said he wouldn’t swap the experience for anything.
“Growing up on a farm, (it’s) not only the values that you learn but the skills you learn,” he said.
After graduating with a high school class of 30, Alisankus went to college before moving to Wyoming. He joined a group called the “sheriff’s posse,” a volunteer sheriff’s group that led to his status as full-time deputy, then sergeant.
He met his future wife, Karla, on the job, and the pair together completed law degrees. The coupled moved to Evansville to raise their family and fell in love with the small city.
Alisankus stands 6 foot, 4 inches and wears a mustache, but the officer of the law’s softer side still shines through. He likes telling “an interesting story” about his family’s six-hour trip to get the dog that his daughter found online.
Police Chief Scott McElroy, a former court officer, regularly witnessed the focus on kids and fairness in Alisankus’ courtroom. Alisankus takes time to listen and work with kids in the community, making them bring their report cards into court to follow up on his sentences.
“He always took the time necessary to deal with kids,” McElroy said, “and that seemed to be his priority. Regardless of the matter, he always took the time to not only listen to kids but to actually talk to them.”
Alisankus also has provided free legal and law enforcement advice throughout the community, McElroy said.
“He’s been a nice asset to the community,” he said. “Unless you work directly with him, you probably don’t appreciate it, but I’m fortunate I have been able to.”
Alisankus views his work for the community as an obligation. The needs are great, and people who are able should help the unfortunate, he said.
“It just became kind of a calling,” he said. “The joy for me is, I enjoy doing it. It doesn’t seem like an obligation.”
Update: Not included in the prior message was the idea of submitting recipes in the memory of past alumni. As a reminder of the deadline for submissions is right around the corner so please send an email or postal letter to either Debby or Missy as soon as possible. (Contact information below) Thank you!
Recipes requested! As part of a fund raising effort on behalf of the Alumni Association, Debby Colton and Missy Hale are asking for recipe submissions that will contribute to the publication of a Knox Memorial Cookbook. The book is expected to go to press near early or mid June in order to be available for sale this summer so please mail with haste.
Submissions can be mailed to:
Missy Hale (also via email: mhale002@twcny.rr.com)
29 Mill Street
Russell, NY 13684
OR
Debby Colton (also via email: dagndeb@yahoo.com)
PO Box 15
Dekalb Jct, NY 13630
There will be a Knox Memorial Alumni meeting Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 6 PM at the Russell Library. All are welcome. We will need people to be on committees to help with the banquet, address invitations, fund raising, etc.
Would love to see you come and participate!!!
via Sue Collins,
Chair – Knox Memorial Alumni Assoc.
