Ms. Wheelchair Washington gets a lift from Welding

Jannette Saxton, Ms. Wheelchair Washington 2009, recently witnessed what the heart of Bates is all about.

After winning first runner-up among 28 contestents in this year's Ms. Wheelchair America competition, Jannette purchased her first home. Unfortunately, her new home had no wheelchair access.


On Feb. 3, her father contacted close friend and JRTC instructor, Bob Corliss, who then contacted Rick Huston, welding instructor. Together with student Ben Cary, Rick designed, fabricated and produced a metal device that provides Jannette the ability to use a new wheelchair ramp. Rick installed the device on Feb. 5, and Jannette's father poured the wheelchair ramp on Feb. 9. That night, Jannette spent her first night at her own home. "I'm so blessed," exclaims Jannette. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Bob is impressed by Rick's responsiveness to the request. He notes the ramp would not have worked without the initial piece Rick and Ben built.

"She spent her first night in her own home because of the efforts of her family, professionals like Rick Huston and a caring student named Ben Cary," says Bob. "Jannette is truly thankful."

Library Corner

The library has four databases full of online newspaper, magazine and journal articles. Electric Library, ProQuest Direct, InfoTrac OneFile and Science Direct allow users to access articles from more than 16,625 titles—which the library staff would have a hard time fitting on the library's limited shelves. These resources also give users access to more older issues than the library would be able to offer with the paper versions.

Want to know if a particular title is available through the library's databases? Click on "Full Text Electronic Journals" from the Library Quick Picks or contact the library for help.

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Sheet Metal to collect used shoes for Haiti earthquake victims

Deadline extended!
If you have gently worn shoes just laying around, here's your chance to donate them to a worthy cause. From now until Friday, Feb. 12, sheet metal instructor Steve MacKay and his students are collecting shoes for the victims of the Haiti earthquake.

If you'd like to help, bring shoes for either children or adults to the Sheet Metal program, W106 at the Downtown Campus. Contact Steve MacKay, 253.680.7254/7394 for questions.

About the shoe drive
Molly Hightower, a Port Orchard woman who perished in the Haiti earthquake, originally began this shoe donation drive to help Haitians in need. After her death, Molly's father and general manager of Service Steel Aerospace (SSA), took over the shoe drive and is now collecting shoes at all SSA locations. Steve MacKay has generously offered to deliver the shoes he collects from the Bates community to the nearest SSA location on Friday, Feb. 12.