This article is brought to you by the Kokomo Family YMCA. Time is running out! Fall Swim lessons start on Aug. 14! The YMCA strives to help all ages learn how to swim so they can stay safe in and around water and to learn the skills needed to make swimming a lifelong pursuit for healthy living. Knowing how to be safe around water is one of the most important life skills we can teach our children. Dive in and register today. 🏊🏻♂️🏊🏿♀️🏊🏽♂️ There will be no lessons on Labor Day. Register in-person by visiting the YMCA Membership Desk. For more information and to register online, click here: https://operations.daxko.com/Online/5014/ProgramsV2/Search.mvc?category_ids=TAG9259&fbclid=IwAR0hstkO7Jn2WSulV0NS40DskyUO9bhCOCOVxnsVObMEtmOjn83JZBUH1QU
Stray and feral cats are present in nearly every town, city, and countryside in the U.S. Unsterilized and uncared for, these animals are a risk to themselves and to the health of the community. Melinda Jarvis is aware of the problem, and now she is one of many locally who is trying to curb feline overpopulation.
“Just over a year ago, I found a colony of feral cats living under our shed,” said Jarvis. “I was able to gain the trust of a kitten and eventually bring him inside to join our family. However, the others in his colony were not so trusting.
“Worried about having more kittens be born outside, I reached out to the Kokomo Community Cats (KCC) Trap-Neuter-Return program to help me spay/neuter the colony. They sent a wonderful volunteer to help trap and transport the colony to the vet where they were not only spayed/neutered but also vaccinated and returned to my property where they still live today as a very small but healthy colony.”
KCC was founded in 2014 to help prevent feline overpopulation. While there is no way of accurately assessing the feral cat population, nearly three-quarters of cats entering a shelter in the U.S. will be euthanized. Since less than three percent of the estimated population of feral cats has been spayed or neutered, the need for this treatment is large.
KCC, a 501(c3) fully dependent upon volunteer effort and private donations, stepped into to trap, treat, and release these cats locally, clipping an ear to indicate to others that the cat has been sterilized and vaccinated. KCC also provides food to caretakers of feral cats and to outdoor shelters.
Jarvis said she was impressed by the time and effort put forth by the KCC volunteers, so much so that she decided to join the organization as its event and fundraising coordinator.
“I learned that this program not only helps trap feral colonies throughout the county, but they also even support families who cannot afford to but need to have their pets spayed/neutered,” said Jarvis. “After receiving so much support from the volunteers in this program and seeing the impact they have in this community that I have called home for my entire life, I decided it was time to give back.”
While trapping feral cats to be spayed or neutered was not something Jarvis could manage, she instead offered to help put on local fundraising events for KCC. A “Dine and Donate” event at Hacienda Mexican Restaurant in the spring raised enough money to spay, neuter, vaccinate, and medically treat 25-30 cats, but that is just a fraction of the cats that need treatment in the local community.
Now, KCC is planning a golf outing on Sun., Aug. 27. Taking place at Chippendale Golf Course, the “We’re Chipping for Ear Tipping” golf tournament begins with registration at 11:30 a.m. and a shotgun start at 1 p.m. The cost is $240 per foursome, which includes a golf cart, lunch, and goodie bags.
KCC is also looking for sponsors, with opportunities available ranging from $25 to $1,000. To register or sponsor this event, or for additional information, email kcc_tnr_events@yahoo.com or contact Jarvis at 765-438-8245. For more information about KCC, visit www.kokomocommunitycats.org or https://www/facebook.com/KokomoCommunityCats/ .
“This program is a non-profit organization funded solely by the kindness and generous donations of sponsors and donors,” said Jarvis. “All donations are tax deductible, but savings lives … well, that’s priceless!”
Kokomo Parks photo contest winners announced
The Kokomo Parks & Recreation Department celebrated Parks and Recreation Month with the seventh annual KPRD “Play on Kokomo” photo contest. Residents submitted photos from their favorite City of Kokomo Parks, such as Highland Park, Kokomo Beach, Northwest Park, or the local trails.
Participants were tasked with posting photos to social media with the hashtag #PlayOnKokomo2023. Readers submitted 171 photos via Facebook, Twitter (X), and Instagram during the month of July.
The Kokomo Parks Board selected three winners at its August meeting. The first-place winner receives two season passes to Kokomo Beach for the 2024 season along with 35 day passes. The second-place winner receives two season passes for the 2024 season at Kokomo Beach while the third-place winner receives one season pass to Kokomo Beach for 2024.
The contest winners for 2023 are:
1st place – Sherry Butler Degler, “Taking the plunge” at Kokomo Beach
2nd place – Tiffany Jones, “Getting crafty” at Highland Park
3rd place – Jill Crowell, “Defying gravity” at Foster Park skate park