Quick takes – July 2nd

Mobile canteen great help

The Columbus branch of the Salvation Army is putting a new — and positive — twist on lending a helping hand in cases of disasters and emergencies. That’s thanks to its emergency canteen, a mobile kitchen that helps it provide greater support to disaster victims and emergency responders.

The vehicle, worth $120,000, is a gift from the Salvation Army’s Indiana division headquarters in Indianapolis. Capt. Alan Sladek and Capt. Jodi Sladek, the Columbus-based Salvation Army leadership team, are leading local efforts. The generator-powered truck and kitchen has an oven, microwave, refrigerator and other appliances that give it the capacity to serve up to 2,000 meals per day.

The water, Gatorade, sandwiches, energy bars and meals it can provide give victims care and comfort and ensures emergency responders have nutrients needed to handle a situation for as long as needed. The mobile canteen is a big help and a welcome addition.

Thanks again

Police dogs are a valuable resource for law enforcement agencies, particularly their ability to search for drugs, apprehend criminals and find missing persons. A Columbus student who helped raise funds so Columbus Police department could obtain a K-9 is now doing the same for the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department.

Dylan Prather, an IUPUC student and dispatcher for the county’s 911 Emergency Operations Center, wants to raise $18,000 so the sheriff’s department will have a second K-9. Donations are being accepted at the sheriff’s department, 543 Second St. in Columbus.

Prather’s efforts are greatly appreciated because they ultimately help law enforcement agencies by equipping them with a valuable resource that helps them do their jobs better.

Smoke rises

Columbus resident and three-time NASCAR champion Tony Stewart, also known to race fans as “Smoke,” ended an 84-race winless streak, winning on the road course in Sonoma, California on Sunday, his first victory since 2013.

Stewart is retiring as a NASCAR driver after this season, so it was great to see him back in Victory Lane. A farewell season without at least one win wouldn’t have seemed right.

With what Stewart has gone through the past three years — broken leg, fatal accident and a back injury — it was nice to see him experience the thrill of victory once again.