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Show Special Olympics meet April 26 Special Olympics for the developmentally disabled in Cedar City, St. George, and Panguitch will be held here April 26. The 50 participants will compete in the 50-yard dash, the 220, the 440 yard relay, the standing long jump and the baseball throw. A representative of the Iron County School District will officially open the activities at 2 p.m. at the Southern Utah State College Thun-derbird Thun-derbird Stadium. "We're really pleased with the increased community support being generated for this special program," Virginia Higbee, area coordinator, said. Trophies and balloons are being donated by local merchants; the SUSC Physical Education Department is donating the use of the T-Bird Stadium, and SUSC students will serve as timers and referees. Students will also be responsible for soccer, skate board, and tumbling demonstrations. spectators." The athletic meet has been expanded this year to include in-clude a group from Panguitch. Eventually, the Southern Utah Area Special Olympics will include all special education groups in and around the Five-County area. The year-round program gives the developmentally disabled a chance to learn skills, to follow rules, to develop individual and team efforts, and to develop confidence and self-esteem. The TMR Class of youngsters taught by Tom Walker and the American Eagles, an adult class taught by Linda Blanchard, will represent Cedar City. Walker and Blanchard are local special Olympics coordinators who will be assisted by coaches Cathy Judd, Randy Jarvis and Agnes Hansen. Following the local meet, southern Utah participants will compete in the state contest May 12-13 in Salt Lake City. "A very special task is being undertaken by members of the Cooperative Nursing Program," Higbee said. "These students will provide any medical assistance that is required and will act as 'huggers', those special people who wait at the finish line with a big smile and a hug for their special athlete-of the-day." Anyone who wants to be a 'hugger' during the day is welcome to contact Mrs. Higbee or Gene Wikle, assistant area coordinator,' at 586-4411, ext. 339. "The Special Olympics is probably one of the most special athletic events you'll ever see. Everyone is a winner; everyone gets a ribbon," Wikle said. "The public is invited to attend the Olympics; there is plenty of room at T-Bird stadium for A special workshop for the parents of all develop-mentally develop-mentally disabled persons in the Five-County area will be held in conjunction with the Special Olympics April 26. The special two-hour program will begin at 10 a.m. in the SUSC Old Administration Ad-ministration Building, Room 203. "Services for the handicapped are no longer a privilege but a right," Mrs. Higbee said. "The major thrust of the workshop will be to talk about programs available on both the state and local level." Also included on the workshop agenda is a discussion about the problems faced by parents of the handicapped. Funding for the workshop is from a grant from the Governor's Counsel on Developmental Disabilities. |