Classifieds

Obituaries

Akron Veterinarian Warren Thompson handed his calf puller to Le Mars native, Dr. Travis Hawkins, on May 29. “I never want to see this again,” laughed Thompson as he transferred his veterinary equipment to Hawkins’ truck that morning. Thompson told The Akron Hometowner he enjoyed calls to help area farmers with cows having trouble giving birth but at his age, pulling a calf is too much physical work. The night before the community had said goodby to Thompson and welcome to Hawkins at an open house held in Akron City Park. “I’m going to do whatever I want in retirement,” said Thompson, explaining that includes fishing trips to Canada, canoeing, volunteering in the community,  and traveling with his wife, Verna, who also resigned from her school librarian position. “Whatever comes along. Give me a call.” For the past few months, Hawkins has worked along side Thompson and Dr. Jeff Van’t Hof at the Akron Veterinary Clinic. Last week, Hawkins had been on “country calls” with Van’t Hof, then on Friday morning, they completed surgery on a small cat and answered questions about a dog’s injury. Hawkins will officially step into Thompson’s shoes on June 1. Hawkins, the son of Roger and Kathleen Hawkins, graduated from Le Mars High School in 2001. He earned a bachelor of science degree in animal science from South Dakota State University at Brookings, S.D., in 2004, and his veterinary doctorate degree from Iowa State University earlier in May. Hawkins, who lives on an acreage near Akron, told The Akron Hometowner that he had “experience a little bit of everything” at veterinary school with a slight emphasis in large animals, food animals. He was raised on a farm with a variety of animals: cattle, swine, equine and sheep. He was active in the Grant Little Giants 4-H Club and the Le Mars FFA, in which he earned the Iowa FFA Degree and placed third at state competition with his sheep project. Hawkins enjoys reading and “most outdoorsy stuff” including hunting, fishing and canoeing. “I’m glad to be here,” said Hawkins. “I look forward to meeting people and working with them.” “I’m looking forward to having Travis starting in the practice,” said Dr. Jeff Van’t Hof. “I’m excited about the challenge of teaching him what I know and learning the new things he can teach me.”

They call themselves ‘Ron²’

Who would think that if you traveled half way around the world, you’d work with a man who has the same name? “There are always coincidences in the world,” said Ron Wilmot of Akron. Wilmot volunteers his time and talents in Nigeria -- the man he works side by side with there is also named Ron. But that’s just the beginning of the coincidences. They are both teachers. Ron Wilmot is a retired Akron-Westfield science teacher, and Ron Mangey is a college professor in Nigeria. They are both left-handed, wear glasses and have each adopted a daughter. In fact, the last four digits of their phone numbers are the same. Sometimes the only way to address them is the “White Ron” and the “Black Ron,” said Wilmot, adding that at times a third “Ron” joins them on volunteer projects. The first part of May, Mangey came to Akron and visited Wilmot. They traveled to many area United Methodist Churches explaining their mission work and gathering funds for their summer projects. These projects include constructing three hand-pump wells between 100 and 200 feet deep and installing two solar-powered refrigerators. They will also build faculty housing at the United Methodist sponsored school, where Wilmot spends his summers doing volunteer work and teaching. Furthermore, they will repair wells and do other projects as they arise. One of the most important missions this time is to present an A-3 Workshop. “A-3” is a plant that is a relative of our pig weed plants. It provides relief to Nigerians by killing malaria parasites. “Even the poorest people can grow A-3,” Wilmot told Akron-Westfield High School students May 13. People grow these plants, then harvest the leaves. Once dried, tea is made from the leaves. It takes about two tea bags worth with 1,000 milliliters of water to make four servings of the medicinal drink, he said. After it is boiled, it is steeped 15 minutes. Then the leaves are separated from the liquid “tea.” About 12 hours after this tea is drank, the malaria parasites are gone. However, this doesn’t prevent malaria reoccurrences. “Medical care is hard to get,” said Mangey. Wilmot explained there are no cell phones or telephones and little or no electricity. People cook their meals over wood fires, and often their drinking water is just “surface water” such as from rivers and lakes. During the dry season, the women may work two or three hours each day to gather enough water to use. “It’s like taking a 5-gallon (container) and walking to Westfield,” said Wilmot. “Then you carry the full (container) back and that’s all the water you have for that day.” There is no “free” education in Nigeria like American students receive, said Mangey. Families can often only send one child to school because it takes about two-thirds to all of their annual income to do so. The child lives at the school for months at a time. In addition, American students have lots of teacher assistance, books and materials when compared to Nigerian schools. Nigerian students study as much as they can in the daytime because often electricity is only working a couple hours of the day. If they study at night, they use “bush lamps” which Americans know as kerosene lanterns like U.S. President Abraham Lincoln used or they have candles. Attending school is a “privilege,” said Mangey, explaining that prospective students must take a three-hour entrance exam. Wilmot explained at the United Methodist School, 600 students took the exam but only 36 students were selected to attend the school. The students’ favorite lunch is “fish-head soup,” said Wilmot. “They especially like the eyes.” “We haven’t gotten much electricity -- only one hydroelectric plant in the whole country,” he said. He was excited to see Akron- Westfield’s wind turbine. “We have an American radio program three times a day in our language,” said Mangey. Mangey explained that it’s only been about 50 years since Nigeria received its independence from the British. Although they aren’t at war like the United States is, they have their own crisis. Oil companies came into Nigeria making many promises but only took the oil, said Mangey. “People get poorer and poorer.” “Women started protesting,” said Wilmot, explaining the oil companies promised to build schools and wells. The women laid down in front of oil company trucks and refused to move until they kept their promises. Now, Nigerians kidnap oil company workers and ransom them for the promised services. It is irresponsible of the government not to control the oil companies, said Mangey, adding his country has lots of untapped resources such as tin and coal but the focus is on oil, cotton, peanuts, rice and sugar cane. Those in the country make their living at subsistent farming, growing peanuts, rice, yams, and corn. As a college professor, Mangey is paid by the government about $800 a month. Nigerians are trying to catch up to the developments in other countries like America who has been independent for more than 200 years. “Getting independence is one thing,” said Mangey. “Developing (a country) is another.” “People haven’t started thinking positive, thinking of putting an end to the hardships,” said Mangey, who attributes some of that attitude to lack of education. “Without education, we don’t know how to turn it around.” The assistance Nigeria has received from Iowa United Methodist Churches has helped a lot, he said, adding not only do Nigerians come to know Jesus Christ but the donations purchase drugs, equipment and things the people need. Mangey, who completes a lot of volunteer work through his church, encourages others to volunteer their time and talents to their communities. “You get great satisfaction in volunteering and giving helping hands,” said Mangey. “It also helps those who need it so much.”