Local News

<< Previous   of   Next >> Jason Fritz / The Herald  (click to enlarge) Brenden "Big Hitter" Gunter, 7, pumps his fist while chatting with Jason Petty at the future site of the Monroe Miracle League field.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Robert Frank, City Editor frank@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, October 9, 2006 Miracle in Monroe By Yoshiaki Nohara / Herald Writer MONROE - Chatter and laughter fill the air. A big white cake on the table says it all: "Thank you, Jason Petty." Everyone, young and old, mingles under a cloudless blue sky. The sky looked the same on that spring day a few years ago. Jason and his wife, Sally, on an afternoon walk, saw children, some in wheelchairs, playing baseball in a park. Boys and girls ran, rolled, cheered and giggled. There was no winning or losing. It was play, the sheer joy of the game, as only children can love it. Tears welled in Jason and Sally's eyes. Before leaving, they spotted a poster: The Monroe Miracle League needed money to build a new field. They returned to watch a game. A few games. Their lives moved ahead. Their first baby was coming. Then Jason lost his job, got a new one. Hailey was born. They found a bigger house and moved. Away from the park. Away from the game. Still, Jason checked the group's Web site, or drove by the empty lot where the league hoped to build their new field. Weeds kept growing there. Several months ago, he came across an online contest to win $10,000 for a park. He entered the Miracle League into the contest without telling anybody. Not even Sally. The league won the money, a total surprise. In the parking lot on this day, boys and girls, parents and friends celebrate. They shout "Yay!" and clap, and thank Jason. Jason, 32, dreams on. If kindness is contagious, what's possible for the Miracle League? If someone donates a dollar, will 1,000 people follow? If a company chips in $100, will others do the same? If ... If ... If ... Reporter Yoshiaki Nohara: 425-339-3029 or ynohara@heraldnet.com. A ballfield project The Miracle League, a Monroe-based baseball group for children with disabilities, wants to build a ball field on a city-owned parcel. For the $1 million project, the group has raised $200,000, including $10,000 from Farmers Insurance Group. Donations can be sent to the Rotary Club of Monroe Foundation, P.O. Box 293, Monroe, WA 98272. For more information, go online at www.monroemiracles.org or contact Sue Skillen at 360-794-7977 or at sue.skillen@verizon.net.

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