Muscatine Journal, IA
06-09-06
Special Olympics 'Flame of Hope' to pass through the area
By Jeff Tecklenburg of the Muscatine Journal
MUSCATINE, Iowa — A two-state torch run that leads to the first-ever Special
Olympics USA National Games will pass through the Muscatine area.
Law enforcement officers and Special Olympics athletes from around the nation
will partner to carry the “Flame of Hope,” leaving Soldier Field in Chicago and
making various stops in Iowa before winding up at Iowa State University in
Ames next month. Officially, it’s named the U.S. Law Enforcement Torch Run
(LETR) Final Leg team.
The kickoff event for the torch run is Saturday, June 24, at Soldier Field in
Chicago. The torch will be carried through Illinois to a ceremony at Davenport’s
downtown riverfront at 5 p.m. Sunday, June 25, according to LETR organizers.
Davenport’s Rolla Lucas will be Iowa’s Special Olympics athlete participating in
the run.
The torch run will break into three routes after leaving Davenport.
In Muscatine June 26
Route 2 will begin in Muscatine with a ceremony at 9 a.m. Monday, June 26, at
Pearl City Station (Red Brick Building) on the riverfront.
Ron Miller, director and coach of Muscatine Special Olympics program, said the
visitors will be bused from Davenport to Muscatine’s Weed Park.
“Four or five of my athletes will join them” as they run down Park Avenue and
then Second Street on the way to Pearl City Station, he said.
There, Mayor Dick O’Brien and several local politicians are expected to be part of
the ceremony, Miller said.
“We hope to have as many people as possible there to greet them. They’ll have a
full escort” by local police and sheriff’s deputies.
From Muscatine, Route 2 torch bearers will travel U.S. 61 to Burlington for the
day’s next ceremony, scheduled for 11:15 a.m.
The “Flame of Hope” symbolizes the courage, hope and determination
represented by Special Olympics athletes.
Miller said his local Special Olympics program serves 122 people of various
ages.
National qualifiers
The national Special Olyimpics meet will be held from July 2-7 on the ISU
campus and around Ames. About 250 Iowa athletes and more than 3,000 from
around the country are expected to attend.
Miller is the head coach for Iowa’s track and field team and will be assisted by
Molly McGuire. She and Tim Atkins, who will serve as head powerlifting coach,
are part of the Muscatine program.
Athletes qualified for the national event based on their performance in
competition as well as standards for such things as sportsmanship, Miller said.
Five of his athletes, all from Muscatine, will compete in the national meet: Travis
Moss, swimming; Dan Beverly, powerlifting; Dick Vetter, golf; Corey Leonhard,
track and field; and Dewayne Scarlett, track and field.
Contact Jeff Tecklenburg at 563-263-2331, ext. 324, or
jeff.tecklenburg@muscatinejournal.com.
More information
* For a complete schedule and list of routes and cities for the U.S. Law
Enforcement Torch Run (LETR) Final Leg team event, contact Jennifer Oredson
at jennifero@2rm.com or 515-557-2010.
N For a list of LETR Final Leg team members, go to
www.2006nationalgames.org/events/torchrunfinalleg.php.
* The first LETR was initiated in 1981 by Witchita, Kan., Police Chief Ricahrd
LaMunyon. He created the torch run as a way for local law enforcement officials
to support Special Olympics. In 2005 alone, more than $21.5 million was raised
nationwide by local LETR events.
* Lead sponsor for the LETR Final Leg event is CarQuest Auto Parts with support
from Casey’s General Stores, Winnebago Industries, Fraternal Order of Police,
Verizon, Thorlos and Lake Chevolret in Clear Lake, Iowa.
* For more information about the inaugural Special Olympics USA National
Games, to be held on the Iowa State University campus, July 2-7, go to
www.2006nationalgames.org.