WWII veteran makes hundreds of wooden toys to give away each year
Ed Higinbotham s workshop isn t in the North Pole, but it does churn out hundreds of handcrafted wooden toys every year for excited kids. Higinbotham, 94, of Fayette County, Pennsylvania, has been making toys to give away to local children since the 1980s. The World War II veteran, who specializes in trucks and tractors, estimates he has finished at least 3,000 toys, each one marked with the day and year it was completed. I love to make toys and give them away, Higinbotham told KDKA News in 2019, saying he gets joy from the idea that his wooden boats, wagons, and cars are making kids happy. Last week, Pennsylvania State Trooper Robert Broadwater picked up 300 toys from Higinbotham s house, which he will distribute to preschools. Broadwater has dubbed Higinbotham Fayette Santa, and on Twitter, praised him for having the drive and determination to see children smile this time of year. Way to go Ed!
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A University of West Georgia student recently graduated from nursing school with a special friend at her side. Maggie Leptrone and her service dog, Mona, both received diplomas during the university’s ceremony in December.
Mona is a Diabetic Alert Dog that’s been with Maggie during her studies and received a diploma of her own! Mona is the first canine companion in the school’s history to get an honorary “dog-gree” according to the school.
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“I am so excited that Mona can be a trailblazer at UWG for students like me who require a service dog to manage their health,” Leptrone said. “In my junior year of high school, there came a day when my blood sugar went way too low and I could not get it back to where it needed to be for a long time. I drifted into a mini-coma during my sleep, and my parents could not wake me up for a long time. Once I came to and got my blood sugar back to a manageable level, my mom decided that I needed something I coul