Watauga River Run

As I have mentioned before there are something's that absolutely drive me insane. Several of which set me off when I read newspapers, online news sources, and magazines. Well, I got set off again this week while reading the online version of one of my hometown newspapers.

The Watauga Democrat ran an article for their Wednesday May 23^rd addition with a story titled "Reason to run: Friend's memory inspires Valle Crucis School principal." This usually would be an inspiring article that gives people strength and hope to achieve better things and goals. I took this from the article as well, but something still bothers me.

Valle Crucis Principal Wayne Eberle was once a Team Teacher at Blowing Rock Elementary School with Mrs. Gwen Tyrie. She was an avid runner. She loved to run and teach, she and Mr. Eberle were friends and Mrs. Tyrie was an inspiration to him to do things he never thought were possible or things he never would have strived to do, from what I gather from the article.

Let me give you a little background on Mrs. Tyrie. As I said earlier in this piece she was a teacher at Blowing Rock Elementary School in beautiful Blowing Rock, North Carolina. She taught 3^rd grade and was a fabulous teacher and woman. She strived and succeeded to give all of her students in her 30 years as a teacher the best education possible. She always had time for fun but was also very strict from what I remember about my time with her. She never took herself to seriously which was evident when she would come to class for certain projects in costume. I remember seeing her dress as Viola Swamp from the children's book and some other's as well. The first real book I remember reading was due to her and her teachings. To this day I still love the "Little House on the Prairie". If it wasn't for Mrs. Tyrie's teachings in the 3^rd grade, I do not think I would have ever learnt to write in cursive or would have learned my multiplication tables. In her off time as a teacher, if she ever had an off moment as teacher, she loved to run, ride her motorcycle and being with her family.

On January 12^th 2002 Mrs. Tyrie was on a run in Boone, North Carolina and was struck in the head by a mirror on a truck and was killed instantly. The man driving the truck was blinded by the bright morning sun and did not even see Mrs. Tyrie running along the side of the road. She left behind her husband Carl Tyrie, their children, and grandchildren. She also left behind 30 years worth of students that would never forget her and what she taught them. I decided long ago that if I ever have a daughter that I am naming her Gwendolyn after one of my favorite teachers Mrs. Gwen Tyrie.

From reading so far I am sure you have noticed that I have mentioned Blowing Rock Elementary School several times. I mention this so often because the article that the Watauga Democrat is running mentions that Mr. Wayne Eberle is running in the 6^th Annual Watauga River Run on May 26^th. It also mentions how Mr. Eberle remembers his time with Mrs. Tyrie and how she was and is an inspiration to him.

The part of the article that bothers me is this: "Proceeds in memory of Tyrie will benefit the Valle Crucis School library." Here is the part that is not mentioned in the Democrat article. If Mrs. Tyrie was a teacher for so many years at Blowing Rock Elementary School then why are proceeds going to Mr. Eberle's new school where he happens to be principal? Would it not make more sense and be more fitting that at least part of those proceeds go to the school that Mrs. Tyrie taught at for so many years?

Maybe I am being selfish about this. However, I think that for Mrs. Tyrie to have taught so many wonderful years at Blowing Rock, then some of those proceeds should benefit that school as well. Not just to the current school that Mr. Eberle is principal. I am not knocking the fact the benefit run is going to benefit the school in the area. But, there are two mentioned memories of people that are being ran for. Not only that of Gwen Tyrie but the memory of Andy Palmer as well. Proceeds that are going toward Mr. Palmer are going to The ZAP Fitness Foundation and not Valle Crucis Elementary School.

I truly feel that the proceeds need to at least be divided up between the two schools, or someone should step forward that makes donations to the area schools and match whatever is raised for Valle Crucis Elementary School and donate the same amount to Blowing Rock Elementary School in Mrs. Tyrie's memory. If I could afford to do it, lord knows I would!

If you are in the area and want to participate in the Watauga River Run you can do so on Saturday May 26^th at 9 am for the 5K run which starts and ends at Valle Crucis School, and a 1 mile run starts at 8:45am at the Valle Crucis Park.