Newspaper Page Text
Page 8A
September 21, 2022
@ Reporter
Peggy Whyte is a hometown hero
By Steve Reece
stevereece@gmail.com
If you live in Monroe
County you've seen her
work: From patriotic or
seasonal paintings on store
front windows to slogans
of support for local sports
teams painted on the back
glass of fans vehicles when
the big game
is approach
ing. Peggy
Whyte, an
artist with an
unmistak
able style
who came to
the US from
Zimbabwe,
has been
helping make Monroe
County beautiful for many
years.
She came to this country
at the end of 1971 first to
Tulsa, Oklahoma to study
art and psychology at the
Oral Roberts University.
After her schooling she
toured the country by
car for a while with her
husband, John Lewis. They
were together for 32 years
until his passing last Janu
ary.
The couple had two
children, David, 32, who
sells gems and minerals,
and Kelly, 30, who is also
an artist. Kelly has two chil
dren she homeschools as
she and her brother were.
Peggy
took her
children to
work with
her every
single day
as they
were grow
ing up and,
as they got
older, she
put a brush in their hands.
Kelly now helps her mother
in their business: Peggy’s
Personal Touch.
Peggy began her career
working for colleges and
universities drawing il
lustrations on a monitor
for students as a teaching
aid. She started painting on
glass with sales ads on large
glass panes at car dealer
ships but really got in touch
with the medium at the
Cherry Blossom Festival.
She says the best thing
about having her own busi
ness is independence, but
to be the boss you must be
disciplined. If you don’t go
to work, no money. She is
accustomed to the fact that
her work is here today and
gone tomorrow. By tak
ing a cloth and a bottle of
cleaner she quickly erases
her beautiful art with a few
swipes but soon replaces it
with yet another master
piece.
When asked for the best
advice for the youth of
Monroe County, Peggy
said, "Follow your dreams.
If you just go with the
status quo, you’ll end up in
work that you hate. That's
just soul destroying. If you
do what you love you're
going to excel at it." She’s an
Everyday Hero right here
in Monroe County.
Norris ATV Ride raises
$6,000 for scholarship
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The 8th
annual
ATV ride
held in
memory
of Monroe
County
deputy
Michael
A. Norris,
whose
end of watch was Sept.
14,2014, took place in
Culloden last Saturday
morning. Around 150
people joined a procession
of around 50 AT Vs that
left the old schoolhouse on
Lockett Street shortly after
10 a.m. The long column of
4-wheelers then turned left
on Main Street, another left
at the memorial towards
Hwy. 41, riding down to
Harris Street, taking a left
onto Hwy. 74 before loop
ing back to Norris' memo
rial where a prayer service
was held.
Many members of law
enforcement and their
families were in attendance,
and everyone enjoyed
lunch in the old school-
house while listening to the
music of local singer Caleb
Dunn and celebrating a life
well lived.
Donna Wilson, wife of
deputy Jeff Wilson who
was also shot alongside
Norris that fateful night
but survived, said $6,600
was collected in this year's
event. The money will go
to the Deputy Michael
Norris Memorial Scholar
ship Fund which helps
students start a career in
law enforcement. Wilson
said, "This event is our way
of giving back to the com
munity. We all remember
a selfless deputy that went
above the call of duty, we
are able to have fellowship,
all while helping those who
want to pursue a career in
first responders to acquire
their dream."
The 2022 Michael Norris
Memorial Golf Tourna
ment will be held on Fri
day, Oct. 7 at the Forsyth
Golf Club starting at 9 a.m.
one month FREE!
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