On behalf of the Elkhart County Parks and Recreation Board, we wish to sincerely thank the Two Rivers Running Club for hosting the 3rd annual Ox Bow Tower Run and Elementary Cross Country Challenge on Nov. 4. With its efforts, an additional $1,300 was raised for the Ox Bow Tower. We also greatly appreciate the wonderful sponsors, including First Place Trophy, MapleNet Wireless, Cutting Edge Machine and Tool, Kmart, Volcano Pizza and Road ID as well as the folks who came to run, walk and show their support.

A very special thank-you goes out to Katrina Godzisz for all of her hard work and volunteer efforts in being the main organizer of this event. The tower held very special memories for the running club and her family. It is because of her passion and the efforts of people like her that the Ox Bow Park Tower will eventually be constructed.

The goal is to raise $182,000 for the construction of a steel and wood tower that has been designed and engineered in-kind by Ancon Construction and RW Armstrong. The donation account presently holds $62,500, which consists of money transferred by Elkhart County Parks and raised by the general public over the past 21/2 years.

The Elkhart County Parks and Recreation Board would like to see construction of the tower begin in 2013. We invite community leaders, businesses, foundations, service clubs and citizens to continue to contribute to the Ox Bow Park Tower Fund. No amount is too large or too small.

For those wishing to contribute please send your tax-deductable donation to: Elkhart County Parks, Attn: Tower Fund, 211 W. Lincoln Ave., Goshen, IN 46526.

Larry Andrews, President

Elkhart County Parks Board

Nappanee