From the FIRST MATE's PHOTO ALBUM...

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Former TSGS President, Don Counts, recently had the honor to present an award to Vanderburgh County Sheriff Eric Williams. As the Editor of the City-County Observer, Don presented the award on behalf of the newspaper. The John F. Kennedy Club of Vanderburgh County held its 3rd annual JFK Family Fun Day on Saturday, 28 Aug 2010, at Burdette Park with over 500 in attendance. Dan Kisner, Staff Artist of CCO drew the caricature (below) of Sheriff's Williams favorite law enforcement character... Barney Fife from the Andy Griffith TV show. The Chairman of the Board of the City-County Observer, Ron Cosby made brief remarks before introducing Don to make the presentation.

Sheriff Eric Williams

City-County Observer

Outstanding 2009 Public Servant of the Year

For more information about CCO and the JFK Fun Day read the article by Ralph Edwards:

JFK Family Fun Day Huge Success.

- Photo taken by Nikki Ervin and submitted by Don Counts (Copyright by City-County Observer & Dan Kisner - 2010)

"Power Passed From Generation to Generation"

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Christmas 2009 is almost here... Many of my SAR friends marched in the 2009 Downtown Christmas Parade as a Revolutionary War Color Guard. This same parade back in 2002 was my first local Color Guard event. This year, I was not able to participate. A friend, Don Counts, is a member of my SAR Chapter and is in the Color Guard, but like me, he could not march either. Back in 1994, Don Counts took his grand daughter to this parade. In the Evansville Courier picture below is Nikki Ervin with Santa... Don provided the "power" for Nikki's wheelchair.
Below is a photo of Nikki today with her son Ryan reading a book to him. Nikki is still in a wheelchair, but this one is battery powered. Ryan is Don's fourth generation descendant.

Nikki has come a long way since that 1994 Holiday Parade.

- Commentary by JGWest

- Photos submitted by Donald Counts

"Nikki Ervin Featured in National Magazine - 1994"

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Frog Follies 1993... first TSGS Cruiser Blog Photo Contest Winner - 2009

Little 5-year-old Nikki Ervin, as the 1993 Easter Seals Representative, was featured in a story in the January 1994 edition of Street Rodder magazine, page 41. Nikki is shown in the top two photos on the page in the magazine (second picture below). As always, click on photos to get a larger image. This photo of the page inside Street Rodder is my favorite for the TSGS Cruiser Frog Follies Photo Contest! This one plus some others will be the blog for tomorrow for the photo contest. It is going to be a hard task selecting about 6 more photos from the great ones submitted so far... and more will be coming in!


The Eville Iron & Street Rod Club sponsors the annual Frog Follies Antique Car Show at the Vanderburgh 4-H Center. And 2009 is its 35th. Anniversary! As in this photo story back in 1993, the proceeds go to several local charities of which Easter Seals is the largest. Nikki is seen in her wheel chair with a group from the street rod club in the very top picture. in the second picture, Nikki is in the driver seat of a hot rod that is her size - a minature of the full-sized one just behind it.

Nikki is the adopted daughter of Don & Betty Counts.

- Magazine pictures submitted by Don Counts.

From the FIRST MATE'sPHOTO ALBUM...

JD Ritzy's Fantasy of Lights

Evansville, Indiana

Easter Seals in Evansville IN has a Christmas Light Display to raise money, cars drive through and see the various displays. The above photo is for Andrew Nash. He was our daughter Nikki's boyfriend when they were in Pre-School at the Rehabilitation Center. She was three and he was in her class. He had spina bifida and would wait for her to get to school. When she got off the school bus, she in her walker and he in his chair, they would race to class. A year or two later he passed away. There is a small marker for him at the Rehabilitation Center and when ever we are there she always stops to see his marker. She is now 21. His parents are Debby and Brad Nash. I think this is one of the best pictures I have ever taken. - Submitted by Don Counts (photo taken by Don Counts).