Overheard

Springfield Catholic Schools Director of Development Mick Denniston died Jan. 23 after more than a month in critical condition at University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, N.M. Denniston was injured in a Dec. 18 car accident in New Mexico.

Denniston directed Springfield Little Theatre for 18 years, before taking the Springfield Catholic Schools’ position in 2002.

On Jan. 12, a fund-raiser at Springfield Little Theatre raised more than $16,000 for Denniston’s wife, Kate, and children, Emily and Colin, to cover medical and travel expenses. Additionally, a fund has been established at Guaranty Bank to accept financial support for the family.

Denniston was known for his natural ability to connect with the community; now the community is connecting with the Denniston family. Community members and theater cohorts are sharing their memories of Denniston and offering their condolences to the family through a blog at www.mickdenniston.blogspot.com. Here are a few excerpts:

• The last time I saw Mick and Kate, they had stopped to help an elderly woman who ran her car off the road into the ditch on East Sunshine during a heavy downpour this past fall. … This is Mick’s legacy – service. That is the kind of guy he was and he did it all the time when nobody was looking. There are many things I will remember but this is at the top. May God grant peace to this suffering family. —Shawn Askinosie and family

• Kate, thinking of you and the kids and wish there was something we could do to ease your pain. We know that Mick is in a beautiful place. He will be greatly missed by so many of us who have had the pleasure of knowing and working with him. Now we can only pray for you, Emily and Colin to find the peace and love of family and the community. —Bob and Carol Noble

• Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with you. I was able to visit with Mick at Dillon’s around Thanksgiving, and we got to catch up. He talked so proudly of the children and Kate. God’s speed, Mick. You will be missed. —T.J. Loudis and family

The blog also notes that the visitation is 5–8 p.m. Jan. 29 and the funeral is at 11 a.m. Jan. 30, both at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 2818 E. Bennett St.

Business Hurt by Ice Storm?

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce is gathering information on small businesses affected by the recent ice storm in an effort to make disaster loans available to them through the U.S. Small Business Administration. The chamber will forward information about affected businesses to the Missouri State Emergency Management Agency. The goal is to gain clearance for the SBA to make Economic Injury Disaster Loans available to small businesses at low interest rates and with extended amortization periods. Private businesses in the 34 counties federally declared as disaster areas that were affected by the storm can fill out the chamber’s form, available for download at www.springfieldchamber.com.

Slice of Nice

Ozarks Literacy Council’s Pizza Bowl VIII fund-raiser is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at Oasis Inn & Convention Center, 2550 N. Glenstone Ave. Tickets are $12 at the door or $10 in advance at Great Southern Bank, Summer Fresh Supermarket, participating pizza vendors and the Ozarks Literacy Council office. The annual Pizza Bowl takes place the Tuesday before the Super Bowl. Competing for the title of Super Bowl Champion of Pizza are Domino’s Pizza, Fox’s Pizza Den, Garbo’s Pizzeria, Papa John’s Pizza, Pasta Express, Pizza Stop and San Francisco Oven. For more information, call Ozarks Literacy Council, 895-5632.