Local News
Forest Hills mascot helps kids enjoy reading
SIDMAN — The Forest Hills Ranger has been immortalized in literature.
The school district’s mascot is the main character in a children’s book, “Hello, Ranger!” Written by elementary school librarian Jennifer Raptosh, the story features school-specific text and illustrations.
“A mascot book is a great way to get students excited about their school and their community while demonstrating the importance of reading,” Raptosh said.
The book follows Ranger as he visits classrooms in the elementary school, has lunch at the middle school and attends a pep rally at the high school. It ends with Ranger going to a football game to cheer the team on to victory.
The hardback book was published by Mascot Books, which publishes children’s titles for colleges and universities, professional sports teams and public and private elementary schools.
Raptosh got the idea to write the book last year after reading to pupils another Mascot Books publication, “Here We Go Steelers, Here We Go!”
“I got in contact with them (Mascot Books) and they started me on the process of writing the book,” she said. “I thought about what goes on in this school and as a graduate of Forest Hills, I thought about what I did while I was here and used that for ideas.”
Raptosh went around the school buildings and took photographs, which she sent to the publisher. The photos were used to inspire the book’s illustrations.
“The reaction has been positive and the kids are excited to see their school in a book,” she said.
“We hope this book will continue to promote school spirit and kids will have pride in their school and see this place as something special.”
The book is available for $15 at the elementary school. Proceeds benefit the library.
- Local News
-
-
Northeast braces for Earl's arrival
A tropical storm warning has been issued for New York’s Long Island coast as Hurricane Earl barrels toward the Eastern Seaboard.
-
NEW – Police dog bites girl, mom
Police say a western Pennsylvania K-9 was likely being protective when he bit a 6-year-old girl and her mother after his handler offered them a ride to school.
-
Bleier: Flight 93 fundraising dinner set for November
Former running back Rocky Bleier and other ex-Pittsburgh Steelers are organizing a fundraising dinner to benefit the Flight 93 National Memorial.
-
Handyman gets prison
A former part-time handyman/caregiver for an elderly West Hills woman was sentenced Wednesday to six to 15 years in state prison for misappropriating more than $600,000 from the woman, who thought of him as a son.
-
Barrel contains murder victim
An investigation into a series of thefts has led state police to discover a barrel containing the remains of a homicide victim in a body of water in Indiana County.
-
Judge overturns ruling on police benefits
Cambria County Judge Patrick Kiniry says an arbitrator went too far in cutting police officers’ retirement medical benefits in the financially distressed city of Johnstown.
-
Rape suspect seeks release on lower bond
A Portage man arrested over the weekend after a standoff with police wants his $250,000 bond reduced so he can get out of prison.
-
Valu King pushes bargains at 1st Pa. store in chain
There’s a standard deli, meat cooler and frozen-food section.
But, near the front of the new Valu King store in Johnstown’s Westwood Plaza, there also are fortress-like stacks of Niagara bottled water and DelGrosso pasta sauce. -
Ex-worker charged in CoGo’s robbery
A Twin Rocks woman has been charged with robbing a CoGo’s convenience store where she once worked.
-
Research institute seeks entries for essay contest
With Breast Cancer Awareness Month on the horizon, Windber Research Institute is holding an essay contest for kids 14 and younger.
- More Local News Headlines
-
Northeast braces for Earl's arrival
