Some impressive accomplishments from local residents have been featured in our pages the last couple of weeks.

Most recently is the story of Exeter’s Jim Finkbeiner, which can be seen on the front page of this week’s Times-Advocate. Finkbeiner is well known in the area and was a longtime local volunteer firefighter. Since 2009 he’s been battling Alzheimer’s disease, but that hasn’t stopped him from making a positive and tireless contribution to his community.

For the past three years Finkbeiner has held a long-distance walk to raise money and awareness for Alzheimer’s disease. His latest walk was held Saturday and while he couldn’t make the entire Exeter to Clinton walk on foot, Finkbeiner had those by his side who did make the walk, including his sons Russ and Rob and Huron-Bruce MP Ben Lobb. Finkbeiner’s walk this year has so far raised $1,600. Fundraising efforts are continuing with Finkbeiner’s participation in the Jan. 28 ‘Walk for Memories’ fundraiser for the Alzheimer Society of Huron County at South Huron District High School.

Unfortunately Finkbeiner says last weekend’s walk to Clinton will be his last one, but he’s made a positive and inspirational contribution to his community and the money he has raised will help with research into a horrible disease.

The T-A has also recently featured a trio of young people from the area who are doing good things. Former Hensall resident and current Londoner Kyle O’Rourke has raised money for the Huron County Christmas Bureau and Goderich tornado relief while performing his raps at benefit shows. Zach Neil, formerly of Crediton, is following his dreams as a country musician in Nashville and has recorded a CD and written music with some of his heroes.

And former Grand Bend resident Charlene Love just left for Africa where she will spend the next seven months trying to make life a bit better for those in need. This is her second trip to Africa ? Love spent six weeks in Ghana last year volunteering at an orphanage. This is pretty impressive for anybody, let alone a 23 year old just out of university. She is in Ghana right now and over the next seven months will be spending time in Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania.

Those are just a few examples of the impressive accomplishments local (and former) residents have achieved. Stories like these are a pleasure to tell and we hope our readers have enjoyed them.