Community Remembers Deidre Week

It’s very much a family kind of situation,’ says Vesper School Principal

By LISA FOSTER and MYSTIQUE MACOMBER

Tribune Staff Writers

March 28,1995

VESPER – Students and teachers were trying to spend a normal day at Vesper Elementary School Monday, even though fifth-grader Deidre Week wasn’t sitting at her desk, Principal Edward Schmidt said today.

“The children are pretty much back to normal, except for the kids in her classroom (teacher Carol Molski’s class), although they’re getting back into normal, too,” he said.

The girl died after she was struck by a hit-and-run motorist while riding her bicycle Friday evening. According to the Wood County Sheriff’s Department she was riding north on County Trunk HH just north of Vesper at about 6:45 p.m. when a northbound vehicle struck her. She was a short distance from her home.

Extra counselors were at the school Monday to accommodate grieving children. “Things were put in place to accommodate district policy,” Schmidt said. “Everything went very smoothly.”

No memoriam has been scheduled at the school, but Schmidt said he expects something will be planned to remember her. Some students and teachers are wearing pink ribbons to remember her as part of a communitywide remembrance, he said.

“All of the teachers have been affected by this,” the principal said. “All of them had Deidre as a student. It’s very much a family kind of situation.

“Like all of our kids, she was a gift to us. She was bubbly, hardworking, a good friend to the students in her class and participated fully in the life of school. She accomplished a great deal in her short life.”

A trust fund for the girl’s family has been set up at the First National Bank office, 229 E. Cameron Ave. “I’m assuming that it’s going for a reward,” said Mary Dewerff, assistant teller supervisor at the bank. “They’re kind of hoping that somebody will report whoever it was.”

Money donations also are being accepted at First National Bank offices in Arpin and Pittsville.

Sheriff’s Department investigators continue to search for the driver of the vehicle involved. “We are still receiving leads and doing follow up investigation,” Lt. Robert Levendoske said today.

The suspect vehicle is a smaller or mid-sized car. Possible makes are a Chevrolet Cavalier or Olds Cutlass. The color has not been definitely determined. The vehicle may have front end damage, possibly concentrated on the passenger side. This damage may include a single, approximately eight-inch dent on the hood or damage to the under bumper area or windshield/roof post.