Lifetime passes praised

A red card is something most soccer coaches and players want to avoid. However, a red card is also what might help Jasper County senior citizens get to see their grandchildren participate in extra curricular activities for free.

Newton Community Schools issues a Lifetime Senior Citizens Activity Pass for all Newton or Kellogg residents age 62 or older.

While the red cards have been around for several years, longtime Newton supporter John McNeer said there are still seniors who might not be aware they can get into the school district’s athletic competitions and music activities for free.

McNeer said he encourages all senior citizens in the Newton area to take advantage of the pass, as showing up for these events serves several purposes.

“It allows the schools to show a little payback to those who have reached retirement age,” McNeer said. “They’ve put a lot of time and energy into the community over the years. It also allows young people to see there are folks in town that support what they do.”

Newton High School Activities Director Scott Garvis said the card has been around longer than the three years he’s been there.

“Many of our young people do community service, so it’s nice to have people show up for their events,” Garvis said. “It’s nice for them to know the community cares about what they’re doing.”

McNeer said he isn’t sure who came up with the idea, but he thinks it was a good one.

“It doesn’t cost the schools anything extra to do it,” McNeer said. “And everyone who shows up tends to buy drinks and popcorn once they get there.”

McNeer, who will turn 81 in January, said he’s been retired for about 22 years. He said he didn’t have the chance to do many activities during his high school years.

“My football career lasted exactly one day,” McNeer said. “When I got home, my father asked where I’d been, and when I told him, he said ‘Who told you that you could go out for football?’ So that was the end of that.”

Garvis said he knows some senior citizens have rarely missed a home football or basketball game in 30 or more years of attending Newton Schools events. He said community support from the oldest local residents isn’t limited to athletics.

“I’ve been in schools that had as many as 3,000 kids or as few as 400, and Newton is among the best at supporting Fine Arts,” Garvis said. “Newton (High School) is a little over 800 in enrollment, and the amount of people who come out for the Fine Arts events is tremendous.”

Garvis said all a senior citizen needs to do is come to the front desk at Newton High School and ask for lifetime pass. He said the staff there will most likely take their word that they’re 62 or older and a resident of Newton or Kellogg, but bringing a photo ID certainly wouldn’t hurt.

McNeer said he really isn’t sure how many other school districts let all senior citizens into events for free. Many districts do offer discounts.

“It’s one of the best-kept secrets in this community,” McNeer said. “And I think it’s a delightful thing.”

Contact Jason W. Brooks at 641-792-3121 ext. 6530 or jbrooks@newtondailynews.com