Oldest person receives load of cards

NORTH LIMA -- Charlotte Benkner, the world's oldest person, and her family will likely spend the next several weeks reading a mountain of cards she received in honor of her 114th birthday, which was Sunday.
About 125 people turned out for her party, including two gerontologists, Dr. Daniel Kinske of Florida and Dr. Robert Young of Atlanta.
Kinske made a special trip just to celebrate with Benkner, said Roger Herrmann, executive vice president of Glenellen Senior Suites and Villas, where she resides with her 99-year-old sister, Tillie O'Hare.
Cards from all over
Most cards have come from throughout the United States, Herrmann said -- Washington, New York, California. He isn't sure how many are from people she knows, "but she had some pretty thick envelopes" containing bunches of cards made by Boy Scouts and schoolchildren.
Benkner also received a certificate from Ohio Gov. Bob Taft, Herrmann said.
"She received a ton of cards on Saturday," he continued. "We haven't gotten the mail yet today, but I would venture to say that there will be more cards."
All of Ohio's mayors and President Bush were invited to Benkner's party, but Herrmann doesn't know if she has heard from any of them. Benkner's family handles her mail.