oddly enough

oddly enough

Indiana woman who donated kidney weds organ recipient

BROWNSBURG, Ind.

A central Indiana woman who promised to donate one of her kidneys to a man she barely knew has married him three years after his successful transplant surgery.

Chelsea Clair and Kyle Froelich met at a 2009 car show when he was 19 and she was 22. Clair learned that day that Froelich had a serious kidney disease — and she told him then and there she would give him one of hers.

She underwent the necessary tests and ended up being a near-perfect match. Three years ago, she donated one of her kidneys to Froelich.

The Indianapolis Star reports that the couple were married Oct. 12 at the Danville Conservation Club, the venue that hosted the car show where they met.

Dems shun Pa. official for supporting GOP comrade

ERIE, Pa.

The Erie County Democratic Committee in northwestern Pennsylvania has kicked an Erie city councilman off the committee, saying he violated bylaws by publicly supporting a Republican colleague in an upcoming council election.

The committee voted Councilman Mel Witherspoon off the committee after he refused to resign.

Witherspoon supports fellow councilman and longtime friend John Evans, the only Republican running for council Nov. 5, the Erie Times-News reported.

Three other Democratic incumbents and another Democratic challenger also are on the ballot, meaning five candidates are vying for four council spots in a city where Republicans seldom are elected.

Witherspoon isn’t up for re-election this year. Evans was appointed to fill a vacancy last year and now is running for a full four-year term.

“I’ve been friends with him for more than 20 years, and he’s highly qualified,” Witherspoon said of Evans.

Evans said he was “delighted” by Witherspoon’s support, “but I’m sorry that anyone would pay a penalty to support someone they believe in.”

“It’s unfortunate that people are still stuck in the old ways of saying, ‘Party first,’” Evans said. “I thought at the local level, we’d gotten smarter than that.”

Bill Cole, the county Democratic chairman, said that though he understands Witherspoon’s decision, the party bylaws can’t be ignored.

“Let me put it to you this way,” Cole said. “You can’t be on the Pittsburgh Steelers defense and block for the Cleveland Browns running back because you think he’s the best running back on the field.”

Associated Press