Alberton football players aid a resident in need

ALBERTON – The Alberton football team gave their Saturday to a good cause when they went out to help cut wood for a resident who has been fighting cancer.

Butch Talbitzer has been going through radiation treatment for cancer for the last five weeks. The procedure has left him especially tired and without energy to do big tasks, like cutting wood. According to Liz and Sheila, Talbitzer’s daughters, everything started as they were asking for help around the community on Friday.

While they were reaching out to the people, they got an unexpected call from Kyle Fisher, principal at the Alberton schools, offering the services of the football team. According to Sheila, the team volunteered out of the goodness of their hearts; there was no need for community service nor expectations of compensation.

Fisher recalled he had been looking over Alberton’s community page when he saw mention of the woodcutting project. He got in touch with the person who made the post, who put him in touch with Talbitzer’s daughters; from there, he got in touch with the football coaches and made arrangements to bring everyone out to help.

“We’re always looking to help out the community and provide whatever we can from the school and the teams,” he said.

The team was split into two groups. Most of the players helped move wood while a wood splitter cut it into quarters. A few more of them were helping in a field where trees were being cut into logs with a chainsaw. Fisher noted the students did not operate any machinery themselves; adults operated the saws and splitter with the players helping move the wood.

“Anything you do there’s going to be liability,” said Fisher of having minors around chainsaws and power tools. “But anything we can do to help out the community and the residents here, you know we’re more than happy to help out.”

Talbitzer and his daughters were especially grateful for the team’s help. Sheila and Liz recalled they had been planning to come out to try to get as much done as they could in a day, but were not expecting much more than their immediate families and some friends for help.

“I think it’s great; it’s pretty good,” said Talbitzer. “We’d never get it done ourselves.”

According to Fisher, the kids were excited to help out. Even though it was Saturday morning right after a game, they came out early to volunteer their time. Head Coach Nick Weller also felt it was a good way for them to get back into things after a close loss the night before. He said it was good for them to get back to work.

The principal noted this helpful attitude was one of the nice things about smaller communities and schools like Alberton.

“Our staff and our kids are always willing to step up and help out, give time wherever they need to,” he said. “That’s what’s nice about being in a small community, helping hands and giving each other a hand when needed.”

Weller felt the experience was good for the boys and their development.

“Football is more than about football, it’s about building young men,” said Weller. “It’s going to help in every aspect of developing character, hard work; it’s good for them.”

He also noted how proud he was of the team for coming out to help the community and give their time without expectations of compensation.