Want to vote to support education? Here’s one way

Election Day approaches, and there’s at least one vote we can all agree on.

A majority of the 850 students at C.T. Sewell Elementary in Henderson live below the poverty line, but Principal Holli Ratliff has embarked on an ambitious plan to help bring needed assistance to the school. Sewell has emerged as a sectional finalist to receive a $100,000 technology grant from Farmers Insurance Group, but the principal needs help from every member of the community in the form of an online vote.

It’s a simple. Just go to thankamillionteachers.com.

You can vote early, often and daily through Nov. 30. Your friends from Chicago will feel right at home.

Sewell is one of eight local at-risk elementary schools local business owners Sandy and Bob Ellis put under their wings years ago.

“What we’re finding is that there definitely is a need for technology, and so we want to be able to provide those resources to our students,” first-year principal Ratliff says. “We want to eliminate any barriers or challenges that have an impact on their learning. We need people to vote every single day.”

There’s no excuse for a low voter turnout on this issue.

MADDUX MAGIC: The Maddux Family Foundation on Wednesday pitched another gem on behalf of a local charity — $50,000 to the Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Nevada.

Although retired pitcher and Valley High graduate Greg Maddux is best-known as a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame, he and wife Kathy Maddux have been quietly contributing to Southern Nevada charities for the past two decades through their foundation and annual golf tournament.

For the ex-ballplayer, it’s a chance to tip his cap to his hometown. For Kathy Maddux, it’s a labor of love and an acknowledgment of the fine work Candlelighter does on behalf of children with cancer and their families.

“We’re happy to do it,” Greg Maddux said during a brief check-passing ceremony at Candlelighters headquarters. “We’ve been fortunate. We both grew up here in Vegas and wanted to give back to the city.”

Kathy Maddux added, “It’s a lot of fun. It’s always kind of been what keeps me busy when Greg was away and playing. I started when he was with the Cubs the very first year.”

From a member of a Cubs wives group to a regular contributor at Candlelighters, she’s having an impact on the local community.

“They’re just such wonderful people,” Candlelighters Executive Director Melissa Cipriano said. “They’ve made a significant impact on our agency year after year.”

With the World Series in progress, Maddux was anticipating a baseball question. His choice to win it all: Kansas City, even after the Game 1 whipping the Royals took Tuesday at the hands of the San Francisco Giants.

In addition to liking the caliber of the Kansas City team, he also thinks a lot of Royals manager Ned Yost, a former bullpen and third-base coach with the Atlanta Braves during some of Maddux’s best seasons.

PIMP CASE: Life got a little more complicated Tuesday for pimp suspect Robert Sharpe III, who caught a $1 million bail in District Judge Abbi Silver’s courtroom.

Sharpe is accused of nearly beating to death one of his prostitutes, torturing and kidnapping her for several weeks before leaving her on June 30 in the parking lot of a fast-food restaurant across from University Medical Center.

The judge also notified the 28-year-old defendant that the source of any funds he posted would be scrutinized.

“The judge said it well. This was systematic abuse,” Metro Vice Lt. Karen Hughes said after observing the hearing. “It’s miraculous the victim survived.”

ON THE BOULEVARD: In life, television station owner Jim Rogers was never shy about broadcasting his opinions or contributing to favorite campaigns, and from the look of some generous contributions to Democratic secretary of state candidate Kate Marshall, that tradition continues. Rogers died June 14 after a long illness. At last tally, companies associated with Rogers had contributed $40,000 into Marshall’s campaign.

Have an item for the Bard of the Boulevard? Email comments and contributions to Smith@reviewjournal.com or call 702-383-0295. Follow him on Twitter @jlnevadasmith.