By B. Scott Mohr
Editor

Jasmine Harrison is only 18 years old, but she’s on her way to becoming a pilot. 

She has completed the ground school class at Greenwood Municipal Airport and is preparing to take a test administered by the Federal Aviation Administration so she can begin flight school.

The Southport High School senior has been learning about aviation through the airport’s Young Eagles program, which operates under the Greenwood chapter of the Experimental Aviation Association and introduces youths to topics like navigation, flight physics and charts, aircraft structure, airspace and weather.

Harrison took her first flight in a small airplane July 16 with Denny Kruckeberg, a retired Navy and commercial pilot and a part-time instructor at the airport. “She did fine; she worked the controls for a little bit,” he said.
“It’s all coming into place; I am ready to go up again,” said Harrison, who would like to fly helicopters. Her dream is to fly a Blackhawk and to go for a ride in one. “I might be a pilot sooner than I expected. I’d like to thank my family and friends and the airport staff for all of their support.”

In addition to her involvement with Young Eagles, Harrison is a volunteer at the airport, where she answers the phone, does clerical work and helps to fuel planes. Harrison also works at Family Dollar so she can save money for flight school, and she has launched a fundraiser at https://www.gofundme.com/flightclass. 

Because Harrison didn’t always have transportation to the airport – her single mother works long hours – she often walked 2 1/2 miles one way to the facility. Since then, Young Eagles volunteers Alan and Elizabeth Gluff gave her a bike.

Harrison’s interest in aviation was sparked when attending an air show about 10 years ago. “Jasmine loved the show,” said mom Karen Harrison. “But she had poor eyesight and thought that she would never be able to fly.

But her vision was correctable. What’s funny is that Jasmine is flying before she’s driving. She has no desire to get her driver’s license; kids don’t have to leave their houses anymore to socialize; many view getting a license as a chore.” 

Harrison plans to study mechanical and aeronautical engineering at IUPUI before transferring to Purdue.

Her sisters, Emily and Marissa, also attend Southport, but they haven’t shown any interest in flying. “They just like boys, clothes and having their hair styled,” their mom said. “Jasmine is setting a fine example for her sisters. She is proof that you can do anything if your set your mind to it.”

Wade Kohlmann, a volunteer at the airport and at Southport High, said Harrison has a lot of potential. “She has the drive to be a pilot.”

When Kohlmann sees students who have completed the program he addresses them as “Captain” because they have flown a plane. “It’s good for their egos, and they deserve to be recognized.”

Young Eagles, which is supported by pilots who donate their time, planes and fuel, also provides free airplane rides to worthy recipients, such as youths in Big Brothers Big Sisters.

Matt Kinnaird, a senior at Perry Meridian and the “little brother” of Brian Richmond, was among those who enjoyed cruising the wide blue yonder with Kruckebert on July 16.

“Please don’t let me puke,” he said before taking off. 

Upon landing he was all smiles and said the flight awesome. “It felt like the Earth was falling, not that we were taking off. Everything looked like toys. It was so peaceful.”

Roger Tomey, educator coordinator of Young Eagles, said he would like to expand the program to include dual credit courses for high school and college.

He offered high praise to Lori Curless, who manages the airport. “This is best I have ever seen this airport. Lori is a professional and a dedicated manager. She has done a super job.”
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Wade said Tomey, who has flown more than 400 missions, is the backbone and catalyst of the program. “We would be nowhere without him.”

By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

Greenwood chiropractor Dr. Leanne Schlueter missed the 2012 Summer Olympics in London but promised herself that she would be at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Schlueter opened her new office, Greenwood Family Chiropractic at State Road 135 and Fairview Road, in January 2012. The graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic in Iowa knew several professionals who wanted her to help America’s athletes that year.

“I had hopes, dreams, prayers and ownership,” Schlueter recalled. “I knew zero people here; I had zero employees; and I had zero patients. I had friends who wanted me to go, but I couldn’t leave the new office for two weeks then.”

She has dominant USA banner in her office and a bulletin board where she has been tearing off her countdown in days to Rio. Soon the days will be down to zero.

She explained that a core of doctors near the USA Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., provides most of the care. 

“I will be doing so much more than taking care of their aches and pains,” said Schlueter, who emphasized that most wrestlers would not have much time between matches for full recovery. “They want to be at their best in terms of optimum sports performance – reaction time, blood flow, neurological, nutritional components. Their needs are multiple, but they want the healing process to be faster.”

Being part of the maximized living program, a new approach to chiropractic care, has introduced her to some scenarios that she will experience in Rio. Maximized living, especially for athletes, emphasizes a balanced approach to wellness and health so they can compete at the highest level.

“When athletes reach this stage, they perform at the highest of their ability,” Schlueter said. “They have been trained, and they have such a refined skill set. Our prime function is to make sure they are taking the right steps to prepare for their next competition.”

The former high school and collegiate soccer player is hopeful that she and other doctors will be able to see other Olympic events next month and possibly tour Rio.

“I am more humbled to be a part of this,” Schlueter said. “I don’t have to go but this is such a great opportunity; to be asked to go there is an amazing experience. Not too many can say they get to go to the Olympics in this capacity.”

Schlueter and her husband, Brice, live in Greenwood. He serves in the Marines Special Operations Command, based at Camp Lejuene, N.C. He recently returned home from his fifth tour of duty.

Before coming to Greenwood she had searched for a suburb near a large city to open a new practice. She selected Greenwood after talking with a real estate agent through the Greater Greenwood Chamber of Commerce.

“I loaded up my cat and came here,” she said. “At first I was a little girl in a big town, but here it seems everybody knows each other. Since then I’ve built a great network of holistic friends on the Southside; the growth has been exponential.”

She also is host of a radio program, “Maximize Your Life With Dr. Leanne,” which airs Saturdays at 9 a.m. and Sundays at 8 p.m. on Freedom 95.

Having grown up in a south Chicago suburb (Frankfort), the chiropractor seems right at home in Greenwood.
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She enjoys suburban living and is within 30 minutes of Indianapolis International Airport for travel. And she readily admits that she probably won’t have time to pack until the night before she leaves for Rio.