JERRY CITY – Elmwood High School cheerleaders hosted the NINth annual Country Cheer Fest on Aug. 9. There
were 33 squads that competed in the event with over 425 cheerleaders performing.  
The EHS cheerleaders give back throughout their season and this year they started off by giving back to
Tim Dean.
Dean is a 1984 Elmwood graduate who was in a cabin fire, along with his brother Roger. Roger Dean was
treated and released for second and third-degree burns to his hands he received when he pulled his
brother out of the fire and saved his life.
Tim Dean suffered third-degree full thickness and fourth-degree burns over 60 percent of his body from
his waist up. Third-degree involves all layers of the skin and fourth degree includes all layers of the
skin plus muscle and bone.
Tim Dean was not expected to survive. He spent the next 176 days, nearly six months, in the hospital. He
has had over 20 surgeries, many bacterial infections on his skin and in his blood, including MRSA. All
the fingers and thumb on his left hand were amputated, and he only has use of two fingers on his right
hand. His neck had contracted so much that his chin was almost stuck to his chest and he could not move.
His neck contracture has been corrected, but it is already starting to contract again. He was also not
able to move either arm due to contractures. His most recent surgery was to correct those and he can now
move his arms. The doctors have stated that they will continue to get tight and contract as will his
whole body. He is married to 1985 Elmwood graduate Tammy Byerly and they have two grown children, Tim
Jr. and Desarae, and a 6-year old grandson, Chase.  
The EHS Cheerleaders include Nicole Abke, Miranda Benschoter, Cori Borton, Ciaira Brown, Josey Byram,
Cassidy Eblen, Kortney Gonyer, Rachael Grilliot, Patricia Holvey, Maddy Instone, Traci Morlock, Katee
Mossbarger, Olivia Myers, Kristi Reiser, Molly Robinson and Skyler Slaughterbeck.
During the event, Elmwood cheerleaders asked everyone to "Help Us Help Tim." Five dollars from
each team’s registration went to Dean, as well as 100 percent of the profits from a 50/50 raffle, jump
off, shout outs and gift card tree raffle.
"Thanks to the generosity of our spectators, coaches and cheerleaders we’re thrilled to tell you we
were able to raise $1,000 for Tim," said Michele Solether, Country Cheer Fest coordinator. 
"We are so blessed to have so many caring and giving people participating in and supporting our
event.
Tammy Dean said, "We were speechless and very overwhelmed with the donation from the Elmwood
cheerleaders. We can’t begin to express how grateful we are to the girls and their coaches."
The Dean family has set up a fund through gofundme, to help with a purchase of a Safe Step walk-in tub
for Tim, which is approximately $7,000 plus $5,000 for installation. This tub has 10 hydro-jets and 16
air bubble streams, which would be extremely beneficially to Dean’s skin. The fund is at
www.gofundme.com/8msod4.
The results for the Country Cheer Fest were:
Mini Pee Wee-Tum-bling: 1st, Ottoville; 2nd, Findlay Trojans; 3rd, Eagles Mods
Pee Wee-Non-Tum-bling: 1st, Eagles Juniors; 2nd, Lakota
Pee Wee-Tumbling: 1st, Ottoville Mini Green; 2nd, Findlay Trojans; 3rd, Little Rams
Middle School-Tum-bling: 1st,Whitmer; 2nd, Spencerville; 3rd, Upper Sandusky
JV Tumbling: 1st, Whitmer; 2nd, Patrick Henry
Small Varsity Non-Tumbling: 1st, Bowsher; 2nd, Leipsic
Small Varsity-Tum-bling: 1st, Upper Sandusky; 2nd, Wayne Trace; 3rd, Ottoville
Large Varsity-Non-Tumbling: 1st, Lakota
Large Varsity-Tumbling: 1st, Riverdale; 2nd, Lincolnview; 3rd, Tinora