Southeast rallies for 'trooper' T-shirts honor injured student

Many Southeast High School students have found a way to visually show their support for a "super trooper" who was struck by an alleged drunk driver.

Mindy Cooper, 17, of Diamond, was struck by an alleged drunk driver Oct. 31 while walking on S.R. 225 near Newton Falls Road. The Southeast High School junior was walking to a Halloween party with a friend.

The driver, Larry C. Barkley, 59, of 9479 Cableline Drive, Diamond, was driving a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck, according to the Ravenna Post of the Ohio Highway Patrol
Barkley, who later tested 0.124 percent blood alcohol, was charged with operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, a first-degree misdemeanor.

After the crash, students came up with the idea of selling t-shirts to benefit the family. The shirts read "Southeast's Strongest" on the front and "Super Trooper Cooper" on the back, said Joanne Holley of the athletic department at Southeast High School.

The shirts sold for $5, and $1 from every shirt will go to the Cooper family. Additional donations also are being taken.
On a recent day, about 100 supporters were wearing the shirts in Mindy's honor.

Supporters are keeping their eye on prayformindy.blogspot.com, a web site created by Mindy's family to keep supporters updated on her progress.
Mindy remains in kron Children's Hospital Medical Center in Akron, where she was recently moved from the intensive care unit and is now able to eat regular food. Holley said the girl recently went through a successful back surgery and is no longer on a ventillator. Her mother is staying at the Ronald McDonald house near the hospital.
"It's looking positive," Holley said.