* The Tribune’s Darcel Rockett has a very good story about Secretary of State Jesse White and his world famous tumbling team. Just a few excerpts…

The Jesse White Tumblers group turns 60 this month and will celebrate “60 years of doing right by kids and giving them a wholesome experience” at a gala Thursday evening at International Union of Operating Engineers Local 399, where White says guests will see how the tumblers “help our young people grow tall and straight.” […]

According to White, there are approximately 250 performers in eight teams who perform about 1,500 shows a year. Children can become members as young as 6 and as late as their early 20s. Minors must maintain a minimum C average in school to perform with the team. Since its creation, the group has traveled the world, performed with professional sports teams, and spawned other tumbling groups. […]

“Some places, we perform free of charge; most places, we charge a fee, and the kids share and share alike in the fee, whether it’s $500 or $3,000,” White said. He makes the call on how much money the group charges, but White comes free of charge “primarily because all my life, someone has raised their hands to help me, and I never forgot. You get it, you give it back and you do something good with someone every day.”