INSIDE THIS ISSUE Business & Professional...................................A11 Classifieds ............................................................A6 Community Calendar ............................B13,14,15 Covington Plaza ...............................................B8,9 Discover Roanoke............................................B2,3 Healthy Times ..............................................A14,15 Father’s Day.......................................................A23
A Serving Southwest Allen County & Roanoke
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June 7, 2013
Elementary Mile draws 200 runners By Garth Snow gsnow@kpcnews.net
About 200 runners from grades three through five turned out Monday, May 20, for the Southwest Allen County School District Elementary Mile Championship Cross Country Race at Summit Middle School. The race was the culmination of a six-week introductory running program, according to Kim Hodson, one of the race supporters. In an email, Hodson said this was the third year of the race but the first year the extra training was offered. The race was open to any student in that age range in the school district, with or without the pre-race training. “This event would not have been possible without the direction of Tammy Behrens, Homestead High School science teacher and assistant cross country coach,” Hodson wrote. Lauren Moellering, a fifth-grader from
Local youth applauds forum for civic service By Garth Snow gsnow@kpcnews.net
Photo by Garth Snow
Homestead assistant cross country coach Tammy Behrens calls the Elementary Mile Cross Country Race to attention at Summit Middle School. Former Homestead coach Dick Shenfeld waits to start the race. Covington Elementary School, finished first among the 76 girls who finished the race, with a time of 6:57. David Eberhard, a thirdgrader from Deer Ridge Elementary School, finished first among the
89 boys who finished the race, with a time of 6:22. Cross country is a fall sport for the middle school grades — sixth through eighth — and at the high school level. “As a high school cross country coach,” Behrens
Relays at Luers and Sirva fund fight against cancer By Garth Snow gsnow@kpcnews.net
Courtesy photo
Walkers circle the track during the 2012 Relay for Life at Bishop Luers High School. This year’s Relay is June 8 and 9. Melissa Stephens will coordinate a June 8-9 event at Sirva Inc. Christy Means does not work from the Fort Wayne office, but coordinates four of the 16 events in northeast Indiana. Relays began May 18 in DeKalb and Noble counties. Relays were held June 1-2 at New Haven High School and Woodlan Jr./Sr. High School. Stephens said the Sirva event is doing well in
fundraising, but is down in participants. That event is earmarked for the west side of Allen County — from north to south — but entrants may gravitate toward any of the four Relays. “The volunteers actually do most of the work,” Torres said. “They plan and implement. They are the driving force behind the event.” See RELAYS, Page A18
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It is not by chance that Mindy Torres coordinates Relay for Life events, the signature fundraising events for the American Cancer Society. “It’s very personal for me,” said Torres. “My grandmother is a four-time cancer survivor. I used to work with another nonprofit, and I loved it there, but it just didn’t hit home like the Cancer Society.” Torres came to the Fort Wayne office from northwest Ohio, where her father is battling his second bout of cancer. Torres and two other community representatives organize 16 Relays for Life in and near Fort Wayne. Torres will coordinate a June 8-9 event at Bishop Luers High School.
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said, “I decided to put this event on in the spring because of my commitment to the sport in the fall. It is exciting to see the fifth-graders get excited to possibly start See MILE, Page A8
Hanita Epstein says she has learned about leadership and has learned about Fort Wayne during her two years on the Mayor’s Youth Engagement Council. The Homestead High School senior served as president of the council this past school year. Epstein also served on the council during her junior year. Mayor Tom Henry has begun inviting students to apply for the 25 council seats for 2013-14. The deadline to apply is June 15. “I definitely learned how to work with every different person, how to work as a team,” Epstein said. “And being president, I learned what works best to lead among peers.” “Being on this council, I’ve really learned a lot about my community, and I’ve become attached to this project, and I’ve become really passionate about helping Fort Wayne
Epstein become a really close-knit community.” As president, she helped organize and publicize two events this spring. The evening of May 25, the third annual Fort Wayne’s Almost Famous Talent Show filled the 900 block of Calhoun Street. On April 27, the teens presented an art show showcasing the works of local high school artists at the Rialto Theater, 2614 S. Calhoun St. The teens had chosen to support the historic Rialto, which is supported by the faithSee YOUTH, Page A4