EASTSIDE SPORTS: Volleyball team records first victory, MORE ON PAGE 6
TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3, 2013
THE
Butler An edition of
The
Bulletin
147th YEAR — ISSUE #36 On the web at: kpcnews.com
75 cents Butler, Indiana ESTABLISHED IN 1866
Using genuine horse power BY JEFF JONES jjones@kpcmedia.com BUTLER — New Hampshire native Alex McNeil has criss-crossed the U.S. and Canada many times in many ways — by car, by motorcycle and by bicycle. While folks from around the globe descended upon DeKalb County last week to show their appreciation for horsepower, McNeil’s latest trek demonstrates the genuine form of horse power. McNeil, 36, and “Pepper,” his five-year-old Tennessee walking horse, paused for about an hour in Butler Friday, long enough for McNeil to stretch his legs and grab a bite to eat. The pair left Brookings, Ore. in mid-March. Their journey will end Oct. 4 in New Hampshire. It has to, because McNeil’s sister is getting married the following day. McNeil has lived in Washington and Montana the past 15 years, where he has worked as a guide for hiking and river raft trips, as a carpenter and commercial fisherman. “I’ve traveled other ways. I kind of wanted to strip it down to the basics, and traveling by horse is pretty basic,” McNeil stated. “I’ve enjoyed the feeling of kind of going back in time a little bit. When you’re out in the desert or up in the mountains with a horse, it’s very streamlined,” he said. “It’s all about finding food and water for the horse. Your priorities change from when you’re on a bicycle or walking. “Your whole day is built around finding the resources for the horse, so when we
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Man and horse are traveling across the U.S. were going through the desert, we were going from water source to water source,” McNeil explained. “We had to detour at times to get to water. “If it’s me, I can survive a day or two without water, but (Pepper) crashes. She needs the water.” Their journey began in Brookings — about 10 miles north of the California-Oregon border, with McNeil on horseback. McNeil chose that departure point because of the time of year, terrain and weather conditions. Further south, they would have had to traverse tall mountains; further north, they would have endured heavy snow. Even at that, for about the first week, snow came up to Pepper’s chest at times, McNeil said. In the high desert areas of Oregon, towns and precious water are often 70-80 miles apart or more, he explained. “What got us through one time was this little mud puddle alongside of a culvert,” McNeil said. McNeil traveled 1,700 miles by horseback through Oregon, California, Nevada, Idaho, Wyoming, and Nebraska, where he procured a two-wheel cart. Since
Jeff Jones
New Hampshire native Alex McNeil places the bridle around Pepper’s head as they prepare to depart Butler Friday afternoon. The pair are making a cross-country trek from Oregon to New Hampshire. then, they have traveled by cart another 1,000 miles or so, and will continue this way into Pennsylvania. The rest of the trip will be on horseback. Using the cart, they travel six days a week, covering 30-35 miles per day, he
explained. By horseback, they cover 20-25 miles, with McNeil riding four days on, one day off. Depending on the mode of travel and availability of water, they cover about ➤ Horse power, Page 8
Family receives keys to home
Pickle festival moving to July ST. JOE — Organizers of the St. Joe Pickle Festival have announced the 2014 event will take place July 24-26. The change is being made to avoid conflicts with the start of the school year, according to a release from the pickle festival committee. Many festival events take place at Riverdale Elementary School.
Eastside to present distracted driving program BUTLER — Eastside High School will present a distracted driving convocation for students in grades 10-12 throughout the day Wednesday. The program is designed to send an anti-distracted driving message to students that won’t be forgotten.
Two railroad crossings closed for repairs BUTLER — Two Norfolk Southern railroad crossings are closed for repairs, according to DeKalb County Central Communications. The affected crossings are at C.R. 75 and U.S. 6 and C.R. 53 and U.S. 6. The crossings are expected to be closed for approximately 10 days.
Veterans’ questions to be addressed BUTLER — DeKalb County veterans’ service officer Brian Lamm will visit American Legion Post 202, 118 N. Broadway, from 6-8 p.m., the second Monday of every month to answer questions regarding benefits and issues. This is open to any area veteran or widow of a veteran.
Submit your news BUTLER — The Butler Bulletin has a new email address for your church, club or group to share its news and photos. The new email address is jjones@kpcmedia.com. THE
Butler Bulletin P.O. Box 39 Butler, IN 46721 PHONE: 868-5501
Jeff Jones
Habitat for Humanity executive director Duane Gundy, right, presents the keys to Butler residents Nathan and Summer Kaiser and their children, Lilly, Autum and Leary Sunday afternoon.
BY JEFF JONES jjones@kpcmedia.com BUTLER — Young Autum Kaiser didn’t let a sore throat curb her enthusiasm for her new home. “This is the most awesomemous house ever,” she chirped as she, her sister Lilly and brother Leary ran from room to room and tried out the doorbell Sunday afternoon. When asked why their new home — at 401 W. Depot St. — deserved such accolades, she said, “Because it has all the stuff we like.” The highlight of the intimate dedication ceremony occurred when Habitat for Humanity executive director Duane Gundy presented the keys to Autum’s parents, Nathan and Summer Kaiser. “Oh gosh, I’d like to move everything ahead a month so I don’t have to move everything,” Summer Kaiser said with a laugh. “It’s nice that it’s finally over. It’s been very stressful.” During the ceremony, she admitted to having a couple of ➤ Family, Page 8
Riverdale welcomes five new teachers BY JEFF JONES jjones@kpcmedia.com ST. JOE — Riverdale Elementary School welcomed five teachers to its faculty to start the 2013-2014 school year. Taryn Buchs will teach kindergarten. Katherine Short teaches first grade. Jenna Yoder teaches third grade. Julie Yoder teaches fifth grade. Ryan Spiess teaches sixth grade. Teachers will be profiled in alphabetical order. Stories about new teachers at Butler Elementary and Eastside Junior-Senior High School will appear in future editions. Taryn Buchs calls Waterloo home. She graduated in 2012 from Ball State University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, with a concentration on kindergarten and primary education. “I have always known from a young age that I wanted to be a teacher,” Buchs said. “I have enjoyed getting involved with the district through substitute teaching, and I am excited to become a part of DeKalb Eastern.” Before coming to DeKalb Eastern, Buchs spent six weeks as a substitute teacher at Waterloo Elementary School. She is cheerleading coach at Angola Middle School and enjoys making scrapbooks, crafts and spending time with friends and family.
Jeff Jones
Riverdale Elementary School welcomed these new teachers for the start of the 2013-2014 school year. From left, are Taryn Buchs, Katherine Short, Ryan Spiess, Julie Yoder and Jenna Yoder. “I enjoy spending my days learning with the kids and watching my students progress into young readers.” Katherine Short, who also goes by Kacee, is from Fort Wayne. She is an Indiana Purdue University at Fort Wayne graduate, with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. Before coming to DeKalb
Eastern, Short was a preschool teacher and director, and also taught kindergarten, first- and second-grade students. She also has experience in giving children horseback riding lessons, “and I loved seeing them meet their goals.” As a teacher, “I enjoy seeing each student’s academic growth, big or small,” Short said. “DeKalb
Eastern is a district that truly cares about all students.” Short and husband Travis have three children. In her spare time, Short enjoys spending time outdoors, riding horses and coaching swimming. Ryan Spiess comes from Waterloo. He attended Manchester ➤ Teachers, Page 8