Serving the Steuben County 101 lakes area since 1857
Spangler Candy Co. Take a peek at the company that produces Candy Canes, Dum Dums
Weather Partly sunny with a high of 82. Page B7
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Angola, Indiana
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 2013
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Cities Keeping Up with the Times
GOOD MORNING
Going by the Facebook
Hoosiers protest U.S. action in Syria INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — About 150 protesters clustered around the Indiana Statehouse to oppose possible U.S. military action in Syria. Many of the people in the crowd Saturday waved American and Syrian flags. The Indianapolis rally was organized by St. George Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church. President Barack Obama has called on Congress to approve the use of military force in the wake of a deadly chemical weapons attack his administration blames on the Syrian government. The Indianapolis Star reports some protesters question the evidence of an attack. Small rallies were also held in Time Square in New York City and outside the White House in Washington.
Stork detained as spy in Egypt found dead CAIRO (AP) — A stork once detained by Egyptian authorities on suspicion of being a winged spy has been found dead. Mahmoud Hassib, the head of Egypt’s southern protected areas, said Saturday that local residents found the dead bird on an island in the Nile, south of the ancient city of Aswan. In August, a local resident found the stork in Egypt’s Qena governorate, some 450 kilometers (280 miles) southeast of Cairo. Both he and police were suspicious of the European wildlife tracker found on it. Authorities later let the bird go. However, controversy trails the bird into death. An Egyptian wildlife organization claimed on its Facebook page the bird was “eaten by local villagers.” Hassib denied that the bird had been eaten, though he didn’t know an exact cause of death.
Area municipalities embracing social media to spread information, connect BY AARON ORGAN aorgan@kpcmedia.com
Social media was once strictly for the younger generation as a means to communicate and share with their peers. How times have changed. Now, millions upon millions of users share everything from breaking world news to what’s for dinner. New users join by the thousands every day. And it’s not just for individuals anymore. As businesses have begun using social media as free advertising and a way to meet and greet customers, governments around the world — and locally — have turned to popular social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to share their news and happenings and interact with their residents in a way not possible years ago. Chris Schweitzer, as head of Auburn’s information systems department, runs the city’s Twitter and Facebook accounts, which have distinct, strong followings. Schweitzer said the city uses social media to communicate information and happenings to its residents, and it has become embedded in his staff’s daily work processes. Using Facebook and Twitter to pump out information to residents on parks department events or Auburn Essential Services notifications, or to respond to SEE SOCIAL MEDIA, PAGE A6
“Everybody checks their Facebook every single day, so she said if you really want to get something out and you want it to travel fast, you should let people know.”
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45 S. Public Square Angola, IN 46703 Phone: (260) 665-3117 Fax: (260) 665-2322 Classifieds: (toll free) (877) 791-7877 Circulation: (800) 717-4679
Index • Classified.............................................. D5-D6 Life................................................................ C1 Obituaries.....................................................A4 Opinion ........................................................B5 Business ......................................................B7 Sports.................................................... B1-B4 Weather.......................................................B7 Vol. 156 No. 247
to the people that really monitor that, it seems to be the people from out of town who are using that more than the website. We really do try to put as much as we can on there, and we’re planning on using it more and more; it’s just a way of life.” Angola Mayor Richard Hickman
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PARIS (AP) — The U.S. tried to rally support on Saturday for a military strike against Syria, running into resistance from the American ppublic and skeptics in Congress aand from European allies bent on aawaiting a U.N. report about a cchemical attack they acknowledge sstrongly points to the Assad government. m President Barack Obama pprepared for a national address Tuesday as a growing number T oof lawmakers, including fellow Democrats, opposed the use of D fforce. The American public didn’t yyet appear persuaded by Obama’s aargument that action is needed to ddeter the future use of chemical w weapons. Meanwhile, a U.S. official rreleased a DVD compilation of vvideos showing victims of the Aug. 221 attack near Damascus. U.S. Secretary of State John K Kerry, who met with more than two dozen European foreign ministers on Saturday, insisted that international backing to take strong action against Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime was growing, not receding. Kerry noted that the ministers, who held an informal meeting of the European Union in Vilnius, Lithuania, made powerful statements condemning the attack, and that increasingly there was a sense of conviction that Assad was to blame. Kerry said the U.S. had agreed to provide additional information to those ministers who were not yet convinced that Assad orchestrated the attack. The EU endorsed a “clear and strong response” to a chemical weapons attack but didn’t indicate what type of response they were backing. It also said that evidence strongly points to the Syrian government. Still, the EU urged the U.S. to delay possible military action until U.N. inspectors report their findings. The Europeans were divided on whether military action would be effective. Britain’s Parliament has voted against military action. France had been ready to act last week but held off when Obama declared that he would seek the backing of Congress. The first Senate vote, expected Wednesday, was likely to be on a resolution authorizing the “limited and specified use” of U.S. armed forces against Syria for no more than 90 days and barring American ground troops from combat. A final vote in the 100-member chamber was expected at week’s end. A House vote is likely the week of Sept. 16.
Steuben United Way campaign jump starts BY JENNIFER DECKER jdecker@kpcmedia.com
ANGOLA — Steuben County United Way’s Cardboard Regatta splashed off the nonprofit’s annual campaign Saturday. The annual event featured teams building cardboard contraptions and vessels that raced in Lake James contests. There were 27 boats registered and 26 participating in the races that saw some spectacular sinkings, a few battles among boat crews and one boat catching fire. Yes, fire. Flames. Smoke. “Did you see the boat catch
SEE YOU AT THE FAIR MONDAY Wellness & Sports Medicine
“According
Kendallville Mayor Suzanne Handshoe On how her daughter encouraged her to use Facebook
Contact Us • The Herald Republican
The cities of Auburn and Angola and the town of LaGrange all have their own Facebook pages. Mayor Suzanne Handshoe of Kendallville uses her personal page to spread city news. Cities are using social media to communicate information about events and news and to connect with its residents.
Big week ahead for Syria decision
TUESDAY Women’s Health
fire,” said Larry Bassett, Lake James, who has a knack for the spectacular. That was the dragon boat. The fire-breathing dragon boat, officially the Lake James Stump Island Monster, took off in a cloud of smoke. Trouble was, a smoke bomb used to create the illusion decided to ignite in the dragon’s cardboard snout, shooting flames and unintended smoke from the bow. With millions of gallons of water at their disposal, the Larry and Brice Bassett splashed water on the boat SEE UNITED WAY, PAGE A6
MIKE MARTURELLO
Ian, from front, Aidan and Mike Rogers bring their boat called Jaws in during one of the heats in the Steuben County United Way Cardboard Boat Regatta in front of the Potawatomi Inn, Pokagon State Park, on Lake James Saturday. The Rogerses took second overall in the speed category.
DeKalb County Free Fall Fair – September 23-28 Visit the DeKalb Health booth in the Industrial Tent WEDNESDAY Senior Health
THURSDAY Respiratory & Sleep Services
FRIDAY & SATURDAY Kid’s Health & Health Insurance Marketplace