In|Whitley County Nov. 9, 2017

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Christmas Festival event brings back Gingerbread Staff reports

COLUMBIA CITY — The Whitley County Christmas Festival event will once again host a Gingerbread Festival, sponsored by Scientific & Regulatory Consultants Inc. and the Whitley County Chamber of Commerce. The Gingerbread Festival will be housed at the Whitley County Chamber of Commerce at 128 W. Van Buren St., north of the Courthouse in downtown Columbia City. The event will kick off at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24. The festival of Gingerbread will be open for visitors 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m Nov. 25, 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 1-2 and Dec. 8-9. Visitors are urged to come inside and vote for their favorites with penny votes. Prizes will be awarded in several categories. The registration deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 21. Registration forms are available at the Whitley County Chamber of Commerce or via email at jennifer@ whitleychamber.com. All gingerbread entries must be delivered 1 to 3 p.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 21. Categories include: Children age 10 and under (daycares and preschools welcome), youth ages 11-17, adult ages 18 or older, family and professional. Registration fees are $2 for children and youth, $5 for adults and families and $20 for professional entries. The Gingerbread Festival is an official event of the Whitley County Christmas Festival, which begins with the sixth annual Whitley County Lighted Christmas Parade 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24. All proceeds support Santa’s House and the Whitley County Lighted Christmas Parade.

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CCPD spreads Christmas cheer By Nicole Minier nminier@kpcmedia�com

COLUMBIA CITY — For the third year, Columbia City’s Police Department will host Patrolling for Presents, which grows in popularity each year. Patrolling for Presents began as an event similar to Shop with a Sheriff, where children shopped for Christmas presents with officers. Since then, the program evolved into an exciting event that brings together children and officers. “We have done something a little different each year,” said CCPD Officer Scott Valentic.

Raising money for Patrolling for Presents

Last year, the CCPD provided winter coats, hats and gloves to more than 100 children. This year, officers will host a fun event at Main Bowl and each child will receive a goody bag. The program helps foster positive relationships between local children and police officers. “We see kids in the community now and say, ‘hello,’ and they aren’t afraid of us,” Valentic said. “We love to see them wave to us and not be scared. There’s

no reason to be scared of us, but because of what’s happening in other cities and what’s on the news, sometimes people are afraid. “We can’t control what happens elsewhere, but we can control what happens here.” Many children who participate in the program will grow up to be teenagers, then adults in the community. “Most of our officers will still be here and we hopefully will still See CCPD, Page 2

CONTRIBUTED

Columbia City Police officers Caleb Cook and Brenden Barber collect donations for the CCPD’s Patrolling for Presents program during the Autumn Harvest Festival last month.

Whitko band travels to Lucas Oil By Tyler Roebuck troebuck@kpcmedia�com

TYLER ROEBUCK

Nicole Lawson, Devin Spring, director John VanPatten, Malarie Puterbaugh and Hannah Sikora celebrate their state final experience with their trophy.

INDIANAPOLIS — “I did not think we would get here,” Whitko band director John VanPatten told his band outside a cold and windy Lucas Oil Stadium Saturday. “Not because I didn’t believe in you – trust me, I believe in you, you guys are awesome, but because I know how hard it is to get here.” For the first time in Whitko history, the Marching Pride advanced past Indiana State School Music Association Semi-State competition to march at Lucas Oil Stadium on Nov. 4. The odds of making the ISSMA state competition are slim, with only 40 out of the 120 or

more Indiana marching bands that compete make it each year. To stack the odds against them, Whitko marched with a mere 22 members, half of whom were freshmen, and a director in his first year with the school. Despite the odds, VanPatten and his band proceeded to the furthest extent an Indiana band can go, and placed 10th at finals last weekend. VanPatten places all the credit on the kids. “I have done so little for you, it is all on you,” he said in his pre-performance pep-talk. “I think about 65-70 percent of the band directors in Indiana could get their bands here, but only 10 in each class See BAND, Page 2

WCCS teachers will be busy on Professional Day By Nicole Minier nminier@kpcmedia�com

COLUMBIA CITY — Students will have Monday off of school, but Whitley County Consolidated Schools’ teachers will be hard at work. Assistant Superintendent Laura McDermott said teachers at the elementary, middle and high school levels will each focus on different areas Monday.

Teachers at the elementary-school level will meet at Little Turtle Elementary School to work on the district’s new math adoption, with trainers from Pearson available. “Teachers will share which pieces support growth and how they’re using them to benefit our students,” McDermott said. “They will be discussing curriculum maps and how they align

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with state standards — what’s working and what’s not, and how to make it better.” At Indian Springs Middle School, teachers will continue to work on 1:1 technology implementation. Though all students K-12 have access to devices now, WCCS is continuing to be proactive in how technology is implemented in the classroom. “We will have innovation leaders and lead teachers provide feedback to their colleagues’ lessons and student work,” McDermott said. “It’s a very collaborative process that ISMS will use throughout the rest of the year.”

Teachers at Eagle Tech Academy and Columbia City High School will be preparing for the new trimester, which begins Tuesday. This school year is the last year for trimesters, as the school board voted to switch the district to a semester schedule. Also at the school board meeting:Business Manager Todd Fleetwood discussed an investment option for the district’s cash balances — through brokerage CDs rather than a money market account. Fleetwood said the money would still be FDIC insured and would be accessible every six months, but the

district would receive a much higher interest rate — from 0.35 percent to 1.7 percent, which amounts to $65,000$75,000 more money for the district each year. Fleetwood indicated some money would be kept out of the CD for emergencies. Superintendent Patricia O’Connor indicated the schools had great turnouts for parent-teacher conferences this fall. The elementary schools all had 94 percent or above participation from parents. ISMS had a lower percentage, 68 percent, but O’Connor said parents and teachers at the middle school level are in See WCCS, Page 2


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