IN|Whitley County Aug. 9, 2018

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G & K WELL DRILLING, INC. WATER SYSTEMS and WATER CONDITIONERS

Sports �����������������10 Community Calendar�������������15

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August 9, 2018

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News in Brief •

Summer break almost over — back to school WHITLEY COUNTY — Early to mid-August marks the start of school in Whitley County. Whitley County Consolidated Schools’ first day is Aug. 15, Smith-Green Community Schools begins Aug. 10 and Whitko’s first day is Aug. 9. Local residents are reminded to watch for school buses and children waiting at bus stops in the morning. Vehicles are not permitted to pass buses with the top arm extended and red flashing lights. See photos of Whitley County students enjoying their summer break on Page 12 of this week’s edition.

Event scheduled for Aug. 18 CONTRIBUTED CHURUBUSCO — There will be fun for all at the 5th annual ’Busco Block Party in downtown Churubusco Aug. 18. The Churubusco Chamber of Commerce and town of Churubusco are partnering with the Churubusco Public Library’s Fine Arts Festival to form the day-long event. The free, all-ages events

begin with the Fine Arts Festival at noon in the 100 block of South Line Street. Jen and the Foggy Creek Band will perform live during the festival at 1 p.m., and the Urban Station food truck will be on location at noon for lunch. The Block Party begins at 4 p.m. in the PNC Bank parking lot, located at 102 N. Line St. Alyssa Enright takes the stage at about 4:15 p.m.

BY WHITNEY WRIGHT

for KPC News Service

COLUMBIA CITY — The Whitley County Dazzlers competed and received first place in its division during the first-ever national unified cheer competition on July 21. In 1968, Chicago hosted the first Special Olympics Summer Games and as a part of its 50-year anniversary this year, the city hosted it once more at Soldier Field. The Dazzlers are a special needs cheerleading team in Whitley County formed in November 2011 with only five members. The team has since

grown to 25 members, ranging in age from 6-26 years old. It meets once a week to practice motions, cheers and stunts, and then performs at basketball games and competitions in the winter. The squad is able to function at nearly no cost to team members through donations from the Whitely County Community Foundation, Anthony Wayne Services Foundation and members of the community. Everyone on the Dazzlers has either physical or cognitive disabilities. One child is only one of 19 people ever diagnosed

with GLUT1, while some others are in wheelchairs. Routines are designed around the members’ disabilities and capabilities and many times wheelchairs become a great mechanism for building

a pyramid. Volunteers of all ages stand on the sides and help the team during stunts or difficult parts of the routine. As part of a movement to mix people of all abilities

Could provide more for utility customers BY NICOLE MINIER

nminier@kpcmedia.com

SEE BRIEFS, PAGE 2

Information • NICOLE MINIER

Electric department employee Zac Bireley installs a new meter into a home in Columbia City this summer.

together, the Dazzlers were required to enter into the Special Olympics as a unified team. This means that during the competition, the helpers were fully a part of the routine and SEE DAZZLERS, PAGE 2

COLUMBIA CITY — Gone are the days of electric utility workers walking door to door to log meter readings. Columbia City began testing a new type of meter reading system, called advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), with the potential for it to go city-wide in coming years. Currently, the city uses a system that

requires electric department employees to drive around town with a wireless, handheld system that collects the meter readings from each customer. Some still need to be collected manually. Then, the readings are brought back to city facilities and processed for utility bills. AMI sends readings back to the city on its own, not requiring employees to be busy with the process.

The city is testing the system on 100 customers, with a mixture of residential, commercial and industrial customers to see how different meters interact with the system. The city is able to pilot the program with the help of Northeastern REMC, which already uses the system and has the infrastructure in place. In addition, the AMI system can provide periodic readings for customers to monitor through a mobile SEE METERS, PAGE 2

CENTER ICE COUPON 50% off

Present this coupon for a Buy One, Get One (of equal or lesser value, one per customer) (no reproductions or copies of coupon will be accepted)

123 North Main Street,Churubusco, IN 46723

INWhitley County

Vol. 2 No. 32

CONTRIBUTED

Members and coaches of the Dazzlers’ cheer team are: Grace Reichenbach, Avery Tucker, Samara Pfeiffer, Syl Riemersma, Elaina Halferty, Loryn Usher, Julie Brandenburg, Sarah Brandenburg, Lily Hasty, Haley Baron, Mia Welker, Mary Handyman, Kendal Bockelman, Nataley Bockelman, Sadie Ressler, Sydney Pequignot, Scot Hindbaugh, coach Brenna Halferty, coach Kaycee Bills, coach Jill Usher and coach Vanessa Bills.

CC testing new electric meters

COLUMBIA CITY — The Whitley County

Telephone: (260) 693-3949

Insurance; Shambaugh, Kast, Beck and Williams; Farmers & Merchants; Turtle Days Association; PNC Bank; Churubusco Watch & Jewelry; H&R Block; Noble County Disposal; King Realty; Jill’s Vintage & Thrift; and Churubusco Auto Electric. For more information, visit townofchurubusco.com or the Churubusco Chamber of Commerce Facebook page at Facebook.com/ ChurubuscoChamberOfCommerce/.

Dazzlers take gold at Special Olympics

WCARC hosts quarterly test session

INWhitley County 123 N. Main Street, Churubusco, IN 46723

Outta Busco” T-shirts with proceeds benefitting Oscar’s Playland. Over the past four years, the event has continued to grow with an estimated 1,000 people attending the event last year. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, as the event will take place rain or shine. Organizers give a special thanks to their sponsors: Fleis & VandenBrink; OMI Orthodontics; Sheets & Childs Funeral Home; Brevin’s; C&A Tool; STAR

and the Mark’s Ark petting zoo will also run from 4:15-5:30 p.m.. Then Biff & the Cruisers will take the stage, rocking until 8 p.m. As in previous years, vendors and merchants will be selling concessions and giving away prizes. A variety of food will be showcased at this year’s party including ice cream, brats, coney dogs, walking tacos, barbecue, pizza and more. The town of Churubusco will also be selling its famous “Straight

Hours: 201 W. Market Street, Downtown Columbia City Tues.-Fri. & Sun. 4-9 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. 260.248.4977


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