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January 11, 2018

Jail staff at dangerous levels By Nicole Minier nminier@kpcmedia�com

COLUMBIA CITY — Whitley County took a step toward staffing the county jail, but, as councilman Bill Overdeer said, “We’re between a rock and a hard place.”

With an already tight general fund, the council and other elected officials will face difficult decisions this year after the state deemed the jail “non-compliant.” If the county does not take steps toward becoming compliant, the jail could be

shut down and inmates sent to other facilities. The jail currently has 18 confinement officers who work “on the floor” and one jail commander who has supervisory duties. The state says the jail needs an additional 12 officers to be

compliant — that’s with the inmate population being reduced by 20 percent. The jail consistently has been near-capacity. “Our jail is headed toward a critical state,” said Sheriff Marc Gatton.

Council adds new confinement officers; still needs 10 more Dangerous environment

At times, the inmate to jailer ratio is 60 to one, putting officers in a dangerous position with difficult inmates. “The jail is changing,” Gatton said. “We’re having

more substance abuse issues and mental health problems. A lot of them don’t respect or care for us no matter what we do.” Although the county has a community corrections program available to some

SEE JAIL, PAGE A3

A marriage of talents By Bridgett Hernandez bhernandez@kpcmedia�com

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

A. Shively & Co. carries custom-made wood pieces, candles and other home goods.

Annette Shively has an eye for home décor, so it’s not unusual for people to ask for her advice when they’re decorating a table or mantel. Her number-one tip? “Find a piece that you really love and then build off of that,” she said. Annette and her husband, Adam, seem to have modeled their business, A. Shively & Co., after that same advice. The home décor and custom woodworking shop started with a shared passion. The couple met as college students in Chicago, and moved to Columbia City to be close to Adam’s family. Annette is a real estate agent, and Adam works as a grain farmer for his family’s business, Farmers Grain & Feed. The couple always enjoyed doing hands-on projects together. Early in their marriage, they flipped houses together. Later, Adam tried his hand at woodwork, making projects that Annette found on Pinterest.

A couple years ago, they turned their creative talents from a hobby into a business after Annette asked Adam to recreate a wooden Christmas tree she had seen on Pinterest. He built the trees and she painted them. The trees were a hit with family and friends. “One day, we looked at each other and said, ‘I wonder if we could make money doing this?’” Annette said. The couple posted the trees on Facebook, and they sold 17 trees that first day. That was really the beginning of A. Shively & Co., she said. That was when they recognized the need for custom woodworking in the area. In June 2016, they opened a brick-and-mortar store in a vacant building on the Farmers Grain property. A. Shively & Co. specializes in home décor and custom woodworking. The store also carries furniture, second-hand pieces that the couple has given new life to. SEE MARRIAGE, PAGE A3

Future of towns unclear as schools struggle WHITLEY COUNTY — As Smith-Green and Whitko

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

Telephone: (260) 693-3949

Vol. 2 No. 2

schools struggle financially, many residents are questioning how the future of the schools could impact the towns in which they are located. “The school is extremely important, I think it behooves us to support them in any way we can,” Churubusco Councilman Frank Kessler said at a recent meeting. “If the school has to make cuts, it will hurt the whole

community.” What would Churubusco be like without the many events and activities at the school? How will South Whitley change if the high school is moved to Larwill? Difficult discussions took place in 2017 regarding these funding issues, and there will be many more to come in 2018. Whitko sought assistance from consultants for advice

INWhitley County

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123 North Main Street,Churubusco, IN 46723

By Nicole Minier

on how to keep Whitko Community Schools afloat. The main option up for consideration is closing the Whitko High School building in South Whitley and relocating high school students to the middle school in Larwill. Smith-Green hosted community meetings in early December, discussing a potential referendum request, which would likely cost the average homeowner $30 per month. If a referendum isn’t voted in by the community, the district would likely see large cuts and could potentially dissolve — an outcome no one wants to see. Churubusco’s Town Council stands behind its school system, with three councilmen expressing

support in a December council meeting. “I wholeheartedly stand behind the school and what they have to do,” said Councilman Bruce Johnson. “It’s such an important piece of this community.” A similar sentiment is echoed by the South Whitley Town Council, which is strongly opposed to losing the high school to Larwill. “The economic effect of taking the high school out of our town will be noticeable,” said South Whitley Council President Randy Cokl. Many believe the survival of a small town depends on a successful school district. “There is a definite perceived correlation between a dead or dying town where the school has

closed, versus a strong town with a thriving school,” said South Whitley Councilman Les Hoffman. “One could easily assume that the lack of a school will become the death curse of a town. Removing schools from our towns could certainly take away the character and charm of the given culture within them and their community.” School events bring in visitors from other communities who may stop to eat a meal or go shopping while in town. Additionally, many young families prefer to live nearby a school. If Smith-Green’s funding situation is not resolved and the district is dissolved, students likely would be SEE SCHOOLS, PAGE A3

A2 • INwhitleycounty.com

Whitley County • January 11, 2018

A flip down memory lane Man faces 4 rape charges By Bridgett Hernandez

By Nicole Minier

bhernandez@kpcmedia.com

CHURUBUSCO — Calendars that offer a glimpse into Churubusco’s history are now for sale and proceeds benefit the Churubusco History Center and the Churubusco Public Library. Local historian Chuck Mathieu has put the calendars together since 2005. The annual project started as a way for him to share his postcard collection. Encouraged by public interest that first year, he continued to share historical photographs each year in a calendar. This year, the calendar highlights downtown businesses and other prominent establishments from the 1950s, 60s and 70s. It features black-and-white photographs of Smiley’s Sandwich Shop, Hazen Appliances and Hodges Dairy. Themes of previous years have included churches, schools and transportation. The calendar also highlights important dates in the town’s history like July 27, 1948, when Oscar the turtle was first sighted by Ora Blue, Charlie Wilson and Gale Harris. Mathieu can trace his interest in local history back to his boyhood. His greatgreat-great grandfather, David Craig, was one of the town’s cofounders. When

nminier@kpcmedia.com

BRIDGETT HERNANDEZ

Local historians Chuck Mathieu (left) and Chuck Jones started the Churubusco History Center in 2011.

Mathieu was in junior high, his history teacher, Chuck Jones, fanned the flames of his fascination with a local history project. Mathieu has collected historic items from the Churubusco area for more than 30 years – enough to fill an upstairs bedroom at home. In 2011, Mathieu and Jones – by then longtime friends – started the Churubusco History Center to share their collections along with other historic items that were previously without a home. The collection is shared through exhibits, publications, collaboration, research and educational programs. The space for the History Center was donated and its doors are kept open with the support of local busi-

nesses and individuals. The calendars, which generate $500 each for the History Center and library, also help. The calendar’s photographs are likely to bring back memories for the town’s older generation. One of Jones’ favorite images is one of Smiley’s Sandwich Shop, where he remembers hanging out as a boy. For the town’s younger generation, Mathieu and Jones want to create a window into the past. “We’re just trying to preserve history for the future,” Mathieu said. “We want them to feel what Churubusco used to be like,” Jones said. Times have changed, Jones said. He remembers SEE CALENDARS, PAGE A5

COLUMBIA CITY —A Columbia City man is facing multiple charges of rape after he allegedly violated a Sparks no-contact order that was issued by the Whitley County court in early

December. Erik Sparks, 24, is charged with four counts of rape, level 3 felonies, and invasion of privacy, a Class A misdemeanor. According to a police report, Sparks was arrested for domestic battery in early December, in which a no-contact order was put in place. Sparks was bonded out of jail Dec. 29. After he left the Whitley County Jail, Sparks allegedly returned

home and allegedly raped the victim multiple times in a day. In one instance, the victim told police that Sparks was allegedly reading Bible verses on adultery out loud while allegedly forcing her to perform sex acts on him. Sparks appeared in Whitley Circuit Court last week for his initial hearing. He is next scheduled to appear in court Jan. 29 at 9 a.m.

WHITLEY COUNTY JAIL BOOKINGS The following people were booked in the Whitley County Jail: • Brandon Chambers, 23, of Syracuse, was arrested Dec. 31 by the Columbia City Police Department, charged with his second OWI and resisting law enforcement. • Hilario Castro-Parra, 33, of Minneapolis, was arrested Jan. 2 by the Indiana State Police, charged with operating while never licensed. • Damon Collins, 50, of Fort Wayne, was arrested Jan. 2 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with probation violation. • Heath Myers, 25, of Columbia City, was arrested Jan. 3 by the

Indiana State Police, charged with carrying a handgun without a permit. • Niki Robinson, 34, of Fort Wayne, was arrested Jan. 3 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with possession of cocaine, maintaining a common nuisance and possession of paraphernalia. • Sonya Connolly, 50, of Warsaw, was arrested Jan. 3 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with possession of hypodermic needles, possession of methamphetamine and driving while suspended prior. • Israel Orellana, 22, of South Whitley, was

arrested Jan. 5 by the South Whitley Police Department, charged with sexual misconduct with a minor. • Richard Pitman, 37, of Fort Wayne, was arrested Jan. 5 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with check deception. • Leroy Allison, 52, of Fort Wayne, was arrested Jan. 5 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with driving while suspended. • Stephanie Young, 31, of Columbia City, was arrested Jan. 5 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with driving while suspended.

INwhitleycounty.com • A3

Whitley County • January 11, 2018

MARRIAGE: Long-term goals include expanding hours JAIL: Dept. has had several employees come and go FROM PAGE A1

“I’ll go picking and I’ll find a dresser that’s just on the curb that someone’s junking,” Annette said. “Adam will bring it back to the shop and re-glue the sides and add a new bottom and fix the drawer, and I will re-paint it and put new handles on it and resell it, and it will look like a new piece.” The business has taken off in surprising ways, she said. At first, the store was only open on Saturday. But as shopping local has become a bigger trend, the business expanded its hours to three days a week and have added three part-time employees. This season’s Small Business Saturday shopping day was a huge success, Annette said. On an average Saturday, they have 10 to 15 customers, but on Small Business Saturday, they had 93 transactions in six hours. “We are growing slow, but we are growing,” she said. “Every Thursday, Friday and Saturday just seem to get busier and busier.” Adam said sharing a passion with his partner makes it fun to work together. It makes the early mornings and late nights easy, he said. The business is a marriage of their talents. “Her strengths are my weaknesses and her weaknesses are my strengths, so that works out well,” he said. The couple said the biggest challenge is finding a work-life balance between the business they share, their full-time jobs and raising three sons, ages 4, 7 and 10. They also work to make time for each other outside of

FROM PAGE A1

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Annette Shively does inventory in a backroom at A. Shively & Co.

work, penciling in date nights The couple’s long-term a few times a month. goals for A. Shively & “We don’t Co. include do store stuff expanding and we don’t its hours and do real estate starting an and we don’t online store do farming. so that people We just talk around the and go out country can to lunch or shop there. dinner, but A. Shively we spend & Co. is time with located at just him and 1165 E. I and that’s Business 30 PHOTO CONTRIBUTED in Columbia so important because if we Adam and Annette City. It’s open don’t do that, Shively own A. Shively 11 a.m.-4 p.m. & Co., a custom we just end Thursday and up being busi- woodworking and home Friday and 9 decor shop in Columbia a.m.-3 p.m. ness partners City. and I didn’t Saturday. For marry him so more inforthat he could be my business mation, visit the business’ partner,” Annette said. Facebook page.

SCHOOLS: Decision on building closure postponed FROM PAGE A1

split between two or more other area school districts, including Whitley County Consolidated, Central Noble and East Noble schools. Though not centrally located, South Whitley is the largest town in the Whitko Community Schools district, which also includes Larwill and Pierceton. School officials have noted that the middle school in Larwill is more centrally located, and could increase enrollment, but SWTC members disagree. “Pulling the high school out of South Whitley would suggest the Whitko School Board does not have confidence in the leadership of South Whitley or the community,” Hoffman said. Hoffman and the town have plans to increase housing and industry in South Whitley, which would, in turn, help the schools. Churubusco and Whitko are both struggling due to decreasing enrollment numbers. At the beginning of the 2017-18 school year, Whitko was down 62 students. At $6,600 per student per year, that’s $409,200 less in state funding. Whitko’s school board

postponed a decision on building closure until this coming Monday’s meeting, which is 6:30 p.m. at Whitko Middle School. The current plan is to close Whitko High School, move students to the middle school, and eventually move all athletic activities to Larwill as well — which would come with a cost. Adding high school students to a building that was only intended for middle school students will likely require expansions. “We have difficulty understanding why, if enrollment continues to drop, we are building onto our schools,” Cokl said. “Why not just keep all the buildings open and request a referendum for a tax increase for operational cost, in the spring?” Smith-Green Commu-

nity Schools is expected to propose a referendum in the spring primary election. Unlike Whitko, SmithGreen’s elementary, junior high and high schools are all housed in the same building, while Whitko has elementary schools in South Whitley and Pierceton, and the middle school in Larwill. South Whitley Councilman Hoffman said he would welcome an all-in-one school in South Whitley. “The community and town of South Whitley would most certainly welcome, support and compliment a K-12 school in South Whitley, and we are willing to accept and confront the challenges that come with it,” Hoffman said. “We will continue to support our school corporation and community with the decision they will make.”

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inmates, Gatton said many do not qualify due to the nature of their crimes or behavior while incarcerated. On an average day, the jail has two to three incidents with inmates. Since September, three officers have been injured in altercations with inmates. All three were seen at the emergency room and either had lost time at work or were put on light duty. One injury required two surgeries for the employee. The most recent incident between an inmate and jailer was on New Year’s Eve. “We have to call in guys off the road or ask for a city unit to help us,” Gatton said. Confinement officers have tasers and pepper spray for their usage; however, there is a protocol on how soon an officer can use such levels of force. The jail also has a restraint chair, but state law requires that three officers be present when those chairs are in use. Because of the low staffing levels at the jail, restraint chairs often can’t be used. Along with incidents between jailers and inmates, an increasing number inmates have been on medical or suicide watch, requiring them to be checked on every 15 minutes by an officer who also has to answer phones, monitor surveillance cameras and open locked doors.

The costs

Both the commissioners and councilmen were in agreement that changes need to be made, however, the county has minimal funds to make the drastic changes that are needed. The total cost of a confinement officer is about $57,000, including benefits. Twelve jailers at $57,000 is a total of $684,000 per year. Another option is to send inmates to other jails, paying them to house Whitley County’s inmates. The cost of that is about $50-60 per day, per inmate. Gatton estimates about 50 inmates would need to be sent to other jails to bring the inmate population to 80 percent, which is what is recommended. In total, that option would cost between $500,000 and $700,000 per year. Offering overtime to current employees could be an option, but Gatton said the jail staff is getting “burnt out,” and likely wouldn’t be interested in working overtime. “They look forward to their days off,” Gatton said. The department has had several employees come and go in recent years, and Gatton says Whitley County is not the exception, many other counties have similar issues with finding staff. Some use confinement officer positions as a stair-step into other careers, such as law enforcement. “Others find out the jail environment is not for them,”

Gatton said. “Some come for a short time until they’re burnt out and move on.” Gatton requested three new confinement officer positions to make a good-faith effort toward the state’s requirements; however, the county only had enough money in its public safety LOIT fund to fund two officers. The two new officers would be put on first and second shifts to assist with the influx of responsibilities on those shifts. Officers during daytime hours assist with transporting inmates to and from the courthouse and need to be present when inmates interact with the nurse. The two new officers won’t be of much help with the shortage of supervision in satellite areas of the jail. In order to be up to the state’s requirements, the jail would need five jailers working per shift. Currently, there is always at least three confinement officers working at at time, and occasionally four on first and second shifts. “We have moved forward, but we’re not moving fast enough for the state,” Gatton said. “They could put an injunction on us and make us empty the jail.” The sheriff’s department must have a plan together by Jan. 23, when the state will check on its progress. Commissioner George Schrumpf said the county will likely ask for an extension while a committee works to make a plan for the future of the jail.

A4 • INwhitleycounty.com

Whitley County • January 11, 2018

What did you do on Winter Break? Photos submitted on the IN|Whitley County Facebook page

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Lindsey Kelley went sledding for the first time.

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Nathan, William and Joseph Starnes went to a Komet hockey game.

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Nine-month-old Theodore Crumpacker explored the snow for the first time.

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IN|Whitley County Editor Nicole Minier’s son, Daniel, visited Adler Planetarium in Chicago.

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Children at the Columbia City United Methodist Church’s City Kids had a breakfast and pajama party at the church.

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Keith Roman went on the 1st Day Hike around Sand Lake at Chain ‘O Lakes on Jan. 1. Canoe rental, as pictured, was free.

Randy C. Mitchell, CEO/Publisher S. Rick Mitchell, CFO PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

The Rentschler family went skiing.

Terry G. Housholder, President

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Ayden Beard and J.J. McNamee went bowling at Main Bowl in Columbia City.

Whitley County inwhitleycounty.com

PHONE (260) 693-3949 (USPS 009-385) Periodical Postage Paid at Churubusco, IN 46723 Nicole Minier, Editor

Articles appearing in the INWhitley County do not necessarily represent the views of this paper.

free paper for local businesses and residents, we do charge a mail subscription fee to those out of our area. This fee must be paid in advance and is as follows: InState $26 one year, Out-of-state $39 one year. You may also call our office during regular business hours to subscribe at (800) 717-4679.

INWhitley County is a FREE direct mailed newspaper delivered to over 13,000 homes and businesses in Whitley County. The paper is mailed to addresses in Columbia City, Larwill, and South Whitley. While we are a

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Located at 123 N. Main Street, Churubusco, Indiana 46723. www.inwhitleycounty.com

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Siblings Lincoln, Ella and Greyson Pullen went to Science Central in Fort Wayne.

Marshal Hierholzer stayed home and played in his “Pawpaw’s” shop, making homemade gifts.

INwhitleycounty.com • A5

Whitley County • January 11, 2018

CALENDARS: Area historical donations are welcome FROM PAGE A2

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Josie Blake, Chloe Richmond, Adrian Kaley , Brecken Brown , Addilynn Richmond , Raella Driver, Annalise Swonger and Abby Blake visit the Oaks retirement community.

there being more to do in the town when he was a boy – more shops and restaurants. The school was the hub of community activity, he said, and the drug store had a soda fountain. The passage of time hasn’t been lost on Mathieu either. In 2010, he was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive type of brain tumor. The doctors performed surgery to remove the tumor, but they told Mathieu that he only had months to live. Almost eight years later, Mathieu needs a walker and wheelchair to get around, but he still spends two days a week at the History Center doing what he loves. Mathieu and Jones said the History Center has seen a lull in traffic over the last six months. “We have a lot of interesting things in here, we just wish we had more people come in and see them,” Mathieu said. The collection includes

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

The Busy Bee was a tobacco shop in Churubusco. Owned and operated by Jim Thompson, the Busy Bee was located on South Main Street where the CITGO gas station stands today.

photographs, newspapers, yearbooks, a mastodon tooth, Native American artifacts, works by local artists, one of the first television sets in town, a 100-year-old bathing suit as well as school and business memorabilia. The History Center is always looking for donations of any historic items from the Churubusco area. The public can bring photographs and newspaper clippings to be scanned into

a digital format. The History Center’s hours are 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday and Thursday. Groups interested in a tour during off hours can call (260) 693-3862 or (260) 691-2230 or email bhc@ churubusco.net. Churubusco historical calendars are for sale at the History Center, the Churubusco News, the Magic Wand Restaurant, Egolf’s IGA and Shroyers True Value.

A warm gift

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Visiting the Whitley County Humane Society, children from Little Hands drop off Christmas gifts for the animal shelter.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

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Children visit with a resident at the Oaks retirement community.

Singing Christmas carols to residents, children from Little Hands spread cheer at the Oaks retirement community.

Little Hands spread cheer Staff reports COLUMBIA CITY — Children and volunteers from Little Hands, Big Hearts, Great Starts - a Columbia City daycare and nonprofit - set out to spread Christmas cheer on an outing Dec. 22. The group’s mission is to provide children opportunities for social

and emotional learning through hands-on acts of kindness in the community, said director Angela Driver. The children made more than 45 decorative Santa Clause, reindeer and snowmen out of glass bottles and handed them out to residents at the Oaks retirement commu-

nity. “Many residents loved the children’s company so much, they requested the children sing,” Driver said. They also visited the Whitley County Humane Society to donate four large boxes of paper towels, rags and toys to the animal shelter.

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PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

The Union Township Sodbusters 4-H Club made these blankets, which were donated to the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department. Twenty blankets were made in total. The family of the late Barb Lemon donated fabric for the project. Pictured are 4-H members who made blankets. Several 4-H members were present when the blankets were donated to the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department. Pictured, front row, from left, are: Teeghun Miller, Evan Johnson and Amy Pettigrew, co-leader. Middle row: co-leader Angela Miller, Tanner Miller, Brendan Johnson, Courtney Johnson and Rebecca Kessler. In back are Sheriff Marc Gatton, co-leader Galen Johnson and Chief Deputy Jason Spencer.

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A6 • INwhitleycounty.com

OPINION

Volunteer to help local vets By Richard Eckert Some of our veterans have fallen on to hard times and are not as fortunate as some of us. However, they still need health care. These veterans have to rely on family and friends to get a ride to the VA medical center in Fort Wayne. In some instances these veterans are “referred” to other medical facilities such as Lutheran, Parkview or St. Joe hospitals. Some referrals are given to physicians in specialized care that is not available at the VA hospital. Once in a while, some veterans are directed to the Roudebush VA Medical Center in Indianapolis or the medical center in

Marion. The DAV does a great job of securing vans to transport from the outlying counties to Fort Wayne VA hospital. They also shuttle vans between Fort Wayne, Marion and Indianapolis. Because the vans are in limited supply they cannot be called upon as one would use a taxi, so the use of the vans has to be a coordinated event. They require some scheduling and have to rely on the help of volunteers. Unfortunately, not all counties have additional transport vehicles so it compounds the problem when a veteran needs transportation to and from one of the medical facilities. Obviously,

using a taxi or other expensive transportation is prohibitive to the veteran that has a need to seek medical attention, particularly to Indianapolis. Volunteers are needed to help transport veterans to and from any medical facility or elsewhere. There are a few requirements that must be met, such as a background check, medical examination and valid driver’s license. If any veterans, or non-veterans, would like to donate a day or two a month, contact your local veterans service officer about becoming volunteer driver. — Richard Eckert is Whitley County’s veteran service officer

America must support Iranian protesters seeking freedom Last week, citizens in Iran’s second largest city, Mashhad, took to the streets for what began as protests over Iran’s economy and the REP. JIM rising BANKS cost of basic goods such as milk and eggs. These frustrations illuminated the reality that Iranians desire more than basic goods. They thirst for basic freedoms. Demonstrations have since multiplied, spreading to dozens of cities across the country. While it’s currently unclear how long these protests will last or how big they will become, the government’s use of force and propaganda clearly shows that it feels threatened. News of the protests were first shared via commonly used social media apps such as Instagram and Telegram. The regime has since restricted use of those apps, made 450 arrests and used tear gas on crowds in attempts to silence its citizens. To date, there have been more than 20 deaths. America is a country founded on the principles of freedom of assembly and speech, and one that vows to defend human rights. Americans on both sides of the political aisle cannot stay silent as we

watch the Iranian regime use violence on those seeking to hold their government accountable. Following the Iranian revolution in 1979, the people hoped for more freedom and reforms. Instead, the opposite has occurred. Then again, in 2015 following former-President Obama’s nuclear deal, Iranians who believed they would receive economic benefits from the influx of cash have seen the opposite effect, with consistently high unemployment rates and increased costs. These citizens are now rightfully questioning the regime’s intentions and funding priorities. As the world’s largest state-sponsor of terrorism, Iran is well-known for its funding of terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas. Rather than work to provide a more safe, stable country for the people of Iran, the regime continues to incite violence in the region. The Iranian government has faced opposition before, as seen by the outpouring of citizens who protested the 2009 election results and then-Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. People believed Ahmadinejad and his aides had interfered with the process leading to his reelection. This “Green Movement” resulted in the death of hundreds and arrest of thousands. The same tactics that we’re seeing the regime apply to today’s protests were used then – use of

security forces to prevent demonstrations in addition to cutting off mass communication tools. Protesters under the Green Movement looked to America for support, but the Obama administration chose silence. Now, as the Iranian people again take to the streets and call for freedom, the United States cannot stay silent. Watching the events in Iran unfold and hoping that democracy will prevail is simply not enough. As a freedom-loving country, we must stand with the Iranian people who are courageously fighting for basic rights. Thankfully, President Trump is sending a strong message that the United States supports the Iranian people in their pursuit of freedom. The president’s tweets supporting the protesters has been a good start. I have taken legislative action, introducing a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives that condemns the Iranian government’s use of violence on demonstrators, and calls for a peaceful outcome to the ongoing protests. Americans must show bipartisan support as students, families and workers seek to reclaim their country from a ruthless regime. This is a time to speak out in support of freedom. — Congressman Jim Banks represents Indiana’s 3rd District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Whitley County • January 11, 2018

No clear solution in county jail issue Our view Once again, the state government is putting us in a pinch. In the past year, state funding of schools and how it has put our school districts in a predicament, especially Smith-Green and Whitko schools, has sat at the forefront of local discussions. Not only is the state poorly coordinating school funding, but it’s also passing down mandates that cost even more money. It happens in municipal government as well. The city of Columbia City is continuing to move forward with its multimillion-dollar long term control plan for wastewater — a project mandated by state government. Ultimately, the plan should improve the disposal of wastewater but the timeline and mandates originally put the city in a financial pinch. County government is no different. The Whitley County Jail was a topic of

discussion in last week’s County Council and County Commissioners meetings. The state deemed our jail as unfit and, while the state isn’t necessarily wrong, it’s not providing many options to resolve our problem. Our jail is overbooked and understaffed and, if a solution isn’t found, the state threatened to empty the jail. There is no easy solution to this problem. Sending inmates to other facilities would cost substantial tax dollars. Adding more jail staff would cost substantial tax dollars. Some county court systems have resorted to

For many Americans, the holidays are several weeks packed with the hustle and bustle and stress of wearing the perfect outfit, picking out the perfect gift and hosting the perfect party. During all of this, they find themselves stressed out and lacking energy. Many forget about taking care of themselves and wish for a recovery day from the holidays. The simplest way to reduce those stress levels and improve your health is to just get moving. In the world of exercise, it’s called physical activity. The American College of Sports Medicine defines this as any bodily movement produced by the contraction of skeletal muscles that results in a substantial increase in caloric requirements over resting energy expenditure. What does physical activity look like? Anything that gets you moving. It is completing activities of daily living, like cleaning the house, mowing the lawn or taking a leisurely walk with the family. Exercise may be a scary word for many people. This does not mean you have to get into the gym with

the people throwing down heavy weights or grunting and sweating profusely. It doesn’t have involve running a race or having to spend a lot of money. Again, according to the American College of Sports Medicine, exercise is a type of physical activity consisting of planned, structured and repetitive movement done to improve or maintain physical fitness. So, the three keys to starting a healthy exercise program are to plan a physical activity every day, eat in moderation and set small goals. You can start a simple exercise program over the holiday season that will boost your energy levels for parties, family get-togethers and other activities. Gather friends and family for a daily workout. It can be as simple as a brisk walk for 30 minutes around the neighborhood. Doing this for at least four days a week for three months gets you out of off the sedentary category. When you are doing these activities, pay attention to what you are consuming. One can of soda has about 150 calories

shorter sentences, therefore less jail inmates, but we don’t think that’s the answer for Whitley County. Our county has been known for its tough punishments for crime, and many say that’s the reason crime rates continue to be low in Whitley County. We’re glad county officials are working hard to come up with a plan for the future of the jail and its confinement officers. The working conditions for our jailers are unacceptable — and our elected officials know that — but they don’t have an answer at this time. The council can’t approve hiring 10 more employees, what the state demands, when the money simply isn’t there. We applaud our officials for making calculated decisions in this difficult situation, and hope the state will give our county some leeway before making its own decisions

Exercise your way into a New Year

in it. If you eliminate just one of those from your daily routine, that helps. And watch portion sizes. Eating to the point when you are so full you just want to crawl in bed to sleep is not healthy. When it comes to your goals, be SMART, which stands for specific, measureable, attainable, realistic and time-sensitive. Remember that we cannot change our habits or bodies overnight. So, use apps or websites to track your intake and expenditures such as My Fitness Pal or FitDay.com. Don’t forget to take before and after pictures. Finally, write down why you are making these changes now before the start of the year. This way you can start the new year off right so you feel better going into 2018. You can do it! You have to put your mind in place first and your body will follow. I wish you the very best on your journey to a new you. – Nicole Koontz is the associate director of the adult physical fitness program at Ball State University.

Opinion Policy The ultimate goal of the IN|Whitley County Opinion page is to stimulate discussion and action on topics of interest to the Whitley County community. IN|Whitley County welcomes reader viewpoints and offers letters to the editor and guest editors as vehicles of expression. Letters must be signed and accompanied

with an address and phone number for verification of identity. The editor reserves the right to edit and condense letters and guest editorials for space limitation as well as clarity. Lengthy letters which focus on an issue which affects Whitley County residents may be considered for a guest editorial.

INwhitleycounty.com • A7

Whitley County • January 11, 2018

YESTERDAY 1 year ago Several new officials were sworn in at the annual swearing-in ceremony, including new Circuit Court Judge Matthew Rentschler. Whitley County Coroner Randy Dellinger said the driver of a sport utility vehicle, that collided with a charter bus in December 2016 had died before the crash. Edward Dahm, 86, was driving on U.S. 33 near Blue Lake when the crash occurred. 10 years ago Wayne Krider was the winner of the 16th annual Churubusco News Christmas Decorating Contest. Jason Bonar received second place and Keith Bair was in third place. Parkview Whitley Hospital employees donated nearly 400 food items to the four Whitley County food banks. John Hart resigned as Town Marshal after 22 years. He won a seat on the Town Council and voluntarily stepped down from his position as marshal, which was not a state mandate at the time. Flooding forced some Churubusco residents to evacuate their homes. Michaela Geiger and Jerry Agler, of Columbia City, announced the birth of their son, Colton James. James and Meghan Wilkins announced the birth of their son, Joseph Frank. 15 years ago A new town wage ordinance increased town employees’ salaries by four percent. Council members Chuck Mathieu and John Barrett were in favor of the increase, and Vivian Rosswurm voted against it. Churubusco Punt, Pass, Kick winner Aaron Lee, 13, prepared to compete in the finals of the competition at an NFL game in Nashville. Finalists from 20 different states, including Lee, competed. Freshman boys basketball

player Cody Jones scored 31 points in two games, along with 13 rebounds. Leadership Whitley County hosted its December session at Churubusco High School. The class learned about population, assessed property value, acreage in farmland, woods and water, and more. Each area was discussed in relation to Whitley County. Prosecutor Matthew Rentschler appointed D.J. Sigler as his chief deputy. Sigler was employed at Bloom, Gates, Sigler & Whiteleather in Columbia City. The Whitley County Commissioners voted to close a portion of County Road 700 East for the new Steel Dynamics Inc. steel mill in eastern Whitley County. The Linvill Fitness Center scheduled two new classes — yoga and kickboxing. 25 years ago The 1993 Smith-Green Schools Board met for its first meeting of the year. Board members included Michael Miller, David Johnson, Elizabeth Leitch and Jack Gordon. Icy roads caused a seven-car pileup on U.S. 33 near Churubusco. Authorities urged drivers to use caution when traveling due to high water. Many streets and roads were washed out. A community service program was added to the curriculum at Smith-Green Community Schools, through an elective economics class. Community service could consist of 4-H activities, scouting, church youth groups or organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Students from Columbia City and Churubusco swing choirs were to participate in “MUSIC-An Afternoon of Song and Dance” at the Churubusco High School auditorium. The Smith-Green Schools Board eliminated the 8-year

LOVE

limit for board members. The vote carried 4-2, with David Johnson and Jeff Rosswurm casting the dissenting votes. Todd Papenbrock, a senior at CHS, was chosen as the Churubusco representative of the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award. Other representatives in Whitley County were Cheridy Bolinger, of Whitko, and Scott Ware, of Columbia City High School. 50 years ago The new Town Board held its first meeting of the new year. Board members were Dale LeFever, Homer “Hank” Diffendarfer, Tom Womack and Wilbur Gaff. Churubusco State Bank reported big gains in the previous year — $1,007,862.48, to be exact. Sixth graders at Churubusco Elementary School planned a one-act play, with would be featured at a Parent Teacher’s Association meeting. A second deputy sheriff was hired for Whitley County, Harold Lewis of South Whitley. Lewis was hired to be on patrol, do communications duty and patrol the lake sections of the county at night. Army Private John H. Krider, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Krider, of Columbia City, fired expert with the M-14 rifle near the completion of basic combat training at Fort Campbell, Ky. The expert rating was the highest mark a soldier can achieve on his weapons qualification test. A power outage occurred on a seven-mile power line of the Whitey County REMC. Approximately 75 homes and farms west of Churubusco were without power for about four hours. Bob McGuire, Churubusco insurance agent, was selected as the new president of the Churubusco Chamber of Commerce for 1968. Garna Dirr, a junior at Churubusco High School, was first prize winner in the

YOUR

FILE PHOTO

“Sure as you’re born” was the title of a one-act play presented by sixth graders at Churubusco Elementary School at a Parent Teacher Association meeting 50 years ago. Shown here, from left, are cast members Katie Shively, Susie Schenher, Gary Hooten, Ron Richey, Randy Creech, Beth Barcus, Mark Fuller, Karen Nelson and Mary Tomlins. Hooten played a 13-year-old Wilber Maxwell, who was such a problem to his dad, that the guardian angel temporarily transformed him into a girl.

Churubusco area Jaycee’s Christmas art contest. Her painting portrayed a Christmas card with a “Peace on Earth” theme. Barbara Green was named Good Citizen of the 1967-68 school year at Churubusco High School. The school’s Good Citizen was chosen from among three candidates who were elected by the senior students with qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. Robert Egolf assumed ownership of Shelton’s IGA Market in Churubusco. He purchased the firm from Mrs. Lonnie Shelton. He began his association with the store 12 years prior, while attending Churubusco High School. A survey team of 50 men and women were to call on nearly 300 homes in Whitley County as part of the Whitley County and Columbia City park and recreation

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A division of

study, which had started in September 1967. The study was being made to determine whether an organized program would be worthwhile in Whitley County. Churubusco’s volunteer fire department planned a survival course, presented under the supervision of the Civil Defense adult education division of the Indiana Department of Public Instruction. Richard Smith, who served 21 years as manager of the Whitley County REMC, accepted a position with the Rural Electrification Administration in Washington D.C. as management analyst. A new pastor took over at Zion Lutheran Church in Columbia City. Rev. Ernst T. Schmidtke, of Sheboygan, Wis. The pastorate at the church had been vacant for about a year, since former pastor, Rev. Paul W. Schwan,

transferred to the church at New Palestine. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Schinbeckler announced the birth of their son, Todd Eugene. Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Parker planned to observe their 50th wedding anniversary with an open house at Woodroff Hall at the Methodist Church in Albion. The Whitley County Sheriff’s Department was conducting a warning program on pin-ball machines in the county. Most of the machines were deemed not illegal under Indiana law, Prosecutor Richard W. Gates and Sheriff Harold Taulbee said they were informing operators of the machines on how to follow the law. Whitley County met its quota for blood donations, 131 pints, when the Red Cross Bloodmobile made a stop at Columbia City.

A8 • INwhitleycounty.com

Whitley County • January 11, 2018

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INwhitleycounty.com • A9

Whitley County • January 11, 2018

Come to the Fort Wayne Farm Show Come to the 2018 Fort Wayne Farm Show, featuring Purdue Extension specialists and other ag industry professionals who will give presentations and lead discusJOHN E. sions WOODMANSEE for farmers and others in the agriculture industry. The show runs Jan. 16-18 at the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum. The Fort Wayne Farm Show is one of the premier indoor farm shows in the U.S. An extensive and recently expanded trade show will showcase the latest innovations in technology and equipment.

The Farm Manufacturing and Distributor Trade Show will be open Jan. 16, from 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Jan. 17, from 9 a.m.-8 p.m., and Jan. 18, from 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Educational seminars, co-sponsored by Purdue Extension and the Soil and Water Conservation Districts of Northeast Indiana, will run daily. The first day of the show, Jan. 16, will begin with a grain market outlook at 10 a.m. featuring Jon Cavanaugh, marketing director from Central States Enterprises Inc.; David Kohli, adjunct professor at Ivy Tech; Ryan Martin, chief meteorologist at Hoosier Ag Today; and Rob Winters, farm director at 1190AMWOWO. At 12:30 p.m., Kimmi Devaney, ag marketing and industry development manager with the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, will speak on “Certified Livestock

Producer Advantages.” From 1:30–4 p.m., a private applicator recertification program will be offered, covering the topics of soil sampling, precision manure application and dicamba regulations. On Wednesday, Jan. 17, Purdue’s Peter Goldsbrough will speak on the science of GMOs at 10 a.m. At 11:30 a.m., a luncheon program in Appleseed Room B will feature information on the 2018 Farm Bill by Bob White, director of national government relations, Indiana Farm Bureau Inc. At 1:30 p.m., a weather outlook and grain & livestock market outlook will be given by Ryan Martin, chief meteorologist with Hoosier Ag Today, and Chris Hurt, Purdue Extension economist, respectively. From 3:30– 5:30 p.m., a second private applicator recertification program will cover the termination of cover crops

and dicamba regulations. From 5:30–6:30 p.m., Trent Wolfe, managing partner — Kline’s CPA Group, Dan Gordon and Michelle Adler, Attorneys – Gordon & Associates, PC, and Kent Liechty, president/CEO of First Bank of Berne will cover “Financial Changes for the Family Farm in 2018,” a presentation of WOWO radio’s Farmer Forum Series. On Jan. 18, the final day of the show, ag consultant Lon Swanson, from Wells Fargo Investments, will offer a grain and livestock market outlook at 9:30 a.m. At 11 a.m., Greg Shoup, meteorologist with News Channel 15, will offer a talk on climate and weather impacts to agriculture. Finally, from 1–2:30 p.m., James Mintert, director of Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture, will conduct a workshop on leases, loans and lending.

Purdue Extension will have a booth at the trade show where participants can talk to extension educators from northeast Indiana counties, and learn from displays on current agricultural topics. I plan to be there, so please stop by and say hello! If I’m not in the booth, I am probably assisting with one of the educational seminars. The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is at 4000 Parnell Ave., Fort Wayne. More information about the show is available at tradexpos.com/ fort-wayne-farm-show/. A flyer detailing the above educational seminars can be picked up at the show, or at the Purdue Extension–Whitley County office, 115 S. Line St., Columbia City, or by visiting extension.purdue. edu/whitley. — John Woodmansee is an extension educator in Whitley and Noble counties.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Students inducted into NHS The following Churubusco High School students were inducted into the National Honor Society Nov. 11: Zoe King, Breanna Baughman, Alex Bertrand, Andrew Bowyer, Kassidy Byers, Jacob Cummings, Joey Emenhiser, Abigail Erwin, Alayna Fulkerson, Chassy Gallmeier, Rebekah Huelsenbeck, Rachel Jacquay, Nathaniel Keener, Brooklyn Kelley, Tyler Knight, Brooke Nondorf, Bailee Osborne, Sierra Przemielewski, Katelynn Shambaugh, Parker Sturtz, Jamie Zeigler and Katelyn Zeller.

Workshop explores farm succession planning Staff reports Farm families can learn how to ensure a successful ownership transition from one generation to the next in a workshop sponsored by the Purdue Extension Succession Planning Team. “Next Steps to Successfully Growing Future Farm Generations,” will be presented by attorneys and estate planning experts Michelle Adler of Bluffton, Tom Appel of Valparaiso, Dan Gordon of Bluffton and Jeff Washburn of Columbus. The workshop will cover topics including long-term care, retirement planning, caring for the caregiver, buy/sell agreements and LLCs. A session will be offered in Columbia City at 9 a.m.noon Feb. 13 at the Whitely County 4-H Center, 680 W. Squawbuck Road. Cost is $40 for the first four family members and $10 for each additional member. Registration forms are available at https://bit. ly/2kdqeAc and should be mailed to Kelly Heckaman, Kosciusko County Extension, 202 W. Main St., Warsaw, IN 46580. Registration is due two weeks before each session. For more information, or if you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, contact Jenna Nees at (765) 653-8411 or smith535@purdue.edu prior to the program.

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A10 • INwhitleycounty.com

Whitley County • January 11, 2018

Columbia City hangs on to beat ’Busco By Nicole Minier nminier@kpcmedia.com

CHURUBUSCO — Despite facing some difficult deficits, Churubusco’s girls basketball team wouldn’t let up in the battle of the Whitley County Lady Eagles last week. Columbia City came away with the win in the low-scoring game, 35-25. Both teams shot below 20 percent from the field in the first half. By the end of the first quarter, the score was only 4-4. Churubusco started out with a fourpoint lead after a field goal from Mackenzi Tonkel and a pair of free throws from Myah Bear. Olivia Shearer put Columbia City on the scoreboard at the 1:38 mark, and teammate Carly Mabie scored again with 37 seconds left in the quarter to tie the score at 4. Churubusco’s Alayna Fulkerson scored to start the second quarter, and Columbia City’s Grace Schrader responded with a bucket off an offensive rebound to tie the score again. The team went back and forth during the quarter, with Churubusco once again taking the lead after a basket by Katelyn Johnson. Columbia City led by two at halftime after the Lady Eagles went on a 5-0 run — a 3-pointer by Shearer and a pair of free throws from Mabie, to make the score 13-11. Columbia City came out of the locker room on fire to start the third quarter, scoring seven unanswered points,

Alayna Fulkerson goes up for a shot between the defense of Columbia City’s Olivia Shearer and Skye Roberts.

PHOTOS BY NICOLE MINIER

Skye Roberts and Delany Peters wait to battle it out for a free throw.

starting with another 3-pointer by Shearer. Churubusco’s Callie Lemper stopped the run with a bucket of her own, but only for a moment, as Columbia City rattled off four more points. Myah Bear fought to keep ’Busco alive, completing a traditional three-point play, but the hosts trailed 27-16 going into the fourth quarter. Churubusco’s Mariah Hosted wasn’t ready to give up yet, scoring six points in the fourth, along with a 3-pointer from Lemper, which cut Columbia City’s lead to six, but it wasn’t enough for Churubusco,

Columbia City’s Grace Cotter pushes through a pair of Churubusco defenders.

Churubusco’s Myah Bear leaps over Columbia City’s Olivia Shearer when chasing down a loose ball.

which lost 35-25. Churubusco was led in scoring by Hosted with six points.

Columbia City was led by Shearer with 15 points and Schrader with seven.

Grace Cotter goes up for a lay-up.

FOLLOW WHITLEY COUNTY SPORTS Tuesday, January 16

Wednesday, January 17

Columbia City swim at Wabash, 5:30 p.m.

Columbia City wrestling at Garrett, 6:30 p.m.

Columbia City girls basketball at Huntington, 6 p.m.

Columbia City boys basketball at Homestead, 6 p.m.

Whitko girls basketball hosts Wawasee, 12:30 p.m.

Columbia City wrestling at Goshen Invitational, 9 a.m.

Churubusco girls basketball at Lakeland, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, January 11

Friday, January 12

Saturday, January 13

Monday, January 15

Churubusco basketball at NECC tourney, TBA

Columbia City boys basketball hosts Huntington, 6:15 p.m.

Columbia City swim, Northeast 8 Conference at Norwell, TBA

No events scheduled

Churubusco basketball at NECC tourney, TBA Whitko boys basketball at Southwood, 7:45 p.m.

Churubusco basketball at NECC tourney, TBA Churubusco wrestling at Woodlan, 9:30 a.m.

Whitko boys basketball at Adams Central, 7:45 p.m.

Whitko girls basketball hosts Southwood, 7:45 p.m.

WhitleyCounty County Whitley wc wc

inwhitleycounty.com

Submit your sports stories or photos to Nicole Minier at nminier@kpcmedia.com

SPORTS

Whitley County • January 11, 2018

INwhitleycounty.com • A11

Remembering the importance of JAA and GJL By Travis Stahl For IN|Whitley County

COLUMBIA CITY — Travel leagues and and the Amateur Athletic Union are the backbone of youth basketball. Some kids play in these basketball groups all year long, participating in tournament after tournament. In some instances, players may not even attend the same school together. This concept of basketball is a far cry from what Columbia City kids used to experience. Instead, kids who lived in Columbia City and attended Marshall Middle School all looked forward to one thing every year, the start of Junior Athletic Association and Girls Junior League basketball. JAA and GJL were basketball leagues at Marshall for any fourth- through eighthgrade student who wanted to play. And nearly all of them wanted to play. “For some kids, this was the only basketball they got to play,” said former Marshall physical ed teacher and JAA director Dave Lambert. JAA started in the early 1920s with GJL starting a few years later. The minor league consisted of fourth, fifth and sixth graders playing against each other and major league was the seventh and eighth graders. The members of the boys and girls seventhgrade basketball teams would coach the minor leagues and the eighth-grade basketball

players coached the major league teams. Each league consisted of eight teams with at least 10 players on each team and every player was required to play at least two quarters. The players on the basketball teams were also the referees until the tournament games. For the majority of their existence, JAA and GJL were run by Roy Kilby. Lambert and his wife Deb worked as Kilby’s assistants in 1981 and 1982. Then, when the Lamberts were hired full-time the following school year they took over and ran the leagues and taught at Marshall until 1994. The boys’ season would run for eight weeks followed by a tournament. After the JAA season was completed, the GJL would start and follow the same schedule. Each league ended with an awards banquet to recognize tournament champions. An additional award was presented at each of the ceremonies — one boy and one girl were selected as the JAA and GJL sportsmanship award winners. Their names were painted on the boards along with past winners and hung in the gym at Marshall. Those boards still hang in Marshall today. Winning the JAA or GJL sportsmanship award wasn’t just about being a good basketball player. The winner had to possess a positive attitude, earn good grades in the classroom and demonstrate teamwork and fair play. Winning the

sportsmanship award was something that meant something for the rest of your life. “Those boards in that gym mean a lot,” said Lambert. Tony Crowe was named the JAA Sportsmanship winner in 1975. Crowe was surprised when he won the award and still remembers the impact JAA had on him as he matured. “I learned a lot about teamwork,” said Crowe. “And as a young adult, when I went to that gym I felt honored to see my name up on the wall with others I looked up to.” Cami (Studebaker) Walters won the GJL Sportsmanship award in 1988. Walter, like Crowe, didn’t ever expect to hear her name called at the banquet. “I remember thinking it couldn’t possibly be me,” said Walters. “Looking back on it, it’s definitely more special now.” Walters also noted a big part of what made GJL and JAA so enjoyable were the Lamberts. “After I won the award they (Deb and Dave Lambert) told me they were looking forward to watching me play in high school,” said Walters. “That meant a lot.” Just playing in the games wasn’t the only experience for the kids at Marshall. During the tournament, each player sold tickets to the games. Kilby made selling tickets an incentive. Any player who sold a certain

amount of tickets got a ticket to go watch the Fort Wayne Pistons play basketball. And after the Pistons left Fort Wayne, Kilby would give students a ticket to a Komets hockey game. The last year of JAA and GJL, Lambert said they took the kids who sold

enough tickets to an Indiana Pacers game. “We had a bus-full and the kids had a ball,” said Lambert. Walking into the gym at the Marshall building right now is like stepping back into time. It looks the same as it did all those years ago during GJL

and JAA. The scoreboard is still there and the pull-up bars are in place. More importantly, the GJL and JAA boards still hang on the walls as a reminder to what community basketball meant in Columbia City.

Honoring the best and brightest under 40 in northeast Indiana. NOMINATION DEADLINE FEBRUARY 4

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A12 • INwhitleycounty.com

Whitley County • January 11, 2018

Hoopsters score friendship from time on court By Travis Stahl

for the Churubusco News

CHURUBUSCO — In every sport there are situations where teammates get to know each other so well they become friends. We often don’t think about it the other way around, when two friends carry their bond over into sports. In preschool, Callie Lemper and Katelynn Johnson became best friends. Now, the two friends are completing their senior seasons together for

the Churubusco Lady Eagles basketball team. Lemper and Johnson first started playing basketball together in fourth grade. The duo played in a league at West Noble and that was the first step. From there, the two have participated in countless games, practices and games together. “We both have a passion for the game,” said Lemper. “That is something that has brought us together.” For the ’Busco seniors,

keeping the game fun has to hit pretty hard. However, always been the focus. Even Johnson said she is pretty sure when things grew tough over the two will meet on the court the years, they again for some try to keep one-on-one at going back some point. to making And even sure they are though their playing for the basketball right reasons. careers are “You have to coming to not be serious an end their all the time,” friendship will said Johnson. PHOTO CONTRIBUTED continue on. “You have to “I know Churubusco’s senior recognize you girls basketball players, without basketare playing to ball I would from left, are Brein have fun.” have missed Gross, Isabelle Hille, Johnson out on a pretty Delany Peters, Callie said one thing Lemper and Katelyn good friendJohnson. that has kept ship,” said basketball Johnson. fun for the friends has been The ’Busco girls team has attending camps. She noted the a few more games left on the camps at the University of St. schedule before the end of the Francis and Indiana Universeason. Senior night will be sity will always be ones she Jan. 26, when the Lady Eagles remembers the most. host Central Noble. After that, As ’Busco winds through the sectional tournament starts it’s season, the two have talked and Lemper and Johnson about how their time on the will be seeing their days as court together is coming to an teammates come to an end. end. Both Lemper and Johnson But their days as friends will noted that senior night is going continue on.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Callie Lemper and Katelyn Johnson have become good friends while playing basketball together in Churubusco.

PREP SPORTS BRIEFS BOYS BASKETBALL Whitko 59, Rochester 58

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ROCHESTER — Whitko’s boys basketball team traveled to Rochester to beat its Three Rivers Conference foe by one point, 59-58, in a competitive contest. Rochester outscored Whitko 22-16 in the fourth quarter — but the game wasn’t always that way. Whitko took a 25-14 lead at the end of the first quarter and led 33-25 at halftime, but Rochester hung around. The hosts outscored Whitko 11-10 in the third quarter, then went on its fourth-quarter run, with Whitko holding on for its one-point win. River West led the team with 35 points and 12 rebounds. Spencer Sroufe had eight points and six rebounds, along with two blocks. Brett Sickafoose scored seven points and Shad Ebbinghouse recorded six points. Brian Collins led the team with five assists.

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Rochester 47, Whitko 30

SOUTH WHITLEY — Whitko’s girls basketball team lost to Three Rivers Conference foe Rochester Jan. 6, 47-30. Whitko’s offense struggled in the first quarter, scoring only two free throws, but improved by the fourth quarter, outscoring Rochester 15-13. The Lady Wildcats trailed 27-10 at halftime before playing an even second half. “We played really well in the second half,” said head coach Rick Bragg. “The effort was there. We had some good looks at the basket in the first half and just could not finish. We have to continue to grow and learn that we must be ready to play at the start of the game.” Kayla Schipper led the team in scoring with nine points.

Ellie Snep scored eight and Emalee Duggins chipped in six points. “It was great to see Emi on the floor again,” Bragg said. “I thought she did some things really well in her first game back (after injury).” Bellmont 54, Columbia City 28

DECATUR — Columbia City’s girls basketball team lost to Northeast 8 Conference foe Bellmont Jan. 5, 54-28. The Lady Eagles found themselves down early, trailing by 10 points after the first quarter, and facing a 30-15 deficit at halftime. The third quarter was difficult for Columbia City, as the Lady Eagles didn’t score any points, while Bellmont tacked on another 17 points. Columbia City did show promise in the fourth quarter, outscoring Bellmont 13-7, but not enough to overcome the deficit. Olivia Shearer led the team with 13 points, followed by Hayley Urban with seven. Emilee Smith, Madison Woodward, Brayden Lickey and Carly Mabie each scored two points. Shearer also led the team in rebounds with four. Columbia City 48, South Adams 35

TOPEKA — Columbia City’s girls basketball team shot 50 percent in field goals, and the Lady Eagles beat South Adams in the Northridge tournament Dec. 29, 48-35. The score was tied at 9 at the end of the first quarter, but Columbia City pulled ahead in the second, with a 23-19 halftime score. The Lady Eagles dominated the third quarter, scoring 14 points to the Lady Starfires’ three, giving Columbia City a 37-22 advantage going into the fourth quarter. The Lady Eagles were led in scoring by Olivia Shearer with

13 points, followed by Grace Schrader and Skye Roberts with eight points apiece. Gabby Fry led the team in assists with four, and rebounds with 10. Columbia City 67, Andrean 58

TOPEKA — Columbia City’s girls basketball team used a stand-out second quarter to beat Andrean Dec. 30 at the Northridge holiday tournament, 67-58. The two teams played an evenly matched game excluding the second quarter, which Columbia City used to pull ahead. The Lady Eagles had a one-point lead in the first quarter, then outscored Andrean 17-9 in the second quarter to take a 28-19 lead at halftime. Both teams scored exactly 19 points in the third quarter and 20 points in the fourth to make the final score 67-58. Columbia City was led in scoring by Grace Schrader with 14 points, Olivia Shearer with 12 points and Brayden Lickey with 10. Gabby Fry tallied six rebounds, and Skye Roberts led the team in assists with three. NorthWood 59, Columbia City 44

TOPEKA — Columbia City’s girls basketball team fell to NorthWood in the Northridge tournament Dec. 29, 59-44. Two quarters made the difference for the Lady Eagles — the second and fourth. Columbia City only trailed by one point after the first quarter, but was outscored by NorthWood by 10 points in the second quarter to trail 27-16 at halftime. The Lady Eagles battled back in the third quarter, closing the gap by three points, but NorthWood countered

with a strong fourth quarter, outscoring Columbia City 16-9 to make the final score 59-44. Olivia Shearer led the team in scoring with 15 points, followed by Carly Mabie with 10 and Grace Schrader with eight points. Emilee Smith led the team in rebounding with seven, and Mabie had four steals. Lake Central 43, Columbia City 21

TOPEKA — Columbia City’s girls basketball team lost to a strong Lake Central team during the Northridge tournament Dec. 30, 43-21. The Lady Eagles struggled against Lake Central’s defense, going scoreless for two quarters. The team was led in scoring by Grace Schrader with seven points, followed by Brayden Lickey and Olivia Shearer with six points apiece. Lickey and Skye Roberts led the team in rebounds with three apiece, and Hayley Urban recorded two steals.

WRESTLING

Whitko 14th at West Noble LIGONIER — Whitko’s wrestling team placed 14th with 40 points at the West Noble Invitational Jan. 6. “It was a very good day for Whitko wrestling today; we pulled off two huge wins,” said Whitko head coach Austin Egolf. The Wildcats broke their losing streak which started last season, an accomplishment the team is proud of. “All-in-all a great day for Whitko wrestling as the season starts to wind down,” Egolf said. Egolf noted the hard work of younger grapplers, who stepped up for key wins. Mike Conner earned his first win, pinning his North Side opponent in the first period.

SPORTS

Whitley County • January 11, 2018

INwhitleycounty.com • A13

PHOTOS BY NICOLE MINIER

Myah Bear sets a screen for point guard Brein Gross.

Churubusco’s Delany Peters, left, and Callie Lemper, right, defend Columbia City’s Olivia Shearer.

A Columbia City rebounder is swarmed by Churubusco defenders.

Myah Bear, left, and Mariah Hosted, right, both leap toward a rebound.

Columbia City’s Gabby Fry takes a shot over Churubusco’s Isabelle Hille.

Churubusco’s Mackenzi Tonkel makes a pass to a teammate.

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A14 • INwhitleycounty.com

Whitley County • January 11, 2018

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INwhitleycounty.com • A15

Whitley County • January 11, 2018

Community Calendar their regularly scheduled meeting at 1 p.m. in the Whitley County Government Center. The commissioners meet the first and third Monday of each month, but will meet Tuesday due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. • The Smith-Green Community School Board meets at 7 p.m. in the Administration Building on Tulley Street.

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13 15

Jan. 11

• The Churubusco Chamber of Commerce holds its monthly meeting at noon in the Masonic Lodge. • Chess Club meets at the South Whitley Community Public Library at 4:30 p.m. Players of all abilities and ages are welcome. • Kids Brownies and Building takes place at the South Whitley Community Public Library at 4 p.m. Join the library for brownies and Lego building. • The Whitley County Amateur Radio Club general meeting will be 6-8 p.m. in community rooms A and B at the Peabody Public Library, 1160 E. State Road 205. The program for the evening will be on the Amateur Radio Emergency Service, presented by Edward Scott K9EJS, deputy director of Whitley County EMA/DHS. All general meetings are open to the public. For more information, visit www.wcarc.org, the group’s Facebook page or Roger McEntarfer at n9qcl@ arrl.net.

16 17

Jan. 13

• A fish fry will be at noon at the VFW Post 3846 in Churubusco. The meal includes freshcaught Bluegill, french fries and coleslaw. Dine-in and carryout meals are available. A free will donation is requested, and proceeds will go toward supporting veterans. • Jodi Sargent’s photography exhibit opening will be 6-7 p.m. at the Whitley County Chamber, 128 W. Van Buren St. The event will include a meet and greet. Please RSVP to the Chamber by calling (260) 248-8131 or emailing office@whitleychamber.com. Jan. 15

• Whitley County Drainage Board meets at 9 a.m. in the Whitley County Government Center. The board meets on the third Monday of the month, but will meet on Tuesday due to Martin Luther King Jr. Day. • Whitley County Commissioners will hold

Vehicle crash in Whitley County leads to OWI arrest Staff reports CHURUBUSCO — A vehicle crash on Saturday afternoon in the town of Churubusco resulted in the arrest of a 19-year old man from Kimmell on OWI and marijuana related charges. Saturday at about 11:30 a.m., Trooper Justin Snyder was parked in the parking lot of Churubusco High School completing paperwork when he saw a vehicle traveling westbound on Washington Street toward Eagle Drive at a high rate of speed. The vehicle then crashed into a 3-foot high curb in front of Churubusco Elementary School. Snyder arrived immediately after, and during his interaction with the driver, 19-year-old Logan R. Skinner ,of Kimmell, and his passenger, 19-year-old Hannah N. Schaefer, of Churubusco,

he learned that the couple were involved in a verbal argument prior to the crash. During his subsequent investigation, Snyder gained verbal consent to search Skinner’s vehicle where he located items commonly associated with the use of marijuana and marijuana wax. Skinner was also wanted in Noble County for a probation violation related to a previous possession of marijuana charge. Skinner was taken into custody without incident and incarcerated in the Whitley County Jail. He was preliminarily charged with operating while intoxicated-controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. The crash is being investigated by the Churubusco Police Department.

regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in South Whitley Town Hall. The council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. • Local historian Joyce Hart will revisit some of South Whitley’s biggest disasters, including major fires, train wrecks and floods at the South Whitley Community Public Library at 6:30 p.m.

Jan. 16

• The Page Turners book club meets at the South Whitley Community Public Library at 6:30 p.m. The club will discuss Paul Kalanithi’s memoir “When Breath Becomes Air,” during which he wrestles with tough questions about life. Jan. 17

• Tot Tales, an early literacy program with stories, playtime and take-home materials starts at 10:30 a.m. at the South Whitley Community Public Library. Children ages 18 months to 5 years old are welcome. Pre-registration is required. • Classics at the Library will watch and discuss the 1954 film “Sabrina” at the South Whitley Community Public Library at 12:15 p.m. The film, starring Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn and William Holden, tells the story of a playboy who becomes interested in the daughter of his family’s chauffeur. • The Churubusco Town Council will hosts its regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in Churubusco Town Hall. The council meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Jan. 23

• Teen Passport to Taste takes teens on a tropical getaway to the Bahamas to learn about the culture and food at the South Whitley Community Public Library at 4 p.m. • Columbia City Municipal Board of Works will hold its regular meeting at 5 p.m. in the Council Chambers in City Hall. The board meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. • Columbia City Common Council will hold its regular meeting at 6 p.m. in the Council Chambers in City Hall. The council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. • South Whitley Town Council hosts its

31 Mar.

Jan. 25

• Chess Club meets at the South Whitley Community Public Library at 4:30 p.m. Players of all abilities and ages are welcome. • Kid’s Passport to Taste takes teens on a tropical getaway to the Bahamas to learn about culture and food at the South Whitley Community Public Library at 4 p.m. Jan. 31

• The Great Chili Competition will take place in Community Rooms A and B at the Peabody Public Library 6-7:45 p.m. Participants are invited to bring their favorite pot of chili (already prepared) for judges to try. Categories will include hot, mild, sweet and no beans. Prizes will be awarded. Register on the library’s website or call (260) 244-5541 and ask for the Adult Department. Registration ends 8 p.m. Jan. 24. March 6

• The Columbia City High School Alumni Association will host its 2018 social luncheon in Sebring, Fla., at 11 a.m. at Homer’s Original Smorgasbord, 1000 Sebring Square, on the southeast corner of U.S. 27 and Sebring Parkway. Reservations are not required. The cost is $10 at the door. Jerry and Pam Begue, class of 1961, will host this year’s event. For more information, email jerrybegue@yahoo.com or call (941) 697-8776. Ongoing

• The Churubusco Lions Club meets every second and fourth Tuesday of each month at Papa’s Place at 6:30 p.m. • Churubusco historical calendars are for sale at the Churubusco History Center, the Churubusco News, the Magic Wand Restaurant, Egolf’s IGA and Shroyers True Value. Calendars are $5 each and proceeds benefit the Churubusco Public Library and the History Center.

What did you do on Winter Break?

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Joe Wigent went roller skating at Happy Valley skating rink in Columbia City.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Sawyer Frankhart, age 5, went sledding.

A16 • INwhitleycounty.com

Whitley County • January 11, 2018

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