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NEWS IN BRIEF Fundraiser planned for Bill Blessing CHURUBUSCO — A shrimp and tenderloin fundraiser dinner, bake sale and silent auction is 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at American Legion Post 157 in Churubusco. The meal is $7.50 and includes french fries and applesauce. Carry-out is also available. All proceeds will go to Blessing, who is fighting throat cancer, and his family, to help cover medical expenses. Those who have items to donate to the silent auction can contact Sue Frazier at 609-3465.
Groundhog Day breakfast is Feb. 3 CHURUBUSCO — The Churubusco Masonic Lodge will host its annual Groundhog Day pancake and sausage breakfast 7-10:30 a.m. at the Masonic Lodge. A free-will offering will be accepted.
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January 25, 2018
SGCS approves referendum resolution By Nicole Minier nminier@kpcmedia.com
CHURUBUSCO — Smith-Green Community Schools’ Board of Trustees approved a resolution for taxpayers to vote for a referendum of $0.628 per $100 of assessed value to assist in budget shortfalls for the
next eight years. The $0.628 is a maximum tax rate the board could approve for the next eight years as needed. The unanimous decision came after brief comments from the public and board members. Business Manager Jodi
Royer provided statistics on school funding, which administrators said was much different years ago. In 2009, the district received $8.8 million for the general fund. In 2016, Smith-Green spent $7.3 million — $1.5 million less than seven years prior. “Since legislation
changed and the money is coming from a different pot, it’s not keeping up with the increases in technology and the cost of living,” Royer said. “It simply has not kept up.” If the referendum is approved in the spring, all money collected from the tax increase would be
collected in the general fund and out of the control of the state, which now has control of where and how the district spends its money. Local farmer Mel Egolf was the first member of the public to speak, See SGCS, Page 2
Homecoming queen represents CCHS at Liberty Bowl By Bridgett Hernandez bhernandez@kpcmedia.com
MEMPHIS, TENN. — Columbia City High School senior and homecoming queen Hannah Behm was invited to participate in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl Queens event Dec. 28-30 in Memphis, Tenn. The event welcomes homecoming queens from across the nation who have a 3.0 GPA or higher and good standing in the community. When Hannah heard about the opportunity, she thought it would be a great way to represent her school and participate in a college-level sporting event. Behm participates in soccer and tennis, and is the sportsmanship leader for the senior class. After soliciting support from several local sponsors, she traveled to Memphis with her mom, Yvonne Behm, and friend Holly Martinez.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Behm and 63 other high school homecoming queens from around the country meet to practice for AutoZone Liberty Bowl pre-game and half-time activities.
During the three-day event, Behm participated in several activities alongside 63 other select high school homecoming queens. Starting at 7:30 a.m. each day, she dressed in her homecoming queen
uniform, tiara and sash and boarded a coach bus to attend various events. The day before the Liberty Bowl, the homecoming queens were bused to the stadium to practice their entrance and partic-
visited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in downtown Memphis where they spent one-on-one time with the young patients. Behm said the visit was the highlight of her trip. Learning about the work St. Jude is doing to fight childhood diseases, most notably, cancer and seeing patients battling cancer was humbling, she said. “It was really an eye-opener to me,” she said. “I want to try to do more for St. Jude’s. So much more needs to be put into research and experiences that children are going through while they have cancer.” Behm also participated in the 59th AutoZone Liberty Bowl parade in downtown Memphis. Because she was the only homecoming queen from Indiana, she was assigned to ride on
ipation in pre-game and half-time activities. While the temperature in Memphis is usually in the 50s that time of year, it was in the 20s during the three-hour rehearsal. After practice, the queens See HOMECOMING, Page 4
Next steps for Whitko consolidated school unclear By Bridgett Hernandez bhernandez@kpcmedia.com
LARWILL — Whitko Community School Corp. took a huge first step when school board trustees voted to close Whitko Middle School in Larwill and consolidate students at Whitko High School in South Whitley, but the next step remain unclear. The board was forced to consolidate due to declining enrollment and budgetary constraints. The building in Larwill will continue to serve as an administration building and will be used for
after school activities for middle school students. The school corporation already offers an after school activities bus, and it will transport students from South Whitley to Larwill, said school board president Jorell Tucker. In “phase one” of the consolidation, the school corporation will take on projects at the high school campus in South Whitley in order to accommodate the middle school students. All modifications are expected to be complete before the start of the 2018-2019 school year.
Phase one will include the purchase or lease of portable classrooms at the campus in South Whitley, Tucker said. The school corporation plans to partner with Whitley Manufacturing to bring the modular buildings to campus, he added. Funding any capital projects beyond phase one would require further discussion, and it’s unclear how much it will cost to retrofit the high school building, he said. “Phase two is a longerterm look at locations and that kind of thing
and spending a lot more money,” Tucker said. Previously, a consultant estimated that retrofitting Whitko High School would cost an estimated $3.2 million while retrofitting Whitko Middle School would cost between $500,000 and $1 million. Tucker said this estimate was based on “wants and needs” and doesn’t reflect the current picture. According to a presentation during the school board’s December work session, the high school needs significant upgrades.
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The school was built in 1971 with additions and renovations in 2006. Additionally, the high school can’t be brought up to ADA compliance without tearing it down. For now, stabilizing enrollment is the school corporation’s top priority, Tucker said. “The first step is to stabilize our enrollment and cut the costs that we’re committing to cut. Once we get that done, we can move forward with reevaluating phase two options and reevaluating locations in the next several year,” he said. Buy 1 lb. Fudge, Get 1/2 lb. FREE Expires 3/1/18
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A2 • INwhitleycounty.com
Whitley County • January 25, 2018
CCHS student chosen to tell hero’s tale in Normandy Staff reports COLUMBIA CITY — Columbia City High School’s Liam Hesting was recently accepted into the prestigious “Normandy: Sacrifice for Freedom, Albert H. Small Student and Teacher Institute,” by the Indiana Historical Society. Along with his teacher, Kristin Rentschler, Hesting will embark on a yearlong course of study that concludes with a journey to Normandy, France, to honor a World War II silent hero who died during or after the Normandy invasion. Courses, materials and international travel are paid for by the generosity of
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Liam Hesting, left, and Kristin Rentschler, were chosen by the Indiana Historical Society to research a “silent hero” of World War II, for a special project, “Normandy: Sacrifice for Freedom.”
Albert H. Small. travel to Washington, D.C., Hesting and Rentschler to finish their research with join 14 other student/teacher help from historians and teams from the U.S. on the college professors. They educational journey. Teams will tour the World War II select one silent hero from Memorial, conduct research their hometown or state at the National Archives and who is memorialized at the prepare for an expedition to Normandy American Cemethe beaches of D-Day. tery. The final leg of their Rentschler and Hesting journey is to Normandy, then conduct in-depth historFrance, where they will tour ical research on the life of Omaha and Utah Beaches, this silent hero. Through walking in the footsteps primary sources, such as war of history. After visiting records, draft cards or intermuseums, sites of historic views with descendants, they battles and churches that will learn about conducting were used as field hospitals, historical research while the journey concludes at the telling the tale of this silent Normandy American Cemehero. In June 2018, teams will See NORMANDY, Page 4ww
A fruitful lesson
Staff reports COLUMBIA CITY — The Whitley County Master Gardeners are encouraging gardeners to “pick the apple tree before picking the apples.” The group is sponsoring an educational session on choosing the correct fruit tree for your property, including consideration of root ball size, mature tree size and specific strain of fruit desired. Rick Meyer, proprietor of Orchard Hill Farms, will provide a presentation on apple trees 7 p.m. Feb. 1 in Classroom B of Parkview Whitley Hospital. The presentation is free of charge and open to the public.
SGCS from Page 1 expressing his disappointment in the “extreme financial distress” the district faces. “To say that our financial condition is the state’s fault is only part of the problem we face,” Egolf said. “Fifteen years of declining enrollment, stagnant assessed valuation and poor financial management may be equal factors. “It was stated that the state would have no
control over how the additional money could be spent. Given our current condition and how we got here, I take absolutely no comfort in that thought.” Churubusco Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Janet Lantz countered Golf’s argument. Lantz transferred her child from Northwest Allen County Schools to SmithGreen, where she thought her child would have better opportunities.
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“I knew as a staff member what we had to offer here,” Lantz said. “I’m here to tell you as a parent and teacher, there’s no place I’d rather be. Every day, I walk through that door and I know it’s a great place for kids — and I want to keep it that way. It’s a privilege every day to come here and teach, I want to see this continue.” Harold Troyer is a former Smith-Green school board member who said he has “mixed emotions” about the referendum, especially with his history in farming. Troyer noted that large landowners will bear the brunt of the tax increase, but also doesn’t want to see the school district fail. “I’m not totally against it,” Troyer said. “But, if it goes through, I guarantee there will be some bird dogs watching this. I love the school system and I
don’t want to see it go down the tubes. I’m very proud of what’s come out of this school, but I caution you, you will be watched on how the money is spent.” Superintendent Dan Hile and board members said they invite the public to offer suggestions on how to spend the money. “This is a big deal — it’s a lot of money we’re talking about,” Hile said. Board members indicated they were ready to move forward with the referendum resolution because they feel the district is at a turning point. “Do we just want to get by, or keep moving forward on the successes we’ve had?” Board President Dean Geiger said. “I’m concerned that if the school does drop off — whether programming or something more final than that — I’m
afraid what would happen to the rest of the community.” Smith-Green has received a significant financial boost from its over 100 transfer students — students who live outside Smith and Green townships — which come with about $970,000. Pat McGuire spoke at the end of the meeting, calling for a more permanent fix to the financial woes. “I think what the board did tonight was a wise move, although it is only a stopgap measure,” McGuire said. “You have a responsibility to set a few plans in motion to make sure we put something into effect that will resolve the problem. I don’t think there’s anything we can do to change the state other than at the ballot box.” The official verbiage that will be on this spring’s primary election ballot for
residents in Smith Township in Whitley County and Green Township in Noble County is as follows: “For the eight calendar years immediately following the holding of the referendum, shall the Smith-Green Community Schools Corporation impose a property tax rate that does not exceed sixty-two and eight tenths cents ($.0.628) on each one hundred dollars ($100) of assessed valuation and that is in addition to all other property taxes imposed by the school corporation for the purpose of funding and maintaining current educational and operational programs including student safety and transportation and any other education and operational needs of the school corporation.” Voters will have the option to vote “yes” or “no” to the proposed referendum.
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INwhitleycounty.com • A3
Whitley County • January 25, 2018
Local giving yields grants for Whitley County programs, projects Staff reports WHITLEY COUNTY — The Community Foundation of Whitley County Inc. recently awarded grants totaling $91,671, made possible by the generosity of local donors who have chosen to utilize the Foundation for their charitable giving. Fourteen local organizations and projects will benefit from the funding. Leading the list is a $25,000 grant to the Interfaith Mission. The organization continues to rebound after being hard hit by changes to state and federal funding requirements for homeless shelters. Thanks to exemplary, committed leadership and a renewed sense of community collaboration, the organization’s application was viewed favorably. The Foundation also granted its final $25,000 installment from a $75,000 encumbered grant to the Russel and Evelyn Fahl Aquatics Center in Columbia City. Other projects and organizations receiving grants from the Community Foundation of Whitley County Inc. are: • American Red Cross, $2,500 to provide services to Whitley County residents with the implementation of Home Fire Campaign; made possible in part by the Greg & Ann Fahl Fund and the Jerry Busche Family Fund. • Cancer Services of Northeast Indiana, $5,000 to
provide services for cancer patients in Whitley County; made possible in part by the Whitley County Cancer Care Fund and the Shirley Gates Fund. • The Center for Whitley County Youth, $5,000 for matching funds from its annual cook-off; made possible in part by the Donna Harl Community Fund and the Gary & Ann Dillon Community Fund. • Columbia City High School fine arts department, $750 to purchase new microphone system for theater productions; made possible by the Arts Alive Fund and the Rosemary Steiner Fund. • Difference Makers/Impact Center, $1,200 for two upright freezers that will allow meat at the food pantry; made possible in part by the Jean & Roger Long Community Fund. • Junior Achievement, $2,500 for a personal finance class; made possible in part by the Don & Jane Langeloh Fund. • Mad Anthony’s Children’s Hope House, $5,000 to help offset the cost of Whitley County families using the hospitality house; made possible in part by the Tim & Beth Bloom Community Fund. • Salvation Army, $1,300 toward the cost of providing classes that focus on building relationships. Activities such as sewing, grooming, cooking, painting and budgeting classes;
made possible in part by the William & Barbara Overdeer Community Fund. • South Whitley Youth League, $2,500 to go toward a technical assistance grant for development planning; made possible in part by the Alan Fox Community Fund. • Whitko Middle School, $4,421.93 for the cost of Spheros, small robotic balls that can be coded, programmed, driven and more through iPad applications for seventh grade science; made possible in part by the John Slavich Whitley County Youth Fund. • Whitley County Economic Development Corp., $500 to create aware-
ness with a website and social media campaigns addressing volunteer needs; made possible by the Jack & Judy Moore Fund. • Youth for Christ, $10,000 to go toward a program that will mentor student leaders and empower them to make intentional supportive relationships with their peers. Made possible in part by the Andy & Toni More Community Fund. May 1 is the deadline for submitting applications for consideration during the next grant cycle. Would-be applicants are encouraged to contact the Foundation in advance of submitting a grant request to discuss
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A4 • INwhitleycounty.com
Whitley County • January 25, 2018
Blizzard of ’78 By Nicole Minier
wasn’t as fortunate, and couldn’t make it into work. Mechanic Max Cox had a vehicle with four-wheel drive and Coyle joined Cecil Keele in an REMC truck. Together, they set out to a call on O’Day Road near Churubusco. Cox’s vehicle had a plow in front, and he plowed the way for Coyle’s and Keele’s REMC truck. “On the way out, we came up on a semi laying on its side,” Coyle said. “It was already unbelievable conditions.” The crew made it as far as Johnson Road before their journey came to an end. “The wind and snow were blowing so severely, we couldn’t see,” Coyle said. “The snow was drifting over fences.”
nminier@kpcmedia.com
WHITLEY COUNTY — The blizzard may have been 40 years ago to this date, but Whitley County resident Bruce Coyle remembers it like it was yesterday. Coyle began working for the Whitley County REMC a month prior and was serving his first “stand-by” shift when the blizzard rolled in. “The phone rang and it was dark outside, I could hear the wind howling,” Coyle said. “I looked out the window and I couldn’t see beyond the window. It was covered in snow.” Coyle drove a Volkswagen with snow tires and managed to make it into the REMC. His fellow coworker who was on stand-by, Jim Snodgrass,
Cox’s vehicle came to a drift that was larger than he could plow. “He got into a snow drift that he couldn’t get through,” Coyle said. “When he stopped, we lost our forward momentum and we were stuck.” The crew slept in the cab of their truck, and eventually, two tractors came to pull them out. The next morning was a sight unlike Coyle had ever seen. “It looked like the end of the world out there,” Coyle said. Once they were back in motion, the REMC crew met up with state and county highway trucks — one with a V-blade plow and another with a pay-loader. “Anything the V-blade
Coyle remembers his work with REMC during catastrophic storm couldn’t get through, the pay-loader would scoop away the snow,” Coyle said. On highways, cars were stuck in the middle of the road, so they had to make their own paths, sometimes through medians and off-road. “We had to take the path of least resistance,” Coyle said. “It was a humongous drive.” After much effort, they made it back to the REMC building but wanted to try to make it out again on calls. “We kept getting stuck,” Coyle said. Fred Shatzer, who was manning the base at REMC, told the crew it was time to call it quits. “He called us and said to give it up, they had declared an emergency,”
Coyle said. By the third day, more crew members made it into the REMC building. As the wind died down, a caravan of vehicles made their way around Whitley County — snow plows, a box van with food items, an ambulance and the REMC truck, among others. Still, there were places that couldn’t be reached by vehicles, mainly county roads, so electrical equipment had to be transported by snowmobiles, some of which were volunteered by Tim Mishler, Tom Bills and Tom Rowe. “The drifts were horrendous,” Coyle said. “There were places we went through that were higher than the truck.” Coyle estimates the truck was 11-12 feet tall.
Though the blizzard of ’78 provided exceptionally difficult working conditions, as an employee of REMC, Coyle has faced some difficult winters. One winter in the 1980s, Coyle worked in temperatures of 30 degrees below zero, with wind chills as low as negative 80. “The first 10 years I worked with REMC, we had some really cold days and a lot of snow,” Coyle said. “The weather patterns have changed quite a bit now.” At 64 years old, Coyle has 40 years between Whitley County and Northeastern REMC. His next oldest coworker is 45 years old. “The guys I work with have no idea what it was like,” Coyle said.
Sacrifice for Freedom Albert H. Small Student & Teacher Institute has told the stories of more than 100 silent heroes. Each of the heroes lives on in the digital memorials created by past participants and remains a powerful memorial to the sacrifice of Americans in WWII. National History Day is a nonprofit education organization headquartered in Maryland. Established in 1974, NHD promotes an appreciation for historical research among middle and high school students through multiple annual programs. More than half a million students participate in the annual National History Day
Contest. These research-based projects are entered into contests at the local and affiliate levels, where the top entries are invited to the National Contest at the University of Maryland at College Park. NHD provides professional development opportunities and curriculum materials for educators of all levels. NHD is sponsored in part by HISTORY, Jostens, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the National Park Service, Southwest Airlines, the Joe Weider Foundation and the WEM 2000 Foundation of the Dorsey & Whitney Foundation. For more information, visit nhd.org.
National History Day in Indiana is a year-long program dedicated to enhancing history education in Indiana’s elementary and secondary schools. Students in grades four through 12 explore a historical subject and then use their research to create documentaries, exhibits, papers, performances and websites. The Indiana Historical Society has organized Indiana’s participation in the NHD program for more than a decade, with more than 5,000 Indiana students taking part annually. For more information on NHDI and other IHS programs, call (317) 232-1882 or visit indianahistory.org.
NORMANDY from Page 2 tery. There, Hesting will deliver a graveside eulogy for the silent hero he spent months researching. “This program helps a new generation of Americans understand the sacrifice for freedom made during Operation Overlord,” said National History Day Executive Director Cathy Gorn. “Nothing relates the significance of the sacrifices made in Normandy better than a personal connection. Students become well acquainted with their silent heroes, often referring to them as a friend or family member. The eulogies they deliver are often tear-filled, powerful and incredibly moving. I am confident Liam will walk
away with a powerful understanding of the sacrifices so many silent heroes made in World War II.” The Normandy: Sacrifice for Freedom Albert H. Small Student and Teacher Institute is coordinated by National History Day and is funded by a donation from Small, a veteran himself. Hesting, under the guidance of Rentschler, will create a memorial profile on NHDSilentHeroes.org. These pages live on as a digital memorial to the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice. The project is a good fit for Hesting, who has experience researching and developing a website for National History Day in
Indiana, sponsored by IHS. In 2017, Hesting and three of his classmates advanced to the national contest for National History Day where their website was awarded “Outstanding State Entry.” In addition to creating the online profile, Hesting and Rentschler will be charged with presenting the story of their silent hero to local schools, community groups and veterans’ organizations. “These digital records of the life and actions of a silent hero will live on long after these teams return,” said Gorn. “They serve as a digital monument to the sacrifices made by these heroic individuals.” To date, the Normandy:
HOMECOMING from Page 1 the front float, which also carried the reigning AutoZone Liberty Bowl Queen. On game day, Behm and the other homecoming
queens wore white gowns – part of the half-time show’s red, white and blue presentation. During the pre-game activities, the young women
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escorted several military personnel onto the field and remained for pre-game announcements, introductions and singing of the National Anthem. The half-time show featured the Isley Brothers singing “Twist and Shout” and the homecoming queens danced in front of the stage and walked around the dancers in a routine. Being a part of a nationally televised event is something Behm will always remember. It was also a learning experience. After going to school with the same group of friends for a long time, she had to learn how to make new friends on the spot. “There were 63 girls total and no one knew anybody coming into the whole entire thing, so I really tried to make new friends and make everyone feel welcome. I would want someone to come up [and talk] to me, so why wouldn’t another girl want someone to come up and talk to her?” Behm said.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Behm rides a parade float in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl parade in downtown Memphis.
Yvonne Behm said it was wonderful to spend some one-on-one time with her daughter and watch her demonstrate poise and make new friends. While the experience was not a pageant, it had some pageant elements and it got Hannah thinking about competing for Miss Whitley County, Yvonne said. It was such a great experience, Hannah wants to work with her high school to help
future homecoming queens be able to participating in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl Queens event. For many of the other participants at the event, their schools know about the event and sponsors are secured in advanced, she explained. After the Behms learned about the opportunity, it was up to them to secure funding for the trip. In the future, it would be nice to secure regular funding for the expe-
Behm was invited to participate in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl Queens event in Memphis, Tenn. She and the other high school homecoming queens wore white gowns as part of the half-time show’s red-white-and-blue performance.
rience because the costs are considerable, Hannah said. Hannah would like to thank the local sponsors for making her trip possible, including Verizon Columbia City, Teghtmeyer’s Ace Hardware and Dr. Allison Bergdoll’s orthodontics practice.
INwhitleycounty.com • A5
Whitley County • January 25, 2018
Richard Bardey
Delores Byall, of Columbia City, rests on a Cushman 800 hauler at the Fort Wayne Farm Show last week. Byall visited with Kevin Lichtenbarger of South Bend. Both said they were raised on farms and never intend to leave the farm.
Dorothy Bayman
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Concern about coyotes Coyotes are native to Indiana. Before Europeans settled here, coyotes were primarily restricted to prairie regions of the state, as much JOHN E. of the state was WOODMANSEE forested and populations may have been kept in check by red and gray wolves, once abundant in Indiana. According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website on coyotes, “Today, coyotes are found throughout Indiana, including urban areas.” Should we be concerned about coyotes? Indiana DNR said the coyote resembles a small German Shepherd dog in size and build, but it carries its tail below the level of its back instead of curved upward. Their hair is grizzled gray or buff, with a reddish brown muzzle. The lower body is white, cream colored or reddish yellow. They average 25 pounds, ranging from 20 to 50 pounds. Coyotes will crossbreed with domestic and feral dogs. They communicate by barking, yipping and howling. Coyotes are highly adaptable and occupy a wide range of habitats. They have developed a high tolerance for humans and are common in urban, suburban and agricultural areas. These nocturnal animals are generally solitary and rarely form packs, but they will sometimes hunt with mates or family units. Indiana DNR characterizes coyotes as opportunistic foragers that will consume anything of nutritional value. They typically feed on small animals, rabbits and squirrels, but will not turn down meals offered from human-provided food sources, such as garbage. They may also eat fruit, insects, poultry, livestock, deer
(especially fawns and roadkilled deer), songbirds and game birds. Brian MacGowan, Purdue Extension wildlife specialist, said that coyotes are probably one of the few animals that homeowners want removed simply by seeing them in their yard. “However, these fears are rarely justified,” he said. “Diet studies of urban coyotes indicate they eat primarily rodents and rabbits.” Coyotes are extremely cautious of humans in areas where they are harassed, hunted or trapped. However, in suburban areas, where they have lost their fear of humans, coyotes may associate people and their pets with an easy and dependable source of food. Like other wild animals, coyotes that have lost their natural fear of humans are more likely to approach people and may threaten human health and safety. Coyotes can be carriers of rabies and other diseases that could threaten public health. Coyotes may also target pet cats and dogs. Not all coyotes are stock killers, however some are killers of livestock and poultry. Generally, only one or two in an area find livestock a favorite food source. Coyotes kill large sheep, goats and small calves by seizing the throat just behind the jaw and ear. Death usually results from suffocation and shock; blood loss is usually a secondary cause of death. They kill small animals such as young lambs, pigs and kids (young goats) by biting the head, neck or back and causing massive bone and tissue damage. Blood and puncture wounds are typically evident on the head and throat. Coyotes normally begin feeding on the flanks or just behind the ribs, with some exceptions. Contrasting this behavior with feral dogs, animals attacked or killed by dogs will generally exhibit indiscriminate mutilation, with damage occurring to several parts of the body. And, dogs generally
do not feed on animals they have killed. Multiple kills are more common in the case of dog attacks. The one redeeming quality of coyotes is that they do perform a vital role in helping to control pests such as field rodents that can cause economic damage to crops and landscapes. Livestock owners employ several techniques to defend against coyotes. These may include improved animal husbandry, fencing, predator-proof buildings, guard dogs or mechanical repellent devices. Suburban residents may limit problems with coyotes by not putting feed and water out for wildlife in general. Bird feeders should be constructed and positioned so that coyotes and their prey cannot reach them. Garbage containers should be firmly secured with tight fitting lids. Pets that are fed outside should not be fed in a way that leaves leftovers, and pet food should be stored inside. Allowing pets to run free increases their risk. Indiana DNR said that landowners, or a person with written permission from a landowner, may take coyotes year-round on private property by trapping or shooting without a permit from the DNR. A landowner does not need a permit to take coyotes on his/her property by one of these methods, but a hunting or trapping license is required to hunt or trap coyotes on land other than your own. Alternatively, nuisance coyotes can also be managed by a licensed wildlife control operator for a fee. For more information, access the referenced Indiana DNR website on coyotes at in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5688. htm. Additional information is available in an article by MacGowan on urban coyotes at purdue.edu/fnr/extension/ blog/2017/03/15/urban-coyotes-should-you-be-concerned. — John Woodmansee is an extension educator in Whitley and Noble counties.
Free mammogram program supported by Valentines for Life Staff reports WHITLEY COUNTY — Honor a special person in your life by purchasing a Valentine for Life from the Whitley County Giving Circle for Women’s Health, a component fund of the Community Foundation of Whitley County. Tax-deductible donations will help to provide free mammograms for local women who cannot afford and would not otherwise receive this critical cancer screening. Valentines cost $5 each with proceeds benefiting the free mammogram program offered in partnership with Parkview Whitley Hospital. Personalized cards with matching themed envelopes will be sent to each person on your Valentine list with a special message to let them know a dona-
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tion has been made to the mammogram program in their honor. This marks the 14th consecutive year the Giving Circle Fund has been able to GRAPHIC CONTRIBUTED offer this important program to assist local women in need. This year, let your Valentines be true gifts from the heart that make a lasting difference. Valentines for Life may be purchased online by visiting the Community Foundation’s website at cfwhitley.org/givingcircle/ or by requesting a Valentine for Life form from the foundation. The deadline for Valentine submission is Feb. 7. Questions can be directed to Chelsey Barrell, communications coordinator, at 244-5224 or by e-mailing her at chelseywccf@gmail.com.
NEW CARLISLE, Ohio — Richard L. Bardey, 74, of New Carlisle, Ohio, died Monday, Jan. 15, 2018. Services were Sunday at the Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial was in Jefferson Chapel Sand Bank Cemetery.
SOUTH WHITLEY — Dorothy Bonnie Bayman, 93, formerly of South Whitley, died at 6:25 a.m. Friday, Jan. 19, 2018, at Miller’s Merry Manor Oak Pointe, Columbia City. A visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday at Smith and Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial will take place at a later date in the South Whitley Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice.
Phillip Loe FORT WAYNE — Phillip Carlton Loe, 94, of Fort Wayne, died at 9:54 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018, at Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home. A service was held Wednesday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial was in Eberhard Cemetery. Memorials are to Northeast Indiana Honor Flight.
Obituary Policy INWhitley County does not charge for death notices that include notice of calling hours, date and time of funeral and burial. An extended obituary, which includes survivors, biographical information and a photo, is available for a charge. Deadline for funeral homes to place obituaries is 9 a.m. Tuesday. The email address is: obits@ kpcmedia.com. Submitted obituaries must contain the name and phone number of the funeral home. For information, contact Kathryn Bassett at 260-347-0400, ext. 2526.
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A6 • INwhitleycounty.com
OPINION
Whitley County • January 25, 2018
Behold the ‘Perfect’ Generation Positives from By Leo Morris Those of us who go into journalism learn so much about so many things we eventually think we know everything there is to know about the human condition, and us who go on to become editorial writers and columnists feel an obligation to share that knowledge. According to a new review of 120 years of data published in “Frontiers of Physiology,” taking such wise advice would be pointless since the human race has peaked. After what has seemed like a continuous process of record-breaking improvements, we have hit a wall. It’s all downhill from here. This seems to explain so much of the nonsense we
see around us, including the mindless dreck produced by Hollywood and other factories of popular culture and the fact that Indiana lawmakers can’t even figure out whether they’ve made CBD oil legal or illegal. You’d think liberals would be dismayed that we have reached our limit. They have built their entire philosophy on the perfectibility of the human race. If government merely spends enough money, creates enough educational programs and legislates enough compassion, people can overcome their baser natures and attain the civilized height that is their destiny. “Now that we have reached the limits of the human species,” says
Professor Jean-Francois Toussaint of Paris Descartes University. Ah. The pie is never going to get any bigger, in other words, so the only sensible solution is to make sure we divide it up fairly. Progressives, in order to justify ever more elaborate schemes to redistribute wealth, never mind trying to understand how that wealth is created, have always had to justify not spending on the foundations and traditions of human society. About the only thing that could make this calamity more delicious would be to blame it on climate change. And here it is: “This will be one of the biggest challenges of this century as the added pres-
sure from anthropogenic activities will be responsible for damaging effects on human health and the environment,” a statement from Touissant says. “The current declines in human capacities we can see today are a sign that environmental changes, including climate, are already contributing to the increasing constraints we now have to consider.” It’s the ultimate story for the modern age. The human race is done, and it’s all our fault, so we must allow our betters to manage our slide into oblivion. Perfection achieved. Their work is done. — Contact Leo Morris, columnist for The Indiana Policy Review, at leoedits@ yahoo.com.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear editor, I have been employed at the Whitley County office of the Indiana Department of Child Services since 2015. Not having much experience with the Whitley County community prior to joining the Whitley County DCS team, I have been extremely amazed and grateful at the level of generosity this community has shown toward the children in which we serve. Every year, my co-worker, Cheryl Ritschard,
tirelessly coordinates with local businesses and families to ensure that the children who we serve have ample presents to open Christmas morning. Due to their generosity, 244 children have had a brighter Christmas since 2015. What makes it even more special is that neither the local businesses, families nor the children know who purchased or received these gifts. On behalf of the Whitley County DCS team and the children who have
received these wonderful presents, we want to express our sincerest appreciation and gratitude to the following local businesses and families: The Whitley County Rotary Club, USSI (Undersea Sensor Systems Inc.), the Bowen Center, Kathy Studebaker’s family, Cara Graves’ family, Robert Scott Jones, Ruoff Home Mortgage, Whitley County Work Release, ChromaSource Inc., Columbia City Church of the Brethren, South Whitley Theta Kappa
Chapter of Delta Theta Tau, Advanced Assembly, Merriam Christian Chapel, KYOCERA SGS Precision Tools Inc., Parkview Whitley EMS, Reelcraft Industries Inc., Miller’s Merry Manor, Jerilynn Johnson’s family, Rechel Lickey’s family, Whitley County government offices, Hope Lutheran Church of Coesse and Parkview Whitley Emergency Department. — Jeffrey M. Bedree Whitley County DCS director
Whitko decision Whitko’s school board members had a difficult decision to make last week. While we know not everyone agrees with the decision that was made, there are some positives we can see from the decision. At the top of that list are the benefits the town of South Whitley will receive by continuing to have the high school campus in town, rather than moving the high school to Larwill. Just last year, the town formed the South Whitley Redevelopment Commission. The town is trying to reinvent itself, build and retain people. Taking away the main hub for activities would certainly work against that effort. After all, if the school wants more funding from the state, it needs more students. The school will be dependent on South Whitley to attract more families to the area. Another positive is the high school’s ability to take on the new students. Officials reported costly updates would be needed to make
Our view
Whitko Middle School prepared to operate as a high school. The South Whitley campus is nearly prepared for the additional students. We say nearly because there will be some portable classrooms added to the high school campus to accommodate the additional students. But another positive from that is that the addition of the classrooms will be an improvement to the local economy, as they will likely be provided construction by a local business. There was no perfect solution to this difficult situation, but we hope the Whitko community will embrace the decision that was made, and move forward for the betterment of the district as a whole.
President Trump, the truth and the American press Last Saturday in Nuevo Laredo, columnist and investigative reporter Carlos Dominguez was waiting at a traffic light with his son, his daughter-in-law BRIAN and his HOWEY grandchildren when men armed with knives flung open the car door. The Los Angeles Times reports that Dominguez was stabbed 21 times. He joined the 11 Mexican journalists slain in 2017 fighting drug cartels and public corruption, attempting to do what may be impossible now, which is to prevent a failed state from existing on America’s southern flank. Worldwide, 80 journalists were murdered in 2017 and another 326 were detained by authorities for doing their jobs. Both those numbers are down, mostly because a number of failed states like Syria are too dangerous and the press has pulled back. When that happens, it’s hard
for us to know what is actually happening there. I write about this today because two Arizona Republicans had the courage to call out President Trump for branding the American press “enemies of the people.” As a journalist, an American and a patriot, I’ve conveyed to my friends who support President Trump how utterly offensive to us it is for an American president to so recklessly brand one of the key pillars of democracy. We could play the fill-inthe-blank game: How would you feel if someone called lobbyists “enemies of the American people”? Or cops? Or Democrats? Or Sikhs? Or Jews? You get the point. So we find ourselves at the surreal end of President Trump’s first year in office, and watch in awe that two Republicans, including the 2008 presidential nominee John McCain, have to step up and stand for dignity utterly lacking in this White House. McCain writes in a Washington Post op-ed, “President Reagan recognized that as leader of the free world, his words carried enormous weight, and he used them to inspire the unprecedented spread of democracy around
the world. “President Trump does not seem to understand that his rhetoric and actions reverberate in the same way. He has threatened to continue his attempt to discredit the free press by bestowing ‘fake news awards’ upon reporters and news outlets whose coverage he disagrees with,” McCain continued. “Whether Trump knows it or not, these efforts are being closely watched by foreign leaders who are already using his words as cover as they silence and shutter one of the key pillars of democracy.” McCain continues, “Trump’s attempts to undermine the free press also make it more difficult to hold repressive governments accountable. For decades, dissidents and human rights advocates have relied on independent investigations into government corruption to further their fight for freedom. But constant cries of ‘fake news’ undercut this type of reporting and strip activists of one of their most powerful tools of dissent. We become better, stronger and more effective societies by having an informed and engaged public that pushes policymakers to best repre-
sent not only our interests but also our values. Journalists play a major role in the promotion and protection of democracy and our unalienable rights, and they must be able to do their jobs freely. Only truth and transparency can guarantee freedom.” Sen. Flake, a former kindred conservative friend of Vice President Mike Pence, is retiring after unrelenting criticism from President Trump. He took to the Senate floor on Wednesday to compare the President of the United States to the Soviet tyrant Joseph Stalin, who murdered tens of million of his own people and enemies of his police state. “Mr. President, near the beginning of the document that made us free, our Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident….’” Flake began. “So, from our very beginnings, our freedom has been predicated on truth. The founders were visionary in this regard, understanding well that good faith and shared facts between the governed and the government would be the very basis of this ongoing idea of America. As the distinguished
former member of this body, Daniel Patrick Moynihan of New York, famously said: ‘Everyone is entitled to his own opinion, but not to his own facts.’ During the past year, I am alarmed to say that Senator Moynihan’s proposition has likely been tested more severely than at any time in our history.” Flake continued, noting that “2017 was a year which saw the truth — objective, empirical, evidence-based truth — more battered and abused than any other in the history of our country, at the hands of the most powerful figure in our government. It was a year which saw the White House enshrine ‘alternative facts’ into the American lexicon, as justification for what used to be known simply as good old-fashioned falsehoods. It was the year in which an unrelenting daily assault on the constitutionally-protected free press was launched by that same White House, an assault that is as unprecedented as it is unwarranted. ‘The enemy of the people,’ was what the president of the United States called the free press in 2017. “Mr. President,” Flake then said, “it is a testament to the
condition of our democracy that our own president uses words infamously spoken by Josef Stalin to describe his enemies. It bears noting that so fraught with malice was the phrase ‘enemy of the people,’ that even Nikita Khrushchev forbade its use, telling the Soviet Communist Party that the phrase had been introduced by Stalin for the purpose of ‘annihilating such individuals’ who disagreed with the supreme leader.” By the time Flake finished speaking, he had summoned the warning of “1984” author George Orwell: “The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” I’ve had Hoosier Republicans question why I write the way I do about President Trump. My consistent response is that he lies all the time, and he runs an operation so unprofessional, that it is unbecoming to the White House where the best and brightest among us should be toiling to preserve the cornerstones of democracy. — Brian Howey is publisher of Howey Politics Indiana. From 1979 to 1990 he was a reporter and editor at the Elkhart Truth.
INwhitleycounty.com • A7
Whitley County • January 25, 2018
YESTERDAY 1 year ago Churubusco was awarded a tree grant of $5,100 for 35 new trees in town, which would be planted along Whitley Street and other nearby side streets. Madalyn Sade-Bartl was named the 3rd District Democratic chair. Whitley County Consolidated Schools’ officials were finalizing plans for its new Columbia City High School, which is expected to be complete in 2020. Cole Lybarger was named Churubusco High School’s first Snowcoming King. 10 years ago Chad Fulkerson was named town marshal of Churubusco. Fulkerson had been on the police department for 12 years and replaced John Hart who stepped down as marshal after being elected town councilman. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels was expected to be a guest at the annual Lincoln Day Dinner at Eagle Glen Golf Course. Severe flooding caused issues for Churubusco residents, with the worst at Sunny Slope addition on the east side of town. Town manager Jeremy Hart was working on a solution to the flooding issues. Aluminum components provider 80/20 Inc. announced it would expand its manufacturing and
distribution center, creating more than 40 new jobs by 2010. The company planned to invest more than $5 million to upgrade machining and manufacturing. At the time, 80/20 in Columbia City had 210 employees. Richard and Karen Bell announced the engagement of their daughter, Sarah Bell, to Jason Chordas. The Churubusco wrestling team placed second overall at the Northeast Corner Conference meet and had four individual champions. 15 years ago Walter Hershberger, of Fort Wayne, was convicted of six counts of felony child molesting in Whitley Circuit Court and could face up to 138 years in prison after a jury found him guilty. Brent and Lib McDowell announced the engagement of their daughter, Alissa, to Corey Schoon. Smith-Green Community Schools’ facility rental rates were $15 per hour for the cafeteria, gymnasiums, auditorium, annex or classrooms. Health screenings were offered at the Linvill Health Center in Columbia City, offered by Parkview Whitley Hospital. Screenings included bone density ($15), body composition ($10), lipid profile test ($10), glucose screening ($4), and prostatic-specific
antigen ($20). The 2003 Whitley County Junior Miss, Michelle “Missy” Shiraev, Churubusco, decided not to participate in the Indiana Junior Miss Program after she was injured in an automobile accident. Instead, first runner-up Danielle Minear assumed the responsibility to represent the county. Coordinators of the local program were Pamela Thompson and Carrie Gates. 20 years ago The Churubusco Fire Department purchased a new tanker. The pump was capable of delivering 1,000 gallons of water per minute. The tank replaced a 30-year-old tank truck. Alissa McDowell was chosen to be a member of the Women’s All State Choir, which performed at the Indiana Music Educator’s State Convention in Indianapolis. 25 years ago Town maintenance plans for 1993 were submitted to the council by Town Supervisor Jack Burks. The plans included correcting issues with the sanitary sewer system, manhole rehabilitation, flushing fire hydrants, cleaning sewers and street sweeping. The United Way of Whitley County discussed a monetary shortfall, causing the organization to cut agency allocations by as much as 10 percent.
Tools to help with farm management What is the right custom rate for field operations? What’s a typical crop budget look like? Purdue Extension has resources that can help farmers who are looking for answers to these and other important farm management questions JOHN E. at the WOODMANSEE Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture website: ag.purdue.edu/ commercialag. I get the question from farmers on custom rates several times each year. Farmers generally ask what the “going rate” is to perform custom field operations. Typically, I find that the farmer simply wants to charge a fair rate, and they need a place to start, or at least some data to get them in the ballpark for good-faith negotiations. In 2017, Michael Langemeier, associate director of the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture, conducted research with the assistance of extension educators in the state, to determine updates to the prior custom rates publication, EC-130-W, published in 2013. The results of Lange-
meier’s research can be found at ag.purdue.edu/commercialag/Pages/Resources/ Management-Strategy/ Crop-Economics/2017-Indiana-Farm-Custom-Rates. aspx. If you are at the Purdue Center for Commercial Agriculture main website, it can also be navigated to under the “Resources” tab. “Unless otherwise stated, the rates reported include payments made for fuel, operator labor and machinery ownership costs,” said Langemeier. Langemeier said farm custom rates may differ significantly from one area in the state to another based on availability of custom operators and demand for their services. Therefore, the statewide averages reported might be quite different from the going rate in any given area. “Custom rates in a given area may vary significantly according to timeliness, operator skill, field size and shape, crop conditions, the performance characteristics of the machine being used, the relationship between the custom operator and the person needing custom work done, competitive pressures and economic circumstances of the custom operator,” he said. “The variation of reported rates was large for many of the operations and thus should only be used as a starting point for establishing a rate in any given situation.” Another question I get from
time to time revolves around what a “typical” budget for a particular crop might look like. As you might imagine, “typical” is a dangerous word. Again, much variability from farmer to farmer and from among various management systems exists. But, again we think about “getting in the ballpark.” Purdue Extension has a resource at the Center for Commercial Ag entitled, “2018 Crop Cost and Return Guide.” The guide is cooperatively authored by Purdue specialists in multiple departments. If significant pricing structures change, the guide may be updated prior to planting season. The current version was based on November 2017 projections. The guide offers farmers crop budgets for three levels of soil productivity: low, average and high productivity soil. Additionally, the guide offers average budgets for continuous corn, rotation corn, rotation beans, wheat and double-crop beans. Find the guide at ag.purdue.edu/commercialag/Pages/Resources/ Management-Strategy/ Crop-Economics/2018-PurdueCrop-Cost—Return-Guide. aspx. Again, from the center’s main website, it can also be navigated to under the “Resources” tab. — John Woodmansee is an extension educator in Whitley and Noble counties.
FILE PHOTO
Churubusco freshman Danny Resler cradles Columbia City sophomore Derek Kissinger during their 103-pound, third-place match at the Carroll Wrestling Sectional in 2008. Resler defeated Kissinger 5-0 and advanced to the regional, which was also held at Carroll.
Jeff Perlich, a 1988 Churubusco graduate, graduated from East Carolina University in North Carolina, with a degree in sports marketing. Sixth-grader Adam Farmer was the winner of the Churubusco Elementary School Spelling Bee. Runner-up was Jenna Fairchild. Whitley Circuit Judge James Heuer and Superior Court Judge Michael Rush noted that a local rule for all parties granted a dissolution of marriage would be required to participate in the Children First program. The program consisted of two hours of discussion. Moderators would provide a certificate of completion, which had to be filed with
the Whitley County Clerk prior to the judge granting the marriage dissolution. 35 years ago Construction continued on the renovation/addition project at Churubusco School. All areas were to be completed by the end of February. The Busco Merchants Association was hoping for a snow to cover the area for Winterfest weekend. Without the snow, some events would have to be canceled — the snowmobile poker rally and cross-country ski race. 50 years ago The Churubusco Chamber of Commerce opened its membership drive, setting a goal of 95-100 members. Chamber
President was Bob McGuire. Charles Jones, Churubusco High School government instructor, was named as planning director for Whitley County by the Whitley County Plan Commission. The Whitley County Shrine Club invited Churubusco High School students to sing at its meeting. At the meeting, the Shriners would make final plans to host the county’s fifth graders at the Shrine Circus in Fort Wayne. Mr. and Mrs. Robert Fisher announced the birth of a son, Ryan Jon. The Associated Churches of Whitley County Elected officers at a meeting in Columbia City. Harold Oechsle of Trinity Methodist Church was named president. Other officers were Rev. Cole Reasin, of Grace Lutheran Church; Dr. Clark Waterfall, Miriam Weesner and Joy Barnhart. Girl Scouts were calling in householders for their annual cookie sale. Lois Whetsel, acting director of the Whitley County Department of Public Welfare, announced an increase from $2 to $3 in rates paid to foster parents of teenage children. The increase was made because families often have more expenses to include the children in family activities.
A8 • INwhitleycounty.com
Whitley County • January 25, 2018
Hernandez-Dominguez sentenced to three years By Bridgett Hernandez bhernandez@kpcmedia.com
COLUMBIA CITY — Luis Hernandez-Dominguez, 23, of Glenview, Ill., was sentenced to three years, with 280 days to be served at the Whitley County Jail, on charges of possession of cocaine and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, both level 6 felonies. According to police reports, Hernandez-Dominguez was pulled over in January 2017 after someone called 911 reporting a possible intoxicated driver.
Before Whitley County Circuit Court Judge Matthew Rentschler handed down the sentence, defense attorney Nikos Nakos argued for a lighter penalty for Hernandez-Dominguez. Nakos asked Judge Rentschler to consider probation in lieu of incarceration, arguing that Hernandez-Dominguez’s criminal history is not substantial. Nakos added that Hernandez-Dominguez is the main breadwinner at home and expecting his first child with his long-time girlfriend.
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Long-term incarceration would impede his ability to provide for his family, Nakos argued. Prosecuting attorney D.J. Sigler objected to the characterization of the defendant as a responsible family man. “The facts of the case fly in the face of the argument made by the defendant here today,” Sigler said. “You would think that [a person with these responsibilities] would know better than to possess cocaine, use drugs and operate a motor vehicle while
intoxicated,” he said. Sigler said it’s one thing to possess drugs and to do drugs – which are illegal – but putting others in danger is more serious. “It’s quite another thing to take that lifestyle out into the public and endanger the lives of others. It represents an escalation in conduct,” he said. In addition to serving time, Hernandez-Dominguez was ordered to participate in a drug and alcohol counseling, he must pay fines and court costs and his driver’s license
• Jacob Martin, 23, also appeared in court. He is charged with four counts of dealing narcotics. Pursuant to a plea agreement between Martin and the state, he entered a plea of guilty and could serve up to three years. The
court ordered a pre-sentence investigation and Martin will return to court Feb. 26 for formal sentencing. • Kelly Grindle appeared for an initial hearing on charges of check deception, a class A misdemeanor. She will appear again Feb. 12. • Zachary Long and Travis Grams had their respective pre-trial conferences continued to later dates. Brooke Thompson also appeared in court to set a plea date for Feb. 19.
WHITLEY COUNTY JAIL BOOKINGS The following people were booked in the Whitley County Jail: • Amanda Esterline, 36, of South Whitley, was arrested Jan. 13 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with OWI and OWI per se. • David McFarland, 22, of Fort Wayne, was arrested Jan. 13 by the Columbia City Police Department, charged with his second OWI and OWI per se. • Krista Sandlin, 36, of Huntington, was arrested Jan. 14 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with OWI and OWI per se. • Nicholas Black, 21, of Fort Wayne, was arrested Jan. 14 by the South Whitley Police Department, charged with possession of paraphernalia. • Christopher Osburn, 21, of Fort Wayne, was arrested Jan. 14 by the Indiana State Police, charged with possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia. • Skyler Roff, 35, of Columbia City, was arrested Jan. 15 by the
YOUR
Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with probation violation. • Blake Leazier, 30, of Columbia City, was arrested Jan. 15 by the Columbia City Police Department, charged with criminal confinement, robbery and intimidation. • Rhonda Wolfe, 50, of Columbia City, was arrested Jan. 15 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with criminal confinement, intimidation and theft. • Darren Rowland, 24, of Columbia City, was arrested Jan. 16 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with OWI controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and OWI per se, controlled substance. • Steven Finley, 54. of Harvey, Ill., was arrested Jan. 16 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with failure to comply. • Scott Thompson, 21, of South Whitley, was arrested Jan. 16 by the Columbia
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is suspended for 90 days. Hernandez-Dominguez is in the U.S. with a temporary visitor license and it’s possible that Immigration and Customs Enforcement may pursue deportation, Rentschler said. In other court news:
wc
Whitley County inwhitleycounty.com
A division of
City Police Department, charged with resisting law enforcement. • Catherine Anderson, 38, of Fort Wayne, was arrested Jan. 17 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with failure to comply. • Dakota Ray, 20, of Columbia City, was arrested Jan. 18 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with probation violation. • Dustin Morin, 43, of South Whitley, was arrested Jan. 18 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with leaving the scene of a property damage crash and false informing. • Leopold Blakley, 30, of Chicago, was arrested Jan. 18 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with failure to return to lawful detention. • Roy Johnson, 41, of Grabill, was arrested Jan. 18 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with failure to comply. • Brent Dilts, 33, of
Columbia City, was arrested Jan. 18 by the Columbia City Police Department, charged with driving while suspended prior. • Jonathan Tate, 25, of Huntington, was arrested Jan. 19 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with failure to comply. • Bryan Reyes, 21, of South Bend, was arrested Jan. 19 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with failure to comply. • Erica Casas, 34, of Columbia City, was arrested Jan. 19 by the Columbia City Police Department for a body attachment (civil matter). • Craig Wort, 58, of LaOtto, was arrested Jan. 20 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with OWI and OWI per se. • Anton Sullivan, 57, of Warsaw, was arrested Jan. 20 by the Columbia City Police Department, charged with his second OWI, OWI per se and driving while suspended prior.
INwhitleycounty.com • A9
Whitley County • January 25, 2018
Tough call
Delaying, closing school not always an easy decision for administrators
By Travis Stahl for IN|Whitley County
WHITLEY COUNTY — To delay or not delay? That is the question on the mind of nearly every parent in Whitley County who has a student in school and parents want the answer to that question as early as possible. When the weather turns bad, school districts have to scramble to adjust plans. District administrators must weigh a number of factors when trying to decide to implement a delay or to close school. Winter brings snow, high winds and freezing temperatures. All of those things make driving hazardous. School superintendents at Whitko, Smith Green and Whitley County Consolidated work in unison with transportation directors and other school staff to make a quick decision. The earlier a decision is reached the easier it is for parents to make alternative plans for their kids. “Every morning we get up early, around 5 a.m., checking the roads and the weather,” said Smith-Green Superintendent Dan Hile. “The difficult thing is, those decisions have to be made early.” Most schools start running bus routes between 5:45 and 6 a.m. If parents have to go to work, they need to know where their kids will
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
County Road 350 West drifted and was difficult to drive through during poor weather this month.
be for the day if school is cancelled. WCCS also has staff up early with multiple people out checking roads at various points in the county. Because the WCCS district runs the entire length of the county, sometimes conditions in the northern part of the county may be vastly different then those in southern Whitley County. Then, there are days like Wednesday, Jan. 10. There was the possibility of bad weather but there were no adverse conditions until very late. Hile said that forced Smith Green into making a late decision but it was one that had to be made. “At the end of the day, we will always error on the side of student safety,” said Hile. When most people think
of schools issuing delays and closing, the first thing that comes to mind is students riding to school on the busses — and that is a big factor. But schools have more concerns than just buses. There is also a large population of students who drive to school and some of those students don’t have experience driving in poor conditions. Additionally, some school staff members live in neighboring communities and the commute to and from school can dangerous. Most school districts will also monitor what the surrounding area schools are doing. That gives the superintendents a good picture how safe it is in outlying areas and the possible condi-
tions where staff members might be driving in from. As Hile pointed out, as thorough as schools try to be in assessing conditions, they can’t check everywhere. “Even on days if weather is questionable we will honor a parent’s wish to keep the child home if they feel it isn’t safe where they live,” said Hile. One thing that has made the decision to delay or close easier for some districts is the implementation of e-learning days. If a school has the capability and students are issued Chromebooks or iPad, then students can work on their assignments at home during a cancellation. Schools who use e-learning days can schedule up to five per year. Using e-learning days prevents schools who have to cancel due to weather from adding make-up days on to the end of the calendar year in June. The decision to delay or close is not an easy one for districts to make. It requires checking roads, watching weather forecasts and monitoring the conditions in neighboring districts. Weather delays and cancellations are something school districts in northern Indiana have to plan for. School districts that have a good protocol in place help keep staff and students safe and off the roads.
S. Whitley Facilities awards grants at annual meeting Staff reports SOUTH WHITLEY — South Whitley Community Facilities Inc. recently met for ITS annual meeting. The secretary and treasurer’s reports were read and approved. Grant requests were reviewed and monies were awarded to: • South Whitley Community Preschool, $1,500 for educational materials; • One Community, $1,000 for the Lunch and Camaraderie program; • Whitley County Youth Leadership, $500 for tuition for five Whitko students; • South Whitley Area Emergency Food Bank, $1,000 for food supplies; • Sonshine Child Care Ministry, $1,500 for a new dishwasher; • Leadership Whitley County, $650 for one Whitko High School student; and • $750 for two Whitko senior scholarships. Elected to three-year terms were: Cindy Barnett, Todd Jones and Marlene Mishler. Officers elected were: Todd Jones, president; Mark Rickerd, vice president; Cindy Barnett, secretary; and Joe Grant, treasurer. Two new members were elected to fill vacancies on the board; Taylor Kessie will fill a two-year term and Tonya Warner will complete a one-year term.
Cory Sickafoose, Marlene Mishler and Ronda Sroufe are also members of the board. South Whitley Community Facilities Inc. was established in 1975 to build a medical clinic for four young doctors coming to the community. A massive, community wide fund drive was met with much community enthusiasm that raised over $50,000 in just four weeks. When the initial principal and interest were repaid, the community had morethan $70,000 to establish a lasting foundation to continue to promote the health and wellbeing of South Whitley and Cleveland Township. Over the last 40 years, the interest from the principle sum has awarded over $200,000 to various local projects. The Facilities funds are held in an endowment with the Community Foundation of Whitley County. Funds will always be used to “promote the health, education and welfare of citizens in South Whitley and Cleveland Township.” Anyone wishing to make a tax deductible donation to support Cleveland Township residents, should make their check payable to South Whitley Community Fund and send it to the Community Foundation of Whitley County, 400 N. Whitley St., Columbia City, IN 46725.
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A10 • INwhitleycounty.com
Whitley County • January 25, 2018
Snep the best on the boards By Travis Stahl for IN|Whitley County
SOUTH WHITLEY — Rebounding is the result of effort. A great rebounder takes the time in practice and in games to watch the shot, block out and then get to the ball before anybody else. Rebounding the basketball means second chance points on offense and the end of a possession for the opponent on defense. Few female basketball players in the state are as good at pulling down a rebound this season as Whitko senior Ellie Snep. It’s not out of the ordinary to look at a Whitko box score and see that Snep has
snagged anywhere from 15 to 20 rebounds in a game. On the season, Snep is averaging right at 15 rebounds per game. Her head coach, Rick Bragg, credits Snep with making a giant leap in her play from last year to this season. “I’m proud of her to see the improvements she’s made,” said Bragg. “Rebounding is one of those things you really can’t teach.” Bragg said there are two key ingredients that have made Snep a terror on the boards. First, Bragg said Snep’s athleticism allows her to get to the ball quickly. Second, and perhaps more important, Bragg
said at this point Snep takes pride in being a good rebounder. “I have confidence now,” said Snep of her play on the boards. “I can go out and be my best and in my mind I can be productive.” Snep has been rebounding at such an astonishing clip that she has set a new Lady Wildcats’ single season record. Snep collected 285 rebounds in 19 games. The previous record was 234 rebounds which was held by Emily Bidwell Christoffel and was set in 2008. Christoffel is now an assistant coach for the Whitko girls and she had a message for Snep before the season.
“Emily texted me before the season and said I better beat her record,” said Snep. Snep has three more regular season games on the schedule for Whitko. Then, the team enters the sectional tournament. Any team that wants to beat Whitko in the tournament will have to do so without getting its hands on very many rebounds. Odds are Snep is going to get her hands on most shots that don’t make it through the net. Snep leads the conference and state in rebounding, and is ranked in the top 20 in the country in rebounds per game, Bragg said.
CONTRIBUTED
Snep
PREP SPORTS ROUNDUP BOYS BASKETBALL Whitko 67, Northfield 64 OT
WABASH — Whitko’s boys basketball team won a close, overtime game over Northfield Jan. 19, 67-64. The Wildcats gave up a large first-half lead as the Norsemen crept back into the game in the second half. Whitko had a 21-16 lead at the end of the first quarter, and extended that lead to 42-29 at halftime. The Wildcats struggled offensively in the third quarter, only scoring five points, while Northfield scored 16 to make the score 47-45. The game was tied at 58 at the end of regulation. Whitko outscored Northfield 9-6 in overtime to make the final score 67-64. River West led the team with 32 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, a steal and one
charge taken. Brett Sickafoose scored 17 points. Brian Collins scored 10 points and had four assists and a steal. Shad Ebbinghouse, Devin Blane, Cade Bechtold and Drake Lewis all scored two points apiece. Spencer Sroufe tallied seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals.
Homestead 64, Columbia City 46
FORT WAYNE — Columbia City’s boys basketball team fell to Homestead Dec. 16 in Fort Wayne. The Eagles played a strong third quarter, but it wasn’t enough to rally against the Spartans, who led for much of the game. Columbia City’s Mitchell Wilson started the game off with two 3-pointers, six of his 19 points, in the first quarter. The Eagles only trailed 19-13 at the end of the first.
Homestead took control of the game in the second quarter, outscoring Columbia City 21-12, to make the halftime score 40-25. The Eagles fought back in the third, with Ethan Christen scoring eight of the team’s 14 points, while the Eagle defense held Homestead to just seven points. The Spartans retaliated in the fourth, outscoring Columbia City by 10 to seal the 64-46 win. Wilson led the team with 10 points, followed by Christen with eight, Michael Sievers with seven and Trent Simmons with four points.
Adams Central 56, Whitko 48
MONROE — Whitko’s basketball team dropped a 56-48 game at Adams Central High School last week. The Wildcats played a close game in the first
NICOLE MINIER
Dillon Sheiss waits for his teammate to shoot a free-throw.
quarter, which ended in an 11-11 tie, but struggled offensively in the second quarter. Adams Central’s defense held the Wildcats to just six points, making the halftime score 22-17. Adams Central continued to pull away in the third quarter, extending its lead to 39-30 going into the fourth. The Wildcats had their best
offensive output of the game in the fourth quarter, scoring 18 points, but it wasn’t enough to comeback against Adams Central, which scored 17 points of its own. Whitko was led by Brett Sickafoose with 22 points. Spencer Sroufe scored 10 points and recorded four rebounds, four assists and two blocks.
NICOLE MINIER
Columbia City’s Mitchell Wilson watches his shot approach the basket at Homestead last week.
River West led the team in rebounds with seven and assists with five. Shad Ebbinghouse scored eight See ROUNDUP, Page 13
FOLLOW WHITLEY COUNTY SPORTS Thursday, January 25
Friday, January 26
Saturday, January 27
Monday, January 29
Tuesday, January 30
Wednesday, January 31
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Columbia City girls basketball at New Haven, 6:15 p.m. Churubusco girls basketball hosts Central Noble, 6 p.m. Churubusco boys basketball hosts Central Noble, 7:30 p.m. Whitko girls basketball at Wabash, 7:45 p.m. Whitko boys basketball at Peru, 7:30 p.m.
Columbia City boys basketball hosts New Haven, 6:15 p.m. Columbia City wrestling at sectionals, 8 a.m. Churubusco wrestling at Carroll Sectional, 8 a.m. Whitko girls basketball hosts Maconaquah, 6 p.m. Whitko boys basketball hosts Maconaquah, 7:30 p.m. Whitko wrestling at sectionals, 9 a.m.
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Submit your sports stories or photos to Whitley County Whitley County Nicole Minier at nminier@kpcmedia.com inwhitleycounty.com
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SPORTS
Whitley County • January 25, 2018
INwhitleycounty.com • A11
ROUNDUP from Page 10 points and pulled down five rebounds SCORES Angola 46, Churubusco 38
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Wawasee 44, Whitko 33
SOUTH WHITLEY — Whitko’s girls basketball team lost a 44-33 game to Wawasee Jan. 16. The team fell behind early, but outscored and outplayed Wawasee in the final three quarters of the game. “We have to learn to start the game better and eliminate the mental mistakes we continue to make,” said Whitko head coach Rick Brag. After falling behind 15-5, the team picked up the pace and played a solid game. “I am very proud of the effort from the girls,” Bragg said. “This is a team that is becoming better each day. I can’t say enough about their effort and attitude. So very proud of them.” Emi Duggins led the team in scoring with 14 points. She also had four assists and five steals. Taylor Reiff also reached double digits with 10 points. Sarah Hewitt contributed five and Ellie Snep scored four points. Snep led the team in rebounding with 16. “Ellie continues to amaze me,” Bragg said.
Lakeland 49, Churubusco 38
LAGRANGE — Churubusco’s girls basketball team dropped a Northeast Corner Conference game to Lakeland Jan. 16, 49-38. The Lady Eagles only trailed by one point, 10-9, but Lakeland pulled slightly ahead 23-20 at halftime. Lakeland turned up the heat in the second half, outscoring Churubusco 26-18 to make the final score 49-38.
Northfield 57, Whitko 24
SOUTH WHITLEY — Whitko’s girls basketball team lost to Northfield Jan. 20, 57-24. The team held the game close in the first quarter, only trailing 12-6, but struggled offensively for the rest of the game. “Our game plan was to shut down their guards — both of whom are scoring leaders in the Three Rivers Conference,” said head coach Rick Bragg. “Those two kids came into the game with a combined average of over 30
points per game.” Whitko’s defense held the pair to only 12 points. “That was a plus,” Bragg said. Ellie Snep scored 12 points and garnered 16 rebounds. Taylor Reiff scored seven points, Emi Duggins and Lizz Fouts contributed two points apiece, and Kayla Schipper scored one point. “We did not play with the intensity, desire and passion I have seen all season,” Bradd said. “That was disappointing. We had been making great strides since the first of the year and were really moving forward.” The Lady Wildcats travel to Wabash Jan. 26 and hosts Maconaquah with the boys team Jan. 27. Girls basketball sectional play begins Jan. 29. SCORES Angola 51, Churubusco 17 WRESTLING
NICOLE MINIER
Ethan Christen scored two 3-pointers in the third quarter for the Eagles against Homestead.
NICOLE MINIER
Lady Wildcat Sarah Hewitt looks for an open teammate.
CC fourth at NE8
KENDALLVILLE — Columbia City’s wrestling team placed fourth at the Northeast 8 Conference meet Saturday. Hunter Reed won the 160-pound weight class after winning all three of his matches. Reed beat all three of his opponents by fall — New Haven, Huntington North in the semi-finals and Leo in the championship match. See ROUNDUP, Page 12
KRISTY DITTMER
Columbia City’s Grace Schrader and Churubusco’s Brooke Nondorf fight over a loose ball in a game earlier this season.
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Ethan Christen, Trent Simmons and Michael Sievers wait for a rebound.
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Whitley County • January 25, 2018
ROUNDUP from Page 11 Jackson Pettigrew won the title at 170 pounds. He topped his Huntington North opponent by pinfall, then won competitive decision matches over New Haven and Leo. Josef Wilson came in third in the 182-pound weight class. Wilson pinned his opponent from DeKalb in the first round, fell to Norwell in round two, then won his next to matches over Huntington North and East Noble to finish third. Ryan Sheets placed third in the 113-pound weight class. Sheets took the first round by forfeit, dropped his secondround match to Huntington North and won the next bout with a pin over Bellmont. He beat his Leo opponent in the third-place match. Jarrett Forrester placed third at 120-pounds after beating Bellmont in the first round, falling to New Haven in the second round, then beating Norwell and Huntington North in the third-place match. Hunter Maggard placed fourth in the 138-pound weight class. He fell to his East Noble opponent in the opening round, then went on to win the next two matches over DeKalb and Bellmont to advance him to the thirdplace bout, where he fell to a Leo grappler. Damian Kipfer finished fourth at 285 pounds. Kipfer won the first round match over Huntington North, then
lost his next round match to Leo. He beat Norwell in the consolation semifinal, the fell to New Haven in a close, 16-13 match. Spencer Emenhiser came in fifth after finishing the day with two wins and two losses. He lost his opening round match to Leo, then took a forfeit victory in round two. He dropped a 7-2 decision to Bellmont, then beat his DeKalb opponent 3-0 to place fifth. Andrew Cochran finished in sixth at 145 pounds after going 2-2 on the day. He beat Huntington North and Leo, and fell to East Noble and New Haven. Austin Dunnuck came in sixth at 106 pounds. Mallory Engle came in sixth at 126 pounds, and Alton Mullinax placed sixth in the 132-pound weight class.
MIDDLE SCHOOL Manchester 43, Whitko 8th grade boys 35
LARWILL — Whitko’s eighth-grade boys basketball team lost to Manchester Jan. 16, 43-35. The Wildcats had a 16-9 lead at the end of the first quarter, but Manchester worked its way back into the game by halftime, as Whitko only held a 25-24 lead going into the locker room. Manchester continued to hold the momentum through the third and fourth quarters, coming away with the eightpoint win. Whitko was led by William Rickerd with 21 points and Isaiah Kyles with eight.
team took a substantial win over Southwood Junior High School Jan. 18, 48-12. The Wildcats took a 9-2 lead at the end of the first quarter and 19-6 advantage at halftime. Whitko kicked it up a notch in the second half, outscoring Southwood 16-4 in the third quarter and 13-2 in the fourth. The Wildcats were led by William Rickerd with 19 points. NICOLE MINIER
Eagle Bryce Taylor calls for the ball as he makes a cut through the lane.
Whitko 8th grade boys 48, Southwood 12
WABASH — Whitko’s eighth-grade boys basketball
NICOLE MINIER
Whitko’s Lexi Hall makes a pass around a Northfield defender.
NICOLE MINIER
Trent Simmons blocks out his opponent.
NICOLE MINIER NICOLE MINIER
Whitko’s Emalee Duggins dribbles the ball up the court against Northfield Saturday.
Whitko’s Taylor Reiff was one of two seniors honored on Senior Night Saturday in South Whitley.
NICOLE MINIER
Whitko’s Anna Ousley watches her shot in the first half against Northfield. Ousley was one of two seniors honored Saturday on Senior Night.
KRISTY DITTMER
Churubusco’s Alayna Fulkerson keeps the ball away from Columbia City defenders Grace Schrader, left, and Gabby Fry, right.
NICOLE MINIER
Michael Sievers makes a move for the basket in the second half at Homestead.
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Churubusco’s Callie Lemper makes a move against Columbia City’s Skye Roberts.
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Whitley County • January 25, 2018
Whitko artists honored in FWMoA exhibit Whitko names December students of the month Staff reports SOUTH WHITLEY — Whitko Community Schools named the four children as “Students of the Month” for December. The following are nomination letters written by Whitko staff: Megan Thomas, Whitko High School “Megan is yearbook co-editor and has worked really hard in organizing various components of the book. She is also a manager for the Thomas girls’ basketball team,” her nominee wrote. Dalton Ousley, Whitko Middle School “Dalton shows great respect for all students and staff at WMS. You can always count on him to do the right thing and advocate for his fellow classmates. Ousley Dalton is also one of our best student-athletes at WMS. He always gives his best effort and is a great role model for our younger students. Dalton is such a nice, respectful young man. He does what he needs to do, and more, so that he is successful at school. I appreciate his work ethic.” Dalton was nominated by teachers Erik Hisner, Betty Overdeer, Tracy Rhodes and John Fullenkamp.
Katherine “Kate” Mohr, South Whitley Elementary School “Kate is a joy to have in class! She’s a natural helper and always does the right thing. She leads through example, and her peers can always count on her for help. Kate Mohr is also a hard worker and loves to learn. For these reasons she is the South Whitley Elementary Student of the Month.” Kate was nominated by teacher Jessica Long. Addison Baxter, Pierceton Elementary School “Addison Baxter is an exemplary student, friend and role model. Her positive influence begins as soon as she enters the classroom and continues throughout Baxter the day. She always encourages her classmates, helps others, and always has a smile. She always strives to do her best and then more, not only in academics, but also in sports and extracurricular activities. She is an integral member of our Student Ambassador Team, and leads by example.” Addison was nominated by teacher Tasha Kinney.
Staff reports SOUTH WHITLEY — Whitko High School’s art department recently competed in the 2018 Scholastic Art Contest in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio. Over 3,000 entries were submitted from 200 schools. Whitko art students won seven Scholastic Awards; two Gold Keys, two Silver Keys, and three Honorable Mentions (also known as Outstanding Regional Awards). The two gold key winning art pieces will now compete for national honors in New York. “I’m proud of my students’ pursuit for excellence. They should be proud for receiving any of the awards!” said Daniel Malicki, the Whitko High School art instructor. The seven overall winning pieces will be on display at the Fort Wayne Museum of Art from February through
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Award winning Whitko High School art students, from left, are: Jacqueline Werstler, Kyle Herr, Katelyn Tower, Ezra Miller and Trysten Tucker. Not pictured is Reannon Hopkins.
April. Opening night for the event is Feb. 11. According to the FWMoA’s website, the exhibit will feature “hundreds of paintings, drawings, sculptures, graphics, photographs, mixed-media projects and all genre of written pieces, each expressing topics that inspire
creative teens today.” The FWMoA’s Scholastic region has collected one of the highest in national awards totals in the county for the past four years. For students at Whitko whose art may go on to win national honors, they could
soon be joining the ranks of renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Robert Redford and Truman Capote. To learn more about the events at the museum, simply visit their site at fwmoa.org. WHS winners listed below are: • Ezra Miller, senior, “Painting Cry and Whines,” Gold Key • Trysten Tucker, sophomore, “Drawing Devastation,” Gold Key • Katelyn Tower, junior, “Drawing Reflections,” Silver Key • Kyle Herr, senior, “Painting Out of this World,” Silver Key and “Drawing Lunar Pit Stop,” Honorable Mention • Jacqueline Werstler, senior, “Painting Gazing,” Honorable Mention • Reannon Hopkins, senior, “Painting Pixel Me Wild,” Honorable Mention
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INwhitleycounty.com • A15
Whitley County • January 25, 2018
Community Calendar Include news of your group, too
Send news of your group to nminier@kpcmedia.com. Items will be selected and edited as space permits.
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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. • Valentine’s Day gifts are available at the Impact Center Cottage Gift Shop, 500 W. Van Buren St. All proceeds benefit the Impact Center Food Pantry. The gift shop is open every Thursday 1 to 5 p.m. • One Community Lunch & Camaraderie takes place 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Community Room at South Whitley Town Hall. The event offers activities and lunch to seniors age 60 and older each Monday and Wednesday. • Teens are invited to participate in Teen Game Day at 3:30 p.m. each Wednesday at South Whitley Community Public Library.
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Jan. 26
• Bill Blessing Shrimp/Tenderloin dinner, bake sale and silent auction, is set for 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at American Legion Post 157 in Churubusco. The meal is $7.50 and includes french fries and applesauce. Carry-out is also available. All proceeds go to Blessing, who is fighting throat cancer, and his family, to help cover medical expenses. Those who have items to donate to the silent auction can contact Sue Frazier at (260) 609-3465.
Feb.
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Jan. 27
• Family story time takes place at 10 a.m. on Fridays at the Peabody Public Library in the Children’s Department. All ages are welcome to attend and participate. • The GROW Network will meet for breakfast and casual networking at Brevin’s Restaurant. RSVP to office@whitleychamber.com or call (260) 248-8131.
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Jan. 29
• John Dillinger storytelling will take place at 2 p.m. at the Peabody Public Library. The public is invited to hear storyteller Sally Perkins tell the tales of the infamous outlaw.
Jan. 30
• The Whitley County Chamber will hold a Pizza Hut fundraiser. From 5-7 p.m., the restaurant will donate $1 from every buffet meal. • DivorceCare meets on Mondays 6:308:30 p.m. in the Nazareth Room at the Columbia City United Methodist Church. The program is designed to equip churches to conduct ongoing ministry to separated and divorced people.
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. • The Columbia City Rotary Club meets at noon each Tuesday in the basement of Parkview Whitley Hospital in Columbia City. Each meeting features lunch and a program.
Feb. 1
• The Whitley County Master Gardeners will sponsor an educational session on choosing the correct fruit tree for your property. Rick Meyer, proprietor of Orchard Hill Farms, will give a presentation on apple trees at 7 p.m. in Classroom B of Whitley Parkview Hospital. The event is open to the public.
Feb. 3
• The Churubusco Masonic Lodge will host its annual Groundhog Day pancake and sausage breakfast 7-10:30 a.m. A free-will offering will be accepted. • A ham and beans supper will be 4-7 p.m. at West Point Trinity United Methodist
Church, 4980 N. Etna Road. A free-will donation will be accepted. Proceeds benefit B.A.B.E.
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Feb. 10
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• Columbia City FFA will host its second annual fish and tenderloin fry 4-7:30 p.m. in the Columbia City High School cafeteria, 600 N. Whitley St., Door 3. Adults age 18 and older pay $10 for presale tickets or $12 at the door. Children age 6-12 pay $6 for presale tickets or $8 at the door. Children age 5 and younger eat free. The fish and tenderloin fry is all you can eat. • 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
• Tickets are limited for the Father Daughter Winter Wonderland Dance. There are two dances on Feb. 9 or Feb. 10 from 6 to 10 p.m. at the Whitley County 4-H Center. The cost is $20 per person. For a specific date, tickets must be purchased at the parks office (open 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday). For more information, contact the Columbia City Parks Department at 248-5180. • 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. • AA and Al-Anon meetings Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. at the Churubusco United Methodist Church.
Work of Jodi Sargent featured in Focus on the Arts exhibit Staff reports COLUMBIA CITY — Jodi Sargent, of Whitley County, is the featured artist for January at the Whitley County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center. Several pieces of Sargent’s painting and photography work will be on exhibit through the end of the month. An artist’s reception took place Jan. 13 at the Chamber, officially opening her exhibit. Sargent was present to talk about her work. Sargent lives on Lone
Pine Stable horse farm with her husband, three horses, two cats and a lazy dog, Macy. “I’ve been doing photography since high school, but started to get into it more in the past four years or so,” she said. There is much about the natural world that Sargent finds inspiring. “I love hiking our local nature preserves and taking nature photos,” she said. “I also have a passion for equine photography.” Beyond photography, Sargent enjoys painting.
Her exhibit features several of her pieces. “I also do watercolor and oil paintings in my spare time,” she said. Sargent’s exhibition is part of the Whitley County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center’s Focus on the Arts initiative which features the work of a new local artist each month. “It is our hope that residents and visitors will stop by the Chamber regularly to expand their knowledge about the community and, in the process, gain
insight about something new. We have many incredibly talented artists in our community and spotlighting their work is one more way we can demonstrate how dynamic and special our community truly is,” said Jennifer Romano, executive director of the Whitley County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center. The Whitley County Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center is located at 128 W. Van Buren St. in downtown Columbia City.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
Jodi Sargent, shown here, is the featured artist during the month of January at the Whitley County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center. An opening reception for Sargent’s exhibit was Jan. 13 at the Whitley County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center, 128 W. Van Buren St. in downtown Columbia City.
A16 • INwhitleycounty.com
Whitley County • January 25, 2018
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260-244-4011
Hours: Sun. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Mon.-Wed. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
VOTED WHITLEY COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR! Thank you to all of our employees and patrons!
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