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WhitleyCounty County Whitley
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Opinion .................6
inwhitleycounty.com
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Community Calendar.............15
June 7, 2018
‘I had one exactly like this’
TRUCK OF THE WEEK
Kessler debuts ‘Mighty Merc’ squad car at ‘Busco car show BY NICOLE MINIER
nminier@kpcmedia.com
2008 Ford F250 Super Duty Only 77K miles, 6.4 Powerstroke
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Bart’s Car Store Columbia City We Buy-Sell-Trade All Makes and Models Call today!
260.248.8331
News in Brief •
Old Settlers parade coming soon
COLUMBIA CITY — Those interested in participating in the Old Settlers Day Festival American Legion Parade can register online at americanlegionpost98.com. Entry is free and the deadline is June 25. The theme is “Doing a 180” — looking back at 180 years of Whitley County history to celebrate Whitley County’s 180th anniversary. Questions can be directed to oldsettlersparadecc@gmail.com. The parade route is Main Street from North Street to Ellsworth Street.
Local woman killed in accident
NICOLE MINIER
Frank Kessler purchased a 1971 Mercury decommissioned Indiana State Police squad car in November, and had it on display for the public at the Churubusco Charity Car Show Saturday. Kessler is a retired ISP trooper.
BY NICOLE MINIER
nminier@kpcmedia.com
COLUMBIA CITY — A new group of local firefighters and emergency medical technicians are ready to serve the public after graduating from the Columbia City High School academy last week. Eleven firefighters and three EMTs have spent the last year working with Fire Captain Kyle Francis and Paramedic Matt Bock to earn certifications in Fire 1, Fire 2 and EMT. “Welcome to the fire service. Welcome to the brotherhood. It’s a powerful thing,” Francis said at their commencement. Last year, CCHS graduated its first group of Fire 1 students. This year, several went on to take the Fire 2 course, and a new group of Fire 1 students joined. “They are set to go to work if they choose to,”
Francis said. “This gives students a well-rounded resume before they graduate high school.” With many local volunteer fire departments struggling to have enough members, the program is expected to help raise numbers and give students the opportunity to pursue careers in full-time firefighter work. The EMT course gave students experience in the emergency room, on ambulances and in the field, as well as rigorous coursework. “They have completed a task that many people begin and never complete,” Bock said. “They have been incredible.” Students in all three courses gave up personal time on some Saturdays to complete training. EMT students had a textbook of 41 chapters, 1,500 pages — they SEE ACADEMY, PAGE 2
Paramedic and EMT instructor Matt Bock speaks to the audience and his students at the ceremony.
NICOLE MINIER
CES students have a field day
SEE BRIEFS, PAGE 2
Information • INWhitley County 123 N. Main Street, Churubusco, IN 46723
NICOLE MINIER
Alex Scherer wheels down the track in a scooter during a relay race.
KPC NEWS SERVICE CHURUBUSCO — Churubusco Elementary School held its field day on the last day of school last Thursday. On the hot day, students ate popsicles and played several water-related games as a fun way to end the school year.
123 North Main Street,Churubusco, IN 46723
INWhitley County
Vol. 2 No. 23
SEE CAR, PAGE 2
Fire, EMT Academy graduates 11 students
COLUMBIA CITY — A 74-year-old Columbia City woman was killed in an accident on State Road
Telephone: (260) 693-3949
CHURUBUSCO — Retired Indiana State Police Trooper Frank Kessler picked up a car magazine from Walgreens, and was sitting in easy chair reading it when his day went from ordinary to extra-ordinary. He called to his wife,
“You’re not going to believe this — come look at this car.” Kessler spotted a 1971 Mercury, an Indiana State Police squad car that he drove in his early years as a trooper. It was for sale in South Dakota. “It’s one of the only Mercurys left that we
MORE FIELD DAY PHOTOS, PAGE 4
NICOLE MINIER
Cameron Patten eyes an opponent in a game.