WEDNESDAY September 11, 2013
Ride for the Roof Page A2 Event to aid DeKalb animal shelter
Highest Honor Page A5 Auburn youth earns Eagle Scout Award
Weather
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Mostly sunny today. High 92. Chance of showers late tonight. Low 65. Page A6
GOOD MORNING Pence says flags fly at half-staff today INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Gov. Mike Pence has directed flags at state facilities across Indiana be flown at half-staff today in honor of Patriot Day. The governor says flags should remain at half-staff until the close of business today or Thursday morning. Pence also is asking businesses and residents across Indiana to lower their own flags to half-staff to pay tribute to the people who were injured or lost their lives in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism attacks.
Coliseum naming rights are for sale FORT WAYNE — The Allen County War Memorial Coliseum is considering selling naming rights for 10 years for $3.5 million, our news partner, NewsChannel 15, reports. A proposal obtained by a Fort Wayne newspaper reportedly offered naming rights to the venue for $350,000 a year for 10 years. A 15-year agreement would give interested parties a discount at $335,00 a year, or a total of $5.025 million. Parkview Health paid $3 million for 10 years of naming rights to Parkview Field downtown. Sponsors would also get mention in publications, interior signs, advertising at the top of the scoreboard, employee benefits and more.
Crew member texting before train crash VALPARAISO (AP) — A federal report says a freight train crew member was distracted by text messaging soon before crashing into a stopped train in northwestern Indiana, causing the derailment of more than two dozen locomotives and rail cars. The January 2012 derailment in a rural area a few miles from Valparaiso prompted the evacuation of more than 50 nearby homes as spilled diesel fuel burned. The National Transportation Safety Board report says the CSX train that caused the crash was going about 40 mph despite warnings of a stopped train ahead of it.
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Index
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Classifieds.................................B7-B8 Life..................................................... A5 Obituaries......................................... A4 Opinion .............................................B4 Sports.........................................B1-B3 Weather............................................ A6 TV/Comics .......................................B6 Vol. 101 No. 250
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YMCA, horse barn projects OK’d BY DAVE KURTZ dkurtz@kpcmedia.com
AUBURN — Major building projects for the YMCA and the DeKalb County Fair Association won approval from the Auburn Plan Commission Tuesday night. The YMCA is planning to more than double the size of its building on North Street. The fair association intends to build a large, new horse barn on the fairgrounds on South Union Street and revamp its horse arena.
Both projects are likely to start this fall, spokesmen for the organizations said. Plan Commission members raised no objections to the projects in brief hearings at City Hall. The YMCA project will add a 36,269-square-foot building addition to the west side of its existing center on North Street, which encloses 26,765 square feet. The building addition will include three indoor basketball
courts, expanded exercise areas, office space, additional lobby space and an indoor walking-running track. The number of parking spaces will increase from 145 to 222. “We’re trying to make this into a community hub,” said John Good, vice president of the YMCA board and chair of its building committee. Good said the expanded YMCA will have a fieldhouse concept, capable of accommodating
SEE PROJECTS, PAGE A6
Obama delays vote
DeKalb seniors have merit Two in running for scholarships
Diplomacy may succeed in Syria
BY KATHRYN BASSETT kbassett@kpcmedia.com
WATERLOO —DeKalb High School seniors Will Pierce and John Foster have much in common. Both are academically talented and excel in science and math classes. Both have participated in DeKalb High School band programs. They even have similar part-time jobs at local fast-food restaurants. Now, they share the honor of being named semifinalists in the 59th annual National Merit Scholarship Program and have the opportunity to compete for 8,000 National Merit Scholarships worth about $35 million that will be offered next spring. Pierce, of Waterloo, is involved in many Advanced Placement classes, especially in math and science, he said. In college, he plans to continue his studies in science, technology, engineering and math. Outside of his studies, Pierce is involved in speech, Spell Bowl, Academic Super Bowl and robotics. He also enjoys independent projects in electronics and science fair. In previous years, he was involved in marching band and pep band, playing the baritone saxophone and tenor saxophone. Pierce said he sees a connection between music and excelling in academics, as both require dedication. When he graduates from DeKalb next year, Pierce will carry 67 college credits with him after successfully taking dual-credit classes in high school. He hopes to attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Purdue University or Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Pierce is the son of Diana and Charles Pierce. Foster, of Auburn, has been in the DeKalb High School marching band since he was an eighth-grader
basketball, volleyball and indoor soccer. Its expanded fitness area will include a women’s wellness center. The YMCA hopes to start construction on phase one of its project within next month or two and complete it within 12 months, Good said. In 2014 or 2015, phase two of the project would add a warm-water pool for therapy, children and families.
KATHRYN BASSETT
Will Pierce, left, and John Foster, right, have been named semifinalists in the 59th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Both excel academically, especially in science and math, but find time for other activities. Foster is involved in DeKalb High School’s band and drum line. Pierce is a member of several school clubs and enjoys independent projects.
and draws on the rigor instilled through marching band when approaching his studies. He also is a member of the school’s indoor drum line and has played in the high school jazz band. Outside school, he is involved in music at Dayspring Community Church in Auburn, where his father is the executive pastor. “At church, I play the drum set about once a month,” he said. “I also run the audio. It’s one of the most fun things I get to do.” Like Pierce, Foster takes Advanced Placement and dual-credit classes. He expects to have 50 college credits when he graduates from high school. “I’m not quite as studious as Will is,” he said with a smile. Foster is applying to the University of Michigan and Purdue University and is considering a degree in mechanical engineering and chemistry. He is the son of Jane and David Foster. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 90 percent of the semifinalists are expected to
attain finalist standing, and more than half of the finalists will win National Merit Scholarships. About 1.5 million juniors in more than 22,000 high schools entered the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. To become a finalist, the semifinalist and his or her high school must submit a detailed scholarship application, providing information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and honors and awards received. A semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama said in a nationally televised address Tuesday night that recent diplomatic steps offer “the potential to remove the threat of chemical weapons” inside Syria without the use of force, but he also insisted the U.S. military will keep the pressure on President Bashar Assad “and be ready to respond” if other measures fail. Speaking from the East Room of the White House, Obama said he had asked congressional leaders to postpone a vote on legislation he has been seeking to authorize the use of military force against Syria. Acknowledging the weariness the nation feels after a decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan, Obama said, “America is not the world’s policeman.” And yet, he added, “When with modest effort and risk we can stop children from being gassed to death and thereby make our own children safer over the long run, I believe we should act. That’s what makes America different. That’s what makes us exceptional.” “Our ideals and principles, as well as our national security, are at stake in Syria,” he declared. The speech capped a frenzied 10-day stretch of events that began when he unexpectedly announced he was stepping back from a threatened military strike and first asking Congress to pass legislation authorizing the use of force against Assad. With public opinion polls consistently showing widespread opposition to American military intervention, the White House has struggled mightily to generate support among lawmakers — liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans alike — who have SEE OBAMA, PAGE A6
Score encourages Eastside marching band BY JEFF JONES jjones@kpcmedia.com
BLUFFTON — Eastside’s Marching Blazer Pride band finished fourth in Class D at the “On the Banks of the Wabash” contest at Bluffton High School Saturday. Adams Central swept the special awards for best music, visual effect and general effect in taking first place. Woodlan was second, followed by Eastern (Greentown) and Eastside. Less than 1 1/2 points separated Woodlan, Eastern and Eastside, said Eastside’s new director, Damon Newell. “The kids felt very good about the show,” he said. “At first, they were disappointed in our placing. However, after looking at how incredibly close the scores were, they became very excited.” Concordia captured all three
awards in winning Class C. Norwell was second, followed by Angola, Heritage and Garrett. DeKalb claimed all three category awards on its way to first place in Class B. Eastside and Garrett bands will compete Saturday at the DeKalb Invitational on DeKalb High School’s football field. Hicksville kicks off Class D competition at 3:30 p.m., followed by Eastside at 3:42 p.m., Bluffton at 3:54 p.m., Woodlan at 4:06 p.m. and Adams Central at 4:18 p.m. Class C bands begin at 4:30 p.m. with Whitko. Garrett marches at 4:42 p.m., with Heritage at 4:54 p.m., Leo at 5:06 p.m. and Concordia at 5:18 p.m. Awards for classes D and C will be presented at 5:42 p.m. Host DeKalb’s Baron Brigade band will perform in exhibition at the end of the show.
JEFF JONES
Members of Eastside’s Marching Blazer Pride band perform at a recent football game. Eastside performs at the DeKalb Invitational this Saturday.