• The flat-profile bottom provides a sturdy feel, reminiscent of traditional lumber.
• Strong composite construction resists splintering, rotting, cracking, insects and decay.
Traeger invented the Original wood-fired Grill over 30 years ago in Mt. Angel, Oregon. They continue to lead the industry as the world’s #1 selling wood-fired grill. Come check out our selection of Traeger Grills, Accessories, and premium wood pellets.
Bill Miller, owner of Shipshewanabased Bill’s Long Reach Services, said the lockdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 prompted more business for him.
“During the pandemic a lot of the factories nearby were shut down for a while, and a lot of people in the area were looking around their properties and seeing a lot of pond and landscaping work that needed to be done,” Miller said. “It worked out for me. I did a lot of work for people at that time, and the business really took off. I started getting more calls from people that needed work done on their ponds. They had pond cleaning work that had been overlooked for a long time.”
Miller eventually was able to garner so much business that he decided to quit his full-time job and go into business for himself.
“I worked for the Forest River factory that
makes RVs,” he said. “It was a very good place to work. I worked there for 20 years. It’s been nice to be able to just focus on this as my job.”
Miller has been able to establish a business that has been successful through the positive feedback he gets from customers.
“I do pond excavating and I always make sure I do a great job.” he said. “I clean out existing ponds. A lot of ponds have sludge that has built up over the years and I clean them out. I spend a lot of time making sure everything looks good by the time I am done. It’s a great feeling to get positive feedback from a customer that says the pond looks better than
it did before I started on it.”
Miller said Bill’s Long Reach Services also does ditch cleaning.
“I also do the landscaping around the ponds,” Miller said. “I make all the areas look good. I do some preparation work before I start a
• Long Reach Excavator and Dozer Service
• 60 ft Reach
• Digging or Cleaning of Ponds, Small Lakes, and Ditches
• We have Mats to use Across Difficult Terrain
• Stop Bank Erosion & Maintenance. See us about Installing Rocks
job, to see exactly what needs to be done to clean a pond out and have it looking great. I go around the pond perimeter and look at the high and low areas. I look at the ledges along the pond to see what work needs to be done.”
Miller noted that his quality work lasts for a long time.
“I do work that lasts for 10 to 15 years,” Miller said. “I have been able to get more work from satisfied customers telling their friends about me. I have a few customers that are wildlife preservationists. I work on the ponds and make them nice for all the ducks and geese. I make it a nice island for wildlife. I have received some very positive compliments from customers that were satisfied that I made an area look better, that also appealed to local wildlife.”
Miller said he loves working outdoors and being in nature.
“I love the water and the fish,” Miller said. “I love running the equipment and just being
outside. It all goes hand in hand. It’s work I have always
My son, Tim, does some
and he
Miller developed an affinity for the work after watching a friend from Middlebury do similar work when he was younger.
“He was an excavator, and I was able to observe and learn a lot about how to do this type of work,” Miller said. “I took to it and eventually learned how to keep improving. The more time I did the work, the better I developed a keener eye for what needed to be done on each pond.”
Miller said he couldn’t be in a better place to do the work he enjoys.
“I love Shipshewana,” Miller said. “I love being so close to the water, and really enjoy fishing and being on the water.”
For more information, call Miller at 260-336-0775.
MARTY
SETTING SALES
OWNERS OF TIMBERVIEW SALES TALK WIDE SELECTION AND CONTINUED COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Writer / Matt Keating Photographer / Kari Lipscomb
Myron and Mary Jane Bontrager, owners of Timberview Sales, are always glad to welcome new customers.
“We always have our doors open to anyone,” Myron said. “We enjoy seeing new people come into our store to get what they need. We have had a lot of business from a great community.”
Myron noted that the store has been a part of Topeka for many years.
“This store has been in the community for over 35 years,” Myron said. “I went to this store when I was a little boy and I really enjoyed it. I’m glad that we can keep this business going.”
Myron and Mary Jane bought the store in 2022.
“We officially opened the store in February 2023,” Myron said. “People were very glad that we opened the store again. They were glad they could shop here again.
“We have a lot of different fabrics to choose from,” Mary Jane added. “We are a premier fabric store.”
Myron said there are 50 different types of fabrics to choose from, and Mary Jane added that there are also many kinds of colors of fabric.
2475 W. 700 S. | Topeka, IN 46571 Open: Mon-Fri 8-4:30 • Sat 8-12 PM
“If we don’t have what you want, we will order it for you,” Mary Jane said. “We are very knowledgeable about the fabrics we carry and we can answer questions you might have.”
Mary Jane noted that clothes are also available for sale. “We sell pants and shirts,” she said. “We also sew our own clothing.”
Couples who are getting married receive discounts at Timberview Sales. “All wedding material orders are 10% off,” Myron said.
“We have books, including children’s books, as well as baby items and accessories, baby gifts and wedding gifts,” Mary Jane said. “We also have greeting cards.”
Myron said Timberview Sales carries Miller Tech products. “We have Miller Tech fans, headlights and mixers,” Myron said. “We also have bonded coating, and coats for men, women and children, as
DURABLE & ELEGANT
well as caps and underwear. We also have bonnets, batteries, and a variety of clothespin rings. Rain gear is also available.”
Timberview Sales also has laundry soap, LED highlights and hygiene products available.
“We have prized soap products,” Mary
Jane said. “We also have lights, stationery, maple syrup, hats and kitchen appliances. Toys and games are also available, and we have outdoor furniture and poly furniture.”
School supplies and vitamins are also available.
Mary Jane said customers can also place
COUNTRY
orders. “We can do phone orders, and we also do some shipping,” she said.
Myron said Timberview Sales gets many customers from all over the United States.
Mary Jane added that they enjoy seeing people from different places at the store.
“We have had people from as far as Canada
come to see us at the store,” she said.
Myron noted that expansion of Timberview Sales is something he is eying for the future.
“We would like to grow,” he said. “The nice thing is that the community has always been so supportive of us. Many people have been shopping here for a long time. We serve LaGrange, Elkhart and Kosciusko counties, and beyond.”
Myron and Mary Jane have positive things to say about Topeka. “We enjoy the community we are in,” Myron said. “They have been so supportive of everything we have done with our business. They have really been great to us. We invite everyone to come and see us at the store.”
Check out Timberview Sales at 2475 West 700 South in Topeka, or call them at 260593-0903.
Custom Cabinetry for Your Kitchen, Bath or Office
3 INGREDIENT BACK-TO-SCHOOL CEREAL BAR
Ingredients
• 3 cups cereal of choice: example-Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast, Crunch, Golden Grahams, Frosted Flakes, Special K, Cocoa Puffs, Trix, Fruity Pebbles, Lucky Charms
1. Line an 8-inch pan with wax or parchment paper (or double the recipe for a 9×13-inch pan).
2. If needed, gently warm nut butter until easily stirrable.
3. Stir all ingredients in a large bowl.
4. Pour the cereal mixture into the pan.
5. Place a second sheet of parchment over top, and press the cereal down firmly into the pan. Press down very firmly, because this keeps the cereal bars from falling apart after cutting later.
6. Freeze for a half hour or until firm enough to slice into bars.
7. Cover leftovers. Store in the refrigerator or freezer or on the counter in a cool, dry place.
Optional twist
• Add fresh or dried fruit to the top.
• Drizzle on melted chocolate.
• Add nuts of choice
• Top with mini chocolate chips or sprinkles
21 COMMON FORM
22 COMMON FORM
23 COMMON FORM
24 COMMON FORM
25 COMMON FORM
26 COMMON FORM
27 COMMON FORM
28 COMMON FORM
29 COMMON FORM
30 COMMON FORM
31 COMMON FORM
32 COMMON FORM
33 COMMON FORM
34 COMMON FORM
35 COMMON FORM
36 COMMON FORM
37 COMMON FORM
38 COMMON FORM
39 COMMON FORM
40 COMMON FORM
41 COMMON FORM
42 COMMON FORM
43 COMMON FORM
44 COMMON FORM
45 COMMON FORM
46 COMMON FORM
47 COMMON FORM
48 COMMON FORM
49 COMMON FORM
50 COMMON FORM
51 COMMON FORM
52 COMMON FORM
RIVER RESPITE
Writer / Amy Lant-Wenger
Sapphire skies and sunlight so dazzling that it lights up the landscape, transforming the colors of everything from the tops of the trees to the petals of the flowers. The vision is made more enchanting by winding ribbons of river, twisting and turning, glistening in the rays like diamonds on the water.
Now imagine for a moment that such a place existed, not far away in some majestic park, but tucked away in a tranquil part of northern Indiana. It’s there for peace and exploration, and T & L Country Canoes is ready to send folks on that journey.
T & L Country Canoes is a family-driven enterprise, currently managed by the husband-and-wife team of Tim and Lori Mullins. They are the longtime stewards of this nature nirvana, renting out canoes and kayaks to give visitors a leisurely and lingering glimpse of this bountiful, beautiful LaGrange County locale. The adventures will allow folks to cascade down the Fawn River, an unspoiled, largely unchanged stretch of waterway that dates back to the days when the Potawatomi Indians were residents of the region.
with our maintenance-free lifestyle providing opportunities for you to explore and enjoy life! Looking to relax? Our 117 acres of woods and meadows is just the place for a tranquil, leisurely stroll. Ready for good-times activities with friendly neighbors? We’ve got everything from a woodworking shop, exercise classes, gardening and so much more.
Make the Most of Active Living!
Living at Timbercrest means freedom,
A selection of homes and floorplans plus meals, wellness programming, and recreation available on campus let you make the most of warm, sunny days! All levels of care options are available—including Assisted Living, LongTerm Care, and Memory Care. How will you spend your Timbercrest summer?
with our maintenance-free lifestyle providing opportunities for you to explore and enjoy life! Looking to relax? Our 117 acres of woods and meadows is just the place for a tranquil, leisurely stroll. Ready for good-times activities with friendly neighbors? We’ve got everything from a woodworking shop, exercise classes, gardening and so much more.
Tim and Lori Mullins, shown with grandson, a new generation of nature enthusiasts.
Tim and Lori Mullins, who recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary, have been the proprietors of T & L Country Canoes since 2013. They started out with ample provisions but little space, until the family pitched in to help design and build their current structure. Energized by the family’s willingness to support the business, they were able to complete the building project in just a few weeks.
Now, T & L Country Canoes not only offers primitive watercraft rental, but also carries a wide range of products for outdoor sports and recreation, including various watertight containers, flotation devices, insect repellents, beach towels and other water accessories.
Yet it is the allure of the environmental wonderland that draws guests. Tim Mullins, who was raised in the tiny LaGrange County hamlet of Ontario, is a self-described “river rat” who appreciates and respects the outdoors with an infectious spirit that he freely shares with those who visit.
“This is my passion,” he says proudly. “It’s what I’ve been doing my whole life. Why wouldn’t I want to share this with everyone?”
Despite what most might think, T & L Country Canoes is not strictly for the seasoned water traveler. There are many vessels and channels to coast along at different skill levels and time intervals. Life vests and paddles are provided, and the Mullinses will assist in selecting the kayak or canoe best suited to one’s expertise on the water.
Colorful watercraft are brightly displayed, cleaned daily, and dried in the sun, ready for another day and a new group of “river rats.”
Tour options include the one-hour trip, which runs approximately three miles, the two-hour trip, spanning about five and a half miles, and the four-hour excursion of nearly 12 miles. For the truly bold and daring challenge, there is also the seven hour, 20-mile Extreme Survival
Hell Run for adults. Many a master has completed this course, including Mullins himself in formidable record time. The stretch of Fawn River that traverses the property allows certain trips to span both northernmost Indiana and southern Michigan.
K. Yoder Woodworking
There are a number of shallow passages along the route, and youngsters are free to frolic in the water and sand. There are private picnic areas where families can stop and make use of the grills for authentic country dining. One of the most exquisite parts of the trip includes
the opportunity to see native foliage, florals, and woodland creatures such as otters, turtles, schools of various fish and flocks of graceful birds. In that way, each and every river run promises something new and different for everyone.
The initials in the business name can
easily be decoded from the first names of its founders. But as Tim Mullins joyfully declares, it’s also meant to represent “tender love” - for their guests, for the earth and for one another.
To learn more about T & L Country Canoes, including rates, rules and
how to make group reservations, visit tlcountrycanoesllc.com, or simply drop by, as they are open seven days a week until the end of September. Call 260562-2411 for hours and launch times. The complex is located at 5775 West 750 North in Shipshewana.
Festival Board Members: Rev. Spanley, Audrey Wood, Juanita Ketcham, Ronald Ketcham, Daniel Green, Cara Green, Larry
YELLOWSTONE TRAIL FEST
ANNUAL EVENT TO FEATURE A “MISCHIEF AND MAGIC” THEME FOR 2024
Writer / Matt Keating Photographer / Jubilee Edgell
Juanita Ketcham, events director for the Yellowstone Trail Fest, said the theme for this year’s festival is a fun one: “Mischief and Magic.”
The festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on August 17, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on August 18, at the Starke County Fairgrounds in Hamlet.
“We hope folks will come dressed in their house colors, wear wizard cloaks and witches’ hats, and sport your wands and brooms,” Ketcham said.
The event will be fun for all ages according to Ketcham.
“Almost everything will be fun for the kid in all of us,” she said. “We
selection of rods & reels in
Lews, Abu Garcia, St. Croix, Penn & More! Anything from Panfish to Saltwater fishing
Our store has something for everyone!
&
Jernas, Mark Rippy, not pictured Shirley Rippy, and Tiffany Nagai
will have a free wand-making station from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lions Pavilion for those who don’t have one. Also, if you have made an amazing wand, there is a cash contest for the best wand. We will have a display at the information trailer, and guests will vote with dollars for their favorite wand on display. The winner is the jar with the most cash and will be announced at the end of the parade at 2:30 p.m. The winner keeps all the cash from their jar.”
Ketcham said there will also be a Bag of Tricks Magic Show several times over the weekend, by Larry Wirtz.
Ketcham is excited about the Automotive and Motorcycle Show-Swap. The car show is sponsored by Street Freaks.
“The swap will come complete with some rocking music on the north end of the fairgrounds,” she said. “We will also have a new Gnome Toss this year in honor of the theme, as well as the traditional
Hammer and Skillet Toss, all with cash prizes.”
Ketcham noted that the Hoots to Howls Wildlife Rehabilitation exhibit will be showcasing some owls.
“There will also be a snake man there, and maybe Nagini [the snake] will be slithering around too,” she said. “Mark’s Ark Animal Showcase from Auburn, Indiana, is going to be there from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, with all kinds of unusual critters in his petting zoo including a huge tortoise.”
Ketcham noted that people shouldn’t forget the Quidditch Contest.
“Cash can be won by wizards of all ages by riding your house-colored broom till the music stops,” she said. “If your position and house is called, you win the cash! This will be held several times per event, and the events are scheduled
several times over the weekend.”
Ketcham said there will also be a Golf Cart Scavenger Hunt.
“The Golf Cart Scavenger Hunt will have a lot of clues to find throughout the town and fairgrounds,” she said. “The team to make it back to us with a cauldron or envelope in hand from all the stops wins some cash as well. There are also many photo opportunities with our 8-foot, two-headed dragon, or some guest appearances from a famous wizardly movie. Yellow River Farms is even bringing their kiddie version of Hogwarts Express to ride around the fairgrounds.”
Ketcham noted that each year, the Leos Club from the Lions presents an Escape Room in their annual theme.
“They have been so excited about this year’s theme that they have even made the room larger to accommodate all the clues they wanted to use,” she said. “What a great fundraiser. Be sure to look for our wanted volunteers on the Azkaban posters hanging around.”
Ketcham added that guests also enjoy the same annual events each year.
“The traditional events are the Pine Car Derby on Saturday afternoon for youth, teens and old coots, with cash payouts in three placings,” Ketcham said. “There will also be an antique tractor pull on Saturday afternoon, a Rendezvous Camp all weekend with atlatl and ax throwing practice, a parade, we hope, with many magical-themed participants, and [buildyour-own] RC racing on Sunday down at the track here.”
On the night of Saturday, August 17, the action is in the sky with a grand fireworks display, preceded by the national anthem
Enjoy a weekend of artists painting “en plein air” on the shores of beautiful Lake Maxinkuckee in Culver, Indiana, at the bi-annual Culver Paint Out! Stay the weekend to watch artists painting works featuring waterfront, downtown, lake properties, and rural agricultural locations.
Sunday will feature an award show and public art sale of all the artist’s work over the weekend Take home a one of a kind art piece that you watched painted live!
weekend full of fun and art!
Meet ‘plein air’ artists from all over the country
Watch artists paint live outdoors
Attend an art award show
Purchase original art
by the Great Lakes Sound Chorus at the ball diamonds, just east of the fairgrounds behind the food court.
Ketcham said there also will be great food available.
“There is a challenge to the food vendors to create a special themed drink, and the winner gets a free vendor spot for 2025,” she said. “The retail booths who have the most theme-decorated booth have the same reward, and they receive the same size for 2025 as they had for Mischief and Magic 2024.”
• Homemade potato salad & pasta salad
• Homemade soups
• Fresh made pies daily
• Ice cream
Ketcham noted that the festival has been great since it started.
“The festival began in 2009 thanks to Marilyn Goodrich, who wanted folks to know that the first transcontinental road, known as the Yellowstone Trail, came through Hamlet, Indiana,” Ketcham said. “It began in 1912 by Joe Parmley, who realized he could increase commerce in his South Dakota town of Ipswich if folks coming from the east going to the new Yellowstone National Park had a good road to get there.”
To keep the festival interesting, a fun theme is chosen for the even years, and a historic theme is chosen for the odd years.
“The third weekend was chosen because the town’s family doctor, Dr. Leinbach, had his birthday on the third weekend, and in the 1960s and ‘70s he used to throw a community gathering,” Ketcham
FRI & SAT
Rib
Mon - Thur 7am to 7pm | Fri 7am to 8pm | Sat 6am to 8pm
said. “We wanted to meld the two events.”
Ketcham credits many people for the success of the festival.
“This community festival could not have succeeded without our many sponsors and volunteers,” she said. “A huge shoutout to all our sponsors, especially our platinum sponsors: Town of Hamlet, Hamlet’s Caboose Cafe, Jernas Land & Cattle, Rannells Funeral Home, Hoosier Solar, Starke County Community Foundation, and the Starke County Convention and Visitors Commission.”
Ketcham said anyone who would like to become a volunteer should reach out to Yellowstone Trail Fest Board Vice President Cara Green at 574-933 2117.
For more information on the festival, check out yellowstonetrailfest.com or visit their Facebook page.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
AUGUST
ELKHART COUNTY
August 2-3
ELKHART GRAND PRIX
Enjoy racing, a concert, a car show, vendors, food and more at this exciting event.
August 3
ELKHART COUNTY BBQ & BREW FESTIVAL - ELKHART COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS, GOSHEN
A fundraiser for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Elkhart County. Your wristband includes all your food, drink and entertainment for the evening.
August 3
MICHIANA FOOD TRUCK SHOWDOWN
AMERICAN LEGION POST 210, MIDDLEBURY
Pick your favorite truck, enter some raffles, play some games, enjoy music and wait to see who takes home the trophy.
August 16-17
VINTAGE POWER SHOW
WAKARUSA HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Some of the highlights include wheat threshing, wood carving, blacksmith demos, free museum tours and much more.
August 16-18
MILLERSBURG FARMER’S DAY
WEEKEND - COOK STATION PARK
Annual car show & cruise in, food vendors, softball tournaments, corn hole, kid’s games, a bouncy house and much more!
August 24
REGATTA OF RECYCLABLES: MINIATURE BOAT RACE RIVERBEND PARK
Build your boat from the materials provided and race down the Elkhart River. Boat building 3p-5p, race starts at 5p. Free to participate.
August 24
FLASHBACK FRIDAY MOVIES IN THE PARK - RIVERBEND PARK
Family-friendly movie, starting at 7pm. Bring a chair or blanket. Snack truck available.
KOSCIUSKO COUNTY
August 2-3
SUMMERFEST TRACTOR SHOW & PULL CLAYPOOL
This features hundreds of tractors, garden tractors, steam engines and other farm equipment on display.
August 17
FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL
KOSCIUSKO COUNTY FAIR, WARSAW
Over 40 food trucks and vendors! Contests with trophies and gift bags full of food samples and coupons to use at the event for the first 100 people in line.
August 24th
17TH ANNUAL HEIRLOOM TOMATO FESTIVAL
10 A- 4P
Brower Park & Old Train Depot St. Rd. 13 Pierceton
August 24
CANAL DAYS - WINONA LAKE
Food vendors along the canal and a variety of kid’s activities. The day ends with a cardboard boat race along the canal.
NOBLE COUNTY
August 1-3
ONION DAYS - WOLF LAKE
This 3-day festival has a variety of entertainment. Euchre tournament, a color run, pizza eating contest, parade and more!
August 9-11
CHAUTAUQUA DAYSTOWN OF ROME CITY
A parade and boat parade, block party, Lyrics concert and an ice cream eating contest and more.
August
30-September 2
LIGONIER MARSHMALLOW FESTIVAL
Enjoy a spectacular fireworks show, free entertainment, Baja rides, games, food vendors, a parade and so much more!
ST. JOSEPH COUNTY
August 4
SOUTH BEND RECORD SHOW GILLESPIE CONFERENCE CENTER
Vendors & collectors from the Midwest and beyond with merchandise including LPs, 45s, CDs, cassettes, music memorabilia and more.
August 17
SBN’S AVIATION EDUCATION DAY LINCOLNWAY WEST, SOUTH BEND
Aircraft displays, airfield tours, drone demonstrations, food trucks, a career/job expo and more! The event and parking are free for all ages.
SHIPSHEWANA/ LAGRANGE COUNTY
August 2
BENEFIT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY AUCTION - SHIPSHEWANA AUCTION BARN
Many auction items including Amish Handcrafted Furniture, quilts, power tools, gift certificates and much more!
August
3
SHIPSHEWANA ANTIQUE & VINTAGE MARKET - FARMSTEAD INN EXPO
BARN, SHIPSHEWANA
A swap meet and the Shipshewana Flea Market will be held in conjunction with this popular event. Admission is free, and parking is $5. To be held rain or shine.
August 8-10
NORTHEAST INDIANA STEAM & GAS SHOW - LAGRANGE COUNTY 4-H FAIRGROUNDS, LAGRANGE
This year’s show will feature Allis-Chalmers. Antique tractors, gas engines, trucks & a
steam engine will also be featured. Great food with camping available to enjoy the parade and tractor pull.
August 23-24
NORTHERN NUTRITION HEALTH & WELLNESS SUMMIT - SHIPSHEWANA
Brilliant speakers and vendors in tents with free product samples. Complementary lunch and snacks and in-store discounts.
August 24
ELIJAH HAVEN CLASSIC AUTO & BIKE SHOW - LAGRANGE COUNTY COURTHOUSE, LAGRANGE
Entertainment by DJTK, a 50/50 drawing, local food trucks and a car competition with prizes and trophies are all included.
August 31
WOLCOTTVILLE MILL FEST AND FUN RUN - WOLCOTTVILLE
This event will feature food & merchant vendors, a parade and more. Two races for
runners of all ages and experience levels.
Functional Medicine + Joint & Spine
Our unique approach leverages both MP Health
Functional Medicine and Schneider Clinic Headache & Back Pain Center together to provide a multifaceted, natural healing experience for our patients.
IV THERAPY
Nutritional Vitamins & Minerals
Pain & Inflammation
Chelation
Ozone & UBI EBOO
BIOIDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT
• Autoimmunity
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Lyme Disease
• Cancer
• Chronic Fatigue
• Thyroid Issues
REGENERATIVE MEDICINE
Stem Cell Platelet Rich Plasma Trigger Point Injections Shockwave
