EASTSIDE SPORTS: Blazer teams learn sectional foes, MORE ON PAGES 3-4
TUESDAY OCTOBER 15, 2013
THE
Butler An edition of
The
Bulletin
147th YEAR — ISSUE #42 On the web at: kpcnews.com
75 cents Butler, Indiana ESTABLISHED IN 1866
Motorcycle crash sends two to hospital BUTLER — Two people suffered injuries when a motorcycle struck a railroad crossing gate arm Sunday at 5:35 p.m. southwest of Butler, the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department reported. Michael Powell, 56, of Spencerville, the driver, sustained injuries to his head, face and
COMMUNITY EVENTS Historical photos wanted to print Do you have old photographs of the Butler, St. Joe, Spencerville, Newville, Concord, Orange, Moore or Artic areas? Please allow us to scan and print them so we can share them with readers throughout the year. Photos will appear periodically in The Butler Bulletin and online. Photos can be scanned and returned while you wait by visiting the Star office, 118 W. Ninth St., Auburn, during business hours. Photos can be old schools, street scenes, athletic teams, community bands, railroads, river or bridge scenes to name a few. Where possible, photo credit will be given. We ask that you provide some information about the time period, location and people in the photo, if available.
Democrat dinner set for Oct. 26 GARRETT — The DeKalb County Democrats’ annual Jefferson-Jackson Dinner will be held Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Garrett Country Club, 401 N. Walsh St. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz will serve as keynote speaker. Mike Claytor, candidate for state auditor, Third Congressional district candidate Justin Kuhnle and Charlie Odier, candidate for Indiana House District 52, will also be in attendance. Doors open at 5 p.m. with a social hour and cocktails. Dinner will be served at 6 p.m. Tickets are $30 each, two for $50 or a table of eight for $200. Tickets can be purchased by calling 645-0116, 337-5466, 750-7086, 908-6051 or 837-3281.
Helping Hands Ministry open BUTLER — Helping Hands Ministry is an outreach ministry of Christ’s Church at Butler assisting needy families in the Butler area. Monetary contributions and donations of new or gently-used clothing and bedding items are accepted during business hours. Helping Hands is located at 136 W. Main St. and is open Tuesdays 4-6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m. to noon. A food pantry is open the second Tuesday of each month from 4-6 p.m.
Woman, 59, in critical condition right shoulder. His passenger, Connie Cossairt, 59, of Auburn,
had injuries to her head and face. A Samaritan helicopter flew both victims to Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne for treatment of their injuries. Powell was in fair condition and Cossairt was in critical condition Monday morning according to a hospital spokesman. Police said the 2007 Harley-Da-
vidson motorcycle was traveling south on C.R. 59, approaching the Norfolk Southern railroad crossing south of C.R. 42. The crossing arms were down, with red lights flashing. Powell told police he did not see the crossing arms immediately, because the sun was shining in his eyes. When he
saw the crossing arms were down, he applied the brakes but slid, striking the southbound crossing arm with the front of the motorcycle. Police said neither Powell nor Cossairt was wearing a helmet. The Butler Fire Department and DeKalb EMS assisted county police at the scene.
Woman hit by train BUTLER — A Butler woman suffered injuries when a train struck her Saturday at 4:15 a.m., Butler Police Chief James Nichols said. Terry Gordon, 36, of the 100 block of South Broadway had visible injuries to her face and was unresponsive when rescuers arrived, Nichols said. She was taken to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, and
St. Joe man pleads guilty in fatal crash BY KATHRYN BASSETT kbassett@kpcmedia.com AUBURN — A St. Joe man could face up to 10 years of incarceration for drunken driving in a crash that killed a Butler man last year. Ryan M. Farrell, 26, of the 5200 block of C.R. 59, pleaded guilty Oct. 9 to operating a vehicle while intoxicated causing death with a prior offense of operating while intoxicated, a Class B felony, as part of a plea agreement filed in DeKalb Superior Court II. ➤ Guilty, Page 6
remains hospitalized. She was listed in critical condition Monday morning according to a hospital spokesman. Norfolk Southern Railroad personnel called 911 to report that a Canadian Pacific train had struck a pedestrian just west of the Broadway crossing on the the north set of tracks. Officer Casey Kintz responded to the
scene and found Gordon. Police did not know how fast the train was moving when it hit Gordon. Butler Police were assisted at the scene by the Butler Fire Department, DeKalb EMS, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department, Waterloo Marshal’s Department and the Norfolk Southern Police Department.
DRESS LIKE A FIREFIGHTER
Jeff Jones
Kindergarten students from Butler Elementary School watch firefighter Tyler Richmond put on his protective coat, helmet, pants and boots during a tour of the Butler Fire Department Friday morning.
School board adopts 2014 budget BY JEFF JONES jjones@kpcmedia.com BUTLER — The DeKalb Eastern school board Monday unanimously approved its advertised 2014 budget of approximately $19.76 million. Of that, just over $10.5 million is general fund dollars — all from state coffers — and another $912,830 is for the rainy day fund, also from state sources. The budget was advertised on the high side, as school districts must estimate without knowing actual assessed value or student enrollment, factors that drive the final budget, explained DeKalb Eastern superintendent Dr. Jeff Stephens.
As in most years, DeKalb Eastern used a low assessed value estimate in compiling its budget. In the end, Stephens and business manager Phil Carpenter expect the district will receive about $9.3 million in general fund dollars. It’s possible the school district’s budget won’t be approved by the Department of Local Government Finance until late December at the earliest or January or February, in part due to state and county officials needing to agree on assessed value information. In anticipation of possible funding delays, the board agreed to temporary loans if the budget is not approved before the start of 2014. Those loans would be repaid
once the budget is approved. The capital projects fund — which is raised locally — was advertised at just over $3.5 million. Future projects including technology, renovating individual classrooms at Eastside, installing LED lighting in the Thunderdome at Eastside, Butler and Riverdale gyms, and possibly upgrading external lighting at all three schools. The bus replacement fund — also raised locally — was advertised at $223,576. DeKalb Eastern expects to replace two buses. Stephens said the district will seek prices for an 84-passenger bus as an option, or buy two 72-passenger buses.
DeKalb Eastern’s enrollment increased by 24.5 students to 1,432.5 students on the official state count day in September. Although kindergarten students attend all day, they count as a “half” student to the state, Stephens said. “It’s great,” he said of the increase. “We were increasing until about four years ago when the economy went south, and we started dropping numbers.” In spite of the enrollment increase, DeKalb Eastern could still see a decrease of about $107,000 in general fund revenue. ➤ Budget, Page 6
Eastside band receives gold rating
Submit your news BUTLER — The Butler Bulletin has a new email address for your church, club or group to share its news and photos. The new email address is jjones@ kpcmedia.com. News items must be submitted by noon Friday. News items may also be faxed to the attention of Jeff Jones at 925-2625. THE
Butler Bulletin P.O. Box 39 Butler, IN 46721 PHONE: 868-5501
Jeff Jones
Eastside’s Marching Blazer Pride band earned a gold rating, with distinction for music, at Saturday’s ISSMA Open Class Exhibition at Homestead High School. The Blazers will compete at 11:13 a.m. in the ISSMA regional at Lafayette Jefferson High School this Saturday.
BY JEFF JONES jjones@kpcmedia.com FORT WAYNE — Eastside’s Marching Blazer Pride band achieved its best score of the season, but there’s more work to be done, according to band director Damon Newell. The Blazers competed in the Indiana State School Music Association Open Class Exhibition Saturday at Homestead High School — a nonqualifying event — that gives bands one more opportunity to perform in front of judges before the regional round this Saturday at Lafayette Jefferson High School. Eastside received a gold rating and an award of distinction for music Saturday. “Overall, this was, by far, our best show of the year in terms of visual and music,” Newell said. “There’s still a lot of work to do with choreography and making sure everything lines up with our footwork, the color guard, the formations and such. ➤ Band, Page 6