SPORTS: Football team snaps losing streak with 60-13 win, MORE ON PAGE 3
TUESDAY OCTOBER 8, 2013
THE
Butler An edition of
The
Bulletin
147th YEAR — ISSUE #41 On the web at: kpcnews.com
75 cents Butler, Indiana ESTABLISHED IN 1866
Council adopts 2014 budget BY JEFF JONES jjones@kpcmedia.com BUTLER — The Butler City Council passed its proposed 2014 budget Monday. The advertised budget, nearly $2.4 million, represents a tax rate of $1.8028 per $100 assessed value. The final budget and tax rate will not be known until both have been approved by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance. The 2013 certified budget — $2.17 million — carried a tax rate of $1.2081, according to Butler Clerk-Treasurer Angela Eck. Prior to Monday’s meeting, the
COMMUNITY EVENTS
DeKalb County Council reviewed the proposed budget, commenting that it felt the general fund rate was “excessive,” Eck said. “The reason for that is because we don’t yet know our assessed value,” she said. The City Council’s budget hearing was held Sept. 17, and like that meeting, no citizens appeared Monday to address the proposed budget. Also Monday, by two 5-0 votes, the City Council voted to rezone the Prosser farm property on C.R. 61 from heavy industry to agriculture use. Although the farm is not
within Butler’s city limits, it is within the Butler Plan Commission’s extra-territorial jurisdiction. The Prossers must complete some paperwork before the measure can be approved on its third reading. In other business, the City Council approved: • the third and final readings of a salary ordinance for elected officials; • the third and final reading of a salary ordinance for appointed officials and city employees; and • the final reading of a 27 percent water rate increase ordinance that will raise the
average homeowner’s water bill by $7 per month. Prior to the City Council meeting, longtime employees Brian Moore and Ted Miller received John N. Hurty Service Awards from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for their work to improve water quality in Indiana. Moore has worked for the City of Butler for 28 years, and Miller has worked for the city for 32 years. Earlier, Butler’s Board of Works approved two equipment requests from Butler Fire Chief Jeff Shultz:
BUTLER — The Butler United Methodist Church Women will hold their annual rummage sale Thursday through Saturday at the church, 501 W. Green St. Sale times are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, which is also bag day. Donations of clean clothing and kitchen items are now being accepted to be included in the sale.
Eastside Junior High to present ‘Flapper’
DeKalb Democrats to meet Oct. 16 AUBURN — The DeKalb County Democrats will meet Wednesday, Oct. 16, at 6:30 p.m. at the Auburn House of Pancakes, 131 W. Seventh St. All Democrats and visitors are welcome.
Jeff Jones
Singers Delaney Fritch, left, Kylie Webb, center and Maria Rohr perform “Everybody Charleston,” while reporter Brynn Phillips tries to get the scoop during rehearsals for the Eastside junior high production of “Flapper.”
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. THE
Butler Bulletin P.O. Box 39 Butler, IN 46721 PHONE: 868-5501
BY MATT GETTS mgetts@kpcmedia.com BUTLER — A Garrett man was arrested after he allegedly set fire to a woman’s truck Sunday morning near Butler. Daniel Casey Brown, 36, of the 1100 block of South Cowen Street, was booked into the DeKalb County Jail on a charge of arson, a Class B felony. He was held on $5,000 bond. According to court papers, a domestic dispute led to Sunday’s incident. Sunday morning, a homeowner went into his barn in the 3200 ➤ Arson, Page 4
Blazer band 4th at Homestead
GRAND CHAMPION DAIRY
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.
➤ Budget, Page 4
Man arrested for arson
JUNIOR HIGH STUDENTS TO PRESENT ‘FLAPPER’
Butler church plans rummage sale
BUTLER — Junior high students at Eastside will present the musical, “Flapper.” Shows will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the Millie Hansen Auditorium at Eastside. Tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. For tickets, call Denise at 868-2186, ext. 3004.
• For $10,619, the fire department will buy from Firehouse Resources of Fremont a set of “Res-Q-Jacks” that can be used to stabilize overturned vehicles, lift heavy weights, and assist in collapse and rescue operations. • For $4,155.97, the fire department will buy a laptop computer and a mounting bracket for use in its command vehicle at the scene of hazardous materials calls. The computer and mounting equipment — similar systems are currently used by the Butler Police Department
Jeff Jones
Matthew Jacobs won grand champion dairy and junior showman in the dairy category. Shown with him is Lauren Jacobs.
FORT WAYNE — Eastside’s Marching Pride Band placed fourth at the Homestead Fall Festival of Bands Saturday. Adams Central placed first among Class D bands, winning the special award for general effect, and tying with Pioneer for best music. Second-place Henryville won the best visual effect award. Bluffton placed third, followed by Eastside, Pioneer and Southwestern (Hanover). Woodlan, originally scheduled to participate, did not perform. “Saturday was quite the monsoon to march in,” Eastside director Damon Newell said. “It rained hard on us from the minute
we pulled up to Homestead to the minute we left the field. “I was very proud of my kids and their mental toughness in the performance. We did march and play our full show, (but) because of the conditions at the time of our performance, we were unable to use any of our props, soundtrack narration or wireless mics for our soloists. “Not having those components did keep us from displaying our entire show’s message Saturday,” Newell said. “Outside of that, I was very proud of every one of my kids for toughing it out and giving their all.” ➤ Band, Page 4
Holiday loaf sales to begin Nov. 1 AUBURN — The Auburn Kiwanis Club will begin sales of its holiday loaf Nov. 1, said Eugene Fuhrer, Children First Center board member and chairman of the annual fundraiser. The first loaves will come out of the oven Thursday, Oct. 31, at about 9:30 p.m. Members anticipate baking 5,000 loaves the first weekend with another 3,000 the second. Loaves will be on sale for $4 apiece beginning Nov. 1 at the Auburn Presbyterian Church at
the corner of Twelfth and Jackson streets in Auburn. Auburn Kiwanis has partnered with Children First for more than 40 years to prepare, bake and sell holiday loaf, with the proceeds donated by the Auburn Kiwanis to Children First. “On behalf of the Auburn Kiwanis Club, I would like to extend to you an invitation to try Holiday Loaf,” said Fuhrer. “For 42 years, the Auburn Kiwanis have had the privilege of baking this
holiday favorite. Perhaps the best part, second only to holiday loaf itself, is that the funds raised by this event go back into our own local communities by supporting Children First. “A successful event is dependent upon everyone in northeast Indiana supporting this once-a-year treat with their kind purchases of Holiday Loaf. We are truly blessed that we live in such generous communities,” he added. Children First operates in five
counties of northeast Indiana: DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben and Whitley. “At its core, Children First is dedicated to helping families and children grow and develop to their fullest potential through available resources, referrals, education and proactive programming,” said executive director Pat Zakula. “Our mission is to help children become all they can possibly ➤ Holiday loaf, Page 4
New scam threatens utility shutoffs INDIANAPOLIS — State and utility officials are warning Hoosiers about a scam. Some Hoosiers have received calls from people who claim to be representing a utility company and threatening to turn off services without an immediate payment. Indiana utilities companies want Hoosiers to know that the fraudulent calls are part of an ongoing scam. “If someone calls you, claims
to be from your utility and demands immediate payment, hang up and do not give out any personal or financial information,” said Indiana Utility Consumer Counselor David Stippler. “Then, call your utility at the customer service number that appears on your bill. The utility should be made aware of the contact and can verify your account status at any time.” Indiana law requires electric
and natural gas utilities under the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to provide customers with a written notice with at least 14 days’ warning before they turn off services. These utility companies include Citizens Gas, Duke Energy, Indiana Michigan Power, Indianapolis Power & Light, Northern Indiana Public Service Company and Vectren Energy Delivery.
Water utility companies under the IURC must provide customers with written notice at least seven days in advance. Exceptions include life-threatening situations, equipment tampering and fraudulent use of service. Local and rural utilities set up their own procedures. The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor encourages Hoosiers to become familiar with their utilities’ rates and rules.