FALL SPORTS AWARDS: Eastside athletes receive team honors, MORE ON PAGE 3
TUESDAY NOVEMBER 12, 2013
THE
Butler An edition of
The
Bulletin
147th YEAR — ISSUE #46 On the web at: kpcnews.com
75 cents Butler, Indiana ESTABLISHED IN 1866
Library honored with Four-Star award BY JEFF JONES jeffj@kpcnews.net BUTLER — The stars have come out once again at the Butler Public Library. For the fourth time in the past six years, the library has been named a “Star Library” in Library Journal magazine’s annual index of public library service. The announcement was made in that publication’s November issue, based on 2011 statistics. The edition ranks libraries as three, four or five stars based on circulation, visits per capita, program attendance per capita and computer usage. Libraries submit annual reports to their state libraries, and Library Journal uses that information to create its index. The Butler library was ranked among libraries with annual budgets between $200,000$399,999. “Everyone works so hard,” said director Ellen Stuckey. “The staff really deserves the recognition.
COMMUNITY EVENTS Library board to hold public hearing BUTLER — The Butler Public Library Board of Trustees will conduct a public hearing at 7 p.m. Wednesday to address the library’s internet and computer use policy. The monthly meeting of the board will immediately follow the hearing at the Butler Public Library, 340 S. Broadway, Butler.
Coat giveaway set for Saturday BUTLER — The Butler Church of Christ will hold its annual coat giveaway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the church, 173 W. Oak St.
Leaf pickup taking place in Butler BUTLER — City crews will pick up leaves as they are available around Butler. Residents are asked to rake their leaves to the curb, but not into the street.
Church plans soup kitchen Dec. 14 BUTLER — Seabreeze Ministries, 404 S. Federal St., will host a community soup kitchen from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14. The event will take place at the church, located just south of the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks, between Depot and Walnut streets.
Sewer district board to meet Nov. 20 SPENCERVILLE — The St. Joe-Spencerville Regional Sewer District board of directors will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the Spencerville Community Club. This meeting is being held a week earlier than normal to avoid conflicting with the Thanksgiving holiday.
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
“We’ve really focused on pre-literacy and getting children to read.” Over the years, the library has implemented and maintained several initiatives, including the 1,000 Book Club, Kindergarten Prep School (KiPS), StoryTime, Book Buddies and Begin in Books programs and the ever-popular summer reading program. “I’m very proud of my staff,” Stuckey said. “The staff really deserves this because they work very hard to make this library operate easily. They’re all very good at what they do.” In all, Indiana placed seven libraries on the index, while neighboring Ohio ranked second once again with 32 libraries on the list. New York had the most with 37. Eleven states had no libraries on the list. The index is broken down into nine expenditure groups, from the smallest —$100,000 to $199,000 — to the largest, for libraries with annual expenditures in excess of
Library adds new computers
Photo contributed
Students make use of new computers in the Butler Public Library’s teen room. The library was recently honored with a Four-Star Award from Library Journal magazine. $30 million. The largest libraries are in places like Cleveland, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Seattle and Toledo.
Although the Butler Public Library has cardholders in ➤ Library, Page 5
BUTLER — The Butler Public Library has received a technology grant in the amount of $9,467 to purchase 13 new public access computers. The computers were installed in August. Ten computers are located in the main computer bank of the library, and three are in the Teen Zone. “We are thrilled to be able to provide up-to-date, reliable computers for our patrons,” said library director Ellen Stuckey. “Our library is a center of technology access for the community. ➤ Computers, Page 5
District marks 50 years BY JEFF JONES jjones@kpcmedia.com BUTLER — While the DeKalb County Eastern Community School District was established in July 1962, the first seniors to graduate from Eastside Junior-Senior High School received their diplomas in the spring of 1964. To commemorate 50 years, school officials will host an informal open house Wednesday, Nov. 27, as part of the boys basketball game between Eastside and Garrett. Patrons can walk the Eastside hallways, visit the Millie Hansen Auditorium, dinner theater and witness some of the latest
classroom technological advances, explained principal Larry Yoder. Staff members will be available in various parts of the building. School consolidations — often between rival schools — occurred in part due to Indiana’s School Corporation Reorganization Act of 1959. Locally, that brought together students who attended the Metropolitan School District of Butler and the Riverdale School Corporation. In a special election held
Butler Police plan ‘Shop with a Cop’ BUTLER — The Butler Police Department is planning its annual “Shop with a Cop” event. Donations are currently being accepted, Police Chief Jim Nichols announced. In addition to the shopping trip, police hope to raise enough money so that the child and his or her family can enjoy a meal with a police officer, Nichols said. Police are consulting with school and church officials to determine need. Applications are also available at the police department, 201 N. Broadway. Children must be 16 years of age or younger and reside within the Butler city limits. Applications are to be returned to the police department no later than Monday, Dec. 9.
Applications must include a valid telephone number. A copy of a current utility bill to show proof of residency in Butler must also be included. Children will shop with a uniformed Butler Police officer, and will be given an amount of money to spend. Children are encouraged to buy a needed item for themselves, such as a coat, hat, gloves or sweatshirts. Participating children are usually able to purchase gifts for other family members. The child’s parent or guardian will also be accompanied by a police officer to shop so the child or children will have gifts to open Christmas morning. For more information, contact the Butler Police Department at 868-2171.
May 8, 1962, voters approved the creation of the DeKalb Eastern school district. The first elected school board was comprised of president Franklyn Sechler, vice president Walter Reinhart, secretary Wendell Cooper, treasurer Joseph Parshall, and members Keith Culler, Frank Laub and Delbert Washler. The superintendent was Ernest Zeller and the school attorney was Henry C. Springer. That brought together the histories of the Butler Windmills
and Riverdale Comets. Coincidentally, Riverdale was a consolidation of the St. Joe Tigers and Concord Township, Spencerville Red Raiders and Spencer Township, and Newville Township. Patrons are invited to share memorabilia, including old photos, yearbooks, athletic apparel, trophies and newspaper articles pertaining to any of the schools in eastern DeKalb County. Contributors can bring their items to the Eastside office, 603 E. Green St. Patrons are asked to tag their items for easy identification and can be picked up when school resumes Monday, Dec. 2.
SEN. KRUSE VISITS RIVERDALE
Jeff Jones
Riverdale Elementary School principal Brennen Kitchen, left, talks with state Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, during Kruse’s visit to the school Thursday. Kruse and representatives from Amplify observed how students and staff are using mCLASS software and technology in the classroom. Kruse chairs the Senate Education Committee.
United Way reports campaign success BY SUE CARPENTER scarpenter@kpcmedia.com BUTLER — The weather outside was frosty, but United Way supporters enjoyed a tropical climate inside the Filling Station Youth Center Friday morning for a report breakfast sponsored by Sally and Randy Bercaw and DeKalb Molded Plastics. Hawaii was the theme for the second leg of the campaign’s “Bon Voyage” series. Leis, flip-flops and flowered shirts were the fashion of the day. Steel Dynamics, Inc. added to the excitement when Liz Emenhiser reported a grand total of $335,484 has been collected toward the United Way’s campaign goal of $700,000 for local agencies. Butler Mill Service reported another $2,205 at 50 percent participation to date. Ashley Industrial Molding
representatives reported $27,795 thus far in its campaign. Deb Moughler from DeKalb Molded Plastics reported $13,260 has been collected, with 1-1/2 weeks to go toward its goal of $14,500. The company held events such as golf chipping, a free throw contest, candy and jerky sales, and a pie-inthe-face contest to add to the funds. Cindy Snyder, director of The Filling Station, reported 10 youth from the center collected about $1,300 from a recent all-night sports challenge, where youth sought pledges for Ping-Pong, free throws and continuous walking, among other activities. Participants Alice Webb, 9, and Jalena Campbell, 15, were present at Friday’s breakfast. Webb walked nonstop for about 90 minutes, collecting $167 in pledges, said Snyder. Campbell made 33 consecutive free throws for $56 and
walked 30 minutes for another $45. Webb collected flat pledges, earning another $124, Snyder said. Another fourth-grade boy earned $560 in pledges, she said. He won a gift card to Walmart as a prize. Snyder thanked the United Way for its support for programs at the youth center, which has served 450 individual children with more than 6,500 visits for far this year. Maureen Prebynski from Children First Center’s HOME program shared the agency’s goal to make a difference in the lives of children and to keep them safe through home visits, intervention and information sessions. The agency strives to keep children with relatives when they are removed from a parent’s home, she said. “If a suitable relative is available, it is less traumatic for them,” Presbynski said. The
agency works closely with the DeKalb County of Department of Child Services and Network Safe Families through SCAN. Help is offered through help with housing, teaching and assisting for job skills for employment, children’s early educational programs and redirecting children’s behaviors. She thanked the United Way for funds received from the United Way to promote the services. Campaign co-chairs David and Stacy Hefty welcomed the lively group and joined them in a Hawaiian souvenir relay. A holiday open house is planned at the United Way office on Thursday, Dec. 5, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at 208 S. Jackson St., Auburn. For more information or to make reservations, go to unitedwaydekalb.org. or call 927-0995.