BLAZER BASKETBALL: Eastside boys defeat Canterbury, MORE ON PAGE 3
TUESDAY DECEMBER 10, 2013
THE
Butler An edition of
The
Bulletin
147th YEAR — ISSUE #50 On the web at: kpcnews.com
75 cents Butler, Indiana ESTABLISHED IN 1866
Police: ‘It was pretty scary’ BY JEFF JONES jjones@kpcmedia.com BUTLER — There were no injuries, but Eastside Junior-Senior High School executed its lockdown protocols when a subject in a vehicle across the street from the school was found with two guns and dressed in camouflage clothing as classes were being dismissed for the day Dec. 3. Butler Police arrested Chad J. Czaja, 34, of the 200 block of Park Lane, shortly before 3:30 p.m. Dec. 3 after a witness observed a rifle in the front seat of Czaja’s vehicle as Czaja got out of the vehicle to put on the camouflage gear outside of the school.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Man with guns arrested near Eastside Dec. 3 Following his apprehension, Czaja told police he meant to scare his daughter as a prank when he arrived to pick her up from school, according to Police Chief Jim Nichols. In connection with the Dec. 3 incident, Czaja has been charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated, criminal recklessness and leaving the scene of a property-damage accident. Additional charges are possible, Nichols said. Before his arrest, Czaja’s
only criminal history involved an April 2007 misdemeanor charge for improper tagging of a deer or taking a deer without a license. Police and school officials credit training and quick response to the situation. No shots were fired and there were no injuries. “I’m really glad we had the conclusion we had. No one got hurt,” Nichols said. “I was very impressed with the school and the communication we had with them throughout the entire event.
“I also want to thank the individual who contacted us and gave us the information,” Nichols said. “That’s what we’re lacking sometimes, people stepping up and reporting information like that. Seconds are crucial, and we got there before anything worse was allowed to happen. The subject that called in should be commended for his actions, for being alert and being observant.” Nichols, Assistant Chief Matt Traster, Officer Matt Tamez and reserve Officer John Isenberg responded to the call. They were assisted by officers from the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and Waterloo Marshal’s Department.
BUTLER — Tickets are now on sale for Eastside’s performance of “A Civil War Story.” Shows will be presented Dec. 19-21 in the Eastside dinner theater, 603 E. Green St. The Dec. 19 performance will be a show only, with tickets at $8 each. Tickets for the Dec. 20 and Dec. 21 dinner and show are $15 each. The deadline for dinner and show tickets is Dec. 13. No tickets will be sold after Dec. 17. For more information, contact Denise Haywood at Eastside, 868-2186.
BUTLER — Seabreeze Ministries, 404 S. Federal St., will host a community soup kitchen from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday. The event will take place at the church, located just south of the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks, between Depot and Walnut streets.
Butler food pantry open Dec. 18 BUTLER — The Butler Community Food Pantry will be open from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18 at Butler United Methodist Church, 501 W. Green St. This disbursement is one week earlier than normal so families can have items in time for Christmas.
Sewer district board meets Dec. 18 SPENCERVILLE — The St. Joe-Spencerville Regional Sewer District board of directors will meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18 at the Spencerville Community Club. The public is invited to attend.
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. Individuals may visit and shop for bags of items priced at $3-$5 each. 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
➤ Scary, Page 6
Next Butler blood drive is Dec. 18
‘SHOP WITH A COP’ DONATION
Eastside ‘Civil War Story’ to be Dec. 19-21
Church plans soup kitchen Saturday
“Any time we receive a call involving weapons in close proximity to our schools, we take it very seriously and are on high alert, and our active shooter protocols are put into action,” Nichols stated. “It could have ended a lot differently,” the chief added. “We had no idea who he was. We had a guy in a vehicle in camouflage not listening to what we were saying. It was pretty scary.” Police were in contact with school officials throughout the situation, which was under control in about 10 minutes, Nichols said. The incident occurred just
Jeff Jones
Todd Haidous, second from left, owner of the Butler One Stop convenience store, recently made a $500 donation to the Butler Police Department’s “Shop with a Cop” program. From left, Assistant Police Chief Matt Traster, Haidous, Police Chief Jim Nichols and police department chaplain Pastor Paul Patton. Haidous is a reserve police officer in Butler, and volunteers approximately 24 hours per month to the department, Traster said.
BUTLER — An American Red Cross blood drive will take place Wednesday, Dec. 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the American Legion post, 118 N. Broadway, Butler. People who are at least 17 years old (16 with parental permission in Indiana and Ohio), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Each donor should bring a Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive identification. To schedule an appointment to donate, call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit redcrossblood.org for more information.
Railroad New thrift shop opens bridge to be moved BY AARON ORGAN aorgan@kpcmedia.com AUBURN — The DeKalb County Council approved a $150,000 appropriation to pay for removal of a compromised iron bridge that spans the CSX railroad tracks on C.R. 75 at its Dec. 2 meeting. A deal struck between the county and the railroad calls for CSX to reimburse the county for the project after the bridge is pulled out. The railroad wants the bridge removed by year’s end, and the roadway will be barricaded on either side until it can be turned into cul-de-sacs next year. The council approved the funding by a 6-1 vote, with Councilman Bob Wilder voting ➤ Bridge, Page 6
BY JEFF JONES jjones@kpcmedia.com BUTLER — Rosemama’s Thrift Shop opened in November in the former Lane Realty building at 400 W. Main St. in Butler. Owner and Butler resident Chris Crager decided she needed something to do with her free time, and said a thrift store was a business she always wanted to have. The business name came from her grandchildren. Crager explained her house features roses in every room, and they began calling her “Rosemama.” The business features home decor items; clothing of all sizes, including plus sizes; new and costume jewelry; leather and regular coats; toys; knick-knacks; Colts blankets and Marilyn Monroe collectible plates to name a few. In the future, Crager wants to offer concrete plaques and consignment opportunities. She plans to turn over inventory on a regular basis. Crager and her late husband formerly operated Stateline
Jeff Jones
Butler resident Chris Crager is the owner of Rosemama’s Thrift Shop, which opened in November in the former Lane Realty building at 400 W. Main St. Nursery & Novelties for about 10 years. Business hours are 1-5 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday,
and 1-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For more information, call 927-3811 after 4 p.m. or visit Rosemamas Thrift Shop on Facebook.
Seven charged in drug warrants Arrest warrants on drug charges were issued for seven people Dec. 3, following a yearlong investigation by members of the IMAGE Drug Task Force, the task force said Monday. Six of the suspects have been arrested, and a police are asking for information to help them find the seventh person named in the warrants. Police made these arrests: Zhonn Bowser, 30, of the 100 block of South Hamsher Street, Garrett, on a charge of dealing a Schedule I, II, or III substance, a Class B felony. Bowser was served with his arrest warrants while serving a sentence at the DeKalb County Jail on unrelated charges. Jesse Damron, 23, of the 100 block of Walnut Street, Butler, on two counts of dealing a Schedule I, II or III substance within 1,000 feet of a school or park, a Class A felony. Damron was arrested on Dec. 3 by Butler Police and is being held at the DeKalb County Jail on $20,000 bond for each count. Brandon Damron, 20, of the 1000 block of South Wayne Street, Waterloo, on a charge of dealing methamphetamine within 1,000 feet
Bowser
B. Damron
J. Damron
of a school or park, a Class A felony. Damron was arrested on Sunday by the Brown County Sheriff’s Department at a family member’s residence outside the town of Nineveh. Lance Krider, 29, of Garrett on a charge of dealing methamphetamine, a Class A felony. Krider is currently serving a sentence with the Indiana Department of Correction on unrelated charges. The task force said when he finishes his sentence, he will not be released until after he is brought before a court in DeKalb County. Jody Lee, 44, of the 100 block of Pointe Street, Garrett, on charges of dealing a Schedule I, II or III substance, a Class B
Krider
Lee
McCloskey
felony, and maintaining a common nuisance, a Class D felony. Lee was arrested Dec. 3 by the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and is currently being held at the DeKalb County Jail on $11,500 Bond. Andrew McCloskey, of the 900 block of Ernest Street, Peters Auburn, on charges of dealing a Schedule I, II or III substance, a Class B Felony, and maintaining a common ➤ Warrants, Page 6