GIRLS BEAT FREMONT, continue winning ways, MORE ON PAGE 6
The Garrett Clipper An edition of The
NEWS IN BRIEF
Sue Carpenter
Precious, a Yorkie, visits with Santa Claus during a Santa Paws event sponsored by the Garrett Parks Department Sunday in Eastside Park. Jennifer Garringer brought her pet to the event.
School-offered iPads sold out GARRETT — Garrett-KeyserButler Schools has sold out its limited number of retired Apple iPads devices offered to the public at $65 apiece. The sale began Wednesday at 8 a.m. and was scheduled to continue today. The first-generation, 16 GB iPads and power supplies were sold as-is with no warranty and were not capable of updating to current IOS. School officials said a line of buyers began to form before 7 a.m. Wednesday. Tickets were handed to those in line, and by 7:45 a.m., the supply was depleted and potential customers were turned away.
Clothing drive in Garrett this weekend GARRETT — The Garrett High School Fellowship of Christian Athletes is hosting a clothing drive this weekend. The first is Friday when the Railroaders meet Leo in the Paul Bateman Gym. The second is Saturday’s girls game against South Adams at Garrett. Attendees are asked to bring lightly-used clothing for St. Martin’s Clothing Closet, Garrett.
GHS collects food for Christmas bureau GARRETT — Garrett High School collected 2,181 items for this year’s food drive for the local Christmas bureau. Senior girls were the big winners this year in the class competition with a total of 537 cans. The National Honor Society went door-to-door and brought in 1,051 cans. The high school staff and students also adopted five local families this year for Christmas. Teacher Bree Sprunger’s ICE class took care of one of the families and Becky Wright’s AP English class who took care of another. Students Initiating Caring and Kindness (SICK) raised money for some of the other families and the Garrett staff took care of the rest.
Santa to visit elderly, shut-ins Saturday GARRETT — Santa Claus will be visiting local shut-ins, senior citizens, special needs and handicapped children on Saturday. A tentative schedule includes stops at Sunny Meadows Home and Miller’s Merry Manor in Garrett. Contact the department at 357-6670 to leave name, phone number and address for Santa’s visit, which is sponsored by the Garrett Fire Department.
The Garrett Clipper P.O. Box 59 Garrett, IN 46738 Phone: 925-2611 ext. 45 Fax: 925-2625 attn: Garrett Clipper
THURSDAY DECEMBER 19, 2013
VOL. 127 ISSUE #101 On the web at: kpcnews.com
75 cents Garrett, Indiana Established in 1885
Survey: Local real-estate market stable AUBURN — The residential real estate market in DeKalb County has been stable in 2013, Good Inc. Valuation Services said Monday. The company reported the results of its survey, which it said is based on key measures important to homeowners, buyers, sellers and renters. “Year-to-date, our data, along with information analyzed from Realty-Trac and the Fort Wayne MLS, shows that the residential real estate market has been stable in DeKalb County in 2013,” said Tonya Beachy, research analyst and licensed trainee appraiser at Good Inc.
Beachy added, “Year-to-date, the average home sales price in DeKalb County is $110,000, and the median sale price has been $88,500. These figures are based on 479 properties sold.” While home prices in DeKalb County have been lower than the state average,they have increased slightly compared to one year ago, Good Inc. said. One factor affecting home prices in the county is the number of foreclosed homes. So far this year, there have been 89 foreclosures, a figure 3 percent higher than the state average, but stable for the northeast Indiana market area, Good Inc. said.
Research shows smaller towns in the county generally have higher foreclosure rates. Good Inc. said the Ashley-Hudson area has the highest foreclosure rate for the year, with eight of 14 sales listed on the MLS, and in turn, the lowest average sale prices. As foreclosure properties remain prevalent in smaller DeKalb County towns, the trend to purchase investment properties is ever growing, Good Inc. said. Its survey showed nearly half of the homes in Butler are rented or vacant, in comparison to only 30 percent in Auburn. “Some single-family invest-
It’s business as usual Roof collapses at longtime auto dealership By Sue Carpenter scarpenter@kpcmedia.com GARRETT — “There was no warning — she just went,” Bill Yoder said of the roof collapse at a Garrett auto dealership Monday morning. He and two sales people were in the front of Bill Yoder Ford when they heard the sound. Mechanic Mark Krider was the only person in the garage area where the wooden support beams of the bow-string truss roof gave way abut 8:30 a.m. Krider was standing near a hydraulic lift, ready to change the oil in a pickup truck. He turned to take off, but fell to the ground. Members of the Garrett Fire and Police departments were on the scene within a minute, according to fire chief Dana Treesh. Treesh, two police officers and an off-duty medic dragged Krider across the concrete floor and out the back door of the building. Falling rafters and other debris were scattered on the floor around him, Treesh said. Yoder credits that same lift for holding the ceiling beams in place that Krider sustained only a sprained knee in the incident. He was taken by DeKalb EMS for treatment. “Thank God no one was seriously injured,” said Yoder who followed Krider to the hospital. Police and fire personnel strung police tape around the entire building and blocked the intersection at the corner of Quincy and Randolph streets in fear the building might continue to weaken through the day, according to officials at the scene. City electric and NIPSCO gas utility personnel worked in concert to disconnect lines to the building. Treesh credits cross-department training for the efficiency in handling situation. City planner Milton Otero said the estimated 7-inch snowfall over the weekend more than likely was a contributing factor in the collapse. County officials condemned the structure that morning. Later on Monday, 2-x-4 inch
Sue Carpenter
Owner Bill Yoder walks through the garage area of the local Ford dealership while insurance workers salvage parts and equipment following a roof collapse Monday morning that injured one worker. Wooden braces hold up the rafters.
Sue Carpenter
Police tape surrounds the Bill Yoder Ford dealership in downtown Garrett while wooden braces shore-up the bowed walls following a roof collapse. Yoder said is grateful to the wood braces were added on police, fire and DeKalb EMS the north and south sides of the for their prompt response, and building where the walls continue to Insurance Trustees and The to bow out. The interior is now a maze of wooden braces, shoring up the roof while parts and equipment Business, Page 3 are removed for storage.
ment homes were purchased this year for as little as $15,000,” Beachy said. “Investors are taking advantage of the current market in these outlying communities by purchasing homes at low prices, refurbishing them and then converting them into rental income properties.” Beachy added, “While median sales prices per town range from $32,500 in Waterloo and up to $108,000 in Auburn, Good, Inc.’s analysis shows that the average rent for single-family homes remains steady at $600-$700 per month throughout DeKalb County.”
County deals with aging ambulances By Aaron Organ aorgan@kpcmedia.com AUBURN — DeKalb County EMS has an ambulance problem. Well, a problem with two ambulances. EMS director Randy Fox approached the county commissioners Monday to discuss options to either repair or replace two high-mileage ambulances in his fleet that have engine issues. Fox said one ambulance, a 2006 Ford with 198,000 miles that the department had planned to trade in six months, has a blown engine. Another has 178,000 miles and already has been repaired once, Fox said. Fox said an engine issue — which runs $8,000-$10,000 to repair — is forcing his hand. “The question is what do do?” Fox told the commissioners. “Fix it now, try to rent one or buy a new one?” Fox said the 2009 models in the EMS fleet have been kept off the road as much as possible to save mileage. The commissioners told Fox their preference is to repair the engine on the 198,000mile ambulance and buy a new ambulance to replace the 178,000mile unit. Commissioner Don Grogg said the plan will allow the department to get on a replacement rotation that doesn’t have the county buying several new ambulances at once. Fox will research new ambulances and return Dec. 30 with quotes. The engine repair will be paid out of the EMS ambulance replacement fund, he said. In other business Monday, the commissioners are expected to vote next week on an ordinance to change the speed limit on C.R. 68 between C.R. 11-A and S.R. 327 from 55 mph to 40 mph. Residents there approached the commissioners earlier this month to discuss speeding on the stretch. The commissioners also granted approval for county highway head Eric Patton to replace a full-time employee who left the department.
JAM Center plans winter gala Ragans to serve as event co-chairs GARRETT — The Judy A. Morrill Recreation Center is hosting its annual Winter Gala fundraiser on Saturday, Feb. 8 from 6-9 p.m. at the center, 1200 E. Houston St., Garrett. Garrett business owners and avid JAM Family supporters Cary and Dr. Sarah Ragan will serve as chairs for the event. This year’s gala will feature a silent and live auction, hor’s doeuvres, live music and dinner prepared by Biaggi’s Ristorante Italiano. Auctioneer Jama Smith, of National Benefit Auctions will lead the live auction. The evening will feature
the center’s family-centered spirit and the importance of the JAM Family is to the community and how the center also benefits from the support of those who belong to that family. “Your support is essential to our future,” said executive director Cheryl Karr. “We have announced many successes here at the JAM Center this past year, but we need your continued support to keep the momentum going.” The JAM Center is committed to making a difference for everyone they touch by delivering hope, direction, empowerment and
support bundled in a healthy mix of wellness, education and fun. Tickets to the event are $30 per person. A new offering for the event this year is the premiere Friends of JAM tickets at a cost of $300 per couple. Exclusive benefits include special seating at the best table in the house, upgraded dessert, a goodie bag, wine or champagne, a personal server, plus more special treatment to be determined by the ticket purchasers. To become a gala supporter through sponsorship, ticket purchases, auction items or if you have any questions contact Beth McCord at 260-357-1917.
Photo contributed
Cary and Dr. Sarah Ragan of Garrett will serve as event co-chairs of this year’s JAM Center fundraiser.