RAILROADERS TOP PRAIRIE HEIGHTS in Saturday shoot-out, MORE ON PAGE 6
The Garrett Clipper An edition of The
MONDAY DECEMBER 2, 2013
VOL. 127 ISSUE #96 On the web at: kpcnews.com
75 cents Garrett, Indiana Established in 1885
Lauer seeking second term AUBURN — DeKalb County Sheriff Don Lauer announced his intention to seek re-election to a second term in office in the May 6, 2014 primary election. Indiana sheriffs are limited to two terms in office. “I am very proud of the accomplishments that we’ve achieved in the past three years,” said Lauer.
He attributes his success in office to his professional, dedicated staff. “My commitment will always be to serve the citizens of DeKalb County, and to provide the ethical
Lauer
NEWS IN BRIEF
Garrett Legion offering Agent Orange program GARRETT — Garrett American Legion Post 178, 515 W. Fifth Ave., will host an open house Monday, Dec. 3 at 6 p.m. to present a program on Agent Orange and its associated illnesses. After a short presentation there will be time for a question and answer period. Food will be available for purchase. Stop by the post at after 3 p.m. weekdays or after noon on Saturday and Sunday with any questions about the program.
upkeep to the jail in an attempt to increase the building’s life expectancy; • improved inter-departmental relationships; • introduction of programming for jail inmates to reduce the likelihood of reoffending at no tax payer expense; • improved school safety by adding a third School Resource
Cousins Greg Freeze. 2 and Madison Freeze, 6, visit with Santa at the Silver Screen Cinema Friday morning. His visit was sponsored by the Kiwanis Club.
Photos by Sue Carpenter
Legislature fuels highway budget increase By Jennifer Decker jdecker@kpcmedia.com The Indiana Legislature’s increase of infrastructure funding by $200 million per year has been welcomed by DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble and Steuben county highway superintendents, who will receive a combined $1.7 million more in the first year of the law. The additional road and infrastructure appropriations came when the Legislature passed the state’s $30 billion budget. A total of $400 million reportedly will be set aside over the next two years for future transportation needs. The money comes from Motor Vehicle Highway funds derived from gas taxes collected from motorists. DeKalb County Highway Department Superintendent Eric Patton will receive some $300,000-$400,000 extra from the Legislature for each of the next few years. “What we’ll try to do is increase our chip and seal,” he said about the 730 miles roads his department maintains — including 360 miles of gravel roads. In particular, he said, DeKalb roads such as C.R. 19 north of S.R. 8 and C.R. 56 are in need of attention. “We’ll try to increase our road striping,” he said. Still, receiving any extra funding unexpectedly helps, he said. “Something people don’t realize is the cuts to highways,” Patton said. He figured he’s set on road salt, depending on Mother Nature’s ways this year, with a surplus of 600 tons mixed with sand left over from last year and the chance to order 1,000 more tons, if needed.
The Garrett Clipper P.O. Box 59 Garrett, IN 46738 Phone: 925-2611 ext. 45 Fax: 925-2625 attn: Garrett Clipper
LEFT — The Garrett Fire Department escorted Santa Claus to the Silver Screen Cinema Friday morning where he greeted children and heard their Christmas wishes. RIGHT — Mia Lopez, 3, looks in the mirror after Deb Argast painted a Mrs. Claus design on her face Friday.
Garrett choirs presenting Christmas musical Saturday GARRETT — Garrett is combining its fall all-school musical and middle and high school choral concerts into one big event on Saturday, Dec. 7 The mixed choirs will present “A 1949s Radio Christmas Carol” in two performances, the first at 2:30 p.m. and the second at 7:30 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. The event begins with a dessert cabaret served prior to each show, the first at 1:30 p.m. and the second at 6:30 p.m. in the high school cafeteria. Audience members will be greeted by live carolers and invited to choose from a wide variety of desserts such as pie, cake, cheesecake, cookies, brownies and fruit salad, as well as kid-friendly and sugar free options. Beverages served will be coffee, hot chocolate, punch and
water. Audience members will be seated tables, eat desserts and will be entertained by Christmas songs sung by the middle and high school choirs. They will be guided back to the Performing Arts Center for the musical. This an extremely heartfelt musical that takes place December 1943 at Christmas time, in Newark, New Jersey. It is a small radio show broadcast of ‘A Christmas Carol’, where there
Officer and initiating daily school patrols; • increased security in the courthouse; • increased patrols to smaller communities; and • continued commitment to the successful investigation and prosecution of sex crimes against children.
Eight churches featured in Sunday’s “Showcase of Churches”
SANTA COMES TO GARRETT
Santa Paws event set GARRETT — The Garrett Parks Authority is sponsoring a Santa Paws event at the Eastside Park Pavilion across from the school on E. Houston St. on Sunday, Dec. 15 from 2-4 p.m. Bring your pet to have a photo taken with Santa Claus. Donations from the event will benefit the Garrett Parks Department. Refreshments will be served.
leadership worthy of the office of sheriff,” said Lauer. “My staff and I are committed to providing a professional, efficient, community-focused sheriff’s office.” Accomplishments Lauer is most proud of include: • reduced spending by introducing cost cutting ideas and reducing the budget; • improved maintenance and
are lots of twists and turns. There are comical moments as well as emotionally heartfelt moments. The audience will laugh and cry. Throughout the musical, will be Christmas music from the early 1940s era sung by the cast featuring the Garrett middle school and high school choirs. Reserved seating tickets are on sale now for $10 each and include the Dessert Cabaret and the musical performance. Tickets can be purchased in the high school choir room from Jennifer Fast at 357-4114, ext. 3124 or through e-mail at jfast@gkb.k12.in.us. Audience members can park in the Performing Arts Center parking lot and enter door No. 10. Tickets will also be sold at the door the day of the performances 30 minutes prior to each dessert time.
GARRETT — Eight Garrett churches have joined together to present the first “Showcase of Churches” on Sunday, Dec. 8, from 1-4 p.m. The community is invited to take a Christmas walk through these churches in celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The event is at no charge to the public, but each church will have a basket for a freewill offering that will be combined and then equally divided between St. Martins’ and Community Care food pantries. Participating churches are • First Baptist Church, 1357 S. Randolph St.; • First Church of Christ, 213 E. King St.; • Church at Garrett, 1370 S. Randolph; • Garrett Presbyterian Church, 201 S. Franklin St.; • Garrett United Methodist Church, 110 W. Houston; • St. Joseph Catholic Church, 300 W. Houston St.; • Living Waters Community Church, 711 S. Randolph St.; and • Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1349 S. Randolph St. The Garrett community has a long history of supporting each other whenever a need arises. This tradition has been passed down from generation-to-generation, from family-to-family, and from the fellowship of Garrett’s community of churches.
Adopt a Christmas bureau family GARRETT — The Garrett Christmas Bureau is accepting names of individuals or organizations wishing to adopt a family this Christmas season. Donations of new items and monetary donations can be dropped off at City Hall between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily. Food donations may be dropped off at the Community Care Food Pantry at the Garrett United Methodist Church at the corner of Houston and Cowen streets. Contact Sue VandeZande for more information at 357-3836 or email sue@garrettindiana.us. Volunteers are also needed for the program. Donations can be mailed to the Christmas Bureau at P.O. Box 52, Garrett, IN 46738. Donation deadline is Dec. 13.
Zion Lutheran annual cookie walk is Saturday GARRETT — Zion Lutheran Preschool and Zion Lutheran Altar Guild are co-hosting their annual Cookie and Candy Walk Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. until noon in the church fellowship hall at 1349 S. Randolph St., Garrett. Those visiting the walk will be able purchase containers to fill with cookies or candy. The cost
remains the same as last year — $4 for a small box and $7 for a large container. Candy will be available to purchase separately. After buying an empty container(s) and /or boxes, visitors may walk the aisles of cookies and candies to choose their favorite goodies. While shopping, visitors should be sure to visit the Cookie Cafe
and enjoy a complimentary drink and breakfast treat. Also make sure to bring the children so they can stop at the cookie decorating table and decorate a cookie or two at no charge. Decorated cookies can be packaged so they may go home with the children, or they can eat them at the church. This year’s walk is being share
by the preschool and Altar Guild Ladies Group. Proceeds will be used to help both groups continue their work. Proceeds for the preschool will be used to supplement the school’s educational programs and to help keep the school a vital part of the Garrett community.