BIG TRAIN BEATS SOUTH ADAMS in ACAC opener Tuesday, MORE ON PAGE 5
The Garrett Clipper An edition of The
NEWS IN BRIEF
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foundation’s website, www. DeKalbFoundation.org, and click on “DeKalb’s VOICE.” The deadline to apply is Monday, Feb. 3, 2014. VOICE grants awarded in previous years are reported on the website. Recently VOICE grants were awarded to: • Butler Youth Evangelistic Association: Financial support to help with the meal program • DeKalb Council on
9 register as election candidates AUBURN —Eight Republicans and one Democrat filed as candidates for election at the DeKalb County Clerk’s office this week. In filings for the May 6 primary election: • Republican Amanda Stuller of Waterloo filed as a candidate for the Grant Township Advisory Board. • Republican Marvin L. Skelly of rural Ashley filed as a candidate for the Fairfield Township Advisory Board. • Republican Gregory S. Hook of rural Butler filed as a candidate for the Stafford Township Advisory Board. • Republican David Capp of Butler filed as a candidate for the Wilmington Township Advisory Board. • Republican Joe Laher of Auburn has filed as a candidate for DeKalb County coroner. • Republican Mark Jennings of rural Butler has filed as a candidate for Troy Township trustee. • Republican Charlotte Dohner of rural Auburn has filed as a candidate for state convention delegate. • Republican Judy Watson of St. Joe filed as a candidate for state convention delegate. For the Nov. 4 general election: • Democrat Bradley Duane Thompson of Waterloo filed as a candidate for the Waterloo Council at-large seat. Candidates for the 2014 primary election have until noon Feb. 7 to register.
The Garrett Clipper P.O. Box 59 Garrett, IN 46738 Phone: 925-2611 ext. 45 Fax: 925-2625 attn: Garrett Clipper
Pregnancy: Purchase cribs, mattresses and car seats that meet industry safety standards • Little Joe’s Preschool: Funding to increase daily lessons and staff hours • Mad Anthonys Children’s Hope House: Help families with overnight stays when they have someone in the hospital • McMillen Center for Health Education: McMillen Center’s Brush dental health program
DAWSON SETS SCORING RECORD Garrett’s Brandi Dawson, left, passed Kelly Surfus, right, as the Railroaders’ all-time leading scorer in Tuesday’s Allen County Athletic Conference Tournament opener against South Adams. Dawson currently has 1,267 points. Surfus presented Dawson with the game ball after the game. See story on page 6.
Five Republicans file for re-election AUBURN —Five Republican office-holders filed for re-election at the DeKalb County Clerk’s office this week: • Alan Middleton of rural Auburn filed for re-election to the DeKalb County Council District 3 seat. • William VanWye of rural Ashley filed for re-election to the DeKalb County Council District 2 seat. ª Heather Jones filed for re-election as Wilmington Township trustee. • Sandra “Sandy” Harrison of rural Butler filed for re-election as Franklin Township Trustee. • Mary Dangler of rural Waterloo filed for re-election as Grant Township Trustee.
JANUARY 16, 2014
VOL. 128 ISSUE #5 On the web at: kpcnews.com
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DeKalb’s VOICE seeks grant proposals DeKalb’s VOICE, Community Foundation DeKalb County’s youth philanthropy group, is currently accepting grant proposals for educational programs and to meet the needs of the community’s most vulnerable families. Priority will be given to proposals from student organizations whose members perform volunteer service in support of charitable activity. Grant application forms are available on the community
Kaitlyn Bergman, 9, of Garrett was crowned Little Miss Kosciusko County Saturday during the Miss Kosciusko County Pageant. Bergman is the first Kosciusko County Princess. The Miss Kosciusko County Pageant is part of the Miss America Organization. Among other appearances throughout the year, Bergman will participate in the Miss Indiana Pageant production and activities in June in Zionsville. She is the daughter of Kelly and Ali Bergman of Garrett.
THURSDAY
Phil Friend
Altona leaders set goals for new year By Sue Carpenter scarpenter@kpcmedia.com ALTONA — The Town of Altona laid out several goals for the coming year at its meeting Monday inthe town hall. The three-member board is comprised of President John Shafer, Chris Seely and Dallus Hicks. Terry Whan is the town’s clerk-treasurer. The board gave its approval to move forward with a website and Facebook site for the town
and gave Lisa Hicks authority to rent out the town hall. Town leaders gave the go-ahead to join the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, noting the $500 annual membership fee would be well worth the cost. The board will seek three quotes to purchase and install a garage door opener for the town hall, which houses a one-ton pickup truck and snow plow used to clean streets.
A welder used for repair of town-owned equipment needs repair or replacement, Whan said. The board gave approval to seek a cost estimate from a Kendallville company. The board listed parameters for the town’s debit card to include fuel purchases for the truck and gas mower, supplies for the rental hall, and for office equipment. Altona, Page 3
Sue Carpenter
Contractor Jason Shearer knocks down the last two rows of bricks in the front office of Bill Yoder Ford Monday in order to drive out a vintage 1956 Ford T-Bird that was on display in the dealership’s showroom. A temporary office was moved in front of the building a short time later and will open as soon as utilities are connected, according to Bill Yoder. The building collapsed further over the weekend due to recent heavy snowfalls.
DeKalb’s VOICE members are students in grades 8-12 who represent each of DeKalb County’s schools. They meet monthly during the school year to learn about the community’s charitable needs and how to address them. The Dekko Foundation, Community Foundation DeKalb County and local school corporations foster DeKalb’s VOICE, working together to grow a new generation of philanthropic leaders.
Call volume cripples dispatch center By Aaron Organ aorgan@kpcmedia.com AUBURN — A flood of calls to DeKalb County Central Communications during last week’s major winter storm crippled the dispatch center for a short period. Director Paul Brewer said the tremendous volume of calls Jan. 6 and 7 effectively flooded the system of the center north of Auburn. One of the center’s two internal routers failed, and the other became overloaded trying to keep up with the call volume, Brewer explained. During the storm, Auburn lost electrical service for six hours on the night of Jan. 6, and a generator failed at one of the county’s annex buildings, preventing dispatchers from being able to log onto the county’s network. The system was down for nearly 2 ½ hours, nearly all of which Brewer said he spent on the phone trying to get it repaired. A contractor replaced the failed router. The outage meant dispatchers could field only a fraction of the calls intended for them, Brewer said. Dispatchers were able to receive 480 non-emergency calls, 283 emergency calls and 2,675 radio calls from emergency personnel between Jan. 6 and 7, but it’s anyone’s guess how many calls were lost and unanswered during the center’s down time, Brewer said. “I have no idea exactly how many calls we took, because we couldn’t answer them all,” said Brewer. Brewer said E-911 calls the center could not field were transferred to Allen County’s dispatch center, and service to residents was never compromised. “I think it was due to the overwhelming influx of phone calls,” Brewer said about the reason for the technical troubles. Much of the problem, Brewer said, was that many of the calls during the storm were non-emergency calls. Brewer said his dispatchers were peppered with questions about a travel warning, area closures and road conditions. He urged residents to call 911 only with emergency needs. “People need to call us for emergency situations,” said Brewer. “Other than that, they need to pay attention to their local media for updates and information.” During a meeting Monday, the DeKalb County commissioners briefly discussed sending letters to residents who called 911 with non-emergency questions, explaining they could be fined.
Kruse bill backs music education By KATHRYN BASSETT kbassett@kpcmedia.com INDIANAPOLIS — Sen. Dennis Kruse, R-Auburn, will sponsor a number of bills dealing with issues from library service to music in schools during the 2014 legislative session. One of Kruse’s proposed bills would require at least one music class to be held every semester in Indiana public schools. Kruse said the bill would apply to all schools, from elementary to high school.
Kruse said he is proposing the bill because exposure to good music has been shown to help students learn better, particularly in lower grade levels. “It helps people Kruse learn better and retain knowledge better,” Kruse added. Kruse said he also will sponsor
bill that will allow Indiana townships not served by libraries to decide what library services they would like. Another of his proposed bills would provide that board members of regional solid waste management districts are elected rather than appointed. Users in the districts — those paying the monthly bills — would be the ones electing board members, Kruse said. Kruse said Indiana’s marriage amendment resolution, renamed
this year as House Joint Resolution 3, also will be before the Indiana General Assembly this session. The proposed amendment would call for a statewide referendum to consider whether to put Indiana’s definition of marriage — as between one man and one woman — into the Indiana Constitution. Kruse said he will be the Senate sponsor of the resolution, which will begin in the Indiana House of Representatives.