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The Garrett Clipper An edition of The
NEWS IN BRIEF Healthcare clinic closed next week AUBURN — St. Martin’s Healthcare will be closed the week of Oct. 28 at its temporary location at DeKalb Health in Auburn. The clinic is preparing to reopen Monday, Nov. 4, at 9 a.m. and resume its regular hours at its renovated permanent home at 1359 S. Randolph St., Garrett. The clinic has operated from the Auburn site since a fire on March 29 gutted the Garrett office. A community open house at the free clinic’s renovated office is planned for a later date.
County Veterans Day Parade is Nov. 9 GARRETT — The DeKalb County Veteran’s Day Parade is planned in Garrett on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 1 p.m. The parade will begin at the Garrett American Legion Post 178, 515 W. Fifth Ave. and end at the Veterans of Foreign Wars at 118 N. Cowen St. Line up will be at noon at the Legion. The parade will travel east on Fifth Ave., then north on Cowen St. to the VFW Post where auxiliary members will host a luncheon.
Miller’s Harvest Supper is tonight GARRETT — The staff of Miller’s Merry Manor is Garrett will host a Harvest Supper on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The meal of homemade vegetable soup, bread and pie is $5 for adults. Under age three are free. Tickets are on sale at Miller’s Merry Manor, 1367 S. Randolph St., Garrett. All proceeds will benefit the J.E. Ober Boomerang Backpack program and the school’s Camp Discovery scholarships.
G-K-B school board to meet Monday GARRETT — The GarrettKeyser-Butler school board will meet in regular session Monday at 6 p.m. in high school room 120. Agenda items include recommendations to approve: • 2014 school budget; • Superintendent employment contract; • Anti-Bully Policy #3067, first reading; • Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act resolution; • Dennis Stockdale, Tonya Weaver, Matt Smith, Lucas Fielden and Kristi Surfus to attend the AASA National Conference on Education located in Nashville, Tenn. from Feb. 13-15, 2014; • Martin Riley Architects-Engineers proposal for roof consulting services for the J.E Ober and old section of the high school; • 2013-2014 Title I & 2013-2014 NESP grant awards; • FFA National Convention field trip in Louisville, Ky. from Oct. 30-Nov. 2, 2013; and • A proposal offering criminal justice course at Garrett High School.
The Garrett Clipper P.O. Box 59 Garrett, IN 46738 Phone: 925-2611 ext. 45 Fax: 925-2625 attn: Garrett Clipper
OCTOBER 24, 2013
VOL. 127 ISSUE #85 On the web at: kpcnews.com
75 cents Garrett, Indiana Established in 1885
Council approves pay ordinances By Sue Carpenter scarpenter@kpcmedia.com GARRETT — After weeks of budget committee meetings, the Garrett Common Council adopted three wage and salary ordinances at a special session Tuesday. At its Oct. 15 meeting, council members unanimously approved an ordinance giving a 3 percent pay hike for elected officials that would include Clerk-Treasurer
Marcie Conkle only, excluding the mayor and council members. That measure was adopted 5-0 Tuesday. At the previous meeting, Councilman Brad Stump asked for up to 5 percent increases for city employees and appointed officers and for police and fire department members if it fit within their department budgets without raising customer rates or taxes. Conkle and City Attorney Dan
Brinkerhoff prepared amended ordinances for Tuesday’s session showing 4 and 5 percent increases, but only the original 3 percent ordinance was introduced in both cases. Stump and Councilwoman Amanda Charles again voted against the 3 percent raise for city employees in favor of larger pay hikes. The measure narrowly passed 3-2.
Legion leader ready for year of service By Sue Carpenter scarpenter@kpcmedia.com GARRETT — As one of 12 national vice-commanders of the American Legion, Bob Newman, 65, of Garrett has a lot of ground to cover in the coming months. The US Navy veteran was elected during its national convention in late August in Houston to help lead the 2.4-million-member American Legion, the nation’s largest veterans organization. Newman took his oath of office after being unanimously elected by delegates Aug. 29. The last time this area had a national vice commander was in the 1960s. There are three living national vice commanders from the state — four counting Newman.
Returning from the war Newman moved to Fort Wayne following discharge from the U.S. Navy in 1969. He came to Garrett to visit his father, Lloyd “Walter” Newman who served as a medic in World War II. “My grandfather said my dad was up at the Legion, so I went up there to see him,” Newman said. At the time, the Legion was downtown on Randolph St. but a new building was under construction on West Fifth Ave. The old hall was on the ground floor and the bar was on the second story, “because way back in the ‘20s or ‘30s, non-profits could not have their bars be seen from the street,” Newman said. “So you either had to go up or below the street.” The bricks that make up the front of the new building came from the old post, he said. “Dad said he would sign me up for the first year” of Legion membership. “’After that it’s on your head,’” his dad told him.
First offices Newman ran for his first office as historian in 1973, At that time, the local post
Sue Carpenter
National vice commander of the American Legion Bob Newman was presented the Distinguished Hoosier award from Gov. Mike Pence, Indiana’s second-highest honor. had seven delegates and enough members to have seven alternates to state convention. Newman and his buddy, Denny Blaker tied for the last spot, so they flipped a coin to see who would be the seventh alternate — which Newman won. After his recently election to the national post, Blaker emailed Newman the message — “not bad for being seventh alternate.” Newman has held offices at every level of The American Legion, including department (state) commander of Indiana, northern vice commander of Indiana, Americanism Commission chairman of Indiana, department Children and Youth Commission chairman, Internal
Affairs Commission chairman and Rehabilitation Commission chairman. Nationally, he has served on the Veterans Preference and National Insurance committees. Newman said there is rarely competition for the various offices. “For the most part the Legion is helping veterans, so there is really no competition — the ideals are the same — to help veterans,” he said.
Military service Newman enlisted in the U.S. Navy on his 17th birthday in 1965. He served as a radar man Legion, Page 4
Tri Kappa hosting first garage sale Saturday GARRETT — Garrett Tri Kappa Sorority is hosting its first fall garage sale on Saturday, Oct. 26, from 8:3o a.m. to 1 p.m. in the J.E. Ober Elementary School cafeteria. Enter door No. 4. Fall coats, clothing, Christmas ideas, toys and much more will be offered.
THURSDAY
Photo contributed
A video gaming trailer will be featured from 1-4 p.m. during Saturday’s Fall Fest at Feick Park, sponsored by the Garrett Public Library and DeKalb Horseman’s Association.
Garrett library plans Fall Fest Saturday GARRETT — The 2013 Garrett Public Library’s annual Free Fall Fest is set for Saturday, Oct. 26, from 1-4 p.m. Due to construction at the library, the event will be held at Feick Park on South Cowen St. The DeKalb County Horsemen’s Association will be offering horse and wagon rides and a Meet the Horses program. Antique farm equipment will be on display, and lunch will be
served from an authentic chuck wagon. The third annual Small Dog Dash will be held at 1 p.m. with registration beginning at 12:30 p.m. Registration forms for the race are available at Garrett State Bank and at the library. Jay Fox Band will provide live music, and a costume parade for children is set for 2 p.m. The Friends of the Library Book Sale will be held during the afternoon,
and the Garrett Police will lead demonstrations with K-9 officers. Special attractions for children will include a bounce house and a gaming trailer. Many local organizations are taking part in this event by hosting carnival games, snacks and cookie decorating. There is no cost to attend the event, but some items will be available for purchase during the day.
Councilman Todd Sattison noted additional benefits were put in place that make the 3 percent increase more attractive to the city workers. Stump also cast a negative vote for a 3 percent pay increase for the police and fire department, again in favor of a larger increase. The special session was needed to meet the Oct. 31 deadline for the wage and salary ordinances.
Garrett man sentenced on charges of sexual misconduct By Amy Oberlin aoberlin@kpcmedia.com ANGOLA — A Garrett man was sentenced Monday to four 12-year sentences for repeated sexual misconduct with a minor. Nicolas D. Duesler, 28, was found guilty of four Class B felony counts by a Steuben County jury on Sept. 26. He was held in Steuben County Jail pending his sentencing hearing, and now will be remanded to the Indiana Department of Corrections. Judge William Duesler Fee took Steuben County Probation Department’s recommendation and sentenced Duesler to 12 years on each count, with two years on each suspended and a total of six years probation after he is released from prison. With Indiana good time credit, his served term would be 16 years. He received credit for 263 days already served in jail, though he did not get credit for the time he served under a contempt of court sentence leveled by Judge Randy Coffey at Duesler’s initial hearing. Due to Duesler’s disrespect, which included numerous expletives, Coffey originally told him to serve two years for contempt. Duesler served about a month before Coffey accepted a time-served term and allowed him to post $50,000 bail at the request of his Fort Wayne attorney Samuel Bolinger. Family members, a jail Bible study leader and a Garrett pastor spoke on the witness stand in Duesler’s behalf. Bolinger asked the judge to consider the low end of the sentencing spectrum to allow Duesler time on probation to be active in his segue from prison back into society. Fee said Duesler’s support system was admirable, but three major aggravating circumstances were apparent, including an extensive criminal record. Fee said efforts made in the Florida justice system to provide alternative sentencing and opportunities for Duesler to help himself were largely unsuccessful. The majority of Duesler’s criminal past is in Florida. He was living in Angola, between an apartment he kept on Washington Street and the Broad Street home of his girlfriend and her family. The victim was his girlfriend’s niece. Prosecutor Michael Hess pointed out that the girl was in Duesler’s care when he forced her to have sexual intercourse with him. While she was 14 years old at the time, experts who testified during the jury trial said she had the mental capacity of an 8-yearold. The case was filed Sept. 28, 2012, after the girl’s parents became aware of the activity. Duesler was arrested in early October 2012. Duesler will be prohibited from having any contact with the girl during his probation term, which includes special rules for sex offenders. He was fined $1. Bolinger said Duesler plans to appeal the sentence. As he was paid by Duesler’s family members, Bolinger withdrew from the case and the state office of the public defender will handle the appeal.