Serving the Steuben County 101 lakes area since 1857
Oil drilling slated to begin near Indiana State University
Weather Partly sunny, high 30. Tonight’s low 22. Snow expected Saturday. Page A10
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2013
Angola, Indiana
GOOD MORNING Recycling pickup delayed in Angola ANGOLA — Due to the extreme cold weather, Republic Services Recycling routes are running behind schedule. All those missed on Thursday stops will be serviced Friday. Jim Smith with Republic asked residents to leave recycling containers out to be emptied on Friday.
Guard unit returns from Afghanistan TRAFALGAR (AP) — Members of an Indiana National Guard unit marched behind Santa Claus as they arrived at a ceremony welcoming them home after a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. About 110 soldiers from the 1438th Transportation Company based at Camp Atterbury were greeted with cheers Wednesday from hundreds of people who filled the gymnasium at Indian Creek High School in Trafalgar. Some 30 relatives of Sgt. Joanna Thompson were on hand, just as many of them were when she returned from a deployment to Iraq a few years ago. Debra Lindsay tells the Daily Journal it is a blessing to have her sister home in time for Christmas. Maj. Lisa Kopczynski says the soldiers provided security escorts for vehicles transporting food and other supplies to bases while in Afghanistan.
Barn fire damage $55,000 Accidental fire was electrical FROM STAFF REPORTS
ANGOLA — Seven fire departments responded to a rural Angola pole barn fire in the 100 block of North Old S.R. 1 Thursday. The fire caused an estimated $55,000 in damage, Angola Fire Department public information officer T.R. Hagerty said. The barn is owned by Tracey L. Takach. There were no injuries. Hagerty said the electrical fire was deemed accidental. The fire was reported at 9:20 a.m. and departments were on the scene until 11:30 a.m. battling in single-digit temperatures. Fire departments responding to the fire included those from Angola, Fremont, Hamilton, Ashley, Hudson, Steuben Township and Metz and the Steuben County Sheriff’s Department and emergency medical service.
JENNIFER DECKER
Firefighters work to put out a fire at a barn on Old S.R. 1 on Thursday morning. The fire caused about $55,000 damage and required seven departments to battle.
6 inches of snow possible BY MIKE MARTURELLO mmarturello@kpcmedia.com
Stutzman holding health care session FORT WAYNE — U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman will hold what he describes as an “Obamacare listening session and open house” Monday from 1:30-3:30 p.m. Stutzman said he encourages Hoosiers impacted by the Affordable Care Act to share their stories and suggestions. The event will take place at his office in the E. Ross Adair Federal Building, 1300 S. Harrison St., Suite 3105, in downtown Fort Wayne.
LETTERS TO SANTA Tell Santa your Christmas wishes! kpcnews.com Features > Letters to Santa
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Index • Classified.............................................. B6-B8 Life.................................................................A8 Obituaries.....................................................A4 Opinion ........................................................B4 Sports.................................................... B1-B3 Weather.....................................................A10 TV/Comics ..................................................B5 Vol. 156 No. 342
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JENNIFER DECKER
RISE Inc. clients, from left, Krista Smith and Tayla Harding, enjoy chatting with
Santa and their turkey lunch. It was all part of the annual RISE Christmas luncheon.
Rotary, Elks members honor RISE clients, staff at luncheon BY JENNIFER DECKER jdecker@kpcmedia.com
ANGOLA — More than 100 RISE Inc. clients and staff members were treated to a turkey lunch, Christmas carols, dancing and chatting with Santa Claus on Thursday. It was all part of RISE’s annual Christmas luncheon presented by Angola Rotary and Angola Elks Lodge. More than 12 years ago, Don Rodgers had the idea to hold the luncheon for RISE. RISE serves developmentally disabled clients in Steuben and DeKalb counties. “I don’t do it. The Elks and Rotary do it,” said Denise Kreais, RISE executive director. “It’s their way of giving back. It’s amazing, the community support, and clients look forward to it every year.” Kreais said the lunch is a nice treat for RISE staff members as well because the Rotarians and Elks do all the work. Last year, RISE was able to take the leftovers home. Management served the food to clients as a Christmas Eve meal for those without family. Kreais said it’s simply all done because of the staff’s love of its clients. Chuck Sheets, a Rotarian and Elk, said some of the clients have been attending each year the luncheon has been held in their honor. He said the Rotary pays for and serves the food and the Elks do the cooking and provide the lodge. In between dishing up lunches, the Rotary and Elks broke into singing Christmas carols. Dr. Matt Stevens, Rotary president, said it’s all about spreading the Christmas spirit. “It’s a combined effort,” he said. “It’s to see the looks on their faces.” Clients laughed and were especially excited when Santa handed out candy canes. Tom Wilcoxson gave the meal a thumbs up. “We get to get out of work and the best part is eating,” he said. His friend, Doug Cooper, laughed and agreed. Karen Birchielld smiled big when she saw Santa approaching. “I like Santa. I want a new blue coat,” she said. Amy Harper, another client, said she really liked the stuffing. Santa greeted clients and said he gets more attention at this time of the year. He even said
JENNIFER DECKER
Santa Claus received several hugs from RISE Inc. clients Thursday like the one from Janet Dawson, pictured. It was all part of the annual RISE Christmas luncheon presented by the Angola Rotary and Elks Lodge. More than 100 RISE clients and staff attended the luncheon Thursday.
he has an ornament clients made him last year hanging from his sleigh’s rear view mirror. Santa boogied with clients, like Brian Vail, who joked, laughed and showed Santa his moves. After RISE clients thanked Rotarians and the Elks like Jim Wall, who said he liked hanging out with his friends at the lunch and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Video at kpcnews.com Video clips from the RISE Christmas luncheon are online at kpcnews.com. Scan the QR code to watch on your tablet or smartphone.
Northeast Indiana’s first wintry blast of 2013 could be on its way, with the possibility of up to a half-foot of snow, the National Weather Service Northern Indiana is predicting. On the heels of dangerously cold wind chills Thursday, snow is possible tonight and Saturday, with the possibility of significant accumulations. A weather system moving through the INDIANA CONSERVAOhio Valley from TION OFFICERS are California is expected warning people to spawn conditions about the early ice that could bring heavy conditions on area snow, NWS said. lakes and streams. “Current computer SEE PAGE A2 model solutions indicate a potent upper air disturbance over southern California will eject out of the southern Rockies tonight and then lift northeast through the Ohio Valley on Saturday,” the advisory said. Snow could develop Friday night, continuing through Saturday afternoon. “Current projections would indicate a potential for 4 to 6 inches of snow along and south of a Rochester to Toledo (Ohio) line. However small fluctuations in the track and intensity of this system could significantly alter potential snow accumulations,” the advisory said.
House OKs budget plan after speaker stings right WASHINGTON (AP) — Battle-fatigued and suddenly bipartisan, the House voted Thursday night to ease across-the-board federal spending cuts and prevent future government shutdowns, acting after Speaker John Boehner unleashed a stinging attack on tea party-aligned conservative groups campaigning for the measure’s defeat. The legislation, backed by the White House, cleared on a vote of 332-94, with lopsided majorities of Republicans and Democrats alike voting in favor. Final passage is expected next week in the Senate. The events in the House gave a light coating of bipartisan cooperation to the end of a bruising year of divided government — memorable for a partial government shutdown, flirtation with an unprecedented Treasury default and gridlock on immigration, gun control and other items on President Barack Obama’s second-term agenda. In the end, the debate in the House was SEE BUDGET, PAGE A10