IN|Whitley County Feb. 15, 2018

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By Bridgett Hernandez bhernandez@kpcmedia�com

Whitko School Board of Trustees met with administrators for a joint work session Feb. 6 to discuss next steps for the upcoming consolidation of the high

260-482-8503 NEWS IN BRIEF Support group available for families of children with special needs COLUMBIA CITY — Families of children with special needs can be part of a support group in Columbia City.

The group meets 3-5 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month at Choices & Changes, 360 N. Oak St. The Feb. 17 meeting will focus on visual supports.

The meeting on March 17 will focus on community supports. April 20’s topic is grieving and growing.

For more information contact Chris Garau at 255-0708 or Christy Garau at 255-0707.

school and middle school.

In January, the board voted 3-2 to reconfigure 7th-12th grade students at the South Whitley campus starting the 2018-2019 school year.

However, school board

members now say that the motion only specified a location for the 20182019. According to school board vice president Carrie Hoffman (District 2), the board ultimately wants the consolidated school to

COESSE — Since Jose Rodas Gohde moved to the U.S. when he was 8 years old, he hasn’t had the opportunity to speak Spanish often. Jose was born in Guatemala and only knew the English alphabet before he came to America.

Now, he’s a fluent English speaker, and is a fifth-grade student at Coesse Elementary School.

The past few weeks, Jose has been the man of the hour, as many new Spanish-speaking classmates have come to the school after their parents’ jobs transferred from Puerto Rico. Jose has been an extra help around the school as a translator for students, teachers and school administrators alike.

“I help them tell the teacher what they want to do,” Jose said.

Sometimes, Jose helps teachers translate for students too.

“One of the teachers asked me to tell the new kindergartners from Puerto Rico to stay on the mulch in the playground,” Jose said.

“I feel like I’m doing good.”

When Jose first came to the U.S. he lived in Colorado, where he had a friend who helped translate for him until he learned English.

Now, he’s paying it forward.

“I just did my school work and listened to everyone speak English and picked it up. It was pretty easy,” Jose said.

Other students at Coesse approach Jose to teach them Spanish so they can talk to their new classmates as well.

Tucker, the initial move “easily could have went to Larwill,” but if financing wasn’t secured for updating the Larwill campus, the school corporation would have been stuck shuffling See CAMPUS, Page 2

NICOLE MINIER

“They want to learn how to say, ‘how are you?’ ‘what are you doing?’ and ‘hello,’” Jose said.

Principal Michelle Urban said students like Jose have been very helpful in the transition and are especially

popular among their classmates.

“It’s neat to see the exciteSee COESSE, Page 2

Remembering Red

By Bridgett Hernandez bhernandez@kpcmedia�com

CHURUBUSCO — The Smith-Green Community Schools Board of Trustees will meet 7 p.m. Feb. 19 in the district’s Administrative Center.

A full agenda is available on the school’s website, sgcs.k12.in.us.

INFORMATION INWhitley County 123 N. Main Street, Churubusco, IN 46723

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Savannah’s parents, Shelly and Lyle, decorate her grave site for holidays.

Right now, it’s decked out for Valentine’s Day.

In 2014, a fatal car accident tore a hole in three Whitley County families and left the community reeling. This is the second story in a three part series about the families – what has helped them heal and how they are keeping their loved ones’ memories alive.

What was Savannah PHOTO CONTRIBUTED Labenz like?

Savannah “Red” Labenz, a According to her family members, she was graduate of Churubusco High School, died in a car accident a serious athlete, a highachieving student, a hard in 2014 at the age of 19. worker, a tomboy, a girly girl, fun loving, fearless. A label just couldn’t contain her.

As her mother, Shelly Labenz puts it, Savannah, or “Red” See RED, Page 3 Buy 1 lb. Fudge, Get 1/2 lb. FREE Expires 3/1/18

123 North Main Street,Churubusco, IN 46723

INWhitley County

Vol. 2 No. 7

be located at the Larwill campus.

So why move middle school students to South Whitley if the ultimate goal is to locate in Larwill?

According to school board president Jorell

Fifth-grader Jose Rodas Gohde had a unique opportunity in the past few weeks in assisting his new Spanish-speaking classmates. Jose was born in Guatemala and moved to the United States as a second grader. Now, he is helping students and staff at Coesse Elementary as a translator.

SGCS meeting is Monday

Telephone: (260) 693-3949

February 15, 2018

New students bring excitement to Coesse nminier@kpcmedia�com

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Path plotted to consolidated campus in Larwill

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Whitley County • February 15, 2018

CAMPUS from Page 1 students between the school in Larwill and the athletic facilities in South Whitley.

“We would have had to transport back and forth between the Larwill and South Whitley campus where we already have a competition gym, a football stadium, baseball fields, soccer fields, softball field, [etc.],” he said.

Funding consolidation Now, Whitko is exploring options to secure that financing.

“We’re exploring all options with securing the funding for a truly centralized campus being at the Larwill site, but we can’t go forward with that unless we have the financing to supported by the taxpayers,” Tucker said.

Those options include the petition and remonstrance process or referendum.

“You’re looking at millions of dollars to do what needs to be done,” he said.

Some parents have expressed confusion and frustration at the school board’s approach to consolidation. Brian Hartman, of Pierceton, addressed the school board members and administrators with a presentation at the work session.

Hartman spoke on behalf of the Future of Whitko Schools Support Group. The group started on Facebook and has held its own meetings since the school board’s vote in January. Members

are mostly from the north part of the school district.

Noting that Whitko has the highest tax rate of surrounding school districts, Hartman said a referendum would be unlikely to gain taxpayer support.

He would like to see the school board members revisit their vote to consolidate at the South Whitley campus or at least add language that specifies that it is a temporary answer and that the long-term goal is a Larwill campus.

“It is in the best interest of the entire school corporation to rethink this Jan. 15 decision. Re-vote it and get it corrected,” he said.

Parents raise concerns Parents have also raised concerns about the level of safety that the South Whitley campus and the modular buildings that will house students will provide.

In his presentation, Hartman noted that while the Larwill campus is ADA compliant, the South Whitley campus is not.

“If this was your child who was struggling, how upset would you be knowing there is a facility that could accommodate your child’s needs, yet the decision was made to boldly turn a blind eye to it?”

Hartman asked the school board members and administrators.

Christi Gaerte, of Pierceton, has a ninth grade student at Whitko High School. The student recently

suffered a broken leg and uses a wheelchair to get around. The student said getting around the school is a challenge because the wheelchair ramps are steep and hard to navigate.

Gaerte said she’s not against the consolidation or location; she just wants a safe environment for students.

“I think [the consolidation is] a great financial move for our corporation. It’s a logical step. I could care less if it was in South Whitley or it was in Larwill as long as it was the building that was safest for my child,” she said.

Patti Draper, of Larwill, has a sixth grade student at Whitko Middle School.

Additionally, her daughter graduated from Whitko High School in 2012. Her daughter started using a wheelchair when she was a junior because of a neuro-muscular disease.

Even though she doesn’t have a child in the school who is mobility impaired, she remembers how her daughter struggled. She needed assistance to navigate the wheelchair ramps and lifts to get between classes.

“She lost her sense of independence,” Draper said.

She feels like the school board’s attention is focused on Whitko sports facilities, not “the bigger picture.”

“They’re not thinking about the safety and accessibility for everyone,” she said.

NICOLE MINIER

Jose Rodas Gohde, a bilingual student native to Guatemala, helps one of his new classmates, Alondra Casiano, with classwork. Casiano is one of about 15 new students from Puerto Rico who has moved into the area in the past month.

COESSE from Page 1 ment on their faces. They’re able to show off a little. It peaks everyone’s interest because they want to learn Spanish too,” Urban said.

“We’re definitely hearing Spanish more in the hallways from all the students — it’s quite fun.”

When a new student is enrolled, the student is paired with another classmate to help ease their transition into the new environment. Whitley County Consolidated Schools is in the process of hiring an English as a Second Language teacher and possibly a paraprofessional to help with translating.

The district had little time to prepare for the new

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A division of

students. Urban didn’t know about the new students until the day the first family came to enroll their child.

“I was talking to them and realized how big of a picture it would be,” Urban said.

Though the school is facing some challenges in making sure all of the new students’ needs are met, the staff is excited for the opportunity the families bring. One challenge is not knowing exactly how many new students will be joining the district. Families are still moving in, and some are not moving their children to Whitley County until the summertime. So far, there have been about 15 new students in three weeks.

All new elementary-aged Puerto Rican students are being directed to Coesse Elementary School at this time, regardless of where they live in the district, so they can work closely with the ESL teacher. Urban said the new students will be a regular part of the everyday classrooms, and then take some special time to have an “intensity

submersion” of English.

“We want them to be comfortable with English, but also be with the rest of their peers,” Urban said.

“It’s similar to some of other other programs, they will just be pulled out of class for a little intense instruction, but then go back with their classmates.”

Coesse was selected as the location for the new students since much of the available housing is in areas served by Coesse.

Additionally, Urban said the school environment is optimal for the transition.

“With the family atmosphere our faculty has here — we’re so supportive of anything that comes our way — it was the natural choice,” Urban said.

WCCS staff are undergoing diversity training to better understand Puerto Rican culture, and the school was used as a location for a job and resource fair earlier this week.

“Our main goals are for them to feel welcome and help them through their transition time,” Urban said.

INwhitleycounty.com • A3

Whitley County • February 15, 2018

RED from Page 1 as many called her, was a spitfire.

“Oh, our kid,” Shelly said tenderly. “She was ornery. A little red head.

She was just a beautiful, beautiful girl.”

It was a shock when Savannah, 19 years old and so full of life, was killed in a car accident in 2014.

A graduate of Churubusco High School, Savannah was living at home while studying accounting and business management at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

Shelly and her husband, Lyle, remember the day of the accident like it was yesterday.

It was Nov. 28, 2014, Black Friday. Shelly and Savannah were wrapping Christmas presents on the living room floor.

Savannah had recently started dating Colton Coffelt, and Shelly remembers they were smitten with one another.

The couple was in a hurry to get to a family dinner. Savannah kissed her mom goodbye and told her she loved her before rushing out the door.

The night ended in tragedy when Savannah; her friend, Eric Hoffman, 19; and her boyfriend’s father, Perry “Joe” Coffelt, were killed in a single-car accident. Another friend, Breanna Waugh, 19, the sole survivor, was taken to a hospital for her injuries.

Community outpour Savannah’s death was a devastating blow to her family and everyone else who loved her.

In the days after Savannah’s death, the Labenz family was consumed by grief, but family members were also overcome with gratitude for the outpouring of love and support that surrounded them.

“It makes you very

proud to be a resident of Churubusco because when something tragic happens – like it has with so many families here – the community outpour is just amazing,” Shelly said.

More than 1,000 people attended Savannah’s services. The funeral procession included more than 100 cars, two school buses and an escort of diesel trucks.

“People always said, ‘If you knew her, you loved her,’” said Karissa Labenz, Savannah’s big sister.

Many of Savannah’s friends now have tattoos in her memory.

“So many kids got tattoos,” Shelly said.

And not just kids.

Before the accident, Savannah had the saying “Live the life you love and love the life you live” tattooed on her, but the tattoo artist misspelled a word. She had the tattoo corrected, but her uncles, Shelly’s three brothers, had always given her grief about it.

On the day of the funeral, they revealed that they had gotten the same tattoo, misspelling included, on their rib cages.

“It’s the girliest tattoo with big, fancy, girly writing,” Shelly laughed.

Families bond For Savannah’s final resting place, her parents chose a plot beside Savannah’s best friend, Gabrielle Jones, who died earlier that year after battling a rare form of cancer. Gabby’s parents, Kregg and Lanette Jones, agreed that it would be a good idea. That way, their friends could be together when they visited their grave sites.

The Labenz and Jones families have both purchased plots near Savannah and Gabby. In this way, the love for their

Savannah would say, “If you help me with my homework, I’ll help you wrap Duke’s leg,” Karissa said.

The horse is now back in good health, and Karissa has registered his name as “Red’s Regal Machine” in memory of her sister.

“Taking care of him gave me something to focus my mind on,” she said.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Savannah’s siblings, Dakoda and Karissa, pose with a picture of her at Dakoda’s wedding.

daughters has cemented the bond the families share in life and death. Whenever Shelly is having a bad day, it brings her comfort to know that Lanette is only a phone call away and vice versa.

“We’re always going to be connected because of the love that we had for the girls, the love of our families together,” she said.

Savannah’s father, Lyle, said tending to her grave site brings him comfort.

They mow the area and decorate for holidays.

Right now, the young women’s headstones are decked out for Valentine’s

All

Day. “There’s not a time where you’ll go out there that you won’t see those girls all dolled up,” Shelly said.

Shelly and Lyle know it might seem macabre to some, but everyone mourns in their own ways, they said.

For Karissa, 25, tending to her horse, Duke, has helped her work through the grief of losing her sister. Before the accident, the horse was injured when his leg got tangled in a fence. Savannah helped Karissa nurse Duke back to health.

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also can still be felt in the community.

From an early age, Savannah had excelled at sports, playing softball, basketball and flag football. She was an outstanding student as well, making the honor roll and deans list in a single semester.

To honor her memory, her family awards a scholarship in her name and sponsors a little league softball team, the Blazin Reds.

“It makes me so proud to know that she’s still giving back to the community,” Shelly said.

Anyone who is interested in contributing to Savannah’s memorial can do so at Star Financial Bank where they have an account in her name. The family also does fundraising during Churubusco Turtle Days.

Three years after Savannah’s death, the Labenz family is still taking life day by day, Shelly said.

“As hard as it is, life has to go on,” she said.

“Savannah wouldn’t have wanted us to stop living life.”

Gone but not forgotten Her parents and siblings carry her with them every day. Her brother, Dakoda, recently married, and Savannah made an appearance, smiling from the frame of a large photo.

She loved country music, so Shelly and Karissa bring a large photo of her to concerts for country artists to sign.

Lyle is reminded of his daughter when he cuddles Savannah’s dog, Sophie, a lovable black lab with couch privileges.

Shelly wears an impression of Savannah’s thumbprint on a necklace and she too has a tattoo – Savannah’s signature on the inside of her wrist.

Savannah’s presence

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A4 • INwhitleycounty.com

Whitley County • February 15, 2018

Dance with my father

Columbia City Parks Department hosts father/daughter dance at 4-H Center

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Jason and Avery Leedy

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Scott and Baylee Smith

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Joseph and Aria Schneider

Justin, Maddie, Ella and Kenzie Arnold

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PHONE (260) 693-3949 (USPS 009-385) Periodical Postage Paid at Churubusco, IN 46723 Nicole Minier, Editor

Articles appearing in the INWhitley County do not necessarily represent the views of this paper.

free paper for local businesses and residents, we do charge a mail subscription fee to those out of our area. This fee must be paid in advance and is as follows: InState $26 one year, Out-of-state $39 one year.

You may also call our office during regular business hours to subscribe at (800) 717-4679.

INWhitley County is a FREE direct mailed newspaper delivered to over 13,000 homes and businesses in Whitley County.

The paper is mailed to addresses in Columbia City, Larwill, and South Whitley. While we are a

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: INWhitley County, P.O. Box 39, Kendallville, IN 46755.

Published on Thursday throughout the year.

Located at 123 N. Main Street, Churubusco, Indiana 46723. www.inwhitleycounty.com

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INwhitleycounty.com • A5

Whitley County • February 15, 2018

OBITS Daniel Miller FORT WAYNE — Daniel Ray Miller, 71, of Angola and Fort Wayne, died at 1 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, 2018, at Riverwalk Village in Noblesville.

Services were Saturday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City.

Burial was in I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Rochester.

Memorials are to Honor Flight or American Heart Association.

Betty Hollenbaugh NORTH MANCHESTER — Betty J. Hollenbaugh, 94, of North Manchester, died at 5:18 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018, at Parkview Huntington Hospital.

Services were Monday at Pleasant Chapel United Methodist Church, Roanoke. Burial was in Pleasant Chapel Cemetery.

Memorials are to Pleasant Chapel United Methodist Church.

Arrangements were by Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City.

Dorothy Love FORT WAYNE — Dorothy B. Love, 89, of Fort Wayne, died at 3:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018 at Signature Healthcare in Fort Wayne.

Services were Saturday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City.

Burial was in Nolt Cemetery.

Memorials are to New Hope Ministries in Roanoke.

Daryl Bender COLUMBIA CITY — Daryl A. Bender, 65, a Columbia City native, died at 12:18 a.m.

Thursday, Feb. 8, 2018, at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne.

Services were Tuesday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City.

Burial was in Greenhill Cemetery.

Memorials are to the final expense account, payable to Smith & Sons Funeral Home.

Obituary Policy INWhitley County does not charge for death notices that include notice of calling hours, date and time of funeral and burial.

An extended obituary, which includes survivors, biographical information and a photo, is available for a charge.

Deadline for funeral homes to place obituaries is 9 a.m. Tuesday. The email address is: obits@ kpcmedia.com.

Submitted obituaries must contain the name and phone number of the funeral home.

For information, contact Kathryn Bassett at 260-347-0400, ext. 2526.

‘Yes’ PAC forms for SGCS referendum

By Nicole Minier nminier@kpcmedia.com

CHURUBUSCO — A former Smith-Green school board member is taking the reins on a political campaign — not for himself, but to encourage Churubusco-area voters to support the school’s referendum, which will be on the May 8 primary election ballot.

Pat McGuire is chairing the recently formed political action committee called “Taxpayers for Busco Schools.” The group held its first meeting last week at Sheets & Childs Funeral Home to discuss the plans and challenges the committee faces in the coming months.

“I didn’t think there would be politics involved or campaigning necessary because of the seriousness of the issue,” McGuire said. “I can’t imagine why anyone would be against this for the good of the community. What we have in front of us is probably the most important decision that will ever have to be made regarding this school and this community.”

About 25 people

attended the meeting, which was opened by discussion from SGCS Superintendent Dan Hile.

Hile’s most important goal is to make sure all voters are provided with factual information.

“There is a lot of information being shared and not all of it is accurate,” Hile said. “I want people to have the facts in their minds when they make the decision. I want to make sure voters are making their decision not from rumors.”

One volunteer for the PAC is Pat Terrell, of the Winston Terrell Group in Indianapolis.

Winston Terrell is a company that assists with public outreach.

Terrill has assisted with 30 school referendums in the past and worked with SGCS to develop a strategy leading up to the referendum decision.

“My role for you is to be your cheerleader and tutor,” Terrell said.

Terrell suggested PAC members focus on registered voters. The deadline to register to vote is April 8.

“Try to gathers as many friends and family who support the referendum, and get them

registered to vote,” Terrell said. “Come April 10, if they’re not registered, they can’t help or hurt us in the election.”

Smith Township in Whitley County and Green Township in Noble County have about 4,400 registered voters in total. In most elections, a 50 percent voter turnout is considered high, Terrell said.

“That means 2,000 people could determine the future of SmithGreen,” Terrell said.

“Two-thousand people can determine the direction of this community.”

About 1,800 people in Smith and Green townships are considered “high-fidelity,” meaning they vote every time. There is also a large portion of voters who are over 60 years old, and likely don’t have connections to the school.

“Looking at these numbers, you have plenty to worry about,” Terrell said. “But we have a plan that we think is effective, and roles and pieces of the puzzle we hope you will fill. This is a winnable referendum.”

Future plans for the PAC include creating yard signs and going

door-to-door to spread the word.

Teachers and school staff members are not permitted to discuss the referendum or send home any information about it with students, per Indiana law. Additionally, nothing about the referendum can be posted on the school’s website or social media accounts. But outside of school hours and school property, staff can participate in the campaign.

The PAC is registered in both Noble and Whitley counties.

McGuire, among others, were present at Wednesday night’s Town Council meeting and spoke to the council regarding the upcoming referendum and how the council should take a more active role.

“The approval of the referendum would not solve all the problems at the school,” McGuire told the council. “We need to grow the community and increase enrollment. If we don’t do something after this referendum is approved, then we’re in a recurring cycle of doing this time after time, and people aren’t going to agree to that.”

McGuire said some community members have the perception that the town council is not interested in increasing housing or industry in Churubusco.

“I’m not sure where that’s coming from,” said Councilman Mark Pepple. “We’re 100 percent supportive of building the town up.

We’re probably more aggressive than any council sitting here previously.”

Pepple encourages the public to attend Town Council meetings, which are held at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays each month.

Miles Wilson also spoke to the Town Council, asking what the town is doing to encourage builders to come to Churubusco.

“Do we have a plan or a person on staff who will be able to move us forward?,” Wilson asked.

Councilman Frank Kessler said the town is prepared to provide the infrastructure for growth when developers choose to build in Churubusco.

As of press time, no opposing PAC had filed with the Whitley County Clerk’s Office.

What is Purdue Extension? The Cooperative Extension Service The last couple of weeks I’ve been discussing Purdue Extension and landgrant institutions. This week we conclude this mini-history lesson by delving into the forming of USDA’s Cooperative Extension System.

In 1914, the SmithLever Extension Act was passed by congress. This act established the Cooperative Extension Service within USDA, and began a Federal-State system of adult and youth education that has been a world model. The Cooperative Extension Service formalized the system by which land-grant universities could conduct educational outreach to local residents.

The Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service (Purdue Extension, for short) serves as the outreach arm of USDA’s Cooperative Extension System in Indiana. As I stated last week, in Indiana, Purdue University is Indiana’s sole land-grant institution.

It is believed that the

first agricultural agent employed in a county began his work in Smith County, Texas, in 1906.

The moveJOHN E. ment WOODMANSEE spread rapidly, with Indiana establishing its first county agricultural agent in LaPorte County in 1912. Likewise, the first Indiana Home Demonstration Agent was appointed in Vanderburgh County in 1917. Assistant County Agents were an innovation in Indiana in 1928, several being employed that year with the assistance of federal funds to serve local youth.

Older youth groups were organized in Blackford, Parke and Tipton counties in 1934. In 1935 the Extension Service

offered statewide assistance to out-of-school youth (18 to 28 years of age) by organizing clubs of “older rural youth.” State Rural Youth meetings were held at Purdue University starting in 1937.

At one time or another, every Indiana county has had a Rural Youth club.

In Whitley County, I have recently tried to ascertain our first county agents.

According to what I can find from existing records, B.L. Hummel was hired as the first County Agent in Whitley County in 1917. R.V. Klepinger was hired as the first Assistant County Agent in Whitley County in 1935. And, Margaret Rosentrader was hired as the first Home Demonstration Agent in Whitley County in 1956. (My apologies to the local Rotary Club – I think I misspoke about this at a recent meeting).

The county Extension professional staff grew to about 260 field

staff and 125 specialist staff members in 1962.

At this time, an Agricultural Agent was placed in each county and most counties had a Home Demonstration Agent. Some counties also had an Assistant County Agent.

To better reflect the change which had occurred in the constituency of Extension, in 1963 the name was changed from Agricultural Extension Service to Cooperative Extension Service. In July of 1993 the County Extension Agent designation was changed to County Extension Educator.

Program area titles have undergone several changes from the early days, when they were known as Agricultural Agents, Home Demonstration Agents, and Assistant County Agents. These areas of responsibility are now known as: Agriculture and Natural Resources, Health and Human Sciences, and 4-H Youth Development. Additionally,

Purdue Extension has the program area of Community Development.

Purdue Extension’s Mission Statement: We deliver practical, research-based information that transforms lives and livelihoods.

Purdue Extension’s Vision Statement: We will be a leader in providing relevant, high-impact educational programs that transform the lives and livelihoods of individuals and communities in Indiana and the world.

— John Woodmansee is an extension educator in Whitley and Noble counties.

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A6 • INwhitleycounty.com

OPINION

A message from the Veterans Service Officer

By Richard Eckert For some time now, the County Veteran Service Officers have been using an online-based application for filing claims for veterans. The forms are online so the CVSO can fill them in and electronically send them to the selected service organization such as the American Legion, DAV and VFW. To be able to do the electronic transfers, the CVSOs must be accredited with those organizations. The system will off-load some of the work for the service organization, however they will still be able to assist veterans and they will still be able to help with their claims by representing them when a hearing is scheduled regarding a claim that has been appealed and by serving as a resource person for the County Veterans Service

Officers.

Legislation was passed that requires all CVSOs to be “accredited.” In the past, all the CVSOs were “certified.” They had to attend an annual three-day training conference and pass a test on the material presented. This year the training conference is scheduled for five days, June 4-7, and all the CVSOs will have to pass the accreditation test to continue to serve. In addition, they will be expected to take the VA’s Training, Responsibility, Involvement and Preparation of Claims training and pass a test.

With the VA TRIP certification and certification by the service organizations, the CVSOs will be able to access on the computer the VA’s Stakeholder’s Enterprise Portal, which will allow them to see the files of veterans in

their county which have representation with a service organization.

These new designations for the CVSOs will allow them to get a lot of information regarding the veterans’ claims that in the past they had to get by telephoning a service organization or the Veterans Administration Regional Office.

Also, the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs wants the county offices to be open at least halftime.

The Whitley County office is staffed five days a week to help veterans.

We are fortunate in Whitley County to have County Commissioners and a County Council that are 100 percent behind efforts to serve our veterans. We have a handicap-accessible office in the Government Center, a part-time VSO and a part-time assistant VSO. We try to have

someone in the office beginning at 9 a.m.

Monday-WednesdayFriday, and 7:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

If necessary, we make house calls and we try to work with those who have conflicting schedules.

It is best to call for an appointment due to the volume of business we handle. Otherwise, there could be a long wait or we might not be in the office to serve you if we have a meeting somewhere. We are here to assist veterans who want to enroll in the VA Hospital system, who want to file a claim for disability or pension and who want to ask for an increase in compensation. Also, we help veterans’ widows file claims for benefits when they lose their husbands.

— Richard Eckert is Whitley County’s veteran service officer.

Opinion Policy The ultimate goal of the IN|Whitley County Opinion page is to stimulate discussion and action on topics of interest to the Whitley County community.

The IN|Whitley County welcomes reader viewpoints and offers letters to the editor and guest editors as vehicles of expression.

Letters must be signed and accompanied with an

address and phone number for verification of identity.

The editor reserves the right to edit and condense letters and guest editorials for space limitation as well as clarity.

Lengthy letters which focus on an issue which affects Whitley County residents may be considered for a guest editorial.

Whitley County • February 15, 2018

What’s going on at Whitko?

Last week, IN|Whitley County learned Whitko’s consolidation plan at the high school campus in South Whitley was only for the 2018-19 school year.

The board indicated it plans to eventually consolidate the district at Larwill Middle School.

Why move middle school students to South Whitley if the ultimate goal is to locate in Larwill?

We recognize that the Whitko school board has had to make a difficult decision and will likely have more difficult decisions to make in the future, but many are left scratching their heads in light of the new news.

In January, the board voted 3-2 to reconfigure the 7th-12th grade students at the South Whitley Campus starting this fall in an effort to save money.

Obviously, the town of South Whitley wants to keep the high school campus in the town. The school brings a large percentage of visitors to the community when attending school functions, such as athletic events.

The Larwill campus

Our view

is newer, more centrally located and a better option for students with special needs, such as ADA compliance.

Whichever campus is chosen, there will likely need to be an investment made to the school to support the increase in students and/or changes to athletic fields. Putting more money into Whitko school facilities will likely not be supported by the community, considering the school district has made many large investments in recent years, including the construction of Pierceton Elementary School and renovations to other campuses.

We encourage the board to give careful consideration to both options and do what is best for the students overall, rather than appeasing whichever group of residents shouts the loudest.

Braun makes Senate race a three-way tossup For the third time in six years, Hoosier Republicans face a critical decision, which is to choose a U.S. Senate nominee.

Over the past six BRIAN years, HOWEY these voters have batted .500.

In 2012, they chose Richard Mourdock over U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar, who not only held this Senate seat for 36 years, but was Indiana’s all-time leading vote-getter.

A plethora of Mourdock blunders after his landslide primary win booted this safe Republican seat to U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly. In 2016, Republicans chose Todd Young, and he did what was almost unfathomable, which was to drub former senator and governor Evan Bayh.

There are six candidates in the current field, with U.S. Reps. Luke Messer, Todd Rokita and former legislator

Mike Braun from Jasper the leading contenders. The conventional wisdom was this was a race between the two congressmen. But an Economist/You Gov Poll this week reveals congressional approval at 9 percent.

On Wednesday, we learned that Braun posted $2.3 million cash on hand with $2 million raised in the fourth quarter, including about $1.75 million of his own money. Messer reported $430,000 raised and $2.4 million in cash. Rokita posted $459,000 in his 4th Quarter FEC report and has $2.4 million cash on hand.

All of this suggests that this is truly a three-man, wide open, tossup race. With his personal wealth, Braun has run three flights of statewide TV to gin up his name ID, while the congressmen have been dark. Rokita financier Dan Dumezich believes Rokita is the “frontrunner,” explaining, “Not only has Todd run statewide twice, in 2006 which was a Democratic wave year he still led the ticket.”

At the Republican Congress of Counties last month, Braun positioned

himself as an “outsider” businessman and told me, “I’m coming from a different channel. I’m not coming from the political world, other than three years” in the Indiana House. “Nobody has ever tried on the Senate level to come from the business side, outside of politics.

They’ve gone through the feeder system that’s given (Congress) a 20 percent approval rating.”

Braun calls himself a “disrupter,” saying of his world view, “I’ve been in the trenches building a business, not through the lens of a politician. There’s never been a better time for the party to have one pathway versus the other.”

The health insurance prism is a good example to delineate the difference between Braun and the congressmen. Rokita and Messer were both vociferous critics of Obamacare, both voting 60 times to repeal while President Obama was in office.

With President Trump and Republican majorities, they attempted to “repeal and replace” in 2017. It did pass the House, but

failed in the Senate. Why? Because it was a half-baked proposal slapped together in a matter of weeks that would have thrown millions of people off coverage and jeopardized the successful Healthy Indiana Plan which covers nearly a half million Hoosiers. Those of us who don’t qualify for Obamacare subsidies have seen our premiums skyrocket.

In essence, House Republicans talked a big game, but when it came time to lead, they became windbags.

And Braun? As a businessman, he figured out a way to lower premiums for his employees. “What the insurance companies want to sell you is based on high premiums which have no co-pays, which have no skin in the game,” he explained.

“When you have no skin in the game, that’s the classic underpinning of conservative philosophy. You’ve got to feel some pain in your decisions. In health care, early on it was an affordable fringe benefit because health care costs were so low. As time marched on, every family wanted the best health care for their

employees and their kids.

That has resulted in none of the normal principles of transparency and competition being involved. It’s been distorted.”

“We were tired of hearing the insurance companies tell us we were lucky that our premiums (were) going up 10 percent every year,” he continued. “The only way you were going to fix that was by changing the underwriters. We are doing basically the same thing the insurance companies have done … not to make a profit, but to pass those dynamics on to our employees. So they now shop around in the health care system. There’s probably not a business in the U.S. that has been able to take the basic things transparently, getting you to buy into your own health care, and can say they’ve been able to give their employees a great plan that has not cost a nickel more.”

This past year, Braun said his employee premiums actually went down $1,400.

It may be an emerging model as Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffet, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos and

JP Morgan Chase’s Jamie Dimon are forming an independent company to slay “the hungry tapeworm on the American economy,” which is the current health insurance system.

The contrast at the Congress of Counties was Rokita promising a campaign of “smash mouth football” while Messer pointed out that Donnelly votes with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer 85 percent of the time. “Well, Chuck Schumer is wrong more than 15% of the time,” Messer insisted.

These are the kind of political rally cries you’d expect from political veterans. But Rokita and Messer face in Braun someone coming at things with a different trajectory.

And that’s why, with Rokita’s own internal polling showing nearly 60 percent of Republicans undecided, we’ve got a three-way Senate primary race.

— Brian Howey is publisher of Howey Politics Indiana at www.howeypolitics.com. Find him on Facebook and Twitter @ hwypol.

INwhitleycounty.com • A7

Whitley County • February 15, 2018

Initial hearings held for drug-related allegations

By Bridgett Hernandez bhernandez@kpcmedia.com

Two Churubusco men appeared in Whitley County Circuit Court Feb. 5 facing multiple felony charges, including possession of methamphetamine.

Joshua White, 30, of Churubusco, appeared for an initial hearing on charges of unlawful possession of a syringe, a level five felony; possession of methamphetamine, a level six felony; maintaining a common nuisance, a level six felony; possession of a controlled substance, a class A misdemeanor; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.

The first charge,

unlawful possession of a syringe, was elevated from a level six felony to a level five felony because White was previously convicted on the same charge in Porter County, according to Judge Matthew Rentschler. A level five felony is punishable by up to six years of incarceration.

White will appear in court again March 5.

Steven Asher, 63, of Churubusco, also appeared for an initial hearing on charges of possession of methamphetamine, a level five felony; maintaining common nuisance, a level six felony; and possession of paraphernalia, a class C misdemeanor.

The first charge, possession of methamphetamine, was elevated from a level six felony to a level five felony because Asher was previously convicted of aiding in the manufacturing of methamphetamine in Noble County, according to Judge Rentschler.

White and Asher will appear in court again March 5.

In other Whitley County Circuit Court News: Benjamin Sheppard, 37, of Albion, appeared for a pre-trial conference. He is charged with four, level five felonies: intimidation, domestic battery resulting in bodily injury to a preg-

nant woman, domestic battery by means of a deadly weapon and strangulation.

Sheppard’s defense attorney Elizabeth Deckard asked Judge Rentschler for more time to discuss a potential plea agreement. Sheppard will appear in court again Feb. 19.

Michael Alma, 46, of South Whitley, appeared for a pre-trial conference. He faces charges of domestic battery, strangulation and criminal confinement. Alma’s defense attorney Joseph Sobek asked Judge Rentschler for more time to discuss a potential plea agreement. Alma will

appear in court again March 12.

Destiny Wilson, 19, of South Whitley, pleaded guilty to burglary, a level five felony. In accordance with the plea agreement, Wilson could be sentenced to three years with up to two years executed and the balance suspended. She would also be ordered to pay restitution. Judge Rentschler ordered a pre-sentence investigation, and Wilson will appear in court again for formal sentencing March 5.

Wonica Johns-Bates, of Chicago, appeared for a pre-trial conference.

She faces charges of

possession of a narcotic drug, paraphernalia and a firearm by a serious violent felon and maintaining a common nuisance. She will appear in court again March 12.

Kenneth Norton, 51, appeared for an initial hearing on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a level four felony punishable by up to 12 years of incarceration, and possession of marijuana, a class A misdemeanor punishable by up to one year of incarceration. The court appointed Norton an attorney, and he will appear in court again March 5.

WHITLEY COUNTY JAIL BOOKINGS KPC News Service The following people were booked into the Whitley County Jail: • Ryan Michels, 19, of Fort Wayne, was arrested Feb. 4 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with violation of a suspended sentence.

• Austin Herron, 32, of Columbia City, was arrested Feb. 5, charged with possession of a controlled substance and theft.

• Leon Pointer, 52, of Chicago, was arrested Feb. 5 by the Indiana State Police, charged with possession of a narcotic drug and reck-

less driving.

• Wonica Johns-Bates, 44, of Chicago, was arrested Feb. 5 by the Indiana State Police, charged with prisoner in possession of a dangerous device or material, possession of a narcotic drug, possession of hypodermic needles and possession of paraphernalia.

• Andrew Lefebvre, 18, of Fort Wayne, was arrested Feb. 6 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with probation violation.

• Michael Pickering, 35, of Fort Wayne, was arrested Feb. 6 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department,

charged with probation violation.

• Jesse Foust, 30, of Columbia City, was arrested Feb. 7 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with possession of paraphernalia.

• Nevada Elliott, 38, of South Whitley, was arrested Feb. 7 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with failure to comply and a body attachment (civil matter).

• Danny Maggart, 55, of Fort Wayne, was arrested Feb. 7 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with failure to comply.

SWCPL community survey link is live Contributed SOUTH WHITLEY — The South Whitley Community Public Library wants to know what you think. As part of its long-range plan, the library is conducting a community survey regarding library use, needs and future changes.

The link to the anonymous survey can be found at goo.gl/FPnvTt. The survey has five sections that cover library use, services, programming, materials and future. Survey takers also can share additional ideas and comments. The survey will take about 5-10 minutes to complete.

Results from the survey will be used to help guide material purchases, change or add programs and services and plan for the future.

The survey link is also available on the library’s Facebook page and on the desktops of the library’s public

computers.

Celebrating Frankenstein Two hundred years ago, Mary Shelley was part of a group of writer friends who challenged each other to write the best horror story they could. Shelley thought about her story for several days then one night dreamed of a young scientist who created a monster. That dream became the novel Frankenstein, considered a classic tale and the birth of science fiction writing. Obviously, Shelley won the challenge.

South Whitley Community Public Library is celebrating the anniversary of the classic story this February and March by showing the original Frankenstein movie, starring Boris Karloff at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, and then following up with several other stories based on the Franken-

stein novel. The movie schedule is: Feb. 15, 6 p.m., Frankenstein Feb. 21, 6 p.m., Young Frankenstein March 7, 6 p.m., Bride of Frankenstein March 10, 1 p.m., Frankenweenie March 15, 6 p.m., I, Frankenstein March 21, 6 p.m., Victor Frankenstein The library will conclude its Frankenstein anniversary celebration with a discussion of the original 1818 Frankenstein text that is still as relevant today as it was back then. Creation and destruction, science and religion, love and revenge — discover what makes this 200-year-old tale an enduring classic.

Anyone who is interested in joining in the book discussion at 6 p.m. on March 29 can order a copy of Frankenstein by calling the library and leaving their name and phone number.

• Daniel John, 38, of Fort Wayne, was arrested Feb. 7 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with being an habitual traffic violator and for non-support.

• Christopher Nelson, 42, of Ligonier, was arrested Feb. 7 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with failure to appear.

• Brian Smith, 38, of Pierceton, was arrested

Feb. 8 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with OWI and OWI per se.

• Miranda Myers, 30, of Ypsilanti, Mich., was arrested Feb. 8 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with failure to comply.

• Nicole Wines, 31, of Lawton, Mich., was arrested Feb. 8 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department,

charged with failure to comply.

• Stanley Gray, 68, of South Whitley, was arrested Feb. 8 by the South Whitley Police Department, charged with sexual battery, strangulation and intimidation.

• Shaun Springer, 35, of Columbia City, was arrested Feb. 9 by the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, charged with probation violation.

A8 • INwhitleycounty.com

Whitley County • February 15, 2018

YESTERDAY 1 year ago A new company, 46 Graphics, planned an open house at its location at 101 S. Main St., Churubusco.

Delaney Davis and Katy Dreibelbis would advance to the regional competition with their science fair projects.

Madalyn Sade-Bartl, Billy Reffitt, Brad Minear and Eric Trabert were Whitley County representatives as 40 Under 40 winners.

Kissinger Electric announced it would expand its operation and build a new facility in Park 30 Business Park, adding eight new jobs to its current workplace.

Churubusco’s boys basketball team scored 113 points against Hamilton, led by Dakota Barkley with 33 and Jalen Paul with 32 points.

10 years ago The town of Churubusco’s brand new police car was in. Town Marshal Chad Fulkerson showed off the 2008 Crown

Victoria, complete with a new look. Locals Ryan Gaerte and Brock Shultz were credited with the new design.

Reverend Marvin B. and Janet Troyer celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a cruise to the Bahamas, a gift from their children.

Whitley County Sheriff Mark Hodges reported that his department was obtaining funding for a K-9 program. Deputies Todd Cook, Tony Helfrich and Jason Spencer were contacting county businesses for donations to operate the new program. The goal was to obtain two dogs.

Corey Richards advanced to the state finals in wrestling after finishing third at the Woodlan Wrestling Semi-state at the Fort Wayne Coliseum.

15 years ago The Churubusco Plan Commission approved the construction of 79 new homes in Thresher’s Ridge.

Parker Brown, son of Gary and Patricia Brown, was the winner of the Whitley County Spelling Bee. Peabody Public Library planned a county-wide art show to feature the work of youth all over Whitley County.

Van transportation was now available for Whitley County seniors through the Whitley County Council on Aging. Transportation was available 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

The HANDS Foundation Youth Pod was busy and productive while helping out Saint Nick at Head Start Preschool and presenting its Littlest Philanthropist program to third graders. The Youth Pod was a group of students and advisers chosen from schools across Whitley County to represent HANDS, a local philanthropic group.

The Indiana State Department of Health began vaccinating health

professionals who volunteered to be part of Indiana’s Smallpox Prevention Project.

Indiana’s 92 counties were organized into 10 smallpox prevention districts.

Danielle Minear, Whitley County’s representative at the Indiana Junior Miss program, was welcomed home.

The Whitley County Junior Miss Program received a four-star rating, the highest rating a local program could achieve.

25 years ago Heavy snowfall had many people pushing their vehicles out of the snow.

Smith-Green Community Schools was the only school system in the state to be accredited by both the Performance Based Accreditation and North Central Association Accreditation.

The Whitley County Community Foundation received a gift of $100,000 from the Dekko Foundation Inc. The gift was made on

behalf of Heaters Engineering Inc. and Larwill Products, two Whitley County manufacturing firms operated by Group Dekko International.

Sharon Beckman was the executive director of the WCCF at the time.

Judy Deck’s sixthgrade students at Churubusco Elementary School completed research on famous African Americans in conjunction with February’s Black History Month.

Whitley County Memorial Hospital’s Home Health Care and the Senior Citizen’s Center coordinated a support and sharing group for anyone who was giving care to a spouse, child, parent, sibling or friend. The group was open to anyone whose life was changed by being a caregiver.

Churubusco grappler Geoff Schenher missed a trip to the state finals by two points.

30 years ago According to the

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Indiana High School Athletic Association, Jeff Perlich was tied for fifth in the state on average points scored per game.

50 years ago Smith-Green School Board opened school bus bids. The board planned to purchase two 66-passenger buses for use during the 1968-69 school year. The bids ranged in price $7,751$8,574.

A crash on U.S. 33 resulted in serious injuries for a local area boy, six-year-old Jeffery Konger.

Two new officers were added to the Churubusco Police force. Wayne Morgan and Clarence “Shack” Shackles.

A fourth man was in custody in the Whitley County Jail in connection with a 1967 burglary at Churubusco High School.

About $20 in cash was taken, along with a television set which was intended as a giveaway prize by the Churubusco Booster Club.

Mr. and Mrs. William Shroyer announced the birth of their first child, Barton Leroy, born at the Whitley County Hospital.

A memorial was published for Perry Ort, a former president of the Whitley County Bar Association. He was a Whitley County resident and largely practiced in Whitley, Noble and Allen counties. Ort was also a trustee of his church and served many years as a Sunday School teacher at Evangelical United Brethren Church north of Churubusco.

At Shelton’s IGA, celery was on sale for $0.29 per stalk, a quarter of Columbia Dairy chocolate milk was two for $0.39, and a five-pound bag of flour was $0.39.

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INwhitleycounty.com • A9

Whitley County • February 15, 2018

Whitko in the running for America’s most spirited high school award

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Whitko High School students show their school spirit at Homecoming 2017.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Whitko High School cheerleaders cheer on the Wildcats at the 2017 Homecoming event.

Contributed SOUTH WHITLEY — Whitko High School has been nominated as one of the schools with the most school spirit in the country.

The high school was notified Feb. 7 that it was one of the top five finalists among a nationwide search for “America’s Most Spirited High School.”

The competition, hosted by Varsity brands, started in 2016 and awards $25,000 to the winning school and $10,000 to the runner up.

In order to win, the school must submit an essay, a letter of recommendation, photos and a video that depict school spirit.

In January, Whitko submitted an essay by 2017 alumnus Kennedy Krull and letters of recommendation by high school principal John Snyder and Alicia Elder, president of the Pierceton Chamber of Commerce. Nathan Haywood provided photos and a video for the school’s submission. The video can be viewed on varsitybrands.com.

“Like the students say, ‘I love our school.’ It’s great to be in the final five, but the $25,000 would be quite impactful for a school our size,” Snyder said.

The winners will be announced at the Varsity Brands School Spirit Award Show in Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort May 12.

Whitko High School has been

invited to attend the awards show production, a round table discussion and an awards show breakfast.

Voting for the competition

ends Feb. 21. Anyone can vote for Whitko High School at varsitybrands.com/awards/ amshs. People can vote once per day.

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SPORTS

A10 • INwhitleycounty.com

Whitley County • February 15, 2018

Eagles lose competitive game to Leo

By Nicole Minier nminier@kpcmedia.com

COLUMBIA CITY — Columbia City’s boys basketball team lost a close conference game to Leo Friday, 53-48.

The Eagles led 13-8 at the end of the first quarter, but Leo came back to tie the score at 24 at halftime. It was a race to the finish for the two teams, with Leo leading by one possession heading into the fourth quarter.

“You saw a senior

dominated team out-execute a sophomore dominated team,” said Columbia City head coach Brett Eberly. “When things got tough, we couldn’t get the stops we needed.”

Leo’s four seniors scored 48 of its 53 points.

“It came down to a couple missed opportunities from us on the offensive and defensive ends,” Eberly said. “It’s asking a lot for 15-yearolds to be focused for a

whole game.”

The Lions held down Eagle leading scorer Mitchell Wilson in the first half — Wilson had no points in the first two quarters but went on to score 16 in the second half and lead the team.

Michael Sievers recorded 10 points, Garrett Roehling scored eight, including a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter, and Cam Scott and Max Bedwell each tallied six points.

NICOLE MINIER

Michael Sievers scored 10 points in the Eagles’ game against Leo last week.

NICOLE MINIER NICOLE MINIER

Cam Scott drives to the basket.

Mitch Wilson scored 10 of his 16 points in the third quarter.

Ethan Christen makes a jump stop.

Max Bedwell looks for an open teammate in the second half of the Eagles’ game against Leo.

NICOLE MINIER NICOLE MINIER

NICOLE MINIER

Columbia City cheerleaders cheer on the Eagles in the fourth quarter against Leo.

FOLLOW WHITLEY COUNTY SPORTS Thursday, February 15

Friday, February 16

Saturday, February 17

Monday, February 19

Tuesday, February 20

Wednesday, February 21

Columbia City boys swimming at Warsaw Sectional preliminaries

Columbia City boys basketball hosts Manchester, 7:45 p.m.

Churubusco boys basketball hosts Fairfield, 7:30 p.m.

Columbia City boys basketball at Northridge, 7:30 p.m.

Whitko boys basketball hosts Churubusco, 7:30 p.m.

Columbia City boys swimming at Warsaw Sectional

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SPORTS

Whitley County • February 15, 2018

INwhitleycounty.com • A11

Eagles finish strong against South Adams

By Nicole Minier nminier@kpcmedia.com

CHURUBUSCO — Churubusco’s young boys basketball team is showing improvment as the season goes on, especially in Saturday’s game against South Adams, where the Eagles came away with a 64-58 win.

The Eagles had a substantial lead but lost it to a South Adams’ rally. But this time, it was different than previous games.

“Whenever that happened earlier in the year, we lost those games,” head coach Chris Paul said. “But in this game, we did what we needed to do. I’m encouraged about what I’m seeing right now.”

The Eagles had a 17-12 lead at the end of the first quarter and led 32-24 at halftime.

South Adams cut ’Busco’s lead to four by the start of the fourth quarter, but the Eagles used careful possessions to maintain the lead and take the game out of reach for South Adams in the final minutes.

The Eagles had four players score in double digits: Dalston Duff with 18, Jackson Paul with 15 points, Brayton Bonar with 14 and Zane Burke with 13.

“We shared the ball and played well as a group,” Paul said.

Burke knocked down two key three pointers in the first quarter, and Dalston Duff, a non-starter at Saturday’s game, provided consistent scoring to lead the team.

“He played really well.

He came off the bench and played loose,” Paul said.

“When he plays loose, he’s a different player.”

With the sectional drawing coming up on Sunday, Paul is working to

NICOLE MINIER

Freshman Zane Burke makes a pass.

NICOLE MINIER

Brayton Bonar battles for a rebound.

NICOLE MINIER

Churubusco’s bench celebrates the Eagles’ success in a close fourth quarter.

fine-tune the Eagles before tournament time.

“We’re working on being focused for the whole 32 minutes,” Paul said. “We need to come out of the gate ready to go. At sectional time, if you have one bad quarter, you may be going home.”

Paul is looking foward to playing four games this week, which started with Hamilton Monday and Garrett Tuesday. The Eagles host Fairfield Friday and travel to Whitko Thursday.

NICOLE MINIER

Tom Richards defends a South Adams player.

NICOLE MINIER

Gage Kelly plays defense against South Adams.

WHITKO HOOPS BRIEFS BOYS VARSITY Manchester 82, Whitko 59

NORTH MANCHESTER — Whitko’s boys basketball team fell to Manchester Feb. 10, 82-59.

Manchester started the game strong, leading by 11 at the end of the first quarter, and taking a 45-17 advantage at halftime.

The Wildcats outscored Manchester in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to make up for the firsthalf deficit.

River West led Whitko with 29 points, followed

by Brett Sickafoose with 16 and Shad Ebbinghouse with nine.

GIRLS 8TH GRADE Churubusco 23, Whitko 18

LARWILL — Churubusco’s 8th-grade girls basketball team defeated Whitko in a close game, 23-18, on Feb. 8.

Churubusco took an 11-6 lead at the end of the first quarter and shutout the Whitko offense in the second quarter to take a 16-6 lead going into the locker room.

The Wildcats outscored Churubusco 12-7 in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the county rival.

GIRLS 7TH GRADE Whitko 24, Churubusco 22

LARWILL — Whitko’s 7th-grade girls basketball team edged Churubusco in a close game, 24-22, despite a strong start by the Eagles.

Churubusco ran out to a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, but Whitko fought back in the second quarter to narrow the Lady Eagles’ lead to just three.

The teams played an evenly matched third quarter, then Whitko outscored Churubusco 10-7 in the final stanza to

take the two-point win.

Whitko 35, Northfield 14

LARWILL — Whitko’s 7th-grade girls more than doubled their opponents’ score, beating Northfield 35-14 Monday.

The Lady Wildcats had

an average start, leading 5-4 at the end of the first quarter, then exploded in the remaining quarters, outscoring Northfield 12-6 in the second quarter, 8-2 in the third quarter and 10-2 in the fourth.

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SPORTS

A12 • INwhitleycounty.com

Whitley County • February 15, 2018

West’s season to put him in Whitko record books

By Travis Stahl for IN|Whitley Couty

Coaches, players and fans from across the state know just how historic the Whitko program is in the history of high school basketball.

Now, another name will be added to the Wildcat record books.

Senior River West is playing out the last few weeks of his high school career and

climbing the list of most points scored in a career.

West is a four-year starter for Whitko.

From day one, West made the court at Whitko his home. He did what was asked of him in the scheme of the offense and knocked down big shot after big shot. This season, West is putting in 20.6 points per game for Whitko.

“If I’m hitting shots, it gets me going,” said West. “It really helps my confidence.”

Those shots for West have gone through the basket so much that he has now reached some remarkable company.

West is currently fourth on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,430 points. By the end of the season he will pass Steve Nicodemus for third on the list. Nicodemus scored 1,474 points in his career. The leading scorer in Whitko history is Logan Irwin with 2,230 points and second is Nate Walpole who scored 1,977 points.

“He’s been an important part of turning around the program,” said Whitko head coach Eli Henson.

“He understands what

he’s done here.”

Henson said the work ethic of West is second to none. West was asked to take on more of a role this season and have the ball in his hands more.

West has even hit the boards more this season and has multiple games where he has grabbed 12 or more rebounds.

For the West season, West is averaging 7.6 rebounds per game

to go along with 2.2 assists and 1.5 steals.

West is also hitting 25 percent from 3-point range.

“He took it to a whole new level this year,” said Henson.

“You could tell he realized it was his team now.”

Even more impressive, in two years West has never missed a practice.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED West said it means a lot to him to know he will be mentioned among

the greatest to ever play at Whitko.

“There are so many good players to come through Whitko, it’s an honor,” said West. “It’s crazy to think about.”

West said when his time at Whitko is over he will miss being on the court every day at practice. Even though it will be difficult to leave, West has goals for the future. He said he hopes to continue his basketball career at the college level somewhere next year.

West and the Wildcats have a few more games remaining in the regular season.

Then the team heads to Westview for sectional play. By then, West will have cemented his place in the Whitko record books as one of the greatest scorers in history of the school.

Class basketball changes the game

By Travis Stahl

for IN|Whitley County

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COLUMBIA CITY — The old saying goes, “the only things for certain are death and taxes.” In Indiana, you can add the debate about class basketball to that list.

Every year at this time, the basketball purists and the loyalists of promoting division of schools by size engage in an annual argument. Starting with the 1997-98 season, the state of Indiana went from a single class system to a

multiclass tournament and the debate has raged on ever since.

Basketball in Indiana is currently separated into four classes. Class 4A is the largest class with schools such as Fort Wayne Snider, Homestead and Carroll. Columbia City also falls into 4A. The classes then descend in size based on enroll all the way down to Class A. Whitko and Churubusco are currently in Class 2A. The system was initially implemented due in part

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to schools like Ben Davis, Bloomington North and Jeffersonville consistently being constants at the Final Four with enrollments well over 2,000 students.

Carmel High School is the largest school in the state at this time with an enrollment of 5,000 students.

The class system was designed so that smaller schools didn’t have to compete against large schools. Instead, they played through the state tournament against schools with similar enrollment sizes. Some people loved the idea as it gave more teams a chance to be a state champion. But basketball purists pointed to the hypocrisy of the system.

Columbia City High School has an enrollment of 1,056 students. The Eagles compete in the boys sectional basketball tournament against Homestead with an enrollment of 2,348. This is deemed to be a fair match-up in the class system where there is a difference of almost 1,300 students. Whereas the difference in enrollment between Columbia City and Whitko is only 570 students. The class system says it is unfair for Columbia City to complete against Whitko in the tournament due to size but OK for the Eagles to face Homestead.

Those in favor of a single-class system also point to the odd configuration of tournament pairings and host sites. Some of the sectional pairings add additional transportation costs to schools that seem unnecessary. For instance, Whitko plays in the Westview sectional in Topeka.

That’s a drive of almost an hour for Whitko players and fans. It becomes even more odd when you consider there is another Class 2A basketball sectional at Manchester High School, a mere 12 miles from South Whitley.

The class system has given more schools the opportunity to win state titles. Westview won state titles in 1999 and 2000 in Class 2A. The Warriors likely wouldn’t have won championships that year against Lawrence North and Marion, respectively.

In a single-class system, Westview would have at least been given the opportunity to face the bigger schools.

Indiana has tried to make corrections to the system to compensate for teams that win more often then others. The state implemented a point system. A sectional title is worth one point, regional title two, semi-state three points and winning a state title is worth four points.

If a team accumulates six points in a year they would move up to the next class for the next reclassification period. The move has primarily impacted smaller schools that happen to have one or two good classes that string together multiple successful seasons.

Like religion and politics, there is no right or wrong answer when it comes to class basketball in Indiana. Some people love it and some people hate it. Class basketball has its advantages and disadvantages, and odds are there isn’t a system that could be implemented to please every basketball fan.

SPORTS

Whitley County • February 15, 2018

INwhitleycounty.com • A13

Meier is February’s artist at the Chamber Contributed COLUMBIA CITY — The Whitley County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center will feature northern Whitley County resident Aileen Meier as February’s featured artist for the Chamber’s Focus on the Arts initiative.

Meier’s exhibit will debut in an artist’s reception 6-7 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Whitley County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center, 128 W. Van Buren St., Columbia City.

Meier took her first art class when Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne offered a continuing education class on basic oil painting in 1999. A few years later, she took lessons from local artist, Renee Erickson, who gave her guidance in improving her technique

and has always been very encouraging.

She does oil painting for her own enjoyment and gives many of her paintings to family and friends.

Meier is a graduate of Ball State University in medical technology.

She has worked in both hospital laboratories and in human health research.

She later worked in her husband’s dental office.

During her years in Columbia City, she has volunteered and served on numerous boards and other community activities. Meier is a Master Gardener and an Indiana Master Naturalist.

She and her husband are involved in Rotary Youth Exchange and have hosted 15 exchange students. They also have taken three service trips through Rotary International, providing dentistry

Puttin’ on a show

to boat people in refugee camps in Hong Kong, the Philippines and helping the local population in Kenya, East Africa.

Meier and her husband, John, have two children.

Kristen McDonald, a senior developer for Avangrid Renewables (renewable energy) lives in Portland, Ore. Their son, Kevin, is a business consultant for Goodwill International. He provides consultative support to U.S. Goodwill organizations, as well as help start new Goodwill organizations in other parts of the world such as Brazil, Finland and South Korea.

The exhibit is available for viewing 10 a.m.-3 p.m. weekdays in February.

For more information, contact the Whitley County Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center at 248-8131.

PHOTOS BY GARTH SNOW

Columbia City High School’s City Lights and City Heat show choirs have had strong performances in the past two weeks at the Northrop and DeKalb invitationals.

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A14 • INwhitleycounty.com

Whitley County • February 15, 2018

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INwhitleycounty.com • A15

Whitley County • February 15, 2018

Community Calendar Include news of your group, too

Send news of your group to nminier@kpcmedia.com. Items will be selected and edited as space permits.

Feb.

14

17

20

Feb. 14

• Community Conversation, hosted by the Whitley County Chamber of Commerce, is 11 a.m. and will offer information on Junior Achievement. JA Program Manager Stacey Dumbacher, Development Manager Maureen Shippy and Baily Beiswanger, board member and classroom volunteer, will present information about services and volunteer opportunities. RSVP to the Chamber by calling 248-8131 or emial office@whitleychamber.com.

Feb. 17

• The Whitley County Commissioners meet at 1 p.m. in the Whitley County Government Center, 220 West Van Buren Street, Columbia City.

• The Whitley County Drainage Board meets at 9 a.m. in the Whitley County Government Center.

• The Smith-Green Community School Board meets at 7 p.m. in the Administration Building on Tulley Street in Churubusco.

• Tri-Lakes Lions Club is holding a fish and tenderloin fry as a fundraising activity 4-7 p.m. at the Tri-Lakes Lions Hall on Colony Avenue. Adults eat for $10, children age 6-12 eat for $5, and children younger than 5 eat for free. The cost includes an all-you-can-eat dinner, beverage and dessert.

Carryout dinners are also available. Proceeds benefit the Lions District projects and other local Lions’ projects.

Feb. 20

• The annual Whitley County Soil and Water meeting is 6:30 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 204 N. Main St., Columbia City. The evening will begin with a catered meal followed by an election, report of the District’s activities, and this year’s speaker is Mike Werling from Decatur. Werling is a 20-year veteran no-tiller who farms 350 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and oats. He was recently recognized at the 2017 No-Till Conference for his Nutrient Management practice. The cost of the meal is $5 per person. Reservations need to be made by Tuesday, Feb. 13 by visiting or calling the SWCD office at 244-6266 ext. 101 or email nadean.lamle@in.nacdnet.net.

• Kindergarten roundup at Faith Christian Academy is 5-6:30 p.m. at the school, located at 1550 E. State Road 205 in Columbia City. Parents who have children who will be five years old on or before Aug. 1 are invited. The roundup will take childen through a series of activities. There is also an open house for preschool students. For more information or to register, call 248-4872.

Faith Christian Academy is an interdenominational Christian school that has been educating the youth of Whitley County for

23 Mar.

1 2

3

5

over 25 years .

Feb. 23

• A fish fry hosted by the Columbia City Knights of Columbus, Community of Hope and Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, is 4-7:30 p.m. at St. Paul of the Cross Community Center, 315 S. Line St., Columbia City.

Pre-sale tickets are $8 for age 10 and over and children ages 6-9 are $5. The day of the fish fry, adults pay $10 and children pay $8.

Children age 5 and under eat free. Carry-outs are available. All proceeds will benefit the Lighthouse.

March 1

• A Red Cross Blood Drive is 1-6 p.m. at Churubusco United Methodist Church, 750 N. Main St., Churubusco. Visit redcross.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS to schedule your donation.

6 17

March 2

• The 2018 State of the City Address, hosted by the Whitley County Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Center, begins at noon, with lunch served at 11:30 a.m.

The luncheon will be held in the Robert Brittain Auditorium at Peabody Public Library in Columbia City. Topics presented

by Mayor Ryan Daniel will include the city’s increasing population and growth in the business sector, the new Fahl Aquatics Center and park expansions. Attendees will hear of the past year’s successes and future goals of Columbia City. The cost is $15 per person. RSVP before noon Feb. 27 by calling 248-8131 or email office@whitleychamber. com.

March 3

• Faith Christian Academy will host an all-you-can-eat fish fry and tenderloin dinner 4-7 p.m. at the Whitley County 4-H Center.

Carry-out meals will be available. A free-will donation will be accepted. Proceeds benefit the operation of the academy. For more information, call (260) 248-4872.

• Big Lake Church of God will host an all-you-can-eat fish and tenderloin fry catered by J’s Frying fry 4-7 p.m. The church is located at 6955 N. State Road 109. Tickets are $9 for adults, $5 for ages 6-12 and free for children 5 and under. Proceeds will benefit a missions trip planned for the end of March to serve the Lakota Indians in Allen, South Dakota.

March 5

• Grace Lutheran Church Preschool will hold its 2018-2019 school year registration night 6:30-8 p.m. at Grace Lutheran Church, 204 N. Main St., Columbia City. Families can tour the facility and meet the teachers.

Enrollment will be for classes beginning in September. Two-day classes will be offered for 3-4 year olds. Three-day classes will be offered for 4-5 year olds who will enter kindergarten in 2019. Students must be 3 years old by June 1 and potty trained.

22

March 6

• The Columbia City High School Alumni Association will host its 2018 social luncheon in Sebring, Fla., at 11 a.m. at Homer’s Original Smorgasbord, 1000 Sebring Square, on the southeast corner of U.S. 27 and Sebring Parkway. Reservations are not required. The cost is $10 at the door. Jerry and Pam Begue, class of 1961, will host this year’s event. For more information, email jerrybegue@yahoo.com or call (941) 697-8776.

March 17

• A free presentation titled “Understanding Depression and How to Help Those Going Through It,” will be hosted by Cross Connections and St. John’s Lutheran Church in Columbia City, 9-11 a.m. Guest speaker Megan Beeching is a licensed counselor at Cross Connections Counseling in Fort Wayne, and will cover basic information about depression, new genetic testing for depression, various ways to manage the symptoms of depression and how to best walk alongside those who are suffering. A light breakfast will be provided. Call the church at 244-3712 or email deaconessintern.stjohns.com by March 10 to RSVP. March 22

• Kindergarten round-up will be held for Whitley County Consolidated Schools.

Round-ups will be held at each elementary building. Morning and evening sessions are available. Each session is about 90 minutes.

Any child who will be 5 years old before Aug. 1 is eligible to enroll for the 2018/2019 school year. Families should bring their child, the child’s original birth certificate and updated immunization records to round-up. Parents should call the appropriate office to register.

For Coesse, call (260) 244-3351; for Little Turtle, call (260) 244-3343; for Mary Raber, call (260) 244-5857; and for Northern Heights, call (260) 691-2371.

Ongoing

• The Churubusco Lions Club meets every second and fourth Tuesday of each month at Papa’s Place at 6:30 p.m.

• Churubusco historical calendars are for sale at the Churubusco History Center, the Churubusco News, the Magic Wand Restaurant, Egolf’s IGA and Shroyers True Value.

Calendars are $5 each and proceeds benefit the Churubusco Public Library and the History Center.

• AA and Al-Anon meetings Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. at the Churubusco United Methodist Church.

• A support group for families of children with special needs meets 3-5 p.m. on the third Saturday of each month at Choices & Changes, 360 N. Oak St., Churubusco. The Feb. 17 meeting will focus on visual supports.

The meeting March 17 will focus on community supports. The topic for April 20 is grieving and growing. For more information, contact Chris Garau at (260) 255-0708 or Christy Garau at (260) 255-0707.

Master Gardeners plan fifth annual symposium

By Emeline Rodenas erodenas@kpcmedia.com

COLUMBIA CITY — Whitley County Master Gardeners will host their fifth gardening symposium Saturday, Feb. 24 at Indian Springs Middle School, 1692 S.R. 9, Columbia City.

The event is open to the public as well as Master Gardeners from surrounding counties and will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The cost is $35 per person and includes lunch, morning and afternoon snacks, and hand materials.

Payment can mailed to Whitley County Master Gardeners Extension Office, 115 S. Line St., Columbia City, by Feb. 9. A $10 late fee will be added if registration is received by mail after Feb. 9.

The schedule of speakers includes: Patricia Knott, who has

extensive experience growing and using heirloom tomatoes from garden to table; Cynthia Ruich, a physical therapist at Parkview Whitley Hospital, who will speak on gardening and exercise; Cliff Sadof, a Purdue entomology professor and ornamental pest management expert, who will speak on treatments for common bug pests such as the Emerald Ash Borer; and John Wood-

mansee, the Purdue Extension Education for Whitley County, who will speak about finding a balanced approach to fertilizers and pesticides.

Registration will take place at 8:30 a.m.

Speakers will each speak for an hour, with short breaks in between.

Lunch will be provided and wrap-up will take place at 3:15 p.m.

The goals of the symposium are to

increase participants’ knowledge of sound gardening practices, providing participants with information on current gardening techniques and with options to improve landscape and suggesting things to do to make gardening healthier. The symposium will feature several area garden supplies and crafters, along with informational booths.

There will be various written material avail-

able including catalogs, periodicals and books.

The symposium counts as five educational hours for those in the Master Gardener program. People who require auxiliary aids and services due to a dsiability or have special food needs are asked to contact John Woodmansee by email at jwoodmansee@ purdue.edu or by phone at 244-7615 before Feb. 9.

A16 • INwhitleycounty.com

Whitley County • February 15, 2018

Fine Dining • Lunch & Dinner Steaks • Ribs • Pasta • Seafood

Fine Dining • Lunch & Dinner Full Bar with Daily Drink & Lunch Specials

111 South Main Street Downtown Columbia City Owners: Heather and Gary Parrett

260-244-4011

Hours: Sun. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; Mon.-Wed. 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Thurs.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

VOTED WHITLEY COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR! Thank you to all of our employees and patrons!

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(260) 244-6388 Serving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Mon.-Wed. 5:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

Thurs.-Sat. 5:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

Sun. 5:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.