IN|Whitley County Jan. 25, 2018

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NEWS IN BRIEF Fundraiser planned for Bill Blessing CHURUBUSCO — A shrimp and tenderloin fundraiser dinner, bake sale and silent auction is 11 a.m.-7 p.m. at American Legion Post 157 in Churubusco. The meal is $7.50 and includes french fries and applesauce. Carry-out is also available. All proceeds will go to Blessing, who is fighting throat cancer, and his family, to help cover medical expenses. Those who have items to donate to the silent auction can contact Sue Frazier at 609-3465.

Groundhog Day breakfast is Feb. 3 CHURUBUSCO — The Churubusco Masonic Lodge will host its annual Groundhog Day pancake and sausage breakfast 7-10:30 a.m. at the Masonic Lodge. A free-will offering will be accepted.

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

Telephone: (260) 693-3949

Vol. 2 No. 4

Community Calendar....... 18-19

2215 E. Paige Rd., Columbia City, IN 46725

BILL FRIES, OWNER 260-244-3453

For Service of System Call

January 25, 2018

SGCS approves referendum resolution By Nicole Minier nminier@kpcmedia.com

CHURUBUSCO — Smith-Green Community Schools’ Board of Trustees approved a resolution for taxpayers to vote for a referendum of $0.628 per $100 of assessed value to assist in budget shortfalls for the

next eight years. The $0.628 is a maximum tax rate the board could approve for the next eight years as needed. The unanimous decision came after brief comments from the public and board members. Business Manager Jodi

Royer provided statistics on school funding, which administrators said was much different years ago. In 2009, the district received $8.8 million for the general fund. In 2016, Smith-Green spent $7.3 million — $1.5 million less than seven years prior. “Since legislation

changed and the money is coming from a different pot, it’s not keeping up with the increases in technology and the cost of living,” Royer said. “It simply has not kept up.” If the referendum is approved in the spring, all money collected from the tax increase would be

collected in the general fund and out of the control of the state, which now has control of where and how the district spends its money. Local farmer Mel Egolf was the first member of the public to speak, See SGCS, Page 2

Homecoming queen represents CCHS at Liberty Bowl By Bridgett Hernandez bhernandez@kpcmedia.com

MEMPHIS, TENN. — Columbia City High School senior and homecoming queen Hannah Behm was invited to participate in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl Queens event Dec. 28-30 in Memphis, Tenn. The event welcomes homecoming queens from across the nation who have a 3.0 GPA or higher and good standing in the community. When Hannah heard about the opportunity, she thought it would be a great way to represent her school and participate in a college-level sporting event. Behm participates in soccer and tennis, and is the sportsmanship leader for the senior class. After soliciting support from several local sponsors, she traveled to Memphis with her mom, Yvonne Behm, and friend Holly Martinez.

PHOTO CONTRIBUTED

Behm and 63 other high school homecoming queens from around the country meet to practice for AutoZone Liberty Bowl pre-game and half-time activities.

During the three-day event, Behm participated in several activities alongside 63 other select high school homecoming queens. Starting at 7:30 a.m. each day, she dressed in her homecoming queen

uniform, tiara and sash and boarded a coach bus to attend various events. The day before the Liberty Bowl, the homecoming queens were bused to the stadium to practice their entrance and partic-

visited St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in downtown Memphis where they spent one-on-one time with the young patients. Behm said the visit was the highlight of her trip. Learning about the work St. Jude is doing to fight childhood diseases, most notably, cancer and seeing patients battling cancer was humbling, she said. “It was really an eye-opener to me,” she said. “I want to try to do more for St. Jude’s. So much more needs to be put into research and experiences that children are going through while they have cancer.” Behm also participated in the 59th AutoZone Liberty Bowl parade in downtown Memphis. Because she was the only homecoming queen from Indiana, she was assigned to ride on

ipation in pre-game and half-time activities. While the temperature in Memphis is usually in the 50s that time of year, it was in the 20s during the three-hour rehearsal. After practice, the queens See HOMECOMING, Page 4

Next steps for Whitko consolidated school unclear By Bridgett Hernandez bhernandez@kpcmedia.com

LARWILL — Whitko Community School Corp. took a huge first step when school board trustees voted to close Whitko Middle School in Larwill and consolidate students at Whitko High School in South Whitley, but the next step remain unclear. The board was forced to consolidate due to declining enrollment and budgetary constraints. The building in Larwill will continue to serve as an administration building and will be used for

after school activities for middle school students. The school corporation already offers an after school activities bus, and it will transport students from South Whitley to Larwill, said school board president Jorell Tucker. In “phase one” of the consolidation, the school corporation will take on projects at the high school campus in South Whitley in order to accommodate the middle school students. All modifications are expected to be complete before the start of the 2018-2019 school year.

Phase one will include the purchase or lease of portable classrooms at the campus in South Whitley, Tucker said. The school corporation plans to partner with Whitley Manufacturing to bring the modular buildings to campus, he added. Funding any capital projects beyond phase one would require further discussion, and it’s unclear how much it will cost to retrofit the high school building, he said. “Phase two is a longerterm look at locations and that kind of thing

and spending a lot more money,” Tucker said. Previously, a consultant estimated that retrofitting Whitko High School would cost an estimated $3.2 million while retrofitting Whitko Middle School would cost between $500,000 and $1 million. Tucker said this estimate was based on “wants and needs” and doesn’t reflect the current picture. According to a presentation during the school board’s December work session, the high school needs significant upgrades.

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The school was built in 1971 with additions and renovations in 2006. Additionally, the high school can’t be brought up to ADA compliance without tearing it down. For now, stabilizing enrollment is the school corporation’s top priority, Tucker said. “The first step is to stabilize our enrollment and cut the costs that we’re committing to cut. Once we get that done, we can move forward with reevaluating phase two options and reevaluating locations in the next several year,” he said. Buy 1 lb. Fudge, Get 1/2 lb. FREE Expires 3/1/18

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IN|Whitley County Jan. 25, 2018 by KPC Media Group - Issuu