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INDIANAPOLIS — Visitors to Churubusco’s beloved Community Park will soon be able to enjoy a new, all-inclusive playground, thanks to a new crowdfunding campaign sponsored by the Indiana Housing & Community Development Authority and the Churubusco Youth Foundation. The campaign is being offered through the Patronicity crowdfunding platform. If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $25,000 by Sept. 8, the Oscar’s Playland project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by CreatINg Places, a program of IHCDA. For project details and to donate, visit: patronicity.com/OscarsPlayland The 65-acre Churubusco Community Park has many modern amenities; including a splash pad, a skate park, baseball diamonds, tennis courts and soccer fields. However, it is noticeably missing a playground for kids of all ages and abilities to enjoy. The current playground was installed over 30 years ago and is unable to safely meet the needs of today’s children, especially those with disabilities. The funding raised during this campaign will allow the Churubusco Youth Foundation to change that by replacing the aging playground with one that is modern and all-inclusive. “Churubusco Park is the gem of our community. We want to polish it and See OSCAR, Page 2
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WATER SYSTEMS and WATER CONDITIONERS 2215 E. Paige Rd., Columbia City, IN 46725
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July 13, 2017
See you at the fair — starts Friday By Nicole Minier nminier@kpcmedia�com
COLUMBIA CITY — The 2017 Whitley County 4-H Fair begins Friday and runs through Thursday — with many traditions continuing, and some new additions as well. Fairgoers can expect to see some technology updates at this year’s fair,
with the purchase of five new televisions that will be used around the fairgrounds. There will be three televisions in the 4-H center, one in the showbarn and one at the main concession stand. The televisions will help fair coordinators communicate with attendees, with items such as fair schedules
and photos from previous days. Televisions will also be used to feature 10-year members in a new way. In the past, only a few 10-year members participated in the 10-year project. “Many of the livestock members didn’t have things to display other than ribbons,” said Todd Geiger, extension
educator. “We decided to go with a digital project, where members can share photos of their accomplishments.” There are 42 10-year members and 54 members total who will be participating in their last 4-H fair this year. Enrollment in the fair is up this year, with 770 total members — 25-30 more
children than last year. The 4-H club has added some new projects, such as barbecue grilling and and recycling. The barbecue club members will have a cookoff at lunchtime Saturday on the south end of the dairy barn, near the entrance to the grandstands. See FAIR, Page 2
Pittenger crowned Miss Whitley County By Nicole Minier nminier@kpcmedia�com
COLUMBIA CITY — Jenna Pittenger had to make a difficult decision — go on vacation with Dad, or stay home to participate in the Miss Whitley County Scholarship Program. Monday night she was happy with her decision, as the Churubusco High School graduate was crowned Miss Whitley County at the event held at First Church of God in Columbia City. “I had to break the news to my Dad, ‘I’m sorry I can’t go because I really want to do this,’” Pittenger said. She attended the pageant for the first time last year and decided she wanted to give it a try this year. “They looked like they were having a great time. This is the first pageant I’ve ever participated in, and winning means a lot to me,” Pittenger said. She has participated in competitive cheerleading for many years, and said that helped her prepare to perform on a stage. The pageant was previously only open to 4-H members, but several years ago, the pageant opened up to any Whitley County resident. “I’m not in 4-H but I wish I had been,” Pittenger said. She will spend as much time
Pittenger
at this week’s Whitley County 4-H Fair as most 4Hers, as Miss Whitley County has many responsibilities, such as participating in the parade, passing out ribbons at livestock shows and being involved with the grandstand events. Pittenger will attend Purdue University this fall. Megan Lemke is first runner-up, Peyton Miller is second runner-up, Mackenzie Sheets is third runner-up and Taylor Duncan is fourth runner-up. Miss Congeniality is Bailee Yount and Claire Reiff earned the People’s Choice Award. See more photos of the event, as well as contestant profiles, on Page 11.
PHOTO CONTRIBUTED
2016 Miss Whitley County Kaitlyn Sheets places the crown atop Jenna Pittenger’s head.
Local officials attend workshop on redevelopment, TIFs By Tyler Roebuck troebuck@kpcmedia�com
COLUMBIA CITY – Nearly 20 elected and appointed officials from South Whitley, Larwill, Columbia City and Churubusco attended a workshop that discussed the ins and outs of tax
increment financing in developing specific commercial areas. The meeting was held Thursday, June 29, in the lower level of the Whitley County Government Center. In part, the catalyst for the meeting came from an
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expressed interest from South Whitley to redevelop their downtown. “There are a lot of empty buildings down there now that we would like to develop and get some businesses in there,” South Whitley Town Councilman Les Hoffman said. “At this time I don’t think it’s important the nature of the businesses. If we could come up with some retail items it would be great, but we’re just looking to get that redeveloped and get some companies and businesses of some kind downtown.
We feel like we’re almost at the bottom, so there’s no place to go but up.” Breaking it down Jennifer Hallowell, director of FaegreBD Consulting, led the informational part of the meeting. “The core use of a TIF is in typical infrastructure use, be it on utilities or rebuilding roads and sidewalks or increasing parking areas,” she said. “A question to ask is what works best for the types of companies you are trying to attract.” Hallowell also wanted
to clarify a couple of common misconceptions. People often perceive that TIFs take away money from public schools or other public goods. “By design,” she said, “a TIF does not take away already flowing tax money.” TIFs are under more stringent regulation now through actions of the Indiana General Assembly. In the last six years, the General Assembly passed 20 pieces of legislation to strengthen laws regarding the use of a TIF. See TIF, Page 2