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Man may have been killed during Old Settlers festival nminier@kpcmedia.com
COLUMBIA CITY — It’s been 50 years since anyone has seen Harry Beasley alive. Whitley County’s most mysterious unsolved homicide continues to be just that, a mystery, and though investigators continue to follow up on potential leads, it seems there will never be an answer. Who killed Harry Beasley? — and why? No one has seen Beasley,
commonly known as Former Columbia City “Sleepy” or “Runt,” since Police Chief Ron Glassley June 28, 1968. Even after was one of several who he was reported missing, it climbed down into the cistern was another 10 years before to begin suctioning out the his body was found — right 10,000 gallons of water and in the heart of downtown retrieve the remains, along Columbia with John City. North and two Columbia other men. City’s fire “It was department quite an It’s the coldest experience,” was doing a routine cold case we Glassley said. check of one After have.” of the city’s utilizing a 17 cisterns partial Social - Mike Christie, prosecutor’s Security card in May of detective 1978. When and identia flashlight fying the was shone down into the remains of the clothing in the large cavern at the southeast cistern, police determined the corner of the Courthouse body to be Beasley’s. How Square, there was a haunting he got in there has not been discovery: remains of a determined, and likely never decomposed body. will be.
nminier@kpcmedia.com
for IN|Whitley County
Vol. 2 No. 26
$17,500 raised for Kindergarten Countdown United Way’s Power of the Purse successful again BY WHITNEY WRIGHT
for IN|Whitley County
COLUMBIA CITY — Earlier this month, United Way of Whitley County announced that its second annual Power of the Purse event raised $17,500 to help fund Whitley County Consolidated Schools’ Kindergarten Countdown program. More than 250 women participated in
the May 10 event. Attendees bought raffle tickets to win donated designer purses made by brands such as Kate Spade, Michael Kors, Coach and Vera Bradley, and filled with prizes. One purse was designated as the Power Purse, the winner of which also had the opportunity to designate $500 to the charity
INWhitley County
Telephone: (260) 693-3949
CONTRIBUTED
Kindergarten Countdown provides students who have not attended preschool with the opportunity to learn the ropes of the classroom before school officially begins.
123 North Main Street,Churubusco, IN 46723
INWhitley County 123 N. Main Street, Churubusco, IN 46723
The chances of this crime being solved are fading. After 50 years, many
BY NICOLE MINIER
BY WHITNEY WRIGHT
Information •
NICOLE MINIER
Harry Beasley’s body was found beneath the lid of this cistern on the southeast corner of the Whitley County Courthouse square 50 years ago. The lid is now secured shut and the cistern hasn’t been in use for nearly 100 years.
of Beasley’s relatives who were alive at the time have SEE BEASLEY, PAGE 4
New building will bring Jimmy John’s to Columbia City
Interim superintendent begins in July
SEE SUPERINTENDENT, PAGE 4
June 28, 2018
“
A time of transition for Whitko
LARWILL — As of July 1, Whitko Community Schools will be led by interim Superintendent Nick Eccles. After a few days of meeting with Eccles Steve Clason, who is retiring from the position after
BILL FRIES, OWNER 260-244-3453
For Service of System Call
50 years later, still no answers on Beasley death BY NICOLE MINIER
2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD
2215 E. Paige Rd., Columbia City, IN 46725
SEE PURSE, PAGE 4
COLUMBIA CITY — The relocation of a business from Fort Wayne to Columbia City will soon benefit local residents in more ways than one. ADMC Enterprises, which manages Verizon stores in the area, is moving its headquarters to Columbia City, constructing a new three-storefront facility at the corner of Walker Way and State Road 109. Along with the new Verizon store, there will be a Jimmy John’s restaurant. Jimmy John’s is a franchised sandwich restaurant chain that specializes in delivery. Columbia City’s Common Council approved a tax abatement for the building construction earlier this year, and ADMC Enterprises expects to bring in six jobs at an average of $24 an hour. “I see this as very positive,” said Riley Hollen-
baugh, of the Whitley County EDC. During the council meeting, Mayor Ryan Daniel made note that Columbia City doesn’t intend to “poach jobs” from other northeast Indiana cities in the Regional Partnership, but said he is glad the company decided to choose Columbia City as “home.” The expected completion for the building was June-July, but, due to weather, developer Bill Roebel said he’s about three weeks behind, and expecting it to be finished in mid-July. Roebel has been developing similar buildings for about 30 years, and was approached by the Verizon retailer about a new site in Columbia City. Currently, Wireless Zone is located nearby, just to the south on the other side of State Road 109. The company’s investment of about $1 million SEE JIMMY JOHN’S, PAGE 4