Sunday
Big Run Fuels Railroaders Page B1 Garrett defeats Prairie Heights 62-51
Four-legged Friends Page C1 Pet funerals increase in popularity
December 1, 2013
Weather Partly cloudy today. High 36. Low 27. Temperatures warm up after Monday. Page B5
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Legislature fuels highway budget increase GOOD MORNING Museum presents Night With Santa Thursday at 5 p.m. AUBURN — Night With Santa, a free family event, will take place Thursday from 5-7 p.m. at the National Military History Center, south of Auburn near exit 326 of Interstate 69. Activities will include meeting Santa and Mrs. Claus; face-painting; multiple holiday craft activities; sending holiday greetings to soldiers; Christmas movies and viewing Christmas trees and Christmas houses. Concessions will be available. Free admission to the museum’s galleries is included. The event is sponsored by WAWK 95.5 The Hawk, Lightningnet and the Dean V. Kruse Foundation.
How county highway departments plan to use additional money BY JENNIFER DECKER jdecker@kpcmedia.com
The Indiana Legislature’s increase of infrastructure funding by $200 million per year has been welcomed by DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble and Steuben county highway superintendents, who will receive a combined $1.7 million more in the first year of the law. The additional road and infrastructure appropriations came
when the Legislature passed the state’s $30 billion budget. A total of $400 million reportedly will be set aside over the next two years for future transportation needs. The money comes from Motor Vehicle Highway funds derived from gas taxes collected from motorists. Here is how each county will spend its additional allocation:
DeKalb County DeKalb County Highway Department Superintendent Eric Patton will receive some $300,000-$400,000 extra from the Legislature for each of the next
few years. “What we’ll try to do is increase our chip and seal,” he said about the 730 miles roads his department maintains — including 360 miles of gravel roads. In particular, he said, DeKalb roads such as C.R. 19 north of S.R. 8 and C.R. 56 are in need of attention. “We’ll try to increase our road striping,” he said. Still, receiving any extra funding unexpectedly helps, he said. “Something people don’t realize is the cuts to highways,” Patton said. He figured he’s set on road salt, depending on Mother Nature’s
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Index •
Classified.............................................. D4-D5 Life................................................................ C1 Obituaries.....................................................A4 Opinion .........................................................A6 Business ......................................................B5 Sports.................................................... B1-B4 Weather.......................................................B5 Vol. 101 No. 330
LaGrange County Jeff Brill, LaGrange County Highway Department superintendent, said he has no major plans on how to spend an added $600,000 from the Legislature. “It will be used for maintenance on asphalt,” he said. “We have no big plans.” That maintenance includes 800 miles of LaGrange roads — 300 miles of which are gravel. He SEE HIGHWAY, PAGE A8
Eight die in crash
Carl Casper’s 50th Anniversary Charity Auto Show
Former Indiana first lady Judy O’Bannon remarries at 78 CORYDON (AP) — Former Indiana first lady Judy O’Bannon has remarried more than a decade after losing her husband, then-Gov. Frank O’Bannon, to a stroke. O’Bannon wed retired Indianapolis attorney Donald Willsey in a Friday ceremony held in a former log barn at the O’Bannon family’s farm in Corydon some 25 miles west of Louisville, Ky. O’Bannon tells The Indianapolis Star the ceremony was “an acknowledgement of our families coming together.” She wore wear a vintage dress her mother made and a garnet-studded wedding ring that cost just $18 at an antique mall. The 78-year-old O’Bannon and 84-year-old Willsey were fixed up by mutual friends two years ago, a year after Willsey’s first wife died of cancer. Gov. Frank O’Bannon died in 2003 following 47 years of marriage to Judy O’Bannon.
ways this year, with a surplus of 600 tons mixed with sand left over from last year and the chance to order 1,000 more tons, if needed.
Falling police helicopter mars Scottish holiday
“We’re looking good. We’ve had a good turnout.” DiBiase, Casper, Cook and SpongeBob Squarepants will be at the National Military History Center for today’s conclusion to the event. Cook said it is easy to put in the work for a charity event that is going to help veterans and their families. “We want to give back as much as we can,” Cook said. “We owe it to all our vets.” Casper’s Batmobile from the movie “Batman Returns” was a hot attraction at the show, enticing Chris McDonald to come from Silver Lake. “I wanted to see a Batmobile in real life,” McDonald said after getting a poster signed by Casper. “The Batmobile is the No. 1 draw.” Chris McClean of Garrett came
GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Scotland’s official holiday was transformed into a grim day of mourning Saturday as emergency crews searched the wreckage of a riverside pub smashed by a falling police helicopter. At least eight people died and more than a dozen remained hospitalized with serious injuries. The Clutha, a popular Glasgow pub, was filled with revelers enjoying a local ska band on Friday night, the eve of St. Andrew’s Day, named for the patron saint of Scotland and which is normally a celebration of Scottish culture and heritage. Instead, Scotland’s leader ordered flags at government buildings to be lowered to half-staff after the tragedy. “This is a black day for Glasgow and Scotland, but it’s also St. Andrew’s Day, and it’s a day we can take pride and courage in how we respond to adversity and tragedy,” Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said. There may be more bad news. Police said a rescue and recovery operation is ongoing and that it wasn’t clear what will be found once the aircraft’s wreckage is removed. The process may take days.
SEE CHARITY, PAGE A8
SEE CRASH, PAGE A8
MATT GETTS
“Mountain Man” from the hit reality television series “Duck Dynasty” poses with fans during Carl Casper’s 50th Anniversary Charity Auto
Show Saturday at the National Military History Center.
For veterans and their families Auburn charity show benefits area soldiers BY MATT GETTS mgetts@kpcmedia.com
AUBURN — For one fan, it was all about the Batmobile. For another, it was all about Mountain Man from the hit reality television show “Duck Dynasty.” But for the organizers of Carl Casper’s 50th Anniversary Charity Auto Show, it was all about military veterans and their families. Hoosier Charities put on the two-day event that concludes from noon to 5 p.m. today at the National Military History Center, just west of Interstate 69 exit 326 with an entrance off DeKalb C.R.
11-A. The proceeds from the event will be distributed through the Association of Churches of Allen County and Fort Wayne. According to association board president Dave Boyer II, by working with chaplains from area military units, the organization is able to provide housing and bill payment assistance, as well as helping with employment issues for returning veterans throughout northeastern Indiana. “If there’s a need, we’re going to meet it,” Boyer said. “Any need they have.” Saturday’s first day drew a steady crowd of spectators, highlighted by celebrity appearances from Mountain Man, pro wrestling legend Ted DiBiase and Casper. “We’re very happy,” said Jeff Cook of Auburn, the president of Hoosier Charities and a celebrity himself as a Monster Truck driver.
Santa surprises Angola family BY AMY OBERLIN aoberlin@kpcmedia.com
ANGOLA — The holidays can be a magical time for children. A little thing can put a twinkle in a child’s eyes and make memories that will last a lifetime. Santa Claus, of course, is the epitome of Christmas magic — and it seems one local family has become a favorite of the jolly old elf. Chase Witherby, 9, has good days and bad days. Chase is severely autistic and currently going through therapy and being home-schooled by his mother, Holly. They were shopping one day and Chase saw a Woody doll from the Disney “Toy Story”
movies that he wanted. Holly told him to wait for Christmas, “but he really doesn’t understand,” she said. At home, her husband, Mike, wrote a letter to Santa for Chase, who signed the paper and put it in an envelope to mail to the North Pole. Sept. 19, Holly posted on Facebook a picture of Chase at the mailbox and wrote: “Chase ‘mailing’ his letter to Santa with the 2 toys he wants, the problem is, it’s going to be a LONG 14 weeks until Santa brings the toys … I will need prayed for the next 14 weeks!! He doesn’t understand waiting that long for a reinforcer.” Then, on Sept. 24, along with a picture of a letter with a red
graphic of Santa Claus in the upper corner, she wrote: “So, last week Chase ‘mailed’ a letter to Santa, Mike wrote what Chase wanted and Chase signed it, and had him put it in mailbox and later took it out! Today this came in the mail from ‘Santa’ with some stickers! Whoever you are ‘Santa’ you are SO thoughtful!! He was so excited for the Toy Story stickers! THANK YOU!!!!!” Holly said she does not know who sent the letter, or whether her Facebook messages have reached the right person. “Every week since that we’ve received money and presents,” Holly said. Each time a gift comes, SEE SURPRISE, PAGE A8
AP
Chase Witherby displays a few of the toys he received in the mail from Santa. He and his brother, Carson, have been receiving gifts since September.