Talk of the Town - Whitley County

Alternative forms of transportation

2010-03-19T09:34:01Z

(Talk of the Town photos by Jennifer Zartman Romano)

Without a doubt, traffic up and down streets and sidewalks in Whitley County appears to be influenced heavily by the warm spring days we've experienced this week. Of course, we've seen convertibles with their tops down, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles and plenty of walkers, runners and skateboarders, at right. BUT...the one we were really impressed to see on a fine, sunshiney day was the tractor someone appears to have driven straight to the bank on Tuesday. Above, a tractor sits in the parking lot at Three Rivers Federal Credit Union in Columbia City as its owner was inside tending to their banking needs. Many will agree, after a long winter indoors -- the fresh air does us all good and may be best enjoyed aboard a tractor!

She's a different type of cowgirl

2010-03-19T09:23:05Z

She's a different kind of cowgirl alright, but we'd bet you didn't know she was a pageant girl at one time too!

Columnist Kelley Sheiss shares an insight to life on her Northern Whitley County farm with her latest installment of "Musings from the Mud Room."

Click here to check it out.

Congratulations to the Indian Springs Middle School wrestling team for first-time conference win

2010-03-19T08:37:10Z

(Talk of the Town photo provided) The Indian Springs Middle School wrestling team captured its first ever Northeast Hoosier Middle Level Conference Championship last week at Summit Middle School.
ISMS had a total of 339 team points to beat out Bellmont with 313.5 points. Above, the team celebrates their win with their trophy. Click here to read the full story on today's sports page.

Whitley County Sheriff's Department reserves hosting fish, tenderloin fry on May 1

2010-03-19T08:25:35Z

The Whitley County Sheriff's Department's 2009 Reserve class will be hosting a fish and tenderloin fry on May 1 at the Whitley County FOP lodge in Columbia City. Funds raised at the event will offset costs associated with new equipment purchased for the 12 new Whitley County Sheriff's Department reserve deputies.

Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation honored with State recognition for improving local lakes' water quality

2010-03-19T08:20:56Z

On Thursday, the Indiana Lakes Management Society (ILMS) announced that the Outstanding Lake/Watershed Association Award award has been presented to the Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation (TWF).
TWF serves several Whitley County lakes that are part of the Tippecanoe watershed, including Crooked Lake, Loon Lake, Goose Lake, Old Lake and nearby Big Lake in Noble County, as well as several Kosciusko County lakes.
The Award was established by ILMS to recognize those that excel in lake/watershed management to improve water quality. The Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation (TWF) has been successfully implementing water quality improvement studies and projects for 13 years.
The TWF was founded in 1997 by local residents who realized that to protect and enhance their lake for the future, a larger vision – a focus on the entire watershed – was needed. With this vision, TWF has obtained grants and raised necessary matching funds for scientific research studies and construction of more than 30 water quality improvement projects, including restoring stream banks and wetlands, creating sediment traps, installing filter strips, fencing livestock out of streams, and creating rain gardens and natural shorelines.
TWF works to stop water pollution at its source, which will in-turn, reduce the nasty effects including noxious weeds and algae blooms.
In addition to on-the-ground water quality improvement projects, the TWF has a strong education and outreach program for both youth and adults. “We encourage resident to take simple actions to improve water quality. If everyone joins their neighbors in using phosphorus-free lawn fertilizers, maintaining their septic system, and controlling invasive species – we can truly make a difference” states executive director Lyn Crighton. More than 1,000 lake and watershed residents have already joined TWF’s efforts by participating in their programs and providing financial support.
ILMS will be honoring the Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation at their annual conference on March 26, 2010, at the Radisson Hotel at Star Plaza in Merrillville, Indiana.

Snapshots: Groundbreaking for the Eel River Trailhouse in Columbia City

2010-03-19T08:08:57Z

Snapshots: Developing a Vision for Whitley County's Future

2010-03-18T21:36:37Z

Vision 2020 intiative continues to gain momentum with recent outreach meetings

2010-03-18T21:21:16Z

(Talk of the Town photo by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Whitley County Commissioner Michael Schrader, below, works to prioritize and strategize concepts to improve Whitley County during a regional outreach meeting held in Whitley County on March 9. The local meeting was part of a series of meetings that will eventually result in plans that will be unveiled at the Regional Economic Summit in June 2010.

By Monica Freeman

The Vision 2020 Coordinating Group, comprised of leaders from across the 10-county Northeast Indiana region, held its third session March 10 as it continues the work of the Vision 2020 process aimed at improving the vitality of Northeast Indiana's regional economy.
The group continually receives community input from the Vision 2020 process and is working to identify immediate and long-term strategies to support a fully-implementable vision for the region. The latest meeting reviewed contributions from focus group interviews and regional outreach meetings conducted in February and March.
In February, more than 200 leaders from across the region participated in interviews conducted by ACP Visioning+Planning and Team Kolzow, Inc., facilitators for the Coordinating Group and visioning process. Members of manufacturing, financial, agribusiness, sustainability, healthcare, education and various other sectors, as well as students from area high schools, created "must have" lists for strategies to be included in the region as it moves forward with Vision 2020.
From March 8 to March 12 a series of regional outreach meetings in each of the 10 participating counties drew nearly 400 total participants to work with results from the February interviews. The community leaders prioritized and strategized tactics for improving the region in each of the five focus areas of competitive business climate, infrastructure, quality of place, entrepreneurship and 21st century talent. Discussions and activities helped to further develop a vision for the Northeast Indiana region.
Vision 2020 will continue in April and May as the Coordinating Group collects input from each focus area. The process will conclude on June 23, 2010 with the Regional Economic Summit at the Grand Wayne Center. All are encouraged to attend and help shape the region's future.
The 27-member Vision 2020 Coordinating Group held its initial meeting in January. The participating counties include Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley. The Coordinating Group will continue to provide updates to keep the public informed of progress and outcomes.

Get outside, get some fresh air and do a little shopping at the Cabin Fever Craft show Saturday

2010-03-18T20:21:01Z

(Talk of the Town graphics)

Celebrate the first weekend of spring with the new “Cabin Fever Craft Show” which will be held this Saturday, March 20, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Whitley County 4-H Center in Columbia City. Over 60 vendors of crafts, food and other items will be featured, making this a great opportunity to shop for gifts or a unique item for yourself! A special raffle to benefit the Whitley County Animal Shelter will feature over 30 items. Lunch will be available. Maggie Fahl of Hunkapunka will have a booth with her unique, one-of-a-kind clothing and decorative items for children. Above, some of her baby blankets, bibs and burp cloths are featured.

Whitley County Energy Assistance Board raising funds with barbecue on April 30

2010-03-18T19:13:09Z

The Whitley County Energy Assistance Board is hosting a Nelson's Golden Glo chicken sale on Friday, April 30, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. They will be serving Nelson's famous chicken halves with two sides, including Marna's famous baked beans and the best local cole slaw for $7 per order.
Pre-orders may be made today by calling Tania Keirn at 244-5266.
The Whitley County Energy Assistance Board raises funds to aid the community's underemployed and unemployed to pay their utility bills during periods of struggle.

CCHS Academic Team enjoys first NHC Conference win since 1996

2010-03-18T12:18:31Z

(Talk of the Town photo provided)
On Monday night, the Columbia City High School Academic team tied with Carroll to win the NHC Academic Conference for the first time since 1996. Winning first place in the divisional rounds were the Fine Arts Team coached by Tom Lough, the Math Team coached by Beth Scharpenberg and the English Team coached by Stacy Keener. The team will compete in the area competition at Middlebury High School on April 20.
Academic team members, above from left, in row one, include Emma Patee, Lauren Gates, Olivia Western, Libby Peterson and Addie Schinbeckler. Row two, from left, includes Ivan Fung, Natalie Angel, Rachel Rosfeld, Amelia Roman, Jacob Swain, Nicole Yingst and Tiffany Harber. Row three, from left, includes Nick Burlage, Nick Houser, Ashley Cornwell, Emily Klinefelter, Alex Dryer, Korinne Hazen, Deanna Beckner and Lindsay Angel.

Snapshots: St. Patty's Party at St. Paul's

2010-03-17T22:10:02Z

Whitley County Community Foundation seeking grant applicants to meet local needs

2010-03-17T21:32:13Z

By John Slavich

The Whitley County Community Foundation’s grant review session is approaching. The Foundation funds charitable projects that will make a positive impact on Whitley County and its people. The Foundation is particularly interested in ideas that shed new light on local needs and provide innovative, long-term solutions.
Categories include: Arts and Culture, Health, Civic Affairs, Recreation, Community Development, Welfare and Education.
Requests for funding are reviewed by the Foundation’s Grants Committee, composed of residents from communities throughout the county. Their recommendations are forwarded to the Foundation's Board of Directors, with whom all grant-making authority resides.
The deadline for submitting an application is May 1st, and grant seekers are strongly encouraged to call the Foundation to discuss a grant proposal before submitting a formal application.
If you would like an application or have questions call John Slavich, Program Officer, at 244-5224. You may also download an application from the Foundation’s website which is www.whitleycountycommunityfoundation.org.

Novae Corporation, owner of Cardinal Grain, plans to add 85 jobs

2010-03-17T21:18:06Z

By Blair West

Governor Mitch Daniels joined executives of Novae Corporation in North Manchester today to announce the company's plans to expand its trailer manufacturing operations, creating up to 85 new jobs by 2013. The company has a Columbia City location, Cardinal Grain.
Novae Corp., which manufactures both open and enclosed utility trailers, commercial lawn equipment and agricultural and industrial material handling systems, will invest more than $3.4 million to purchase, renovate and equip an 88,000 square-foot facility to grow its Sure-Trac Enclosed trailer division.
"In an industry that has been especially hard-hit by national and global economic conditions, Novae has found a way to grow and continue to create new opportunities for Hoosiers," said Daniels. "This is further proof that Northeast Indiana is the best place around for small businesses to prosper."
For the past three consecutive years, Novae Corp. has been recognized by Inc. magazine as one of the nation's fastest growing privately-held companies. The firm employs more than 150 people at facilities in Markle and Columbia City. Production at the North Manchester plant will focus on enclosed trailers, while Novae's Columbia City plant will continue to grow the Cardinal Grain agricultural business.
"With the worst recession in 60 years the competition has been intense. We were very pleased that we were able to execute our plan this year to achieve a modest growth of 15 percent while retaining record profits for Novae Corp. Having our business in Indiana has been instrumental to our success," said Mike Bermes, president and chief business development officer of Novae Corp. "Indiana is centrally located with excellent infrastructure to support our interstate and international commerce. Indiana also provides an exceptional workforce with an incredible and robust work ethic. Mitch Daniels believes in and has created a positive business environment for small businesses like ours."
Novae Corp., which markets its products throughout the northern United States and Canada, will occupy the North Manchester facility formerly owned by Dexter Axle. The company chose North Manchester over potential sites in Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Novae Corporation up to $570,000 in performance-based tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. Novae will receive local assistance from Wabash County, the town of North Manchester and the city of Wabash.
"The cooperation among economic development and elected officials from North Manchester, Wabash County and the city of Wabash was a significant factor in Novae Corp.'s decision to expand in Northeast Indiana," said Bill Konyha, president and chief executive officer of the Economic Development Group of Wabash County, Inc.
In March, Novae Corp. received recognition at the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers annual convention for growing their market share by a larger percentage than any of their competitors according to Statistical Surveys, Inc.

Today in Retrospective...

2010-03-17T19:15:15Z

Thinking about a Scottish grandfather on an Irish holiday...and considering the great fanfare he received when arriving in his new country 53 years ago today...click here to read the latest installment of "Retrospective."