Talk of the Town - Whitley County

By Jennifer Zartman Romano

This will certainly be the weekend to celebrate winter in Whitley County!

In addition to what we already know will be an exciting, inspiring Fire & Ice Festival in downtown Columbia City, a lesser known event will take place in the northern reaches of our county – another event only possible in the coldest of months, taking what would otherwise be just another cold day and transforming it into something more.

Residents sounding Little Cedar Lake at Tri Lakes will come out of the cozy cottages to rub elbows with the neighbors and display their talents at ice bowling!

On Sunday afternoon, spectators brave enough to bundle up are invited to not only watch the activities, but potentially participate in knocking out a few pins using bowling balls and ice filled detergent containers. “Basically, whatever you want to use to wing it down there,” said Kevin Sherrick, who has a cottage near where the competition will take place.

Sherrick has been participating in the even for several years now, an event planned each year by lake residents Cliff and Jeanette Crance of Stalf Road.

“It’s a seven or eight year tradition I believe,” Sherrick said.     

Festivities are slated to begin at noon.

“We have a lot of kids come out and it’s a good time,” he said.

Two bowling lanes are fashioned for the competition, which will continue throughout the afternoon.

“It’s just something for the kids on the lake in winter,” he added. But, it's not just for the kids...adults will be participating too.

Two sets of bowling pins were donated by Main Bowl in downtown Columbia City for use in the competition.

For those worried about how much ice separates you from water, Sherrick feels assured that as cold as it has been lately, there should be up to five or six inches of ice on local lakes.

The event is open to anyone interested in watching or playing – just look for the crowd.

It’s only too bad that your best lucky bowling shirt probably has short sleeves!