Crossroads Music Festival was a good place to be Saturday
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June 30, 2008
Snapshots from Camp Whitley's 80th Anniversary Celebration
Former campers, counselors converge to reminisce on the bygone days at Camp Whitley
(Talk of the Town photos by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Seated along the logs near the lodge at Camp Whitley, and talking in small groups, campers of the past reminisce about their days at Camp Whitley. Below, former camper and counselor Chick Harker signs a banner signifying the camp's 80th year. Three generations of Harker's family have attended Camp Whitley. Below, in a photo provided by Camp Whitley, Pleasant Guy Stickler is shown proudly holding a Camp Whitley t-shirt. The late Stickler was a long-time supporter of the camp. Recently, his family donated some memorabilia to the camp for future generations to enjoy.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
Pulling up the long gravel drive to Camp Whitley Saturday afternoon, a sense of nostalgia was immediately present.
Groups of adults, standing in small clusters, or seated together on logs near the lodge building reminisced about their days as campers…not so long ago, it seemed. 
Yet, the camp has now been opened eight decades, enough time for as many as four generations of the same family to attend camp at the same scenic spot on the shore of Troy Cedar Lake in northwestern Whitley County.
Saturday afternoon marked the 80th anniversary celebration for Camp Whitley and brought out dozens of former campers and past counselors to share their memories and take another look around a place they remember so fondly.
“I looked at the lake and it looked like is must have shrunk,” said Richard Phend who attended the camp between the years of 1944-1947. “I think I could swim across it now!”
John Pence looked at some of the older cabins on site and said, “I helped build some of those cabins.”
Laughing, Pence added, “And back in the day, as campers, we probably helped tear down a few too.” 
JoEllen McConnell didn’t remember what year she attended camp, but did recall she had been a Pirate and had won the best archer award that year.
Camp Whitley board member Carrie Gates, herself a former camper, said they are currently collecting stories and memorabilia from the past 80 years and hope to compile it into a book eventually.
With 80 years of experiences at camp, she said, “we’d hate for those memories to be lost.”
Gates said she hopes the book, upon completion, would be available for sale and a copy would also be given to the Whitley County Historical Museum for future generations to enjoy.
In a small display inside the lodge, a collection of recently donated memorabilia can be found. The family of the late Pleasant Guy Stickler contributed a booklet, a 1933 attitude award patch, ribbons and certificates from his stay at Camp Whitley in the early years. Several generations of Stickler’s family have been Camp Whitley participants.
As with any great experience, you want your children and grandchildren to experience it as well. Chick Harker said three generations of his family had attended camp there. Bill Kettelkamp’s family might mark four generations.
Ted Gruver of Phoenix, Maryland, remember great times at camp, is carrying the tradition on with his grandson, Patrick Anderson.
Anderson has never attended an overnight camp before, but accompanied his grandfather to Camp Whitley on Saturday from Maryland and will be staying there this week – a 13th birthday gift from his grandparents. Gruver hopes to eventually send his granddaughters to Camp Whitley as well.
“I thought it would be a great thing for him to come to camp,” Gruver said. “I have such fond memories here.”
Gruver and his family traveled the furthest to attend the 80th anniversary celebration Saturday.
Standing in the center of a circle of log benches, similar to the log benches campers have been seated around for decades, after each person present introduced themselves and talked briefly about their camp experience, Gates said, “Hopefully, Camp Whitley will be around for another 80 years.”
Whitley County Amateur Radio Club field day provided community education, awareness of amateur radio
(Talk of the Town photos by E. Matthew Pugh) Participating in the ARRL field day event at Peabody Public Library, Whitley County Amateur Radio Club members Lee Simmonds, left, and Ed Scott, right, work together to make contact with other radio operators around the country. Below, a temporary radio tower stands steady despite winds. In extended entry, the radio shown is one that can be used by amateur radio operators to assist local authorities durinng crisis situations when all other forms of communication have failed.
By E. Matthew Pugh
Every year in the U.S. the ARRL (Amateur Radio Relay League) members put on a field day. Locally, the field day was held over a 24-hour period from 2 p.m. Saturday to 2 p.m. Sunday. 
Field day is put on for two reasons -- the first is to raise awareness that there are still amateur radio clubs out there and to share with the community that amateur radio clubs have been gaining members as the years progress. The second reason is to give people a feel for what exactly an amateur radio group does.
Field day is held all over the U.S. by other groups of the ARRL and is a sort of competition. Points are awarded to a group for various things such as making contact with another group, teaching someone without a license and having them make contact with another group. Additionally, teaching a child gains them even more points for teaching the youth about amateur radio. The Whitley County Amateur Radio Club were awarded extra points for holding their field day at the Peabody Public Library, because it is considered public property.
The Peabody Public Library had approached Whitley County's local radio club to see if they would put on an event to show children and other patrons the ins and outs of amateur radio. The Whitley County Radio Amateur Radio Club have been holding their meetings at the library for some time now and asked if they could make their event the day of field day and earn some extra points while teaching the youth of Whitley County about amateur radio, said local radio club member Dan Dahms.
Throughout their setup, some of the members had some scares with setting up the radio tower but eventually got it up and running just fine despite a bit of wind yesterday. Their largest tent, a headquarters of sorts, was blown over by the strong wind early on and was damaged too extensively to put back up. Rain also caused them some trouble in the beginning, but soon subsided to extreme heat.
They had three stations set up, and all of it was running on emergency power generators. They can contact people as far south as Mexico and as far north as Canada.
By late afternoon, they had contacted Canada, Texas, New Mexico and Florida. They normally get about 1 contact a minute, but can get 2-3 in a minute on a good day.
This individual club has existed since 1990, and no other amateur radio clubs are known to have existed before it in Whitley County. Most clubs have been around since the 1930s and 1940s so Whitley County's club is fairly young.
On field day, according to Dahms, amateur radio club members are only trying to have short conversations and trying to get location information to gain more points. Normally, these amateur radio clubs would talk to people over the radio about just about anything -- having interesting conversations with people they've never met. The only thing that is illegal to talk about over amateur radio is business, Dahms said. You cannot have any business-related talks over amateur radio.
It is interesting to know that amateur radio has continued to develop as technology upgrades. Amateur radio has the ability to use the internet to reach farther distances with short range radios. They have something called APRS which is a form of GPS that allows tracking, and allows them to send short text messages. Amateur radio was also sending small pictures and texts before cell phones were able to do it. 
One of the most important things to know, however, is that when a natural disaster happens, such as the flooding that took place in southern Indiana not to long ago, it knocks out all of their forms of communication, cell towers, phone lines, internet -- however radio still works, amateur radio technicians were the ones in those kind of situations to send messages to the other shelters, and called in for more help because radio has it's own system and doesn't rely on a large network to continue working.
More than 650,000 Americans have Amateur Radio licenses and there are over 2.5 million license holders through the world.
There were over 30,000 operators in last year’s field day event.
June 29, 2008
Old Settlers Day photographs...
Readers, if you have photographs of various Old Settlers Days events or of your family enjoying themselves at the festival you'd like to share with fellow Talk of the Town readers, we'd love to publish them here...send them to: jennifer@talkofthetownwc.com
We have a few more of our own we'll be sharing over the next few days as well.
Local amateur radio operators conduct 24-hour field day at Peabody Public Library
Snapshots of the 2008 American Legion Old Settlers Day Parade
June 28, 2008
Dekko Foundation supports 4-H Feeder Calf barn building project with $35,000 grant
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
Longtime Whitley County 4-H volunteer Ron Myer was beaming Friday night – sharing that the feeder calf barn building project has received a boost that ensures its completion in time for this year’s fair in July.
Myer was notified that the Dekko Foundation will be awarding a $35,000 grant to the project.
“We should have everything we need now,” Myer said.
“The Dekko Foundation has been very good to us,” he said.
The Dekko Foundation supported the building of the Whitley County Agricultural History Museum and 4-H Learning Center with a significant grant during its construction two years ago.
A great vantage point...
(Talk of the Town photo by Jennifer Zartman Romano) A few teens found an ideal spot to watch the American Legion Old Settlers Days parade -- in the turret atop Smith & Sons Funeral Home on North Main Street in Columbia City.
Many more photos of the parade will be published on the site throughout the weekend.
James Wise named OSD's Longest Continuous Resident
(Talk of the Town photo by Lyn Lancaster) James Wise of Etna Troy Township was named Whitley County's Longest Continuous Resident by the Old Settlers Days Association on Thursday. On Friday afternoon, Red Coats Tom Drew and Fritz Martin, 2008 OSD president, visited Wise at his daughter's home and presented his plaque. At the age of 94 years, eight months and 22 days, he was born in Whitley County on October 15, 1913. Above, from left, is Tom Drew, James Wise and Fritz Martin.
What's happening today?
Today
The Columbia City Farmers Market is open from 8 a.m.-12 p.m. on the south edge of the Whitley County Courthouse lawn and near City Hall.
Camp Whitley is hosting their 80th year celebration from 1-4 p.m. at the camp on Troy Cedar Lake.
Crossroads Music Festival will be held at the Mizpah Shrine Horsegrounds from 9 a.m. and continuing into the evening hours. Admission is $5 for anyone over age 12. Children 12 & under are free.
The Whitley County Amateur Radio Club will be hosting a 24-hour field day at the Peabody Public Library from 2 p.m. on Saturday until 2 p.m. on Sunday. The community is invited visit and participate.
Old Settlers Days will continue today and conclude this evening at 11 p.m. The midway opens today at 1 p.m. with a wristband day until 5 p.m. The quilt show is scheduled to continue at the Whitley County Historical Museum until noon today. American Legion bingo will be held in the tent on the midway from noon-11 p.m. A karaoke contest for children ages 5-14 begins at 3:30 p.m. on the south courthouse stage followed by an adult karaoke contest for ages 15 and over at 8 p.m. Raffle drawing winners will be announced at 11:45 p.m.
June 27, 2008
Mildred Wilkerson is county's Oldest Settler at OSD
(Talk of the Town photos by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Standing proudly with the Red Coats, Mildred Wilkerson proudly holds the plaque she received Thursday evening proclaiming her the Oldest Settler at the 105th Old Settlers Days. From left is Jim Brock, Tom Drew, Mildred Wilkerson, Jacie Worrick and Fritz Martin. Below, a few snapshots of Wilkerson receiving her award near the OSD entertainment stage Thursday night.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
In the midst of a thunderstorm, Mildred Barber Wilkerson was born on September 18, 1911, at a place that faded with the pages of time and exists no more – the Long Swamp near Loon Lake. 
Thursday evening, precisely 96 years, nine months and eight days, she was the recipient of something she never expected – 105th annual Old Settlers Days Oldest Settler Award.
On Thursday, Wilkerson traveled with her daughter, Gloria Baker, from her Thorncreek Township home to register her name in the annals of the Old Settlers Days at the Whitley County Historical Museum. Despite her age, she said she really had no idea she’d be Whitley County’s oldest settler to register this year. 
The only child of William and Leona Barber and bride of the late John Wilkerson, she attended Smith School and graduated with the Columbia City High School Class of 1930. She also attended six months of classes at Indiana Business College.
She attends Thorncreek Bethel Church of God on State Road 9 and has lived in the same home in Thorncreek Township since 1949. Known by many as “The Egg Lady,” she was known to have delivered fresh eggs from her farm to neighbors and others.
Back in the day, she said she and her husband loved square dancing and she still enjoys dancing. She also likes to read, care for her cats and is proud to say she does her own housework…and she doesn’t care for television, except to watch the news.
Smiling brightly as she shook the hands of the many Red Coats and well-wishers present to bestow her award on the courthouse lawn and celebrate her moment with her, Wilkerson said she was, “proud that the good Lord let me live this long.”
Though we was not present to receive his award Thursday evening, James Wise was found to be the longest continuous resident in attendance at Old Settlers Day registration and will be recognized with an award at his daughter’s home Friday afternoon.
Democrats announce Hearld, Heaston to run
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
Whitley County Democratic Party chair Patty Weybright announced late Thursday that local candidates have filed to run for a county commissioner’s seat as well as the 83rd District State Representative seat.
Larwill resident Tim Hearld has filed to run as a Democrat against Republican incumbent Tom Rethlake for Whitley County Commissioner.
“We will be working hard in Whitley County to see that Tim fills the chair,” Weybright said in a news release.
Whitley County resident Steve Heaston has also filed as s Democrat to run against Republican 83rd District State Representative incumbent Matt Bell. Bell currently serves a portion of northeast Whitley County.
“We wish him success with his campaign,” Weybright added.
Weybright and other local Democrats recently returned from the Democratic State Convention where national delegates were selected to attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver, slated for August.
Weybright shared that on July 20th, during the demolition derby at the Whitley County 4-H Fair, many local and state Democratic candidates will be in attendance to meet with local residents.
“The County 4-H Fair has declared that day ‘Democrat Day at the Fair,” Weybright said.
Whitley County Democrats meet the third Saturday each month at The Brownstone in South Whitley at 8:30 a.m. The next breakfast will be July 18.
District Democrats meet the 4th Saturday of each month for breakfast at Brevin’s in Churubusco.
“It’s always a good time,” added Weybright.
Crossroads Music Festival planned for Saturday at Mizpah Shrine Horsegrounds in Columbia City
(Photo Provided) Huckleberry Blue is one of several popular local bands that will perform Saturday at the Crossroads Music Festival at the Mizpah Shrine Horsegrounds on State Road 9, just north of Columbia City. Huckleberry Blue is also scheduled to perform this evening on the entertainment stage at Old Settlers Days.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
Uniting in support of a good cause and for the love of music, the Crossroads Music Festival will bring together some of the area’s best country, bluegrass and original artists on Saturday, June 28. 
The third annual event, held at the Mizpah Shrine Horsegrounds on State Road 9 in Columbia City, will feature the live music of area favorites including Huckleberry Blue, Cheyenne, Roger Marshall & The Law, Kenny Taylor, Edible and Shade Jonze. Proceeds from the event with support Shriners Hospital for Children and the Cleft Advocate, a non-profit organization dedicated to the support and assistance of those born with facial differences, such as cleft lips and palates.
The event begins at 9 a.m. and will continue throughout the day and into the evening. Onsite primitive camping is available in addition to lodging discounts at Executive Inn on Frontage Road in Columbia City.
In addition to great live music, the event will also feature a car show, with bikes welcome. Registration for the show will be from 9 a.m.- noon and the show will be held from noon-3 p.m. Dash plaques will be presented to the first 50 participants. Prizes will also be awarded.
CJ’s Drive in will have lunch items available for purchase. A hog roast with all the trimmings will be served at dinner time for $5 per plate.
Additional activities include children’s games, a corn hole tournament for the first 20 teams. Registration for the tournament will be held from 3-5 p.m. and prizes will be awarded. A 50/50 raffle is also planned.
Admission to the event is $5 per person with children age 12 and under attending for free.
Quilts on display at the historical museum
Camp Whitley to celebrate 80 years Saturday
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
Camp Whitley will celebrate their 80th season of summer on Saturday afternoon with an open house from 1-4 p.m. The community, including past campers of eight decades, are invited to attend, tour and reminisce together about memories made at Camp Whitley.
Snapshots for Thursday at Old Settlers Days
June 26, 2008
Registering the Old Settlers (and a few young ones)
(Talk of the Town photo by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Old Settlers of many ages took part in the requisite event of Old Settlers week -- the annual Old Settlers Day Registration held the Thursday of Old Settlers Days each year. Whitley County residents visit the Whitley County Historical Museum to sign in on the traditional registration books. Everyone who registers is an "old settler" from 6 to 96!
After registering in the township or city of residence, each registrant received a pale pink ribbon embossed with a gold seal, the year and designation as the 105th annual event. The ribbons and registration process have been an element of Old Settlers since the very first event was held in 1904 at Loon Lake.
Following the registration, volunteers determined the Oldest Settler in attendance at Old Settlers Days as well as the Longest Continuous Resident. Each individual is recognized by the Old Settlers Day Association with a plaque. We'll announce the winners on Friday.
Above, from left, are volunteers Gloria Smith, Erin Duym, Waneta Bundy, Connie Rohrbach, Elizabeth Earnhart, Jane Stroup and the museum's assistant director Angie Maley.
Into every great day, a little rain must fall...
(Talk of the Town photo by Jennifer Zartman Romano) A much-anticipated part of Old Settlers Days is the children's wristband day on the midway -- continuing today until 5 p.m. Storms brewed in the early part of the afternoon, with rainfall ensuing. The rain failed to damped the mood downtown, however, with plenty of eager fairgoers viewing the rainfall as a means of shortening lines perhaps? Above, the view of the downtown was magical from the roof of the Whitley County Courthouse. We have many beautiful photos taken from this vantage point this afternoon and will continue to share them over the course of the next several days.
Eagles Lodge #1906 serves of plates full of tradition
(Talk of the Town photos by Jennifer Zartman Romano) A longstanding tradition, the Columbia City Eagles Lodge hosted their annual Noodle Lunch today, serving up heaping, steaming plates of chicken noodles and beef noodles over mashed potatoes, below. Those with a hankering for more can come back for the Noodle Dinner tonight from 4-7 p.m. at the Eagles Lodge, located on the northwest corner of Van Buren and Line Street. Above, Kim Swain, a CANI volunteer, cheerfully serves a helping of chicken noodles for a hungry lunchtime visitor.
'Elmers' offering 24-hour ham radio field day at Peabody Public Library this Saturday, Sunday
Article Provided
The Whitley County Amateur Radio Club will participate in field day from a camp set up in the grove in front of the Peabody Public Library on June 28-29.
The club welcomes new members especially youth. The public is invited to sit with an experienced, licensed radio operator (an ‘ELMER’) and make contact with a radio operator across the country or in Canada or Mexico.
Learn about radio basics and etiquette, Morse Code, and how to get started with amateur radio. This is a 24-hour event starting at 2 p.m. on Saturday and finishing at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
There are 650,000 amateur radio licensees in the US, and more than 2.5 million around the world.
Through the ARRL’s ARES program, ham volunteers provide emergency communications for thousands of state and local emergency response agencies, all for free. To learn more about Amateur Radio, visit www.emergency-radio.org.
The public is most cordially invited to come, meet and talk with the hams and see what modern amateur radio can do. They can even help you get on the air!
ARRL Field Day is the most popular on-the-air event in amateur radio. Tens of thousands of amateur radio operators gather for a public demonstration of service. Field day is part educational event, part operating event, part public relations event.
For further information check out the Whitley County Amateur Radio Club website at www.wcarc.org
Residents urged to safely dispose of medical sharps
By Jorell Tucker
Needles and syringes should be separated from other trash and kept out of recycling. Health officials and sanitation workers are reminding residents to separate used medical needles, syringes or other sharp objects from their regular garbage and not to dispose of such objects in curbside recycling.
Instead of placing sharps with household trash or recycling, residents are asked to use one of these two alternative disposal methods:
- Place used needles, syringes, lancets in an approved sharps container (from a pharmacist, health care provider or medical supply store). The container should be puncture-proof with a tight-fitting lid. Then bring to the local Solid Waste Facility at 701 South Line Street in Columbia City. Or…
- Place these sharp objects into a heavy plastic or metal container such as a coffee can or liquid detergent bottle, sealed with tape and clearly marked as “Sharps.” Place this container out for pickup with other garbage.
Please, do not place these containers in recycling bins or with recyclables. These items are garbage only. Proper disposal is a must and will be properly disposed of at the local solid waste facility if you do not have regular garbage pickup.
Many people use needles and syringes for home medical care, but if these objects are not properly disposed of, they pose a grave health risk to anyone who encounters them. Used needles can transmit infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis.
Workers at local solid waste collection facilities have seen a marked increase in the number of medical sharps found in curbside recycling in recent weeks and one employee was recently the victim of a needle stick.
Again, separate medical sharps from regular trash and never dispose of sharps in your curbside recycling.
Any further questions may be directed to the Whitley County Solid Waste Management District office at 248-3132 or the Whitley County Health Department office at 248-3121.
June 25, 2008
Tasty treats waiting downtown at Old Settlers Days
(Talk of the Town photo by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Four-year-old Sammy Varga, above, enjoys a pretzel and cheese during the Old Settlers Day midway Tuesday evening in downtown Columbia City. Varga, his parents, Tad and Kim Varga, and other family members helped with Faith Christian Academy's pretzel sale to raise funds for the school. They'll be selling pretzels throughout the week near the corner of Line Street and Van Buren Street on the midway.
Esteemed community volunteer, businesswoman Jacie Worrick asked to wear the Red Coat
(Talk of the Town photos by Jennifer Zartman Romano) New Old Settlers Day Association Red Coat recipient Jacie Worrick, far left, joins second vice president Jim Brock, president Fritz Martin and first vice president Tom Drew. Worrick will serve as the 2011 Old Settlers Day president. Below, Worrick makes the fifth member of the Columbia City High School Class of 1963 to be honored with a Red Coat. From left, are Class of '63 classmates Bill Webber, Jim Nelson, Jacie Worrick, Mike Rush and Mike Redman.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
An annual rite of Old Settlers Days, the traditional Red Coats Dinner was held Tuesday night at the Eagles Nest Event Center, an event marked by the ceremonious presentation of a new red jacket to the next person deemed worthy to wear it and serve as the association’s president in the coming years. 
A noted community leader, philanthropist and business owner, Jacie Worrick was selected as the latest recipient of a Red Coat and will serve as president of the association in three years.
A crowd filled with many former presidents cheered as current second vice president Jim Brock read Worrick’s impressive resume of servant leadership and involvement in the business community. She has served most recently as the president of the Whitley County United Way board of directors and serves on the Columbia City Rotary board. Additionally, she has been a past board member of the Columbia City Chamber of Commerce and a graduate of Leadership Whitley County.
Worrick is the third woman to be selected as a Red Coat recipient in the organization’s 105-year history and the fifth member of the Columbia City High School Class of 1963 to be selected for the honor. When the class of 1963 gathers for their class reunion on Saturday, there will be five Red Coats in attendance – namely Bill Webber, Jim Nelson, Mike Rush, Mike Redman and Worrick.
“I love this community and the people who live and work here,” Worrick said after donning her newly minted red jacket and addressing the audience following dinner.
Rather than an event fully focused on the rides and games, Worrick shared her vision of Old Settlers Days as something more meaningful. “It’s about saying thank you to those who’ve formed and cultivated the community we live in.”
In her entire life, Worrick can only recall missing the Old Settlers Days festivities on two occasions. “It’s just something that you do,” she said. “It’s a time to go and visit with friends.”
Worrick concluded by saying in the same way the community needed to debate some serious issues 50 years ago when it came to deciding the future for youth at that time, she sees the same issues at the forefront today and challenged those in attendance to consider the needs of the community’s youths, saying they will be the “Old Settlers” of tomorrow.
“I would be remiss in not saying, ‘Jacie, welcome to the group,” said 2008 OSD president Fritz Martin. Martin is serving this year alongside first vice president Tom Drew and second vice president Jim Brock. The OSD association secretary is Bill Webber and treasurer is John Lefever.
Snapshots from the Red Coats Dinner
Leadership Whitley County application deadline nears
A limited number of spaces remain in the 2008-2009 class of Leadership Whitley County, but the deadline to apply for this year's class is quickly approaching on June 30.
Topics of discussion this year will include servant leadership, diversity, teamwork, public speaking, conflict management and personal mission.
For additional information, contact Kelley Sheiss, program director, at 799-4045 or visit the website at www.leadershipwc.org
Spike & The Bulldogs delighted crowd Tuesday night
Grace Lutheran Church presenting "Power Lab" vacation Bible school for local children
“Power Lab” will be the theme this year for Grace Lutheran Church’s vacation Bible school program. Power Lab will be held the week of July 7–11 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Power Lab is where kids discover Jesus’ miraculous power! Get ready for an exciting adventure, following Jesus as he heals, helps, and gives to people who need him.
As children experience amazing Bible adventures, they’ll take part in daily challenges that encourage them to apply Bible truths to everyday life.
Each day the children will take part in fun Bible learning they can see, hear, touch, and even taste! Since everything is hands-on, Power Lab is great fun for children of all ages, preschool and up.
Grace Lutheran Church is located at 204 North Main Street, Columbia City.
For additional information, contact Amy Henderson, youth director, at 244-7118.
June 24, 2008
Tuesday night at the midway...
OSD Horseshoe Tournament brings together many from Columbia City Horseshoe Club
Passing the gavel
(Talk of the Town photo by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Columbia City Rotarians marked the day with the passing of the gavel from former president Dr. Renel Alarie, left, to incoming president Candice Yeakle this afternoon. Alarie was presented with a framed, golden gavel to commemorate his dedication and leadership while serving as club president. During Alarie's year of service, the organization assisted in many worthwhile activities within the community, including providing gifts to the Splashpad project, the YMCA and the Whitley County Sheriff's Department's K9 program.
Snapshots as Old Settlers Day midway materializes
Camp Whitley's second week of campers say farewell
* Week one participants, boys ages 7-8, will be featured later this week.
Big G's Classic 3-on-3 draws a sizeable crowd
(Talk of the Town photos by Jennifer Zartman Romano) Suspended momentarily in mid-air, a player's layup attempt is blocked by his opponent. Below, the streets of downtown Columbia City were temporarily transformed into basketball courts for the Big G's 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
On Saturday morning, Columbia City’s downtown area was transformed by bleachers, backboard and basketballs for the Big G’s Classic 3-on-3 basketball tournament.