Archive - Dec 2011
December 21st
COLUMBIA CITY — Columbia City will have a new police chief beginning in 2012.
Det. Tim Longenbaugh, a former Columbia City Common Council member and 15-year veteran of the city’s police force, was named by Mayor-elect Ryan Daniel to replace current Chief Mike Petersen.
Longenbaugh represents the city’s only new department head.
“After a fairly lengthy application and interview process, I have chosen eight individuals who have the skill set and proactive foresight to lead these departments,” said Daniel.
By
Nicole Ott, Sports Editor
SYRACUSE — Columbia City Head Basketball Coach Chris Benedict went into Tuesday night’s game at Wawasee without having lost a game there since 2004.
That didn’t change Tuesday, with the Eagles beating the Warriors 73-64 on their home court.
Last year Columbia City won two sectional games in Syracuse, the beginning of the team’s semi-state appearance.
The game was filled with double-digit lead changes and the biggest point spread came in the final minute, after six Eagle free throws; neither team was going down without a fight.
Jean S. Langohr, 91, of Columbia City, passed away at 6:05 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, at her home.
Born Dec. 8, 1920 in Fountain County, she was the daughter of Grover Courtland and Oveta (Abolt) Smith.
Following her graduation from Newtown High School, she continued her education at Indiana University in Bloomington.
On May 6, 1939, she married Robert Walter Langohr in Louisville, Ky. She lived in California while her husband was serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Audra M. Hatch, a resident of Churubusco and wife of Walter L. Hatch, died Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, at the family home.
She was born in Fort Wayne, a daughter of John Alva and Iva (McCullough) Powell.
On May 29, 1945, she was married in Columbia City to Walter L. Hatch.
December 20th
Controlled deer hunts at state park properties are achieving the intended result of habitat recovery, but analysis of information collected this year indicates deer numbers remain above desired levels at many locations, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Volunteer hunters harvested 1,546 deer during four days of controlled hunts at 21 state parks in November.
That’s only the 10th highest total in 18 years of state park hunts, but resource biologists say harvest numbers alone have limited value in determining success.
COLUMBIA CITY – Hours to visit Santa Claus in his cottage on the Whitley County Courthouse Square in downtown Columbia City have been established for coming days.
The Jolly Old Elf’s cottage is located on the northwest corner of the Courthouse Square. Assistants will be on hand to snap photos and they will be available for purchase.
Hours this Friday are 6 to 8:30 p.m.; and Christmas Eve Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
SYRACUSE - Poly-Wood, Inc., a manufacturer of outdoor furniture, announced plans today to expand its operations here, creating up to 50 new jobs by 2015.
The company will invest $2.78 million to expand production operations and purchase a 25,000 square-foot facility and add a 35,000 square-foot addition on the company's current Kosciusko County campus. The new production operations, which include plastic lumber extrusions and furniture manufacturing, are slated to be operational later next year.
COLUMBIA CITY – The Whitley County Community Foundation awarded one of its largest grants ever Monday afternoon.
Passages, Inc. was awarded $100,000 to convert the former Lehmberg Medical Building on North Oak Street into a state-of-the-art Creative Learning Center designed to provide optimal services to Passages’ clients.
December 19th
COLUMBIA CITY — A former Richland Township fire captain will serve 25 years of a 30-year sentence for child molesting.
Ronald. A Rostochak, a former Richland Township fire captain, appeared in Whitley County Circuit Court Monday after a 12-member jury found him guilty of child molesting, a class A felony, on Nov. 17.
His fate was in the hands of Circuit Court Judge James Heuer, who sentenced him to 30 years in prison, with 25 years to serve.
Rostochak was originally charged with sexual misconduct with a minor and child molesting.
An American bald eagle flies above the treeline Monday around noon near a wooded area at the vicinity of CR 150 N. between Johson Road and CR 550 East.
