Archive - Feb 2012
February 22nd
ARCADIA, LA — A celebration of the life of Ben Simmers will be from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012, at his residence for family and friends.
Ben was born April 28, 1938 in Whitley County.
He entered into rest Friday, Feb. 10, 2012, in Shreveport, La.
Ben was retired from Ball-Foster Glass Manufacturing Company after many years of faithful service.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps where he proudly served his country.
Ben was a graduate of Columbia City High School.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dewey and Bernice Simmers, and granddaughter, Emily Simmers.
COLUMBIA CITY – Col-umbia City Rotarians hosted 120 bidders at its annual scholarship auction Saturday night at the Eagle’s Nest Event Center, raising more than $21,000 at the Hawaiian-themed banquet.
The top single purchase of the evening was a week of leisure at a condominium in Naples, Fla., provided by Don Armstrong. Candice and Barry Yeakle were top bidders for the get-away.
PIERCETON — The 2012-2013 school calendar year for Whitko Community School Corporation (WCSC) will change a bit from previous years, according to Superintendent Steve Clason. The first full-day for WCSC students will be Aug. 15 with the last day set for May 23, providing there are no make-up days for weather.
“I think this (2012-2013 school calendar) is one of the better calendars we have had,” school board secretary Roger Boggs said at its Board of School Trustees regular monthly meeting Monday evening.
By JAMES THOMLISON
Staff Writer
COLUMBIA CITY — The Whitley County Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) Board of Directors and the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) announced Tuesday they are coordinating together in efforts to more closely align their work with local business and industry.
Following a recent discussion involving members of both boards of directors, a committee was formed to explore options to form a partnership between the Chamber and EDC.
COLUMBIA CITY —A party of family, friends and fellow classmates hugged and congratulated 18-year-old Columbia City High School student Michaela Thomas as she prepared to leave for Kokomo Friday.
Michaela is Whitley County’s 47th representative to compete at the Indiana state level for the 52nd Annual Distinguished Young Women (DYW) program, formally known as Junior Miss.
Michaela believes the program has already taught her some valuable life lessons.
February 21st
COLUMBIA CITY – It was supposed to be rain, but precipitation in Whitley County shortly before 7 a.m. today came in the form of moderately heavy wet snow.
The surprise snow was coating roadways and causing traffic to go no more than 35 mph in places on U.S. 30, extending commute times considerably.
The good news is that warming temperatures should change the snow to rain . . . soon.
February 20th
FORT WAYNE – The Whitley County Dazzlers performed at their first cheerleading competition Feb. 11 at the Grand Wayne Center in Fort Wayne.
The Whitley County troupe received the Outstanding Performance Award for cheerleaders in the Special Needs category at the Speedway Slam for Great Lakes Cheerleading Competition.
The cheerleading squad includes Mary Hyndman, Payton Jagger, Alisha Kimmel, Sydney Pequignot, Samara Pfeiffer, Brooke Silk.
Coaches include Vanessa Bills, Kaycee Bills, sophomore at University of St. Francis, and Sarah Horn, junior at Churubusco High School.
By
Linda Hoskins and Phil Smith
SOUTH WHITLEY — What remains of South Whitley’s longtime movie theater continued to smolder Sunday while shocked residents stared in disbelief and some harkened back to a day when the historic building hosted celluloid images of Gable, Grant and The Duke.
“In 1947, I sold tickets to the Kent Theatre movies and admission was 35 cents then, along with a big bag of popcorn for 10 cents,” said Donna (Wendel) Thomson.
“On Friday and Saturday evenings there were two movies, one at 7 p.m. and one at 9 p.m. and the theater was completely full with both show times.”
Virginia A. Browning, 84, of Fort Wayne, died at 9:25 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, 2012, at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.
She was born Aug. 4, 1927, in Smith Township, a daughter of Adam and Ollie (Truelove) Ragan.
On Jan. 24, 1946, she married Leo E. Browning, who preceded her in death on June 6, 1992.
Survivors include two sons, Charles Browning of Churubusco and Dean Browning of Vancouver, Wash.; two daughters, Pamela Murphy of Dewy Rose, Ga. and Renee Lemish of Avilla; 10 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
SOUTH WHITLEY — Peggy Jean Heindselman, 86, of South Whitley died at 8:48 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, 2012, at Parkview Oaks where she had been a resident for the last four weeks.
She was born July 6, 1925, in Fort Wayne, a daughter of Clifford and Bessie (Shorb) Sickafoose.
Her formative years were spent in the Fort Wayne area.
She started high school at Northside, Fort Wayne and finished her senior year at South Whitley, graduating with the Class of 1943.
Following her graduation, she worked for Lincoln Life, Fort Wayne. On Feb. 1, 1947, she was united in marriage to John K. Heindselman.
