Archive
January 24th, 2011
Joe W. Yoder, 71, retired Whitley County Consolidated School teacher, died Wednesday evening, Jan. 19, 2011 in Cape Coral, Fla. after battling cancer for nine months. He taught many years at the Marshall Middle School.
Surviving relatives include his wife, Dee of Cape Coral; a son, Michael (Lynn Hoffman) Yoder of Green Bay, Wis.; a daughter, Shannon (Richard) Berry of Salt Lake City, Utah; and three grandchildren, Jacob, Abigail and Elliott Berry.
A local celebration of life is being planned in June at the Smith and Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City.
Lucille B. Keck, 87, formerly of Columbia City, died Friday, Jan. 21, 2011 at Lee Memorial Hospital in Lehigh Acres, Fla. after a lengthy battle with pneumonia and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
She was born Dec. 12, 1923 in Deadwood, S.D., a daughter of Glen L. and Bertha E. (Winckler) Witmer. When Lucille was four years old, her family moved to Indiana. She attended Washington Township School in Noble County, Etna School and graduated from North Webster High School in 1943.
COLUMBIA CITY — The condition of a Leesburg man injured in a Friday afternoon crash at Lincolnway and U.S. 30 remains a mystery.
Police say Matthew L. Vermillion, 44, disregarded a traffic signal which caused a two-car collision at about 2:15 p.m. Friday.
As a result of the crash, Vermillion was ejected onto the pavement of U.S. 30 in sub-freezing temperatures and was later transported to Fort Wayne by Samaritan, a Parkview Hospital-based rescue helicopter.
Parkview Hospital did not have Vermillion listed in its patient information data base.
COLUMBIA CITY — The Columbia City Common Council will hear a report on erosion at Morsches Park at its regular meeting tonight.
Gene Haskins of the Whitley County Soil and Water Conservation District is scheduled to deliver his annual storm water report to the council.
In his presentation, Haskins will report that the Blue River in the park has been the subject of several studies to determine if there are solutions to the continued disintegration of the eastern bank and to seek ways to prevent further erosion parallel to the park’s drive.
Summer league registration
Registration for summer league play is open now. Parents can register their child for teams from T-ball through Babe Ruth from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays at the parks office located in Morsches Park. There are two Saturday registration days, Feb. 19, 9 to 11 a.m.; and Feb. 26, 2 to 4 p.m. at the park.
Cost for the instructional league is $20. Cost is $40 for T-ball and lob ball and $80 for minor, major and Babe Ruth leagues. Costs have increased to cover the expense of upgraded uniforms for both programs, and the addition of more games.
By
By RUTH STANLEY Managing editor
COLUMBIA CITY — There are some big changes coming this season for the Columbia City park department’s summer baseball/softball program.
The summer program has developed a partnership with high school baseball and softball coaches, much as they have done with its JFL program.
With that partnership comes some changes.
The biggest change is the development of baseball and softball boards to oversee the operation of both programs. Each league will also have a representative.
David A. Benbenek, 67, of Fort Wayne, passed away Friday, Jan. 21, 2011, at Parkview North Hospital. Born in Evansville, he was a son of John and Ruth Benbenek. He was a retired Journeyman, and a member of the Local 20 Sheet Metal Workers.
William J. “Bill” Kocher, 72 of Huntington, passed away at 2:55 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, 2011 at his home. He graduated from West Rock Creek High School. He worked as a Line Operator at International Harvester/ Navistar, retiring May 31, 1996, and at Erie Department Store until they closed. He was a member of Etna Avenue Wesleyan Church.
Born Sept. 28, 1938 in Huntington County, he was a son of Paul D. and Edna L. (Veilhauer) Kocher.
Gail R. Bowman, 91, of Pierceton, IN passed away at 8:55 p.m. Friday, Jan. 21, 2011 at Kosciusko Community Hospital in Warsaw. He was born Sept. 1, 1919 in Decatur, to Charles A. and Velma O. (Lenhart) Bowman.
He was married to Betty L. Weicht who preceded him in death. He was a World War II Navy Veteran.
Survivors include a son, Samuel E. Bowman; and a brother, Jim Bowman.
