Archive
May 13th, 2013
June M. James, 87, entered into the presence of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ Saturday, May 11, 2013, with her loving daughters at her side. Born in Assumption, Ill., she was the daughter of the late David and Ola (Davis) Cotner.
She was a member of Woodburn Missionary Church and a faithful prayer warrior. The Hope Center was blessed with the dozens of baby quilts she so enjoyed making for them. She had worked for the old Woodburn telephone company and retired in 2006 from the staff of the Woodburn Missionary Church after 20 years of service.
May 10th
Pierceton Elementary School celebrated mothers Friday morning before school started. The Parent-Teacher Organization sponsored the event, which hosted 435 students with their mothers and grandmothers. The breakfast was held in the commons and gym areas of the school. Fathers and grandfathers were celebrated in March with donuts. Pictured is Whitko Community School Corporation’s Superintendent Steve Clason serving muffins to guests.
COLUMBIA CITY — Columbia City High School Intern Program recently celebrated a milestone.
The program, ran by Coordinator Judy Moore, has been helping students decide their future plans for the past 15 years.
A banquet was held at Parkview Whitley Hospital to honor the businesses that participate in the ICE program as well as some of the businesses that have been with the Intern Program since its inception.
COLUMBIA CITY — A man accused of sexual misconduct with a minor will stand trial Tuesday and Wednesday.
Timothy J. Swihart, 19, of South Whitley was arrested in Jan. 11. He posted bond Jan. 15.
His defense counsel, Jeff Arnold of Columbia City, said some progress has been made between his side and the state, but not enough, so he wants to keep the trial date.
It was alleged, according to case reports, that Swihart had sex with a 14-year-old girl on more than one occasion.
The defense has said that the defendant was home each night the alleged events occurred.
Churubusco High School hosted Operation Prom, a mock accident, for its students Friday afternoon. The scenario depicted an after-prom gone bad, as several students were injured, and even killed, in a drunk driving crash. Pictured, Smith Township firemen cover up the “body” of Churubusco student Chelsea Bennett, who “died” in Friday’s crash.
WHITLEY COUNTY — The body found in the woods in eastern Whitley County has been identified.
After an autopsy, Whitley County Coroner Randy Dellinger confirmed the body to be Dillon Travis Warner, 22, of Fort Wayne.
According to the Fort Wayne Police Department, Warner had been filed as a missing person since May 2.
Police in Allen County recently issued a warrant for Warner’s arrest after he failed to appear for a drug hearing on April 29.
Dellinger said in a press release Friday morning that information about the cause and manner of Warner’s death is still pending.
COLUMBIA CITY — Third shift law enforcement officers see a dramatic change as the weather warms up.
From OWIs to vandalism, most officials don’t hesitate to say there is an increase in crime in the summer months.
“The kids are out of school and that means some of them are out doing things they aren’t supposed to,” Whitley County Sheriff’s Department Sergeant Todd Cook. “There’s a definite difference between summer and winter on third shift.
“When its 10 degrees below zero and snowing, nobody wants to be outside. When it warms up, the call volume goes up quite a bit.”
COLUMBIA CITY — Building community interest is a by product of the Leadership Whitley County program, but personal connections are the added bonus.
“I wasn’t sure what I was getting into when I signed up for this program,” said Mark Green, Columbia City’s parks director.
Green was a part of the nine-month leadership organization in 2006-07.
“Being involved allowed me to get to know the community and create ties within the community,” he said.
Leadership Whitley County assists individuals in making a “more meaningful” connection with their community.
The Whitley County Farmers Market begins another season Saturday morning in downtown Columbia City.
How often will you frequent?
INDIANAPOLIS — Softball sectional brackets were released Thursday morning by the Indiana High School Athletic Association.
Teams from each of the three Whitley County high schools will be traveling to various parts of Northeast Indiana for the first round of sectional play.
In Class 4A, Columbia City will compete in Sectional 5 at DeKalb. The Lady Eagles’ first-round opponent will be Carroll. Their game will be Monday, May 20 at 6 p.m.
Columbia City lost earlier this season on Carroll 7-0.
The winner will play East Noble, which has a first-round bye.
