Archive - Feb 2013 - News Article
February 15th
Editorâs note: The following is the final installment of a two-part series on the special education services offered at Whitko High School.
PIERCETON â Developing students into contributing community members is one of the many goals for Whitko Community School Corporation. However, when those students are faced with certain challenges that threaten their education, that goal can appear to be impossible to reach.
Donna Lehman, director of Special Services for WCSC, works with a group of teachers and administrators to remove those obstacles.
COLUMBIA CITY â Looks may have been deceiving for students leaving Columbia City High School Tuesday afternoon. Police were called to North Whitley Street for a domestic dispute between a man, Cody Miller, of Columbia City, and his girlfriend who was dismissed from school at 3:20 p.m.
While the scene wasnât an uncommon setting for police, many students believed they witnessed a handgun being apprehended from the man â but Columbia City Police Chief Tim Longenbaugh said the threat wasnât what it seemed.
âAfter a pat-down the officer found a BB gun,â Longenbaugh said.
COLUMBIA CITY â Whitley Countyâs law enforcement officers are getting more than the average training this week. Whitley Countyâs Sheriffâs Department rented a F.A.T.S (firearms training simulator) and every officer in the county is scheduled to use it this week.
WCSD Chief Deputy Marcus Gatton said the simulator brings real-life experience to training.
âThe F.A.T.S machine sharpens us up and keeps us from becoming complacent,â Gatton said. âWith all of the different environmental settings it gave us, we could never duplicate that in a shooting range setting.â
COLUMBIA CITY â âThe government that is closest to the people is what is best for the people.â
That was a phrase spoken near the end of Columbia City Mayor Ryan Danielâs State of the City address Friday. The mayor said it is an expression he often quotes and one he sincerely believes.
It is with this mentality that the city must tackle coming issues. There is optimism; as Daniel noted, the city had a better year than many in 2012, but there are also difficulties to come.
COLUMBIA CITY â A South Whitley man accused of sexual misconduct with a minor has entered an alibi defense.
Timothy J. Swihart, 19, is accused of having sex on two occasions with a 14-year-old girl. His attorney, Jeff Arnold, entered an alibi defense for Swihart in Whitley County Circuit Court Monday.
A continuance was also granted, with pre-trial proceedings set to resume March 11.
Swihart was accused of having sex with the alleged victim Oct. 31 and Nov. 22.
Columbia City High Schoolâs Science Olympiad team recently finished its season at the regional competition at Goshen College. The team competed in 23 different events and placed fifth overall.
Pictured working with a Bunsen burner are, from left, Aakash Patel, Richelle Menzie and Tanner Daniel, all seniors on the team.
The squad is led by CCHS science teacher Andy Weaver. For a photo of the entire team, see Page A3 of today's paper.
Editorâs note: The following is the first of a two-part series on the special education services at Whitko Community School Corporation.
PIERCETON â Whitko Community School Corporation is delivering improved education to students in need of special attention.
Donna Lehman, director of Special Services at WCSC, knows students experience a better future when given every chance to succeed in school.
âI want our students to be able to move forward confidently,â said Lehman. âI want them to be able to contribute to our community.â
Columbia Cityâs Police Department expressed its gratitude to an Allen County family this week.
The Wentland family found CCPD K9 Stryker, who went missing for nearly 24 hours in January after he got out of his kennel, approximately eight miles away.
Pictured, from left, CCPD K9 handler Tim Pittenger, CCPD Chief Tim Longenbaugh, Arani Wentland, Rylen Wentlant, Tanner Wentland, Emily Wentland and Brian Wentland.
February 14th
COLUMBIA CITY â A Churubusco man pleaded guilty to a charge of dealing in methamphetamine in Whitley County Circuit Court Monday.
Andrew Greer, 28, pleaded guilty to the Class B felony charge and will be sentenced at a later date. As part of a plea arrangement, Greer had five other charges dismissed.
COLUMBIA CITY â Today is the day for chocolates, hearts, flowers and romance â Valentineâs Day.
Students from Coesse Elementary School had plenty of ideas on how to convey love to someone on Valentineâs Day.
Brooklyn Fraunfelder, a first grader at CES suggested giving a variety of gifts.
âYou could give them a box of chocolates and a stuffed bear,â Fraunfelder said, âYou could buy them cupcakes, give them a heart pillow or a thing of heart suckers.â
Noble, a second grader at CES agrees with the gift-giving idea.
