Archive - 2013 - News Article
April 2nd
LARWILL â âYou get to get hands dirty.â According to Kaitlin Frank, a sixth grader at Whitko Middle School, that is one of the bonuses to being a part of the schoolâs Clean World Association (CWA).
The after-school group works as a hands-on club learning the ins and outs of horticulture.
Laura Thong-Umphai, a teacher at WMS, is the groups leader and started the club to give students the opportunity to experience a working greenhouse and learn a viable trade they could carry on into their adult lives.
PIERCETON â With each passing day, Whitko schools are getting closer to the end of the school year, but that doesnât mean that these next few months will go by without any activity.
At last weekâs school board meeting, the agenda was full and three principals gave in-depth reports on the events going on at their particular schools.
SWES
Principal Bruce Hansen announced that South Whitley Elementary Sch-ool will host Donuts for Dads April 11 from 7:20 to 7:50 a.m. This will be a chance for students to join their fathers in the cafeteria for breakfast.
SOUTH WHITLEY â As the town of South Whitley progresses with its Whitley On The Move initiative, partnerships with agencies such as the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation are vital.
Alan Tio, president of the EDC, was present at last weekâs town council meeting to share with South Whitleyâs leaders how his corporation could benefit the townâs desire to grow.
âWe can work together to get a lot of things done,â Tio said. âWe are learning from other cities, such as Wabash and Angola, to see what has worked for them.â
INDIANAPOLIS â Indiana Governor Mike Pence praised the passage of the Higher Education Student Loans Bill, SB 532, which passed the House recently with a vote of 71-24.
"Indiana legislators took a step in the right direction to make college education more affordable for Hoosier students and their families," said Governor Pence.
INDIANAPOLIS â Indiana State Representative Kathy Heuer (R-Columbia City) authored legislation to promote employee retention through the Training 2000 Program. The bill passed through the Senate Monday with a 48-1 vote.
âBy making sure that businesses have proper resources to keep employee training up to date, Hoosier businesses will continue to thrive,â said Rep. Heuer. âWe need to continue our focus on workforce development in order for our economy to continue to grow.â
April 1st
WHITLEY COUNTY â Sunday at approximately 7:30 p.m., two 17-year-old girls from Whitley County were injured in an ATV accident.
At the time of the accident Shannon Kincaid and Nicole Karrer were both riding on a single ATV across an open field in the area of 3899 South CR 400 W in Whitley County. While traveling across the field, the ATV went through a rough, washed out area, causing both girls to be thrown from the vehicle.
Neither of them were wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, and both were initially knocked unconscious after hitting the ground.
COLUMBIA CITY â Two Pierceton Woods escapees were found in Columbia City early Monday morning.
The two runaways allegedly left the juvenile detention facility, 12 miles west of Columbia City, and stole bicycles.
According to police, the pair rode the bikes to Whitley County and stopped at Walmart on Plaza Drive.
Local police were tipped off to the escapees after a Walmart manager reported a theft.
The two juveniles allegedly stole two new bicycles, along with several other items from the store.
A Richland Township fireman works to contain a large field fire on County Road 475 West, near the 999 south address. Crews from three fire departments, Richland, Cleveland and Columbia, worked to put out the blaze. Several crews in the area battled grass and field fires this weekend, due to windy, dry conditions.
COLUMBIA CITY â Emotions made for strong opinions as Eagles members gathered Saturday to discuss the fate of the chapter, the building and the leadership of the Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE) 1906 chapter, Columbia City.
âThe future looks very dim,â said Mike Cummings, an agent dispatched by the Grand Aerie, the state governing body of the FOE, to sort out Columbia Cityâs Aerie organization.
âI donât think you should close,â Cummings said. âThis didnât break in one month, and it isnât going to get fixed in one month.â
PIERCETON â A comprehensive five-year plan was laid out for Whitkoâs school corporation at last weekâs board meeting.
Superintendent Steve Clason presented the plan that included specific areas of focus to be implemented inside the school building and out in the community.
Higher academic achievement
Working to give students a better learning environment, WCSC is looking to adopt an education concept known as 1-to-1 technology.
This learning model incorporates traditional teaching tactics with new technology that can individualize and expand a studentâs education.
