Archive - News Article
April 11th, 2011
COLUMBIA CITY — Columbia City residents will have an opportunity to spruce up the walkways in front of their homes, thanks to a program being launched by the city.
Mayor Jim Fleck announced the Columbia City Sidewalk Enhancement Partnership Program for 2011.
Fleck said the city will partner with residents for a 50/50 match on public sidewalks.
“It really, actually works out to be more like 60/40,” Fleck said, adding that the city assumes the cost of eliminating debris, “which is an expense.”
COLUMBIA CITY — Local government agencies and schools, as well as some businesses, will be joining organizations throughout the Midwest in a coordinated drill for earthquake preparedness.
“It’s just preparing for the ‘what if,’” said Cathy Broxon-Ball of the Whitley County Emergency Management Agency/Department of Homeland Security.
Broxon-Ball said the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut, which will be observed in Indiana April 19 due to conflicts with ISTEP (Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress) testing, will involve all three school corporations in Whitley County.
COLUMBIA CITY — A former U.S. Congressman is taking it upon himself to educate his countrymen on the document that helps keep the country democratic.
And, he says, most Americans have a lot to learn.
“We must become educated,” said John Hostettler, who served the 8th U.S. Congressional District from 1995 to 2007 in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Hostettler spoke at a recent meeting of the Whitley County Patriots.
The former legislator formed a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching citizens about the U.S. Constitution.
COLUMBIA CITY — The head of Whitley County’s Geographic Information System (GIS) Department is constantly trying to stay one step ahead of advancing technology in order to make his office a vital tool for the entire county.
GIS Coordinator Dan Weigold briefed the Whitley County Board of Commissioners last week about the variety of roles his department plays throughout the county.
“The state is looking at doing another flyover,” said Weigold, who explained that GIS departments use aerial photography on a daily basis.
COLUMBIA CITY — A special meeting has been scheduled for the Whitley County Consolidated School Corporation’s Board of School Trustees in order to possibly ratify an agreement with the local teachers union.
“We’ve been working on contract negotiations and we reached settlement, we hope,” said Corporation Superintendent Dr. Patricia O’Connor today.
“We set (the meeting) up in order for the board to ratify the agreement.”
O’Connor said the teachers are expected to approve the agreement today, leaving only the school board signatures remaining.
April 8th
SOUTH WHITLEY — For South Whitley resident Doris Rhoades her skill with needle, thread and fabric has found a new market.
Rhoades started sewing in 1947 when she purchased her first (treadle) sewing machine at an auction for a mere seven dollars.
“It was dirty, it was old and my mom said to take kerosene to clean up all the parts,” Rhoades said. “I had this sewing machine upstairs in this old house we lived in at the time, and I worked and I worked on it trying to get it adjusted.”
COLUMBIA CITY — Whitley County Council President Kim Wheeler issued a warning, or disclaimer Tuesday morning prior to a planned presentation to the council.
“I want to make it perfectly clear,” said Wheeler, “we’re here for information only. We’re here to learn. We’re not going to go there.”
“There” was a reference to the heated debate that has been heard at board meetings since late last year regarding the possibility of wind energy conversion facilities being constructed in the county.
April 7th
COLUMBIA CITY — A top-10 finish by Whitley County can be good or bad.
Ranking in the top 10 in Indiana in pollution or illiteracy — bad.
But a recent study that ranked Whitley County near the top in the Hoosier state brought with the findings good news for local residents.
Along with several counties in the area, Whitley County was ninth in the state in overall health, according to the County Health Rankings, a project being conducted by the University of Wisconsin.
“This ranking is great news,” said Gail Altekruse, manager of physical rehabilitation at Parkview Whitley Hospital.
COLUMBIA CITY — While Whitley County government takes small steps toward saving a tree or two, the move doesn’t come without some degree of old-school resistance.
Whitley County Auditor Jen McGuire reported to the Whitley County Council Tuesday that a campaign to go paperless for county payroll was underway.
“It’s not really worth it anymore,” said McGuire of providing paychecks to county employees. She reported that the county will require all employees to have direct deposit before the end of the year.
CHURUBUSCO — Churubusco’s largest employer will soon be even larger and the company’s president attributes the constant growth amidst economic uncertainty to diversity.
“We’re five different business units, so this is a natural part of our continued growth, said Dick Conrow, president of C&A Tool Engineering, which announced Wednesday it will expand its northern Whitley County operations and add about 18 news jobs.
“It’s a continuing part of our planning,” Conrow said.
“Our growth rate is pretty phenomenal.”
