By BECKY HAND
Community editor
     Competitors are beginning the trash talk already with only two officially signed up to compete in the chili cookoff at the Whitley County Fire & Ice Festival on Jan. 24 and  25.
Fire: Chili Cookoff
    “He’s all talk and no action,” said Kelley Sheiss, last year’s People’s Choice winner in the Chili Cookoff, of possible competitor, Jorelle Tucker. Tucker hasn’t signed up yet, officially, and only Sheiss and Doug Eber are on the list as of the time of printing. When told of Sheiss’s comment Tucker responded, “It’s on!”
      The cookoff, sponsored by the Senior Center, will be held inside, out of the weather, on Jan. 25 at The Center for Whitley County Youth, located at the southwest corner of Market and Chauncey streets.
     “This will give us more room and will be more comfortable,” said event organizer, Marie Hockemeyer.
     “There are three groups we are looking for,” said Hockemeyer: competitors, sponsors and taster/voters.
     While the Senior Center is the event sponsor, individuals or businesses may donate the entry fee to become sponsors of individual competitors.
     Applications for those wishing to compete are available at The Senior Center, and the registration fee is $25. There will be two categories this year, professional and amateur.
     Taster/voters are anyone wanting to try the recipes, and give their opinion on the best can stop by The Center from noon to 2 p.m. Jan. 25. It’s a good deal for lunch for $5 for adults, $2 for children six to 12 years old, and free to those under six. The 12 and under tasters are not included in the voting. Drinks and cookies will also be available for purchase.
     Prizes will be awarded in each category as follows: First place - $100; second place for most unusual recipe - $50, and People’s Choice - a trophy and bragging rights for the year.
     For more information about the cookoff, or to get an application (deadline for sign-up is Jan. 15) call 248-8944 or 799-4048.

Ice: Carvings and competition
     Visitors will want to spend the whole weekend at the courthouse square to enjoy all aspects of the ice portion of the event.
     On Jan. 24 from about 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Center for Youth will be open for two events: the Fire and Ice Bazaar, featuring local vendors with their crafts and items for sale, and Children’s Activities, for the young and the young at heart including an ice cream eating contest by Dairy Queen.
     Saturday is also the day for business- and organization-sponsored ice carvings, which may be done at the courthouse or on location. Maps will be available showing the locations of the carvings.
     Sunday is the day of competition. From noon to 2 p.m., carvers will whittle, chip, hack, or melt their blocks of ice into many wondrous shapes, this year’s theme being “Nature.”
     Last year, more than 70 blocks of ice were carved by 13 carvers, and this year already 14 have signed up.
     Each block of ice is 40x20x10 inches of crystal clear Canadian ice. Businesses or organizations wishing to sponsor a carving or other events of the festival should contact the Chamber of Commerce on 201 N. Line St. in Columbia City, or call 248-8131.