Time to sign up for middle school bowling

Huntington County Tab:

Middle school bowling sign-up runs through Saturday, March 5, when practice and competition begins at Oak Lanes.

Parents and bowlers can sign up Monday through Thursday at 4:30 p.m. All current public, private and home school children in grades sixth through eighth as of this year are eligible to participate. This is the third season for middle school bowling in Indiana.

The costs include a state fee, a USBC (United States Bowling Congress) youth membership fee and weekly bowling fees. Each student athlete will receive an Indiana Middle School bowling t-shirt, participation ribbon and a paid entry fee into the Indiana Middle School Bowling Regional tournament later in the spring. At that tourney, bowlers have an opportunity to advance to the Indiana Middle School bowling state finals.....

Applications sought for appointment to the Salamonie Township Board

Huntington County Tab:

Huntington County Republicans will hold a caucus on March 8 to appoint a new member to the Salamonie Township Board.

Board member Don McDaniel submitted his resignation effective Jan. 31.

Anyone who wants to be considered for the appointment must file a declaration of candidacy form with Angela L. Garner, Huntington County Republican chairman, no later than Saturday, March 5, at 6:30 p.m. - 72 hours prior to the start of the caucus.

The declaration of candidacy form is available in the Huntington County Clerk's office on the second floor of the Huntington County Courthouse....

High water closing Allen County roads

East Allen Times:

ALLEN COUNTY - High waters have already closed roads in Fort Wayne Monday following an evening of heavy rain and melting snow from recent warmer temperatures.

The Allen County Highway Department South Barn reported Homestead Road between Ernst and U.S. 24 closed at this time. Hessen Cassel Road north of Maples at the city limits is also closed due to high water....

Fort Wayne gasoline 16 cents higher than national average

East Allen Times:

FORT WAYNE - The price of gasoline in Fort Wayne Sunday was 16 cents more per gallon compared to the national average.

Average retail gasoline prices rose 30.8 cents per gallon here in the past week, averaging $3.45 per gallon as of Sunday.

The national average increased 17 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.34 per gallon, according to gasoline price website FtWayneGasPrices.com. That is 26.2 cents per gallon higher than only one month ago....

Friday to serve as EACS make-up day

East Allen Times:

ALLEN COUNTY - After collecting nine weather-related cancellation days this school year, East Allen County Schools will use Friday to make-up for a previous snow day.

What was previously scheduled as a "Records Day," March 4th will become a "Student Attendance Day," and also mark the end of the district's trimester, according to a posting on the EACS website.

The last day of student attendance is scheduled for June 10.

Patterson: Braves match up well against 14-6 Maconaquah

Decatur Daily Democrat:

It's been a long time since the Bellmont Braves have exited the locker room after a game with a smile on their face but BHS cage coach Larry Patterson said he believes the Braves "match up well" with the Maconaquah Braves, a team Bellmont will face in the opening game of the class 3A sectional Tuesday night at 7 p.m. at the Bellmont gym.
In fact, Bellmont is pulling an 0-for-2011 in the win-loss column with its last win coming on December 28 with a 70-63 win over county rival Adams Central. The local Braves enter sectional play at 3-17 but were 3-3 after the victory over the Jets.....

Early swing wins boost Penn by Braves, 35-20

Decatur Daily Democrat:

GREENWOOD — Penn wrestlers Sarah Hildebrandt at 112 and Jacob Davis at 119 pounds scored key come-from-behind wins over Bellmont's Jacob Girod and Bobby Keuneke to shift the momentum, propelling the Kingsmen to a 35-20 win over the Braves the Wrestling Team State quarter-finals Saturday morning at Center Grove.
Penn lost in the next round as Perry Meridian's Sam Tasseff roared to a 10-9 win over Mike Ham in the final match (189), then the Falcons went on to jump Lawrence North 44-21 to cop the first-ever wrestling crown for Coach Jim Tonte.....

Dermatologist to see patients at Strickler Cancer Institute

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Officials at Adams Memorial Hospital have announced that Dr. Kristin Haushalter of Fort Wayne Dermatology Consultants Inc. will be coming to Adams Memorial’s Cancer Institute on the first Monday of each month to see dermatology patients.
Dr. Haushalter will offer a full array of dermatological services to help patients maintain healthy skin, including the treatment of acne, moles, psoriasis, rashes, skin cancers, warts, and wrinkles, according to a hospital spokesperson....

Mom, daughter lost most everything in fire

Decatur Daily Democrat:

January 16, 2011, was just another ordinary day to most people. But for Michelle Colbert and her 17-year-old daughter, Alissa, it was a day they will never forget.
That was the day they lost their home, most of their possessions and their two beloved dogs in a fire.
 Michelle and Alissa left their Country Acres mobile home together that night to visit friends just a half hour before it went up in flames. 
 "It was devastating," said Michelle. "Everything that I worked for ... it was just gone." 
 The cause of the fire is not being investigated because the Colberts had recently discontinued their mobile home insurance as a way to trim expenses. 
 The mother and daughter lost all of their furniture, electronics, appliances and most of their clothes in the fire. Many precious mementos were also destroyed, including childhood photos of Alissa and her brother Dustin as well as angel figurines that belonged to Michelle's late mother. ....

Trachselwald is similar in agriculture to local area

Berne Tri Weekly News:


When Swiss advisor Hans Moser suggested to Berne Mayor John Minch that the local community might consider bonding with Trachselwald, Switzerland as a sister city, Minch didn't flinch once.
When Minch and several other representatives passed through Trachselwald on a Swiss trip a couple of years ago, they were immediately reminded of the local area for many reasons, but especially because of the agriculture surrounding that quaint community, which is about the size of Geneva in Adams County.
"It has a population of about 1,000 but it is spread out more than the towns are here," said Minch. "It is a lovely area, a beautiful, beautiful area.....

Tackett makes cut in U.S. Open; in 12th place

Huntington County Tab:

Huntington North High School senior EJ Tackett is currently in 12th place after the first three qualifying rounds of the U.S. Open in North Brunswick, NJ.

Tackett, who helped lead the Vikings to a state title last week, has an average score of 214.1 over three days and 18 games.

Tackett has been in New Jersey all week. On Thursday, the field was cut to the top 95 bowlers after the final squad finished. This morning, Friday, Feb. 25, the field will be cut to the top 24 after eight games of play....

Purdue’s Dworkin to speak to Blackford County’s challenges

Hartford City News Times:

Challenges and opportunities for a rural community such as Blackford County in a global economy will be presented by the guest speaker at the Blackford County Economic Development Corporation’s (BCEDC) annual meeting and dinner....

Teachers not happy leave was taken away

Hartford City News Times:

Teachers in the Blackford County school district are unhappy that courtesy leaves have been taken away from them, according to Jack Norton, chief negotiator for the Blackford Federation of Teachers (BFT) and a Blackford High School mathematics teacher.....

Students receive gold stars

Hartford City News Times:

Five members of Blackford High School's band received a gold rating on their Group One (college level) solos at the recent District Solo and Ensemble competition at Eastbrook High School. They include Katie Keifer (clockwise from front left), Haley Wilburn, Trevor Smith, Jordan Overla and Elizabeth Witt. These five students will be representing the BHS band at the State Solo and Ensemble contest at North Central High School, Indianapolis, on Saturday.....

Snow days prompt Saturday school considerations

East Allen Times:

FORT WAYNE - Another storm means another day of school delays and closings.

It's been a common occurrence this winter and it's left school officials wondering how to make up so many snow days.

Crestview Local Schools in northwest Ohio has already scheduled classes for Saturday, March 5 and Saturday, March 19. Students will be in school from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

This Saturday option is on the table for a couple of Allen County school systems.....

Snider grad pronounced brain dead

East Allen Times:

LAFAYETTE - The Snider High School graduate, who was piloting the plane that crashed in northeast Tippecanoe County back on February 15th, has been declared brain dead by doctors.

According to the Purdue Exponent, Tony Cole has been at Methodist hospital since the the crash and was placed in a medical coma last week to help avoid brain damage.

The campus paper also claims Cole will remain on life support until Saturday.....

State police crack down on U.S. 30, commercial vehicle crashes

East Allen Times:

ALLEN COUNTY – Just hours after a fatal crash on U.S. 30, the Indiana State Police issued a statement Friday announcing a serious plan to reduce crashes on the stretch of highway, with emphasis put on commercial vehicle drivers.

ISP Fort Wayne post Sgt. Mike Yordy is spearheading an effort to garner voluntary compliance of traffic laws by putting a crash reduction emphasis on U.S. 30 in both Allen and Whitley counties. The ISP will also seek assistance from local and county agencies in the effort. ....

Slide-offs plague area roadways Friday

East Allen Times:

FORT WAYNE - A semi and an INDOT plow truck were two of many vehicles that crashed during the snow storm Friday morning.

Around 5:30 a.m, a Toys R Us semi was heading south on Coliseum Boulevard heading toward the Interstate 469 and Interstate 69 cloverleaf. As the driver exited onto the ramp, the truck jackknifed and slid off the roadway. Crews worked for more than an hour to pull the truck out.....

‘Tradition’ on Braves’ side in Team State match vs. Penn

Decatur Daily Democrat:

While Bellmont has some 30 points to make up from a previous loss to Penn in the first round of the IHSAA Team State Wrestling Championships Saturday at Center Grove, Roncalli also has some ground to cover after losing to Perry Meridian 37-15 in a Dec. 11 meet. That was the only loss of the season for the Rebels, coached by former four-time state champ Lance Ellis of Indianapolis Cathedral....

Braves’ 200 team takes aim at a BHS state milestone

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Bellmont's 400 freestyle relay team broke the school record in the Jay County Sectional last Saturday. That record had stood for 27 years. Ironically, that was the last time that Bellmont advanced a swimmer to the second day of state competition. Bellmont's four swimmers set for the 2011 Boys Swimming and Diving State Championships feel they have a chance to break that skein and earn some Bellmont points at Indy....

Crosby’s win a win for SPI

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A rural Decatur farmer, Mike Crosby, who recently became a winner in a program called America's Farmers Grow Communities (AFGC), designated that the $2,500 amount he won be turned over to St. Peter-Immanuel Lutheran School in northern Adams County.
The AFGC program is sponsored by the Monsanto Fund to let farmers select nonprofit recipients for the money the farmers win, a news release said....

County going to code yellow; games off

Decatur Daily Democrat:

UPDATE: Sheriff Shane Rekeweg said at 10:40 a.m. today that Adams County would be moving from code red to code yellow around noon today.
County EMA Director John August said winds had lessened enough to allow county road crews to begin plowing out roads, many of which were impassable this morning.
Tonight's Bellmont boys basketball game at Jay County and the Bishop Luers game at Adams Central have been postponed. The AC game will be played Saturday while no date for a Bellmont makeup had been finalized by 11 a.m. ....

Sustainability of South Adams scholarship fund depends on public support

Berne Tri Weekly News:

One of the biggest concerns of Kris Haines these days is continuing to sustain funding for the South Adams scholarship fund designated to assist local graduating seniors who wish to further their education.
In the past few years, efforts of the South Adams Scholarship Committee, under the umbrella of the Adams County Community Foundation, have increased giving from approximately $8,000 to $20,000 last spring. Haines noted that in 2007, 20 students applied for funding. That figure has nearly doubled in the past four years.....

Cadets hold off Braves 56-45

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A game of scoring runs fell into the hands of eighth-ranked Concordia Wednesday night at the Teepee as the Cadets topped the Bellmont Braves 56-45 despite scoring just two points in the final five minutes of the game.
As has been the unfortunate mantra for the Braves in the past month or so, the visitors quickly jumped out to a 7-0 lead before the Bellmonters shocked the Cadets with a sudden 12-0 blitz that included three-pointers from Forrest Fullenkamp and Payton Selking.
The Braves led for the rest of the period holding onto a 16-13 edge going into the second period.....

Braves need ‘to find a way’ to turn tables on Penn

Decatur Daily Democrat:

"We need that championship effort," stated Bellmont wrestling coach Brent Faurote, who has challenged his team to follow the Bellmont tradition and "find that switch and turn it on, take it to the next level" against a strong Penn team Saturday at Center Grove in the first round of the IHSAA Team State Wrestling Tournament.
"We definitely wrestled at a high level at Team Regional against Yorktown and Carroll. If we can find that performance, that level, we'll be fine."
The Braves avenged a 10-point loss to Yorktown during the season with the 30-28 regional upset win as every wrestler in the lineup seemed to do the job assigned. The Braves will need that same magic against a Penn team which defeated them 46-15 at Bellmont on Jan. 8....

Boy & Girls Club launches fund drive

Decatur Daily Democrat:

The Boys and Girls Club of Adams County on Wednesday kicked off its 2011 fundraising campaign with meetings in Decatur and Berne.
According to campaign chairman Ron Dull, this year's goal is to raise $150,000 for operation of the north and south county branches of the Boys and Girls Clubs, with sites in Decatur and Berne.
Dull said the first of three phases of fundraising was completed in January, when the club's board of directors and staff members made contributions. The current capital campaign drive — the Flooring Phase — will feature face-to-face solicitations from area businesses and individuals who have been long-time Boys and Girls Club supporters. The current drive will wrap up on May 4. During May and June, mass mailings will go out during the third prong of the fundraising effort.....

Hundreds of teachers protest education bills

East Allen Times:

VALPARAISO — Hundreds of northern Indiana teachers turned out to protest contentious education changes Republican state lawmakers are pushing.

About 400 teachers and supporters gathered Wednesday outside the Porter County Courthouse in Valparaiso, waving signs and chanting "Save our schools."

Retired Portage High School government teacher Ronald Hancock told The Times of Munster that a bill that would restrict teachers' collective bargaining rights except in money matters was the ultimate insult. He says his "blood is boiling" over that and other GOP proposals that include school vouchers and expanding charter schools.....

Sophisticated marijuana grow room found in Fort Wayne

East Allen Times:

FORT WAYNE - The Fort Wayne Police Department Vice and Narcotics Division and Emergency Services Team arrested a Fort Wayne man on drug charges.

At 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, police served a search warrant at 3311 Shoaff Park River Drive. They found a very elaborate grow system in a room upstairs with 19 plants that had grown about four feet high.

The room had lights on rails and electric timers that would automatically move up and down the rail. It also had a ventilation system to vent odors outside.....

Community mourns loss of local railroad legend

East Allen Times:

NEW HAVEN - The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society reports one of its founding members, Glenn E. Brendel, died unexpectedly at his home in New Haven on Tuesday. He was 71 years old.

As a boy, Brendel grew up in a railroad family, and began to love the industry early on. Brendel visited with tower operators and railroad employees of the Baltimore & Ohio and Wabash Railroad in his hometown of Spencerville, Ind., as well as with locomotive engine crews on the Nickel Plate Road in Fort Wayne.

In the early 1970s, Brendel joined other railroad preservationists when they approached the city of Fort Wayne to save and restore the Nickel Plate Road steam locomotive No. 765, installed as a monument in Lawton Park, to commemorate the city's "Elevate the Nickel Plate" project. ...

Additional Allen County blood drive scheduled

East Allen Times:

ALLEN COUNTY - An additional American Red Cross blood drive will be held March 7, from noon until 3 p.m. at Moore and Associates, located at 6226 Covington Road in Fort Wayne.

Individuals who are 17 years of age, meet weight and height requirements and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Bring a Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when donating.....

Indiana lawmakers urge NFL, players to reach deal

East Allen Times:

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers from Indiana, home of next season's Super Bowl, are urging the NFL and players union to avoid a work stoppage that would have a "devastating impact" on the state's economy.

Indiana GOP Sens. Dan Coats and Richard Lugar, along with all nine House members from the state, made their plea Thursday in a letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and union head DeMaurice Smith. The lawmakers said that their state, in particular, has a large stake in a deal being reached....

Foresters exit MCC tourney with 56-54 loss

Huntington County Tab:

Despite a last-minute push that almost reversed the tide of the game, the No. 4-seed Huntington University men's basket-ball team lost to visiting fifth-seed Spring Arbor University, 56-54, on Wednesday, Feb. 23, in the first round of the Mid-Central Conference Tournament.

The Foresters, 21-10, suffered from poor shooting and failure to get their hands on rebounds. Huntington completed only 20 of 58 shots for 34.5 percent, with 4 of 18, 22.2 percent, coming from behind the arc.
However, Huntington was able to complete all 10 free throw attempts.

HU only could control 31 rebounds, including just eight offensive, while Spring Arbor, 18-14, recorded 43.

After trailing the entire match and faced with a 10-point deficit, Tyler Shively hit a three with 6:50 left in the game that kickstarted a 12-2 run that tied the game at 54-54 with 52 seconds left....

Blackford County EDC Annual Meeting

WHAT: Blackford County EDC Annual Meeting and Dinner

DATE: Tuesday, March 8, 2011

TIME: 5:30 p.m. (Eastern)

LOCATION: Lake Placid Conference Center (MAP)


The Blackford County Economic Development Corporation will be hosting its 2011 Annual Meeting on Tuesday, March 8, at 5:30 p.m. The event will include a presentation from Dr. James Dworkin, Chancellor at Purdue University North Central.

The Annual Meeting will be held at the Lake Placid Conference Center in Hartford City and will feature a buffet dinner, at no cost to those in attendance. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. and should conclude by 7:30 p.m.

The Lake Placid Conference Center is located at 0397 S. 200 E., Hartford City, Indiana. A map to the location can be viewed by clicking here.

Chancellor James Dworkin, who is an author of two books, is nationally known for his work in labor economics and labor management relations. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics and Master's degree and PhD in Industrial Relations. He's been with Purdue University since 1976 and has taught at Purdue's Krannert School of Management and at Purdue North Central.

Area residents are welcome to attend the Annual Meeting. In order to attend, you must RSVP by March 1 to Susan Gerard at (765) 348-4944 or by email at sgerard@blackfordcoedc.org.

Strong runs carry HU women past Bethel in MCC tourney

Huntington County Tab:

A strong run in each half, combined with the inability of visiting Bethel College to connect with the net, allowed the Huntington University women's basketball team to defeat the Pilots, 65-53, on Tuesday, Feb. 22, to move on to the second round of the Mid-Central Conference Tournament.

Huntington will visit No. 1-seeded Indiana Wesleyan University on Friday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. in round two. IWU beat No. 8 Spring Arbor University, 63-31, on Tuesday.

The Foresters' first big push came with 8:14 to go in the first half. After trailing Bethel by as much as eight earlier in the period, a three-pointer by Sarah Miller began a 13-4 run over four minutes that allowed Huntington to regain control with a 25-23 edge. The advantage bounced back and forth between the teams for the rest of the first, settling with a 29-27 Pilot lead at halftime.....

Senate approves part of education agenda

East Allen Times:

INDIANAPOLIS — The Republican-led Indiana Senate approved several key pieces of GOP Gov. Mitch Daniels' aggressive education agenda Tuesday, including a bill to limit teachers' collective bargaining rights and a bill linking teacher pay to student performance.

Minority Democrats have objected to the proposals and teachers have protested, saying they're under attack from Republicans who control the Statehouse. Union workers protesting a labor bill at the Statehouse on Tuesday held signs urging senators to vote against the education proposals, but Republicans pushed the bills through the chamber and they now move to the Republican-ruled House, where they are expected to meet a friendly audience.....

Democrats flee to Illinois, block labor bill

East Allen Times:

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana House Democrats who fled to Illinois like their counterparts in the Wisconsin Senate say they'll continue their boycott until Republicans assure them they won't debate public education and anti-union measures the Democrats oppose.

The House Democrats won a small victory on Tuesday when their absence at least temporarily blocked a GOP-backed labor bill. Republicans, who control the House, planned to try again Wednesday morning to resume business.....

Judge sends 700 to court over jury duty

East Allen Times:

SOUTH BEND — A northern Indiana judge is standing by his decision to order more than 700 people to court for not fulfilling their jury duty responsibilities.

St. Joseph Superior Court Judge Michael Scopelitis in South Bend says he's trying to preserve the constitutional right to a trial by jury. Last week, he ordered 711 people to come to court — or risk arrest — for not filling out jury questionnaires mailed to them in October.

The South Bend Tribune reports that he's since learned that a handful of those people did, in fact, turn in their questionnaires, and that others are away at college or working in another state.....

Ford to recall F-150 pickups over air bags

East Allen Times:

WASHINGTON - Under government pressure, Ford Motor Co. said Wednesday it will recall nearly 150,000 F-150 pickup trucks to fix air bags that could deploy without warning.

The recall covers trucks from the 2005-2006 model years in the United States and Canada for what the auto company calls a "relatively low risk" of the air bag deploying inadvertently.

The recall, however, is much smaller in scope than what the government had requested. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, citing 77 injuries, told the company in a November 2010 memo that the recall should cover 1.3 million F-150 trucks from the 2004-2006 model years.....

Jets grind out 40-36 win over Blackford

Decatur Daily Democrat:

MONROE — "Good teams find a way to win," said Adams Central coach Aaron McClure just seconds after Tuesday's 40-36 grinder that outlasted Blackford.
Last Friday, in an emotional win over AC's oldest rival (South Adams), the Flying Jets connected for 30 points in the first quarter.
Last night, the Jets didn't hit 30 until 1:47 of the fourth quarter and the game wasn't decided until less than 12 seconds remained. The halftime score was 18-13 and after three periods, it was just 21-18.
The Jets (13-6) led 2-0 and didn't lead again until 25-23 at five minutes of the fourth period when Maverick Baumer buried a three. One reason AC did not look good was that the team was two for 17 (11.7%) in three-point shots, although the 8-10 Bruins went only one for six long-range for 16.6%.....

Creason: Don’t underestimate Penn’s 112-pound ... girl

Decatur Daily Democrat:

MISHAWAKA — I know what you Bellmont fans are thinking. You look at Penn High School's lineup for this weekend's team state wrestling finals, and you see that the Kingsman 112-pounder is a girl.
And you're thinking: An easy win for the Braves, right?
Well, you just keep thinking that. Because that's what a lot of wrestlers have believed about Sarah Hildebrandt ... just before she pinned 'em.
Here's the truth, folks: Sarah Hildebrandt is the real deal.
The deadliest mistake any wrestler can make when he goes up against Hildebrandt is to underestimate her. I know a lot of guys who have done that. They all regret it, now.....

Friedt service held at Service Complex

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A gathering of 300 to 400 people braved foul weather to attend Monday's funeral held in the gymnasium of the Adams County Service Complex for John Friedt of Decatur, who died last week at 56.
Among the attendees were numerous people from Bellmont High School who knew Friedt from his 36 years of work as a BHS wrestling coach and many others who knew him from his lengthy career with the Adams County Soil and Water Conservation District.
The service was conducted by Father David Voors of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Decatur.....

Library books going online

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Adams Public Library will offer audiobooks and eBooks available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, starting Monday, February 28. The books will be available from the library’s website, www.apls.lib.in.us.
According to library Director Kelly Ehinger, the eIndiana Digital Consortium collection offers best-selling novels, well-known classics, self-improvement guides and more.
Library cardholders can browse the collection, check out with a library card, and download books to their home computer or most mobile devices. ....

Elected board names certified

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Adams County Clerk Gayla Reinhart on Tuesday said the required number of signatures on a citizens' petition seeking an elected North Adams Community Schools' board of education have been certified.
Reinhart said her office verified and approved 1,893 signatures on a petition submitted by the Our Children Our Future committee that could change the way board members are seated....

Timing of winter storms has been saving taxpayer dollars

Berne Tri Weekly News:

There has been plenty of snow, lots of bad roads and plenty of cancellations, but according to local authorities, the timing of the winter precipitation has been very helpful in saving tax dollars. Both county road superintendent Mark Mitchel and Berne Mayor John Minch agreed that a majority of the storm precipitation, mainly snow, fell during the day when it was more expedient financially to handle the challenges of poor roads and streets.
"Earlier when the snow came, most of it could be cleaned up in an eight-hour shift," said Mitchel. "This last batch was a little tougher but we are still doing okay on manpower hours."....

Winchester averts upset bid by Starfires

Berne Tri Weekly News:

WINCHESTER – You’ll have the pardon the tales emanating from the Winchester Fieldhouse Tuesday night, for there is more than a bit of truth to them. You see, South Adams put up a whale of a fight, but let a mighty big one get away.
The Starfires led tenth-ranked (2A) Winchester by three points with 2:37 left in the third quarter, but a slew of turnovers saw the Golden Falcons turn things around as they outscored the Starfires 8-0 to finish the period and went on to post a 72-51 victory, their fifth straight over South Adams, in varsity boys’ basketball.....

Area schools struggle with weather related decisions

East Allen Times:

FORT WAYNE - Timing caused problems for local school district officials Monday when faced with the decision to cancel classes for the day or stay open during sleet and snow conditions.

Some schools ran on delayed schedules, some dismissed early, some carried on as usual, and a few even closed altogether. It seems in every case at least some of the parents were unhappy with the decision.

Fort Wayne Community Schools on Monday allowed classes to continue as scheduled. "Based on the conditions they saw at five o'clock, they determined that the conditions were safe to get students to school," said spokesperson Krista Stockman.....

Former Rep. Ellsworth won't run for governor

East Allen Times:

INDIANAPOLIS — Former Democratic U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth says he won't run for Indiana governor — or any other office — next year.

Ellsworth told the Evansville Courier & Press on Monday that he won't run for any office in 2012. Ellsworth lost to Republican Dan Coats in November's U.S. Senate race to succeed Evan Bayh, who did not seek re-election.

His decision not to seek office next year comes days after Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel (WINE'-zap-fuhl) announced he would not seek the Democratic nomination for governor....

Carroll grad featured in wedding magazine

East Allen Times:

FORT WAYNE - Videography. Cinematography. Same thing, right?

Wedding cinematographer and 1999 Carroll High School grad Samuel Gensic and his wife Jessica, who own Thread & Film LLC in Fort Wayne, say there’s a big difference between the two. They’ve even written an article explaining those differences for Wedding Day Magazine’s online edition, and the article will appear in the summer or fall print publication.

The Gensics, who both taught at Homestead High School early in their marriage, have been filming weddings for the past seven years.

Wedding cinematography differs from videography, the Gensics say, in several ways, including intentionality, approach, style and technology.

Meyer suffers first defeat

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Bellmont heavyweight Daniel Meyer (left) attempts to pull free of Jeremiah Harvey of Culver Community during the heavyweight semi-final match Saturday at Conseco Fieldhouse.
Meyer got away this time, but not in the fourth OT period in a 3-2 loss. He finished third in the state and Harvey won the title, with another overtime win.....

Starfires post fifth win

Decatur Daily Democrat:

UNION CITY — South Adams started its sectional push this past Saturday, with a 53-47 decision over Union City at the Indians' gym. It was the fifth win of the season for Ryan Biegel's Starfires.
The Stars will host a sectional and will play Bluffton in a five-team tourney at the Stardome. Adams Central will play in the semi-finals against Bishop Luers.
All four quarters were tight this past Saturday with South Adams holding a slight edge in all of the first three periods for a 34-28 lead before both teams went on an offensive splurge in the final eight minutes with 19 points apiece.
South Adams held its largest lead of the game at 24-13 but Union City hit the final three hoops of the period to cut the margin to five at half at 24-19. The final tie of the game came at 11-11 in the second period but Dustin Wanner, who scored a game-high 25 points for the Starfires, netted a hoop at 6:21 and South Adams never trailed after that point....

Back to the snow plows

Decatur Daily Democrat:

It was back to the plows for city and county crews on Monday after a warm week in which most of the accumulated snow disappeared.
Decatur Street Superintendent Jeremy Gilbert said this morning that his crews hit the streets at 3 a.m. today and everything was going "pretty well."
Trash pickups were on schedule, Gilbert added.
At the county level, Highway Superintendent Mark Mitchel said his crew began work at 7 a.m. to clear 700 miles of rural roads with 14 vehicles....

School bus leaves road; no injuries

Decatur Daily Democrat:

First it was freezing rain. Then it was snow. All the while, winds were roaring.
What it all amounted to was yet another blast of winter weather for Decatur and Adams County residents on Monday.
City weather station officials measured four inches of snow, boosting the city's total for the season to 34 inches.
Streets and sidewalks became slick late Monday morning as the freezing rain fell. Then, early in the afternoon, snow began to fall and pile up on the ice. There were a few slide offs in the area — including a North Adams school bus — but no major mishaps and/or injuries were reported....

Friedt service held at Service Complex

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A gathering of 300 to 400 people braved foul weather to attend Monday's funeral held in the gymnasium of the Adams County Service Complex for John Friedt of Decatur, who died last week at 56.
Among the attendees were numerous people from Bellmont High School who knew Friedt from his 36 years of work as a BHS wrestling coach and many others who knew him from his lengthy career with the Adams County Soil and Water Conservation District.
The service was conducted by Father David Voors of St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Decatur.

HNHS boys bring home state bowling championship

Huntington County Tab:

The Huntington North High School boys' bowl-ing team ousted Lake Central High School 430-306 in the championship match to become the 2011 Indiana High School Bowling state champions at Cooper's Sport Bowl in Anderson on Saturday, Feb. 19.

The Vikings rolled games of 215 and 215 in the Baker-style championship game for the win, after taking the top seed going into the final round.

The tournament consisted of two regular and five Baker games to determine the final four.

In the final four, fourth-seeded Lake Central defeated Terre Haute South and Elkhart Memorial to advance against HNHS. But the Vikings won each Baker game, 215-159 and 215-147 for the win.....

SWCD honors pair of local families

Huntington County Tab:

Two established Huntington County farm families earned recognition and the next generation of agricultural leaders showed their skills during the Huntington County Soil and Water Conservation District's annual meeting and banquet on Tuesday, Feb. 15.

The Ambriole family received the SWCD's Conservation Farmer Award for 2010.

Gary and LuAnn Ambriole farm about 1,200 acres, while their son Andy and his wife Cati Ambriole farm 410 acres.
The Ambrioles use a combination of conventional, no-till and organic farming methods as they grow corn, soybeans and wheat. They have installed filter strips and waterways and plant cover crops on more than 370 acres to help reduce erosion and retain nutrients in the soil.....

State of area housing market to unfold with spring

East Allen Times:

FORT WAYNE - January home sales in the Fort Wayne area increased slightly compared to the same month last year, despite what is traditionally considered annually to be the slowest month.

Median sale prices declined after showing gains for the last three months. New listings decreased 15.4 percent and pending sales decreased 15.7 percent.

“The increase in closed sales, especially during the month of December, is a positive sign for the local housing market,” UPSTAR MLS President Jim Torres said in a statement. “As we approach spring, we will begin to see how the housing market recovery will unfold as consumers prepare for the buying and selling season.”....

Ex-Ind. Speaker Gregg weighing '12 governor's race

East Allen Times:

TERRE HAUTE — Former Indiana House Speaker John Gregg tells a newspaper he's giving "serious thought" to running for governor next year.

The 56-year-old attorney in southwestern Indiana's Knox County tells the Terre Haute Tribune Star in a voice mail message Monday that he hasn't decided yet whether to pursue the Democratic Party's nomination for governor but he's weighing the pros and cons of entering the race....

Plane makes unscheduled landing at Indy airport

East Allen Times:

INDIANAPOLIS — An American Eagle flight headed from Chicago to Louisville, Ky., has made an unscheduled landing in Indianapolis after the pilot reported smoke in the cockpit.

Indianapolis International Airport spokeswoman Susan Sullivan told The Indianapolis Star that the American Eagle flight landed safely at the airport on its own power about 11:25 a.m. Monday.

No one was injured on the plane, which was carrying 39 passengers....

Community voices concern for Chico the chihuahua

East Allen Times:

FORT WAYNE - After being found emaciated, wrapped in a blanket and left in a garage to die, Chico the chihuahua was taken by the Allen County Sheriff's Department Thursday to Animal Care and Control (ACC) for immediate medical care.

"That little Chihuahua is not out of the woods yet," said ACC spokesperson Peggy Bender. "That dog still has a long way to go. (He's) taking in a little food, taking in a little water, but without any body mass, (he) just really has no energy."

According to Bender, Chico is at risk for secondary infections because of a supressed immune system....

Jets draw Luers; Braves to host Maconaquah

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Somewhere in Bluffton today, Tiger basketball coach Kevin Leising has to be smiling.
The results of the 101st IHSAA state boys basketball tournament were released Sunday evening and Leising's crew drew away from class 2A power Bishop Luers by picking up South Adams in the opening game of the South Adams sectional on Tuesday, March 1 at 7 p.m.
The winner of that game, then faces a weak Woodlan squad in the Friday semi-final contest while one of the more interesting match-ups in the area, Adams Central and Bishop Luers will play at 6 p.m. Friday. The championship tilt at Berne is slated for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 5....

Meyer loses in triple OT

Decatur Daily Democrat:

PORTLAND—Muncie Central swept eight of the 12 events in the finals of the IHSAA boys swimming sectional Saturday at Jay County High School to easily outdistance second place Bellmont by a 335-232 count.
Delta and South Adams followed in the team score with 193 and 155 followed by Bluffton 128, Norwell 96, Jay County 93, Muncie Southside 52, Adams Central 49, and Blackford 37.
Bellmont won the 200 freestyle relay and the 100 freestyle race to send representatives in those events to the state finals this Friday and Saturday in Indianapolis at the IUPUI Natatorium.....

Four BHS swimmers going to State

Decatur Daily Democrat:

PORTLAND—Muncie Central swept eight of the 12 events in the finals of the IHSAA boys swimming sectional Saturday at Jay County High School to easily outdistance second place Bellmont by a 335-232 count.
Delta and South Adams followed in the team score with 193 and 155 followed by Bluffton 128, Norwell 96, Jay County 93, Muncie Southside 52, Adams Central 49, and Blackford 37.
Bellmont won the 200 freestyle relay and the 100 freestyle race to send representatives in those events to the state finals this Friday and Saturday in Indianapolis at the IUPUI Natatorium.....

Kalver joins hall of fame

Decatur Daily Democrat:

"He couldn't get enough wrestling," said former Bellmont wrestling coach Ken Webb, referring to A. J. Kalver, inducted into the Indiana Wrestling coaches Association Hall of Fame on Sunday at Greenwood.
"He'd see something I was doing, and he say, 'Show me that.' And he'd pick it up and run with it. He soaked it all up. We worked very well together," continued Webb, the second head coach in Bellmont history, following Gary Giessler....

Baird retirring August 31

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A career in Adams County that he thought would last for six months but will end up at a little over 22 years will soon come to an end for Adams Health Network Executive Director Marvin L. Baird.
Baird, who will be 75 in July, recently announced that he will be retiring from his hospital-based position effective August 31. The Adams Health Network board has hired a national search committee to seek a replacement, with the successful candidate hopefully to be at the hospital by the end of May....

Central jumps on Starfires early, cruises to win

Berne Tri Weekly News:

After missing five games to start the season with a foot injury Ben Snider needed a little while to work himself into the regular rotation for Adams Central. After stepping up in the last three games, Snider was in the starting lineup for the Jets Friday night at home against South Adams and it might be a while before someone bumps him from that spot.
Snider admitted that it’s hard sometimes to get the kind of minutes they want on a team that goes as deep as the Jets do, but he said it’s a definite positive and, “makes the whole team better.”....

Sprunger feels at home at helm of Adams County Boys and Girls Club

Berne Tri Weekly News:

When Christen Sprunger walked into her office in Decatur as the new executive director of the Adams County Boys and Girls Club, there was a deep sense of having come home. She had been hired right out of college as unit director of the South Adams Boys and Girls Club, a position she held for five years.
"My heart is here," said Sprunger, who succeeds Michael Howell, who resigned last fall to assume responsibilities with the Huntington County Foundation.....

Colts worry bill would prevent stadium gun ban

East Allen Times:

INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay says he's worried that a bill moving in the state Legislature would prevent the banning of guns from Lucas Oil Stadium during the team's games.

A bill sponsor, however, says the legislation that prevents most gun bans by local governments doesn't stop a sports team from setting its own attendance rules.

Irsay says the Colts rely on the city agency that owns the stadium to enforce the team's weapons ban. Colts attorney Dan Emerson said the bill's provisions would prevent a city agency from doing that.....

Police say secretary of state in altercation

East Allen Times:

NOBLESVILLE — Police say Indiana Secretary of State Charlie White won't face criminal charges over a courthouse altercation with an attorney.

The Hamilton County Sheriff's Department says White and the attorney were involved in the disturbance Wednesday at the county judicial center in Noblesville, where a grand jury is investigating vote fraud allegations against White. Police determined that no criminal activity took place in the altercation.

White's attorney Dennis Zahn and his office spokesman declined to comment Friday....

Coming attraction: Rave gets Imax

East Allen Times:

An Imax digital theater system will debut March 11 at Fort Wayne’s Rave Motion Pictures and feature the animated “Mars Needs Moms” starring Seth Green and Joan Cusack.

It will become the fifth Imax screen in Indiana. Two are in Indianapolis, one is in Portage and another is in Noblesville, according to the company.

Imax touts an immersive experience that includes 15,000-watt uncompressed surround sound and in Fort Wayne a 62-foot-wide, 34-foot-high curved screen.....

Foam product means less mess for portable toilets

East Allen Times:

In a modest workshop in southwest Fort Wayne, a young entrepreneur is diligently working away at a new product he hopes will revolutionize the portable toilet industry.

Next month, 25-year-old Ben Westrick will debut St. George’s Foam Shield at the Pumper and Cleaner Expo in Louisville, Ky. It has taken Westrick four years to get to this point, but he said things seem to have finally come together.

Westrick, a devout Catholic, credits his faith for giving him the courage to take the risk and start a business, which he named after the saint he chose for his eighth-grade confirmation. Born and raised in Fort Wayne, Westrick graduated from Bishop Dwenger High School. He decided against going to college and went straight to work in construction and industrial sales. It was there Westrick quickly began to understand the shortfalls of current portable toilets.....

Mahnensmith leads Otters at Polar Bear Plunge

Huntington County Tab:

The Huntington-Wells Otters participated in the Three Rivers Aquatics Club's Polar Bear Plunge, held at the Helen P. Brown Natatorium at South Side High School in Fort Wayne on Feb. 12-13.

Results are listed below by age category.

Relays
Duke Wang, Logan Ackley, Walter Hacker and one PRO teammate placed third in the 200-yard medley relay in the open male division.

Logan Brink and three PRO teammates took third in the 200-yard medley relay in the open female division.....

50-year wrestling trek leads Decatur’s Kalver to Hall of Fame

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A.J. Kalver, one of the key early figures in the growth of the Bellmont wrestling tradition and a man who has been involved in the sport for 50 years, will get his due Sunday at Greenwood when he will be inducted into the Indiana Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Kalver, who coached 15 years at Bishop Luers and turned that program from mat zero to the dominant team in Fort Wayne, has also been involved in broadcasting wrestling for 30 years and served 10 years as a wrestling official.
However, he's being inducted as a wrestling coach. "That's fine with me. Very fine," said Kalver, who has 26 years of coaching experience, including 10 years at Bellmont.....

Hop's Heresy: John Friedt’s fingerprints all over Bellmont wrestling

Decatur Daily Democrat:

"There have been five different Head Coaches at Bellmont, but none of us have made a bigger impact on Bellmont Wrestling than John Friedt," noted current Bellmont coach Brent Faurote on a statement he issued on Indianamat.com Thursday.
John Friedt, who coached a numerous levels for the Decatur Wrestling Club and for Bellmont High School and Middle School, passed away Thursday, just three days after suffering a stroke at home, and, ironically, just five days after Bellmont had one of its greatest semistate successes with seven earning state berths.
"There have been 89 state placers in the school’s history and John either wrestled with or coached all but one," Faurote noted Tuesday afternoon, pointing to all the names on the Bellmont Wrestling Wall of Fame.....

EPC set to add 21 jobs

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Officials from Elkhart Products Corporation (EPC) in Geneva have announced an expansion project that will create new jobs. The expansion will include the construction of a building addition as well as the installation of new machinery and equipment, fixtures and hardware.
Geneva Town Council in its meeting Thursday evening heard from Adams County Economic Development Director Larry Macklin, who said, "With this new investment, there is not only job retention, but also additional new employment of 21 new jobs over the next few months."...

Gill seeks Berne mayor post

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Retired businessman Ray Gill on Thursday filed the necessary paperwork with the Adams County Clerk of Courts office to become the Democrat Party's candidate for the position of mayor of Berne.
His candidacy sets up a general election race against Republican Bill McKean, who filed his paperwork earlier this month. Incumbent Mayor John Minch, a Democrat, will not seek re-election.
Gill retired in 1999 after serving in numerous executive business positions, with 38 years of business management experience in national sales, international sales and marketing. He was chairman of a national trade association and president and CEO of one unspecified corporation....

Starfish happy with first round showing

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

PORTLAND – Overjoyed by the amount of time her swimmers cut from their seeding, South Adams coach Janelle Gresla was able to overlook the fact that her team didn’t secure enough championship heat swims to contend with Bellmont or Muncie Central as the Jay County boys’ swimming and diving sectional got underway Thursday night with the preliminary round.
The Starfish qualified all three of its relay teams for championship races, and put individual swimmers in the finals of three events....

Gill declares Democratic candidacy for Mayor

Berne Tri-Weekly News:

Ron Dull, Berne city councilman and local Democratic Party chairman, announced today that Ray Gill is the Democratic nominee for Mayor of Berne. After accepting this opportunity, Gill released the following statement.
"I am committed to serving the citizens of Berne on a full-time basis, because the needs of our community deserve nothing less. Our future focus must be in continuing to address the IDEM mandates on infrastructure improvements, the exploration of additional annexation opportunities to lessen the tax burdens of our citizens, and the development and implementation of an economic development strategy. We are surrounded by too many vacant retail and commercial properties...

Crestview wrestlers win 15 of 26 against Edgewood

Huntington County Tab:

The Crestview Middle School wrestling team won 15 of 26 matches in a meet with Edgewood Middle School on Tuesday, Feb. 15.

No team score was kept.

Winners by pin were: Noah Kitt, Logan Moore, Kyler McVoy (two pins), Katie Leeper, Tony Frantz, Ricky Wedlake (two pins), Layne Neal, Alex Hughes and Layne Emery.
Winners by decision were Griffen Brundige, 12-8; Colten Garrison, 7-1; Alex Hughes, 9-2; and Layne Emery, 5-2....

South residents of Hgtn. city may get estimated water bills

Huntington County Tab:

Residents of the southern part of the city may be receiving estimated water bills this month.

That's because deep, crusty snow prevented Huntington Water Department employees from reading meters that are in the ground, says Jennifer Gunn, office manager for the water billing department.

The estimated bills are somewhat higher than average for those residents, Gunn says, for several reasons - the billing period was 35 days long, instead of the normal 30 days; and, the billing period covered the holidays, when people are home more than usual and tend to use more water....

Huntington loses a piece of history in blaze that claims former Huser Cigar building

Huntington County Tab:

Huntington lost a little piece of history this past weekend after a fire that destroyed the former Huser Cigar building.

Located at 816 W. Tipton St., Huser Cigar was the place to buy cigars, tobacco as well as candy and gum wholesale.

The business was once owned by the late Gerald H. Miller, who had been an employee of the company for several years prior to acquiring it.

"We were a wholesale outlet, selling a number of products," states John Miller, Miller's son. "We sold sundries, paper products, ice cream cones, chocolates and candies as well as cigars and tobacco."

The business served customers including a few restaurants within a 50-mile radius....

Jobs mission to India begins next week

East Allen Times:

INDIANAPOLIS - Next week, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation will take its first trip to India on a jobs mission to attract information technology, life sciences and energy industry companies to the state.

Mitch Roob, secretary of commerce and chief executive officer of the IEDC, will join a delegation of business and academic leaders on stops in Mumbai and Hyderabad during the weeklong trade mission.....

Convict charged in 25-year-old murder

East Allen Times:

INDIANAPOLIS — A prosecutor says DNA evidence helped link an Indianapolis man to the strangulation of 13-year-old neighbor nearly 25 years ago.

Marion County Prosecutor Terry Curry said a murder charge was filed Thursday against 68-year-old Paul E. Reese Sr. in the death of Dawn Stuard. Reese is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for burglary, and Curry says could also face an additional 40 to 60 years if convicted of murder.....

Application deadline for FSA emergency assistance extended

East Allen Times:

INDIANAPOLIS - The USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Indiana announced Thursday it will extend the deadline to apply for the 2010 Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-raised Fish Program to March 1.

The program provides emergency assistance to eligible producers of livestock, honeybees and farm-raised fish that have losses due to disease, adverse weather, or other conditions, including losses due to blizzards and wildfires, as determined by the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. ....

Watters leads Braves’ sectional contingent

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Action in the annual Indiana High School Athletic Association boys swimming sectional will get underway tonight at 5:30 p.m. at Jay County High School in Portland with Muncie Central and Bellmont among the favored teams.
The latest statewide swim poll conducted by Indiana swim coaches lists Muncie Central in 41st position while Bellmont is 52nd. They are the only two teams entered in the Jay County sectional that are ranked.
Bellmont comes into the fray with the top seeds in three events with Jay Watters holding two of those. Watters has the best heat time in the 50 and 100 freestyle events with times of :21.86 and :49.99 respectively. His time in the 50 freestyle is better than the state cut time of :21.93 (any swimmer who tops the state cut time in the sectional automatically advances to the state finals) while his 100 effort is 1.82 seconds above the state standard of :48.17. He is the only swimmer in the 100 field that has cracked the 50 second barrier this year.....

State wrestling draw to challenge county grapplers

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Adams County will have a strong group of 12 representatives Friday night at Conseco Fieldhouse as the 73rd edition of the IHSAA State Individual Wrestling Finals begins with a 5:35 p.m. Parade of Champions.
At 6 p.m., it will be all business as half the field will be eliminated Friday night.
Two of the 12 face returning state runners-up, and South Adams' TJ Burnfield will meet defending 145-pound champ Eric Roach of Crown Point. A few more face wrestlers who defeated them earlier in the year....

Sale of certificates to help finance 175th celebration

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Special fundraising certificates to finance Decatur's 175th anniversary this year have been printed to mark the number of $10 shares sold. The first buyer, paying $100 for 10 shares, was Mayor John Schultz.
Complete Printing Service business designed and printed the certificates.
Hoosier Pattern is making survey markers about Decatur which can be purchased, with profits donated to the celebration, organizers said.
Meanwhile, Ryan Salway designed a 175th anniversary logo at his Ryan David Designs business in Decatur.....

Hospital moving extended care

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A preliminary plan to move the Extended Care Unit from Adams Memorial Hospital was approved Wednesday night by the Adams Health Network (AHN) board of trustees at their regular monthly meeting.
Hospital officials emphasized the move of ECU to the "B" wing of the Woodcrest Nursing Home makes sense from an economical standpoint and should not be construed by people as meaning an ECU patient will become a nursing home patient.
AHN Chief Operating Officer Jo-Ellen Eidam noted that nearly 85 percent of patients admitted to the hospital's ECU last year went home when they had sufficiently recovered, a statistic she said would be contrary to what some people believe.....

Gill files for Berne mayoral post

Decatur Daily Democrat:


Retired businessman Ray Gill on Thursday filed his candidacy to become the Democrat Party's candidate for the position of mayor of Berne. His candidacy sets up a general election race against Republican Bill McKean.....

Huntington men can only come close in last regular-season home game

Huntington County Tab:

The Huntington University men's basketball team could get no closer than sniffing distance to a win in its last regular season home game as it lost to visiting Spring Arbor, 73-30, on Tuesday, Feb. 15.

Trailing by nine points at halftime, the Foresters twice in the final minute of the game had the SAU lead down to one point, but the Cougars were perfect on four free throws to ice the contest.

HU, 20-9 overall and 8-7 in the Mid-Central Conference, were led by Tyler Shively with 24 points and six rebounds. Kellen Zawadzki added 20 points and Caleb Kennedy came through with 12 points and a game-high nine rebounds.....

Mayor ends weeks of speculation by announcing bid for 2nd term

Huntington County Tab:

Mayor Steve Updike ended weeks of speculation by announcing on Tuesday, Feb. 18, that he intends to seek a second term in office.

Updike, a Republican, faces an already crowded field, with six people already on the Republican ticket for the May primary - but he says he's received "a lot of support" from people who want him to return to office.

And he says he wants to finish the job he started.
"I will run for mayor," Updike says. "I feel like I'm only half done."

"We've started to turn the city around," he adds, citing an upswing in businesses locating in the city and improvements to both the infrastructure and quality of life in the city. He wants to finish the job.....

Road closure notice at Gilmore Street

East Allen Times:

FORT WAYNE - The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Fort Wayne District announces that Gilmore Street just west of State Road 3 and Lima Road will be closed Wednesday for utility relocation work. The work is expected to be complete by late Thursday afternoon.

NIPSCO will be lowering two services lines that cross the road. This work is in preparation for this spring's phase of reconstruction and added travel lanes on SR 3 from Wallen Road to Ludwig Road.....

Bomb squad called to OmniSource Wednesday

East Allen Times:

FORT WAYNE – A bomb squad has cleared the scene at a local recycling facility after receiving reports of a potential explosive device.

The Fort Wayne Police Department's bomb squad was called Wednesday to OmniSource, 3101 Maumee Avenue, after an employee at the facility found an 18-inch artillery round, reportedly at the bottom of a scrap metal pile. ....

Fort Wayne family gets Hoosier Homestead Award

East Allen Times:

INDIANAPOLIS - State leaders honored 33 families with the Hoosier Homestead Award including three from northeast Indiana. The Dave and Dolores Rennecker family received an award and are from Fort Wayne.

Also from northeast Indiana were the Joseph Kozlowski family and Ron Schueler family, both from Decatur in Adams County.

Lt. Governor Becky Skillman , who serves as Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development and Joe Kelsay, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture , presented those awards to the families last week. ....

Doden announces city light lease plan

East Allen Times:

FORT WAYNE - When it comes to city light lease funds, Republican mayoral candidate Eric Doden said in a statement Wednesday that he wants to lend it, not spend it.

Doden provided details of his plan to use some of the $85 million to bring businesses to Fort Wayne by investing. Under Doden’s plan, the city would leverage the light-lease fund to attract outside private capital with a $15 million investment, resulting in $100 million in new projects in Fort Wayne, according to the statement. .....

Meyer: Under the lights, that’s my ultimate goal

Decatur Daily Democrat:

"They are all one match away from being a state placer. It's a neat thing to experience the parade of champions and wrestle Friday night, but they are all one match away from wrestling all day on Saturday, and we want that experience for as many as we can," stated Bellmont coach Brent Faurote at the BHS wrestling room Tuesday afternoon.
It looked like a typical day of practice with over 30 kids drilling. The upset win over Yorktown last Wednesday kept the doors open for all the BHS wrestlers. "It's fun to have a full room today, with these guys still training hard and the jayvees still around. It's a good team effort in the room and it's nice to have a full room at this point of the season," said the coach....

Keaton Fiechter guides Jets to win No. 11 at Southwood

Decatur Daily Democrat:

WABASH — What's the difference between winning and losing?
How about making a foul-line rim-rattler at six-tenths of a second vs. missing a 45-footer off the rear rim and glass?
That's how Adams Central, thanks to Keaton Fiechter's huge final goal, assured itself of a winning 2010-11 season on Tuesday night with a 60-58 decision over gritty Southwood.
"We sneaked it out on the road," said relieved AC head coach Aaron McClure of his 11-6 Flying Jet squad as it hung on against Southwood comebacks from deficits of 53-43 at 4:03 and 57-49 at 1:26.....

Berne hailed as one of the best cities in Indiana

Decatur Daily Democrat:

Berne Mayor John Minch delivered his eighth and final State of the City address on Tuesday during a noon luncheon sponsored by the Berne Chamber of Commerce.
Minch is in the last year of his second term as Berne mayor and has indicated he will not seek re-election this year. The lone announced mayoral candidate to date, former council president Bill McKean, was in attendance at Tuesday's meeting.
In his address, Minch deflected credit for any progress made by the community during the past seven years, choosing instead to laud the efforts of elected officials, municipal employees, civic volunteers and citizens for their roles in "making Berne one of the best cities in Indiana to raise a family.".....

Collier to bid for council’s at-large seat

Decatur Daily Democrat:

A Decatur man who graduated from the United States Naval Academy and spent 10 years as a naval aviator has announced his candidacy to run as a Republican for the Decatur City Council's at-large seat in this year's election.
Cameron Collier, 31, is a 1997 Adams Central High School graduate and now works here as a financial consultant with Jehl and Kreilach Financial Management firm.
Collier, who was a lieutenant in the Navy, is on the waiting list to be a lieutenant-commander in the Naval Reserve.
He says of his first foray into politics, "Having proudly served our nation as a naval officer for more than 10 years, I welcome an opportunity to serve my local community......

Granddaughter of local family describes scenes in Egypt

Berne Tri Weekly News:

When Christiy Coster and her husband, Dylan, were downtown in Cairo, Egypt on Jan. 23, they had no idea that they were walking in what was to become the drama theater of world news two days later. Coster and her husband had visited the area around Tahrir Square (scene of rebellion uprising beginning Jan. 25); they were there to renew their visas.
Coster is the granddaughter of Rev. John and Bernadine Zurcher of Berne. Her parents are Mark and Janita (Zurcher) Dye of Fort Wayne. Currently Coster, her husband, mother-in-law, Ann, and sister-in-law, Abby, are staying with the Dyes. They left Egypt on Feb. 6 in lieu of the political uprising that was causing turmoil in the country.....

Norwell buries Starfires early

Berne Tri Weekly News:


OSSIAN – Norwell did its heavy lifting early, racing out to an 8-0 lead against South Adams and then put the game on cruise control as it beat the Starfires 64-43 Tuesday night in varsity boys’ basketball at the Castle.
South Adams (4-11) answered the early Norwell run with a 7-2 spurt midway through the first period, but the Knights answered with a 10-0 finish to the quarter to go ahead by 13.
The Knights continued to pull away, opening the second quarter with 11 straight points to up their lead to 31-7 before a pair of Ben Meshberger free throws snapped the run and got South Adams back on the board.
Norwell rained in five 3-point shots in the game’s first 12 and-...

4 former Vikings, sportswriter to be inducted into HNHS Athletic HOF

Huntington County Tab:

Four former Viking athletes and a former sportswriter will be inducted into the Huntington North High School Athletic Hall of Fame during a ceremony held during halftime of the HNHS boys' basketball game on Friday, Feb. 18.

Athletes earning the recognition are Doug Carver, a 1973 HNHS graduate who was a standout on the basketball court; Bob Smith, also a 1973 graduate, who won varsity letters in football, baseball, track and basketball; Paula Kline Weill, a 1988 graduate who made her mark in basketball softball and volleyball; and Kevin Willour, a 1978 graduate, who set basketball records while also playing baseball....

AT&T seeks change in lease of water tower space

Huntington County Tab:

Jack Squire, of UNI-SON, presented a proposal for a lease conver-sion program for the AT&T antenna on the Eleventh Street water tower to the Warren Town Council during its Feb. 14 meeting.

Squire proposed an upfront payment of $79,250 to buy out the current lease of $990 per month, representing approximately six years of payments. Warren's water department would receive 50 percent of the lease amount of any additional equipment placed on the tower, but would receive no further funds from the AT&T lease.

The council agreed to delay action until the proposal can be examined more in depth....