Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 125, Number 46, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 13 November 2002 — Page 1

Advance News

Vol. 125 Issue 46

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LIBRARY BOARD The Board of Trustees of the Nappanee Pubic Library will meet in regular session on Wednesday, November 20, 7p.m„ at 157 N. Main St. The public is invited to attend. TOWN COUNCIL The Wakarusa Town Council meets the first Tuesday of each month, 6:30p.m., at Town Hall. 102 W. Waterford St. PARK BOARD The Nappanee Board of Parks and Recreation meets the second Wednesday of each month, at 4:30p.m.. in the Emergency Services Building, W. Lincoln St. SCHOOL BOARD The Wa-Nee Board of School Trustees meets the second and fourth Mondays of each month, 6:30p.m., at the Wa-Nee Administration Building. OPEN DOOR HELPS If you need emergency food, clothing, or temporary help with your NIPSCO bill, contact Open Door between 9-1 la.m., Monday thru Friday. Open Door is located at 201 S. Main St., Nappanee, phone 773-3820. RETAIL COMMITTEE The Retail-Marketing Committee of the Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce meets the first Thursday of each month, at 7:30a.m., at the Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce office, 451 N. Main Street. COMMON COUNCIL The City of Nappanee Common Council will meet at 6 p.m.. Monday in the council chambers at the municpal center, W. Lincoln St. (Note time change.) UCENSE BRANCH The Nappanee License Branch, located at 219 W. Market St., is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday, 8:30a.m. to 5p.m.; Wednesday, 8:30a.m. to 12:30p.m. and Thursday, 8:30a.m. to 6:30p.m. OFFERS SERVICES Do you need assistance? The Family Christian Development Center 151 S. Locke St. serves families living in the Wa-Nee district with a food pantry (open Tuesday and Thursday, 14p.m.) FEMA assistance for rent and utility bills, headstart (for 4-5-year-olds), healthy babies wellness checks (second Wednesdays 9a.m.-noon). For assistance in any of these areas, or other areas of your life, call the center at 773-2149. The office is open from 9a.m.-noon and 1 -4p.m. weekdays. TO SUBSCRIBE Call the Advance News office at 574-773-3127. The office is open Monday through Friday.

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Long-awaited stop signs posted

By Mindy Abel, Staff Reporter During the Monday, November. 4 meeting of the Nappanee Common Council, Street Superintendent Sam Adams reported that the Elkhart County Commissioners have approved the four-way stop at C.R. 7 and 52. Local street department personnel installed posts for the signs earlier this fall at the dangerous intersection. Rick Phairis, Elkhart County Engineer, said it will be approximately 30 days before the signs are installed. In other business, city department heads presented their reports for October. Police Chief Mike Anglin reported 857

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Christmas at home mHm MfL PHOTO Nappanee's "The Twelve Days of Christmas," a six-weekend celebration, begins Friday and Saturday, November 15-16 with the emphasis on Christmas Open Houses. The celebration continues through December 21, with a different emphasis each weekend. The event sponsored by the Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce, is outlined in its entirety in a pamphlet available at business location throughout the community.

Participate in park survey

Park Superintendent Wayne Scheumann announced that the Board of Parks and Recreation will be conducting a city wide user opinion survey. Over the next three weeks, government student volunteers from North Wood High School will conduct a random sample phone survey. The Board of Parks and Recreation will appreciate the few minutes it will take citizens to complete the short survey. This impor-

House of Holly offers crafts, drawings

Please put "House of Holly" on your list of holiday activities. This annual fundraiser, sponsored by the Eta Zetz Chapter of Psi lota xi, is a silent auction of handmade crafts, clothing, holiday items and much more. The event will take place Sunday, November 24, 125p.m., at the home of Stan and Tonya Beehler, 1352 Pickwick Court, Nappanee. A $2 donation for each House of Holly ticket also buys an entry into a drawing for a,special door prize. In addition, raffle tickets for a handmade quilt are available for $1 each or 6-$5. Entrants in either drawing need not be present to win.

Red Regiment featured The North Wood High School Red Regiment has three exciting activities lined up. See page 11 for details.

Serving Nappanee & Wakarusa

calls for service 81 - 911 calls and 10 court cases handled through the communications division during October. Through the traffic patrol division there were 124 traffic arrests, 120 warning tickets issued. 34 parking tickets issued. 17 accidents investigated, 2 personal injury accidents, 38 vehicle lockouts and 1.7 vehicle identification checks. The investigation division worked 114 total cases; 28 were cleared by arrest and 6 are pending. There were also 2 DWIs and 4 total drug related arrests. EMS Director Jim Sumpter reported 54 calls recorded in October and 547 calls to date. October emergencies included 35 advance

tant input will provide the community’s views on park needs and issues. The survey results are essential in the development of a current 5year vision planning effort and the updated plan will qualify the Park Department to compete for funding for future park projects. State and Federal funding grants administered by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) require that a DNR approved 5-year plan be on file with

Tickets for House of Holly and the quilt raffle are available from sorority members, or at the door. Don’t miss this opportunity to do some holiday shopping and support local causes. It’s an afternoon that will put you in the holiday spirit in a hurry. The Eta Zeta chapter of Psi lota Xi is a non-profit organization with commitments to Riley Hospital for Children, Dollars for Scholars, Camp Milhouse, preschool hearing tests and other local needs. For further information about House of Holly, please call 574-773-7628.

Wednesday, November 13,2002

the Division of Outdoor Recreation in Indianapolis.

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FILE PHOTO/ANTHONY GADSON Little Artists Michiana Media Network Halloween Coloring Contest Winners - Kaylee Kopetski and Ricky Cooper with Wal-Mart Community Involvement Coordinator Rose Scott, Jorden Hathorn and Lindsay Ganshorn. The Plymouth Wal-Mart provided the prizes. Not pictured is Jesse Borkholder and Eddie Ray Schwartz.

life support. 23 basic life support. 7 cardiac related, 24 medical related. 14 trauma related. 5 motor vehicle accidents. 3 responses with the fire department, 23 medic intercepts and 1 utilization of the Samaritan helicopter. 57 patients were treated in October and 517 were treated to date. 29 were Nappanee residents. 13 rural city and 15 outside the area. During October the department attended a meeting with representatives from Millers Corp. took North Wood High School students on a tour of the facilities. Fire Chief Brian Huff reported 2 motor vehicle accidents, 1 gas leak. 1 smoke investigation, 1 smoke detector call. 3 carbon monoxide detector calls and 2 field fires. They also set up for the helicopter at the airport dur-

Ball sentence in son’s death

By Stacey Creasy cnhi News Service NAPPANEE James Ball of Nappanee will spend seven years in prison in connection with the, shooting death of his son, Jason Ball. Even though Elkhart County Judge Terry Shewmaker said he does not believe Ball's version of what happened the day Jason was shot to death. Shewmaker accepted a plea agreement between Ball and the Elkhart County Prosecutor's office, and handed down the sentence. Ball will also spend a year on probation when he is released from prison. Shewmaker ordered Ball to pay court costs and $2,000 restitution. Nappanee EMS and police responded to a call at Ball's residence on^April 26. When rescue wdHter> arrived on the scene, 'they found Jason in his bedroom with a fatal gunshot wound. There was one report that Ball. 56. and Jason. ,30. were arguing on the day of the : shooting. Ball told police he was handing the gun to Jason when the weapon accidental-

Feature variety in fall concert

The North Wood High School Music Department will present its fall choir concert, Sunday, November 17, 2:30p.m., in the high school auditorium. Varsity Singers, the Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Dawning Generation and Director Jeff Cramer have been hard at work, preparing a variety of music, including spirituals, pop songs and jazz. The Vocal Jazz Ensemble will perform a cappella numbers, including "When I Fall In Love,” “Ain’-a-That Good News" and "Shoo-Fly Pie.” The Varsity Singers will present a Mozart piece in Latin, titled "Ave Verum." along with "Battle Hymn

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ing October. The department also worked with Niblock on the completion of this year’s street resurfacing project. Elder Haus Director Connie Fink reported that 140 calendars were mailed, there were 569 taxi calls and 298 visits made. Special programs included seeing an Amish Acres play. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers; a tour of Culver Military Academy; and a mystery lunch and shopping. The next council meeting will be held on Monday, November 18, 6p.m., in the Nappanee Municipal Building. W. Lincoln St. Meetings are open to the public.

ly discharged. By his own admission, Ball was extremely intoxicated at the time of the shooting. Ball was taken into custody and transported to the Elkhart County Jail. On that day Ball said he and Jason were looking at some of Ball's "toys" referring to Ball's gun collection. More than six months after the shooting Ball agreed to a plea deal in October where Ball pleaded guilty to reckless homicide. The judge agreed to the plea bargain after family members stated they believe the shooting was accidental, based on the relationship between Ball and the family. Ball's daughter asked the court for the least sentence possible. Ball also apologized to his own family for careless actions that cost the life •of his son. Reckless homicide is a Class C felony, punishable by 3 to 8 years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine. Shewmaker came within a year of giving Ball the maximum sentence, but with credit for good time served, Ball will spend a little more than three years behind bars.

of the Republic" and an amusing song called "Banquet Fugue.” Dawning Generation will perform the fall show, dancing to numbers such as “Under the Boardwalk.” “It Don’t Mean a Thing" and "Puttin on the Ritz.” All choir members will combine for the closing two numbers. Bob Dylan's "Ring Them Bells” and an a cappe.lla arrangement of “I Hear a Voice A-Prayin’.” Several students will be featured in solo parts within some of the choral pieces. Tickets will be sold at the door, with a $3 admission price for adults and $2 for students. Doors will open at 2p.m.

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