Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 125, Number 51, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 18 December 2002 — Page 1

Advance News Serving Nappanee & Wakarusa

Vol. 125 Issue 51

e HOUDAY HOURS The Advance News will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. CLASS OF 1944 The Nappanee High School Class of 1944 will meet for breakfast at Country Table Jan. 2 at 8:30 a.m. BORDEN WASTE Borden Waste-Away Service, Inc. will be closed Wednesday. Dec. 25 and Wednesday, Jan. 1 to observe Christmas and New Year’s Day. The collection service will be delayed one day for Wednesday. Thursday and Friday routes only. For questions, call 1-800-386-3313, ext. 553. LIBRARY HOURS The Nappanee Public Library will close at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 24 and will be closed all day on Christmas. Regular hours, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., resume on Thursday, Dec. 26. The library will also close at noon on New Year's Eve and will be closed New Year’s Day. Videos and DVDs checked out on Monday, Dec. 30, wil be due for return on Thursday. Jan. 2. Limits will be increased to six over the holiday. For more information contact the library at 773-7919. LIBRARY BOARD The Board of Trustees of the Nappanee Public Library will meet in regular session on Tuesday. Dec. 17 at 7 a.m. at 157 N. Main St., Nappanee. The public is invited to attend. LUNCH 'N LEARN Goshen Health System Counselor Carl Bell will explore the events in the past 200 years that have altered the public's perception of cancer and resulted in treatment advancements. Bring your lunch and a friend to this free noontime seminar co-sponsored by the Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce. Goshen Health System Cancer Treatment Centers of America and the Nappanee Public Library. Questions? Call 574-773-7919 . or visit www.nappanee.lib.in.us. BREAKFAST WTTH BROS On Saturday. Dec. 21, join a naturalist with the Elkhart County Parks and Recreation Department for a breakfast with the birds program and enjoy a continental breakfast while watching the birds at the feeders enjoying theirs. Afterwards, take a short hike to see what other birds are in the park. Bring binoculars and field guides and meet at the Oxßow Haus Shelter in Oxßow County Park at 9 a.m. There is no fee for the program but pre-registration is required by 4 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19. WINTER NATURE HIKE On Saturday. Dec. 21, join a naturalist with the Elkhart County Parks and Recreation Department at the River Preserve County Park for a late morning hike into the beautiful winter landscape. Explore, observe and track along the trails in search of life in the “dead” of winter. Find out who is sleeping, who is hiding, and who is actively searching for food and shelter during some of the coldest days and nights. We will also discuss how changes in the weather affect certain critters' behavior. Meet at the Benton Spillway parking area on County Road 31 at 10 a.m. Remember to dress for the weather. DECORATION CONTEST The Nappanee Neighborhood Watch Group is sponsoring a Christmas decorating contest for all citizens of the community. A panel of 3-4 judges will make their decision on Dec. 19 and winners will be notified Dec. 20. To enter the contest, pick up an entry form at the Nappanee Police Department or the Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce Building on North Main. Entries should be mailed to the NPD do Connie Bellman. Questions? Call 773-4111 and ask for Connie Bellman. Continued on Page 9

New four-way stop coming on S.R. 19

► New sign will BE BIG ADJUSTMENT Staff Report NAPPANEE New four-way stop to be located on S.R. 19 Police Chief Mike Anglin reported last week to Nappanee Board of Public Works and Safety that a fourway stop will be created at S.R. 19 and C.R. 1350. That information

Construction bid awarded to Timor

► FOR DERKSEN Park Farm Staff Report NAPPANEE The Board of Parks and Recreation awarded a $24,570 bid to Timar Construction of Goshen to reside and reroof the Derksen Park Farm. The farm is located next to the developing new site of the Nappanee municipal Golf Course club house. Timar was the lowest bidder for the work. R. Yoder Construction turned a bid of $40,770. and Top

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PHOTO BY JUUE FERRARO The lifeboat crew of the SS Waky await their cue as part of Ahoy to the World."

'Ahoy 7 no Christmas ► Audience goes ON 'HOUDAY CRUISE' By Julie Ferraro Staff Reporter NAPPANEE From the moment people walked in the doors, they knew it would be no ordinary Christmas program. And, indeed. Wakarusa Missionary Church's presentation of “Ahoy to the World" had all the accouterments of a holiday cruise. "Passengers" the audience were greeted as they entered the building with leis, hors d'oeuvres and tropical fruit drinks. The sanctuary was decorated with ship rails and deck chairs. A * cheery greeting on the overhead

Old school building to be demolished Jan. 8

► Many memories REMAIN By Julie Ferraro Staff Reporter NAPPANEE “There goes a lot of memories," said Helen Kline. Wakarusa historian. Having spent her elementary and high school careers in the portion of North Wood Middle School which will soon be demolished. Helen has fond recollections of the structure. Demolition on the old school building will begin on Jan. 8, according to principal George Roelandts. “The old gym stays," he added.

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comes from a notice he received from state authorities. The new traffic control will mean a big adjustment for motoriests who regularly travel that stretch of S.R. 19. This will be the first time in history that north and southbound traffic traveling on the State highway will be required to stop and yield right-of-way to east and westbound traffic. Motorists are encouraged to be aware of the change as it is established over the next several weeks.

Notch Construction bid $29,860. Timar Construction has previously handled work on a street department garage in Nappanee as well as work at the boy scout cabin at the nature center. The new golf course club house will be located on Derksen Farm and is expected :o be open and running April 1. Renovations to the bam will allow storage for golf course equipment. NINE TOURNEY May 31 was set for the annual Butch Nine Tournament. That event will mark the official opening of the newly designed golf course.

ordinary program screen encouraged all to "Enjoy your cruise." The fast paced and lively production, presented in two performances on Saturday, Dec. 14 and Sunday. Dec. 15, was created by Steve Dahlgren. music minister for the church, as part of the outreach program. Dahlgren manned the piano and conducted the music, accompanied by a three-piece orchestra. The Captain, the crew and the choir provided full-bodied vocals and enough holiday spirit and humor to take the “U.S. Waky" through its paces at sea. The evening concluded with dfssert served to the departing “pasfingers." who then ventured back into the winter’s night, still wearing their leis.

contrary to a report in the Dec. 4 edition of the Advance News that the gym would also be tom down. A second gymnasium will be built adjacent to the existing gym and to the south. Roelandts clarified. Whichever section of the building is being demolished, there is a lot of history in those walls. The original school construction started in 1924. with completion in spring of 1925. according to a history of the school written by Dwight Weldy. The school accommodated students from kindergarten through 12th grade in those days, with one classroom for each grade. The school addition which contains the existing gym, along with four additional elementary classrooms. a band room, a farm shop.

Wednesday, December 18,2002

OTHER MATTERS •The board accepted the low bid of $31,495 from Rieth Riley Construction. The bid will cover costs of constructing a parking lot at Derksen Farm, which will be the new location of the Municipal Golf Course club house. •Board members agreed to purchase three new communication radios for the city street department. Each unit will cost $992. •Water department will change

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PHOTO BY MMDY ABEL Off to a good start A community effort to build a $125,000 community playground at Stauffer Park in June is off to a good start, as shown by this ladder placed at the park last week. See inside for more.

Wa-Nee test results are in

► Sophomores pass requirements By Mindy Abel Staff Reporter NAPPANEE Assistant Superintendent Dr. Joyce Phillips gave the results for the ISTEP+ Fall 2002 grade 10 GQE tests during the meeting of the Wa-Nee School Board of Trustees Monday night, Dec. 9. The GQE (Graduation Qualifying Exam) results included 75 percent of sophomores who met the Engiish/language arts standard: 79 percent of sophomores who met the math standard and 70 percent of sophomores who met both English/language arts and math standards (see graphic). In comparison to the 2001 GQE results, 74 percent of sophomores met the English/language arts standard; 79 percent of sophomores also met the math standard and 67 percent met both standards. Sophomores at NWHS show continued high performance within the 2002 results. 70 percent of all sophomores have met Indiana's GQE requirement and can focus on meeting Wa-Nee's requirements for graduation. The faculty continues to discuss

and a heating plant for both the old and new buildings began tumultuously in 1953, and was dedicated in 1955. Further renovations were comgoes a lot of memories. Helen Kline pleted in 1973, on the west portion of the original building. Helen Kline graduated from the school in 1940. She recalls the sundial that had a place of honor “where the parking lot is now. We

the phosphate mixing system to an already mixed system to be delivered monthly. Cost for the new system will be S3OO monthly on top of the initial investment of $1,865 for purchase of scales to weigh the liquid phosphate. •Also approved was a request to attain $78,454 of already approved grant money provided through the community focus fund. The money will help cover costs to develop North Main Manor after it is released to the city by the state.

and plan through the PL 221 on how to assist those sophomores who fell below the required passing score: below E/LA, but not math: 34 percent; below math, but not E/LA; 19 percent and below both E/LA and math: 14 percent. When comparing 2002 to 2001 results, North Wood High School shows continuous improvement at grade 10, a requirement for PL 221. They also show the same high performance on the math standard, which is no change from 2001 (79 percent). The English/language arts standard was up 1 percent in 2002, and there was an increase of 3 percent of students meeting both English/language arts and math standards. A study was done of how this group of students achieved during sixth and eighth grade as well as 10th. In sixth grade (1998) 66 percent were above average for English/language arts, with an average score of 505.3. Also, 70 percent were above average in math with an average score of 506.5. In grade 8 (2000), 73 percent of sophomores were above average in English/language arts with an average score of 506.4. and in math were 84 percent above average with a score of 527.5. In grade 10, 2002, the average score for English/language arts was 506.8 and 523.9 in

even had classes about it," she said. The original building was constructed by George Moyer and his son, Harold. "I remember my dad talking about it." Helen said. “He said it was built so well, it would take a lot to knock it down.” She added how the roof was reinforced to the point it would allow the addition of another entire story at the top of the building, had the need arose. She thinks it's sad that the building can’t be put to other uses, instead of demolished. Before that demolition begins, however, there will be an auction of numerous items on Jan. 3. beginning at 10 am. Coordinated by Hahn Auction Service, just a short list of

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•Decision was made to approve connection permits to 458 N. Tomahawk Dr. This will happen after the developer of that land has constructed city streets. Road construction will be established at the cost of developer Roger Buss. •The board of works will meet Monday, Dec. 23, 3:30 p.m. in the Nappanee Municipal Building, West Lincoln Street. Meetings are open to the public.

math. COMMUNITY EDUCATION The spring 2003 Wa-Nee Community Education program registration booklets are being printed at North Wood High School. The booklets, which describe the classes, will be distributed to local businesses, public libraries and WaNee families. The classes will begin in mid-January 2003. Twenty-five different classes ranging from the GED program to sign language to water aerobics will be offered along with 12 different computer classes. The Community Education Steering Committee includes representatives from Wa-Nee Community Schools. Wakarusa Public Library, Nappanee Public Library, Ivy Tech State College, Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce and Wakarusa Chamber of Commerce. The program is producing results by making it more financially self-sufficient. By restructuring registration costs, setting instructors’ fees and adjusting class minimum numbers, a greater efficiency is created for the overall program. The school board will meet Monday, December 30, 6:30 a.m., at the Wa-Nee Administration Building, north on S.R. 19. Meetings are open to the public.

items to be on the block include: a portable air compressor, window air conditioning units, a “barrel of fence parts." student desks, teacher desks, equipment from the home economics class room and from the school's cafeteria kitchen, drawing tables from the wood shop, a floor scrubber, filing cabinets, ceiling tiles and light fixtures. A complete list of items to be auctioned is available at the Wa-Nee Community Schools office. While the building will soon be gone, the memories of the “wonderful teachers, the good music department and the choir" and many other experiences will remain in the hearts of those like Helen Kline whose formative years were spent within those honored walls.

574-773-3127