Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 126, Number 51, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 18 December 2003 — Page 1

Advance News

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HOLIDAY DEADLINES Deadlines for display ads, classified ads, and news submissions will be altered for the Christmas and New Year's editions of the Advance News. For the 12/25 issue, the deadline will be 12/17, and for the 1/1 issue, the deadline wilt be 12/23. ELDER LUNCHEON The Nappanee Brethren In Christ Church continues to host a monthly Elder Luncheon to the community of Nappanee. On the third Friday of each month, you are invited to attend Elder Luncheon, a time to fel-. lowship with old friends, and make new friends. Our next Elder Luncheon will be held on Dec. 19. Advance registrations are appreciated and may be called in to the church office, 773-3365. Donations of $3 cover the cost of the entire meal. LIBRARY BOARD MEETING CANCELLATION The previously scheduled meeting of the Wakarusa Public Library Board for Dec. 30 at 8 a m. has been cancelled. CORRECTION The “Congratulations North Wood!” ad for the Nappanee Spinal Adjusting Center in the Dec. 4 issue of the Advance News stated that “the office will reopen Tuesday May 28th for regular business hours.” This was an error, and we apologize for the confusion. The Nappanee Spinal Adjusting Center is currently open during regular business hours. BUILDING AVAILABLE FOR CHRISTMAS GATHERINGS Reservations are being taken for the use of the Milford Community Building over the Christmas season. It has been decorated appropriately for children as well as adults. There would be no need for any further decoration for your Christmas gatherings. Call (574) 638-4614 for reservations. SAFE SITTER CLASSES Community Hospital of Bremen will be offering Safe Sitter classes on two different dates in December Dec. 23,8 a.m.-3 p.m., and Dec. 30,8 a.m.-3 p.m. These one day classes are free to anyone (boy or girl) between the ages of 11-13 and everyone is requested to bring a sack lunch. Gass size will be limited to ttn per session. All interested nifties are to call Teresa Brow/ 546-2211, ext. 214 or Pam/himph ext. 352. FOURTH QUARTER BEAUTIFICATION AWARD NOMINATIONS Nominations are now being Continued on A 2

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Wa-Nee students excel in preliminary ISTEP testing

► SCORES ARE "extremely strong* i »- hliiUm ~J. Advance Newa Correspondent WAKARUSA - “Very excited," was how Assistant Superintendent Dr. Joyce Phillips described her reaction to recently released ISTEP scores for grades 3,6,8, and 10 during the School Board of Trustees meeting Dec. 8 at

Christmas Tradition Bums Bright in Wakamsa

►Tree annually in TOWN SQUARE FOR OVER 50 YEARS oy smpnanie mnaougn Advance News Correspondent WAKARUSA Nobody knows when it exactly happened, or who’s idea it was. But most know that the Volunteer Fire Department has always been involved and that there are no left turns allowed in downtown Wakarusa in late December. Although some grumble, most Wakarusa residents are proud of the large Christmas tree placed yearly at the intersection of Elkhart and Waterford Streets. And now, a Christmas without a tree reaching the stoplight would be - well - rather bland. Without the tree there would be no stories of high winds or cars sliding on ice only to topple one of our leading symbols of Christmas. We wouldn't hear the yam of one weary traveler who kept circling the tree, since he was prohibited from turning left. And we'd surely miss the cautionary tale of the prominent town resident reportedly written up in the newspaper for illegally turning left during the Christmas seuon. But when did the tr«dltion begin? FIFTY YEARS OF UGHTS A simple lighting ceremony at the Town Square is first mentioned in the Wakarusa Tribune in 1954. The first program Included special Christmas music, group singing and the lighting of the streets, store windows and town tree. The paper reads: “Local ministers have planned to close their weekly prayer meetings by 8 o’clock that night and the entire community is urged to join in the observance. The lighting ceremony is the result of many weeks of planning by a central committee representing churches and organizations in the community. This action followed a public meeting and panel discussion Oct. 4, sponsored by the Mother's Study Club. More than 20 store windows will carry appropriate decorations created by school, town, and church classes and clubs. The

“Miracle for Mike” boot drive this weekend

► Proceeds will DEFER COST OF LIVER TRANSPLANT By Kylit Carter Advance News Editor NAPPANEE - Don’t be surprised if you

see a scene similar to the one at right this weekend while passing through Nappanee. This Saturday, Dec. 20, EMS workers along with fire and police officers will be out collecting donations in fireman bootsfrom 9 a.m. to noon to benefit former EMT director Mike Stull. Stull served on the Nappanee EMS for 10 years, and was EMS director for five years, Additionally, Stull served as a Nappanee fireman for three years.

"Mike has done so much for this community in his years of service to the EMT and the

serving Nappanee & waKonusa

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Wakamsa Elementary. Eighty percent of third-graders passed the English/language arts portion of the test, while 79% passed for math. In sixth grade, 83% passed the English/language arts portion, with an astounding 90% passing in math. Upper level grades also tested well, as 75% of Wa-Nee eighth-graders passed their English/language arts ISTEP, while 84% passed in math. Tenth-graders passed 73% and 75% of their tests, respectively. Tenth-grade students were also required to take the State Graduation Qualifying Exam

PHOTO BY STEPHANIE MIDDAUGH Wakarusa's Christmas tree was put up on Monday. See page A 6 for more pictures from the event.

Lion’s Club has purchased additional street decorations to continue their town lighting and a large tree at the square will be provided and erected by the firemen." Outstanding home decorations (outside and those inside which were visible from outside) were also judged, while Girl Scouts sold star decorations. The second Christmas lighting ceremony added prose and poetry selections to accent the

fire department,” said Bobbie Wilson, friend of Stull’s. “We hope that now everybody will help us give back to Mike.” Stull is currently in need of a liver transplant, a costly operation that he will need help in funding. A group of around 40 of Stull's friends got together and decided to try and help Stull defer the costs of the procedure. This weekend’s boot drive will be the kickoff fundraiser, and the group plans on having many more thereafter. EMS, Fire and Police officers will be at Nappanee’s downtown intersection of S.R. 19

Miracle for Mike Boot Drive Saturday Dec. 20 9 am to noon

putting money in those fire department boots when you see them this Saturday.

Thursday, Dtctmbtr 18,2003

and U.S. 6 collecting money this Saturday, while friends of Mike’s will also be volunteering their time to collect donations at the following locations: -•CVS •C omer Case •The Country Table •Right Choice •Teakwood Case •Gold Crown Lanes •Lake City Bank •Chiphone Credit Union Help support Stull by

(GQE). They must pass the exam before receiving their high school diploma. The test is based on ninth-grade skill levels and can be taken once in a student's sophomore year, twice as a junior and twice in their senior year. Rx the North Wood Class of 2004, only six students still need to pass the GQE. In the Class of 2005, 166 out of 201 have passed the test. And the Class of 2006 has 148 of 222 already making the grade. Dr. Phillips is most impressed with the thirdgrade language arts scores rating higher than math scores for the first time since ISTEP testing

theme, “Star of Bethlehem." And all residents were encouraged to place a lighted star in their windows to emphasize the spiritual theme. A new nativity scene of life-sized, painted figures was also placed in the town park. While town merchants decorated smaller Christmas trees outside their businesses. In future tree lighting ceremonies, churches were asked to ring their bells while the tree Continued on A 6

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PHOTO BY KYUE CARTER Volunteers from the Nappanee Police, Fire, and EMS departments will be collecting donations this weekend to benefit Mike Stull as he prepares for a liver transplant. Patrol officer Tony Schmucker Is shown here approaching a car for donations.

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began. She hopes this is the “first snapshot" showing that the Literary Collaborative, recently instituted at the elementary level to boost reading and writing skills, is working. ISTEP scores for grades 4,5,7 and 9 will be released early next year. Comparisons between Wa-Nee and other school districts will be done at that time. GIFTED DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Teachers, Justine Crilow and Ann Sauceda, Continued on A 2

574-773-3127

Thornburg is Student of theWfeek WA-NEE - Jeremy Thornburg is the J&N Stone Student of the Week. Jeremy is a junior at North Wood. He is the son of Jay and Trudy Thornburg of

Nappanee. Earnest Hemingway once defined courage as “grace under pressure." Those who know Jeremy Thornburg think he is living proof

Jeremy Thornburg

that Mr. Hemingway was correct. Jeremy has Krohns Disease. This is a condition where the immune system turns on the digestive system because it thinks something is wrong. It requires Jeremy to make visits to Riley’s Hospital in Indianapolis on a regular basis and to watch his diet very closely. Jeremy has remained upbeat and positive despite the many inconveniences of this illness. He has an infectious attitude and a positive, upbeat personality that makes him extremely popular with students and staff at North Wood. Jeremy has chosen to take the high road in life. He is “thankful for what I do have, and after seeing others at Riley, I know that many people are worse off than me.” Jeremy is on the academic honors program at North Wood. He is in Drama Club, Prom Club, and helps with Eye of the Panther. He enjoys tennis, acting, and taking part in church activities. After graduation he hopes to attend college and possible become a teacher or a pediatrician. J&N Stone is pleased to recognize Jeremy Thornburg as the J&N Stone Student of the Week.