Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 127, Number 1, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 1 January 2004 — Page 1

Advance News Serving Nappanee & Wakarusa

Voi. 127 Issue 1

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os3 ADVANCE NEWS STAFF VACATION The Advance News office will be closed over the holidays until Jan. 4 for staff vacation. The office will reopen Jan. 5 with extended hours from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to receive news submissions for the Jan. 8 issue of the Advance News. News submissions may also be faxed, emailed, mailed, or left in the drop box. CLASS OF 1944 BREAKFAST The NHS Class of 1944 will hold its class breakfast at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 8 at the Country Table. Please note the change of date due to the Jan. 1 holiday. OPEN DOOR NOTICE The City of Nappanee Electric Licensing Board will meet on Jan. 8, 2004 in the meeting room at the Nappanee Municipal, 300 West Lincoln Street, Nappanee, Ind. at 7 p.m. The Board will elect officers and approve the applications for the 2004 Electric Licenses. BIRTHDAY UPDATES Did you have a child, lose a loved one, get married, or move to the area this year? Then the Advance News birthday book needs your update. Please take the time to email us at [email protected] or send us a note in the mail (PO Box 230, Nappanee, 46550). We will be happy to make any necessary changes. FREE SAPUNGS The City of Nappanee, along with DLZ, Inc., is offering free saplings to the citizens of Nappanee. To make arrangements to pick up your trees, please call Tiffany in the Clerk-Treasurer’s office at 574-773-2112, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Trees are available until N0v.26. ADVERTISING AND SUBSCROTONS For questions regarding Advance News classified advertising or subscriptions, please call 1-800-933-0356 between 8 am. and 5 pm Monday through Friday. Due to reduced hours at the Nappanee news office, advertisers and subscribers will find more efficient and helpful service by calling, the tollfree number and speaking directly to a trained classified or subscription representative to place an ad, start a new subscription, change an address, check on existing accounts and so forth. For story ideas or news questions, contact Kylie Carter, staff reporter at 773-3127 or e-mail [email protected] To speak'tri Kylie in person about a news item, her new office hours are 11 am'to 1 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. The office!* closed Diesday. News releases may be placed in die secured drop box outside the office. Continued on 2

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Wakarusa’s new downtown is “pretty as a picture”

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- ilinitfl mill MiminiMY ffffffllitg AAigii^tiraj rnuiu tur KBNUtKrwi dt Dicnwßc tvuwauw An artist's rendering detailed some of the improvements that will be made to Wakarusa's downtown next year.

► REvnAUZAnoN PLANS REVEALED AT TOWN MEETING 8.. f. I ?- BA? J J L Dy jiepnonie lYiiauaugn Advance News Correspondent WAKARUSA Wakarusa residents and businessmen were impressed and excited after viewing a detailed artist’s rendering for the Streetscape and Infrastructure Improvement Project during a public meeting held at the Town Hall, Dec. 18. According to Kenny Twa, owner of the Wakarusa Hardware, he’s ready for the revitalization project to start tomorrow. “The new downtown will show that this community is on the ball,” he said. “We’ve always done so much for the industry in our town, due to their large tax base, but not much for downtown,” Twa added.

Timberdoodles offers custom cabinetry

OPENING UP SHOP IS LOCAL MAN'S LONG-TERM GOAL By Kylie Carter Advance News Editor NAPPANEE- P a t Morganthaller realized a long-term goal at the start of November as he opened up Timberdoodles, his own custom cabinet and countertop shop on South Main Street in Nappanee. “I’ve always had the idea,” said Morganthaller. “It never seemed to come together until now.” Morganthaller finished working at Yoder’s on Labor Day weekend, where he had spent 17 years accruing expertise in the field of countertops. He acquired the building that used to Hartman Furniture Store on Oct. 1. “It definitely came together very fast,” said Morganthaller. “The whole idea and everything. It was a leap of faith.” Morganthaller felt called to make this change in his life, and wants his faith to be a part of the way he runs his business, stating that he wants to base it on, “honesty and integrity.” “The whole business was put together basically on faith, knowing that God has provided everything both business-wise and ability,” said Morganthaller. “He’s just opened doors.” Morganthaller hopes to use one upside of owning his own business flexible hours to give back what has been given to him. He’s always been interested in mission trips, but had never been able to go because of his work. Now, that will change, and he will be able to go if he wants to.

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All that will change May 2004, when Wakarusa will devote $450,000 from a state grant to cosmetic and functional changes for approximately one block in each direction of the Town Square. Work will begin after the 2004 Maple Syrup Festival, reaching completion in October, reported Town Manager, Tom Roeder. The grant states that construction must be completed by Dec. 15, 2004. “There will be some confusion this summer due to the project,” Roeder said. “And we certainly don’t want to shut businesses down any longer than we have to, but we’re redoing everything from the building out to the road. It will be some work.” On a functional level, downtown will see storm drainage improvements, removal of overhead wires and pavement replacement. The downtown water main also will be replaced, reported Mark Wilson, project engineer from Marbach, Brady and Weaver. “The guys here had to do research to find out when the water

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PHOTO BY KYUE CARTER Pat Morganthaller opened up his own cabinetry and countertop shop in November called ‘Timberdoodles.' He is shown here in his shop spraying glue in preparation for laying down the laminate.

Morganthaller will be providing his services for entertainment counters, bathrooms, individual pieces of furniture, and fireplace surrounds. He is currently limited due to the small size of his shop and the fact that he is his only employee. The business has started off well, though, and he is excited for the

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opportunity to “give the people a good honest product at a good honest price.” Timberdoodles is open Monday through Friday, from 8 p.m. to 5 p.m., and he may be available sometimes on Saturdays by appointment. Morganthaller recommends that a customer calls at 773-

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main was even completed. We learned that it was built in the 19205, making replacement parts unavailable.” Cosmetically, the project will include new brick-patterned, two level sidewalks with metal fences and stamped, colored concrete crosswalks. Ornamental lamp posts, reaching 14 feet, will be added to hold large hanging baskets. And curb ralnps will be installed and steps removed to make the downtown area compliant with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). A mini-park is also planned for the old barbershop lot north of the Town Hall. The area, approximately 50 feet by 25 feet, will include a brickpatterned walk, picnic tables, benches and a new drinking fountain. Landscaping will be added to the park and along the Town Square, as well. The goal is to leave all existing trees, while adding 10-12 more trees for additional shade. Elkhart City Forester, Rod Harmon has suggested Gingko, Flowering Continued on 5

7815 to make sure he is there before they come to the store, as he may be out already installing a piece somewhere. Morganthaller lives in Nappanee with his wife Karla, who is a hairdresser at New Attitudes in Nappanee, and two kids, Heidi, age 8, and Jesse, age 11.

574-773-3127

Red Regiment has flown south for the winter The North Wood High School Red Regiment will depart for Orlando and Tampa, Fla. Dec. 26 at 9:30 a.m. The band loaded charter buses at 8:30 a.m. for the 23 hour trip down to Florida. Highlights of die trip included performances at Disney's Magic Kingdom in Mickey's Verry Merry Christmas Parade and the Outback Bowl Parade and Halftime Show. Students visited all four amusement parks at Walt Disney World in addition to Tampa's Busch Gardens, Clearwater Beach, and Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and die place of the Outbade Bowl between the lowa Hawkeyes and the University of Florida - alma mater of Director of Bands Barry Houser. The Red Regiment will be on the road for seven days arriving back in Nappanee on Jan. 2. Cost of die trip was $75,000 which breaks down to $917 per student. Many fundraising endeavors were set-up to off ret the cost of the trip. The Red Regiment thanks the many businesses and patrons for their wonderful support to make this trip

Robust job market growth predicted Staff Report Elkhart area employers expect to hire at a brisk pace during the first quarter of 2004, according to the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey . From January to March, 43% of the companies interviewed plan to hire more employees, while 13% intend to reduce their workforce, according to Manpower spokesperson Scott Shultz. Another 44% expect to maintain their current staff levels. “Elkhart area employers reported more conservative hiring plans for the fourth quarter when 27% of the companies interviewed predicted an increase in hiring activity, while 10% planned to decrease their hiring pace,” said Shultz. “A year ago at this time, employers forecast steady job gains when 20% of companies surveyed thought employment increases were likely and none intended to cut back.” For the coming quarter, job prospects appear best in Durable ad Non-Durable Goods Manufacturing, Finance/Insurance/ Real Estate, Services and Public Administration. Employers in Wholesale/Retail Trade have mixed hiring intentions. Hiring in other sectors is expected to remain unchanged. The national results of the Manpower Employment Outlook Survey reveal that U.S. employers continue to show optimism in their hiring forecast for the first quarter of 2004. For the first time in five years, employers expressed an increase in hiring expectations from the fourth quarter to the first quarter. Of the 16,000 U.S. employers that were polled, 20% said they plan to boost employment levels for the first three months of 2004, while 13% anticipate a slower hiring pace. Sixty-two percent of employers expect to offer the same number of jobs as last quarter.