Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 127, Number 5, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 29 January 2004 — Page 3

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PHOTO BY STEPHANIE MIDOAUGH After a fast descent, local snowboarders make the slow, difficult journey back up the Wakarusa sledding hill, last Saturday, The hill sits In the middle of a new, 25-acre town park, also containing a paved walking path, pavilion and gazebo. Future additions to the park will Include a playground and natural habitat garden.

Wakarusa summer ball registration begins; new town park moving foiward

Registration FORMS AVAILABLE AT AREA BUSINESSES By Stephanie Middaugh Advance News Correspondent "Play ball!" Although the weather has been downright frigid lately, registration for the \MakutW Sum,mer Baseball and Softball Program begins Tuesday, Feb. 3. The season kicks off Monday, May 17. Registration forms will be available through Saturday, Feb. 24 at Cook's Pizza, The Wakarusa Dime Store, J&N Stone and Wakarusa Elementary and Northwood Middle Schools. To be eligible, participants must have completed kindergarten by the end of the 2003-2004 school year. Boys up to age 8 can play baseball. And girls up to age 13 can play softball. To support the Wakarusa ballpark, commemorative bricks are available to purchase for S4O. Three lines, of 15 characters each, are available on each brick for inscription. The bricks will be placed around the flagpole at the ballpark. All proceeds will benefit the Wakarusa Summer Baseball and Softball program helping with repairs, equipment costs and all other additions to the park. According to Nadine Lengacher, spokesperson for the program, donors can be a part of Wakarusa's history by honoring a friend, relative or loved one in a special way, while supporting the Wakarusa ballpark. So far, demand for the bricks has been high. According to Lengacher, someone comes in almost every day for an order form, even in the winter. "We'll keep selling bricks and keep making the area around the flagpole bigger until we run out of room," she says. For Lengacher and her husband. Jack, the Wakarusa ballpark has been a labor of love for both of them since taking over the program in 1979.

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What started out with one ball diamond next to the Northwood Middle School, now boasts four, lighted ball diamonds, a new concessions stand with bathrooms and new seating. The growing program now has more than 520 kids playing ball each summer. NEW TOWN PARK A twist of fate may have contributed to the ejtpqpsion and improvement of the Wakarusa ballpark. ’ 'Rft.*ehf‘ v dbhsti'd?ftbV'"dr' 'the ' Northwood Middle School forced the ballpark to move from its previous location next to the facility. Luckily, the Town of Wakarusa agreed to lease some land north of the Wakarusa Elementary School for the ballpark. And better yet, the ballpark now sits adjacent to a 25-acre town park, currently under development. The new town park, which sits north and west of the elementary school, has yet to be named (The Town Council will choose a name in the spring from the 40 suggestions provided by the community.). But the park already contains many amenities for the town's citizens. This winter old and young, alike - continue to break in the sledding hill. And for those restless souls with cabin fever, a 5/8 mile, paved walking path only awaits spring's arrival. New additions to the park include a pavilion, donated by Dr. Robert M. Abel, equipped with picnic tables and grills. Plus, a gazebo, donated by Monaco Coach Corporation, contains a dual-sided bench swing. But the Town may be the most proud of the natural aspects of the park. A walkway for a natural habitat garden has been laid out. And in the spring, native prairie grass species, flowers and rocks will be placed in the garden. The goal is to attract as many birds and butterflies as possible. To complement the garden, more than 100 trees will fill the park. A variety of species will be planted to coordinate with the nearby elementary school's leaf collection project.

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Community

Future donations will be used for playground equipment, lighting for the walking path and restroom facilities. For those wishing to contribute to the new town park, donations can be mailed to: Wakarusa Park Fund, do Nadine Lengacher, P.O. Box 442, Wakarusa, Indiana, 46573.. Anyone with questions about baseball and softball registration, or who wish to purchase a commemorative.hrick, can contact Nadine at 8624251, or visit J&N Stone at 905 East Waterford, Wakarusa, •

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Hunsberger still at it after 30 years

By Amanda Murray Advance News Editor v NAPPANEE - Fred Hunsberger has really been around the block. Actually, he has been around the same blocks for more than two decades. Hunsberger is a road delivery man for the Nappanee branch of the United States Post Office. . According to him, this position makes him “a real earner.” This real carrier has run the same road route in the same Jeep for the past 24 years, and has delivered mail for the post office for a total of 30 years as of last week. “If you want your life to go by fast, work for the post office," Hunsberger said. And time has really flown for him. He has worked at the same mail station in the back of the post office for 30 short years, and in about another year, he will give it up for retirement. Though working at the post office for three decades is impressive enough, Hunsberger has also been a farmer and a teacher. He found all of his work to be fulfilling, but something made him stay at the post office. “I enjoy going out and delivering to people there, seeing the countryside," Hunsberger said. He also has gotten to know a lot of people on his route and has watched children grow up and

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Advance News • Thursday, January 29, 2004 ■

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PHOTO BY AMANDA MURRAY I Post Master Brian DqCraene (left) presents Fred Hunsberger with a certificate and medal of achievement for his 30-year run at the post office.

move out. He has also seen a lot of people grow old and pass on. which he said is a hard part of the job. The unfortunate parts ahom his joh do not seem to he keeping him down, at least not according to his boss. Post Master Brian DeCraene

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said the best thing about Hunsberger is "his humor. I think he has a positive attitude" DeCraene said that even though Hunsberger has been through a lot of tough times, he his kept a cheery disposition. A disposition that will he missed when he hangs up his mailbag for the last time.

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