Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 127, Number 50, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 9 December 2004 — Page 4

Page 4

• Advance News • Thursday, December 9, 2004

Leadership Academy develops leaders at work and in the community By Stephanie Middauoh Correspondent As plans are unveiled for the proposed Nappanee community amphitheater, some may wonder where the idea came from and who will be willing to devote the countless hours to see the project to completion. The answer lies with a group of motivated graduates from the 2004 Nappanee Leadership Academy. The Nappanee Leadership Academy is co-sponsored by the Nappanee Public Library and the Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce. It was started four years ago with a grant from the Elkhart County Community Foundation. At that time, the chamber realized that people willing to lead community projects would not simply emerge. Instead, members of the community needed to be encouraged, developed and linked together. "We found ourselves asking the same people over and over again to help out with community projects," said Linda Yoder, president of the Nappanee Chamber of Commerce and director of the Nappanee Public Library. "We knew civic-minded people existed in Nappanee. They just didn’t know how to get connected." The goal of the academy is to develop community leaders, locally, through sessions on leadership skills and community awareness. Each class also completes a group project. One of the primary objectives of the academy is to teach participants how the community works. But, graduates also become more effective in their own careers with sessions on communication, organization, adapting to change and stress management. "Each participant is taught leadership theory, how to build teams and how to interact with others?" said Larry Andrews, executive director of the Nappanee Chamber of Commerce. "Participants sharpen their leadership skills to benefit them at work and within the community." Starting in September, "students" of the academy began to attend an orientation luncheon and nine educational sessions from 7:30 a.m. until noon on the second Tuesday of each month. On two occasions, the group meets longer, with a full-day fall retreat in September and a local tourism day (including a countryside tour of the Amish community and a lecture from Dick Pletcher) in May. Each class holds a commencement ceremony in June. Each session is lead by a consultant trained in leadership skills training. There are also guest speakers from the community, including the mayor and other city officials, and local business leaders. Participants are also required to attend a school board meeting, chamber of commerce meeting or city council njjgeting'to acquaint them with the community.

Police Report

NAPPANEE On the evening on Nov. 27, Nappanee Police Officer Nik Havert stopped a truck in the 100 block of South Main Street for a license plate light violation. The driver, Justin R. Moseley, 21, of Nappanee, , fled from the scene on foot. Officer Havert chased Moseley into an 'alley, where he caught him as he tried to enter a local tavern. “Moseley was found to be intoxicated and later failed a chemical breath test. He was charged with class A misdemeanor Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated and Resisting Law Enforcement. He was transported to the Elkhart County Detention Facility and held there on a S3OOO bond. WAKARUSA On Dec. 1, a Wakarusa resident reported that a Nishiki girls bicycle was left in the bike rack at the Wakarusa downtown park for approximately three weeks. Police ran a stolen property check on the maroon 26-inch Nishiki Meridian SC and learned the bike was not entered stolen. The bicycle was placed in safe storage at the Wakarusa Police Department. Anyone with any information about the stolen-bicycle can call 574-862-4200.

Court Re

Nov. 29 • • Robert V. Hanning, speeding, $103.50 • Stephanie N. Kimes, 21, Mishawaka, speeding, $103.50 • Tristan G. Martz, 19, Nappanee, failure to use seat belt-passen ger, $25 • Michael ]. Mucha, 24, Plymouth, driving with license suspend ed-infraction, $136.50 • Eduin AO Rodriguez, 21, Plymouth, no operators license, $91.50 • Tonya S. Rohr, 34, Nappanee, speeding, $100.50 Dec. 2 • Robert R. Curtis, 34, Nappanee, disregard stop sign, $22 • Lisa M. Yeiter, 27, Mentone, speeding, $106.50 • Karen M. Ramsey, 47, North Liberty, speeding, $104.50 • Melvin D. Schrock, 70, Wakarusa, failure to use seat belt, $25 • Nathan D. Wiggins, 32, Nappanee, failure to use seat belt, $25 • Fern Yoder, 67, Nappanee, failure to use seat belt, $25

W fa Hertiage House" ASSISTED LIVING APARTMENTS mm\ I a tALitl&ls Senior Living Community ~ Martba Berger, Resident (pictured left to right, Darlene Wedge, Community Relations Director 11 Bernard Stanley, Chef & Martba Berger) I ** the weather outside begins to change, make a choice for m the new y ear Sto P by and reserve your apartment today. E> Restaurant Style Dining O Housekeeping/Laundry Serv. flb>Recreational Activities So Much More!! | . Ml .MM

Community

To further improve community awareness, each session is held at a different location in the city. Students visit Nappanee city buildings, such as rity hall, the police department, fire department and EMS department. They also visit the Nappanee airport, Newmar Corporation (with a tour), Amish Acres, the Boy Scouts cabin, local schools and the library. "Many of the participants would have never have been in the majority of those buildings without attending the Leadership Academy," said Yoder. "Whether someone has lived here all their life, or they just moved into the community, they learn something new about Nappanee by participating in the academy," she added. CLASS PROJECT Each year during the academy, students complete a class project that will benefit the Nappanee community. The Nappanee Chamber of Commerce provides each class with a list of possible projects, but the students can come up with their own ideas, too. According to Greg Taylor, a 2004 graduate of the Nappanee Leadership Academy and now committee chairman for the city's amphitheater project, his class wanted a "hands on" project. "We wanted to roll up our sleeves and work on something that would have a lasting impact on the community," he said. "This was the first time that a class chose a project that would last beyond the time allotted in the academy." Academy participants researched other community amphitheater projects, talked with excavators and architects and secured a matching grant from the Elkhart County Community Foundation for $25,000. Many within the class agreed to stay on after graduation from the academy to see the project through. "We learned that this area of the county did not have anything of the ampitheatre’s magnitude," said Brad Balasa, another 2004 graduate of the academy. "Through informal surveys, we found out that an amphitheater was needed and wanted here." Balasa added that by working on the group project and by participating in the academy, he learned how to work with different people with different leadership styles. "Before the academy, I never knew that there were so many leadership styles within one group," he said. "The academy taught me, that in any group, you're going to run into problems. Now, I know how to resolve them." For Taylor, the Leadership Academy gave him a greater respect for how Nappanee works and educated him on how the city is run. "I now know how to work with others in the community to get things done," he said. "Fortunately, there are many civic-minded people in Nappanee." The Nappanee Leadership Academy is looking for class participants who have three basic similarities: A demonstrated ability to achieve personal goals, a ready availability of time and resources

The Christmas Tree Train is ready to be boarded

/fjj, ft

PHOTO PROVIDED BY STEPHANIE MIDDAUGH The Christmas Tree Train is now running at the Old Wakarusa Railroad, adjacent to the Family Table restaurant on SR 19 in Wakarusa. Families can ride the train for free if they purchase one of the locally grown Christmas trees available at the railroad. For those wanting to just ride the train, fares have been reduced to $3 per person for the holiday season. Plus, the train and the track is decorated with Christmas lights. The train runs on Thursday and Friday from 5 to 8 p.m.; on Saturdays from 1 to 8 p.m.; and on Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. Christmas trees will be available until Dec. 23.

Christmas in Wakarusa The "Wakarusa Christmas Open House qnd Christmas Around the Tree" holiday celebration will be held on Monday, Dec. 13. The annual event will feature entertainment by The North Wood Red Regiment Band and Dawning Generation Show Choir. These groups will delight and entertain all that attend with melodious sounds of the season beginning at 7 p.m. A carriage ride will be available to tour decorated areas of the town. The winners of the Christmas Decorating Contest will be announced during the evening activities. Holiday refreshments will be served. Tired of the hustle and bustle of the large malls? Have you considered shopping Wakarusa? The downtown merchants and restaurants will be open till 8:30 p.m. Dec. 13 to assist you with your last minute shopping needs. Local merchants and restaurateurs will be featuring special items for this evening. You won't want to miss this opportunity to visit Wakarusa's unique businesses.

to commit to community service and a demonstrated personal commitment to the Nappanee area and society as a whole. Tuition for the academy is S4OO, which includes the orientation, all program days and course materials. Tuition may be paid by a sponsor organization, or by the participant. Some scholarships also may be available. Anyone interested in attending a future session, should contact Linda Yoder at the Nappanee Public Library (773-7919), or Larry Andrews at the Nappanee Chamber of Commerce (773 7812).

1 1

ADVANCE NEWS THEATRE The Nappanee Civic Theatre donated SIO,OOO to the Nappanee Community Ampitheatre on Dec. 6.. Left to right: Ampitheatre Chairman Greg Taylor, President of the Nappanee Civic Theatre Nik Havert, Executive Director of the Civic Theater John Loucks and Nappanee Chamber of Commerce President Larry Andrews. THEATRE--2,000 people, who may come out to the site, on the north end of the sledding hill, to see a Latin Festival, jazz, country, bluegrass, Christian or pop concerts, as well as events for the Apple Festival and the Fourth of July. "It will meet the needs of everyone in the community," Taylor said. Donations will be recognized with wooden blocks that will be located at the ampitheatre. Donors of SIO,OOO will be designated as Walnut Level, $5,000 will be Oak and donations of SI,OOO will be Maple. "Wood is Nappanee heritage," Taylor said. "That's what built our community."

Continuous Publication Since 1879 Advance News Serving Nappanee & Wakarusa HOW TO REACH US: (USPS 370-960) If you do not receive your paper by 5 pm Thursday, please call the circulation department at 936-5101 up to 6 p.m. and we will deliver your newspaper that day. Publisher ; Grover Ford General Manager Jerry L. Bingle Managing Editor Jim Hekel Advance News Editor Anthony Gadson Sports Editor ...' ' Ron Haramia Production/IT Manager Greg Hildebrand Marketing & Circulation Manager Cindy Stockton www.thepilomews.com 158 W. Market SL, P.O. Box 230, Nappanee, IN 46550 (574)775-3127 Published weekly. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 214 N. Michigan St, Plymouth, IN 46563 Periodical postage paid Nappanee, IN 46550 Mail Rates: Indiana, $20.00 for 52 issues; out-of-state $25.00 for 52 issues. Displav Ad Deadlines: Pilot News - 2 Days Prior at 5:00 p.m. Bremen Enquirer, Nappanee Advance News, Culver Citizen, Bourbon News-Mirror, The leader - Thursday at 5:00 p.m. The Review - Tuesday at 3:00 p.m. TV Week - F riday (Week Prior) at 5:00 pm Classified Ad Deadlines: Pilot New s - Day Prior at 11:30 am Bremen Enquirer, Nappanee Advance News, Culver Citizen, Bourbon News-Minor, The Leader - Monday at 11:30 am. The Review - Tuesday at 4:00 pm Legal Deadlines: Pilot News - Three Days Prior at 4:00 p.m. Bremen Enquirer, Nappanee Advance News. Culver Citizen, Bourbon News-Mirror, The Leader - Wednesday (A Week Prior) at 4:00 pm All ads larger than 1/4 page need to be wnailed, sent in a word document or dropped off on a (loppy disk. To Place A Classified Ad call 18004)534)356 or 574-936-3101. To Order Your Subscription tall 1-800-9534)356 or 574-936-3101.