Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 130, Number 1, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 4 January 2007 — Page 4

Page 4

• Advance News • Thursday. January 4. 2007

Wa-Nee area looks back on 2006 events

Jan. 6 DISTRICT 2 SEAT IS NO LONGER VACANT by Anthony Godson Jim Otis' resignation from the Nappanee City Council became effective on Dec. 31. Luckily, the council found a replacement on Dec. 29. During a Republican caucus on Dec. 29, Mike Stull was appointed to fill the council vacancy for District 2. "I think he will be a great fit," Nappanee mayor Larry Thompson said. "With his past history of being involved with the city and its emergency services, he has a love for Nappanee and is aware of the quality of care we provide. 1 think he'll make a really great council person." Jan. 12 TALK CONTINUES ON POSSIBILITY OF A MUSEUM IN NAPPANEE By Anthony Godson Nappanee has the historic items to fill a museum. The only question is, does Nappanee have the means to purchases a museum? At last Thursday's meeting of the Nappanee Historic Preservation Committee, the prospect of establishing a Nappanee Heritage Center was discussed. A committee was formed back in April to look into financing a historical museum in Nappanee, and after eight months, the research continues. "They are still in the research phase, looking into how to approach, it," Historic Preservation's Don Lehman said. Nappanee Mayor. Larry Thompson has been an active member in the committee, and updated the commission on all the latest developments. "For the long term, we're concerned with not only buying the building, but with also maintaining it," he said. FOURTH PANTHERS' COACH TO JOIN HALL By Anthony Godson . North Wood Girls Basketball Coach Steve Neff will be joining Jim Andrews, Louis Bonacorsi and Rich Dodson in the fraternity of Indiana Hall of Fame coaches from' North Wood High School, it Monday.

Continuous Publication Since 1879 Advance News Nappanee & Wakarusa HOW TO REACH US: If you do not receive your paper by 5 pm Thursday, please call the circulation department at 936-3101 up to 6 p.m. and we w ill deliver your newspaper that day. Publisher Rick Kreps General Manager Jerry L. Bingle Advance News Editor Mandy McFarland Managing Editor Maggie Nixon Production/IT Manager Greg Hildebrand Marketing Manager Cindy Stockton Circulation Manager James Radican ww-w.thepilotnews.com 158 W. Market Si, P.O. Box 230,,Nappanee, IN 46550 (574)773-5127 Published weekly . POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 214 N. Michigan St, Plymouth. IN 46563 Periodical postage paid Nappanee, EN 46550 Mail Rates: Indiana. $20.00 for 52 issues: out-of-state $25.00 for 52 issues. Display Ad Deadlines: Pilot News - 2 Days Prior at 5:00 pm. Bremen Enquirer, Nappanee Advance News, tuber Citizen. Bourbon News-Mirror, The Leader Thursdav at 500 pm The Rev iew - Tuesdav at 300 pm TV Week - Friday (Meek Prior) at 500 pm Classified Ad Deadlines: Pilot News - Day Prior at 11:30 am Bremen Enquirer. Nappanee Advance News. Cuher Citizen. Bourbon News-Mirror. The leader Monday at 11:30 am The Review - Tuesday at 400 pm Legal Deadlines: Pilot News - Three Days Prior at 4.00 pm Bremen Enquirer. Nappanee Advance News. Cuher Citizen, Bourbon News-Mirror, The Leader Wednesday (A Week Prior) at 400 pm All ads larger than 1/4 page need to be emailed, sent in a word document or dropped off on a floppy disk. To Place A Classified Ad caH 1-8004J33-0356 or 574-936-3101. ' To (hOer Your Subscription rail 1-80041534)556 or 57H156-SIOL

Jan. 19 DON'T FEEL 'BLUE' OVER THE NEWEST JELLY BEAN By Anthony Godson WAKARUSA Wakarusa may not be the biggest city around, but there is one thing it can offer that is bigger than anyone else’s. It's jelly beans. Over the years, the Wakarusa Dime Store has been staking its claim in the jelly bean industry with its Jumbo Jelly Beans, and last Friday, a new bean made its way onto the shelves. "Each year, we try to add something new," Co-Owner Deb McNally said during an unveiling of the new blueberry flavor last Thursday at the Wakarusa Dime Store. Jan. 26 SCHOOL BOARD VISITS NAPPANEE ELEMENTARY By Anthony Godson The setting was different, but the plot was the same. The Wa-Nee Board of School Trustees took its show to Nappanee Elementary School on Monday night, but when it got down to business, it seemed like the meeting was back in the normal administration building setting. After hearing from Nappanee Principal Genie Tobias and some of the Nappanee Elementary kindergarten staff, the board heard an update op replacing the retiring Tobias. Feb. 2 LEGISLATORS MAKE A STOP IN NAPPANEE By Anthony Godson Area residents had the opportunity to interact with some of their local legislators on Saturday morning, courtesy of the Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce. The chamber holds periodic Legislative Updates in order for locals to voice their concerns, and at the latest meeting. State * Senator Marvin Riegsecker (RGoshen) and State Representatives Bill Friend and Jackie Walorski (R-Lakeville) visited Nappanee's Heritage House for discussion with their constituents. Topics covered by the legislators were the recreational vehicle tax, prayer at the

Community

Indiana Statehouse and job creation, but the biggest topic was, of course, the proposed leasing of the Indiana Toll Road. Feb. 9 ' MARRIAGE IS RECOGNIZED BY MAYOR ; By Anthony Godson The Family Christian Development Center recently expanded its services to help marriages, and on Monday night, the City of Nappanee showed its support. During Monday night's meeting of the Nappanee Common Council, Mayor Larry Thompson made a proclamation designating Feb. 12 as Community Marriage Day. Feb. 16 SCHMITT SPELLS TROUBLE FOR COMPETITION By Anthony Godson Chelli Schmitt may spell her name in an unconventional way, but if she says its the correct spelling, who's to 'argue? Chelli, which is short for Rochelle, is an eighth grade student from North Wood Middle School, and on Feb. 7 she became the 2006 Elkhart County Spelling Bee Champion. March 2 STUDENTS TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS By Anthony Godson North Wood High School is getting down to business. For the first time since the high school said good-bye to its Future Business Leaders of America program, the school is once again offering a business program to its students Business Professionals of America.

World’s Famous JOHN’S BUTCHER SHOP

New York Strip $4.99 lb Stuffed Pork Chops - $2.49 lb Italian Chicken Breast - $2.39 lb Chicken Salad Discount to Churches for: Pot Lucks & Funeral Dinners & Fund-Raisers 158 N. Main Street • Nappanee, Indiana 773-4632 -Open— Monday-Friday 7:00 a.m.-5:30 p.m. k Saturday 7:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. a

March 9 NORTHWOOD IS GOLDEN AT COMPETITION By Anthony Godson The North Wood band couldn't have done any better. sQn Feb. 25 members of the North Wood band competed irt the ISSMA Solo and Ensemble Contest at North Central High School in Indianapolis. Of its 45 entries, North Wood brought home 45 gold ratings, where only gold, silver and bronze are awarded. Also, this past weekend the North Wood Jazz Band I and Jazz Band II each earned gold ratings at the ISSMA Jazz Contest. March 16 NEW ELEMENTARY PRINCIPAL FOUND By Anthony Godson When Genie Tobias announced her retirement, WaNee Superintendent Joe Sabo commented that another principal would be found, but Tobias could not be replaced. On Monday night, that other principal was found. North Wood High School Class of 1990 graduate Randy Cripe found his way back home, when' the Wa-Nee Board of School Trustees made him the new principal at Nappanee Elementary School, effective July 1, 2006. "I'm excited to be a part of the team," Cripe said at the meeting. March 23 BENEFIT HELD FOR BOYS & GIRLS CLUB By Anthony Godson They were all dressed in green, and they were trying to raise a little green for a local youth organization.

mu • \nrn- - mmm tsi p-L. V i!|| »

I V&'’- » ■g. -jXt- -x. ..'J). y..'. -■* \jr JL Epflj

ADVANCE NEWS PHOTO/ANTHONY GADSON Parents, Tim and Anne, coach Rich Dodson and former athletic director Jay Olsen look on as Ryan Burkhart signs his let-ter-of-intent to continue his kicking career at the University of Notre Dame. DAT PHOTO Left: A few months later, Burkhart found himself kicking for the Fighting Irish.

On March 17, the Dal-Mar Banquet Hall was filled with donors looking to bid on such prizes as Notre Dame football tickets, Chicago Bulls tickets, golf outings and teeth whitenings just to name a few. All of the earnings from the auction then went to the Boys & Girls Club of Nappanee. March 30 IT'S BON VOYAGE FOR BONACORSI By Anthony Godson Just as Wa-Nee schools filled a principal's seat which was vacated because of a retirement, it must now do the same thing all over again. The Wa-Nee School Board of Trustees chose Randy Cripe to fill in at Nappanee Elementary after the retirement of Genie Tobias, and now it must look to replace Louis Bonacorsi as principal at North Wood High School. HIGH SCHOOL MAKES A BIG PRODUCTION By Anthony Godson For its latest musical production, the North Wood High School Performing Arts took the production value up a notch. In bringing the Disney production Aida ’ to the North Wood stage, director Barry Houser and the rest of his team (student director Alison Leavitt, vocal director Jeff Cramer and technical director Steve Phillips) were careful to choose the right actors for the correct parts. April 6 STOVERS ARE A STEP CLOSER TO A TANKER By Anthony Godson Even though it was without its mayor, city attorney and one council member, the Nappanee Common Council still got some work done on Monday night. Mayor Larry Thompson, attorney Brian Hoffer and councilwoman Janet McFallBrown may not have been in attendance, but the Nappanee Volunteer Fire Department still took another step in

® firY&tZ cbfih C\ / Snow Cash can be used ( for "toys" you can use in or out of snow! Special low 5.99% APR to qualified buyers. Don't be stuck inside this winter or plan now for your summer fun with the Snow Cash loan at Chiphone! s. $ w Ask for details! Jjffr , Offer gcxxl through February 15th, 2007.*^* I m ChiphonS Cradit UnionAC/airKx4ion Visit us st www.chiphons.org

obtaining a new tanker truck. GOAL FOR A MUSEUM MOVES ALONG By Anthony Gadson As more people keep calling Yoder to donate Nappfffiee artifacts to the library's Heritage Room, the library director only has one answer. "I'm always getting calls from people about donating pieces of Nappanee history," she said. "Right now, 1 can only tell them that we have a rotating collection." Yoder said that the library showcases pieces of Nappanee history inside its Evelyn Lehman Culp Heritage Room on a rotating basis, meaning some pieces don't make the cut. "It depends on the time of the year," she said about putting certain items on display. "The cartoonists, however, are out all the time." April 20 COUNCIL TAKES A TRIP ACROSS THE STREET By Anthony Gadson Prior to moving Monday night's city council meeting to the John Hartman House, Nappanee Mayor Larry Thompson first made a proclamation to honor Plain and Fancy. As Amish Acres prepared to open its 20th season of Plain and Fancy this Tuesday, Thompson proclaimed 2006 as Plain and Fancy year in Nappanee. "We.have brought all of the cast of the 2006 show, as well as some of the technical workers," Amish Acres founder Dick Pletcher said. "We have had 201 actors who have performed in the show over this time span." "This is a special event for us," Pletcher said about the this year's 20th season of Plain and Fancy. After the proclamation, Pletcher then joined the council at 306 W. Market St., at the John Hartman House, where he is the owner of the proposed site for Nappanee's Heritage Center. See REVIEW, page 7