Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 130, Number 49, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 6 December 2007 — Page 1

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SANTA CLAUS Santa Claus will be at the Nappanee Center every Saturday until Christmas from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to meet with children and take Christmas gift requests. CHRISTMAS AROUND THE TREE * Wakarusa will host its annual Christmas Around the Tree celebration Monday, Dec. 10 at 6:30 p.m. There will be a live nativity, horse-drawn carriage rides and hot chocolate and cookies for everyone. The North Wood High School music department will entertain and the Christmas Winter Wonderland winners will be announced. BICYCLE MEETING The Michiana Bicycle Safety Committee meeting that was scheduled Dec. 13 has been cancelled due to the holiday season. The next meeting will be Thursday, Jan. 10 at the Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce office, 302 W. Market St., Nappanee at 4 p.m. A major agenda item will be the election of a new chairperson for 2008. RED CROSS The Elkhart County American Red Cross will host the following blood drives: •Friday, Dec. 14, noon to 6 p.m., Clinton Frame Mennonite Church, 63846 C.R. 35, Goshen See AROUND, page A 4 t'l Advance News | V J 158 W Market St. ' ■ ' *0.80x73a • ■ - Lj&t ■ g Nappanee, IN 46550 $ llj^OfficeHoun: 9 a.m to 3pm Monday, Wfednesday and • Friday : J*- || 574-773-3127 (goal) l (ids) I Fax: 574-77>35U m AISM802XI"0

Nappanee community rebuilding

•Juarez house first of many to be rebuilt in Nappanee oy money mcronano Editor NAPPANEE Just as Wizard of Oz main character Dorothy learned after a tornado swept her away, there's no place like home. Nappanee tornado victim Pam Juarez learned the meaning of this phrase last Thursday morning, Nov. 29 as she watched ner new house being installed where the old one was destroyed. Juarez is one of hundreds of Nappanee residents who lost their homes to the Oct. 18 tornado that ripped through town. After one month and 11 days of waiting, Juarez and her family were one step closer to once again haying a permanent roof over their heads. Juarez's house is the first within Nappanee city limits to be rebuilt following the tornado. However, it will not be the last, as cleanup and rebuilding progress. Nothing could hide the smile on Juarez's face as she stood wrapped in a winter coat, peering out from beneath the hood as first one half, then the other was slowly lowered into place. Nearby, her kids were armed with cameras. They were allowed to stay home from their morning classes so they could enjoy the occasion. Despite below-freezing temperatures, workers feverishly prepared the foundation to receive the two-part systemsbuilt home. The ranch-style house has three bedrooms and See REBUILDING, pageA2 ADVANCE NEWS PHOTO/MANDY MCFARLAND In the early hours of the morning, a crane slowly lowers the first half of Pam Juarez's new house into place. Workers are onhand to make sure everything goes smoothly. Juarez and her daughter, Ashley, and son, Santiago, are the first residents within city limits to receive her new home after the Oct. 18 tornado destroyed her previous one.

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Nappanee tornado edition to print next week •Special section to commemorate community survival Over the last month and a half, Nappanee has shown incredible stamina following the Oct. 18 tornado. In commemoration of a community rebuilding, the Advance News will release a special edition next Thursday, Dec. 13. This tab will celebrate Nappanee's victory over what could have been a terrible tragedy. While hundreds lost homes, jobs and possessions, no lives were lost in the tornado. Over the last several weeks, The Advance News has been busily - compiling firsthand accounts from numerous individuals and families who survived the tornado. Each has a story to tell from his or her own perspective, and no two stories have been exactly alike. We have also collected dozens of photos documenting the damage left in die tornado's wake. Each photo seems a story in itself. Rebuilding has already begun as a number of businesses have reopened. or have plans to reopen. One house nas already gone in on Summit Street, and more are on their way. • Nappanee has not been on its own in the efforts. Help has come from throughout Michiana. Volunteers from countless churches, groups, clubs and organizations have spent countless hours helping with cleanup or raising See EDITION, page A 2