Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 131, Number 36, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 4 September 2008 — Page 2

Advance News • Thursday, September 4, 2008

Page A2

Wakarusa chamber ready for annual banquet

WAKARUSA —The Wakarusa Chamber's 10th annual banquet will be a time of entertainment and celebrating the accomplishments of Wakarusa businesses and the community. Entertainment will be professional ventriloquist Barbara Daniel. The banquet will be Sept. 22 at Nelson's Banquet hall. The public is invited. A silent auction will help raise funds for scholarships. Items include a NASCAR helmet autographed by Dale Earnhardt Jr.; a Cubs Jeff Samardzija autographed item; a Terra Cotta thermometer / clock; a Skil 14.4 V cordless drill /driver featuring 3/8" keyless chuck, adjustable

fflartirt & ’*• Pilot News Count On Us! present... Taste Cooking School Afresh ideas for fall Coming to Eppley Auditorium Culver Academies 1300 Academy Road, Culver Tuesday, September 23rd Doors & vendor booths open 5:00 p.m. Show starts promptly At 7:00 p.m. /Tickets Available General Seating |iasift iff wwn* whhouq a ennui now* wuts I Name: . Address: I City: State: I Zip: Phone: I Enclosed is $ Please send me tickets at SIO.OO per ticket Hake checks payable toi i The Pilot News I ihhvmJ #1 Cookbook Package-U2 I 1-Ticket to Event 1 - Hardcover Taste of Home Cookbook ($29.95 value) * Must purchase this package at Pilot News office (214 N. Michigan St., Plymouth) or pick up book at event |*2 TTck* Package $lO ■Tickets Only ’May be purchased at these 2 locations: Mertlne timanwiaiket frßnt ■ lIIHI IA^M 1865 E. Jefferson St. 214 N. Michigan St. Jsk (^^4Plymouth, IN 46563 Plymouth, IN 46563 574-936-4081 936-3101 or 1-800-9330356 1 I*3 Ticket Package ■ $lO akie seH addraaa atamood amralopa ■Tickets by mail I Make check payable to Riot News. I na-i .1 mu news IPO Box 220 I Idk rfh im iftwi Ticket orders Sed on first come fffst serve basal Al sates ■nymown, iN4WOd find. Not reaparatte for kxt tickets. No refunds. No I * "" ctidnn under 12. Must be 16 or older and present to be ’ CjPllOt NCW§) efigbte for door prizes. ..

torque clutch, variable speed trigger, forward / reverse indicator, on-tool storage, bit size index, soft grip handle, charge meter; a wooden treasure chest; handmade glass pieces created by Ed Kinney; an original painting by artist Ed Kinney; a spedal surprise item; a media basket; and more. Items are donated by Wakarusa businesses. The winning ticket from the "Dancing Leaves" quilt raffle will be drawn at the close of the evening. Call the Wakarusa Chamber office at 862-4344 to reserve tickets for the event.

Community

MARSHALS, continue from front page

"So it's nice to see how it's progressed over the years." There were no committees or subcommittees at the time, so the Leavitts were in charge of everything, from booking entertainment to finding vendors. Their goal was to bring a more local flavor to the festival, wliich had traditionally included a lot of the usual carnival vendors. "We tried to get more local vendors," Jane said. "It was kind of a push for us to get more local vendors involved," John said. That was the year the Wakarusa United Methodist Church first served their nowfamous sausage sandwiches. One difference they recall is that the time the festival lasted only two days. While the idea of increasing it to three days did cross their minds, it would be several more years before the committee would make that change. The festival again increased last year when the committee announced Thursday evening at 5 p.m. as the official opening time. Another tradition that the Leavitts wanted to see reintroduced to the festival was the 7-foot apple pie, which

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ble,” Andrews said. The committee, however, takes this as a challenge, "We want to show people that how Nappanee is here, it’s thriving and it's a great place to live and to shop," Bedward said. While the committee's goal is 120 items, they will take as much as the community is willing to donate, even if it means having two or three bid boards. To learn more about making a donation, donors can contact the chamber at 773-7812. Non-material items that cannot be sold in the regular auction will be placed on the bid board. Residents and business owners who wish to donate items can do so until the auc-

Board of Works discusses changes to local property

By Mandy McFarland Editor NAPPANEE A few changes have been made regarding a piece of property offered for sale to the city. According to city attorney Brian Hoffer, the board had authorized appraisals to the property, 7.57 acres total. Because a portion of the property had been sold to Martin's Super Market to finish the back portion of their new building, the legal description also changed. Thus the city had to reappraise the land to fit the new legal description. The city hired two appraisers to look at the property. The first was Susan Dumford with an appraisal of $83,000. The second, Vision Realty, appraised the land at $105,750. The board will make an offer to the property owners at the average of those two amounts, which is $128,500. If the property owners do not accept the amount, Hotter recommends the city begin proceedings for an eminent domain case, in which the two parties will reach a decision in court. In other news •Several weeks ago the water plant sustained lightning damage to its electronics system. Damage to one of the city's water towers was immediately fixed, however the water plant lost an alarm dialer. On behalf of water /wastewater superintendent Gale Gerber, water foreman Dave Jensen read a request for an upgraded system. Gerber recommended a system known as Win9ll, wliich has already been installed at the wastewater plant. According to Jensen, the water department will soon upgrade to a new system and the existing alarm will no longer • be compatible. The new dialers will cost $4,795 for water and SB,BOO for‘wastewater, where there are

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had fizzled somewhat over the years. John asked local resident Mark Miller to weld a new pie pan and the giant oven in what is now La Fogata Mexican Restaurant was again put to use. While the Leavitts enjoyed co-chairing the festival for a year, they admit it was probably not the ideal situation. "We, the two 25-year-olds, were pretty green," Jane said with a laugh. "Sam (Beachy) and Gale (Gerber), people don't realize what a treasurer they are, and that whole committee," John said. Today, the Leavitts continue serving in a variety of ways in Nappanee. John has worked for 30 years at Salem Insurance and has served on the library board, the Elkhart County Community Foundation, Rotary Qub, the Boys & Girls Qub board and the chamber board. "Between those organizations I get to work with some very top-notch people," he said. Jane has taught second grade at Woodview Elementary School for 30 years. She is also active in the Nappanee Home and Garden Club, the

tion begins. Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce director Larry Andrews warns that the auction is not a bargain-hunter event. "This is not an auction to see how you car come get the best deal," he said. ’This is an auction to raise money for the community." In terms of a dollar amount, the committee's goal is $30,000, though they will always welcome more. "If it's $50,000, that's even better," Mullet said. "The sky is the limit." Proceeds from the pork dinner will also go to benefit the food pantries. The event will open early so everyone will have a chance to carefully browse the auction items.

more. If Win9ll is not affordable, Gerber recommended that the city use one similar to what they already have, which will need to be replaced following the upgrade. According to Jensen, while the plant does have a surge protector, many surge protectors are unable to withstand a lightning strike, as was the case several weeks ago at the Nappanee plant. •It is that time again. Time to repaint the water towers, that is, and Jensen read a recommendation from Gerber that the city hire Midwest Mobile Washing out of Illinois to do the job, as they ottered what he felt was the best price on all three towers. The cost to power wash the towers will be $4,989, plus $465 to spray an anti-fungal that will discourage the film that tends to form on the outside of the towers. •The water department also lost a 250 K generator to lightning at the water utility and a computer board that shows all of their alarms went out. Without this board, the department is able to run its generators but cannot monitor the system. City Gerk-Treasurer Kimberly Ingle wrote to the city's insurance company concerning the lightning strike hoping to have some of the expenses covered, but as of the meeting she had not heard back from them. •The city still awaits electricity to be run to the poles throughout the park system where security cameras have been installed to deter incidents of vandalism. Earlier this summer vandals broke into several park rest rooms and caused extensive damage. •The Nappanee Fire Department has received a check from CSX to cover the cost of equipment damaged during a locomotive fire earlier this year, a process that took six months.

Redevelopment Commisison the NIFTY Committee, th Miracles at Main and Marke committee, the Festiva of Trees Committee, Wa Nee Education, the Indian; State Teachers Associatioi and the National Educatioi Association. Both also remain activ* in the festival through thes< positions, John selling applt dumplings with the Rotarv Club and Jane helping the garden club clean the depot plaza. The Leavitts have two children. Their daughter, Alison, is a third-year pharmacy student at Ohio Northern. Their son, Ben, is a senior at North Wood High School. As a drum major for the Red Regiment, he will march behind his parents in the Apple Festival parade. Jane is a lifelong resident of Nappanee, while John's family moved to town when he was about 10 years old. Both graduated from North Wood High School. While they went to separate colleges, John to Indiana University and Jane to Ball State, both eventually returned to Nappanee. "It's been a great place to raise a family and to live,” John said.

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