Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 132, Number 1, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 1 January 2009 — Page 3

The ups and downs of 2008: a year in review

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January Jan. 3: NITRO awaits word from FEMA By Mandy McFarland, Editor NAPPANEE There is a saying that patience is a virtue." Members of the MTRO committee have learned this well over the last month as they await word concerning their appeal to FEMA for a federal disaster declaration. Jan. 3: New year, new faces

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Jeff Kitson

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Todd Nunemaker

Jan. 10: FEMA denies second plea for aid Jan. 24: Two arrested in Graber’s fire By Mandy McFarland, Editor NAPPANEE Two Nappanee residents have been arrested for a fire that broke out at approximately 6:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 19 in the apartments above Graber's Flooring Studio, located in the 100 block of North Main Street in Nappanee. Police took Joseph L. McCall, 22, and Kimbert G. Crafton, 22, into custody Sunday, Jan. 20 pending a probability of cause hearing. Jan. 31: Back in business By Mandy McFarland, Editor NAPPANEE The smell of smoke still hangs faintly in the air, a reminder that just two weeks ago John's Butcher Shop narrowly escaped a fire that destroyed Graber's Flooring Studio next door. Sustaining only minor smoke and water damage, the butcher shop was able to reopen Monday morning, Jan. 28. Jan. 31: Aid comes to tornado victims By Mandy McFarland, Editor NAPPANEE The holidays may have ended a month ago, but for Nappanee city officials, Friday, Jan. 25 felt like Christmas all over again when Indiana Governor Mitch

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By Mandy McFarland, Editor NAPPANEE The new year has brought two new faces to the Nappanee common council with the election of Jeff Kitson and Todd Nunemaker. ...Kitson will serve district four, while Nunemaker will serve district one. They will replace long-time councilmen Rod Stump and Tom Lehman (respectively), who decided not to run for another term.

PHOTOS PROVIDED May 15: Supporters show loyalty When Barak Obama drove through Nappanee last Thursday, May 1 just a few days before the Indiana Primary Election, around 30 supporters from Nappanee were there to greet him with flags and banners. At left, Kris Best, Ruth Trinkley and Bill Best cheer for their favorite candidate as he drives by in his bus. Hillary Clinton defeated Obama in the Indiana primary last Tuesday, May 6. %

Daniels came to town and delivered a check totaling $200,000. The check will go to the'city and will help relieve a large portion of the total amount the city owes for debris clean-up and other services following the Oct. 18 tornado. Jan. 31: Panthers maul Tigers for first NLC victory February Feb. 7: Plans for state-of-the-art subdivision By Mandy McFarland, Editor NAPPANEE Despite recent setbacks in the form of fires and an F-3 tornado, Nappanee is, by many accounts, still a growing community. Monday evening, Feb. 4, Timothy P. Saylor, president of Innovative Communities, proved it when he presented plans for a new state-of-the-art subdivision that will soon grace the southeast side of Nappanee. Feb. 14: Legislators meet in Nappanee By Mandy McFarland, Editor NAPPANEE - Property taxes were the main topic of discussion at this year's local legislative session last Saturday, Feb. 9 at the Nappanee Center. Feb. 14: Structure up for landmark status By Mandy McFarland, Editor NAPPANEE Nappanee has proven time and again that it is a city that can embrace the future without forgetting the past. This spring, the Nappanee Historic Preservation Commission hopes to have the Hartman House, built by one of the city's first entrepreneurs, declared a historic landmark. Feb. 14: Truex recognized for action during fire By Mandy McFarland, Editor NAPPANEE Generally when a building catches fire one's first inclination would be to escape. That was the case with Alva "Alvie" Truex the morning arsonists set fire to the stairway outside of his apartment. However, Truex did something not many would do. He went back for his neighbors. Last Wednesday evening, Feb. 6, the Nappanee Fire Department held a surprise ceremony to honor Truex and his quick action that saved every life in the doomed building. Feb. 21: TASERs come to Nappanee Feb. 21: Wakarusa hosts state legislators By Mandy McFarland, Editor WAKARUSA Talk turned to property taxes and the recent marriage amendment last Saturday, Feb. 16 when Indiana state representatives Jackie Walorski (R-Lakeville) and Bill Friend (R-Macy) met with town officials and residents in Wakarusa.

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Feb. 21: Panthers improve with sixth straight win By Steve Srttier, Sports Correspondent WALKERTON/NAPPANEE The North Wood Panther boys basketball team continued to pour it on this week, capturing victories over John Glenn and Bremen to extend the current winning streak to six with just two games left in the regular season. Nappanee grows despite scars By Mandy McFarland, Editor NAPPANEE Through storm and through fire, Nappanee has proven it is a city that will not easily give up. Last Tuesday evening, Feb. 19, the Nappanee Common Council and Redevelopment Commission held an evening retreat in the downstairs meeting room at the Heritage House Assisted Living complex to discuss a series of improvement projects, some of which have been on hold. Win streak is snapped but Panthers finish strong By Steve Sittler, Sports Correspondent MISHAWAKA/SOUTH WHITLEY The North Wood Panther boys basketball team saw their six-game winning streak come to an end Feb. 19, thanks to some hearty "home-cooking" in a one-point loss at the Penn Palace, but bounced back to defeat Whitko 64-55 Feb. 22 in the final regularseason game. The Panthers finished with a record of 11-9 and, more importantly, steadily improved as the season progressed, winning nine of their last 12 games. March March 6: One killed Friday in bicycle accident By Mandy McFarland, Editor BREMEN An Amish worker was killed Friday morning, Feb. 29 at 5:55 a.m. when a vehicle hit his bicycle on’U.S. 6 east of Bremen. At approximately 5:47 a.m., Eric Helmuth, 21, of Nappanee, was on his way to work at Digger Specialties when an SUV driven by Jesse L. Gunnoe of Bremen attempted to pass another vehicle. The left front side of the SUV hit Helmuth, who suffered multiple blunt force trauma. Helmuth was pronounced dead at the scene. March 6: Panthers fall to Lakeland in sectional title game By Steve Sittler, Sports Correspondent SYRACUSE After avenging a regularseason defeat by downing the host Wawasee Warriors and knocking off tournament favorite Tippecanoe Valley, the North Wood Panther boys basketball team fell just short in their quest to repeat as sectional champions, falling 63-56 in the title game to the Lakeland Lakers. March 13: Renner receives grant for project By Mandy McFarland, Editor NAPPANEE nated world, e-mail and instant messaging make correspondence with loved ones overseas instantaneous. Web cams and microphones even allow verbal conversations to take place from thousands of miles away. During World War 11, however, correspondence between soldiers and family took weeks. Letters had to be handwritten, sealed in envelopes and sent through the mail. Even then, it was uncertain when they would arrive... Last month, Karen Renner, a guidance counselor at North Wood High School, received a Teacher Creativity Fellowship grant from Lilly Endowment for "Love Letters Lost," a collection of more than 1,000 World War 11-era letters that her parents, Clemence N. and Doris Maye Butts, composed. March 20: School land case comes to a close By Mandy McFarland, Editor NAPPANEE The eminent domain land case between the Wa-Nee School Corporation and the Rowland family will come to a close

Advance News • Thursday. January 1, 2009

this spring. The case is regarding 55 acres of farmland adjacent to the east side of North Wood High School. The school corporation wishes to acquire the land, owned by Jean and the late Argyl Rowland of Nappanee, for future use. March 27: NWHS academic teams excel at Academic Super Bowl Staff Report NAPPANEE—Northern Lakes Conference academic teams gathered Tuesday evening at Goshen High School for their annual Academic Super Bowl. Seven of the eight conference schools were represented with the teams from North Wood High School winning the overall competition. March 27: Andrews retires from FCDC after 12 years Staff Report NAPPANEE Family Christian Development Center of Nappanee announced the retirement of its founding director, Joan Andrews. "This was a very difficult decision," Andrews said. Andrews is leaving to propel an FCDC program, "Aim Straight Marriage and Family," to separate agency status. This decision follows 12 years with FCDC. March 27: North Wood baseball team anxious for warmer weather By Steve Sittler, Sports Correspondent NAPPANEE With a couple inches of snow on the ground on the date of their first scheduled game (March 22), it sure doesn't look much like baseball season, but the North Wood Panther baseball team has been working hard indoors in preparation for the start of another season on the diamond. April April 3: CVS celebrates grand opening April 10: U.S. 6 resurfacing project has begun By Holly Heller Enquirer Editor BREMEN Nappanee residents employed in Bremen have had a rough ride to work over the last few months. However, work began last week to resurface the U.S. 6 bypass around Bremen. April 17: Wakarusa samples the sweetness By Mandy McFarland, Editor WAKARUSA Sticky, sweet treats. Gross game challenges. Giant reptiles. It can mean only one thing: The Maple Syrup Festival is back in town. April. 17: Weather does not dampen runners By Mandy McFarland, Editor WAKARUSA For the second year in a row the odds seemed against this year's Golden'Sweetness 5K Road Run and Tour de Waky 10 and 20 mile bike ride. Yet only nine of the 90 registered runners did not show up to take part in the annual fundraiser for Special Olympics of Elkhart County. April 24: Nappanee Ace Hardware opens in new location April 24: Earthquake activity reaches Nappanee Last Friday morning, April 18, a small tremor rocked Indiana, reaching Nappanee and the surrounding area between 5:30 and 5:45 a.m. In an area not prone to earthquakes, See REVIEW, page 4

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