The Friends of the Churubusco Public Library will host the 9th annual Christmas Walk Saturday, Nov. 22 and Sunday, Nov. 23 from 2-6 p.m.

Five houses and one church are included on this year’s walk. A closing ceremony with door prizes to be awarded Sunday at the library, 116 N. Mulberry Street, at 6 p.m. Winners do not need to be present to win.

Area churches will be providing cookies in the library as well as the eagerly-anticipated petit fours made by Stephanie Krider. Refreshments will be available at the library Saturday and Sunday from 2-6 p.m.

Santa Claus will be at the library during the Christmas Walk on both days from 2-2:30 p.m. and from 5-6 p.m. Children are invited to stop by and get their photo with Santa.

For more information call the library at 693-6466.

The six Christmas Walk sites are as follows (All summaries are written by the individual home owners and Green Center Church officials.):

Larry and Ava Lillmars
6952 E. 150 N.
Columbia City IN 46725

The home of Larry and Ava Lillmars and family is located south of Churubusco, three miles west of Eel River Golf Course. The red, tumbled brick home was built in 1998 and rests on seven acres with a peaceful scenic view.

There are many memories being created in their family household and especially during the Christmas season. You will enjoy the traditional and Swedish decorations along with the special collection of nutcrackers and smokers all bringing the rooms to life. In addition to the special themes in the house, you will want to see the downstairs workshop room, giving way this season to “Santa’s Workshop”.

The Lillmars welcome you to their home and hope the Churubusco Public Library’s 9th Annual Christmas Walk will enhance the joy of your holiday spirit.
Harold Norman
813 Clearview Drive
Churubusco, IN 46723

Books, videos, and recordings are what you will notice as you tour the home of Harold Norman.

The Christmas trees in each room are decorated in various color themes - such as gold, red, and blue.

A collection of ceramic houses is displayed in most rooms. Many nativity sets are on display, as well. There also is a collection of nutcrackers.

Note: Parking during the Christmas Walk will be available at the Good News Baptist Church across the road.

Bob and Janice Parquet
6134 N 650 E
Churubusco, Indiana 46723

During the energy crisis in the 1970’s, Bob and Janice Parquet had plans for a 2-story home, but in the winter of 1976, when the wind chill factor was well below zero and their root cellar was 38 degrees, they switched gears and designed and built an earth-covered house. They had to get a special variance from the zoning board to build this unconventional home. The Parquets designed the home, but Masolite Corporation engineered the structural requirements.

The footers and side walls were designed more in line with commercial construction and the back wall was designed as a free standing retaining wall.

By using prestressed double T concrete panels, it was not necessary to have a supporting wall running through the center of the home. Natural light filters through the windows on the exposed wall. An indoor greenhouse at the back of the house creates more light. For the three feet of dirt that was placed on the roof, the prestressed, double T concrete panels were designed to hold around 250 lb. per square foot. The roof panels and front wall were installed with a crane. By having dirt on three sides and the roof of the house, it was very energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

In 1983, Bob Parquet was transferred to the Toledo area by Dana Corporation, so they moved his parents into the house. His parents lived in the home until their deaths in 1999. In 2002 the Parquets decided to remove the dirt from the roof and add a second story. The roof became the floor of the second story.

It is a great home for family gatherings. Christmas decorations you will see are traditional. The decorations have been collected over the years. There is a wreath that is decorated with Bob’s grandparents’ fragile ornaments. Lenora Ellen Geiger (Janice Parquet’s mother) made the tree skirts and the wall hanging for the large naivety. Other Christmas wall hangings made and designed by Mrs. Geiger will be on display.
Bonnie and Tom Swihart
14023 McDuffee Road
Churubusco, IN

Located south of Churubusco off Highway 33, our house became our “Country Retreat” in the fall of 1991. Both Tom and Bonnie grew up on farms in LaGrange County.

Bonnie lived on a dairy farm and Tom’s farm had sheep and hogs. Upon college graduation, Tom accepted a teaching position with Fort Wayne Community Schools. The couple officially became “City Folk.” For twenty-one years they lived in the traffic and hustle and bustle of Fort Wayne. But the country in them never went away. When they found this house all the details came together for them to buy it. Ever since, they’ve enjoyed being in the country.

Bonnie and Tom have two daughters and sons-in-law and have been blessed with five grandchildren. One of their highlights is seeing the grandchildren enjoying the outdoors at their house and fishing and swimming in the pond.

The couple enjoys modernizing their home by taking on various projects. Tom claims to be a handyman of sorts and Bonnie really enjoys decorating. The summer of 2007 they took on their biggest adventure by adding a three-seasons room on the west side of their house. The extra view that it gives them of the neighborhood is much appreciated.

Christmas has always been a favorite time of the year for Bonnie and she really enjoys the lights and trimmings of getting the house ready for the season. Wishing you a very Blessed Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Venture out to McDuffee Road and visit the house in the woods with the Swiharts.
Nick and Debra Uecker
5100 S 100 E-57
Churubusco, IN

The Uecker family has lived in their home in Green Township, Noble County, since October 1996. The home was designed and built by Nick Uecker with the help of family and friends.

Their love of wildlife, and the hunting and fishing hobbies of the male members of the family, are evident in the home’s decor. Deb has used part of her Precious Moments collection in decorating the music room. Many of the Uecker’s other Christmas decorations have been received as gifts or made by their children throughout the years.

Part of their Christmas traditions include making cookies and candy to give to family and friends. Spending time with extended family on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are also an important part of their Christmas celebration.

The Ueckers look forward to their participation in the Christmas Walk as a way of expressing their Christmas wishes to the entire community this year.

Green Center United Methodist Church
2861 S. 300 E.
Albion, Indiana

In 1907, shortly after a Sunday School was started at the old Green Center schoolhouse, revival services raised about $1,800 through subscription to build a church. Land for the church was donated by William and Fanny Shambaugh. Allen Bortner and Leslie Moore helped plan and erect the building. Much of the lumber came from the farm of Frank Stanley and was cut at a sawmill operated by Burt Herron, located one-half mile west.

Green Center United Brethren Church was dedicated by the Rev. H. H. Fout in the summer of 1909. The church was on a circuit with other churches until 1940 when members decided to withdraw from the circuit and rely on pastors from the surrounding area to conduct services. With no regular pastor the community gradually lost interest and the church closed in 1943.

In 1945 the church was remodeled and reopened and the Rev. Louis Strong was appointed pastor. During this time the church services were often recorded and later broadcast on radio station WKJG. Sometimes Rev. Strong and a group from the church went to the station and did live broadcasts.
The church later became the Evangelical United Brethren Church, which then merged with the Methodist Church in 1969. Physical changes also took place as several remodeling projects were undertaken, culminating in the latest addition of a handicapped accessible fellowship area, kitchen, bathrooms, and office, and enlarged Sanctuary.

Although there have been name changes, pastor changes, and membership changes the church has continued to work for God in the Green Center community and beyond. Our mission continues to be “Win Souls for Christ” as we grow, prosper and spread the word of God to the community and the world.
Be sure to enjoy our annual display of poinsettias around the altar at the front of the sanctuary.

Ken and Karan Hill, owners of K & K Video and Second Best, two retail stores on Main Street, received the 2008 Business of the Year award from the Churubusco Chamber of Commerce Thursday.

The award was presented by Chamber President Jim Horne to Ken Hill at the annual fall banquet held Thursday at the Eel River Golf Course Clubhouse.

Ken and Karan Hill started the business Dec. 3, 1997, while Karan was working as director of the Churubusco Public Library. She became friends with one of the library patrons who had started a rent-to-own business in the Central Building on Main Street.

Eventually Karan bought the business from her friend and left the library to devote herself fulltime to the store.

Karan Hill soon phased out the rent-to-own business and expanded the video rental portion of the business.  The couple named the new business K & K,  an abbreviation of their first names.

Soon thereafter, they had an opportunity to purchase the Central Building. After buying the building, which houses apartments upstairs and business and retail shops downstairs, the couple expanded the video shop even more and added a second hand clothing shop, as well.

“The video store was doing so well, it was just a natural to expand it,” Karan Hill said.

Four years ago, Hills purchased the former Papa’s Place building at the corner of Washington and Main streets and moved their business north to the historic site.

Eventually, the Hills video business took over the space occupied by the used clothing store and it was phased out, but not for long.

Just last week, Karan and Ken opened Second Best, which is housed in the “point” office of the Central Building. The new shop offers used brand name clothing, baby items and equipment and kitchen and house wares. It’s open three days a week, Thurs.-Sat., 9-6.

Horne commended the Hills on their involvement with the local Chamber of Commerce and with the community as a whole.

Guest speaker at the awards luncheon was Alan Tio, director of the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation.

Tio has been with the WCEDC for almost a year and, in spite of seeing several plant closings, painted a positive future for Whitley County.

“Last year we retained 1,300 jobs and created 200 new jobs,” Tio said. “This year we will see an additional 225 new jobs. There are still opportunities out there.”

Tio said the county and Churubusco are well

positioned for job creation and his organization is working on coordinating resources for an integrated economic picture.

“The opportunity is there and we are very excited,” Tio said.

One of the most exciting projects of the WCEDC is the business incubation program, Tio said.

“This is an accelerated innovative program that supplies small businesses with coaches and mentors for whatever they need.”

The WCEDC is governed by a board of directors, Tio said. The Churubusco representative is Steve Barcus, he said, and Barcus has been a longtime member of the board.

History came to life for Martha and Roger Barnhart of Churubusco who took the trip of a lifetime to Paris, France, in September and spent a week participating in the historic commemoration of the 225th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Paris.

The trip was jointly sponsored by the National Society Sons of the American Revolution and National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and the French Societies of both organizations.

Roger Barnhart is Vice President General of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution and Martha is Indiana State Vice Regent of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

The event was organized to mark the historical commemoration of the Treaty of Paris, the Peace of 1783, which realigned the world powers and officially ended the Revolutionary War giving freedom to the 13 American colonies.

The NSSAR and the NSDAR planned a joint commemoration of this treaty with a trip to Paris on the exact day, 225 years later.

The SAR provided a color guard made up of seven members - including Roger Barnhart - attired as George Washington’s guards which participated in the wreath laying ceremonies. The Presidents General of both the DAR and the SAR were in attendance as well as the presidents of both organizations of the French State and Chapter societies.

Both the NSSAR and the NSDAR are non-profit service groups organized with the purpose of Promoting Patriotism and Education and Preserving History. Membership is open to all men or women over the age of 18 who can prove their lineage to a Revolutionary War Patriot.

The Barnharts recently gave a presentation to the Churubusco Rotary where they proclaimed the event as an “awesome experience,” and added they were treated like royalty by the French dignitaries and the people of France.

The first evening of the week-long Paris trip, Barnharts and other members from abroad were welcomed at a reception by the Ambassador of the United States and by the Diplomatic Counselor of the French Republic. The reception was held in a mansion built in 1714. Later, guests were hosted for small groups of dinner parties in individual French homes.

The following day, three busloads of guests were delivered to the Hotel National des Invalides, a huge complex. These buildings were built by Louis XIV in the 1670’s to house the wounded and poor soldiers from wars. Considered to be the model for the United States Veterans Administration, it is still used today to house French veterans, Martha Barnhart said.

“A large part of the buildings are currently used as an Army Museum. Among other items in the museum are drawings and plans for the Battle of Yorktown. In the golden domed Cathedral of the Armies is the tomb of the Emperor Napoleon

which was transferred there in 1840,” Roger Barnhart added.

The next stop - the tomb of the Marquis de Lafayette - was particularly interesting, Martha Barnhart said.

Lafayette died on May 20, 1834, and is buried next to his wife. The Picpus Cemetery is owned privately by descendants of the victims of the French Revolution in 1784.

Over 1300 victims were beheaded by guillotine in a nearby square and hidden in common grave in this area until it was later discovered where they 

were located. The executions happened within a period of 44 days of June and July, 1784. The land was privately purchased, a chapel was built and nuns moved into a nearby building. Gardens were planned and markers were obtained by families of the victims.

Lafayette’s wife’s parents, sister, grandmother and aunts and uncles were among the victims and she chose to be buried in the cemetery near them. In 1834, Lafayette was buried next to his wife in soil he had ordered brought in from Bunker Hill, Mass., and spread under his tomb. The American flag

stands over his grave, replaced annually on July 4 with an SAR ceremony attended by dignitaries, Roger Barnhart said.

“We were up and on a bus by 8 in the morning and not back in our hotel room until very late that same night,” Roger Barnhart said. “We barely had time to sleep.”

One day the Barnharts traveled with their group to Chateau de Vincennes, a King’s residence surrounded by a moat and including a dungeon, built in 1326. Also on the grounds are a military library and museum. On special display was the birth certificate of Lafayette as well as other maps and books relating to the American Revolution, Martha Barnhart said.

Next on the tour was a wreath-laying ceremony at the monument of Rochambeau, hero of the American Revolution.

Martha and Roger related that evening activitie

s were held at the Jacquemart-Andre Museum and Mansion of 18th century art where food and cocktails were shared while touring and viewing. Of special note were works on display by Van Dyck and a Rembrandt painting named Disciple of Emmaus which has never been loaned to any other museum for display, Martha Barnhart said.

“Our busy day mid-week began early with conferences on the Enlightenment period in Europe held at the Palace of Luxembourg, site of the French Senate,” Martha Barnhart said. “There professors and interpreters shared historical information and answered questions.”

Following lunch, buses loaded to depart for a wreath laying and tribute at a memorial to Comte de Grasse, a French Naval Admiral, followed by a visit to the nearby Naval Museum and a tribute and wreath laying at the Benjamin Franklin monument.

The highlight of the trip was that afternoon, Martha Barnhart said, when the entire group - led by the SAR color guard and the French army - marched down the closed circle of twelve streets on the thoroughfare of the Champs-Elysees to present wreaths and honors at the Unknown Soldiers Memorial under The Arch of Triumph.

“They closed off twelve lanes of traffic for this event,” she said. “The city came to a standstill.

“That evening, we were treated to a private reception and tour of the Palace of Versailles royal apartments. This palace is one of the largest castles in the world with more than 2000 windows overlooking gorgeous gardens,” Martha Barnhart said.

“It has 700 rooms and 67 staircases

. Begun in 1623, by King Louis XIII, four generations lived and expanded and enhanced the castles before the downfall of King Louis XVI. A formal dinner was held in Versailles with the French Minister of Economy as guest speaker.”

“The French band played the French and American National anthems, military and honor guards stood at attention as our group marched down the street to pay our honor and respect and place flowers under the direction of the French General,” Barnhart said.

“As the gendarmerie stopped traffic, many local residents gathered along the way to watch. The Presidents General of the DAR and SAR, along with three children, held the sword to enlarge the eternal flame.”

Later they were  treated to a private reception and tour of the Palace of Versailles royal apartments.

“This palace is one of the largest castles in the world with more than 2000 windows overlooking gorgeous gardens,” Barnhart said. “It has 700 rooms and 67 staircases. Begun in 1623, by King Louis XIII, four generations lived and expanded and enhanced the castles before the downfall of King Louis XVI.”

A formal dinner was held in Versailles with the French Minister of Economy as guest speaker.

“The thing that amazed us was the amount of alcohol that was consumed,” Roger Barnhart said. “The French start every event - and I mean every event - with champagne and hors d’oeuvres, followed by lots of white and red wine and more food. It continues throughout the night.”

The following day, the exhausted but excited group toured the Lafayette Squadron Memorial to commemorate the American fliers of WWI, the only all-American squadron.

Visits were made and a wreath presented at the nearby the Aisne-Marne Cemetery near Belleau Wood where some 7,000 Americans gave their lives in 1918. Following lunch, a guided tour of the Reims Cathedral was given to the group by the Vicar followed by a tour of the Taittinger’s Champagne cellars.

Dinner was held at the Taittinger family residence in Epernay, and - after more champagne and wine - the buses returned the visitors to their hotel rooms at around 2 a.m.

The last day included meetings of the SAR, SAR Ladies Auxiliary and the DAR. Martha and Roger are officers in both the SAR and DAR and participate locally in many historical American Revolutionary commemorative events.

“The early afternoon was free for sightseeing, shopping or a nap,” Martha Barnhart said. “In the late afternoon, buses departed for the Saint Denis Basilica for a Christian Mass and tribute to King Louis XVI. There are 42 kings, 32 queens, 63 princes and princesses buried in the abbey including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.”

The farewell banquet and dancing at the beautiful Paris City Hall were quite spectacular, Barnharts agreed.

Some attendees visited the beaches of Normandy or spent extra time sightseeing in Paris before returning home, Martha Barnhart said.

She and Roger decided take a tour of the Eiffel Tower and of course, Notre Dame Cathedral.

It was a very memorable time, they agreed, adding, “It was a grand and exhausting trip and we were honored to be a part of it!”.

Story and photo of Martha and Roger Barnhart at Churubusco Rotary by Viv Sade. All other photos contributed by Roger and Martha Barnhart.

The New Era Show Choir held A Night Out With New Era  Saturday and Sunday, entertaining guests with show tunes like Mr. Cellophane from Chicago  and oldie hits like Gimme Some Lovin’ and Turn the Beat Around.

Under the direction of Dan Hile, the choir boasts 40 members, plus eight musicians and seven stage crew members.

The choir will host its largest fundraiser of the year on Saturday, Dec. 6, at the  annual New Era Holiday Bazaar & Tree Sale at the school.

 Photos contributed.

John Schmidt, President of the Churubusco Rotary, was in the awkward position of presenting a check to the treasurer of the Churubusco Chamber of Commerce - also a position Schmidt holds - after the Rotary donated $700 toward the new Christmas wreath decorations the Chamber has purchased for downtown Churubusco.

Shown is Schmidt repesenting the check to Schmidt at the October Chamber meeting.

Photos by Viv Sade. Tecnical photoshop “doctoring” by Chris Tomlinson.

 

A spinning vortex room at the Green Center Haunted School custom made by precision machinists delivers high tech fantasy and a surreal experience that is well worth the price of admission.

The vortex was designed by employees of Pro Systems in Churubusco. A suspended bridge offers a way out, but once on the bridge, as the lights flash and the room seems to spin in endless circles, visitors lose their balance and become disoriented and unsteady on their feet.

The vortex got a big “thumbs up” from everyone who toured the Haunted School on opening night.

“It was awesome,” said one enthusiastic teen, who came out the exit door and got right back in line to go through a second time. 

The Green Center Haunted School was started in 1982 by Bill and Betty Pappe, Green Township residents, as a fundraiser for the Green Township Community Center, which is where the Haunted School is housed.

“This one fundraiser pays for the heating and utility bills to keep the center running for the rest of the year,” Bill Pappe said, while wearing a blood-splattered apron and taking a break from cooking body parts in the school cafeteria.

Helping Bill and Bette Pappe out are co-managers of the Haunted House, Gary and Rick McDowell. There is no shortage of volunteers who will gladly spend the night scaring the daylights out of strangers and friends and neighbors alike. 

Twenty-six years ago the building started out as the Green Center Haunted House, but about five years ago made the natural transition to a haunted school, Pappe said.

Admission is $8, and visitors can go the the Haunted School’s Web site - see below - and print a coupon good for $1 off the admission price.

Bodies arising from the grave - rotting corpses in caskets - bloody body parts - there are plenty of old fashioned thrills, chills, ghouls and monsters. But the amount of work the Pappes and McDowells have put into the facility is really apparent in the high tech rooms that play with visitors’ minds and equilibrium.

There’s a steep upward climb on slanted stairs that are at times impossible to maneuver. And, there’s the White Room - bright white walls and lights and a fog machine that emits a continuous, thick white mist that makes it nearly impossible for visitors to find the way out.

Several other rooms of terror make for a terrifying 30-45 minute haunted tour of the school.

Gary McDowell greets visitors in a mask as the principal of the school. Bill Pappe later greets them in the cafeteria where he serves up finger fries and lump of leg.

This haunted site is a must-see, must-experience.

The Green Township Community Center is located at the corner of C.R. 300E and 300S in Noble County, accessible by U.S. 33 and S.R. 9.

The Haunted School is open Oct. 10, 11, 17, 18, 24, 25 and the 31 from 7-11 p.m. each night.

For more on the Green Center Haunted School, or a map, or to print a $1 off discount coupon, go to hauntedgreencenter.com.

Photos and story by Viv Sade.

AJ Marks, an 8-year-old boy who was diagnosed with a brain tumor six months ago, will be the focus of “A day for AJ” on Saturday, Oct. 11, in Churubusco.

The event will begin at 5 p.m. at the Churubusco Church of the Nazarene, 1000 W. Whitley St. with a pulled pork and sloppy joe dinner. A silent auction will begin at 5:30 p.m., as well as games for the children, face painting, hayrides and cotton candy treats.

Door prizes will be given out throughout the evening and the family celebration  will end at 9 p.m. All proceeds will go to the AJ Marks Trust Fund.

About AJ

AJ lives in Lafayette with his parents, Chris and Christy Marks and his big brother, Austin, but the family has many friends and family members in Churubusco.

In March, AJ was rushed to the hospital after having a seizure and being found unconscious. He was diagnosed with medulloblastoma - a malignant brain tumor. Although rare, medulloblastoma is a common brain tumor in children, and responsible for 25 percent of all pediatric brain cancers.

The quick growing tumors affect the muscles and coordination of its victims. It occurs in both sexes, but is more often found in boys.

A normal 8-year-old who liked watching movies, playing games, reading, and playing with his beloved dog, Lucy, AJ’s life - and that of his family - was turned upside down after he was airlifted to Riley Hospital in Indianapolis where they performed emergency, life-saving surgery.

Since then, AJ has undergone three more surgeries and chemotherapy treatment.

Test results show the tumor has shrunk to an immeasurable size. AJ currently is  undergoing an aggressive 24-week regime of chemotherapy.

Community invited to help AJ

Dozens of donated items are up for bid in the silent auction including gift certificates for restaurants, a homemade pie club, department and retail stores, hair styling and products, golf, bowling, sporting goods, dental cleaning, math tutoring and more.

Other items include free passes for Splash Universe, Kings Island, Komet hockey games, and Deep River Waterpark and an autographed photo of Peyton Manning.

If you are unable to attend the benefit and would like to help AJ and his family, donations may be sent to Lafayette Savings Bank, c/o AJ Marks Trust Fund, P.O. Box 1628, Lafayette, IN 47902. 

Have a great time dancing to country band Shilo or rock band Allister Scream at the Turtle Days Fall Fundraiser and help support a magnificent fireworks display next June to commemorate the 60th Annual Turtle Days Festival.

That’s the thought of the members of the Turtle Days Festival Board of Directors who are hosting a two-day event in downtown Churubusco Friday and Saturday, Sept. 26 and 27.

Board president Kirk Gray said the group’s fundraiser will be similar to the beer tent they hosted at the June festival.

“That was a good moneymaker for Turtle Days and we had no (negative) incidents reported as a result of the beer tent,” Gray said. “Everyone had a good time.”

The event will include a beer tent, live entertainment, a poker run, a chicken barbecue and televised football including the Notre Dame/Purdue game.

The TD Beer Tent will be located on parking lot west of Valerogas station and Pit Stop Pizza and will be open Friday from 8 p.m. until 2 a.m. with country band, Shiloh, playing from 9 p.m.-midnight.

Saturday, Sept. 27, the tent will open at 10 a.m. with a motorcycle poker run registration until 11 a.m. and Bianski’s Famous BBQ chicken served from 11 a.m. until sold out.

In the tent, catch televised football all day long on the big screen, including the Notre Dame/Purdue game at 3:30 p.m.

Later that night, rock with Allister Scream from 9 p.m.-midnight.

For cyclists interested in the Poker Run, cost is $15 to play and $5 per extra rider. Cost includes a wristband for admission to the beer tent. 

There will be a cash prize for the top hand. The event route will include five stops and will take place, rain or shine. The first rider will go out at 11 a.m. and the last will be in at 5 p.m.

Gray said the Turtle Days Festival has a full slate of board members for the first time in many years and made enough profits this year to donate $2,000 to the Churubusco Community Park.

“We hope to keep making improvements and continue to increase the amount we are able to hand over to the park each summer,” Gray said.

Members of the Turtle Days Festival board include Gray, vice president Robin Ramsey, treasurer Vince McEntee, secretary Tracey Bultemeier, Lee Prescott, Toni Wilkins, Christi Wood, Don Hiatt, Kandi Bohde, Shannon Shroyer, Rick Krider, Tom Fletcher, Brian Graham, Viv Sade and Mark Bianski.

Get more info at www.turtledays.com.
,

About Allister Scream:

Phil Wolfe on vocals is from Columbia City and has been an original member of Allister Scream since 1991. His influences include AC/DC, Motley Crue, Meatloaf, Molly Hatchet and Elvis.

Randy Tucker of Warsaw has been playing lead guitar and  for 25 years, and started playing guitar for Allister Scream in 1996. His influences include Chris Degarmo and Michael Wilton (Queensryche), Neil Schon and Sammy Hagar. His favorite bands include Queensryche #1, Skid Row, Three Days Grace, 10 Years, Ra, Journey and all the metal hair bands from the 80’s.

Steve Freeman of Auburn plays drums, keyboards and vocals.

He’s been drumming since he was 2 years old and everything else since he was 19, according to his profile on the band’s Web site.

His favorite bands include Kiss, Rush, Journey, Steve Smiths Vital Information, Spyra Gyra, Dave Sanborn and Stevie Ray Vaughn.

For more on the band go to www.allisterscream.com.

About Shilo:

This five-member country band hails from Fort Wayne and has been performing since 1997.

The band is reviewed at  www.gigmasters.com, which says: Do you think most country bands sound alike? If so, you haven’t heard Shilo. The band is hotter than coffee fresh out of the pot! They are natural entertainers and will keep you on the edge of your seat or on the dance floor until the last word of every song has been sung! Their energy level is second to none. They drive hard whether they are playing cover songs or originals. They know how to work a crowd like any hit artist or band and the people love them.

They have performed withToby Keith, Lee Ann Womack, Joe Nichols, Gary Allan and the list goes on and on. They recently played at the Cadillac Ranch in Music City. It was a virtual standing room only crowd and they brought down the house. To say the people loved them is a serious understatement.

Shilo is not a good band; they are a great band. All the guys have a good repoirewhich accounts for their longevity as professional musicians. They recently debuted with their first hit radio single, “Dodgin’ a Ford in my Chevrolet”. The song was recorded in Hendersonville in the famed Project Room Studio and sent out to country radio. It climbed to the number one spot on the Independent Charts and received critical acclaim from a number of sources. They received major airplay throughout the nation and internationally. Their second single, “A Pick Up In My Pickup,” is out to radio and is apparently climbing the charts faster than their first release.

Catch a video of shilo performing at www.youtube.com/match?V=KTZvLwdMT9Q. 

 

Christal and Toby Steele, owners of Sun Quest Tanning in Turtle Town Plaza since 2006, have remodeled and expanded their business. Stop in today to see the new look of Sun Quest Tanning and what they have to offer.

Owners Christal and Toby Steele have added three bronzing beds and coming soon a full spray tan services, in addition to their five regular tanning beds.

One of the new beds includes a Mega Bronzing bed - a 12-minute bed with 48 bronzing bulbs, four facial tanners, shoulder tanner, and a side tanner. Individual sessions are $9 but discount packages are available.

In addition to the Mega Bed, Sun Quest Tanning has added two Super Bronzing beds. These beds are also 12-minute beds with 42 bronzing bulbs and  three facial tanners. Individual sessions are $7 but discount packages are available.

The Bronzing beds give clients quicker, but longer-lasting tans, according to the Steeles.

Another addition to the tanning beds Sun Quest will be offer Spray Tan, coming soon. For those that do not want to be exposed to sun rays or a tanning bed to get a sun-kissed look, Sun Quest is now offering Spray Tan. Get an instant, even tan without laying out in the sun or spending time tanning in a bed. Individual sessions are $25 but discount packages are available.

Hours are: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., and 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.  Sundays.

For more information call Sun Quest Tanning at 693-1433. They are located at Suite F, 8475 E. U.S. 33, Churubusco in Turtle Town Plaza.

The Churubusco Headquarters of C & A Tool Engineering was a frenzy of classic automobile activity Tuesday morning when 50 Auburns, Cords and Deusenbergs lined the parking lot on the first leg of the 33rd annual Auburn Cord Deusenberg Festival Hoosier Tour.

The tour traveled from C & A Tool to a luncheon cruise at Lake Wawasee and then to a Wagon Wheel performance of the Buddy Holly story in Warsaw and a car show, also in Warsaw. They will return to Auburn Thursday at noon for the ACD Kick-off luncheon, the official start of the ACD Classic Car Show and Festival, which continues through Labor Day weekend.

Leading the pack were ACD festival officials, Belva Meyer and Jack Randinelli, both of Auburn. Meyer said the festival had added new events this year, including a bed race and waiter/waitress contest, and urged everyone to visit the festival.

In April C & A Tool owner Dick Conrow opened a new manufacturing firm in Auburn, and brought some of the glamor and intrique of the ACD Festival to Churubusco by hosting the Hoosier Tour stop. Drivers and passengers on the tour had the opportunity to tour the C & A Tool facility before continuing their trip.

To expand his multimillion-dollar tooling and machining business to Auburn, Conrow purchased the 105,000 square-foot former Kimball Electronics building at 1015 W. Fifteenth Street to house the new aerospace division of C & A Tool. The secure building and 30-acre site offer room for future growth, he said, and the company initially will invest about $10 million in the Auburn plant.
You can read more about the expansion here.

“This is fantastic,” Conrow said standing outside his offices amid dozens of classic roadsters, coupes and sedans Tuesday morning. “Some of these cars are unbelievable.”

Meyer, who is chairman of this year’s festival, and her husband, Sidney, bought their 12-cylinder 1932 Auburn Brougham from a friend in 1992. They have been involved in the festival and the Hoosier Tour ever since.

For a complete list of events for the ACD Festival go to www.acdfestival.org.

Members of the Churubusco Turtle Days Festival committee did so well with this year’s festival that they were able to give $2,000 to the Churubusco Community Park.

The group made a check presentation at Saturday’s Chamber of Commerce Picnic in the Park and Merchants vs Firemen softball game. 

Festival president Kirk Gray stated that the festival had an outstanding year and the committee is already counting on having an even better year in 2009 - when Turtle Days will celebrate its 60th anniversary.

 ”Hopefully, as the festival continues to grow and do well, we can increase the amount we donate to the park each year,” Gray said.

“We advertise that a portion of festival profits will go to help benefit the park and we plan to stick to that promise,” he said.

In the photo above, from left are Tom Fletcher, representing the park board; Rick Krider, park superintendent; Brian Graham, festival board; Pat Stanford, park board president; Christy Wood, festival board; Tracey Bultemeier, festival secretary; Robin Ramsey, festival vice president and Kirk Gray, festival president.

Fletcher and Krider are also members of the Turtle Days committee. Members of the Turtle Days committee who are not shown include Kandi Bohde, Viv Sade, Vince McEntee, Mark Bianski, Rachel Fletcher and Don Hiatt.

Members of the Churubusco Park Board who are not pictured include Nancy Poyser, Tonya Young and Ken Bohde.

The Turtle Days Festival committee is planning a fall fundraiser to raise money for fireworks for the 60th celebration of Turtle Days next June. Watch this Web site for more details on the fundraiser event, slated for the last weekend in September.

 

 

Don’t forget our soldiers fighting overseas - that’s the message members of the American Legion Post 157 Auxiliary want to instill in the public psyche.

Members of the auxiliary, along with representatives of local Girl Scout Troop 803, spent a good part of Friday evening packing dozens of care packages for local soldiers who are stationed overseas.

“We have sent 47 care packages overseas to date,” said Donna Hilliard, recording secretary for the auxiliary. “And, we have eight new soldier names to add to the list of packages we mail tonight.”

The donations have been collected over the past few months and include toiletries, food supplies, greeting cards, stationary and stamps, and dozens of boxes of Girl Scout cookies. Local businesses and individuals, as well as Girl Scouts from Troop 803, gave generously to the effort.

“Some people bought Girl Scout cookies from local Girl Scouts and then turned around and gave them to the soldiers’ care packages,” one auxiliary member said. Some even autographed the boxes and thanked the soldiers for what they are doing.

If you  would like to donate goods for the next round of care packages that will be shipped overseas, or if you have the name of a local soldier to add to the American Legion’s list, please drop the items or information off at the post after 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The post is located at 115 S. Main St., next to the post office.

Call 693-6263 for more information.

Parents of the students in New Era Show Choir donned Mickey - and Minnie - Mouse ears and were knee-deep in suds, scrubbing cars Saturday in McDonalds parking lot. The parents not only washed cars but gave away door prizes and sold Mickey Mouse cookies, as well. The fundraiser was held in order to raise money to help send choir members to DisneyWorld in March.

The New Era Show Choir camp is being held throughout this week and members will present a camp show and dinner Friday, Aug. 15, at 7 p.m. at the school. Dan Hile is director of the choir. See any show choir member for tickets or they may be purchased at the door.

Dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. Cost of the dinner is $5 and the show is $2, or enjoy both for only $6.

Dinner will include brats, hamburgers, chips and dessert. The actual show choir competition season starts at the end of the year with the first invitational scheduled for January.

Watch this site for future video, photos and updates on the New Era Show Choir.