Oscar the Grouch, the strange, true story of The Beast of ‘Busco by Michael Summers is the front page feature of a recent Fort Wayne Reader, an independent newspaper in Allen County.

Next year Churubusco will celebrate the 60th anniversary of the hunt for Oscar as well as the Turtle Days Festival, both of which took place in 1949.

Oscar makes news in the Fort Wayne Reader

Summers* writes …

Sure, ballparks are all well and good, but for civic leaders and city boosters seeking other creative means to draw tourists to our fair city, slow the brain drain, and put Fort Wayne on the proverbial map, I have two words for you: Lake Monster.

…  Look what it’s done for Loch Ness, a Scottish backwater that is famous throughout the world and rakes in an estimated 25 million pounds in tourism annually all due to the beastie lurking in its lake - a beastie that, despite the eyes of thousands of tourists and a small fortune in sonar equipment, has never really been seen.

But Loch Ness is an extreme example. For a more modest example of the Lake Monster effect, one need look no further from home than Churubusco, the tiny town just a few miles Northish of us. Perhaps the annual draw from the community’s Turtle Days festival each summer falls short of $25 million, but, you know, I’m sure it’s something, and they owe it all to “Oscar.”

For more of this story go to Fort Wayne Reader …

(*used with permission of Michael Summers.)

The weather turned from cold and windy to warm as a summer’s eve - just in time for Halloween.

Trick or treaters filled the streets of Churubusco and also the fire station, where local firefighters were handing out treats.

Following are some photos taken of the trick or treaters on South Main and at the Churubusco Smith Twp. fire department. Cab you find your favorite ghoul or princess?
Feel free to comment below on your favorite costumed character.

Ouch!

That is one happy zombie.

Trick or treating - so easy, even a Caveman can do it.

Dad does a quick fix on his little princess in costume.

Chuck Norris complete with sexy mullet.

Future firefighters or cheerleaders?

Firefighter Darrell Resler hands out hot (and it was HOT) cider

Crowds start to gather at the fire station for free hot dogs, hot cider and kettle corn

Hundreds of children and their families lined up Thursday night to take part in the annual Safe Trick or Treat at Churubusco Elementary School. The event was hosted by the Parent Teacher Organization.

Inside the school gymnasium, costumed volunteers manned several creatively designed booths

Mom has this little gator on a leash.

The costumes were original, creative and some were simply amazing. But of course, it was the little faces peeking out from the make-up, hats, hoods and wigs that made for some boo-tiful children (and adults).

Check out our gallery … perhaps you see a creature, small animal or princess you recognize? 

A scarecrow passes out treats while mama talks to Baby Ducky.

Who\'s the leader of the band? Minnie Mouse!

Is this a famous and beautiful Hollywood movie star? Her mom said no, but she is a drama queen.

Yikes! A line of ghoulish-looking figures visit the trick or treat booths inside the school Thursday night at the PTO Safe Trick or Treat.

These gorgeous princesses constucted a royal tent where they passed out hundreds of treats to enthusiastic trick or treaters.

This little green-haired girl is bewitching.

Must have been a full moon.

The wicked witches of the East and West never looked this good.

A wizard and a pirate cast spells and pillage for treats.

A scarecrow and her guardian pirate line up for treats at the PTO Safe Trick or Treat held Thursday at the elementary school.

Raggedy Andy and Raggedy Ann enjoyed filling their baskets with treats. The costumes of the hundreds of kids who attended the PTO\'s Safe Trick or Treat were astounding and very creative. This pair of dolls is picture perfect.

The Pink Lady and her Gator son pass out treats.

This little guy was racing by so fast, it was hard to get a picture of him in focus.

These kids worked at one of the Halloween booths inside the school, passing out treats.

Right out of a fairy tale ... this beautiful little pink princess stops to grant a wish and pose for a photo.

This beautiful little princess is excited about filling her pumpkin with treats.

The cutest little quacker.

Brave woman - accompanying The Hulk.

I thought I saw a puddy tat.

Wow! Rock stars passed out drums full of candy. Fabulous make-up, kiss, er ... kids.

This cute mouse is begging for more treats to fill her cheese box.

A proud fairy princess waves her magic wand.

Three humans and a pumpkin head manage one of the candy booths.

This scarecrow is too adorable to scare.

A beautiful princess and her cute Minnie Mouse sister.

Indiana Jones and some creature from the Temple of Doom?

This guy was way a-head with his costume.

A ghoulish good time.

A soldier guards his little super hero brother,who is busy checking out his loot.

This guy is not in costume ... he is a real pirate.

What Cat in the Hat is cuter than that?

Little Bo Peep - love that attitude! - and her sibling sheep.

Whoa! Now, this is a bad hair day.

Daddy Drac carries an adorable Dracula Jr.

These princesses - looking very Disney-like - handed out candy to eager trick or treaters.

Ahoy, matey! Those are some good-looking pirates.

Keeping watch.

Is that Princess Leah and Darth Vader?

This sad little mouse lost her candy. Well, actually, mom took it away because the mouse was turning into a little piggy.

We hope you will enjoy these photos taken recently in and around Churubusco and Smith and Green townships. Send your fall photo to editor@buscovoice.com and we will add it to this gallery.

Carisa McCoy submitted this wonderful photo.

Mulberry Street facing north

A Tulley Street garage

Two 4-year-olds enjoy a warm October day at the park.

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.

Check out that new eye-catching sign at Farmers & Merchants Bank on U.S. 33 on the south side of Churubusco.

Farmers and Merchants Bank is located in the Churubusco Commerce Center and is open six days a week. Other branch locations include Huntertown and LaOtto.

The Haunted Jail is located in downtown Columbia City.

The premier location for fright in the region, the Haunted Jail opens nightly at … For more on the Haunted Jail go to our Whitley Web news partner, talkofthetownwc.com.

(Talk of the Town photo by Paul Harrington)

Mother Goose made a visit to the Churubusco United Methodist Nursery School Friday

Mother Goose reads a nursery rhyme to children at the Churubusco United Methodist Preschool.

Mother Goose - aka Sally Binion - read stories and nursery rhymes and led the children in song and dance, captivating her preschool crowd.

For more information on the nursery school call 693-2154.

Photos by Viv Sade

These kids are obviously delighted with the surprise visit from Mother Goose at the Churubusco United Methodist Nursery School Friday.

The halls of Churubusco High School are decorated and a homecoming court has been selected.

A homecoming queen will be chosen from senior class nominees at halftime of the Busco vs Angola football game tonight. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. In front, from left, class representatives, Alisha Royer, Sarah Schmidt, Peyton Hunsberger; in back, seniors Ashley Gilbert, Tiffany LeFever, Brooke Shearer and Alayna Skinner. Not pictured: Allison Norris.

And tonight’s the night!

One lucky representative of the senior class will be chosen as the 2008 Homecoming Queen at halftime of the Busco vs Angola football game tonight. Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.

Photos by Ben Rosswurm

Churubusco High School Homecoming Court, from left, Alisha Royer, Ashley Gilbert, Tiffany LeFever, Brooke Shearer, Alayna Skinner, Peyton Hunsberger and Sarah Schmidt. Not shown: Allison Norris.

Students at Churubusco Elementary School brought their blankets and got comfortable in the hallways and on the gymnasium floor Thursday as they celebrated National Literacy Day.

CES principal Nicole Singer said the special reading time was a joint effort with the Whitley County Council for Literacy.

The Council asked all Whitley County schools to allow a 30-minute reading activity for National Literacy Day, Singer said.

The Churubusco High School Marching Band traveled to southern Indiana to perform at halftime of the Indiana University football game Saturday, Sept. 6, in Bloomington.

Pictured are members of the band performing at I.U. and relaxing afterward.

Also pictured is Andy Schemm, a CHS alumni who now attends I.U. and plays clarinet for the Indiana University Marching Hundred.

The Churubusco High School Marching Band performed at an Indiana University football game Sept. 6.

Photos contributed.

Andy Schemm, a graduate of Churubusco High School, relaxes during a band break at Indiana University. Schemm is a student at I.U. and plays clarinet for the Indiana University Marching Hundred.

The CHS Marching Band relaxes for a photo during a break at Indiana University, where they performed last weekend.

The partners of CT Consultants; Semi Custom Home builder based out of Warsaw, wanted a special way to thank the Churubusco Youth League girls softball team for delivering to them the 2008 Major League Girls softball championship title and trophy, and did so by graciously treating the team to an all expense paid weekend trip to Cedar Point.
Top picture shows the team right after the championship game.
Below is a picture showing the team before they entered Cedar Point.

Back (l to r) Scott Huntley (Coach & Sponsor), Ed McKinney (Coach), Kennedy Sade, Shawtelle McGlothlin, Olivia Huelsenbeck, Chandler Vogth, Cheyenne McRoberts, Alyssa Anderson, Todd Anderson (Coach) Front row (l to r) Brittany McKinney, Ashley Wakeman, Kari Fulk, Taylor Ewing, Cassidy Perlich

Proving they are number one and having fun!

The Churubusco Chamber of Commerce beat the Firemen 11-15 Saturday at the Chamber’s annual Picnic in the Park and Chamber vs the Firemen softball game, just as they have done for the past several years.

But the firemen have found the secret to success. Thanks to some “girl power” on the Firemen’s team, the Chamber’s victory was never a sure thing.

When the Firemen told Todd Shively he ran like a girl last year, he took it to heart and drafted some skilled females for this year’s team.

Missy Bair and Jen Hauser and Kari Shively all playing for the Firemen - made some amazing catches and hits, scoring — points for the Firemen.

The Chamber was comprised of all male players, although to Coach John Schmidt’s credit, he was seen looking for some “bad players” before the start of the game and asked Dee Dee McCoy and Viv Sade if they wanted to play.

“We have some really good players on our team,” Schmidt said. Then, apparently in an effort to make it look as though he had not “stacked” the team, he asked McCoy and Sade to participate. They declined, saying they were saving themselves to train for the Ford Ironman World Championship in Winsconsin in January.

Announcer Don Amber had both teams and some audience members take a break after the sixth inning and go to the outfield and dance the Funky Chicken. Members of the Firemen team really got into it, at one point swinging partners and doe-si-doeing, all the while led by the energetic Grandma JJ.

The Chamber members, even though they had the lead, were much slower to sway their hips and shake their booties in response to the catchy tune.

Chris Tomlinson pinch-hit twice for the Firemen, with Kyle Bair running for Tomlinson, who was severely injured when a roof caved in on him while fighting a fire in February.

Tomlinson cracked it twice - “not bad for a broken-neck kind of guy,” said a fellow fireman on the team.

Final score.

Ryan Schwab hits a runner in for the Chamber.

Ryan Schwab catches for the Chamber.

If you\'re happy and you know it, clap your hands.

Chris Holloway cracks a good one for the Firemen.

Chris Holloway played third for the Firemen.

Greg goes for another point for the Chamber.

Grandma JJ knows how to lead others in having a good time.

Holy Moly! Look how far I hit that one!

Dave Jones contemplates next year\'s strategy while Bob T. smiles at his fans.

Greg Veercamp heads for home for some aftergame relaxation.

Good game, good game.

Good game, good game.

Good game, good game.

Good game, good game.

A homer! Way to go buddy!