Posted on 19 November 2008 by Editor
The website is great!! I’m deployed in Iraq right now and I check it every chance I get.
Helps me get a little taste of home while I’m away.
Thanks and keep up the great work!
Justin Berghoff
Ed. note: We got the OK from Justin - a graduate of Churubusco High School - to publish his email address. He would enjoy hearing from anyone back home, he said. Email him at jberghoff@gimail.af.mil.
Posted on 05 November 2008 by Editor
Nick Uecker will remain in the District 3 Smith-Green School board seat he was appointed to just weeks ago after defeating Adam Cartwright, 958-897 in Tuesday’s election.
Uecker said he was “very, very glad” when he heard the results. “I just hope I can live up to everyone’s expectations,” he said late Tuesday night.
Locally, the Republicans could claim a sweep, but across the nation, that was not the case.
There was dancing and jubilation in the streets as it was announced that Barack Obama had won the election. In Chicago, it was estimated that more than a million people gathered to hear Obama’s celebratory speech. Among the crowd stood many well-known African American leaders as well as celebrities like Oprah Winfrey, Spike Lee and Brad Pitt.
Obama moved many in the crowd to tears as he said, “I see you and I need your help.”
“The road will be steep, but I promise … we, as a people, will get there.”
He praised John McCain and said he was looking forward to working with the war hero who had always fought valiantly for his country.
He told his two young daughters that they had earned a new puppy to take to their new home in the White House. He also thanked his wife, Michelle, who he called “the love of my life” and recognized his grandmother - who recently passed away.
At 1:30 a.m. the presidential race in Indiana was still too close to call. But that didn’t matter to many.
Several Churubusco students living in Bloomington and attending Indiana University said the campus and Bloomington in general erupted in celebration - complete with fireworks and “lots of yelling, screaming and tears of joy,” after it was announced that Obama had gathered the electoral votes needed to win the election. Hundreds of I.U. students gathered around Bloomington throughout the day in election watch parties and also were featured throughout the evening on NBC.
Following are the Whitley County and Smith Township results:
WHITLEY COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS:
Machine ballots: Machine Ballots - 11686
Number of precincts reported 33 of 34 - (As of midnight, Richland South was not yet in);
Absentee Ballots - 3712
Registered voters, 72.04%
President and Vice President
60.00% John McCain (R)
38.55% Barack Obama (D)
1.22% Bob Barr (L)
0.23% Write-In
Governor and Lieutenant Governor
60.44% Mitch Daniels (R)
37.39% Jill Long Thompson (D)
2.14% Andy Horning (L)
0.03% Write-In
Attorney General
55.53% Greg Zoeller (R)
44.47% Linda Pence (D)
Superintendent of Public Instruction
61.75% Tony Bennett (R)
38.21% Richard D. Wood (D)
0.04% Write-In
U.S. Rep District 3
55.74% Mark Edward Souder (R)
38.25% Michael A. (Mike) Montagano (D)
6.02% William R. Larsen (L)
State Rep District 50
100.00% Dan J. Leonard (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
State Rep District 83
64.73% Matt Bell (R)
31.80% Steven B. Heaston (D)
3.47% Herbert (Jack) Evans (L)
County Treasurer
100.00% Lisa A. Richmond (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
County Coroner
100.00% Scott A. Smith (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
County Surveyor
No Candidate Filed (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
County Commissioner District 1
60.52% Tom Rethlake (R)
39.48% Timothy D. Hearld (D)
County Commissioner District 3
100.00% Don Amber (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
County Council At-Large
27.76% Jim Banks (R)
27.20% Bill Overdeer (R)
27.26% Thomas Western (R)
17.78% Cliff Crance (D)
Smith-Green School District 1
No Candidate Filed
Smith-Green School District 2
100.00% Steven Lee Edwards
Smith-Green School District 3
48.36% Adam Cartwright
51.64% Nicholas B. Uecker
Whitley Co School Columbia City
39.66% Christopher A. Bechtold
16.44% Eric Horvath
43.90% Stanley E. Meyer
Whitley County School Corp Etna
44.00% Donald L. Smith
56.00% Jill E. Western
Whitley County School Corporation Jefferson
100.00% Steven J. Hively
Whitley County School Corporation Union
59.30% Deborah G. Hiss
40.70% Mark Roach
Whitley County School Corp Washington
100.00% James Renbarger
Straight Party Summary Information - Democratic Party 1053; Libertarian Party 4; Republican Party 2492.
SMITH WEST ELECTION SUMMARY:
Machine Ballots - M Absentee Ballots - A
REGISTERED VOTERS: 79.44%
President and Vice President
Machine Ballots-Absentee ballots-Total votes-Percentage-Name of candidate
230-60-290-68.88%-John McCain (R)
89-35-124-29.45% Barack Obama (D)
1.43% Bob Barr (L)
0.24% Write-In
VOTES 408 Governor and Lieutenant Governor
M A Votes %
222-56-278-8.14%-Mitch Daniels (R)
91 33 124 30.39% Jill Long Thompson (D)
5 1 6 1.47% Andy Horning (L)
VOTES- 386 Attorney General
M A Votes %
185-48-233-60.36%-Greg Zoeller (R)
114 39 153 39.64% Linda Pence (D)
VOTES- 363 Superintendent of Public Instruction
196 51 247 68.04% Tony Bennett (R)
82 34 116 31.96% Richard D. Wood (D)
VOTES- 410 U.S. Rep District 3
M A Votes %
199 48 247 60.24% Mark Edward Souder (R)
99 35 134 32.68% Michael A. (Mike) Montagano (D)
21 8 29 7.07% William R. Larsen (L)
VOTES= 392 State Rep District 83
M A Votes %
217 57 274 69.90% Matt Bell (R)
74 27 101 25.77% Steven B. Heaston (D)
14 3 17 4.34% Herbert (Jack) Evans (L)
VOTES= 339 County Treasurer VOTE FOR 1
264 75 339 100.00% Lisa A. Richmond (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES- 331 County Coroner
256 75 331 100.00% Scott A. Smith (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES- 0 County Surveyor
No Candidate Filed (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES= 382 County Commissioner District 1
203 62 265 69.37% Tom Rethlake (R)
90 27 117 30.63% Timothy D. Hearld (D)
VOTES- 346 County Commissioner District 3
267 79 346 100.00% Don Amber (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES- 922 County Council At-Large
M A Votes %
200 64 264 28.63% Jim Banks (R)
194 65 259 28.09% Bill Overdeer (R)
193 65 258 27.98% Thomas Western (R)
109 32 141 15.29% Cliff Crance (D)
VOTES- 0 Smith-Green School District - No Candidate Filed
VOTES- 296 Smith-Green School District 2
226 70 296 100.00% Steven Lee Edwards
VOTES- 340 Smith-Green School District 3
136 43 179 52.65% Adam Cartwright
128 33 161 47.35% Nicholas B. Uecker
Straight Party Summary Information - Democratic Party 13; Libertarian Party 0; Republican Party 81.
SMITH SOUTH:
M- Machine Ballots (295)
A- Absentee Ballots (78) REGISTERED VOTERS: 71.18%
VOTES- 370 President and Vice President
M A Votes %
188 36 224 60.54% John McCain (R)
101 40 141 38.11% Barack Obama (D)
4 1 5 1.35% Bob Barr (L)
VOTES- 357 Governor and Lieutenant Governor
M A Votes %
175 42 217 60.78% Mitch Daniels (R)
99 33 132 36.97% Jill Long Thompson (D)
6 2 8 2.24% Andy Horning (L)
VOTES= 345 Attorney General
M A Votes %
147 38 185 53.62% Greg Zoeller (R)
125 35 160 46.38% Linda Pence (D)
VOTES= 341 Superintendent of Public Instruction
175 36 211 61.88% Tony Bennett (R)
93 37 130 38.12% Richard D. Wood (D)
VOTES= 360 U.S. Rep District 3
173 36 209 58.06% Mark Edward Souder (R)
90 37 127 35.28% Michael A. (Mike) Montagano (D)
20 4 24 6.67% William R. Larsen (L)
VOTES= 352 State Rep District 83
M A Votes %
186 37 223 63.35% Matt Bell (R)
79 37 116 32.95% Steven B. Heaston (D)
11 2 13 3.69% Herbert (Jack) Evans (L)
VOTES= 288 County Treasurer
235 53 288 100.00% Lisa A. Richmond (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES= 286 County Coroner
234 52 286 100.00% Scott A. Smith (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES= 0 County Surveyor
No Candidate Filed (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES= 345 County Commissioner District
M A Votes %
174 39 213 61.74% Tom Rethlake (R)
98 34 132 38.26% Timothy D. Hearld (D)
VOTES= 288 County Commissioner District 3
233 55 288 100.00% Don Amber (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES= 800 County Council At-Large
183 39 222 27.75% Jim Banks (R)
181 38 219 27.38% Bill Overdeer (R)
177 43 220 27.50% Thomas Western (R)
102 37 139 17.38% Cliff Crance (D)
VOTES= 0 Smith-Green School District - No Candidate Filed
VOTES= 248 Smith-Green School District 2
M A Votes %
201 47 248 100.00% Steven Lee Edwards
VOTES= 284 Smith-Green School District 3
117 22 139 48.94% Adam Cartwright
111 34 145 51.06% Nicholas B. Uecker
Straight Party Summary Information - Democratic Party 36; Libertarian Party 0; Republican Party 76.
SMITH NORTHWEST:
M-Machine Ballots (570) A-Absentee Ballots 77 REGISTERED VOTERS: 67.47%
VOTES= 639 President and Vice President
M A Votes %
347 43 390 61.03% John McCain (R)
204 33 237 37.09% Barack Obama (D)
10 0 10 1.56% Bob Barr (L)
1 1 2 0.31% Write-In
VOTES= 628 Governor and Lieutenant Governor
346 50 396 63.06% Mitch Daniels (R)
197 20 217 34.55% Jill Long Thompson (D)
10 5 15 2.39% Andy Horning (L)
VOTES= 606 Attorney General
M A Votes %
294 44 338 55.78% Greg Zoeller (R)
238 30 268 44.22% Linda Pence (D)
VOTES= 592 Superintendent of Public Instruction
332 45 377 63.68% Tony Bennett (R)
189 26 215 36.32% Richard D. Wood (D)
VOTES= 634 U.S. Rep District 3
313 47 360 56.78% Mark Edward Souder (R)
206 28 234 36.91% Michael A. (Mike) Montagano (D)
38 2 40 6.31% William R. Larsen (L)
VOTES= 613 State Rep District 83
M A Votes %
353 44 397 64.76% Matt Bell (R)
163 27 190 31.00% Steven B. Heaston (D)
22 4 26 4.24% Herbert (Jack) Evans (L)
VOTES= 515 County Treasurer
455 60 515 100.00% Lisa A. Richmond (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES= 520 County Coroner
460 60 520 100.00% Scott A. Smith (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES= 0 County Surveyor
No Candidate Filed (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES= 595 County Commissioner District 1
329 47 376 63.19% Tom Rethlake (R)
191 28 219 36.81% Timothy D. Hearld (D)
VOTES= 498 County Commissioner District 3
441 57 498 100.00% Don Amber (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES= 1,389 County Council At-Large
350 48 398 28.65% Jim Banks (R)
342 44 386 27.79% Bill Overdeer (R)
317 40 357 25.70% Thomas Western (R)
220 28 248 17.85% Cliff Crance (D)
VOTES= 0 Smith-Green School District 1 - No Candidate Filed
VOTES= 450 Smith-Green School District 2
401 49 450 100.00% Steven Lee Edwards
VOTES= 505 Smith-Green School District 3
205 34 239 47.33% Adam Cartwright
244 22 266 52.67% Nicholas B. Uecker
Straight Party Summary Information - Democratic Party 53; Libertarian Party 0; Republican Party 134.
SMITH NORTHEAST:
M- Machine Ballots 487 A- Absentee Ballots REGISTERED VOTERS: 72.65%
VOTES= 558 President and Vice President
M A Votes %
292 37 329 58.96% John McCain (R)
183 36 219 39.25% Barack Obama (D)
8 1 9 1.61% Bob Barr (L)
1 1 0.18% Write-In
VOTES= 549 Governor and Lieutenant Governor
291 37 328 59.74% Mitch Daniels (R)
163 36 199 36.25% Jill Long Thompson (D)
21 1 22 4.01% Andy Horning (L)
VOTES= 528 Attorney General
263 40 303 57.39% Greg Zoeller (R)
193 32 225 42.61% Linda Pence (D)
VOTES= 514 Superintendent of Public Instruction
282 43 325 63.23% Tony Bennett (R)
158 31 189 36.77% Richard D. Wood (D)
VOTES= 553 U.S. Rep District 3
270 32 302 54.61% Mark Edward Souder (R)
167 41 208 37.61% Michael A. (Mike) Montagano (D)
41 2 43 7.78% William R. Larsen (L)
VOTES= 537 State Rep District 83
321 44 365 67.97% Matt Bell (R)
125 28 153 28.49% Steven B. Heaston (D)
17 2 19 3.54% Herbert (Jack) Evans (L)
VOTES= 444 County Treasurer
390 54 444 100.00% Lisa A. Richmond (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES= 441 County Coroner
388 53 441 100.00% Scott A. Smith (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES= 0 County Surveyor
No Candidate Filed (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES= 523 County Commissioner District 1
298 42 340 65.01% Tom Rethlake (R)
152 31 183 34.99% Timothy D. Hearld (D)
VOTES= 443 County Commissioner District 3
391 52 443 100.00% Don Amber (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES= 1,207 County Council At-Large
290 49 339 28.09% Jim Banks (R)
291 44 335 27.75% Bill Overdeer (R)
274 48 322 26.68% Thomas Western (R)
180 31 211 17.48% Cliff Crance (D)
VOTES= 0 Smith-Green School District 1
No Candidate Filed
VOTES= 394 Smith-Green School District 2
349 45 394 100.00% Steven Lee Edwards
VOTES= 443 Smith-Green School District 3
167 20 187 42.21% Adam Cartwright
228 28 256 57.79% Nicholas B. Uecker
Straight Party Summary Information - Democratic Party 41; Libertarian Party 0; Republican Party 103.
SMITH-EAST:
M-Machine Ballots (294) A-Absentee Ballots (50) REGISTERED VOTERS: 70.49%
VOTES= 339 President and Vice President
166 31 197 58.11% John McCain (R)
121 17 138 40.71% Barack Obama (D)
3 0 3 0.88% Bob Barr (L)
1 0 1 0.29% Write-In
VOTES= 328 Governor and Lieutenant Governor
160 25 185 56.40% Mitch Daniels (R)
114 21 135 41.16% Jill Long Thompson (D)
7 0 7 2.13% Andy Horning (L)
0 1 1 0.30% Write-In
VOTES= 317 Attorney General
144 25 169 53.31% Greg Zoeller (R)
128 20 148 46.69% Linda Pence (D)
VOTES= 313 Superintendent of Public Instruction
171 27 198 63.26% Tony Bennett (R)
95 20 115 36.74% Richard D. Wood (D)
VOTES= 336 U.S. Rep District 3
153 31 184 54.76% Mark Edward Souder (R)
112 17 129 38.39% Michael A. (Mike) Montagano (D)
23 0 23 6.85% William R. Larsen (L)
VOTES= 324 State Rep District 83
161 33 194 59.88% Matt Bell (R)
100 14 114 35.19% Steven B. Heaston (D)
16 0 16 4.94% Herbert (Jack) Evans (L)
VOTES= 273 County Treasurer
238 35 273 100.00% Lisa A. Richmond (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES= 273 County Coroner
237 36 273 100.00% Scott A. Smith (R)
0 0 0 0 0.00% No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES= 0 County Surveyor
No Candidate Filed (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES= 312 County Commissioner District 1
158 27 185 59.29% Tom Rethlake (R)
110 17 127 40.71% Timothy D. Hearld (D)
VOTES= 267 County Commissioner District 3
229 38 267 100.00% Don Amber (R)
No Candidate Filed (D)
VOTES= 759 County Council At-Large
181 30 211 27.80% Jim Banks (R)
173 33 206 27.14% Bill Overdeer (R)
159 31 190 25.03% Thomas Western (R)
133 19 152 20.03% Cliff Crance (D)
VOTES= 0 Smith-Green School District 1
No Candidate Filed
VOTES= 260 Smith-Green School District 2
223 37 260 100.00% Steven Lee Edwards
VOTES= 283 Smith-Green School District 3
136 17 153 54.06% Adam Cartwright
108 22 130 45.94% Nicholas B. Uecker
Straight Party Summary Information - Democratic Party 19; Libertarian Party 0; Republican Party 59.
For more Whitley County Precinct information or summaries go to elections.whitleynet.org.
Posted on 03 November 2008 by Viv
(Warning: This is the Web! Full of vile and disgusting stuff. Turn back now if you are offended by the words ass, politician, uterus,Tijuana, titmouse, betcha, Republican, cabbagehead, betcha ass or Democrat.)
The day after john McCain picked Sarah Palin as his running mate, my brother asked me why I was not running for vice president.
After all, he said:
1) I have more local government experience (three terms on a town council),
2) I have just as many skeletons in the closet. You betcha. (wink)
3) I too, think Iran and Iraq are the same country.
4) I was once, for a few months, an unwed pregnant teenager.
5) I have just as much foreign policy diplomacy experience if we can count that drunken overnight trip to Tijuana, Mexico in 1971, - which by the way, was unrelated to #4 - but, most importantly …
6) Can I skin an elk?
Well, geesh, that got me to thinking, I am a staunch Obama supporter, but hey, it’s hard staying afloat on this Obama island in Red Whitley County.
Should I rethink my vote? After all - as one female acquaintance of mine pointed out - Palin and I both have uteruses.
Is uteruses a word?
So, now I’m expected to vote for uteruses? Doesn’t that mean if I vote for a man, I’m voting for —-s?
Does that mean there are people in America actually voting genitalia over qualifications?
Shouldn’t we all be very, very scared?
Although, I do have four kids, a pair of wireless glasses, and tend to wear my hair in a messy updo that looks like a busy soccer mom, a la Palin. I’m not a busy soccer mom - I’m a lazy and poor mom.
The difference is Palin doesn’t have time to go to the hairdresser -whereas I don’t have the money. Which throws me back in the Obama Camp, where - if he wins - Obama has promised to take Paris Hilton’s cash and redistribute it to me and my hairdresser and buy me a new do and my hairdresser a new curing iron. We can’t wait.
This debacle of an election and politics of fear have made Americans crazy.
Winston Churchill had this to say about elections: “The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.”
Jerry Seinfeld had this to say: “People - they’re the worst.”
Both were correct.
We’ve got everyday people - intelligent people - who go all wacko every four years during a presidential election.
A woman told me in confidence the other day that if I don’t vote for a particular candidate, … blah, blah, blah … well, I’m not sure what she said - I quit listening after she said something about angry stemcells collecting weapons of mass destruction - but this is what I heard: “a throng of same-sex Socialist aliens armed with assault rifles will move into my upstairs where they will drill for oil and take over our lives, taxing our underwear, double-taxing naughty underwear, forcing us to buy worthless stock with our unemployment checks and making us drink processed fossil fuels until the ice caps melt and we all drown in a sea of disgraced Republicans, demoralized Democrats, skinned Alaskan elk, discarded SUVs and dying, but still arrogant oil barons …”
Or something like that.
All this has raised some serious questions that everyone needs to ask before going to the polls Tuesday.
Questions like:
Am I voting for the candidate of my choice or the choice of my candidate?
Or the choice of my candidate’s choice?
And is my choice the candidate of choice?
Or even the choicest candidate?
Does my candidate have a uterus or … Yikes! … something else?
Where can I get a pair of those kick-@$$ black suede boots Palin wears on the campaign trail?
Or, will Barack take the boots from Gloria Vanderbilt’s feet and give them to me if he wins?
Is Cindy McCain a freshly-manufactured Stepford Wife?
Is Barack Obama’s father really Darth Vader?
Did Sarah Palin name her children - Piper, Track, Willow, Trig and Bristol - while still under the influence of birth-giving, mind-enhancing Demerol?
If she has more, will they be named Ceilingtile, Betcha, Obgyn (pronounced like R2D2), Cellulite or Wink?
If McCain and Joe the Plumber are traveling in Air Force One from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles, Calif., how many hours until Joe loses his 15 minutes of fame?
If Delaware separates from the Continental shelf and floats into the Atlantic because of some unknown fault line, will Joe Biden still have his gig as senator?
Did Obama really stack wooden blocks with a Turkish toddler terrorist when they were both two-years-old and attending the Hawaiian Preschool for Future Leaders?
It’s getting so ridiculous on Capitol Hill that the only vote that would bring some kind of relief is Jack Kevorkian for White House physician.
But as a lifetime member of Hope-A-Holics Anonymous, I’m not giving up on the system just yet. I’m tough and have been through tougher times.
And, I’m pretty sure I could skin an elk.
The question is, why would I want to?
Posted on 30 October 2008 by Editor
Thumbs Down to the (Columbia CIty) newspaper for charging for obituaries. (See letter to the editor on this page “History should not be the victim …” by Charlotte Hurd Blair. Or go to History should not …}
That’s rude and selfish. When you lose a family member the last thing you want to do is pay for the notice. What if someone in the staff’s family dies? Do they get the obit free.
I used to work as the Community Editor there and I could have told you this was coming down the pipe four years ago when I left. This useless paper needs to be boycotted, not only for the obit situation, but the lack of local news everyday. Each newspaper printed there is a waste of good paper.
From now on I’ll only read my news online and I’m not reading The Post & Mail anymore. Please join me.
Waste not! Go green with Busco Voice!!!!
Robin R. Plasterer, Churubusco
Posted on 28 October 2008 by Editor
Letter to the Editor:
The Post and Mail recently posted a new policy regarding what it will print in an obituary at no cost. The paper will now only print basic name/date information. No longer will the paper print - at no cost to the deceased’s family - information, like activities involved in, military service, awards/honors earned, group/church memberships, locations lived and other notes that describe the person’s life.
I am sure the paper does face rising printing and distribution costs, but I would hope the publishers are aware of the importance that printing complete obituaries make in the communities they serve and the history they record each day. Deciding what is printed in the deceased’s obituary should not be based on the family’s ability to pay.
I have devoted countless hours researching family histories and doing research for people from across our country who have ancestors who were a part of Whitley County’s history. Newspapers printed here from the 1850s to the present serve as an invaluable resource for doing that resarch and documenting family and community history.
Obituaries are not just names and dates, but stories and life histories of our citizens and how these lives built our community. With the newspaper’s new policy, we begin to lose parts of the history of Columbia City, Whitely County and its people. The printed words in our community newspapers serve as a basic and fundamental record, in many cases a legal ward, of the people, places and happenings of this community.
I hope The Post & Mail will review their decision onobituaries and return to printing at no cost to the deceased’s family the complete life record of our citizens. This is a prime responsibility of a community newspaper along with reporting other community happenings. These are the reasons that the community newspaper is preserved in libraries and record centers everywhere.
Under this newspaper’s new policy important information will be gone forever for generations that follow us. Obituaries should not be the victim of our economic choices.
-Charlotte Hurd Blair, Whitley County genealogist
Posted on 28 October 2008 by Editor
To the patrons of the Churubusco Fine Arts Department,
Let me begin by first thanking every member of this community for the high level of support that each and every one of you has shown towards our fine arts department during my time as director here at Churubusco Middle and High Schools. In an age where arts programs are frequently reduced or cut in so many schools to save funding and make room for other activities and priorities, it is truly a blessing to have such a supportive community, and for that I will always be thankful.
A couple of weeks ago, I ran a short article describing our fall musical, Les Miserables. My article offered parents a chance to explore the subject material beforehand and gauge its appropriateness for their children. I warned that the show contained mature subjects, strong language, and battle scenes that may be too intense for young audience members. I also recommended that young children should not plan to attend without a parent or guardian, and that no one under the age of 12 would be permitted without an adult.
I wrote that piece with the intent of giving parents a heads up, as a common courtesy. As a parent of young children myself, I would appreciate knowing what my children will be seeing at any event we would choose to attend, be that a movie, theatre production, concert, or any event where material may be inappropriate. Unfortunately, musicals are not assigned ratings as movies are, and for that reason I felt it would
However, over the last two weeks I have received two letters questioning my decision to direct this show in such a “conservative” and “faith-centered” community such as Churubusco. One of these letters was also published last week in a local newspaper. Since this discussion has now become public, I am compelled to respond in print myself, and defend not only my decision, but to also defend the hard work and pride of my students who are going to present this show in two weeks.
First of all, I would like to think that the town of Churubusco knows me well enough by now to trust my judgment. In my opinion, this show is very tame, and I think that I may have made the show sound worse than it really is. This show would barely earn a “PG” rating, if it were a movie; children hear and see much worse on television every day. I know that in the past, much of the theatre which has been performed has always stuck to very conservative classic musicals; and when someone dared to do a newer show, they either chose to change the questionable material, or remove it entirely. As director, I feel it is my responsibility to present the show as it is intended to be seen, for two reasons: first, because the authors of the show wrote it a specific way for a reason, and it is not up to me to decide what should and shouldn’t be in it; and secondly, legally I am not permitted to make any changes whatsoever to a show, including changing lyrics, music, scenes, text, etc.
As for why I chose this show… being a younger director, I have a strong passion for the new classics on Broadway. This is truly one of the greatest shows ever created, with valuable lessons to be learned by performers and audience members alike. The show centers on the idea that love and compassion conquers all, something that I think many people, even here in Churubusco, could be reminded of. I do know that there is minimal strong language (and it is VERY minimal), and there are “intense scenes” (war and gunshots sometimes scare small children), and there are even “mature subjects” (one of the main characters is forced to turn to prostitution in order to provide for her daughter; however, we have obviously staged it in such a way that nothing lewd or distasteful is seen). Because of these elements, I felt the need to give parents the chance to look into the show and decide for themselves whether they are comfortable having their children see it or not. These things do not outweigh all of the wonderful things that this show is, and the positive impact that it is having on my students.
The bottom line is that this show is based on history; real events that happened in France during the French revolution. While it may be easier to turn our heads and pretend that certain things in the past did not happen, ignoring them does not make them go away. For example, simply saying “well, I don’t want my student to learn about the harsh treatment of slaves during the early years of our country, because so many terrible things happened” does not change the fact that they DID happen, and that there are important lessons to learn from those events. This show has taught my students empathy and compassion, and has caused many of them to step back and think about the horrible injustices that affect people every day. And yet, the show still drives home the lesson that through it all, love and kindness towards our fellow human beings can truly conquer these injustices, and offer hope to those who have none.
So, I will say that YES, this is absolutely the “type of musical” that I want to direct. I know that not everyone will agree with me, and I can accept that; I gave up trying to please everyone a long time ago. However, I cannot accept misinformed people criticizing a production which has already blessed so many students and parents alike, before they have even seen it. To allow this would only devalue all of the work my students have put into this show, and will cause them to lose pride in what will be a shining moment in the history of CHS Fine Arts.
If you are not familiar with the show, I invite to you do some research before you criticize it. I think you will find that this show is one of great importance, and will stand as one of the best productions to ever grace the Churubusco High School stage. Once again, an excellent website with information about Les Miserables is http://www.lesmis.com/
Lastly, I welcome you to write and express your concerns to me if you choose. However, if you do so, please have the courage to sign your letter. Sending me an anonymous note only displays cowardice, and causes me to not take your remarks seriously. If you are truly concerned about this show, then you should have the fortitude to stand by your words. I am demonstrating mine by writing this letter publicly, and I would expect the same courtesy.
Thank you again for all of the support you have given to me and the fine arts department, and I look forward to seeing all of you in the audience on November 15th as we debut Les Miserables!
Sincerely,
Daniel G. Hile
Director
Photos of Les Miserables practice by Viv Sade for Buscovoice.
Posted on 10 October 2008 by Editor
Pat Stanford, president of the Churubusco Community Park Board of Directors, is looking for community input on a request to dedicate and name Diamond 1 in the park in honor of the late Dennis “Denny” Cramer.
“We had a request about naming Diamond 1 in the park in honor of Denny for his dedication to the community through years of coaching Little League,” Stanford said. “We would like to hear from the community before making a decision on this issue at our next meeting” in November.
Voice your opinion below by adding a comment, which will be forwarded to Stanford or email it to editor@buscovoice.com.
Denny L. Cramer was 55 when he died suddenly of an apparent heart attack on August 9.
He was the son of the late Wilbur L. and 
Catherine L. (Lynch) Cramer. For most of his life he lived in Churubusco, and as a young man graduated from Bishop Dwenger High School in Fort Wayne with the class of 1971.
He worked at Precision Heat Treat Company in Fort Wayne for over 20 years and was the night supervisor. He loved coaching little league baseball in Churubusco for 20 years.
Posted on 09 October 2008 by Viv
I have perfected a technique for raising children called Post It parenting.
Throughout all four of my childrens’ upbringing, I was raising them by the “letter” or, in my case - letters. During the last several years - when my youngest two were teens - I was a single parent working two jobs, and we often communicated with notes left on the kitchen table. During the summer months - when the kids were home from school - those notes became epic novels.
Boys,
Keep the house clean. Don’t leave. All towels are MIA. FIND THEM and put them in the washer. All of the drinking glasses and cups are missing. FIND THEM and wash them and put them in the cupboard. See if Grandma needs her lawn mowed. If you mow it, don’t take any money for doing it. Has anyone seen my CD player? It’s missing. Love you guys. Be good. Be respectful. Stay home.
Mom
P.S. Warning: Threat ahead … find all towels and glasses or no allowances this week!
Mom,
I HAD to leave cause the guys were jammin at Steve-O’s. I gotta be there. They need a bass player. There are no towels in my room. There may be some in the trunk of my car. I’ll check later. All the glasses from my room are in the sink. Ben has the rest in his room. He has all the towels too, I think. Had no time to wash the dishes cause we’re jammin. Can I borrow $10 for gas? I’ll pay you back when I get paid. Promise. Love you,
Chris
P.S. I think Ben took your CD player. He always takes my stuff. He’s dumm.
Mom,
I mowed Grandma’s lawn, so I didn’t have time to get the towels and glasses. Chris didn’t do anything. He’s lazy. And dummer. I do everything. A bunch of us are going to Hooters cause we don’t have to be 21 to eat the wings. Can I have $10 for the wings? I’ll pay you back. Promise. I think your CD player is at Harpo’s house. I didn’t take it there. Chris probably did.
Ben
P.S. Grandma MADE me take $10.
Boys,
Chris - Get those towels out of your car!! No jammin with Steve-O until your room is clean enough to eat off of the floor - okay, clean enough that you can at least SEE the floor. And don’t take the amps outside when you jam, because the neighbors will call the cops again. If you’re going to call someone dumb, learn how to spell it. Better yet, learn how to spell it, but don’t call anyone that.
Ben - Stop taking my white socks!! And it’s d-u-m-b-e-r. Speaking of dumb, no going to Hooters. The buffalo wings - among other things - are not real. Why, pray tell, does Harpo have my CD player? Get it back! And give that $10 back to Grandma!
Love you guys. Be careful. Stay home. Be good. Be respectful.
Mom
Mom,
Can I go to the Diseased Tongues & Lips concert in Chicago Sunday? I’ll clean my room. Promise. Can I borrow $65 for the ticket? I’ll pay you back. Promise. All the towels are back in the bathroom. Also, I need gas money for the trip. Please? I love you. A bunch of us are going, but not Ben or his friends. They’re not DUMB - they are stupid.
Chris
Mom,
All my socks are gone. Chris stole them. He’s a BUT! Went to Hooter’s. Kidding. HA HA I HAD to leave and go watch Beavis and Buthead with Harpo and Mel. Took $2 out of change jar. I’ll pay you back. Promise. I need to practice pairahell parking for my driver’s license test. Tomorrow? Did you hid the pop? Where? Love,
Ben
Boys,
Chris - CHICAGO?! Are you crazy? Don’t call your brother stupid. And for $65 a ticket shouldn’t it be Stix instead of the Dead Lips & Taste Buds or whoever? We’ll talk about this later, but I think … NOT. If you have Ben’s socks, give them back. He’s resorted to stealing mine. Do your own laundry. Feed the cat. Love you. Be good.
Ben - Butt has two t’s, BUT don’t call your brother a butt. I hide the pop so you don’t drink a case every day. Look up the meaning of “hide” in the Webster’s. Is Mel a girl? Remember, no dating until you are 16. Stay away from the money jar and from Mel if it’s a girl. We’ll talk more about the dangers of parking when you practice PARALLEL parking tomorrow. Keep the house clean. Be good. Be respectful. Love,
Mom
Mom,
Stix who? If you are going to call people sticks, learn how to spell it. I can drive to Chicago. I got a map. I will be 18 next month and you were married and having a baby when you were 18, so I should be able to go to a concert. Please? I’ll be good. And respectful. I will take Ben and his weeny friends. I won’t have a baby or get married. Can I borrow $20 for gas? I think Ben stole my money. I’ll pay you back. Promise. Love,
Chris
Mom,
Chris stole my new CD. I was going to listen to it on your CD player at Harpo’s, but it’s GONE! He’s a BUTT with two T’s. Mel is a guy. Harpo is a girl. HA Kidding. I found the pop in the dryer when I was looking for some towels. I only drank two, but Chris drank all the rest. I have to leave and go to the mall. I’ll be good. Who’s Webster? Love,
Ben
Boys,
The house is a disaster! Stay home and clean it! I mean it! Feed the cat, too.
Chris - I was married and having a baby, but I was three weeks shy of turning 19 and I was never allowed to drive to a concert in Chicago. Gas money? Where’s your check? Don’t you already owe me? We’ll talk about this later. Love ya.
Ben - I found your new CD - the one you accused your brother of stealing - in my sock drawer! Someone drank ALL of the pop. Saying butt with two t’s makes it no less offensive. You need to be more responsible. Look up responsible in the Webster’s in your remedial summer school class. Love ya.
Mom
P.S. Keep the house clean. Stay home. Be good. Be respectful We’re out of glasses and towels again. Find them! Wash them!
(Viv Sade is a writer and reporter and the 2007 winner of Best Personal Column in the daily newspaper division from Hoosier State Press Association. She often spends entire days pondering the hives-less and nervous tic-free lifestyle of her childless friends.)
Posted on 07 October 2008 by Viv
Steven Fortriede of Fort Wayne submitted the following additions - or should we say revisions - to a widely circulated email entitled, “You know you’re from Fort Wayne when …”
Thanks to Steve for contributing this amusing walk down memory lane. We have our own version for Churubusco on this Web site at “You Know You’re a Busconian if …” which many Busco residents have added to and improved upon.
Contributed by Steven Fortriede
Some months ago, a document entitled, “You know you’re from Ft. Wayne when …”
made the email rounds. The premise was amusing and the items listed brought
back many memories.
However, it was clear that the piece had been written by a rank newcomer to our city, someone who could not possibly have lived here more than 25 or 30 years,
40 at the most.
So here is another version. The additions are in CAPS, not because I’m
shouting - I just need the bigger letters so I can see them. I missed a few, so
feel free to add your own.
You know you’re from Fort Wayne when…
1. You remember the Glenbrook Ice Rink.
YOU SKATED ON THE SWINNEY PARK POND.
2. You remember when “Belmont’s” didn’t only refer to a liquor store.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN WKJG DIDN’T REFER TO A TELEVISION STATION. FOR THAT MATTER, YOU REMEMBER WHAT THE ‘JG’ REFERRED TO.
3. You remember when I-69 was just two lanes.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN THEY BUILT I-69.
4. You remember downtown before Headwaters Park & Courthouse Green.
YOU REMEMBER THE SCRAMBLE CORNER.
5. You can properly pronounce the name “Goeglein” (GEG-line).
YOU COULD PROPERLY SPELL THE NAME OF JAY GOULD’S HOME (BELLE LEA ACRES).
6. You remember the Coliseum before the expansion.
YOU REMEMBER IPFW BEFORE THE EXPANSION TO COLISEUM BLVD.
7. You remember the Coliseum before the Expo Center.
YOU EVER WATCHED MERV DUBCHAK WIND UP A SLAP SHOT FROM THE BLUE LINE.
8. You remember when Science Central opened.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN SCIENCE CENTRAL WAS IN A BOX CAR.
9. You know what “Gladieux” is and remember it catching fire.
YOU KNOW WERE THE STOCKADES WERE, AND REMEMBER THEM CATCHING FIRE.
10. You remember the Apple Orchard at Glenbrook.
YOU REMEMBER THE SMELL OF CELERY AT THE END OF THE BUS LINE ON TAYLOR STREET, AND YOU KNOW WHAT FORT WAYNE MULTIMILLIONAIRE GOT HIS START SELLING THAT PRODUCE.
11. You remember when the Roller Dome was THE place to be on Friday and Saturday nights.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN ROBINSON PARK WAS THE PLACE TO BE ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS.
12. You’ve been to Coney Island more times than you can count and you have no problems walking in through the back door.
OKAY, I’LL BUY THAT ONE.
13. You’ve eaten at the Elegant Farmer.
YOU’VE EATEN AT THE RATHSKELLER.
14. You remember when Memorial Stadium opened.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN MEMORIAL COLISEUM OPENED.
15. You remember when B. Dalton, Walden Books, Little Professor, and Reader’s World were the biggest bookstores in town.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN COLUMBIA STREET WAS 5 BLOCKS LONG.
16. You remember when the Georgetown theater was full-price.
YOU EVER CRUISED GARDNER’S OR DALE’S, OR BOTH.
Fort Wayne Central Catholic basketball team, 1922.
18. You remember South Side HS and North Side HS before the renovations.
YOU REMEMBER CENTRAL HS AND CENTRAL CATHOLIC HS.
19. You remember Southtown Mall.
YOU REMEMBER SOUTHGATE PLAZA.
20. You’ve been to Safety Village.
YOU’VE BEEN TO SAFETY VILLAGE, ON LAFAYETTE STREET.
21. You’ve bowled at almost every bowling alley in town.
YOU’VE BOWLED AT THE GE CLUB AND THE BPOE.
22. You remember going to Lassus Stations without hearing from Jon Lassus every time.
YOU REMEMBER GOING TO CONOCO STATIONS AND PAYING 18.9 FOR 104 OCTANE GAS.
23. You remember the old food court at Glenbrook.
YOU REMEMBER THE TEA ROOM AT WOLF AND DESSAUER.
24. You know what ten thousand burning tires looks like.
YOU KNOW WHAT A BURNING DEPARTMENT STORE LOOKS LIKE.
25. You remember the time before Jefferson Point when Glenbrook was the only place to shop.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN DOWNTOWN WAS THE ONLY PLACE TO SHOP; REALLY - THE ONLY PLACE TO SHOP.
26. You know that it’s “State Boulevard” not “State Street”.
YOU KNOW ITS AUBURN ROAD, NOT “OLD AUBURN ROAD” AND THAT IT USED TO GO TO AUBURN.
27. You remember “Holiday 6″ and saw movies there.
YOU REMEMBER THE CLYDE AND SAW MOVIES THERE.
28. You remember when Southtown had more than Footlocker, Sears, and the MCL
Cafeteria.
YOU REMEMBER THAT SOUTHGATE WAS FORT WAYNE’S FIRST MALL.
29. You remember when the TRF Midway was cool, and you didn’t have to worry about getting shot.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN GE RAN THREE PLANTS, 3 SHIFTS.
30. You know what TRF stands for.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN TRF STOOD FOR SOMETHING.
31. You remember when Lazer X and Ultrazone opened.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN IPFW OPENED.
32. You’ve thrown apples on Johnny Appleseed’s grave.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN THERE WERE GRAVESTONES AROUND JOHNNY APPLESEED’S GRAVE.
33. You remember going to McMillan Health Center in elementary school.
YOU REMEMBER SEEING PRINCESS SAFETY IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL.
34. You remember Maplecrest when it was a two-lane, bumpy road that T-ed into Rothman.
YOU REMEMBER WEST JEFFERSON WHEN IT WAS A TWO-LANE BUMPY ROAD CALLED US 24.
35. You remember the times before Wal-Mart and Meijer…when you actually had to go to a grocery store.
YOU REMEMBER THE TIMES BEFORE WAL-MART AND MEIJER…WHEN A GROCERY STORE WOULD ACTUALLY DELIVER.
36. You were ever on Happy’s Place.
YOU WERE EVER ON ENGINEER JOHN SIEMER’S SHOW.
Embassy and Indiana Hotel
37. You remember listening to B106.3.
YOU REMEMBER LISTENING TO WOWO, ON VACATION IN CANADA, OR MAYBE IN WEST VIRGINIA.
38. You remember the TRF Raft Race.
YOU REMEMBER THE TIRE AT VAN BUREN AND SUPERIOR AND WHY THERE WAS A WHITE LINE ON IT.
39.You went to Diamond Jims and still miss it.
YOU WENT TO SWINNEY PARK AMUSEMENT PARK AND STILL MISS IT.
40. You’ve eaten at Power’s Hamburgers and remember it being open 24 hours a day.
41. You’ve managed to cram yourself into Cindy’s Diner and not feel claustrophobic.
YOU’VE MANAGED TO CRAM YOURSELF INTO TINY TIM’S DINER, EVEN THOUGH YOU DID FEEL CLAUSTROPHOBIC.
42. You remember when Hot 107.9 was Foxxy.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN FORT WAYNE HAD THREE CHANNELS OF TELEVISION. EXTRA POINT: YOU REMEMBER WHEN FORT WAYNE HAD ONE CHANNEL OF TELEVISION.
43. You remember the St. Mary’s Church fire.
YOU REMEMBER THE ‘OLD WEST’ STOREFRONTS ON NORTH CLINTON STREET.
44. You remember when Dupont Road was out in the middle of nowhere.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN THE BYPASS WAS OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.
45. You remember the days before 4-69.
YOU REMEMBER THE DAYS BEFORE I-69.
46. You remember the flea market next to Hillcrest Bowl.
YOU REMEMBER THE BARR STREET MARKET, BEFORE THE RENOVATION.
47. You know the Wizards original mascot was actually a wizard…not some creepy dragon.
YOU WERE A MEMBER OF THE KNOT-HOLE GANG.
48. You knew about St. Francis College before the football team.
YOU REMEMBER THE FOUNTAIN AT RESERVOIR PARK AND THE COLORED LIGHTS AT NIGHT.
49. You remember when the first Meijer opened.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN THE LAST MALOLEY’S CLOSED.
50. You remember watching Steve Shine on WFFT Fox 55.
YOU REMEMBER WATCHING ANN COLONE ON WANE TV.
51. You remember the Trolley Restaurant on Wells St. next to where Edy’s is now.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN STEVE SHINE’S OFFICE WAS A SODA FOUNTAIN.
52. You remember Penguin Point on Spy Run.
YOU REMEMBER THE CENTLIVRE BREWERY ON SPY RUN.
53. You’re pretty much guaranteed to find a Wooden Nickel or two somewhere around your house.
YOU’VE GOT AN OLD ANTHONY WAYNE BANK BOOK SOMEWHERE AROUND YOUR HOUSE.
54. You can name all the Halls Restaurant
55. You remember when Lincoln was based in Fort Wayne.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN THE LINCOLNVIEW DRIVE-IN WAS IN FORT WAYNE.
56. You remember Baer Field before it was “internationalized”.
YOU REMEMBER BAER FIELD WHEN IT WAS STILL SMITH FIELD. YOU KNOW WHO BAER WAS. YOU EVEN KNOW WHO SMITH WAS.
57. You remember when Keltch Pharmacy was it’s own store, not a part of Scott’s.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN THERE WAS ONLY ONE ZESTO.
58. You know what “Froggy’s Pad” was.
YOU KNOW WHAT ‘LAMB CHOP’ WAS.
59. You remember the Seyfert’s factory on Hwy 3/Lima Rd. and what it smelled like.
YOU REMEMBER THE WAYNE CANDY FACTORY AND WHAT A BUN BAR TASTED LIKE AT THE END OF THE FIELD TRIP.
60. You know that Best Buy was originally located where Borders is now on Coldwater Road, and that it was The Children’s Palace before Best Buy.
YOU KNOW THAT THE EMBASSY WAS ORIGINALLY THE EMBOYD.
61. You remember when Speice just sold shoes.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN KELLEY JUST SOLD CHEVROLETS.
62. You know that our Pizza Huts are way better than anything outside of Dick Freeland’s franchise.
YEAH, THAT ONE’S BEEN TRUE FOR A LONG TIME.
63. You remember when the Citilink buses were PTC.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN THE CITY BUSES RAN ON ELECTRIC MOTORS FED FROM OVERHEAD WIRES.
64. You remember when Win Moses was mayor.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN WIN MOSES WAS INDICTED.
65. You know the difference between St. Joe Blvd, St. Joe Rd, St. Joe Center Rd, St. Joe River Dr, and Upper St. Joe Center Rd.
YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ST. JOE BLVD, ST. JOE RD, ST. JOE CENTER RD, ST. JOE RIVER DR., AND UPPER ST. JOE CENTER RD., BUT IT DOESN’T BOTHER YOU.
66. You can finish the sentence, “If you’re not on Goshen Road…”
YOU CAN FINISH THE SENTENCE, “CROSS OVER THE BRIDGE TO…”
67. You remember never being able to find parking at the downtown library.
YOU REMEMBER THE ORNATE CAPS ON THE MARBLE COLUMNS AT THE DOWNTOWN LIBRARY, AND YOU KNOW WHERE THEY ARE NOW.
68. You know what St. Francis’ campus looked like before the renovations and expansions.
YOU KNOW WHAT ST. FRANCIS CAMPUS LOOKED LIKE WHEN THE BASS FAMILY STILL OWNED IT.
69. You remember when the police department was at Southgate
YOU REMEMBER WHEN THE POLICE RODE HORSES.
70. You remember Showbiz Pizza before Chuck E. Cheese.
YOU REMEMBER WHY IT’S CALLED “TIME CORNERS” BONUS POINT: YOU DIDN’T FEEL THE URGE TO CORRECT IT TO “TIME’S CORNERS,” IN WHICH CASE, YOU’D BE WRONG.
71. You remember Tilt at Glenbrook.
YOU CAN FIND “THE WORLD-FAMOUS WOWO FIRE ESCAPE”.
72. You remember when Coventry 13 was the main movie theater.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN THE EMBASSY, AND THE PARAMOUNT, AND THE JEFFERSON WERE THE MAIN MOVIE THEATERS, ALL WITHIN A COUPLE OF BLOCKS.
73. You remember Denny’s on Lima Road.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN SPEEDWAY DRIVE WENT TO THE SPEEDWAY.
74. You’ve complained aloud in your car that St. Joe/St. Joe Center is a screwed-up intersection.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN ‘THE CLOVERLEAF’ WAS THE ONLY ONE.
The Old Fort
75. You were pissed that northwest Indiana got to keep 219 when the area codes were split up.
YOU WERE *$#*ED OFF WHEN YOU HAD TO GIVE UP YOUR HARRISON, OR ANTHONY, OR KENMORE TELEPHONE NUMBER.
76. You’ve drank out of the lion shaped water fountain at the zoo.
YOU’VE DRANK OUT OF THE WATER FOUNTAIN ON CALHOUN STREET.
77. You’ve eaten at Atz’s ice cream shop.
YOU KNOW WHAT A BOSTON COOLER IS, AND WHERE TO GET ONE.
78. It doesn’t bother you in the least that a road can change names 3 or 4 times in the course of a few miles.
YOU KNOW WERE BOSTON IS AND YOU CAN DRIVE THERE (HINT - YES, IN ALLEN COUNTY. EXTRA POINT: YOU COULD FIND CLABBERTOWN - YES, IN ALLEN COUNTY.
79. You know the story behind Harry Baals Drive.
YOU KNOW WHAT FORT WAYNE WAS THE ‘SUMMIT’ OF.
80. You remember the GTE Tower.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN THE LINCOLN TOWER WAS THE TALLEST BUILDING IN INDIANA.
81. You’ve eaten at Willie’s.
YOU’VE EATEN AT THE BOOTJACK.
82. You remember Damon’s and the fact that the place was cursed.
YOU REMEMBER CATABLU WHEN IT WAS A MOVIE THEATER - THE FAMILY KIND.
83. You remember Roger’s, Lynn’s, and Cub Foods.
YOU REMEMBER RODEY’S AND MALOLEY’S AND WEYRICK’S IGA.
84. Even if you know Scott’s was generally overpriced, you’re still *@#*ed off that Kroger bought them out.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN ROGERS AND MALOLEY’S ALL BUT RAN KROGER OUT OF THE FORT WAYNE MARKET.
85. You remember when there was more than one Big Boy.
YOU REMEMBER THE HOBBY HOUSE.
86. You remember when the 14/69 Automall was built.
YOU KNOW HOW DOCK STREET GOT IT’S NAME.
87. You remember when Roger’s grocery baggers loaded your bags in your car.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN TAPP’S GROCERY DELIVERED YOUR BAGS TO YOUR HOUSE.
88. You drove Harrison Street when it was one, continuous street.
YOU KNOW THERE IS A NORTH CALHOUN STREET. YOU CAN FIND IT AND DRIVE FROM THERE TO NORTH HANNA STREET.
89. You remember when Amtrak stopped in Fort Wayne.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN THE NICKLE PLATE STOPPED IN FORT WAYNE.
90. Bob Rohrman annoys you.
YOU KNOW WHERE YOU COULD ALWAYS FIND A NEEDLE FOR YOUR RECORD PLAYER.
91. You’ve talked to Croaky the Frog.
YOU’VE TALKED TO WEE WILLIE WAND.
92. You remember Hudson’s at Glenbrook.
YOU REMEMBER HUDSON’S, ALSO PACKARDS AND STUDEBAKERS.
93. You’ve know the rumors about Devil’s Hollow at night.
YOU KNOW THE RUMORS ABOUT DEVIL’S HOLLOW AT NIGHT, BUT YOU’VE GONE THERE TO MAKE OUT ANYWAY.
94. You know that the television was invented by Fort Wayne resident, Philo T. Farnsworth.
YOU KNOW THAT BAKING POWDER WAS INVENTED BY FORT WAYNE RESIDENTS, CORNELIUS AND JOSEPH HOAGLAND.
95. You remember when the ACPL summer reading program actually had good prizes.
YOU PICKED UP ONE OF THE FREE HISTORICAL PAMPHLETS EVERY TIME YOU VISITED THE FORT WAYNE PUBLIC LIBRARY.
96. You’ve gone sledding down the huge hills at Franke Park and Shoaff Park.
YOU REMEMBER WHEN THEY RAN THE SOAP BOX DERBY ON THE HUGE HILL AT FRANKE PARK.
97. You remember Furrows behind Southtown.
YOU REMEMBER LEESBURG LUMBER ACROSS FROM ST. FRANCIS.
98. You’ve ridden on the BMX track.
YOU’VE RIDDEN ON THE INTERURBAN.
99. You’ve had your picture taken while sitting in the joey pouch at the zoo.
YOU’VE HAD YOUR PICTURE TAKEN WHILE SITTING ON PHIL STEIGERWALD’S LAP.
100. You remember listening to Charlie Butcher on 97.3 WMEE.
YOU REMEMBER LISTENING TO BOB CHASE ON WOWO, WITH YOUR GRANDFATHER.
101. You know that the Detroit Pistons used to be the Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons.
YOU KNOW THAT THE NBA STARTED IN FRED ZOLLNER’S KITCHEN.
Ed. note: Thanks to Steve for this great piece of Fort Wayne nostalgia. Unfortunately, I remember many of the things he mentioned. Feel free to add your own comments on remembering Fort Wayne below.
Posted on 26 August 2008 by Editor
The Churubusco Chamber of Commerce would like to say thank you to all of the attendees of our annual Picnic in the Park.
Every year the turn-out gets better and we would not be able to have such a great time if it weren’t for all of the local volunteers and businesses that donted their time, labor and food.
Those that we would like to thank are Mor for Less, Egolfs IGA, Smith-Green Schools and CHS art students, Mahle, Fort Financial Credit Union, Sheets and Childs Funeral Home, Churubusco/Smith Township Fire Department, not only for displaying your fire trucks and the fun softball game but also for housing and transporting the moonwalk, Huntertown/Perry Township Fire Department, BRC, Churubusco Child Care, National City Bank, Farmers and Merchants Bank, Gonink, Bob Wiard @ Bob’s Graphics, Churubusco Public Library, The Auburn Dixielanders, Don Amber, Rick Krider and Harold Burden.
Thanks again everyone and we look forward to making it bigger and better next year.
Dee Dee McCoy, Churubusco Chamber of Commerce
Posted on 19 August 2008 by Editor
Twice in September and once in October, Indiana voters will have an opportunity to participate in and witness, in person or via electronic media, debates among the state’s three candidates for governor.
Gubernatorial debates are not new here, but this year’s debates will be different because of unprecedented efforts by the newly formed Indiana Debate Commission.
Incorporated in the fall of 2007, the Indiana Debate Commission is a nonpartisan group of affiliate organizations dedicated to promoting debates at the state level. The IDC’s board of directors has been setting groundwork for this year’s debates since February 2007, and has spent the past five months working with candidates and potential debate officials to select locations and a schedule that will serve the largest possible number of Hoosier voters.
As the IDC has gone about its work, the support, interest and enthusiasm shown around the state for hosting the debates have been remarkable. More than a dozen sites submitted applications to become debate venues. Among them were public universities, a private college, a parochial school and a commercial enterprise. All were visited by teams of board members and volunteers. The goal is to conduct a debate in each of three regions (north, central and south); each produced excellent potential sites.
Reviewing and assessing potential venues during site visits was a painstaking process that was enhanced by the professionalism demonstrated by our applicant hosts. Their commitment to offering the best facilities and services available reinforced our belief that this cause has great merit and will produce valued results.
After several weeks of consideration and analysis, the IDC on Aug. 8 announced its debate lineup. All three candidates - Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels, Democratic nominee Jill Long Thompson, and Libertarian Andrew Horning -have accepted our proposed schedule.
The first debate will be Tuesday, Sept. 16, at the Star Theatre in Merrillville. The second will be the following Tuesday, Sept. 23, at the Jasper Arts Center in Jasper. The third will be Tuesday, Oct. 14, at IU Auditorium on the campus of Indiana University-Bloomington.
With dates and sites selected, an IDC subcommittee is now focused on debate formats. While different formats may ultimately be selected for each site, the goal is the same - to create an opportunity for voters to observe the candidates deal with a variety of issues and interact with questioners, moderators and each other.
Throughout this process, the Debate Commission has stayed true to its mission of “putting voters first.” In addition to scheduling debates in geographically diverse locations around the state and making each event open to the public, the IDC has put together a plan to allow as many people as possible to view the debates on television or listen on radio. In conjunction with Indiana public television stations, a video feed will be made available free of charge for broadcast on any local or public station.
The IDC also invites citizens to participate by submitting questions, topics or issues they would like the candidates to discuss during the debates. An electronic submission form is available at the IDC Web site, www.indianadebatecommission.com. If your question is selected, you may be invited to attend a debate and watch from a VIP seat.
Political debate has long been a tradition in Indiana. Yet creation of the Indiana Debate Commission, the first known statewide organization of its kind in America, is destined to raise the standard of discourse by staging debates in a consistent manner while ensuring, on behalf of voters, that the presentations are fair and unbiased for all involved.
The coalition of affiliate members that made the commission possible will be pleased to reach its first goal with the series of gubernatorial debates this fall. But Indiana’s voters will have achieved the greatest gain.
By Max Jones, Editor, Tribune-Star, Terre Haute
Max Jones is editor of the Tribune-Star in Terre Haute and a member of the Indiana Debate Commission. He can be reached via e-mail at max.jones@tribstar.com.
Posted on 10 August 2008 by Viv
Grandma’s diary:A little nervous about this week-long babysitting gig in Florida. They only see me a few times a year. What if they don’t like me? What if some crazed methhead - I hear Florida is fairly crawling with crazed methheads - tries to get us while I’m taking the kids for a walk? I’m not a young woman. I can’t outrun a methhead. Hell, I can’t even outrun my 81-year-old friend and she’s in a wheelchair.
Two-year-old girl’s diary: Who is this Bamma Biv woman and why is she here? Why are mom and dad packing a bag? I don’t like this … Hmm … may be time for Operation Needy Toddler.
Six-year-old boy’s diary: Excellent! Grandma Biv’s here and mom and dad are leaving. I can tell her how they never buy me anything I need and she will take me shopping. I can tell her our kindergarten class is closed this week so the teachers can go to Disney World. I can tell her I never go to sleep before midnight and I drink a soda every night before bed.
Dog’s diary: Woof! Woof! (Feed me! Feed me!)
Grandma’s diary: First night - Got NO sleep. The baby was up all night and would only sleep if I was constantly in the rocker next to her bed. Ugh … got a stiff neck and a back ache. I’m not a young woman. Every time I thought she was asleep and tried to creep out, she would suddenly wake up and yell: “Bamma Biv! Where are you going? Bamma Biv, stay here!” It’s amazing how well she vocalizes her needs. I swear that kid came out of the womb not only talking, but shouting instructions to the doctor. She said she HAD to have her “passy” to sleep. I know she’s supposed to be weaned of pacifiers, but I found an old one in the cupboard and well, it’s only for a week. Really, what can it hurt? And, I can’t bear to tell that little face no. And there’s no need for mom and dad to know about this … what happens with Grandma stays with Grandma. I let the 6-year-old stay up and watch a children’s movie until midnight. But I made sure it was age appropriate. We had pizza at midnight and fed the leftovers to the dog.
Two-year-old girl’s diary: Wow. She’s more of a pushover than I thought. This will be fun. I cajoled four Scooby Doo fruit snacks out of her today. Mom only lets me have one. Kept her up all night, but it was her fault. She did not put Baby Pink in bed on my pillow and Big Blue Elephant in bed by my feet. And she turned off the little light, which makes the Monster in the closet come out and sit in the corner by my bed. How can I sleep when Monster’s in the room?! No wonder I’ve reverted back to my passy. I’m going to tell Grandma I need TWO passys.
Dog’s diary: Woof! Woof!
Six-year-old boy’s diary: I told Grandma I drink soda every night before bed and she gave me one! She took me shopping for my birthday and bought me the coolest pocketknife ever! Tomorrow I will tell her I need new construction materials to build something in the back yard, even though dad just bought me some stuff. You can never have too much ’struction stuff. But Grandma always misses the turns when she is driving. She needs to stay about 100 weeks ‘cause we keep turning around an awful lot of times. Grandmas drive funny.
Grandma’s diary: Well, I know the boy thinks he got one over on grandma, but I knew he wasn’t allowed to have two sodas before bed. I let him have only one. How could I say no to that face? And the pocketknife I bought him can be out only when an adult is around. Although I’m not real sure where it is at this moment. He did tell me that he needs more safety cones and safety flashers for something he is building in the back yard. Who knew those things were $20 each?! But he has to have them for a kindergarten project, and this is his chance to work on the project because apparently they canceled classes all this week. The baby is now sucking on one passy continuously and carrying a spare. We had to go to the store for the third time and stock up on Scooby Doo fruit snacks. She told me they help her sleep. Whatever it takes. Maybe I can just somehow get ahold of the passys and hide them before mom and dad come home. Along with the pocketknife. Shoot, I meant to dull those edges before I gave it to him. Mom and dad due home tomorrow. I think I was supposed to feed the dog only once a day, but I kept forgetting if I fed him and he would stand by his bowl and cock his head and give me that look - how could I say no to that face? - so I would give him more. I think he’s put on weight since I got here - oh yeah, he’s definitely fatter..
Dog’s diary: Woof! Woof!
Viv Sade is a reporter for Buscovoice.com and is no longer allowed to babysit for her grandchildren for any extended period of time.
Posted on 21 July 2008 by Chris
I would like to put out a HUGE thank you from Center Stage Dance Academy to all that helped with this weekends Nelson’s Chicken Fundraiser. Special Thanks to Ranney’s garage for letting us use their parking lot! Also, thanks to Lisa Fensler for all of her AMAZING help! We couldn’t have done it without you!
Alex Husk
Posted on 18 July 2008 by Viv
Do you have other descriptions for a Busconian or Ole’ Busco Folk? Send them to Buscovoice on the comment section and they may be considered for a future column.
Posted on 13 July 2008 by Viv
I’ve decided to run for president.
Come on - everyone else is.
All I have to do is outsmart Obama and outlive McCain.
My platform? Health care for every American!
Right now you are shaking your head and asking,” What the h#@&?”
But, stick with me here …
Some Americans have health care coverage through their companies, which they can get for only $12,980 a month. That’s only for an individual policy - to add a family is $99,087 a month. The problem with these types of company-based insurance plans comes into play whenever the consumer tries to file an actual claim.
Insurance companies hate that.
Just send the premium, dammit.
Let’s say, for example, you have a gaping chest wound after falling from a stepladder onto a garden rake you left prongs-up in the driveway, or that you were just stabbed at a party after getting caught helping the host’s spouse “make the bed,” whatever … the average insurance company will immediately reject any claims for sutures, anesthesia, an operating room or a doctor, because these items are “cosmetic,” and not really necessary.
However, lacking any sense of logic, they will sometimes pay for the quart of whiskey you down to kill the pain.
Here’s my plan:
Since a member of the military or a member of the penal system gets free health care, the best way to get a comprehensive health care plan is to join the Marines or get thrown in jail.
Joining the military requires hard work, dedication, excruciating fitness routines, going weeks without sleep, getting harassed and being intimidated, being tough, eating bad mess hall chow and being brave, not to mention putting your life on the line.
Getting thrown in jail just takes drinking one too many Bud Lites and then urinating in public.
You decide.
Be careful though, when picking your health care crime. Some hard-core felonies require a minimum sentence of 20 years. You don’t want that. You’ll be dead in less than 20 years from whatever illness landed you there in the first place. Don’t overkill, so to speak.
The trick is to incorporate a wellness prison plan that fits your lifestyle and your predisposition to diabetes, heart disease or ingrown hairs in your ears.
Let’s say a person has a diseased gall bladder that needs to come out within the next three months, and minimum medical costs are somewhere around $12,000. Or, with “cosmetic” anesthesia - $15,000.
With careful planning - and no prior adult criminal history - there are a number of crimes that will net you three months in the slammer - time not only for the operation, but the recovery, as well.
A good gall bladder health plan consists of combining public intoxication with resisting law enforcement.
If you are squeaky clean, though, you run the chance of being let off the hook with no jail time and only a year of probation. People in that category will have to commit additional crimes of say, possession of paraphernalia (go ahead, dig out that old bong from the 70’s) and/or child endangerment (or have your 14-year-old dig it out).
I am on the cancer plan.
Having been diagnosed with breast cancer five years ago, I already know that the only two things my insurance company covers in the event of any kind of cancer are the casket and the wreath.
A better bet would be for me to go with the 6-8 year prison wellness plan (PWP as opposed to PHP).
The second I feel a lump, I will be carjacking that brand new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country limited front-wheel drive LWB passenger van my neighbor is tooling around in.
And because I have a clean record, I will fill up the gas tank soon thereafter and go for a quick “drive-off.”
Those are Class B and Class D felonies, which, according to Indiana law, are punishable by 6-20 years and three months to 6 years, respectively.
Enough time for chemo and radiation and to make those quilts I promised the kids years ago.
(Viv Sade is a writer and reporter. Her long list of former friends now include those who work in the insurance industry.)
Posted on 11 July 2008 by Chris
Dear Editor,
I just wanted to send a quick note out to everyone and let them know I am no longer affiliated with Center Stage Dance Academy.
Please call the studio for any registration information or other questions. Good luck next dance season!
Erin Hobbs
Posted on 08 July 2008 by Editor
July 8, 2008
Letter to the Editor,
We would like to thank everyone who made the 59th Annual Turtle Days Festival a resounding success.
Thanks to Bob Pankop of Pankop Excavating for hauling stone and getting the parking lot behind Pit Stop ready for the beer tent.
Thanks to J & K communications of Columbia City for loaning us radios - free of charge - for the parade.
Thank you to the United Methodist Church (Val Cooper) for sponsoring and handling Kids Day at the Park, and Center Stage Dance (Audrey Husk) for sponsoring and handling the talent show. Those are two big things that were great that others took care of for us.
Thank you to all the members of the Lions Club who have assisted at the Turtle Days parade for many years.
Thanks to Greg and Jeanine Childs of Sheets & Childs Funeral Home for the use of the Commerce Center site for the garden tractor pull and pony pull.
Thanks to Smith-Green Community Schools for the use of t
