Archive - News Article
February 25th, 2011
SOUTH WHITLEY — A full house greeted South Whitley Town Council members Tuesday evening for a public hearing regarding Phase II of the wastewater treatment facility project.
The town has applied for a $600,000 grant from the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), which is the maximum amount allowed by Region-III-A.
The town’s grant administrator and Region-III-A representative Angela Hoffman told those gathered that the preliminary engineering report is in the finishing stages and the proposed cost of the project is $3.5 million.
SOUTH WHITLEY — Repairs to the Green Parrot’s exposed wall are finally on the horizon.
Town attorney Greg Hockemeyer revealed the results of a property survey to town council members Tuesday evening. The survey was to determine if the existing building encroached on neighboring property.
The ongoing property line dispute is holding up completion of ordered repair on an exposed wall in the downtown business. Hockemeyer ordered a survey in January to determine the property line before repairs can be made.
Eleven years ago a group of women met to discuss a vision two of them had for Whitley County — a place for the local homeless to find refuge.
Someone asked, “Do we really need this in Columbia City?”
A small ad was placed in the paper and at the first official meeting 50 people showed up. There was a need indeed.
COLUMBIA CITY — State Rep. Kathy Heuer (R-Columbia City) will be hosting a teachers forum from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, and would like to invite area teachers to attend.
The teachers forum will be held at the Peabody Public Library, located at 1160 East state Route 205 in Columbia City.
Doors open at 12:30 p.m. with the forum starting promptly at 1 p.m.
Rep. Heuer encourages the teaching community to attend and share their thoughts and opinions with her. She looks forward to hearing from the teaching community in her district in order to bring valuable input back to the Statehouse.
February 24th
COLUMBIA CITY — The man arrested for operating a rolling methamphetamine lab in Whitley County last November was sentenced to 12 years in prison in Whitley County Circuit Court Tuesday.
Wayne Lynn Weaver, 40, was called a poor probation risk by Whitley County Circuit Court Judge James Heuer, who touted “multiple aggravating circumstances” in issuing the stiff sentence for manufacturing the drug.
Defense attorney Brad Voelz pleaded for leniency, reporting Weaver to have been making personal progress since his incarceration Nov. 16, 2010.
COLUMBIA CITY — The Columbia City woman charged with drug crimes and the neglect of a dependent will face trial in June.
Janel M. Creech, 36, has been in the Whitley County jail since Jan. 11 after being charged Jan. 7 with manufacturing methamphetamine and other drug-related offenses.
The drug-related charges were filed after emergency personnel responded to a 911 call on Jan. 3 in which Creech’s 5-month-old daughter, Taylor, was rushed to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
February 23rd
COLUMBIA CITY — A Columbia City man has been charged with sexual misconduct with a minor in connection to an incident involving an under-aged girl.
According to police and the Whitley County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, Ryan S. Shearer, 22, engaged in sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl on Sunday at his residence on County Road 150 East.
Police were contacted Sunday by an unidentified female who said her sister was missing.
The female gave information to police that led them to the Shearer residence where the girl was located and removed and taken to be examined.
COLUMBIA CITY — A domestic disturbance early Tuesday morning escalated into a confrontation with police and culminated in a Columbia City woman landing in jail.
Kelly Jo Schrader, 32, was arrested Tuesday and charged with battery, disorderly conduct, resisting law enforcement, strangulation and two counts of battery against an officer causing bodily harm.
She was booked in the Whitley County Jail on $35,000 bond.
According to Columbia City police, a call was made in the early morning hours Tuesday reporting a physical fight at a residence on River Bluff Drive.
COLUMBIA CITY — Whitley County’s top planner gave Columbia City as well as county officials an overview this week on his department’s progress and accomplishments during 2010.
David Sewell, executive director of the Whitley County Building and Planning Department, presented his office’s annual report to the county’s Board of Commissioners Tuesday afternoon and appeared later in the day at the Columbia City Common Council meeting Tuesday night.
