HSPA Community Service

Property taxes
are due.
>> LOCAL, A3
LEAGUE BATTLE ON THE COURT

Indiana Wesleyan volleyball team hosts Goshen.
>> SPORTS, B1
EF-GH
T H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 5 , 2 0 1 5
Serving Grant County since 1867.
WWW.CHRONICLE-TRIBUNE.COM
$1.00
Gas
City
focused
on
development,
roads
Cloudy Two council
71
TODAYS WEATHER
60
Scrapbook:
Wednesdays high: 75
Low: 45
Last Nov 5:
High: 59
Low: 38
Record since 1903:
High 76, 2003
Low 12, 1908
Precipitation:
Nov 4: 0.00 (as of 7 a.m.)
Inside:
More weather, Page A2
newcomers ready
to work together
BY BEN QUIGGLE
bquiggle@chronicle-tribune.com
GAS CITY Tuesdays

municipal election saw
two new members elected
to Gas City City Council.
Independent Bill Rock Jr.
and Democrat Troy Richards will now join Republi-
can P. David Huffman, and

Democrats Larry Terwillegar and Michael Planck
on the Gas City Council
for the next four years.
Rock says he hopes to be
able to attract manufacturing jobs to Gas City.
I would like to see more
modern technology jobs
based here in Gas City,
said Rock. I have been
around the state talking
with individuals about getting manufacturing and
technology jobs here in

the city.
Rock also said he hopes
to be able to reach out to
the new leadership in Marion.
I feel what is good for
them is also good for us,
said Rock. We need to be
able to put our heads together.
Richards, who ran with
the slogan A Legacy of
Leadership, is part of a
family that has left a sig-
nificant mark on local

politics. Richards grandfather was Dick Fischer
who served 16 years on
the Gas City Council in
the 80s and 90s. Richards father, Jim Richards,
is in his 16th and final year
on the Gas City Council.
His uncle, Mike Crouch,
is currently serving on
the Mississinewa School
Board; his great-uncle,
Walt Bud Fischer, was a
former Grant County Trea-
Ben Quiggle
Fall Farmer Update

Nov. 11 at Ivy tech
Conference Center, 261
Commerce Dr., Marion,
from 8:30-1:45. Bring
PARP card for credits, $10 fee. No cost
if no PARP. RSVP by
Nov. 6th by contacting
765-651-2413 in Grant
County and 765-3483213 in Blackford
County.
Follow us on:
www.facebook.com/
chronicletribune
@Marion_CT
Inside
Classified,
B7-8
Comics, B4
Crossword, B5
Horoscope, A2
Local, A3
Obituaries, A6
People/Places,
A4
Sports, B1-4
Viewpoints, A7
Weather, A2
Nation, B6
World, B7
See GAS CITY / Page A7
Call to action on Grant County poverty New Fire
Station 1
proposed
Eastbrook
Veterans Program
The Eastbrook High
School Student Council
and the entire student
body are planning a
Veterans Day program
on November 11, 2015
at 10:00 a.m. They have
invited retired Colonel
Kenneth R. Strickland
to address the student
body. Veterans are
encouraged to attend.
They suggest that you
park in the back of
the building and enter
through door number 7.
Members of the Student
Council will greet and
escort you to your seat
for the duration of the
program. They request
that Veterans RSVP by
calling the Eastbrook
High School office at
765-664-1214, or by
emailing Mrs. Russell
attrussell@eastbrook.
k12.in.us.
surer; his cousin, Dixie

Fischer Conner, served 8
years as the Grant County
Recorder; his father-in-law
was Mike Stevens, former
Marion Police Chief; and
finally his mother-in-law
was Jackie Stevens, former Grant County Deputy
Sheriff.
I grew up in a family where it was bred into
you the need to do your
BY BEN QUIGGLE
Discussion of a new fire

station was on the docket
Wednesday night during the
regular meeting of the Marion Common Council.
The proposed plan for a
new Fire Station 1 brought
before the council by Marion Fire Chief Paul David is
built off of the existing structure and features a two level
floor plan. David said during
Wednesdays meeting that
one of the benefits of the new
building would be a growing
capacity limit. The new building would be able to house 12
See STATION / Page A8
PHOTOS BY JEFF MOREHEAD / jmorehead@chronicle-tribune.com
ADDRESSING CHILD POVERTY: John Peirce, a consultant for collective impact and early childhood initiatives with
Peirce Consulting LLC, Fort Wayne, speaks during Indiana Wesleyan Universitys quarterly Citizens Advisory Council meeting in the Barnes Student Center on Wednesday. The meeting addressed the topic of child poverty in Grant
County.
Indiana Youth Institute, local leaders take deeper look at data

the communitys hands and
feet to come together to define our specific bulls eye,
said Grant County Community Foundation Director
Dawn Brown. Benchmarks
need to be established, and
measurable outcomes need
to be tracked so funders can
easily understand how to invest wisely.
The county has been above
the State average for childhood poverty since before
1997; most recently in 2014
the county had 35.1 percent
of its children living in poverty, while the State average
sat 21.5 percent.
I dont know your county,
BY BEN QUIGGLE
Grant County leaders

gathered on Wednesday
morning to discuss one of
the counties consistent issues, childhood poverty.
According to a study done
by the Indiana Youth Institute, 1 in every 3 children in
the county lives in poverty.
The data provided by IYI
during the first quarter of
2015 also ranked the county
number one in the State in
child poverty, something
community leaders discussed how to change during the quarterly Citizens
Advisory Council meeting
on Wednesday.
It is work that will require
No more
county
Thanksgivng
dinner
BY TYLER JURANOVICH
tjuranovich@chronicle-tribune.com
EXPLAINING DATA: Participants listen as Julie Whitman,

Vice President of Programs at the Indiana Youth Institute,
explains census data on child poverty in Grant County during Indiana Wesleyan Universitys quarterly Citizens Advisory Council meeting in the Barnes Student Center on
See BREAKFAST / Page A8 Wednesday.
GAS CITY For the first

time in 30 years, there will
not be a Grant County Community Thanksgiving.
The 30 year tradition will
not happen this year or in any
year in the near future. Freda
Sexton and Bucky Walker,
sisters and the dinners main
organizers, said the preparation, work and time needed
to put on the holiday dinner
was simply too much.
We cant do it anymore,
Sexton said. Weve gotten to the age where we just
cant do it and stand for the
See DINNER / Page A5
L.A. writer working in Fairmount

By Cathy Shouse
Pamela Des Barres believes that everyone has stories to tell and she wants to
help them start telling them.
Des Barres, a memoirist and journalist from Los
Angeles, California, is staying in Fairmount while she
writes her book on writing.
This Friday and Saturday
night in Fairmount, Des
Barres is offering sessions of
the writing workshops that
she teaches around the country. In her workshops, participants are given a question,
or writing prompt, and
told to write about it. Some

of her students writing will
appear in the book.
Des Barres is a James
Dean fan and has come to
Fairmount numerous times
for the festival. So when she
needed some quiet time to
write, she naturally thought
of Fairmount.
Im here, my favorite
inspirational small town,
working on my fifth book,
Let it Bleed, about my writing classes, she said. Im
using many of my students
writing prompts, so they
might get published! Being
near the Dean legacy inspires my creativity.

Des Barres recently held
writing classes in Austin,
Texas where about 20 people
attended. She prefers small
groups where the people
get to know one another and
share the stories they write.
When she is at home in L.A.,
she holds a series of classes
for one night each week.
For the past several years,
she has offered a one-night
JEFF MOREHEAD / jmorehead@chronicle-tribune.com
class during the time of the AUTHOR DES BARRES: Author and magazine writer PaJames Dean Festival. This mela Des Barres, who wrote about her experiences as a
See WRITER / Page A5
groupie in the book Im With the Band, talks about her

writing workshops during an interview in Fairmount.
DO YOU NEED REHABILITATION SERVICES?

Premier Home Health Cares services
are designed to get you back on
your feet and achieving your fullest
potential.
Call for you
FREE assessment.
504 N. Bradner Ave. Marion

765-662-0491 | www.premier-home-health.com
A8
Thursday, November 5, 2015
station
Continued from A1
firefighters instead of six.

The original structure was
built in 1961, said David.
The building suffered extensive flood damage from a
few years back, and this is a
project we have been working on putting together for
some time now.
David said they decided to
keep the station in downtown
Marion because development
east of town has been slow
coming in so far.
If the housing development east of town had taken
breakfast
Continued from A1
you will have to determine

how this data applies to your
county, and what you need to
do about the problems creating the poverty issues, said
Julie Whitmann, Vice President of Programs at IYI.
The study also broke down
which townships in the county suffered the most with
childhood poverty. Franklin
Township is seeing the highest rate of childhood poverty
at 44.6 percent, while Mill
Township comes in second
with a rate of 29.6 percent.
Community leaders from
nonprofit, for-profit and government organizations gathered at Indiana Wesleyan
University and talked about
the impact of childhood poverty on people and communities..
Poverty affects the parts
of the brain that regulate
stress, emotions, and memory, said John Peirce, a
childhood development consultant from Fort Wayne. In
poverty situations you see
children and adults living at
high stress levels for extended periods of time. A little
stress can be good for us, but
after consistently living in
stress over a large period of
time it affects your ability to
make good decisions. That is
what we call toxic stress.
Peirce also told the group
that was gathered that children in poverty have far fewer positive interactions with
their family members.
In a professional family
we see a 6 to 1 ratio of encouraging discussion over
discouraging, said Peirce.
It is a 1 to 2 ratio for children in poverty. Studies have
shown that children in poverty hear 30 million fewer
words than children who are
raised in professional families.
Peirce went on to show
how this impacts the community economically.
Employers want individuals with self-control,
persistence, and god attention skills, said Peirce. For
children who live in poverty
these are the types of skills
they are most apt to lack
when they become adults.
A collective approach to
helping solve the issues facing the county was then discussed. Peirce mentioned
that it is important for community organizations to
work collaboratively, make
evidenced based decisions,
have continuous communication with each other, and
to share one common vision.
Studies have shown that
communities can have significant impacts in certain
areas if they all work to
solve a common problem,
said Peirce.
Marion-Grant
County
Chamber of Commerce
President Charlie Wallace
wrapped up the gathering by
saying that while there are
a ton of great organizations
in the community trying to
help children, it is important
that the community develop
a shared vision.
We all need to get in the
same boat, a big Viking
ship, said Wallace. It is
time to stand up and say no
more. Taylor University students published a study over
the summer that focuses on
the quality and quantity of
childhood education in Grant
County. This is just not another study we wont use.
This study has four common
ingredients, it has a common
agenda that is determined by
you not someone else. It has
shared measurements, collabrative action, we want to
engage team members to get
results. It also features positive, honest communication,
and background support
from other organizations.
This is our call to action.
chronicle-tribune, marion, ind.
off then maybe we might feel

differently about our location, said David. The main
arteries through town come
right by this location and that
is a benefit. It allows us to get
to locations more quickly.
The project would costs
$797,377 in total, according
to David. The project would
be financed through a bond
that is not to exceed $1.1 million sold by the City of Marion Building Corporation,
who would lease the station
from the city for 12 years
while those bonds are being
paid back.
The bond would be paid
back through the Cumulative
Capital Development Fund,

said Barnes & Thornburg
bond attorney Bruce Donaldson. Right now the city
has a bond outstanding that
is payable from that fund that
will be paid off in January of
2017. The idea would be to
kind of roll this bond around
that so the first payment on
this new bond would come
in the summer of 2017 at the
same level so there wouldnt
be any tax impact.
Most of the council members present felt that building
a new fire station was important, but they also felt they
needed more time to make a
decision.
I would like to be able to

read the info we were presented with tonight, it is unfortunate it wasnt put in with
our council packs before
the meeting occurred, said
council member Madonna
French. I really cant vote
for this tonight, I just need
more time.
David mentioned that it
would be great if the council
members could come down
and see the condition that Fire
Station 1 is in currently, all of
the council members agreed
that would be a great option
before moving forward with
the plans.
In other news, the coun-
cil moved an ordinance past

first reading authorizing the
city to make temporary loans
in order to meet running expenses in 2016. The Tax Anticipation Warrants would
be sold to the Indiana Bond
Bank with a relatively low
interest rate.
Through this program
it is just a matter of twelve
months that you are borrowing this money before you
pay it back, said city attorney Tom Hunt.
According to Marion Controller Retha Hicks, the city has
the potential to save $40,000
or more in loan related costs
by using the IBB program.
Submit your news:

n Email:
ctreport@indy.rr.com
n Log on at: www.
chronicle-tribune.com
Youve Always Wanted A Sun Room..
Best Deal of the Year. NOW!
FREE INSULATED GLASS UPGRADE!
The Off Season is officially here, help keep our crews busy and get a free upgrade
to our best thermal wall sunroom when you schedule installation in the off-season.
Imagine being in your own Zimmer Room in just a few weeks!
Enjoy your hobby
Work out at home
Relax and enjoy
Entertain friends
Create a home office
39
years in
business
Open
8-5:30 M-F
9-2 Sat
or by appointment
wazimmer.com
Party in your hot tub
GET THE FREE UPGRADE!

Co me To The Sho wro om !
Or Ca ll
800-222-0615
US 24 & Broadway Huntington

U
adnum=60679528
LEAGUE SEMIFINAL BATTLE

IWU volleyball team hosts Huntington in postseason tournament.
>> SPORTS, B1
EF-GH
T H U R S DAY, N OV E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 5
TODAYS WEATHER
Windy
50
38
Scrapbook:
Wednesdays high: 60
Low: 35
Last Nov. 12:
High: 31
Low: 27
Record since 1903:
High: 74, 1901
Low: 15, 1911
Precipitation:
Nov. 11: trace (as of 7 a.m.)
Inside:
Notre Dame student

from Ind. found dead
SOUTH BEND, Ind.
(AP) An autopsy has
been scheduled to learn
what killed a 20-yearold University of Notre
Dame student found
dead in his dorm room.
University spokesman Paul Browne says
Jake Scanlan of North
Potomac, Maryland,
was found unresponsive in bed in Siegfried
Hall about 7:30 a.m.
Wednesday. Students
and a medical technician were unable to
revive him.
Brown says there were
no signs of trauma or
indications of foul play.
St. Joseph County Coroner Michael OConnell
says an autopsy is
scheduled for Thursday.
Scanlan was a junior
majoring in mechanical
engineering.
The Rev. John Jenkins,
the universitys president, will preside over a
memorial Mass at 9 p.m.
Thursday in the Basilica
of the Sacred Heart on
the campus. Jenkins
issued a statement extending his condolences
and prayers to Scanlans
family and friends.
Follow us on:
www.facebook.com/
chronicletribune
@Marion_CT
Inside
Classified,
B7
Comics, B6
Crossword, B6
Horoscope, A2
Local, A3
Obituaries, A4
Sports, B1
Viewpoints, A7
Weather, A2
$1.00
Police investigate armed robberies

Authorities expect robberies
to increase due to the Holidays
BY TYLER JURANOVICH
The Marion Police Department is investigating two unrelated armed robberies that
occurred within 12 hours of
each other.
No injuries were reported
at either of the two armed
robberies, one which was at
a Circle K. and the other at a
residence. The Marion Police
Department are urging residents to stay alert during the
winter season. That is the pe-
Stefanatos of the Marion Police Department said.

The clerk obeyed and handed the man an undisclosed
amount of money, and the
suspect ran away on foot.
Sefanatos said police did observe the video surveillance
but could not make out a face
due to the mask. The video
did show, however, two bystanders parked in their cars
in the stores parking lot that
witnessed the suspect run out
of the Circle K. Stefanatos
said the department would
like for the witnesses to come
forward and tell officers all of
what they saw.
Just 10 hours later, just
riod of the year were the city

generally sees an increase in
robberies, theft and burglaries. The key is not to escalate,
if possible, any incident of
crime.
At 11:16 p.m. Tuesday
night, a black male wearing
a silver mask and brandishing
a black semi-automatic handgun, walked into the Circle K.
at 702 S. Washington St., just
south of the Marion Public
Library, and demanded money from the clerk, Sgt. Mark
before 9 a.m. Wednesday

morning, Larry Halloway,
61, of Marion, reported being
robbed at gunpoint in his residence at 609 N. Norton Ave.
by a younger white male,
Stefanatos said.
Halloway told police the
suspect initially asked if he
could rake the leaves on Halloways lawn for money. When
Halloway told the suspect no,
the suspect pulled out a small
handgun and forced his way
into the house.
Stefanatos said the suspect
told Halloway he had heard
from people that Halloway
had pain medication, which
then prompted the homeown-
Hunting season kicks off
er to, again, tell the suspect to

leave. The suspect did leave at
that moment, but not before
stealing Halloways wallet.
The two armed robberies
within 12 hours mark a yearly
trend in the colder weather
months, especially around
the Holidays, where robberies, residential burglaries
and thefts generally increase,
Stefanatos said.
Ive been here for 20 years
and that always seems to the
case, he said.
While Marion Police Chief
David Gilbert said robberies
and thefts do tend to increase
See ROBBERIES / Page A6
Marion
pursuing
preschool
grants
Administrators
say money would
help increase
enrollment,
BY TYLER JURANOVICH
mon animal people have

mounted is deer, but fish are
also very popular.
Swain said the earliest he
will have the deer mounted is
March.
Its a waiting list for
people to have their animals
mounted, he said. The last
ones will probably be done
towards the end of the summer.
Swain said the amount of
business he receives fluctuates each year.
Some years we will have
Marion
Community
Schools is actively pursuing
two grants to help improve
preschool education and increase enrollment.
Kerri Wortinger, Little Giants preschool coordinator,
presented the board with the
districts close to 250 page
proposal for a five year, $5
million competitive grant.
They also informed the board
the pre-school staff intended
to prepare an Intent to Apply
form for an Early Education
Matching grant of a yet to be
determined amount from the
Indiana Family and Social
Services Administration.
Wortinger said she was
confident the district would
be awarded the grants, and
that the grants would help
the state and nationally recognized preschool in an impactful way. The Intent to
Apply form for the Early for
the Early Education Matching grant will be submitted
by Nov. 20.
See HUNTING / Page A6
See GRANTS / Page A8
DEER SEASON COMING: Chad Phillips, owner of Riverside Sporting Goods, 1811 N. Washington St., talks with customer Jeremy Black, at right, about the features of a .358 custom made rifle and scope on Wednesday. Indianas deer
hunting season for firearms begins on Saturday.
BY ALICIA KELLY
akelly@chronicle-tribune.com
Nov. 14 marks the beginning of firearms hunting season for deer hunters in Indiana. For outdoor sports store
owners and taxidermists, that
means an increase in business.
Chad Phillips, owner of
Riverside Sporting Goods in
Marion, said he has issued
around 150 firearms hunting
licenses for this deer season.
A lot more people hunt
with firearms than bow and
arrow, Phillips said. This
time of year is very busy, but
the archery hunting season

goes from Oct. 1 until Jan.
3.
Phillips said the hunting
season runs for two weeks,
which includes three weekends.
This Saturday is the first
day for deer hunting season
for hunters that use a firearm, he said. The last day
is Nov. 29.
Phillips said nothing significant has changed with
hunting license regulations
this year.
It is $24 for a residents
license and $150 for out
of state residents, he said.

Hunters have to purchase a
new license each season.
According to the Indiana
Hunting and Trapping Guide,
hunting for ruffed grouse, a
native game bird, has been
suspended statewide due to
a continuing population decline.
Rick Swain, a taxidermist
for Walnut Creek Taxidermy
in Upland, said this is his
busiest time of year.
I already have about one
dozen deer that have been
dropped off to process,
Swain said. The most com-
Instructor surprised with national award

BY SETH HUTCHINS
shutchins@chronicle-tribune.com
When Sgt. Major Jon Smith

brought his students to the
auditorium to listen to a guest
speaker, he had no idea that
he was going to be given an
award as well.
On Wednesday, Smith was
given the U.S. Army Cadet
Command Instructor of the
Year award in honor of his
outstanding performance in
the JROTC program. Smith
was nominated by both Marion High School Principle
Keith Burke and Senior Army
Instructor David Farlow.

Farlow says Smith was
nominated because they believed he was the ideal role
model.
He is truly a living example
of the leadership values and
principles we want to teach
our cadets, he said. They are
getting to see someone who is
walking the talk.
Smith said the announcement left him completely
dumbfounded.
Its something I never
JROTC INSTRUCTOR
OF THE YEAR: Command Sgt. Maj.Jon Smith
receives congratulations
from Marion High School
JROTC cadets after receiving the U.S. Army Cadet Commands JROTC
Army Instructor of the
Year award Wednesday.
JEFF MOREHEAD / jmorehead@
chronicle-tribune.com
See AWARD / Page A6
We Care Every Day In Every Way
Skilled Nursing Care
Registered Nurses
Physical & Occupational

Therapists
Recuperative Care
Personal Care Assistance
Medication Set Up
Household Services
Respite Care
Rated
by Medicare.com
Call for an Assessment
504 N. Bradner Ave., Marion

765-662-0491
www.premier-home-health.com
A8
Thursday, November 12, 2015
Local Briefs
Let My Light Shine
Volunteers Needed
ply at www.GiveToGrant.
org/Scholarship between
Nov. 1, 2015 and Jan. 31,
Removing the lights from 2016.
the graves at the Marion
National Cemetery, 1700 Christian material
E 38th St. (East Entrance),
Marion, Ind. on Nov. 21, donations sought
2015 at 8 a.m. Volunteers
From Nov. 1-22 the
are needed to help remove First Church of God, 450
the 4,000 lights that were W. 50, will be collecting
put out for Veterans Day Christian material for an
Celebration. All groups are organization call Love
welcome.
Packages.
They will be collecting
the following items: used
Scholarship
in whatever condiApplications accepted bibles
tion, portions of Bibles,
The Community Founda- Christian tracts, daily detion of Grant County is ac- votionals, Christian books,
cepting scholarship appli- tapes and CDs, Christian
cations from students who DVDs and Blue-Ray, Bilive or attend high school ble games, nativity sets...
in Grant County. Students etc. Please do not drop
of all ages who are plan- off VHS, records, albums,
ning to attend college in mission magazines, sheet
the fall of 2016 should ap- music, Guide Posts, or
Grants
Continued from A1
I would really like to

shrink the amount of people
on the waitlist so more kids
and family can be a part of
and take advantage of our
high quality preschool, she
said. I dont think anyone
else applying can compete
with us.
Wortingers announcement
came on the heels of a short
presentation on the fact Grant
County leads Indiana with its
33 percent of children living
in poverty and the affects it
has on their child and brain
development.
Dawn Brown, executive
director of the Community
Foundation of Grant County, told the school board the
community and its organizations and businesses must
come together to fight the
countys problem of poverty.
We can either do something or we can do nothing, Brown said. Both are
a choice. The school board
cant solve it independently.
We need a commitment of a
large group of people working together.
Marion-Grant
County
Chamber of Commerce
President and CEO Charlie
Wallace told board members

the workforce and its work
ethic was not up to par with
what local businesses want
in employees, adding talks
with plant managers revealed
some local workers would
stay for one paycheck, or until a drug test, and then never
return to work.
Board Vice President
Aarron Vermillion said the
school district was facing a
similar problem with some
of its students and parents.
The parents dont want to
work so they dont necessarily want their children doing
anything, so the burden then
falls on the schools, which
we readily accept, but those
are the issues were facing
that the county is facing,
he said.
One of the ways helping
children in poverty is high
any kind of secular books.

These particular items will
be recycled at the Grant
County recycling facility. You can drop of your
items at the church, or by
calling 765-674-4973 for
pick-up. Last pick up day
is Nov. 21.
Turkey Shoot
Event dates set
Deer Creek Conservation
Club, 6203 S 375 E, Jonesboro, Ind., (off of Wheeling
Pike) will be sponsoring a
Turkey Shoot Event on November 12.
All events will be at 6
p.m. and the cost is $4 per
round.
Eye and ear protection
are required at all times.
Contact the Match Director
at 260-341-5536 for further
information.
CSA Art
Auction on Nov. 14
Nov. 14, 6 p.m. is Cocktail Hour, art auction begins
at 7 p.m., the art festival
runs from 6-9 p.m. Limited
tickets on sale at CSA for
$40, Tickets are $50 at the
door.
Eastbrook High
School Fall Show
Eastbrook High School
will present their fall show,
A Delightful Quarantine,
on November 12, at 7 p.m.;
14 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. A
Delightful Quarantine is
the story of a small town
that gets a visit from aliens
seeking soil samples. As a
result, seven houses are put
under lockdown for three
days.
With nowhere to go and
no way to leave, the people

in the houses try to han-dle
the peculiar situations they
find themselves in. In the
midst of this charade, the
audience sees how a short
amount of time can change
everything.
Tickets will be sold in
advance and at the door.
Eastbrook students will be
admitted free of charge.
Advance tickets will be
sold at $5 each and $7 at
the door. For advance ticket sales, call the Eastbrook
High School main office at
664-1214.
Musical Event
on Nov. 14
Grey Barn, 168 S. 2nd
St., Upland, Nov. 14, from
6-7:30 p.m. Carol Moses
and Taylor Eaton with The
Night/Light Quartet will be
singing and playing music.

All are welcome. Free Admission, food and drinks
provided.
Home for
Christmas Sale
Artisans and Crafters fair,
Hillside Wesleyan, 2510 S.
Home Ave., Marion, Nov.
14 from 9-3 p.m. Homemade Crafts and Bake Sale,
lunch available free admission.
Harmony Community
Tenderloin Dinner
Sat., Nov. 14 from 4-8
p.m. at Harmony Christian
Church, State Road 13 and
1800 North. ADULT Donation: (12 & UP)-$9 in advance, $10 at the door. To
order tickets, please call:
1-888-212-5922.
quality preschool, according

to Brown. With the grants
the Little Giants Preschool
s going for, Wortinger said
the preschool would be able
to help with the poverty issue.
Were not just getting the
child ready for school but
also the family, she said.
Thats how we see ourselves - as the first impression of the Marion Community Schools - so we take that
really seriously, she said.
The board also approved
the resignation of former
Marion High School football coach Ryan Vermillion,
as well as a donation of
$212.56 to Allen Elementarys food pantry from First
United Methodist Church.
The next school board
meeting is scheduled for 7
p.m. on Nov. 18.
Commercial Site of the Day
ASK ABOUT ONE MONTH

FREE RENT!
Modern office w/1,238 SF w/
reception area, three offices,
break-room w/kitchenette, offstreet paved parking and landlord
pays all utilities! MLS# 931950
Visit us at
www.maidenberg.com
COMMERCIAL SPECIALISTS
664-0551
800-881-4719
adnum=60682388
adnum=60521920
Visit us online
www.chronicle-tribune.com
/LYLQJ:HOO
&KDQJHV(YHU\WKLQJ
Health & Rehabilitation Center
0DULRQV21/<VWDUUDWHGIDFLOLW\
The
ofHGLFDUH
Medicare
Medicaid
(CMS)
review
Health
7KH&Centers
HQWHUVRI0
DQG0and
HGLFDLG
6HUYLFHVServices
&06UHYLHZ
+HDOWK
,QVSHFWLRQV
Inspections,
Quality Measures, Staffing and RN coverage to determine an
4XDOLW\0HDVXUHV6WDIILQJDQG51FRYHUDJHWRGHWHUPLQHDQRYHUDOOTXDOLW\
overall
quality rating. WESLEYAN HEALTH AND REHAB has earned the
UDWLQJ:(6/(<$1+($/7+$1'5(+$%KDVHDUQHGWKHHOLWHVWDWXV
elite
status of being ranked within
top 10% of the nations best quality
RIEHLQJUDQNHGZLWKLQWKHWRS
the
RIWKHQDWLRQVEHVWTXDOLW\KHDOWKDQG
health
and rehabilitation facilities and Marions ONLY 5-star facility.
UHKDELOLWDWLRQIDFLOLWLHVDQG0DULRQV21/<VWDUIDFLOLW\
7RXU
:HVOH\DQHealth
+HDOWKand
DQG5
HKDED
QGHexperience
[SHULHQFH5-star
VWDUWtreatment.
UHDWPHQW
Tour Wesleyan
Rehab
and

/RQJ7HUP&DUH
Long-Term
Care

5HKDELOLWDWLRQ
Rehabilitation

0HPRU\&DUH
Memory Care
:HVWWK6WUHHW0DULRQ,1
ZZZZHVOH\DQKHDOWKDQGUHKDEFRP
(TXDO+RXVLQJ
2SSRUWXQLW\
Books and
bikes on
Washington.
>>
LOCAL, A3
BATTLE ON THE SOCCER FIELD
Mississinewa boys soccer team hosts Tri-Central.

>> SPORTS, B1
Chronicle -Tribune
$1.75
S U N DAY, AU G U S T 2 3 , 2 0 1 5
TODAYS WEATHER
Mostly Sunny
Charities struggle with poverty
80
55
Many with jobs

living paycheck
to paycheck
Scrapbook:
Saturdays high: 79
Low: 51
Last Aug. 23:
High: 82
Low: 68
Record since 1903:
High: 100, 1936
Low: 43, 1923
Precipitation:
DATE: 2.0.00 (as of 7 a.m.)
BY BEN QUIGGLE
erous lot of people, and we

see that every day here at
the community foundation,
said Grant County Community Foundation Executive
Director Dawn Brown. Individuals are always coming in willing to give some
time, talent or treasure, and
that could be from a child
that is donating tooth fairy
money, to the millionaire
next door that you probably
shop next to.
With dozens of charitable organizations in Grant
County, assistance programs
can range from simply providing food to a person in
need, or to providing longterm help through shelter
and educational programs.
Stereotyping the poor in

Grant County is not helping,
according to leaders at several
community service agencies.
United Way Executive Director Alicia Hazelwood said
a majority of people suffering
financially in Marion and getting assistance are also working to provide for their families.
That is contrary to the prevalent
belief that most of the impoverished do not have jobs or are
unwilling to work.
There are a lot of individuals
that are just struggling to get by,
the paycheck-to-paycheck-type
families, said Hazelwood.
A study commissioned by
United Way, in conjunction
with Rutgers University, calls
these households Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed households, or ALICE
for short. They are more commonly known as the working
poor and Hazelwood says these
households do not have enough
income to afford basic necessities, even though they might not
be considered impoverished.
This report really creates
what we call a survival budget,
said Hazelwood. What does
it take to just get by in Grant
County?
According to the ALICE
study, a single adult in Grant
County needs to make $17,326
a year in order to meet basic
necessities on their own, while
a family of four needs to make
$44,337 a year. The report
also states that there are 4,325
households in Grant County in
the poverty range, while 6,069
households are considered
See POVERTY / Page A8
See POOR / Page A6
Inside:
This weekss
weather wise tip:
Use a digital thermometer
to check the core temperature of foods, especially
raw meat and poultry. If the
temperature goes above
40 degrees F, throw it out!
#poweroutagetips
Facebook: Weather Wise:
Marion, Indiana
Twitter: @weatherwisetips
5K Run/Walk
on Sept. 7
Annual 5K Run/Walk will
be held on Monday, September
7th at the Upland Lions Club.
The Run begins at 8:00 a.m.,
registration and packet pickup begins at 7:00 a.m. Preregistered entrants will receive
a T-shirt. Entry fee is $15.00
if registered by August 24th.
Day of event the fee is $20.00
and t-shirts are not guaranteed. Make checks payable to
Upland Lions Club, P.O. Box
445, Upland, IN 46989.
For event information
and pre-registration, go to:
upland5K.eventbrite.com.
Local contact: Lions Beth
Davis at 765-998-1337 e-mail
baddvm@gmail.com or
Cindy Wright at 765-998-2103
e-mail rcwright72@att.net.
This event is sponsored
by Upland Lions Club and
ENER-G
RESTOCKING: Team leader Bobby Neal, left, and volunteer Peggy Stewart restock the shelves and meat freezers at the
Salvation Army Food Pantry on Thursday.
Generous community looks for new ways to combat growing problem

BY BEN QUIGGLE
Dozens of people form a

line that wraps around the
cafeteria at St. Martins
Community Center in Marion; it is 11 a.m. and lunch
is being served.
Free breakfast, and lunch,
is just a couple of the many
services that the center provides, and the people who
volunteer at the facility
say they are needed in the
community with hundreds
of people seeking food and
help from the center on a
daily basis.
I live on a limited income, said Janice Wireman, a volunteer at the
center. I come four to five
days a week to supplement
what I receive in income.
Art Wilson, an Air Force

veteran, says he comes to
the shelter to get some food
when things get a little tight
at home.
I come here once in
awhile, I dont do it all the
time, it mainly is when we
get a little short at home,
said Wilson. This is a great
service in the community,
and I wish there were more
services like this one.
Poverty is prevalent in
Grant County, but so is
generosity, raising questions about why the county
seems to be moving backwards, instead of forwards,
when it comes to the numbers of poor individuals in
the county.
According to STATS Indiana, in the county more
than one in five are living

in poverty, with an overall
poverty rate of 21.7 percent in 2013. For children
under the age of 18 that
number sits at 33.3 percent,
the poorest in the state. A
little over 13,000 people in
the county received SNAP,
commonly know as food
stamp benefits in 2014, according to the national Kids
Count Data Center.
A study done by The
Chronicle of Philanthropy
shows Grant County residents are among the top in
the State in giving help to
the poor. Almost five percent of the total adjusted
gross income in the county
is given to charitable organizations.
We just have a very gen-
Mental health focus

at Circle of Friends
BY TYLER JURANOVICH
Follow us on:
www.facebook.com/
chronicletribune
ALICIA KELLY / akelly@chronicle-tribune.com
@Marion_CT
Inside
Business, D1
Classified, D5
Club News, C3
Comics, B5
Crossword,
B5, C2
Horoscope, A2
Live, C1
Local, A3
Obituaries, A4
Sports, B1
Viewpoints, A7
Weather, A2
Weddings, C5
Best
Nursing
Homes
2014 & 2015

By
U.S. News &
World Report
Working
poor search
for help
Rev. Al Green from Calvary Baptist Church welcomed attendees of the Youth Summit on
Saturday at the Clarence Faulkner Community Center in Marion.
Youth summit educates community

BY ALICIA KELLY
Grant County law enforcement,

community
members and public officials connected on Saturday by building knowledge and relationships
surrounding the role of
police officers in the
community at the Grant
County Youth Summit
at the Clarence Faulkner
Community Center.
The discussion focusing
on teens and young adults

invited ideas from all
sides of the Grant County
community including students and parents.
Reverend Al Green of
Calvary Baptist Church
in Marion welcomed attendees of the event and
focused the conversation
on the importance of the
event taking place.
You are all here for a
reason, Rev. Green said.
We hope this will be the
Marions
ONLY
5 STAR
FACILITY
start of many great opportunities in Grant County

and we want to give you a
chance to voice your concerns.
According
to
Rev.
Green, the summit aims
to demonstrate a different
side of law enforcement to
community members than
they are familiar with.
Sometimes the media
gives community officials
See SUMMIT / Page A2
Kieth ONeil, former linebacker for the 2005-06 Super

Bowl winning Colts, will be
the keynote speaker at Family
Service Societys 11th Annual
Circle of Friends fundraiser
held at the Barnes Student
Center on the Indiana Wesleyan University campus Tuesday
at 11:30 a.m.
ONeil, who was diagnosed
with bipolar disorder in 2010,
will be talking about how seeking treatment helped him.
Marlene Minor, development director of Family Service Society, said ONeil was
the perfect person to speak at
their event.
ONeil has his own personal
experience with mental illness
and can give people an expert
account of what its like, Minor said. He can show people
that, yes, its a tough experience, but that he got through
it.
ONeil first knew something
was wrong in his first season
of professional football with
the Dallas Cowboys.
I had a lot of sleepless nights
and anxiety, he said.
The anxiety, sleepless nights
2 YEARS
IN A
ROW!
For a tour of our facility call Austin Nevers at 765-674-3371
Photo provide.
MENTAL ILLNES: Keith

ONeil will talk at Indiana
Wesleyan Univiersity Tuesday to raise awareness on
bipolar disorder and other
mental illnesses.
and manic episodes continued

for a few years, forcing ONeil
to retire from football in 2008
Like many people dealing
with a mental illness, ONeil
kept most of what he was feeling and struggling with to himself, but a sever manic episode
after his wife had a miscarriage in 2010 led him to finally
See HEALTH / Page A8
A8
Sunday, August 23, 2015
poverty
Continued from A1
However, some members of

the community say a lack of
focus is impacting Marions
ability to be as effective as it
could be in meeting the challenge caused by poverty.
I think what we see in
the community is that the
organizations are aware of
one another, and they are
nice to one another, but the
cooperation toward a common goal isnt quite were it
needs to be, said Circles of
Grant County Director Andrew Sprock.Circles serves
to support the development
of goals, skills and relationships within individuals.
Brown understands what
Sprock is talking about, and
she shares some of the same
concerns.
We need to have organizations that are focused on
making people in the community more self-sufficient,
and I dont know for sure
if the organizations in our
community are focused on
that outcome, said Brown.
We need to truly be focused on that outcome of
helping those people become self-sufficient so that
they can provide their own
food, their own job, their
own healthcare. Ultimately
that is what people that are
generous want to do, that
is what charities set out to
do.
Do no harm
A book that has been circulating among some leaders in the community, Toxic
Charity by Robert Lupton,
seems to outline the exact
cause for concern that most
of these leaders feel may be
happening in Grant County.
The book argues that much
of Americans charitable
giving is either wasted or
actually harms the people it
is targeted to help.
In the book he puts forth a
new Oath of Compassionate Service that is focused
on six key areas.
n Never do for the poor what
they can do for themselves
n Limit one-way giving to
emergencies
n Empower the poor through
employment, lending, and investing, using grants sparingly to reinforce achievements
n Subordinate self-interest
to the needs of those being
served
n Listen closely to those
you seek to help
n Above all, do no harm.
Sprock says this basically
comes down to the principal of allowing individuals
to give something back as
they receive assistance, thus
restoring dignity to the process.
We all have something
to give, said Sprock. We
need to develop their resources, and we need to ask
these people to give something back in support of the
community.
A study published in the
Stanford Social Innovation
Review also says that charities in poorer communities
need to be working together
health
Continued from A1
seek professional treatment

and health.
My wife was the one who
took it as a priority to get me to
a doctor, ONeil said. Now
Im on medicine. I still deal
with anxiety, but Im much
better now than I was before.
ONeil will share his story
and his hope that misinformation around mental illness will
disappear.
Minor said while the stigma
of admitting to having a mental illness is decreasing, there
was still a long way to go it
that regard.
People still tell people with
a mental illness to get over
it, she said. Thats still a
to have a collective impact.

That requires the commitment of a group of important actors from different
sectors to a common agenda
for solving a specific social
agenda.
That means instead of having different organizations
doing separate things, or
maybe even doing the same
thing, the organizations
could collaborate more effectively and potentially see
greater results.
We have a lot of funders
in our community, and when
you know you have a lot of
organizations that are awarding grants, both privately
and publicly to non-profits
across the board, if all of
those funders are allied and
can work toward the same
end, or even make long-term
commitments, I do believe
there is a great power in that
kind of collaboration, said
Brown. If you know you
want your community to be
one that has strong families
at the end of your efforts the
only way to do that is to begin with that goal in mind.
Brown said charitable organizations collaborating
could increase accountability.
We dont want organizations serving in duplicate
ways, or multiple organizations that maybe provide
the same service but dont
realize it, said Brown. We
want to be more efficient
with the money we are given, and I think that allows
us to make sure the families
that truly need the services
are getting the services.
Tracking the money

Some in the community
are concerned that a majority of the people these organizations help are abusing
the system for their own
benefit, but many say that
just isnt true and that the
local charitable programs
do collaborate quite effectively.
St. Martins Community
Center Director Teresa
Campbell says a lot of the
people she helps are trying
to do the best they can.
I see a lot of people come
in here that are working
but cant meet those basic needs, said Campbell.
People can dump money
into a program, but unless
they are willing to work
with the people things are
not going to change.
Marion Mayor Wayne
Seybold says the nonprofit
groups in Marion work together, and I think they are
very effective at collaborating,
Grant County United Way
Executive Director Alicia
Hazelwood agrees.
I think the county, compared to other counties in
the state, is on the upper
level of positive collaboration, and positive engagement, when it comes to
these organizations working
together, said Hazelwood.
The groups we work with
are very helpful, and they all
are willing to work together
to make things happen in the
huge problem that only makes
people feel worse. We need
people like ONeil who will
stand up and talk about their
experience.
Simply talking about his issues, ONeil said, helped him
a lot. If anything, he said he
hopes he can get people to
talk about mental illness and
the many ways it affects the
people that have it.
Its important to tell people
that theyre not alone, he said.
People should not be afraid to
talk about it.
There are currently no
tickets remaining for the
11th Annual Circle of
Friends, though Minor said
if people still wanted to support the organization, they
could by donating online at
www.famservices.com.
community.
But that doesnt mean
there isnt room for improvement.
I think where we struggle
is that because there is so
many programs going on,
some of our non-profit organizations get so honed in
on what it is they are doing
that they dont realize that
this other program might
be a good partner to them,
said Hazelwood. We are
trying to make sure that
we broaden the knowledge
internally in these organizations so that they know what
is going on in the community.
Fighting stereotypes
Hazelwood says the stereotype that people who
need the assistance are lazy,
or not willing to work, isnt
a true picture of the people
most of these organizations
help.
We work with a lot of
Asset Limited, Income
Constrained,
Employed
(ALICE) individuals, said
Hazelwood. These are individuals that have jobs,
but that might be one crisis
away from being in poverty.
That is a big concern for this
area.
Many leaders in the community are frustrated by
Ron Banter
or if they utilizing them because it is easy, said Brown.

We pitched the program
twice but we did not get
buy in. Some charities have
to serve so many people in
order to receive state grants,
so there was some concern
this might lower the number
of people they serve. The
last time we pitched it to the
service providers the church
community was really hopeful that we might get it because I think they see it as
a tool to help track people
who have already gotten
assistance. They want to be
better stewards with their
money.
Heiny says that no matter

how a community approaches the issue of poverty, there
is not going to be a quick
and easy answer to the problem.
There is not one answer,
said Heiny. It takes a little
bit in each area to really see
an impact.
Seybold echoed that sentiment.
At the end of the day
there are things we need to
look at in multiple areas,
said Seybold. We need to
fight poverty from multiple
angles, and there isnt going
to be some type of magic
bullet to fix this problem.
By Terri Couse
OSTEOPOROSIS is a bone
disease that can get worse
over time. It can cause you
to lose bone mineral density
and bone mass, which can
cause your bones to become
fragile. You may not realize
this is happening in your
body because you cant feel
your bones getting weaker.
Among Americans over age
50, about half of all women
and a quarter of men will
experience fractures related
to osteoporosis, usually of
the wrist, spine or hip. And
if youve had one broken
bone due to osteoporosis,
your risk for having another
goes up.
Women are four times
more likely than men to
get osteoporosis. If your
doctor has determined that
you have risk factors for
the disease, he or she may
recommend screening tests
of your bone mass.
RISK FACTORS INCLUDE:
%HLQJLQDFWLYH
+DYLQJDIDPLO\KLVWRU\
of osteoporosis
%HLQJVPDOODQGWKLQ
+DYLQJORZHVWURJHQ
levels
+DYLQJDKLVWRU\
of broken bones
%HLQJDVPRNHU
or excessive drinker
Women also typically lose
up to 20 percent of their
ERQH PDVV YH WR VHYHQ
years after menopause,
These foods
are rich in
calcium
HELP BUILD
BETTER BONES
Preventing osteoporosis
on your own begins with
making sure you get
1,500 mg calcium daily,
either in a supplement or through
your diet or both.
which
makes
them assessing your risk for
more
susceptible
to osteoporosis is critical.
'HWHFWLQJ ORZ ERQH PDVV
osteoporosis, too.
(osteopenia) can help stop
Osteoporosis is a serious osteoporosis before it
disease, not a normal part develops.
of aging. Although theres
no cure for osteoporosis,
you can take control
by taking precautions
and tracking how your
osteoporosis is treated to
help protect yourself from
fractures.
%RQHPLQHUDOGHQVLW\WHVWV
are similar to X-rays and
are usually conducted at
the wrist, hip, spine, hand
and heel. If the test shows
low bone mass, your doctor
may prescribe medication
to stop bone loss or to help
EXLOGERQH+HRUVKHZLOO
STEPS TO TAKE
make a drug suggestion
Since you cant feel your based on the options that
bones getting weaker, are best for your condition.
WOMEN
Women who have had
a hip fracture due to
osteoporosis are
4 times more
likely to have
another.
health
Insured 25 Years Experience
COUNTING ON DONATIONS: The Salvation Army Food Pantry, and others like it, count on donations to keep shelves
stocked.
Are You Unbreakable?

Minerals and Muscles Help Keep Your Bones Strong
Plastering & Stucco

Removal of Popcorn Ceilings
Restorations & New Homes
Smooth & Textured Finishes
Residential & Commercial
Electric Heat Ceilings
Dry Wall Repair
Painting
poverty. It is hard to overcome the numbers faced

by Grant County, but other
communities grapple with
the issue.
Pat Heiny, Co-founder of
Contemporary Consulting
Inc., a group in Richmond,
Ind. that facilitates discussions on poverty, says they
have seen success with a
program called Charity
Tracker. Charity Tracker
is a program that registers
charities in a community
for the purpose of collecting data and information
that will allow the charities
to better see where their
money is being spent and
if it is being spent effectively.
That is a program that the
agencies in our area have really bought into, and I think
it allows them to be more
collaborative on what areas
they need to focus on, said
Heiny.
Brown says she has mentioned using the program
in the county previously,
but that many organizations
didnt seem to want to participate in the program.
I think it is a great program because it allows the
organization to see if people
are truly utilizing the services because they need them,
Preventing
osteoporosis
on your own begins with
making sure you get 1,500
mg calcium daily, either in a
supplement or through your
diet or both.
FOODS RICH IN CALCIUM
INCLUDE:
'DUNOHDI\JUHHQV
like spinach and kale
1RQRUORZIDWGDLU\
products including yogurt
$OPRQGV
%URFFROL
&DXOLRZHU
6DOPRQ
7RIX
&DOFLXP is better absorbed
LQWKHSUHVHQFHRIYLWDPLQ'
which is available through
sun exposure. You can also
JHWYLWDPLQ'LQHJJ\RONV
VDOWZDWHU VK DQG OLYHU RU
through a supplement.
Perform
weight-bearing
exercises such as walking
DQG KLNLQJ &OLPE VWDLUV
dance and play tennis. Just
30 minutes of daily activity
can make a difference. Light
resistance training such
as lifting free weights can
also help build bone mass.
5HPHPEHUWKRXJK7DONWR
your doctor before starting
any exercise program.
Many people can live well
with osteoporosis and avoid
EUHDNLQJ ERQHV LQ WKH UVW
SODFH %XW LI \RX KDYH KDG
fractures, its important to
learn about the steps you
can take to maintain a good
quality of life.
Nearly 20% of women

who sustain a new
spine fracture
will have
another spine
fracture within
12 months.
Perform weight-bearing exercises

such as walking and hiking.
Just 30 minutes of daily activity can make

a difference. Light resistance training such as
lifting free weights can also help build bone mass.
www.mgh.net
(765)728-5234
adnum=60653253
adnum=60637216
CHRONICLE-TRIBUNE, MARION, IND.
Youth poverty creates

labor and business woes
Retiring Chamber
of Commerce
head calls on
community to
reverse descent
Editors Note: The following is a speech delivered Nov.
4 to community leaders by
Charlie Wallace, president
of the Marion-Grant County
Chamber of Commerce. The
gathering of leaders at Indiana Weseleyan University was
part of an effort the establish
a framework for effectively
attacking the problem of child
poverty in Grant County.
Good morning, I am Charlie Wallace, President of the
Marion-Grant County Chamber of Commerce. Thank Dr.
Wright and Indiana Wesleyan
University for this Forum.
I am here to share with you
the impact of poverty on our
business community.
You have heard the statistics
on Grant County poverty.
You have heard about the
possibility of hope by developing a Collective Impact Vision for Grant County.
Those of you who know
me, know that I am not a
negative person. Thirty years
ago I was Vice President of
the United States Jaycees and
known as Charlie Positive. I
travelled the world sharing
the idea, that it was going to
be the Positive people that
would make a difference in
their communities.
Today I am here to tell you
that it is not all doom and
gloom in Marion and Grant
County. This past month the
Chamber of Commerce held
six ribbon cuttings for new
ventures here in Marion.
Just ask Verlin Horner of
Horners Butcher Block. He
just opened his brand new
store in South Marion. What
a great asset to South Marion.
Just ask Evonne Truong, the
manager of Wal-Mart Super
Store in Marion who just spent
over $1 million remodeling
their Marion store.
Just ask Doug Billingsly
with Dunhams Distribution
Center who just spent $40
million to build a 750,000
square foot distribution center
and 45,000 square foot Retail
Store here in Marion. People
Making a Difference.
I will be the first one to admit, it is not all roses in the
business community in Grant
County. The Business community is facing some serious
problems. A recent survey
of over 100 small local businesses (no chain stores were
included) in Grant County
revealed the problem is, a
community with a work force
that has inadequate basic employability skills. The lack
POVERTY CHALLENGE: Charlie Wallace, President and CEO of the Marion-Grant County Chamber of Commerce, challenges community leaders to work together to fight child
poverty in Grant County, during Indiana Wesleyan Universitys quarterly Citizens Advisory
Council meeting in the Barnes Student Center on Nov. 4.
of skills include: attendance,

timeliness and work ethic.
I recently spoke with two
plant managers in Marion.
They are both trying to hire
new employees. One company interviewed 120 applicants
and was only able to hire 7
new employees. The other
company went through 80 applicants and was only able to
hire 5 new employees. They
were both looking to hire 20
to 30 people. The main reason given for a not hiring the
applicants was a lack of response from the applicants.
From my perspective, this
substantiates the lack of
workforce ethic and is a direct
result of a lack of education in
our community.
When we (and I mean the
entire community, business,
social service and government) tolerate a community
with 80 percent of the Marion
School population on free or
reduced lunch, or when we
tolerate a 33.3 percent child
poverty rate in Grant County,
it is time to stand up and say
NO MORE.
Please understand, I am not
criticizing Marion Community Schools. I have spoken
with Dr. (Brad) Lindsay and
Keri Wortinger. Their support
of the impoverished students
is making great strides toward
improving our education system. But they need our help.
You say lots of luck Charlie
Positive. Solve the poverty issue in Grant County? No Way!
You want to know why I
struggled with this today. Yesterday my daughter in law and
my 2-year-old grandson came
to my house for lunch. Knowing I was going to speak here
today, I looked at him and
wondered: What was Marion
going to look like when he
graduates from high school?
Would we still be facing the
same issues?
Let me share a little history
Fighting
poverty...
...together
with you. About 14 years ago,
things in Marion were not
looking so rosy. RCA had
closed, Foster Forbes had
closed. Marion was in a tail
spin. The plant manager at
General Motors in Marion,
Joel Piatt decided it was time
for a change. He brought in a
man by the name of Gordon
Graham and a program called
Framework for Change. A
meeting was held similar to
this one. All the players were
assembled and an open discussion was held. Something
special happened at that meeting. The people in that room
decided they were going to
make a difference, a difference in Marion, Indiana.
Today, we have that same
opportunity. Gordon Graham called it Framework for
Change. John Pierce calls it
a Collective Impact Process.
Its not important what we
call it. It is critical that we address it together.
We can have 20 rafts going
down the river or we can all
get in the same boat, like a Viking Ship and all row together
and solve the problem.
You say How? I say it has
already begun.
This past summer five Taylor University students met
with Grant County community members to research and

advocate the cause of increasing the quality and the quantity of early childhood education opportunities in Grant
County. The culmination of
research and collaboration resulted in a document entitled
Unite our Efforts: A Collective Impact Proposal for
Early Childhood Education in
Grant County.
I know you are saying, Just
another study to sit on the
shelf and gather dust. I say
not this one. This one calls for
four key ingredients. Those
being:
A Common Agenda established by you.
Shared Measurement collected and shared with you to
measure success.
Collaborative action engage in reinforcing activities to
get results.
Continuous Communication consistent, honest and
open communication.
Backbone Support an organization like the Community
Foundation to shepherd success
and provide funding.
The business community
is willing to help, but we are
only part of the solution.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Here is your CALL TO ACTION.
On your table you each have
a Shared Vision Commitment
sheet. Imagine the impact we
could have if everyone in this
room agreed to participate in
a Shared Vision and establish
a Collective Impact Process
that could truly address Poverty through Education in
Grant County.
Please join me and make a
commitment.
Together WE CAN MAKE
A DIFFERENCE and the
TIME IS NOW!
We must create a better future for our families, our businesses and our community.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2015 A5
What is
collective impact?
Collective impact is a process that enables communities to address complex
social issues such as education, poverty and health. As
the name implies, it takes
the collective effort of important community stakeholders to make an impact
on such problems. Collective impact is not just
another name for collaboration. It requires communities to meet five specific
conditions for achieving
success. It provides missing ingredients that often
cause efforts at collaboration to fail.
Collective impact is typically defined as the longterm commitment by a
group of important stakeholders from different sectors to a common agenda
for solving a specific social
problem. In order for a collective impact effort to take
root, certain preconditions
for success need to exist.
They include:
A sense of urgency for
change,
A recognition that no
single organization has the
ability to solve the problem
at the necessary scale for
community impact,
An influential champion
or champions, and
Adequate financial resources to initiate and sustain the effort.
Ideally, existing collaborative efforts are already
underway that can be taken
to the next level by providing the five conditions for
collective impact success.
Those five conditions are:
A common agenda: Participants have a shared vision for change. They have
a common understanding
of the problem. They take
a joint approach to solving
it through agreed upon actions.
Shared measurement:
Participants use evidencebased decision making. They
collect and share data. They
share accountability for the

results of their work. They
use data as a source of learning and to continuously improve their outcomes.
Collaborative action:
Participants engage in mutually reinforcing activities.
They have different roles
and responsibilities but share
accountability for the results.
They work as a system.
Continuous communication: Progress moves at the
speed of trust. Consistent,
honest and open communication is needed to build
trust, keep efforts aligned
and stakeholders apprised of
issues and progress toward
the shared goal.
Backbone support: One
of the missing pieces of
many collaborative efforts
is a person or an organization whose primary mission
is shepherding the success of
the initiative. The backbone
coordinates the work and
provides administrative and
data support. Funders must
be willing to invest sufficient
resources in the facilitation,
coordination, and measurement required for organizations to work together in this
way.
Public, Private and

Social Sectors
When organizations from
different sectors realize they
need each other to achieve
their vision for the community, the opportunity for
significant change becomes
possible. Each organization
still has its own work to
do and mission to achieve,
but they realize they have a
compelling and overlapping
area of interest. It is this intersection of shared interest that becomes the focus
of collective impact work.
They co-create a common
agenda, align their efforts,
and use common measures
of success.
Source: Peirce Consulting, LLC
CALL FOR ACTION

If you would like to receive updates on how Grant
County is progressing toward the creation of a shared
vision using the collective impact model, please email
VikingShip@GiveToGrant.org.
HISTORY
Today is Sunday, Nov. 29, the 333rd day of 2015.
There are 32 days left in the year.
Todays Highlights in History:

On Nov. 29, 1890, the first Army-Navy football
game was played at West Point, New York; Navy
defeated Army, 24-0. The Imperial Diet, forerunner of
Japans current national legislature, opened its first
session.
On this date:
In 1530, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey (WOOL-zee),
onetime adviser to Englands King Henry VIII, died.
In 1864, a Colorado militia killed at least 150
peaceful Cheyenne Indians in the Sand Creek Massacre.
In 1924, Italian composer Giacomo Puccini died in
Brussels before he could complete his opera Turandot. (It was finished by Franco Alfano.)
In 1945, the monarchy was abolished in Yugoslavia
and a republic proclaimed.
In 1947, the U.N. General Assembly passed a
resolution calling for the partitioning of Palestine
between Arabs and Jews.
In 1952, President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower
secretly left on a trip to Korea, keeping his campaign
promise to assess the ongoing conflict first-hand.
In 1961, Enos the chimp was launched from Cape
Canaveral aboard the Mercury-Atlas 5 spacecraft,
which orbited earth twice before returning.
In 1972, the coin-operated video arcade game
Pong, created by Atari, made its debut at Andy
Capps Tavern in Sunnyvale, California.
In 1981, actress Natalie Wood drowned in a boating accident off Santa Catalina Island, California, at
age 43.
In 1986, actor Cary Grant died in Davenport, Iowa,
at age 82.
In 1990, the U.N. Security Council voted to authorize military action to free Kuwait if Iraq did not
withdraw its occupying troops and release all foreign
hostages by Jan. 15, 1991.
In 2001, George Harrison, the quiet Beatle, died
in Los Angeles following a battle with cancer; he was
58.
WRITE AWAY:
Effects of poverty on children

Living in poverty results in
chronically elevated stress
levels. When stress levels
are elevated over a long period of time, they do major
damage. It is called toxic
stress. These elevated stress

levels affect working memory, which is essential for
language comprehension,
for reading, and for problem
solving.
Such children are less likely to be ready for kindergarten, to learn to read, and to
graduate from high school.
As adults they are more
likely to live in poverty, be-
come a teen parent, and be

only sporadically employed.
In other words, they are perfectly positioned to launch
the next generation of poverty.
Length: Letters should be 400 words or less; all may be edited

for brevity and clarity. Letters of thanks should be 200 words or less.
(Thanks to private businesses for services should be sent to the businesses.)
ID: Each letter must include the writers name, address and telephone number for verification. Because of space considerations,
please limit the number of signatures to a maximum of four people.
Fact vs. opinion: Publication is not an endorsement of the opinions of the writers, nor is publication of letters a validation of facts or
statements contained in the letters.
Whats not allowed: Private solicitations, poetry, personal attacks,
unfair criticism of private individuals, businesses or organizations or
inappropriate language will not be considered.
Rights: Letters to the editor, columns and other material submitted to the Chronicle-Tribune become the property of the newspaper and
may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.
H EY, YOU !
Viewpoints
Yes, we have opinions.

And we know you do
too. So why dont you
send us your thoughts?
We want to hear your
M ARION C HRONICLE-T RIBUNE
take on the issues.
CTREPORT@
INDY.RR.COM
S PEAK UP
HOW TO CONTACT
YOUR STATE
LAWMAKERS:
REP. KEVIN MAHAN
District 31
Phone: (317) 232-9509
Email: h31@in.gov
REP. ANTHONY COOK
District 32
Phone: (800) 382-9841
Email: h32@in.gov
SEN. JIM BANKS
District 17
Phone: (800) 382-9467
Email: s17@in.gov
SEN. TRAVIS HOLDMAN
District 19
Phone: (317) 232-9807
Email: s19@in.gov
SEN. JIM BUCK
District 21
Phone: (317) 232-9466
E-mail: s21@in.gov
REP. DAVID WOLKINS
District 18
(317) 234-2993
Email: h18@in.gov
REP. MIKE
KARICKHOFF
District 30
(317)234-9380
Email: h30@iga.in.gov
To e-mail any Indiana
lawmaker, go to this
website:
www.in.gov/cgi-bin/
legislative/contact/
contact.pl
WORD
OF THE
DAY
minatory
adjective
having a menacing
quality
Quote: No one likes to
hear or heed prophets of
doom, but history is replete
with them.... The minatory
mutterings of the Delphic
Oracle were often unheeded by the Greeks.
Brian Roche, Redlands (California) Daily
Facts, 28 Sept. 2015
Support The Grant
County Literacy Council
S PEAK UP
Cast your vote
Log
in the daily onon:
line poll at www.
chronicle-tribune.com,
then check out the next
days print edition of the
C-T to see the final results
Todays question:
Do you think local nonprofits should directly collaborate to fight poverty?
What you
said Saturday:
Are you concerned about

the amount of armed robberies at gas stations in
Grant County?
Yes (96%)
No (4%)
23 votes total
(as of 4 p.m. Saturday)
NOTE: The C-Ts informal Web
polls should not be considered
statistically or scientifically reliable.
EF GH
editorial
board
Linda KELSAY /
president and publisher
lkelsay@chronicle-tribune.com
David PENTICUFF /
editor
dpenticuff@chronicle-tribune.com
Caleb CRANDALL /
citizen board member
S U N D AY, N O V E M B E R 2 9 , 2 0 1 5 / A 4
YOUR TAKE:
If you have an opinion, wed like to hear

from you:
E-mail
Mail
ctedit@
indy.rr.com
Viewpoints,
P.O. Box 309, Marion, IN
46952
O UR TAKE
The most important thing we can do

Community
resources must
focus on defeating
the ongoing damage
of child poverty
Some people fidget, jog or
pace with nervous energy.
Dawn Brown, director of the
Community Foundation of
Grant County, thinks with it.
We could have tackled an
easier problem she said in a
small meeting room in her office between sips of coffee.
Challenges for small communities, chunks of trouble
ranging from underperforming classrooms to crumbling
infrastructure, to suspicious
race relations are common,
durable and ripe problems for
most any community foundation in most any town. But
Brown and Grant Countys
community foundation are
taking aim at the Big One.
The one that spawns many
of the other maladies that lay
heavy on our communitys
shoulders. Relentless, it is the
thing Marion is becoming as
well known for as once it was
known for good basketball.
Poverty.
Most specifically, impoverished babies who grow into
poor women and men, who,
in turn, pass down poverty
with its associated tangle of
messes as though it were a
birthright, maybe the only
tangible legacy, to their own
babies. And on we go to the
next generation.
Our children are the poorest in the state of Indiana,
Brown declares, aware, like
the rest of the county residents
who read, of the data widely
publicized this year. Its not
fair to those kids.
We have known since January that Grant Countys poverty rate among children is a
third of the kids who live in our
county. In that time no special
program has been mounted,
the demand for handouts
have risen the resources for
donations stretched thinner,
yet no candidate, winning or
losing, in the municipal elections made fighting poverty
the heart of their campaign.
No sitting official, appointed
or elected, moved directly to
do anything outside of trying
to further extend city debt to
pay for economic activity that
could in no way make a real
difference in the citys poverty problem.
Meanwhile, the traditional
free Thanksgiving dinner in
Gas City that had served thousands could not be conducted
this year after three decades
of serving the countys needy.
Freda Sexton and Bucky
Walker, sisters and the dinners main organizers, said the
preparation, work and time
needed was simply too much.
We cant do it anymore,
Sexton said. Weve gotten to
the age where we just cant do
it and stand for the amount of
time needed. Our bodies cant
do it.
Poverty not only wears out
Fighting
poverty...
...together
LISTENING: Community representatives listen to speakers talk about poverty in Grant

County during Indiana Wesleyan Universitys quarterly Citizens Advisory Council meeting
in the Barnes Student Center on Nov. 4.
the poor, it takes its toll on its

combatants.
January is coming up, another assessment will be made
and maybe we wont be number one in child poverty when
statistics are released in 2016.
Perhaps it will have gotten
worse in another county. If so,
some might declare the problem solved and desperately
try to change the subject. But
Brown knows that the goal is
not to somehow look better
because the rest of the world
is in decline. The goal is to actually be better. To really see
people move out of poverty.
To genuinely come together
as a community and take
coordinated action with everyones interest in mind. Essentially, to teach people not
to be poor as a default way of
life and encourage the generational poor to turn away from
the fatiguing effort of living
on the fringe of life, day in
and day out.
That is hard.
Doing nothing is not acceptable, she said.
Positioned to
make a difference
Of course there is a huge
gulf between declaring something not to be acceptable and
making it unacceptable, especially when human attitudes
and behaviors are involved.
The organization Brown
works for, however, might be
uniquely position to make an
impact as never before.
The Community Foundation of Grant County is now
self-sustaining. Only 20 percent of community foundations in Indiana have matured
to the point they no longer
needs to raise money to keep
operations going and the
doors open. The 35-year-old
Grant County organization
can move from devoting time
and resources to secure itself
and instead concentrate on
fixing a problem the problem in Grant County.
And Grant County has
something else going for it.
Perhaps it is ironic, but we not
only have burgeoning problem with poverty, we have the
overwhelming quality of generosity too. We rank third in

the state in giving. Brown said
people here have little reservation about donating their time,
talent and treasure. The tricky
part is how to apply those
people and resources so that
poverty and need decrease
instead of expand to meet the
flow of charity.
Two things are necessary,
said John Peirce, a childhood
development consultant from
Fort Wayne who has been
working with the Community Foundation. You need a
backbone person or agency.
That person or agency needs
to be independent, neutral,
consistent to creating a framework for deploying services
and resources to those in need.
The second thing needed,
Peirce said, was the backbone
of the poverty fight decision
making based on evidence,
taking into account data to do
the right things for all.
It is called Collective Impact a strategy that brings
together various organization
including churches, charities
and nonprofits, to act in concert in attacking a problem
in this case poverty rather
each group pursuing its individual goals.
Poverty and the particular
circumstances of a person
who becomes impoverished
is complicated, Peirce said. It
involves multiple factors. Any
of us can become poor and
many of us are only a paycheck or unfortunate event
away from poverty. It is not a
good indicator of poor character. The so called Greatest
Generation came of age during the Great Depression and
knew poverty in ways that
few America today would
experience. Yet they had the
character to sacrifice, fight the
world domination of fascism
and essentially build the 20th
Centurys prosperity.
They fought to change
their situation, he said.
But Peirce said people who
find themselves poor through
events outside their control
are often in a different place
mentally than those who suffer through generational pov-
erty.
People who live in poverty
generation after generation
approach it differently, he
said.
Poverty becomes part of
their worldview and a part of
how they view themselves.
Children in families where
poverty is taken as a fact of
life often suffer from a number of other troubles involving emotional and physical
support.
The brains of poor kids develop differently, he said. That
is why its important to get to
children in poverty while they
are still toddlers, before the
physical changes in their development force a child down
a path that cannot be easily, if
ever, reversed.
Marion has much going for
it in such a fight. Peirce said.
We are a small enough community that people know each
other and should be able to
come together and cooperate
toward a shared goal.
Everybody want to do
whats right, said Charlie
Wallace, President of the
Grant County Chamber of
Commerce, who addressed a
recent breakfast exploring a
Collective Impact model for
Grant County.
He said that the problems
faced by businesses in Grant
County because of poverty
was monumental. While many
might think the solution to
poverty is getting people jobs,
well that isnt always the case.
Wallace said he talked to
two local plant managers with
openings they were trying to
fill. One got 80 applications
but only five people were
willing to be hired. Another
received 95 applications but
could only hire seven people.
It seems some apply for
because their unemployment
insurance requires them to apply. The difference between
government benefits and pay
is not large enough to motivate workers to earn a living.
Wallace says Grant County
need more plumbers and professionals, jobs by which people can earn a good living.
Weve got to be getting to
kids early, Wallace said. Re-
Child Poverty
by Grant County
Community
Under age 17
Fairmount....16.3%
Fowlerton ...19.0%
Gas City..... 31.1%
Jonesboro... 40.5%
Marion....... 41.6%
Matthews.... 26.7%
Swayzee..... 19.3%
Sweetser......22.4%
Upland........14.5%
Van Buren....35.1%
Source: Indiana Youth
Institute
ally early.
Students at Taylor University in Upland completed a
study about the potential of
Collective Impact in Grant
called Unite Our Efforts.
One of the main conclusions
was that early childhood education will be key to breaking
the cycle of generational poverty.
The economic, health and
social benefits of early childhood education are invaluable
both in the short and long
term. Evidence shows that
children are in their most vulnerable and opportunistic period of growth at the pre-kindergarten stage, therefore the
community of Grant County
must actively participate in
supporting these children and
fostering their well being, the
study said.
Getting everyone on board
could be a challenge but, according to Brown, it is a challenge the community has met
before. She cited the Kids
Hope project that brought
business people in local
churches and schools together
to bring mentors into classrooms. The schools didnt
think the businesses people
would want to get involved in
the schools and business people didnt think the schools
would let them in.
Right now the collaboration
is ongoing to investigate what
next steps might be taken to
implement the Collective Impact model in Grant County.
We support the effort wholeheartedly as being vital to the
future of our children.
LEADERS ON THE FIELD

Chronicle-Tribune names football players of year
>> SPORTS, B1
Chronicle -Tribune
$2
S U N DAY, D E C E M B E R 6 , 2 0 1 5
TODAYS WEATHER
Partly Cloudy
47
34
Scrapbook:
Saturdays high: 46
Low: 26
Last Dec. 6:
High: 39
Low: 34
Record since 1903:
High: 70, 2001
Low: 6, 2007
Precipitation:
Dec. 5: 0.00 (as of 7 a.m.)
Inside,
Report: Young people in

lower-paying industries
the November Labor Market Report results indicating that manufacturing is an
exception to the relatively
low-paying industries including retail trade and food
services.
Rick Farrant, director of
communications for Northeast Indiana Works, said that
although manufacturing is
BY ALICIA KELLY
A labor market report issued by Northeast Indiana

Works indicates that young
people in northeast Indiana
tend to be employed in lower-paying industries.
Northeast Indiana Works,
the regions workforce development board, released
among the highest-paying

industries for young people,
those workers make up a
smaller percentage of that
workforce than young people in many other industries
in northeast Indiana.
The results of the report
stress the need for certification-based training, including manufacturing, Far-
rant said. Young people

can earn certification for
a skilled trade in less than
one year and enter the workforce, which leads to selfsustaining wages.
According to the report,
between 2010 and 2014,
administrative and support
services led the way in new
hires 19 to 24 years old (22.6
Blackmon family keeping busy
percent), followed by accommodation and food services

(17.3); retail trade (16.2);
manufacturing (11.3); and
health care and social assistance (8.7).
Michael Hicks, a distinguished professor of
economics at Ball State
See REPORT / Page A2
THE WEEK
AHEAD
There are simple ways

to use energy wisely and
safely over the holiday
season: Switch holiday
lights from standard to
LED lights. They are shatterproof, shock resistant
and safe to touch AND
use 90 percent less electricity than regular holiday
lights.
#weatherwisemarion
@weatherwisetips
Marion
General
Hospital
hosting
Chocolate
Show
From staff reports
Armed intruder
scares residents
An armed intruder
greeted residents in a
house on the 600 block
of W. First St. Friday
morning.
The suspect, described
to police as a male in
all black with what appeared to be a gas mask
on and a black handgun
in one hand, scared
residents at the home
just after 6 a.m. Friday
morning, Sgt. Dectective
Mark Stefanatos said.
After seeing the
suspect, residents fled
out the back of the
residence. The suspect
also ran away, Stefanatos said. Nothing was
reported stolen and
no one was reported
injured.
Tyler Juranovich
Inside
Business, D1
Classified, D5
Crossword, B5
Horoscope, A2
Live, C1
Local, A3
Obituaries, A4
Sports, B1
Viewpoints, A7
Weather, A2
Matt Wilson/mwilson@chronicle-tribune.com
COACH: James Blackmon Sr. coaches during a Marion boys basketball game this season.
James Blackmon Jr. in sophomore

season at Indiana University
BY MATT WILSON
mwilson@chronicle-tribune.com
This has become a busy

time of year for James
Blackmon Sr.
Blackmons son, James
Blackmon Jr., is in his
sophomore season on the
Indiana University mens
basketball team. His son
Self-confidence and success lies

in children exploring creativity
Inspiring local children,

encouraging them to gain
confidence in their own creativity, could provide an out
of the generational poverty in
which many are trapped.
2014 & 2015

By
U.S. News &
World Report
more than just his sons offense that impressed him.

Blackmon Sr. also was
impressed with the amount
of deflections Blackmon
Jr. had on defense. Blackmon Jr. had four steals and
one block in 28 minutes of
play.
I just thought he had a
great all around and complete game, Blackmon Sr.
said.
See BLACKMON / Page A5
The Arts fight generational poverty

BY SETH HUTCHINS
Best
Nursing
Homes
Vijay is in his senior year

on the Marion boys basketball team. And his youngest son, Jaylon, is a seventh
grader at Fort Wayne Canterbury.
Along with his three sons
all playing basketball at
some level, Blackmon Sr.
also is coaching the Marion
boys basketball team. And

Blackmon Sr. has done his
best to budget his time and
spend time with each of his
sons.
Blackmon Sr. was in attendance as James Blackmon Jr. had a career night
against Alcorn State last
Monday in Bloomington.
Blackmon Jr. scored a career high 33 points on 11of-15 shooting from the
field. He was 6-for-9 from
3-point range. But it was
Katie Morgan, Executive

Director for Community
School of the Arts, says getting children involved with
the arts can play a role in solving the severe child poverty
problem in Grant County
Research has shown that
Marions
ONLY
5 STAR
FACILITY
kids who are

released by the National
exposed to the Fighting
Endowment of the Arts,
arts are more poverty...
socially and economically
likely to sucdisadvantaged
students
ceed in school
outperformed their peers
and in life,
when engaged in arts-rich
she said. They
experiences. This extended
are also more ...together to higher test scores, better
likely to get out
grades, higher graduation
of generational
rates, and increased college
poverty; which is a big issue enrollment.
in Grant County.
According to a 2012 report
This week offers an opportunity to buy some sweet

treats for your loved ones on
Christmas Day and help out a
local organization.
The Marion General Hospital Auxiliary will be hosting
a Chocolate Show featuring
confectionary goods from
The South Bend Chocolate Company. The event
will run from 8-4 p.m. both
Wednesday and Thursday.
On Wednesday the event will
be held at the 330 Building,
while on Thursday the event
moves to the AllSpice Cafe
(Cafeteria).
The Chocolate Show will
include packaged and bulk
chocolates and confections,
See AHEAD / Page A2
Show
spreads
cheer again
this year
BY ALICIA KELLY
A true Christmas tradition will be heard again in

Marion. The Mississinewa
Valley Band will entertain
with its holiday show this
week as it has each of the
past 16 years.
Taking place at the Phillippe Performing Arts
Center at Indiana Wesleyan University, the show
will host special guests
See SHOW / Page A8
2 YEARS
IN A
ROW!
Visit www.medicare.gov and compare for yourself. Click on Nursing Home Compare. Call 765-674-3371 for your personal tour
A8
Sunday, December 6, 2015
Even in peaceful communities,

Muslims feel more vulnerable
By BRUCE SCHREINER
and TAMMY WEBBER
Associated Press
BY ALICIA KELLY / akelly@chronicle-tribune.con
YULETIDE: The Mississinewa Valley Band rehearses for the upcoming Yuletide Spectacular in the Phillippe Auditorium at Indiana Wesleyan Univeristy.
Show
Continued from A1
including the honor choir

at McCulloch Junior High
School and the drum line
from the Marion High
School band.
John Brane, the director of Mississinewa Valley
Band, said the group is a
great mix of people.
We have a wonderful mix of all sorts of
people from different age
groups, Brane said. It
always keeps things interesting, but everyone there
is just interested in playing music. Our youngest is
a freshman in high school
and our oldest member is
in his 70s.
According to Brane, the
show has always been free
to the public.
We have never charged
anyone to see the holiday
show, he said. We have

had tremendous community support for our band
through the years.
Brane said the show will
include Christmas music
from the 1950s.
We will be playing
Jingle Bell Rock, White
Christmas, Merry Christmas Darling and many
more, he said. We have a
great variety of music this
year and I think the audience will really enjoy the
show.
Josh Huff, band director
at Marion High School,
said the drum line will be
stepping in for one song
during the performance.
The drum line will be
doing a cadence, which is
when the drum line only is
playing, Huff said. They
will also be doing a mallet
piece. We will have 5 to 7
members of the band on
drum line.
Christina Huff, choir
teacher at McCulloch Junior High, said the honor
choir will be singing during
the song, I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas.
We have been practicing
and memorizing the material for several weeks,
Huff said. We are definitely prepared for the show.
Huff said the honor choir
includes the top 28 students
from all choir groups.
The honor choir does
the National Anthem at
sporting events and is more
involved with the community, she said. They are
a group that is more experienced musically and vocally advanced.
The Yuletide Spectacular
will be at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday,. in the Phillippe Auditorium. The show is free to
the public.
NEWBURGH As
Bushra Saqib and her husband watched news reports
about the mass killing in
San Bernardino, California, they looked at each
other with dread and said
the same thing: I hope it
wasnt a Muslim.
Although Wednesdays
rampage was almost 2,000
miles from this Ohio River
town of about 3,300 near
the Kentucky and Illinois
borders, revelations that it
was carried out by a Muslim
couple felt like a blow to the
years-long effort by the local Muslim community to
dispel misconceptions that
Islam condones violence.
You get tired and overwhelmed defending your
faith all the time; you feel
like everybodys looking at
you, said Saqib, who runs
her husbands medical office
in the small Illinois town of
Carmi, about an hour west
of Newburgh. But you
cannot feel defeated.
Muslim families in this
southern Indiana hamlet are
among those feeling more

vulnerable as anti-Islamic
sentiment heats up across
the country in the aftermath
of recent extremist attacks.
Here, they have found
mostly peaceful coexistence at the edge of the
nations Bible Belt, forming friendly relations with
the larger community by
working hard to build trust.
They began arriving about
30 years ago to take jobs as
doctors, business owners,
engineers and professors in
the area around Evansville,
Indianas third largest city,
many settling in this bedroom community known
for antique shops, restaurants and nice houses lining
manicured streets.
They host an annual food
festival and give tours of the
new Islamic center, which
opened five years ago and
serves about 120 families
in the region. They help
build Habitat for Humanity houses and volunteer at
homeless shelters. Theyve
forged friendships with
Christian and Jewish congregations.
Still, they worry. Leaders
have hired off-duty sheriffs deputies to safeguard

their mosque during Friday
prayers.
Its the same way they
felt after 9/11, when someone rammed a pickup truck
into their old Islamic center,
shattering several windows.
Instead of hunkering
down after that incident,
they reached out. And they
plan to keep doing so.
Once they eat with you,
they have a different idea of
you, said Saqib, noting the
annual food festival draws
thousands and has raised
more than $30,000 for a regional food bank.
Locals say its difficult to
stereotype or distrust people
you actually know.
Islamophobia
exists,
theres not any doubt about
it, said 70-year-old Navy
veteran Gary Slankard,
part of the lunch-time
crowd at the American Legion post, where theres a
silhouette cut-out of a soldier kneeling by a cross.
You hear it every day, but
it doesnt ever seem to be
in reference to our neighborhoods.
328 S. Norton St., Marion

765-664-4228
A fresh approach to investing...

Paul Markiewicz
Registered Principal
No automated phone hassle!

Talk to a real person!
Brokerage, IRAs and Rollovers
Estate Planning Risk Management
Call Us to Learn More Memeber FINRA and SIPC
adnum=60688850
Poverty
Continued from A1
Christina Huff, Choir

Teacher for Mcculloch Junior
High School, says that many
of her students living in poverty were willing to work hard
to succeed.
I found that they were very
goal oriented, she said. I
noticed that the feeling of success they had in Music made
them want to succeed in other
areas as well.
In 2013, the Presidents
Committee on the Arts and the
Humanities issued a report on
their Turnaround Arts Initiative, which integrated arts into
the curricula of some of the
lowest-performing schools in
the nation. These Turnaround
Arts schools improved, on average, 23 percent in math proficiency rates and 13 percent
in reading proficiency.
So how does music help
children perform better?
According to Missy Snyder, supervisor and therapist
at Grant Blackford Mental
Health, kids who get exposed
to art are more likely to have
positive influences in their
life.
The arts give kids a chance
to interact with their peers
in a healthy environment,
she said. They will have
the chance to have good role
models and friends.
In 2002, a study conducted
by the Los Angeles County
Department of Health showed
that 56 percent of the adolescents identified with role
models. Those who identified
with role models they knew
showed higher levels of selfesteem and stronger academics.
Snyder says that self-esteem
is an important aspect of being able to succeed.
Having high self-esteem
and self-confidence makes
you more resilient to adversity, said These underprivileged children that gain
self-confidence are likely to
overcome the challenges at
home.
Rebecca Findley, a music
therapist at Indiana Wesleyan
University, uses music to help
students deal with emotional,
physical, and social problems.
Self-esteem is a problem her
patients often deal with.
A lot of my patients come
to me believing that they cant
do anything, or that they are
limited by their disabilities,
Findley said.
In the end, Findley said that
music was a great way for
kids to express themselves.
The arts are a great way to
find a voice, she said. Unfortunately, its often the only
opportunity for kids living in
poverty to find one.
adnum=60689231
JROTC ends
season with
success.
>> LOCAL, A3
COUNTY BATTLE ON THE COURT

Mississinewa girls basketball team hosts Madison-Grant
>> SPORTS, B1
Chronicle -Tribune
$2
S U N DAY, D E C E M B E R 2 0 , 2 0 1 5
TODAYS WEATHER
Mostly Cloudy
45
41
Scrapbook:
Saturdays high: 30
Low: 19
Last Dec. 20:
High: 30
Low: 25
Record since 1903:
High: 58, 1957
Low: -10, 1963
Preciptiation:
Dec. 19: Trace (as of 7 a.m.)
Inside:
Spring Garden Fair

Vendors Needed
Marion schools battle poverty

often times
not taken into Fighting
consideration poverty...
the challenges growing
up in poverty
can have on
a student and ...together
their ability
to learn compared to a student who has
been raised in a more affluent home.
Marion High School Principal Keith Burke said a
plethora of data and studies
have shown the extra challenges a student living in
poverty may have, including
added stress that has been
Marion teachers
accept the
challenge
BY TYLER JURANOVICH
A third of children in
Grant County live in poverty, leaving a heavy burden
on education to help break
the poverty cycle, and no
other district locally has
to deal with poverty more
than Marion Community
Schools.
Administrators say they
gladly accept the challenge,
but also say the state has
shown to affect how a young

childs brain develops.
If a student is worried
about how the bills are going to be paid, if a student
is worried about whether or
not theyre going to be evicted from the place they live,
all those worries bother that
child more than what people
know, and then we ask them
to come and prepare for standardized tests, Burke said.
The fact of the matter is we
have children coming to us
at the best level they can, but
unfortunately its not at the
same level as other places
so we have to play catch up,
and that takes time.
It is not uncommon for elementary schools in the district, to have a student population where upwards to 80
or more percent or even 90
or more percent of students
on free or reduced lunch.
To be considered for free
lunch, a household of four
must make $31,525 or less
a year. For reduced lunch,
a household of four must
make $44,853 or less a year.
The median household income for Marion is $31,391,
nearly $17,000 lower than
the state average, according
the U.S. Census.
Terry Lakes, the Marion
High School English Depart-
The Big Give gets bigger
The Grant County

Master Gardeners are
now accepting vendors
for their fair on March 5,
2016. The program will
include guest speakers and garden related
activities. Priority will be
given to vendors who
offer plant, garden, produce, or nature related
products or services.
There is no booth rental
charge. Contact the
Grant County Extension
Office at 765-651-2413
or cluppers@purdue.
edu for a vendor form.
Registration can also
be completed at http://
tinyurl.com/Grant16.
Follow us on:
www.facebook.com/
chronicletribune
@Marion_CT
Inside
Business, D1
Classified, D5
Club News, C3
Crossword, C2
Horoscope, A2
Live, C1
Local, A3
Obituaries, A4
Sports, B1
Viewpoints, A7
Weather, A2
Weddings, C5
Best
Nursing
Homes
2014 & 2015

By
U.S. News &
World Report
THE WEEK
AHEAD
Christmas
service
tonight
From staff reports
With Christmas just around

the corner, the First Church
of God, 450 W. 50th St., is
having a special Carols and
Candles church service.
The service, beginnings at
6 p.m., will feature Christmas music, caroling, testimony and a lighting of
candles.
4-H Enrollment Now

Open for 2016
Indiana 4-H enrollment
is now open in Grant
County through January
15, 2016. Youth may be
enrolled in Grant County
4-H and Mini 4-H by
January 15, 2016 online
at https://in.4honline.
com or by visiting the
Grant County Purdue
Extension office, 765651-2413, from 8 a.m.
to 4 p.m. weekdays.
The $20 fee per child
includes all Indiana 4-H
program fees. Mini 4-H
is free.
ment Chair, said the poverty

level in Marion isnt used by
teachers as an excuse to argue against accountability.
Its not an excuse, but it
is a reality, and it needs to be
understood youre getting a
lot of different types of children in city like Marion or
an Anderson or a Muncie,
Lakes said.
Despite the poverty challenges, there is evidence of
student growth in the district
when looking at mClass
(grades K-2) and Scholastic
SRI (grades 3-6) test scores
with students seeing higher
Today
Christmas Eve Service:

Hosted by the First Church of
God, 450 W. 50th St., begins
at 6 p.m.
Monday
Heart Song Show Chorus:
Photos by Seth Hutchins
TREAT TIME: Amanda Butcher gets some treats from the candy buffet.
down the road.

But Trexler wanted to do
things different this year.
I wanted to make things
a bit more personal this
time around, he said. I
wanted it to be about more
than a box of food.
Instead the church decided to turn the event into
a celebration, where those
being served could get
more involved. There was
music, door prizes, and
even a winter wonderland
where kids could meet
Santa, Elsa, and Buddy the
Elf.
Those looking to receive
BY SETH HUTCHINS
Hundreds of families
have just had their day
made.
On Saturday, the River
Community Church conducted its annual Big Give
event, where boxed Christmas Dinners are given out
to families in need. The
church has donated 1,000
boxes every year since it
began in 2011.
According to Pastor Matthew Trexler, the Big Give
used to be a first come,
first serve kind of event.
People would wait hours
in advance to get the boxed
dinners, with cars lined up
J.D.
Williams
honored
at funeral
ROYALTY: Chrisette Nash takes a picture with Princess

See GIVE / Page A3 Elsa.
Basketball classic comes to Bill Green Athletic Arena

Eight-game event
set for Tuesday
BY MATT WILSON
Marion High School Athletic Director Jamy Bechler

wanted to make sure some
type of a basketball showcase would be coming to
town this year.
So, with the help of others
at the high school, Bechler
helped organize a 16-team
classic basketball tourna-
ment which will be Tuesday

at the Bill Green Athletic
Arena.
The Marion Basketball
Classic begins at 10 a.m.
Tuesday with Columbus
North playing Harrison.
The classic continues with
Danville playing NorthWood at 11:30 a.m., Covington playing Tri-West at
1 p.m., Liberty Christian
playing Warren Central at
2:30 p.m., Gary Roosevelt
Marions
ONLY
5 STAR
FACILITY
No Rehearsal
ednesday
Town of Swayzee Board
Meeting: Will be at 7 p.m.
at Swayzee Town Hall, 213
South Washington Street,
Swayzee, IN
JONES: Reggie Jones

and his Marion boys
basketball teammates
will play in the Marion
Basketball Classic
against Indianapolis
Pike at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Bill Green
Athletic Arena.
Matt Wilson/mwilson@chronicletribune.com
See CLASSIC / Page A6
BY SETH HUTCHINS
Friends and family gathered at the Greater Second

Baptist Church Saturday to
honor the memory of Reverend Dr. Johnnie D. Williams,
who had passed away last
Sunday.
Although many mourned
his death, the atmosphere
was more of a joyous one.
People laughed and cheered
as they reminisced about
Williams.
Id say we know that the
reverend impacted all our lives
in some way, said Reverend
Michael Latham.While it is
sad that he is gone, we can
say that he has laid a strong
foundation for this church
See HONORED / Page A6
2 YEARS
IN A
ROW!
Local
SUBMIT YOUR NEWS

If you have a story idea, question or correction for the Chronicle-Tribune:
Before 3 p.m.: Call the newsroom at
671-1266
M A R I O N C H R O N I C L E - T R I B U N E / W W W. C H R O N I C L E - T R I B U N E . C O M
After 3 p.m.: Call the newsroom at 671-2248
HOW TO GET NEWS ITEMS

TO US:
Mail: Chronicle-Tribune
P.O. Box 309, Marion, Ind.
46952
E-mail: ctreport@indy.rr.com
/ S U N D AY, D E C E M B E R 2 0 , 2 0 1 5 / A3
JROTC ends season with success

BY ALICIA KELLY
The JROTC Rifle Marksmanship Team ended their

season as the number two
team in Indiana.
Recently
competing
against 24 teams from
across the state and around
the Midwest at the Indianapolis Invitational Tournament, the Marion High
School team finished fourth
place overall, missing 3rd
place by only 30 points out
of 1,500.
Cadets Kayleigh Smith,
Taylor Sorah, Haley Teeguarden, Adriana Aleman,
Kenny Mesack and Alex
Flores made up the winning Giant team. Marion
also fielded a B Team that
finished 10th place with
cadets Maliesa Lassiter,
Destiny Williams, Joseph
ODonnell, Rhianna Gary
and Stephanie Charlton.
Lt. Col. David Farlow,
senior Army instructor
for Marion High School
JROTC program and coach
of the marksmanship team,
said the rifle team has continued to progress over the
last several years.
The competitions give
the students an opportunity to test their individual
POVERTY
Continued from A1
and higher at or above grade

level scores the further they
progress through elementary
school.
The continued growth is
evident at the high school,
where 95 percent of students
in 2014 graduated, up from
just 81 percent in 2012, and
71 percent of students in
2014 are college and career
ready compared to just 55
percent in 2012.
PHOTOS PROVIDED
WELL PLACED: The JROTC Rifle Marksmanship Team

ended their season as the number two team in Indiana.
skills, Farlow said. Some

of the students have improved exceptionally since
the start of the season. David Keuster from Civilian
Marksmanship
Program
came to volunteer his time
and worked as a second
coach, which helped the
students improve their
scores tremendously.
Farlow said the students
werent as happy with their
scores at the Indianapolis
Invitational Tournament as
they had hoped.

They were frustrated
that we didnt come out as
the number one team, but
competitions are always
learning experiences, he
said. Last year we were
undefeated and this year we
ended with 19 wins and 2
losses.
Sophomore Rhianna Gary
shot her personal high
score at the competition in
Indianapolis and said she is
ready for next years rifle
For Marion Community

Schools
Superintendent
Brad Lindsay, those increases say one thing: though
improvement may not come
from one year to another, by
the end of their time in the
school system, the majority
of them are ready for whatever comes next.
We have excellent kids
giving their best, Lindsay
said. Theyre part of the
journey at Marion that were
proud of. Those who stay
will be champions. Those
who stay will be Giants.
Merry Christmas
N S
OPETMA
R IS
CH EVE3 PM
T IL
UN
from
Comforts of Home
GIVE
Continued from A1
a food box and participate

in the event had to register either at the church
or online. The event was
conducted at four different
times throughout the day to
avoid overcrowding in the
building.
Executive Pastor Amy
Biegel says the church was
originally concerned about
implementing the changes.
We were worried that the
MARKSMEN: Recently competing against 24 teams from across the state and around the
Midwest at the Indianapolis Invitational Tournament, the Marion High School team finished
fourth place overall
competition season.
Im looking forward to
being on the Rifle Team
again next year, said Gary.
It is really fun and I enjoy
the competition.
Farlow said that during
the off season, many of the
cadets on the rifle team go
on to participate in color
guard or drill.
changes would scare people
away, she said. We know
it was going to be a turning
point for us.
But the church ended up
running out of boxes to
give, forcing them to have
to turn people away.
That tells me that either people were very excited about the event or the
need for help is very high,
Biegel said. Perhaps it is
both.
According to Biegel, at
least 200 volunteers from
the church were involved
Since we have four competitive teams that travel

throughout the year, students have plenty of opportunities to be involved in the
JROTC, he said. Through
the years the courses progress and the students are given greater responsibilities.
Farlow said the most important lessons students
learn through the JROTC

are taking responsibility for
your actions and becoming
great leaders.
We are developing the
next generation of leaders,
he said. We want them to
leave this school prepared
to plan, organize, lead and
communicate within their
communities.
with The Big Give. Some

served candy and refreshments, played music, or
talked to participants about
god.
Trexler said he was very
happy about how the event
turned out.
I think we have managed to get people to come
to Christ, he said. We
have moved from informing people about him to
having them experience
him.
Ken Matusak had heard
about the event through
Facebook and decided to

participate. Although he
needed the box of food,
he was also church shopping because his old one,
Central Christian, had just
closed down.
Matusak said he enjoyed
the hospitality that was
given to him.
Its been a trying few
months, but things have
started to get better, he
said. Theres a good possibility that my family and
I will be checking out this
church in the future.
C
CH LOSE
R IS D
T
DA MAS
Y
Lowell Harter puts his arms around

his Colonial Oaks Therapists, who
helped him on his road to recovery.
Lowell is going home!
Thank you to the best therapists in

town, getting me back home safe and
sound. If you need rehab, Colonial Oaks
is the place to go.
Colonial
Oaks
Health and Rehabilitation Center
* All Prices Reflect Cash Discount
Living Well Changes Everything.
adnum=60693624
4725 S. Colonial Oaks Drive (765) 674-9791
adnum=60673144
COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP ON THE LINE

Area boys basketball teams play on Tuesday at Madison-Grant
>> SPORTS, B1
Chronicle -Tribune
$2
S U N DAY, D E C E M B E R 2 7 , 2 0 1 5
TODAYS WEATHER
Rain
45
37
Scrapbook:
Saturdays high: 52
Low: 38
Last Dec. 27:
High: 47
Low: 42
Record since 1903:
High: 30, 1907
Low: -9, 1925
Precipitation:
Dec. 26: 0.00 (as of 7 a.m.)
Inside:
Spring Garden Fair

Vendors Needed
The Grant County
Master Gardeners are
now accepting vendors
for their fair on March 5,
2016. The program will
include guest speakers and garden related
activities. Priority will
be given to vendors
who offer plant, garden,
produce, or nature related
products or services.
There is no booth rental
charge. Contact the Grant
County Extension Office
at 765-651-2413 or cluppers@purdue.edu for a
vendor form. Registration
can also be completed
at http://tinyurl.com/
Grant16.
Fighting the effects

of addiction, poverty
Addiction, mental health often times
connected to poverty, officals say
your life, Allen says about
the battle it will take for one
to overcome their addiction.
Allen, a licensed clinical
addiction counselor at Milestone Addictive Services,
116 E. 32nd St., said many
of the drug addicts he and
BY TYLER JURANOVICH
When drug addicts come

to Dennis Allen and express
their desire to get clean and
better their life, Allen tells
them one thing:
This will be the hardest
thing you will have to do in
his colleagues work with

battle not only drug addiction but poverty.
Most of the clients Milestone Addictive Services
serves receive some kind
of discount because of their
low-income level, Allen
said. The two issues drug
addiction and poverty are
some times connected to
one another.
Its been my observa-
tion here that addiction and

poverty perpetuates themselves, Allen said. Once
the addiction starts up,
theyre going to constantly
be looking for drugs. Most
of their money will go to the
acquisition of drugs.
Once the habit is created,
its hard to break and ends
up affecting more than just
the person using the drugs
but potentially family mem-
Rediger Chapel Auditorium

improvements nearly complete
Follow us on:
www.facebook.com/
chronicletribune
@Marion_CT
Inside
Business, D1
Classified, D4
Crossword, C2
Horoscope, A2
Live, C1
Local, A3
Obituaries, A4
Sports, B1
Viewpoints, A7
Weather, A2
Best
Nursing
Homes
2014 & 2015

By
U.S. News &
World Report
bers, including children,

Kelvin Twigg, a licensed
mental health counselor
at Cornerstone Behavioral
Health Center, said.
Mental health can be a
driving factor, especially if
left untreated, in someones
life that leads him or her
to addiction and poverty,
Twigg said, which often
THE WEEK
AHEAD
Walkway
of Lights
last lighting
4-H Enrollment Now

Open for 2016
Staff reports
...together
BY ALICIA KELLY
Staff reports
Indiana 4-H enrollment

is now open in Grant
County through January
15, 2016. Youth may be
enrolled in Grant County
4-H and Mini 4-H by
January 15, 2016 online
at https://in.4honline.com
or by visiting the Grant
County Purdue Extension office, 765-651-2413,
from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
weekdays. The $20 fee
per child includes all Indiana 4-H program fees.
Mini 4-H is free.
Fighting
poverty...
CAMPUS CENTER CONSTRUCTION: Workers attach metal strips along the top of the LaRita Boren Campus Center
under construction Thursday on the Taylor University Campus.
When complete, chapel to include overflow seating

BY TYLER JURANOVICH
Tjuranovich@chronicle-tribune.com
UPLAND Students returning to Taylor University

after their J-term break will
have a newly renovated chapel to enjoy.
Construction is expected
to finish on the Rediker
Chapel Auditorium by the
time students return to campus and classes at the beginning of February.
Part of the universitys
$20 million LaRita R. Bo-
ren Campus Center construction project, the nearly

40 year old chapel has had
a new audio/video system,
seats, an overflow seating
area and new lights. Improvements to the stage
have also been made.
The renovations will keep
the chapel looking and performing like a modern facility, administrators said.
The old chapel could do
all of what we needed, but
the additions are going to
enhance what weve previously done, Jon Cavanagh,

campus pastor for Taylor
University, said. The quality of the sound and video
will be better.
At the heart of the campus, the Rediker Chapel Auditorium, which seats 1,500,
hosts services every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
at 11 a.m. for students, serving as the spiritual center for
students and faculty.
Its a staple of the Taylor
experience and with the new

student center, its going to
great for students, Jim Garringer, director of media relations at Taylor University,
said. The chapel is really a
sacred place,
The university will be using the chapel for conferences, lectures from visiting
speakers, concerts and other
events as needed by the
university. A newly added
See CHAPEL / Page A8
We are in the last week of

December and that means
the holidays are winding
down. With Christmas behind us and the New Year
ahead, members of the community are taking this week
to relax from the hustle and
bustle of holiday festivities.
The Matter Park Walkway
of Lights in Marion will see
its last lighting on Thursday
after a successful season and
people around the community will be making their New
Years resolutions for 2016.
2016 will mark the year
of the Indiana Bicentennial,
a presidential election and
a new mayor for the city of
Marion. Many changes are
undergoing and there are
only a few days left to indulge in holiday activities.
Monday
Fairmount Town Council:
Public meeting, 7 p.m., town
hall, 214 W. Washington St.
HeartSong Show Chorus:
No Rehearsal
Tuesday
Grant County Drainage
Board: Public meeting, 11
a.m., Willis Van Devanter
Grant County Office Complex
(council chambers), 401 S.
Adams St., Marion.
Grant County Board of
Zoning Appeals: Public
meeting, 7 p.m., Willis Van
Devanter Grant County Office
Complex (council chambers),
401 S. Adams St., Marion.
Seybold ready to leave office

BY BEN QUIGGLE
After 12 years of leading

Marion, Mayor Wayne Seybold will be leaving office
at the end of the year.
Seybold said he will miss
coming into City Hall on a
daily basis, and that he really enjoyed his time as
mayor.
I love this job, it is the
best job I have ever had,
said Seybold. I have lived
on the west coast and the
Marions
ONLY
5 STAR
FACILITY
east coast, and traveled all

over the world and had really good jobs. This has been
probably the most rewarding experience; we have an
awesome team of people
here who are not clock
watchers. They are project
oriented people who work
until the project is done.
When asked why he ran
for mayor twelve years ago,
Seybold said that he was
fascinated by the whole experience.
I noticed this wasnt

much different then when I
was doing ice shows, said
Seybold. I had four or five
tours out on the road in different parts of the country
and world. In a sense you
had different managers
who had their own budgets
and you had to manage the
whole thing. Quite frankly
I just wanted to get back to
Marion. Had they not raised GOOD TIMES: Marion Mayor Wayne Seybold reminisces
See OFFICE / Page A2
about the good times as he prepares to leave office at years

end.
2 YEARS
IN A
ROW!
A8
Sunday, December 27, 2015
AARP Tax-Aide
Program Seeks
Volunteers
Idea Card? All you have to

do is register your card!
Visit www.marsh.net and
register your card using
the school code 29007 for
St. Paul Catholic School.
Then every time you shop
from now through March
29, 2016, the school can
earn points to help with
getting supplies and equipment to help the school
continue the Tradition of
Excellence. Please call the
school at 765-662-2883 if
you have questions.
AARP Tax-Aide program

is seeking volunteers to
prepare Federal and State
Income Tax Returns for the
2016 filing season as well
as volunteers to act as Intake Greeters in the free
Tax-Aide program. Basic
computer skills are a necessary qualification for
tax preparers. Training
in tax law will be provided
the week of January 11th Supplies Needed
through the 15th, 9- 3 p.m.
AARP membership is not at Bridges to Health
It is flu & cold season,
a requirement. Call 765664-8359 for more infor- and Bridges to Health,
mation and to sign up as a Grant Countys volunteer
run community clinic, is
volunteer.
in need disinfectant wipes
and paper towels. DonaMarsh Fresh Ideas
tions can be dropped off at
for Education
the Bridges to Health clinDr. Robert H. Faulkner ic (Mon Thurs), located
Academy would like to in the Kem View Medical
invite you to register your Center blue building, 1251
Fresh Idea card. To reg- W. Kem Road in Marion,
ister your card please go Ind. For questions contact
to www.marsh.net. Our info@bridges2health.org or
school code is 43833. Each 765-662-7289.
time you shop from Sept.
1, 2015 through March Free Family Movies
29, 2016 our school will
earn credid towards free
Back
Creek
Friends
educational
equipment Meeting has free movies
and supplies. Thank you on the 3rd Wednesday of
for your support. Did you each month at 6 p.m. The
know that you can support Church is located at 7560
St. Paul Catholic School South, 150 South, Fairevery time you shop at mount. All ages are welMarsh and use your Fresh come.
Library Happenings
BLOTTER
Local briefs
Marion Police
Department
2:48 a.m. Friday, 600 block

of South Washington Street,
criminal mischief. A person
was arrested on charges of
criminal mischief after damaging playground equipment at
the Marion Public Library.
of North Oxford Drive, immediate detention order. A woman
was taken to Cornerstone on
an immediate detention order.
of West 5th Street, warrant service. A man was arrested on
charges of an active warrant.
3:09 p.m. Friday, 600 block
of North Hendricks Avenue,
burglary. A person told police
that a television and Blu-Ray
player were missing from his
residence.
of West 8th Street, theft. Items
were taken from an unlocked
vehicle.
of North Wabash Avenue, battery. A report was taken.
Arrests
Katrina Louise Hueston, 41,
last known address 622 S.
Branson St., theft. She was
being held at the Grant County
Jail Friday on $505 bond.
Roger Brian Seaton, 49,

last known address 709 E.
Washington St., Fairmount,
conversion. He was being held
at the Grant County Jail Friday
on $505 bond.
Andre Hassan Williams, 26,
last known address 5 Faye
Court, Indianapolis, fugitive
from justice. He was being
held at the Grant County Jail
Friday without bond.
Steven Taylor Besser, 24, last
known address 5900 W. 350
N., Muncie, driving while suspended. He was being held at
the Grant County Jail Saturday
on $1,005 bond.
Lisa Nichole McGruder, 32,
last known address 612 W.
3rd St., theft. She was being
Saturday on $505 bond.
Grant County Jail Count

Total: 252 (Capacity 274)
Male: 220
Female: 32
As of 1:15 p.m. Saturday.
Juvenile Detention
Center Count
Library Hours: Monday

through Friday, 9 a.m. to
8 p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m.
to 5 p.m. Museum Hours:
Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.;
Tuesday and Thursday, 9
a. m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday,
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Library and Museum is now
open on Sundays from 1
to 4 p.m. The Library and
Museum will be closed on
Thursday, Dec. 24, Friday, Dec. 25. The Library
and Museum will close on
Thursday, Dec. 31 at 5:30
p.m. and will be closed on
Friday, January 1.
Lets Knit and Crochet

Thursdays at 4 p.m. Forrest Room. This class is for
beginners and experienced
knitters. Beginners, please
register at the Reference
Desk the Monday prior to
class. The next time the
Knitting group meets is
January 7, 2016.
Kids Movie

Male: 10
Female: 1
As of 3:05 p.m. Saturday.
Tuesday, December 29
@ 2 p.m. in Meeting Room
B. Free pop & popcorn
All arrest entries reflect preliminary

police charges.
provided. Movie is rated

PG. Call the Childrens
Dept at 668-2900, ext. 105
for title.
Make-it Take-it craft

Wednesday, December
30, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the
Childrens Dept. Stop in to
make a holiday craft.
Dont forget to visit our
Museum and learn about
Grant Countys history.
We have an election exhibit on the main floor of the
museum. There are 2 cases
with local campaign buttons and matchbook covers from Marion and Grant
County.
The Library Connectors Display Case features
items from our own Carnegie Museum.
The 2nd floor Art Display features artwork
from St. Paul Catholic
School.
Please call the Marion
Public Library if you have
questions about any of the
above activities. 765-6682900.
Happy Holidays from the
Marion Public Library!
Visit us online: www.chronicle-tribune.com
A Time to Reflect
and Look Ahead
As we look forward to 2016, it is a time to reflect on our many blessings,

which have made MGH what it is today. It is time to look ahead to our future,
which with Gods continued favor will be bright.
Our community is very fortunate to have an independent community-owned
hospital and a medical staff that offers the extent of services available locally
Jim Garringer, Taylor University.
REDIGER: The nearly 40 year old Rediger Chapel Auditorium received an update, which included new seats, lights,
enhances made to the stage and updated audio/visual
equipment.
chapel
Continued from A1
overflow room, equipped

with equipment to deliver a
livestream, can seat an extra
300 people and will be when
weekday chapel requires
more room for students and
faculty.
Cavanagh, who became
campus pastor this past
June, said the new and updated venue will be pleasant
workspace.
For such a small university, chapel has been a
program thats been well
attended, he said. Chapel
has become a regular routine
for students.
The new 48,000 square
foot student center is also
on schedule for its original
spring opening. The new
student center will offer a
coffee shop, a small auditorium, commons and a dining
area.
at MGH. Everyone is blessed by MGH employees, medical staff, volunteers

and contract staff that provide compassionate care and love.
MGH is truly different from other hospitals in a very positive way.
Everyone at MGH is truly a blessing for our community.

This year, I am looking forward to retiring June 30, 2016.
As part of my succession plan, we have recruited Stephanie Hilton-Siebert,
President/CEO-Elect, who has been working with me since May 1, 2015.
She will replace me July 1, 2016.
During my tenure at MGH as the Chief Financial Officer for 26 years and as
the President/CEO for the past 8 years, I have always held MGH and our
community close to my heart and served with a very personal commitment.
In 2008, God called me to be the President/CEO of MGH.
I was planning to retire, not become the President/CEO;
however, Gods will was done and I accepted
the position upon unanimous vote of the Board of Directors.
I have served as MGHs President/CEO with only one focus: which was to
do the right thing because it is the right thing to do.

I always strive for a positive outcome and look to build positive relationships
with everyone. I make the difficult decisions as my focus is what is best for
MGH and our Healthcare Community. My strong faith in God has guided
TREATMENT CHALLENGES: Dennis Allen, a licensed medical addiction counselor at Milestone, left, and Kelvin Twigg,
a licensed mental health counselor at Cornerstone, talk
Tuesday about the challenges of treating addiction. Its a
huge battle, Allen said. Its hard work.
poverty
Continued from A1
leads to neglect of ones self

or of other dependants.
The research shows that
the neglect that comes with
poverty or addiction have
such an affect on a person
that it changes the wiring
of our brains. It becomes
their response to the stress
of their lives, and once that
happens we have a lot to
overcome, he said.
That changing of the brain
classifies drug addiction as
a mental illness, meaning
its not something easily
overcome, Allen said.
Drugs work very well,
he said. They do their
job. They change peoples
brains.
According to numbers
provided by Twigg, Cornerstone has serviced a total of
3,247 clients in 2015, with
497 (15 percent) of those
clients receiving services in
the addictions program, and
1,028 of those patients (32
percent) have a substance

related diagnosis though it
may not be the primary diagnosis.
Services like Cornerstone
or Milestone Addictive Services, organizations under
the larger Grant-Blackford
Mental Health, offer many
various ways to fight addiction or mental illness,
including 12 step programs,
working on and hopefully
improving family and social interaction and teaching
one to find healthier ways
to deal with stress and other
emotional problems that
doesnt include drugs.
Its a challenging task, and
one that is being dealt with
in a handful of Indiana cities
and also nationwide, and its
a battle where often times
the success rate isnt as high
as one would like, but the
failures havent and wont
stop both Allen or Twigg to
stop trying to help.
It can be daunting, but we
live in hope and try to help
the people that need help,
Allen said.
me the past 8 years to consistently demonstrate a desire to build positive

relationships, forgive others and love others as God loves you and me.
My prayer for the future is that MGH and our Healthcare Community will
embrace and support Stephanie and her family as they become part of our
community. I also pray that God will guide Stephanie as she leads MGH in the
future to become an even a greater asset for our community than it is today.
MY PRAYER to God for our community is that we learn to forgive each other
and love each other more because that is what will make our community
stronger and a place where others will want to live.
Happy New Year and God Bless!

PAU L L . U SH E R , P R E SI D E N T / C E O
health
www.mgh.net
ad
adnum=60688058
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Coverage on Indiana Wesleyans mens basketball national championship game.
>> SPORTS, B1
EF-GH
W E D N E S DAY, M A R C H 1 6 , 2 0 1 6
TODAYS WEATHER
Partly Cloudy
60
41
IWU national champs
IWU mens basketball team beats Saint Francis 69-66
Scrapbook:
Tuesdays high: 60
Low: 47
Last March 16:
High: 58
Low: 27
Record since 1999:
High: 79, 2012
Low: 9, 1993
Precipitation:
March 15: 0.08 (as of 7 a.m.)
BY MATT WILSON
Inside:
Matt Wilson / mwilson@chronicle-tribune.com
TROPHY: Indiana Wesleyan senior Jonny Marlin holds up

the national championship trophy after the Wildcats won
the NAIA Division II National Championship on Tuesday.
Pictured with Marlin are fellow seniors Josh Mawhorr, left,
and Kylan Dubbels.
Ecuadorian students
wrapping up Taylor
University visit
Indiana Wesleyan mens

basketball coach Greg
Tonagel admitted the Wildcats were a decided underdog headed into this years
NAIA Division II National
Championship.
Unlike the time the Wildcats won the championship
in 2014 when they were the
overall No. 1 seed, that was
not the case this time. Indiana Wesleyan came into
this years national championship with a No. 5 ranking in the nation and a No.
2 seed in the Duer bracket.

The Wildcats, however,
ended this years championship in the same position
they were in 2014. Indiana
Wesleyan defeated overall
No. 1 seed Saint Francis
69-66 on Tuesday night at
Keeter Gymnasium on the
campus of College of the
Ozarks in Point Lookout,
Mo., to win their second
national championship in
three years.
The Wildcats are the first
team since 2003 to win two
championships in three
years.
Money will allow

preschool program
to expand
BY TYLER JURANOVICH
Southbound
I-69 rest area
to close today
Follow us on:
www.facebook.com/
chronicletribune
@Marion_CT
Inside
Classified,
B6
Comics, B4
Crossword, B4
Local, A3
Obituaries, A4
Sports, B1
Viewpoints, A7
Weather, A2
Best
Nursing
Homes
2014 & 2015

By
U.S. News &
World Report
See CHAMPS / Page A2
Giants
Preschool
awarded
grant
Staff reports
Staff reports
We were heavy underdogs headed into this tournament, Tonagel said.

But we believed that we
could do this, and I could
not be prouder of the boys.
Indiana Wesleyan finished
the season 33-5. Saint Francis finished 33-5 and had its
16-game winning streak
snapped.
The Wildcats defeated
No. 1 seeds on back-to-back
nights to win the championship. Indiana Wesleyan
defeated Davenport, the
Eastbrook student wins Spelling Bee Little
Six students from the

University of Azuay in
Cuenca, Ecuador, are
finishing their month-long
stay on the Taylor University campus.
The students visited
Taylor as part of a new
program, Discover 16,
sponsored by Taylors
Spencer Center for Global
Engagement.
Since their arrival on
February 20, the students
have attended classes,
lived in the residence halls,
and experienced the campus culture; engaging various groups like the Latino
Student Union and Taylor
Study Abroad alumni.
The group returns to
Ecuador on Thursday,
March 17.
Indiana Department of
Transportation (INDOT)
maintenance crews plan to
temporarily close the rest
area on southbound I-69
between exit 255 to Ind. 26
and exit 245 to Ind. 28 beginning Wednesday, March
16 at 7 p.m. until approximately 11 p.m. to perform
testing on overhead lights.
$1.00
Photos by Jeff Morehead / jmorehead@chronicle-tribune.com
CHAMPION: Eastbrook Junior High School seventh-grader Jacob McKim breathes a sigh of relief after successfully
spelling orison to win the the 2016 Grant County Spelling Bee, sponsored by Indiana Wesleyan University, in the IWU
Barnes Student Center on Tuesday.
BY SETH HUTCHINS
Seventy-six students competed in the 2016 Grant

County Spelling Bee on
Tuesday at the Barnes Student Center at Indiana Wesleyan University, but only
one was crowned the winner.
Jacob McKim, a seventh
grader from Eastbrook Junior High School, won the
spelling bee after successAUDIENCE: First-round spellers wait their turns during the fully spelling the words or2016 Grant County Spelling Bee, sponsored by Indiana ison and inosculate.
Im very nervous for all
Wesleyan University, in the IWU Barnes Student Center on
these types of things, McTuesday.
Kim said. Im happy that

Im going to get to go to
Washington D.C. and be on
live T.V.
The final three students in
the competition were McKim, Trenton Moore, a sixth
grader from Swayzee Elementary School and Carmela Turner, a sixth grader
from Eastbrook North Elementary School. The trio
competed for several rounds
as they continuously failed
to spell difficult words.
According
to
Chris
The Little Giants Preschool

program will soon be expanding.
Marion
Community
Schools administrators were
notified earlier this week that
the Little Giants Preschool
program was chosen to receive $550,000 over the next
two years in the states Early
Education Matching Grant,
allowing the districts free
preschool program to add five
new classrooms and 155 four
year old students each year
for the next two school years,
more than doubling the number of four year old students
(185) the districts Title I and
Head Start programs currently serve.
Kerri
Wortinger,
See GIANTS / Page A5
Council oks
amended
animal
United Way distributes $350k again in 2016 ordinance
BY SETH HUTCHINS
The United Way of Grant

County recognized donators at their annual meeting
Tuesday night while also
revealing plans for the future.
Director Alicia Hazelwood announced that the
United Way of Grant County has not yet reached its
funding goal of $550,000
for 2016. The Board of Directors has decided, however, to once again make a
community of investment
of $350,000.
The United Way hopes
to see a continued trend of
engagement and giving to
the United Way campaign,
Hazelwood said. The increased investment through
payroll deduction directly
translates to bigger impact
for the community.
United Way funds organizations that include the
American Red Cross, Boys
and Girls Club of Grant
County, Carey Services,
Marions
ONLY
5 STAR
FACILITY
Girl Scouts of Central Indiana, Family service Society,

Grant-Blackford
Mental
Health, Grant County Family YMCA, Grant County
Society for Crippled Children and Adults, MarionGrant County Senior Center, Sagamore Council
-- Boy Scouts of America,
Services for the Visually
and Hearing Impaired, St.
Martin Community Center
and The Salvation Army.
This will be the third year
in a role United Way has al-
See SPELLING / Page A2
located $350,000 for their

yearly community investment in United Way agencies.
The organization also
presented awards to businesses for their contributions to their 2015 funding
campaign. GarCor Supply
Company, an industrial
supply business, received
the Cornerstone Company of the Year award for
showing
outstanding
See 350K / Page A5
BY TYLER JURANOVICH
Marions animal ordinance

is now more friendly to rescued donkeys, horses and
mules.
The Marion Common
Council voted 5-3 to amend
the citys animal ordinance
to allow rescued horses, donkeys and mules to be within
the city limits if the property met specific guidelines.
Voting no were council
See COUNCIL / Page A3
2 YEARS
IN A
ROW!
CHRONICLE-TRIBUNE, MARION, IND.
Blotter
Marion Police
Department
of a minor and sexual misconduct with a minor. He was

being held at the Grant County
4:58 a.m. Monday, 100 block Jail Monday on $30,005 bond.
of N. Nebraska St., ambulance
Tyrone Lemar Neal, 47, last
assist. A woman was found
known address 811 W. First
unresponsive by her boyfriend. St., Marion, attachment. He
The woman did not show any
was being held at the Grant
visual signs of narcotic injecCounty Jail Monday on $2,000
tion. However, she began to
bond.
respond after she was given
William Gene Porter, 46, last
Narcan. She was admitted to
known address 3479 S. 600
MGH and no narcotics were in E., Marion, operating a vehicle
view in the house.
with a BAC of .15 or above.
10:51 a.m. Monday, 2400
She was being held at the
block of S. Nebraska St.,
Grant County Jail Monday on
investigation. A building in the $1,205 bond.
2400 block of S. Nebraska was
Alvin Eugene Brewer, 72, last
damaged by what appears to
known address, 501 N. Wilson
be a tall vehicle.
St., Fairmount, operating while
12:28 p.m. Monday, 3500
intoxicated.
block of S. Boots St., A man
Malik DeMarco Ferguson, 19,
was arrested on a warrant for
contempt.
Valley Ave., Marion, possession
2:59 p.m. Monday, 1000
of a handgun without a license,
block of E. 29th St., theft A
possession of paraphernalia,
PS4 was reported stolen.
marijuana and stolen prop7:52 p.m. Monday, 1700
erty. He was being held at the
block of W. Eighth St., animal
Grant County Jail Tuesday on
problem. A man reported he
$10,005 bond.
was bitten by a friends dog.
Millie Jane Holt, 25, last
The owner of the dog told
known address 2209 S. Dixson
police her dog is current on all Ave., Kokomo, counterfeitshots. Case was forwarded to ing. She was being held at
Animal Care and Control.
the Grant County Jail on $605
8:37 p.m. Monday, 1900
bond.
block of W. 11th St., runaway.
Kimberly Ann Vest, 37, last
A juvenile was reported as a
known address 1816 W. First
runaway by his mother.
St., Marion, possession of
10:48 p.m. Monday, 900
marijuana and neglect of a
block of S. Baldwin Ave., trafdependent. She was being
fic stop. A man was arrested
for possession of marijuana,
Tuesday on $605 bond.
paraphernalia and property
Grant County Jail Count
and unlawful possession of a
firearm.
Male: 236
Arrests
Female: 37
Calan Matthew Kerrigan, 24,
As of 1:13 p.m. Tuesday.
Barclay St., Fairmount, fugitive Juvenile Detention Center
from justice. He was being
Male: 20
without bond.
Female: 4
Aaron Michael Martin, 29,
As of 4:25 p.m. Tuesday.
last known address 1515 W.
Second St., Apt. 3, Marion,
All charges reflect preliminary police
charges.
contributing to a delinquency
Emergencies
Marion Police
Department
Marion; no injuries.
Marion Fire Department
7:30 a.m. Monday, E. 38th

St. near S. Meridian St., onevehicle accident involving
Rhonda K. Lakin, 61, Marion;
no injuries.
11:48 a.m. Monday, Ind.
18 W near S. Butler Ave.,
two-vehicle accident involving
Carolyn J. Roger, 84, Marion
and Chelsae D. Ivis, 23,
Marion; no injuries.
12:30 p.m. Monday, 10 7 S.
Pennsylvania St., two-vehicle
accident involving Sean m.
Harms, 35, Mario, and Janetta
Blakely, Marion; no injuries.
6 p.m. Monday, 4601 S.
Western Ave., two-vehicle
accident involving Jessica E.
Ortega, 19, and Sherry Newlum, 65, Syracuse; no injuries.
6:01 p.m. Monday, Harrison
St. near 43rd St., two-vehicle
accident involving Darice Upchurch, 17, Marion and Titus
L. Smith, Marion: no injuries.
7 p.m. Monday, 1410 S.
Western Ave., two-vehicle accident involving Joseph Tyler
E. Moore, 20, Marion and
Stephanie E. Charlton, 17,
12:45 p.m. Monday, 1823

W. Bradford St., ambulance
assist.
12:55 p.m. Monday, 3746 S.
Prince Hall Drive, ambulance
assist.
8:02 p.m. Monday, intersection of 28th and S. Meridian
St., ambulance assist.
2:32 a.m. Tuesday, 1816 W.
First St., structure fire. Units
were clear at 3:55 a.m.
8:46 a.m. Tuesday, intersection of 34th and Selby,
ambulance assist.
10:39 a.m. Tuesday, 307 N.
Washington St., ambulance
assist.
GIANTS
jumped to 72 percent in February of 2015. Four-year-olds

in the preschool also saw a
significant jump in readiness
for kindergarten with 68 percent being ready in August of
2014 to 92 percent in February of 2015.
Literacy rates in both ages
also increased over the 20142015 school year, from about
30 percent to nearly 90 percent
in three-year-olds to about 45
percent to a little over 70 percent in four-year-olds.
With nearly one-third of
children living in Grant County living in poverty, Marion
Community Schools has often touted its free preschool
program as a way to help disadvantaged children become
better students and decrease
cyclical poverty in the community. Of the 272 total children in the preschools Title I
and Head Start programs, 154
are at or above the 100 percent
federal poverty level.
According to The Indiana
Youth Institute, there are approximately 478 children who
are four years of age living in
poverty in Grant County.
Wortinger said the preschool
will now be able to serve a
large portion of the 478 children that need it the most and
that the program hopes to continue the success it has had
over the next two years.
These children will be
school
ready
children,
Wortinger said about students
after their completion of the
Little Giants Preschool. Its
an exciting time to be able to
give these kids an opportunity.
Continued from A1
coordinator for the Little Giants Preschool, said she was

overwhelmed with thankfulness after receiving the news
the program would receive the
grant.
I still have to continue to
pinch myself and ask Is this
really true? she said.
School administrators just
had six to eight weeks to
put together letters of support, matching funds and the
grant proposal before the Jan.
15, 2016 deadline. The preschool raised $300,000 from
residents with the help from
the Community Foundation
of Grant County and also received a $300,000 donation
from the the school district
itself, making the campaign a
truly community-wide effort.
Marion Community Schools
Superintendent Brad Lindsay
said the expanded preschool
program will be a blessing
for the districts students.
This was a time when a
large group of people came
together to help our most
important asset, which is our
children, Lindsay said. Its
truly a Giant day for our community.
Since the preschool began
in 2014, its students have seen
an increase in both readiness
for kindergarten and literacy,
according to data provided by
the school corporation.
In August of 2014, just 37
percent of three-year-olds in
the preschool were ready for
kindergarten. That percentage
Center Twp. Volunteer

Fire Department
1:46 p.m. Monday, 1513 E.
37th St., Marion, ambulance
assist.
Matthews Volunteer
Fire Department
10:44 a.m. Tuesday, 11991
S. 900 E., Matthews, structure.
Units were clear at 11:23 a.m.
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016 A5
High school mentoring program

transforms students lives
BY STUART HIRSCH
The Herald-Bulletin
ANDERSON As an
Anderson High School
sophomore two years ago,
Leo Williams III had multiple disciplinary referrals,
poor grades, and stood out
in class mostly for his ability to tell funny jokes.
Then, he met Second
Missionary Baptist Church
Pastor William ONeal and
William Young, a church
deacon and former detective
and assistant chief of Anderson Police Department.
The two men had just
founded B.I.G.G., a mentoring program for at-risk kids
like Leo. With support from
Terry Thompson, thenprincipal of Anderson, they
began meeting at the school.
Leo was one of the groups
first 10 participants. After
graduation in June, Leo will
attend the Art Institute of
Indianapolis to begin training as a chef.
Hes the first member
of B.I.G.G., which stands
for Behavior, Influence,
Grades, and Goals, to graduate and attend college.
ONeal and Young both
say Leo has overcome difficult odds to reach this point.
When Leo first came into
the program, he had a very
shy nature. ONeal said
in a recent interview. He
would not make eye contact
with us. He wouldnt ver-
balize many words at that

particular time. Leo had referrals and just was not acting like I believed he could
be acting.
We have watched this
young man transform over
the years to having good
grades, to no longer getting
referrals, and actually being one of the leaders of the
B.I.G.G. program, ONeal
added.
ONeal and Young both
say Leo had to overcome
tremendous odds to become
successful, just as they did
in years past.
We see a lot of us in
them, said ONeal about
the young men he mentors.
I came from a neighborhood that was impoverished
on the east side of Indianapolis. Many people thought I
would not succeed.
I applaud Leo, added
Young. I was one of his
worst critics when we
started because of his shyness. He would shy away
and barely said anything.
He would always smile, but
would never look at you and
that always bothered me.
For 30 years, Ive been
in a profession that deals in
nothing but statistics. Leo
has beaten the odds on those
statistics. Thats why I say
we should applaud Leo.
The youth has lived with
his grandmother, Renae
Lozada, for the past three
years. While she couldnt

divulge details of his difficulties over the years, Lozada indicated theyve been
significant.
To see my 17-year-old
grandson where he is right
now .... There are just no
words to describe how
proud I am of him, she
said.
To see what you have
done, this epitomizes the
village, Lozada said to
ONeal during an interview about the program last
week. The support B.I.G.G.
has provided outside their
home has been a significant
benefit, she added.
I think so many of our
young people dont have
that, or dont know that
(support) is available to
them, she said.
Leo said he first became
interested in cooking a
couple of years ago when
his grandfather was having
back trouble. His grandfather liked the meals and
suggested that becoming a
chef might be a good career.
And its something of a
family business.
One cousin is a chef, and
Leos
great-grandmother
once cooked for Coretta
Scott King and the Rev. Jesse Jackson.
I like people eating my
food, Leo said. It makes
me happy.
ONeal contacted the art
institute on Leos behalf in

February, and the assistant
director of admissions was
so moved by Leos story,
that she invited Leo to the
school for a tour and meal
prepared by students.
It was amazing; the food
was amazing, Leo said.
Initially, Leo will pursue
a two-year associate degree
in culinary arts. When completed hell be able to find a
job if he wants, ONeal said.
Or, Leo can stay in school
and earn a bachelors degree
in culinary management.
We want to make sure
we do all we can to take
this young mans dream of
being a chef and make it a
present day reality, ONeal
said.
From its humble beginning with 10 students three
years ago, B.I.G.G. has expanded to 30 students. Anderson Elementary sponsors
the program and so does
Highland Middle School in
addition to the high school.
Our greatest joy is stories
like this, ONeal said, and
he hopes other students will
be inspired by Leos success.
Seeing boys adopt strong
work habits, good judgment and set positive goals
in their lives is the primary
focal point of the program,
he said.
Leo is simply the trailblazer.
Retailers fear fallout of large employer slashing jobs

BY RON SHAWGO
The Journal Gazette
HUNTINGTON Customers are milling about Rex

Fredericks used bookstore
downtown.
Its been about two weeks
since Frederick and his fiance, Renee Platt, opened
Turn the Page. Judging from
the half-dozen or so people
browsing the shelves, it was
time.
Or, maybe timing could
have been better.
The Huntington bookstore
opened a little more than a
week after an announcement
the city will lose 700 jobs to
Mexico. While Frederick is
confident something else will
come along to replace those
jobs, he said its a little worrisome.
Thats the kind of news
you dont want to hear right
away, he said last week from
behind the stores counter.
You are concerned with the
local economy.
Fewer books bought, fewer
heads styled, fewer restaurant meals eaten. Thats the
concern among some Huntington residents since United Technologies Corp. announced last month it will cut
the jobs within the next two
years. Another 1,400 people
the company employs at Carrier in Indianapolis will also
lose their jobs to Mexico.
State and local agencies
from several northeast Indiana counties met last week
to start coordinating efforts
to offer future job training
and other services to laid-off
workers.
The United Technologies
Electronic Controls plant,
which produces heating, ventilation and air conditioning
equipment, is Huntingtons
350K
Continued from A1
support to the United Way

campaign.
Owner Tim Dailey said
that he had made an effort
to motivate his employees
to donate to United Way so
they could make an impact
on the community. While
he is pleased with the communitys generosity, he believes that more money can
be raised.
The needs in Grant
County far exceed what
we are raising and theres
no reason for it, he said.
To me, the greatest thing
we can do is get to a point
where we are raising a lot
more money.
According to Dailey,
United Ways agencies have
made a positive impact
on Grant Countys culture
by fighting against poverty, drugs and other issues
largest employer. For many,

its decision to move operations is a reminder of more
than 10,500 jobs lost when
International Harvester left
Fort Wayne in the early
1980s. Some know people
who worked for Harvester.
Anytime you lose a company with that many employees, its a blow to any community, said Frederick, who
knew some Harvester workers. We hate to see it happen. Its just the global economy that its cheaper foreign
wages and so forth. Its not
anybodys fault locally. Its
just the way the world is these
days. Its unfortunate.
The lost UTEC workers
represent about 8 percent
of the citys workforce age
16 and older, according to
census figures. Jobs lost at
Harvester represented about
12 percent of Fort Waynes
workers at the time.
Its a blow any way you
look at it, said Bill Gordon,
a retired Huntington attorney.
But a couple of Huntington
industrial parks are full and
unemployment is down, he
noted. While the Huntington city unemployment rate
was unavailable, Huntington
County reported 4.1 percent
unemployment in December,
down from 5.4 percent the
year before. Out of a workforce of 18,729, that means
770 were without jobs.
Harvester was a big loss,
but it didnt say, OK, this
is the end of Fort Wayne.
Its all over,? Gordon said.
It takes some adjustment.
The bad thing is its going to
cause hardships.
While Gordon is also confident that other jobs will come
along, Kari Stephan, owner
of Griffs The Cutting Edge
hair salon, isnt as sure. She

questions whether enough is
being done to lure businesses.
Stephan said she has been
downtown for 20 years and
has seen other businesses
come and go. While there are
several restaurants and new
apartments, she laments the
lack of retail stores.
As a business owner, you
see business dwindling,
people possibly having to
relocate to find work, said
Stephan, whose stepfather
retired from Harvester. I feel
like I dont know how we as
a community can do more.
And who seeks companies
to come to your town? Thats
been a question of mine for a
long time.
About 65 percent of
UTECs workers live in other
counties, a Huntington County official previously told The
Journal Gazette. That leaves
about 245 families living in
the county to deal with layoffs in the coming year.
With less disposable income, it will be harder for
them to go out to eat, which
Lee Bowers notes is his bread
and butter. Bowers, a retired
lawyer and lifelong Huntington resident, owns the
Rusty Dog restaurant, which
opened six years ago downtown. Groups from UTEC
often eat there, Bowers said.
He believes Huntington
will have a harder time, at
least initially, absorbing the
loss of 700 jobs than Fort
Wayne did with the Harvester layoffs. Bowers said
he knows the mayors office
and economic development
officials are working to bring
in business. But regardless of
the UTEC situation, its difficult attracting new companies generally.
I dont really know what

kind of an effect its going to
have in town, he said. Obviously, its going to be detrimental that much income is
leaving. Thats going to impact my business.
Sitting on a bench downtown, Jeff Biddle said his
dad worked at Harvester, and
he has a couple of friends
who work at UTEC. Theyre
upset. One, a 62-year-old
woman, has worked there
seven years, he said. Shes
concerned she wont find a
new job because of her age.
They felt they had a secure
job until they could retire because everything was going
so well, Biddle said. Everybody was excited about
the future, and all of a sudden
they dropped the ball.
While Biddle said the city
could do more to bring in
jobs, Christi Reber, arranging
used purses for a sidewalk
display down the street, believes the city is working hard
to attract other businesses.
I just think its sad theyre
taking all the jobs away and
taking them to Mexico just
because wages are lower,
she said. If you want quality,
keep those jobs in America.
If any store has potential
to increase business in the
coming months, it might be
Dream Center thrift shop,
where Reber volunteers. The
store sells used items. Proceeds go to help people in
the community down on their
luck, she said.
We have people coming in
using our store a lot, Reber
said. So, Im figuring with
UTEC going out that well
get more people coming in
to try and save money and
get different things that they
need.
plaguing the county. They

have also collaborated together in meeting the needs
of families and individuals
in the community.
But agencies have been
struggling to make ends
meet as the needs of the
community rise. Dailey
used St. Martins Community Center as an example,
pointing out that they now
can only afford to open the
food pantry twice a week.
Theres a lot of good
people out there doing what
they feel like are a great job
for United Way, but we need
to do better, he said. I
dont think were getting the
job done as a campaign.
Hazelwood said that they
hope to receive more funds
next year so they can better
meet the needs of the community.
While we believe there is
definitely room for growth
in the campaign to support
stronger families in Grant
County, we believe that

the United Way of Grant
County has created a strong
foundation to begin that
growth, she said.
United Way also gave out
the following awards to
other businesses for their
contribution:
Community Investment
Award for New Donors
Indiana Members Credit Union
Marion Surgical Management
Associated Supply
Lumbertown
Beacon Credit Union
The Mattress Store &
More
Welch Packaging
McClure Oil Company
Webbs Hallmark
3M Company
Grant County Champion
Award for an increased
donation of 50 percent or
more
Star Financial Bank
(774.6percent)
Boys and Girls Club

(400percent)
Peerless
Printing
(250percent)
Marsh Super Market
(150.7percent)
TLC Management
(141.4percent)
IBM (99.6percent)
Mississinewa School
(96.9percent)
Morris
Kelsay
(66.7percent)
Barry Bunker (64.2percent)
First Farmers Bank and
Trust (62percent)
LaSalle St. Securities
(50percent)
Norris Insurance Agency (50percent)
Owens Hardware
(50percent)
State Farm0Dennis
Roach (50 percent)
United Way Herald Award
for having highest increased
donation
The Collins Group
(2,133.3percent)

HSPA Community Service

Загружено:

Сведения о документе

Авторское право

Доступные форматы

Поделиться этим документом

Поделиться или встроить документ

Параметры публикации

Этот документ был вам полезен?

Это неприемлемый материал?

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

HSPA Community Service

Загружено:

Авторское право:

Доступные форматы

Property taxes

LEAGUE BATTLE ON THE COURT

Serving Grant County since 1867.

GAS CITY Tuesdays

can P. David Huffman, and

technology jobs here in

nificant mark on local

Fall Farmer Update

See GAS CITY / Page A7

Call to action on Grant County poverty New Fire

surer; his cousin, Dixie

Discussion of a new fire

PHOTOS BY JEFF MOREHEAD / jmorehead@chronicle-tribune.com

Indiana Youth Institute, local leaders take deeper look at data

Grant County leaders

EXPLAINING DATA: Participants listen as Julie Whitman,

GAS CITY For the first

L.A. writer working in Fairmount

told to write about it. Some

near the Dean legacy inspires my creativity.

groupie in the book Im With the Band, talks about her

DO YOU NEED REHABILITATION SERVICES?

504 N. Bradner Ave. Marion

Thursday, November 5, 2015

firefighters instead of six.

you will have to determine

chronicle-tribune, marion, ind.

off then maybe we might feel

Capital Development Fund,

I would like to be able to

cil moved an ordinance past

Submit your news:

Youve Always Wanted A Sun Room..

Best Deal of the Year. NOW!

FREE INSULATED GLASS UPGRADE!

Imagine being in your own Zimmer Room in just a few weeks!

Enjoy your hobby

Work out at home

Relax and enjoy

Create a home office

Party in your hot tub

GET THE FREE UPGRADE!

US 24 & Broadway Huntington

LEAGUE SEMIFINAL BATTLE

Serving Grant County since 1867.

Notre Dame student

Police investigate armed robberies

Stefanatos of the Marion Police Department said.

riod of the year were the city

before 9 a.m. Wednesday

Hunting season kicks off

er to, again, tell the suspect to

mon animal people have

See HUNTING / Page A6

See GRANTS / Page A8

JEFF MOREHEAD / jmorehead@chronicle-tribune.com

the archery hunting season

of state residents, he said.

Instructor surprised with national award

When Sgt. Major Jon Smith

Instructor David Farlow.

See AWARD / Page A6

We Care Every Day In Every Way

Skilled Nursing Care