Tigers Overcome Vs. Warriors

Even at full strength, Warsaw coach Troy Akers knew he would have a battle with Wawasee in the Northern Lakes Conference opener for both boys' track teams Tuesday at Fisher Field. But without two key runners, Akers was hoping for some unexpected help.He got just that from some of his younger athletes. Sophomore Jose Esquivel, along with freshmen Marvin Farmer and Aaron Chabot, came up big for the Tigers in a 77-55 win over the Warriors. Warsaw was already without the services of sprinter Derrick Duncan, who is still nursing a sore hamstring.But then, after only one race, middle distance star P.J.Wiley came up with a calf injury, putting more strain on Akers' young Tigers. It was a challenge they were up to as Esquivel won two events, Farmer led a Warsaw domination in the field events, and Chabot lifted the Tigers early.

Elkhart Central Glides To First Place In Truex

Warsaw hosted the 16th annual Max Truex Invitational featuring some of the most talented track and field athletes in the state on Friday night, and as expected, the cream rose to the top. The No.1 team in the state, Elkhart Central, placed first with 155 points.Concordia, ranked No.16 in the state, placed second with 113 points.Surprisingly, however, Warsaw had an exceptional meet, placing sixth out of the eight teams. The Max Truex Invitational is scored differently than the typical meet.Named for the Olympian from Warsaw who set the national high school record in the mile run in 1954, the meet emphasizes the entire team.Each of the eight schools place two members in each event.The time, leap or throw of those two members are then added up to get a total.Then each team is scored accordingly.

Disposition Of Murder Case Disappointing

There were various levels of disappointment for me in the case of the murder of Kathy Vroman. First of all, I was upset that someone was murdered in Milford.I suppose there is a certain level of naivet that goes with living in a small town like Milford. You know, the "it can't happen here syndrome."But that is precisely why most people choose to live in a small town. I could have worked in a bigger town at a bigger newspaper.Actually, I had that opportunity.But I wanted to live in a small town because I think it's safer and more neighborly and a better place to raise kids. So it was pretty upsetting to hear that a woman in Milford was shot a couple times in the head, transported to Michigan and dumped in the snow. Bad enough as the murder was, even more disappointing to me was the adjudication of the case. It's no joke.It's no clich.In Kosciusko County, somebody got away with murder.

On The Court Basketball Previews

Tigers Walk To Win

Craig Helfrich doubled as a spin doctor this week. He had his regular duties of coaching Warsaw's softball team on the field in the sectional.Off the field, he had to persuade his players they could beat sectional heavyweight 23-5-1 Elkhart Memorial. So Helfrich created a bunker mentality for his team.Us against the world.Nobody is giving us respect.Nobody believes we can beat Elkhart Memorial.Prove the doubters wrong. Publicly, Helfrich mentioned often how everyone already had handed Elkhart Memorial the sectional title.Privately, he told his players they had a good chance to knock off Memorial. Warsaw, now 19-11, stunned the heavyweight with a 2-1 win in Tuesday's second-round game.

Stanley Homer Sends Warsaw Home With Win

ELKHART -ÊWhen it comes to good timing, Warsaw's Joe Stanley has it. Stanley, a senior co-captain of the baseball team, hit his first home run of the season Monday in the Elkhart Memorial Sectional.However, his home run was not just special because it was his first of the season. Stanley's home run was special because it came on the first pitch of the bottom of the 10th inning to end Warsaw's four-inning standoff with Elkhart Central and win the game for the Tigers 7-6. "I was just hoping it would stay fair," said Stanley."At first I thought it was going foul, but it stayed in." "Joe's hit three or four that went foul this season, and I was a little nervous on this one," said Warsaw coach Will Shepherd."As a senior co-captain, he was very deserving of having a play like that, especially in a big sectional game for us." Warsaw jumped out to an early lead against the Blue Blazers by scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning.

34-Year Mail Career Drawing To A Close

He knew the German shepherd was a contender, a detester of men in uniforms.There is a certain look in a dog's eye the seasoned mail carrier comes to recognize. John W.Davis Jr.wasn't necessarily afraid of the shepherd, especially since his owner had the beast firmly by the collar as they conversed. It was the unseen menace that nailed the mailman.The little mutt came flying out of the crack in the door, latched onto his leg a good one and wouldn't let loose of his pant leg after the dirty deed was done.

Warsaw Set To Evaluate Haworth

Dr.Robert Haworth has been on the job as Warsaw Schools' superintendent only six months, but his first evaluation is already due. Monday, Haworth offered the school board two options to prepare his evaluation.He said the board could prepare the evaluations and submit them to school board president Ron Yeiter and he could prepare a report, or each board member could give their evaluations to Haworth himself.He asked that the evaluations be completed by Dec.18. Evaluations of other Warsaw administrators will be conducted in the upcoming year. Dan Robinson, school board vice president, said he wanted to do it both ways.He said he wants evaluations to go to Yeiter for an overall report, but also to be given to Haworth so that he can see each evaluation.

Hands Of Hope

"Thy way, O God, is holy.What god is great like our God? Thou art the God who workest wonders, who hast manifested thy might among the peoples." - Psalm 77:13-14 Dr.Gary Pitts knows about miracles.He's witnessing it happen right before his eyes. Last year, Pitts brought Cristina Macario Morales from Chiqua Dos, Guatemala, to Warsaw to have surgery because she had spina bifida.He met her in her village while he was on a missionary trip.Morales underwent the surgery in April and returned home in August.

Fribley Field Dedication Held Sunday

Not a cloud hovered in the sky Sunday as the sun shone brightly down on the Fribley Field dedication ceremony. Hundreds of people were in attendance, including state and national dignitaries. The field, at Richardson-DuBois Park, Warsaw, will be home to the Young Tiger Football program and is named for Marine Lance Cpl.David Fribley, a former football player and a 1996 Warsaw Community High School graduate.Fribley, 26, was one of 18 Marines killed March 23, 2003, near An Nasiriyah Iraq.Fribley was the first Hoosier to die in combat in Operation Iraqi Freedom. For David's father Garry, the ceremony meant more than words can say. "I'm just ecstatic," Garry said after the hour-long ceremony."Words can't say enough to say thank you.This community is just unbelievable." When a drastic event happens, everyone in the community pulls together.That makes this community special, Garry said, and more communities could learn to be just like it.

Valley Hears Report On ISTEP Results

BURKET - Tippecanoe Valley School Board members expressed frustration at ISTEP numbers, in both what they do and don't represent, at Monday night's meeting.

Triton Suffers First Loss

ROCHESTER - Entering Tuesday's game at Rochester among just four undefeated teams in the state, Triton High School's varsity boys basketball team left Fulton County with its first blemish of the season.

Warsaw Boys Open With Win

AKRON - On a night Tippecanoe Valley's varsity boys basketball team opened the season without senior starter Chad Hoffer, freshman Nic Moore made quite a debut for Kosciusko County rival Warsaw.

Triton Fans Excited

BOURBON - After winning four of five sectional titles between 1999 and 2003, the Triton Trojans have the Bourbon community all abuzz again.

Wawasee Girls Win Sectional Title

ANGOLA - Brennan McAdams went 6 of 6 from the free throw line in the fourth quarter to lift Wawasee's girls basketball team past Northern Lakes Conference foe Northridge 36-30 Saturday in the championship game of the Angola Sectional.

Big Brothers/Big Sisters Hosts Car Show

Several local businesses and individuals are teaming up with Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Cruisin' Hoosiers to present the 15th Annual Big Brothers/Big Sisters and Cruisin' Hoosiers Car and Truck Show.The event takes place today from 2 to 9 p.m.at Petro's GM Showplace, north of Warsaw on Ind.15.Admission is free. "The community is coming together to raise money and have a good time," Art Gakstatter, Warsaw, said.Gakstatter is a member of the board of directors for the Cruisin' Hoosiers, as well as a member of the board of directors for the Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club and Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northern Indiana. Gakstatter encourages anyone who enjoys cars, trucks, music, contests and food to come out to the annual car and truck show.In addition to lots of vehicles, there will be live entertainment, a disc jockey and more than $4,500 in prizes.

Pilot Program Improves Pierceton School

PIERCETON - While most school corporations throughout the state just began dealing with Public Law 221 in the past year, Pierceton Elementary School is a little ahead of the game. Monday, Title I Resource teacher Patti Goldsmith gave a report to the Whitko Community School Corp.Board of School Trustees on the new writing initiative, staff training and data utilization to improve student achievement at Pierceton. She said approximately two years ago, Pierceton was asked to become a part of a the pilot program Target Assistance Schools with the Title I Division of the State.It allowed the school to begin its school improvement plan before the school even knew about PL 221. A needs assessment was conducted and from that, the needs list was prioritized with writing being the first priority.Goal two become language arts and goal three is parental involvement.The school is now entering its third year with the program.

More Lake Regulations May Be On The Way

Are more regulations needed to restrict organized activities on waterways in Indiana? With the so-called "Home Rule Lake Legislation," the means for people to get restrictions put on organized activities on waterways such as Lake Wawasee or Tippecanoe will be in place once the law takes effect. The final hearing for the legislation is in late August, according to Steve Roth, Indiana Department of Natural Resources property manager of Tri-County Fish & Wildlife Area.The legislation, if approved, will probably be in effect next year, he said. Roth said the DNR is neutral on the legislation, but if approved, they will abide by it.

Lake City Skiers Place 3rd At Michigan State Invitational

DETROIT, Mich.- Several more accolades were handed out to the Lake City Skiers last weekend. At the 2002 Michigan State Show Ski Championship Saturday and Sunday in Detroit, the team won third place. "It was a good show," said show director Kevin Hayes."I think we'll peak at nationals (Sunday)." Club president Randy Patrick said, "We were disappointed with our performance at (the) Michigan Invitational.We expect to do much better and are capable of doing better and will do better at nationals." Lake City Skiers received 1,608 points for third place.In second was the show ski team from Silver Lake, Mich., with 1,621 points, and Spray Masters, also a Michigan team, received 1,718 points for first.Coming in fourth was the team from Chippewa Lake, Ohio, while Team Aquatics and Syracuse's Ski Fun-atics tied for fifth with 1,320 points apiece.

'South Pacific' Makes A Beautiful Destination

As this year's Wagon Wheel Theatre summer season continues, there's one thought that keeps coming back to me. Regardless of the play, this year's acting company is truly an amazing professional bunch. And when you put this mesmerizing troupe into a truly American play such as "South Pacific," throw in some detailed scenery, put the actors in the appropriate garb and let director Roy Hine have his way with it - sit back and prepare yourself for a treat. Set on two islands in the Pacific during World War II, the story builds around two primary relationships.First, there's the romantic relationship between Navy nurse Ensign Nellie Forbush (Jennifer Dow) from Little Rock, Ark., and the older French planter, Emile de Becque (Robert Joseph Miller).A second love pairing involves Lt.Joseph Cable (Jeremy D.Cohen) and young native girl Liat (Vivian Chiu).