Year End Review 2008

Flood disaster hits county

Editor's note: This week's year end review highlights the first six months of 2008 from stories printed in the Comet. The second half of 2008 will appear in next week's issue.

Jan. 2 - The results of the "Strategic Directions" marketing study for Carroll County will be presented Jan. 9 in Delphi by marketing specialists Dick Heupel and Bob St. Claire. They will share an assessment of the county and offer recommendations to help the county move forward….. An objection to the issuance of a discharge elimination system for Optima Dairy in Liberty Township has been filed before the Indiana Office of Environmental Adjudication…..Oracle wrestler Braden Atwood went undefeated in the North Mont Super Duals. He was champion of the 160-pound weight class.

Jan. 9 - A flood disaster hit Carroll County Jan. 8 along the Tippecanoe River below the Oakdale Dam. The American Red Cross established an evacuation center at the First Presbyterian Church in Delphi….. Carroll County Council members voted to install five-year member Nancy S. Cripe as president….Flora town officials voted Monday night to again partially fund employee health savings accounts.

Cougar Blues perform in New York City

Jan. 16 - According to a data sheet provided by Carroll County Emergency Management Agency Director Dave McDowell, at least 330 Carroll County homes were destroyed and 30 suffered major damage in last week's devastating flood…The Delphi Oracles successfully defended their title at the Hoosier Conference wrestling tournament. All 14 wrestlers placed and 11 were in the finals….. Carroll's varsity swim teams both won first place honors in the Hoosier Heartland Conference Meet…..Flora's Family Restaurant, owned by Nick Ferati and Ashley Sales, has opened at 206 N. Sycamore Street (SR 75N), at the west edge of Flora.

Jan. 23 - Regina Kennedy of Burlington is the third Hoosier Lottery millionaire of the year…..Congressman Joe Donnelly met with county leaders and residents of Tecumseh Bend on Sunday afternoon to assess the flood damage and advise of relief efforts underway…..Alloy Custom Products and its employees raised and donated more than $14,000 to provide assistance to military family members or recently returned veterans in the local community….. The FFA Dairy judging team at Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School has been invited to compete at the Royal Highland Show in Scotland. Team members are Chandler Keown, Malena Zook, Sarah Griffin, and Jill Griffin…..Delphi's JV boys basketball team won the White County Tourney, defeating Frontier 38-18 in the championship game…..Indiana Packers Corporation donated $10,000 to Carroll County's Senior and Family Services to help with its critical financial needs.

Local '8,000 Drums Across the World' event held at Deer Creek Park

Jan. 30 - Washington Township farmer Dave Minich of Minich-May Family Farms has been named Top Producer of the Year by Top Producer magazine. The award recognizes him as one of the top farm managers in the nation…..Over the next few years, new trailside interactive exhibits will begin to pop up along Delphi's Historic Trails…..The Delphi Oracles won the Lafayette Wrestling Sectional. Senior Donovan Alderman remains undefeated in the 119-pound weight class.

Log jam on Wildcat Creek at north edge of Burlington gets attention

Feb. 6 - Commissioners declare emergency for flooding again. Emergency Management Director Dave McDowell stated that the residents along the Tippecanoe River are urged to leave their homes in flood-prone areas due to more rain and snow…Norm Miller is the 27th recipient of the Samuel Milroy Award…Delphi Public Library employee Sara Daly-Brosman was presented the 2007 Make a Difference Award for her diverse methods of education…Delphi Main Street and the Delphi Preservation Society will host a public meeting on the nomination of the Delphi Courthouse Square District to the National Register of Historic District…The Oracles wrestling team won its first regional title ever by defeating Winamac and Harrison… John Wayne Rieken, a 2000 graduate of Carroll High School and loyal Colts fan, received a package of Colts memorabilia from owner Jim Irsay and the team. He was a former Carroll football player and was paralyzed during a dirt bike accident his senior year.

Hog Jog competitor Hannah Evans passes 4-mile mark

Feb. 13 - Residents of Horseshoe Bend wait patiently for the county highway department to haul away piles of flood-ravaged debris… Former Carroll County resident Amanda Overmyer is in the top 24 to be the next American Idol….Flood victims received donated items from Paramount Studios in California thanks to Dan Mc- Cain's daughter, Ginger Mc- Cain and her co-workers….Delphi Community School Corporation hosted another tour and public forum to show plans to renovate many of its physical assets….Carroll Elementary sixth graders kept in touch with local serviceman Jason Cree while he was in Afghanistan…Rural Carroll County resident Larry Welborn received the title of Distinguished Hoosier during the Carroll County Soil & Water Conservation District Annual meeting…..Congressman Joe Donnelly visited the Delphi location of the FEMA Disaster Recovery Center….DCHS wrestlers Donovan Alderman and Braden Atwood were semi-state champions, advancing to the state wrestling finals…Carroll girl's varsity basketball team wins Sectional… Delphi Ag teacher Beth Theobald received the Teacher Mentor Award.

Feb. 20 - Janet Ayres of Delphi received the Friend of Conservation Award from the National Association of Conservation Districts at their annual conference…Brian and Judy Stirm purchase a SMART car in Indianapolis. The car averages 40.7 miles per gallon…Brosman's IGA will close its doors as of March 2, after serving the community for many years….Andrew Burton won the sectional swim titles in the 50 and 100 freestyle events.

Feb. 27 - Dr. Lawrence "Doc" Stauffer was presented the Veterinarian of the Year Award during the Indiana Veterinary Medical Association's 124th annual meeting… Carroll County YMCA offers ballroom dancing lessons to area couples….Delphi Community High School students prepare for their interviews with MTV's "Made" reality series…Indiana Dept. of Local Government Finance recommends the Carroll County Council reduce the county budget to $5 million for 2008…Kylie Wagoner of Bringhurst recently served as a page for State Senator Brand Hershman.

March 5 - Members of the Canal Association are building a replica of a canal boat as a piece of playground equipment at Canal Park for kids to explore….Fifty farmers and agribusiness persons came together March 1 to form the Carroll County Agriculture Association… The Indiana Dept. of Child Services held a ribbon cutting and open house at its newly renovated office…Delphi Mayor Randy Strasser told city council members the city could experience a $400,000 decrease in property tax revenue…Delphi defeated Carroll in the Battle of the Books competition… Carroll boys basketball team won its first-ever sectional title…Carroll County will continue to deal with flooding due to weather conditions…. Indiana State Bar Association offers free legal services to flood victims from Carroll, Cass, Tippecanoe and White counties…Emergency Management Director Dave McDowell led a question and answer forum between public officials and flood victims… Morgan RV Resorts has acquired Indiana Beach Amusement Resort on Lake Shaffer in Monticello…. Carroll County Area Plan Commission named Kathy Mylet as the new zoning administrator… Carroll County's Economic Development Corporation was formed 20 years ago to improve and diversify the county's economy and tax base via retention and attraction of business.

March 12 - Amanda Overmyer makes the Top 12 of American Idol…Delphi Community School Corporation is resolved to spend $20 million on school construction projects…The Carroll County Council hires Umbaugh and Associates as financial consultant… Leadership Carroll County Class of 2008 graduated its third class, now totaling 85 graduates…Kurt Koehler won first place in a competition which makes it easier to produce, store and transport hydrogen gas as an alternative fuel…Local resident Andrew Cougill was appointed to the board of directors of the Delphi Airport…After five years, the last Cheryl Miller 5K Walk for Ovarian Cancer was held…DCHS students audition for MTV's Daytime Emmy Award-winning TV series "Made."

March 19 - The Jack Sanders Delphi Art Show is scaled back in Delphi…Burlington is close to clearing up grant problems… At a special meeting the Flora Town Council approved a water rate study…Ten years ago the Delphi City Park Board applied for a $100,000 grant to fund the construction of the Canal Interpretive Center in Delphi…Long-time Delphi business, Teddy's Emporium, will close doors for good as of April 30…Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School broadcasts its own TV show every Friday… Wilbur Jones, John Mc- Cain and Samuel Moffit are inducted into the Ag Hall of Fame.

March 26 - Department of Local Government Finance stunned the County Council when they were told financial data supplied was incorrect… Area Plan increased building permit fees….County residents affected by flooding question how Oakdale Dam could have been used to lessen the damage…Shane Evans of Delphi was awarded honorable rank of Eagle Scout…Carroll narrowly won the Junior Battle of the Books…Fourth graders from Carroll Elementary opened a wax museum of famous Hoosiers to visitors March 21…Griffin's Service Center in Flora will have its grand opening on April 1…A dozen students asked questions at the annual joint meeting of the Carroll School Board and the Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School Student Council…Carroll and Delphi fourth graders experienced rural life during Carroll County Ag Day at the Delphi Armory.

April 2 - One hundred fifty employees of Delphi's Peters-Revington Furniture factory, the county's second largest company, will lose their jobs by the end of May…There will be no FEMA money for county flood clean-up…Tony and Denise Dowden of Burlington know the joys and frustrations of raising an autistic child…The Town of Flora and Midland Meals are taking over operation of the Flora Senior Center as of May 5…Shane Evans of Delphi Community High School and Kristen Arnett of Carroll Jr.- Sr. High School were named the county's DAR Good Citizens.

April 9 - NIPSCO submits a dam analysis to the Federal Energy Regulatory Comission. Report states dams should remain run-ofriver… DCHS senior Kylee German and CJSHS senior Angela Jackson received full college tuition scholarships as Lilly Scholars, chosen by the Carroll County Community Foundation… Carroll County Council met twice last week in an attempt to develop a budget to stop constant overspending of projected income by department heads…The canal boat replica is taking shape at Canal Park.

April 16 - 1979 Carroll graduate Bob Morrison presented a copy of his book, "Ashes to Ashes: 911" to the high school library…The Carousel in Burlington is under new management. The new owner is Casie Trent of Bringhurst….The City of Delphi is awarded a Growth Award for its high standard of urban forestry management.... A local resident wants the town of Burlington to purchase a van to transport senior citizens…. Duke Energy presented a $30,000 check to the Wabash & Erie Canal Association for construction of a mule barn…Carroll High School's Cougar Blues performed in New York City and toured the city…People are expressing concern about billboards threatening scenic appeal in and around Carroll County.

April 23 - Carroll County residents express outrage at county commissioners meeting that a third dairy planned for the county is slated for construction…First Step Preschool in Flora held a Trike- A-Thon to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital… EMA Director Dave McDowell teams up with Delphi United Methodist Church to help residents of Horseshoe Bend recover from flood damages…Commissioner George Mear's seat is challenged by Pat Clawson… A petition was filed against Delphi Community School Corporation's $20 million renovation project…Highways between Delphi, Monticello, and Brookston will become a "T" intersection.

April 30 - Judges Jeffrey Smith and Donald Currie inform the county council that they will issue a mandate to reinstate the latest budget reductions for their courts and the joint courts…FEMA grants flood assistance to Carroll County…Sheriff's Deputy Sgt. Mark Back will retire from the force May 3 to further his education….Canal Earth Day was held near Carrollton Bridge interpretive site…Camp Tecumseh offers YMCA Day Camp for 35th year….Delphi middle school students plant 400 trees at Water Tower Place in Delphi… The Carroll County Country Club re-opens under the ownership of Tom and Susan Riehle of Lafayette…..DCHS science students take part in Rivers and Streams Field Day along the trails.

May 7 - Delphi resident Patrick F. Clawson gets the Republican nod for Carroll County Commissioner…. Fifty acres of farmland along Wildcat Creek in Carroll County will become a recreational wetland park called Oxbow Natural Area….Delphi City Council will pursue a grant to construct sidewalks and bicycle paths on Armory Road…"Storm Spotters" training was held May 14 at DCHS…..Mike Hyman's fifth grade class at Carroll Elementary won first place in the state in the Stock Market Game competition…Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School's math teach won the Hoosier Heartland Conference math contest… Students from CJSHS traveled to Louisiana over spring break to help victims from hurricane Katrina…Dr. Scott A. Miller has joined Norman Eye Care Ltd. in Delphi.

May 14 - Carroll County judges are using a "blog" to plead their case to gain funding for their budget….Delphi School Corp. Board of Trustees decide to take time to think about $20 million proposal…As of July 1 township trustees across the state will no longer do assessments… Delphi Main Street holds call-out meeting to discuss a farmer's market…Steve and Linda Carroll of Delphi received an unexpected invitation to meet Barack Obama and his wife in Kempton….DCHS team takes first place at Academic Super Bowl.

May 21 - To avoid mandate, attorney Jim Huffer helps county and judges negotiate reduction in 2008 budget…Towns of Camden and Yeoman receive Community Focus Fund grants…. Delphi resident Jenny Maxwell receives the Crystal Apple Award for teaching excellence… Melissa Jones of Delphi won the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs' Rural Matters photo contest with picture of Adam Mills…DCES teacher Cheryl Natterman and DCMS teacher Tim Alwine are awarded plaques for their efforts to raise money for the American Heart Association… State funds are approved to complete dredging of Lakes Shafer and Freeman.

May 28 - Kylee German and Shane Evans are named DCHS valedictorian and salutatorian…Carroll's valedictorians are Angel Jackson, Aurora Shands and Morgan Yoder, while Krystal Brazel and Kara Overholser are salutatorians…. County leaders meet with IDEM about the Twin Lakes Regional Sewer District….Judge Donald Currie receives public admonition for Class B misdemeanor…Carroll County Council inks formal agreement with judges to avoid mandate….Lorene Sandifur speaks to group of Carroll County community leaders to educate them on how tobacco companies target young girls….DCHS teacher Laurie Kinzie was named teacher of the year by the Delphi Lions Club…Delphi Girls Softball Team won the Sectional title…..Martin Seese of Delphi is among National Merit Scholarship winners.

June 4 - A Yeoman couple raises awareness for parents of autistic children and want to start local chapter of the Autism Society of America in Carroll County…..Carroll County Council is split on bill paying vote, fund stability versus no loan interest….Former Carroll County Deputy Jason Dunning, terminated due to county budget reductions, is sworn in as part-time fill-in officer…Mary Jo Redman is the new Flora Senior Center site director…The new canal boat playground is dedicated in Delphi at Canal Park…The DCHS baseball team won its first ever Class 2A Sectional championship… Delphi Community Schools Education Foundation present three classroom grants…Carroll County's first all-girl soccer team i8s the Blurr….Delphi Farmers' Market will start June 18 and continue every Wednesday through the summer…..Paul "Gob" Wray of Delphi was named new commander of Delphi VFS Post 9383.

June 11 - DCSC Superintendent Ralph Walker is ecommending the corporation purchase 15 acres of land south of the high school….Town of Flora approves purchase of two properties owned by John and Margaret Grubb…The committee appointed by the Area Plan Commission to oversee comprehensive land use plan continues to refine the plan…Swift Enterprises Ltd. presents proposal to establish an alternative fuel production plant at the Delphi Airport… Patrons and voters file petition against $20 million DCSC building project…30th Annual Hog Jog is Saturday in Flora, while Heritage Transportation Festival is this weekend in Delphi…Carroll Superintendent John Sayers was installed vice president of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents.

June 18 - To control county spending, the county Council will reduce personnel expenses through workforce numbers by attrition…Commissioners approve the sheriff's department to accept private citizens donations… Sheriff Tony Burns receives funds after placing claims to the Indiana Dept. of Correction for housing DOC transition prisoners…A log jam on Wildcat Creek at the north edge of Burlington is finally being removed… CJSHS students Seth Larimore and Kevin Knaus collect food for homeless veterans…. Lockport Church members form Carroll Manor Friends organization….Delphi Preservation Society presents four recognition awards at its annual meeting…The Town of Camden officially receives a Community Focus Fund grant in the amount of $525,000 for its wastewater project…Delphi resident Gloria Sterrett is published in "Water Cooler Diaries"….Kyle Wallace of Burlington wins 10K Hog Jog race…DCSC hosts first annual Literacy Academy at DCHS for 40 local teachers and 150 more from central and northern Indiana public schools

June 25 - Carroll County REMC members voted no to stop the process of merging White and Carroll County Cooperatives…Dave Lambert, president of Carroll County Pork Producers, announces the organization has dissolved but traditions will be carried on through the Carroll County Agriculture Association…Carroll School Board voted to approve a two percent raise in administrator's salaries and a two-year extension of contracts…. Delphi Farmers' Market opens with three vendors but Main Street members are enthusiastic about future market days….DCES students to become part of history by signing "Space Day" posters to be flown in space later in the year….Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Suellen Reed stopped in Delphi to observe how local school solves funding problems and continue to provide needed classes…Burlington Township Volunteer Fire Dept. donates its 1978 pumper truck to Camp Tecumseh YMCA.