The LaPorte High School Winter Color Guard opened its 2014 season by taking first place at the Midwest Color Guard Circuit (MWCGC) Contest at Lincoln-Way East High School in Frankfort, IL, on Feb. 9, 2014.

Complete Scholastic A class results were as follows:

LaPorte 68.68

Plainfield 67.62

Lockport 63.35

Lincoln-Way North 58.02

Carl Sandburg 57.52

Lincoln-Way Central 57.35

Lincoln-Way East 55.02

The next contest for the LPHS Winter Guard will be at the MWCGC Contest at Downers Grove South High School in Downers Grove, IL, on Feb. 16.

Here are the Kesling Middle School honor rolls for Grade Period 2 in the 2013-14 school year:

PRINCIPAL’S HONOR ROLL

6th grade

Alyse Ames, Margaret Applegarth, Jory Bales, John Barron, Imanol Chavez, Anthony Conley, Kyle Creager, Dominic Diaz, Jamie Ellis, Mya Fegaras, Hailey Joseph, Abigail Kemiel, Jackson Langford, Kynsey Lyles, Mariah Marshall, Amber Marx, Nicholas Moser, Aries Moyer, Alexis Ochoa, Tristen Poe, Olivia Strieter, Genevieve Tucker, Averee Tuholski

7th grade

David Applegarth, Tyler Benn, Reilly Briggs, Samantha Cernel, Jocelynn Coleman, Audrianna Diaz, Joseph Didion, Hayley Doll, Emerson Easton, Kaitlyn Freel, Rachel Gerick, Katelyn Hudson, Aubrey James, Lance Johnson, Kaitlyn Kazmierzak, Jennifer Kievert, Caleb Kirkham, Jacqueline Kogut, Kirsten Lambert, Tiffany Lin, Trent Lipsett, Grace Miller, Jacob Nichols, Areonna Oberle, Riley Ott, Joshua Pear, Kali Podgorski, Abigail Roberts, Emily Samuelson, Gillian Santana, Jacob Spence, Scott Strand Jr., Natalie Tuholski

8th grade

Isabella Applegarth, Brittany Baxley, Paige Berget, Austin Casto, Arianna Cooley, Bryn Cothran, Lefteri Fegaras, Jordan Forney, Emily Gesino, Kelsey Henry, Keeley Higley, Tricia Kresel, Molly Kubaszyk, Kasandra Kubit, Corrine Lawrence, Emily Lipsett, Lauren Lukac, Sarah McGuire, Katelyn McIntosh, Madeleine Nunn, Janelle O’Neal, Andrew Osborn, Maggie Schuster, Grant Seaburg, Katerina Shuble, Ryan Steder, Alexander Swanson, Grace Tarnow, Maureen Troy, Autumn Woodard, Morgan Yeater

HONOR ROLL

6th grade

Skyler Ahlberg, Hunter Banic, Jacey Bean, Brock Berget, Taya Berry, Todd Binder, Caleb Blair, Kalia Brown, Travis Bryan, Tyler Cadwell, Laura Camarillo, Jessica Campbell, Jessica Cannan, Grant Collins, Nicole Collins, Isabelle Davis, Kiara Dukes, Grace Dunlap, Hailey Elkins, Arianna Fisher, Jacob Fontaine, Joslynn Funnell, Emily Galloway, Rafael Gamez, Jasmine Garcia, Kylee Giggy, Casey Gunter, Dezirae Hall, Cade Hendrickson, Parker Hill, Maxwell Holmes, Meagan Hrivnak, Olivia Huff, Amber Jackson, Alizabeth Jirtle, Erin Johnson, Allison Jones, Mason Jones, Ian Jongkind, Morgan Keen, Brianna Keller, Cameron Kizer, Matthew Knouse, Drew Kubaszyk, Kiara Landrum, Gabrielle Latchford, Rayshonda Lawson, Shelby Linn, Karson Long, Nathan Lukac, Lucero Luna, Brianna Marroquin, Anna Marshall, Fatima Martinez Perez, Jennie Martinez, Morelia Martinez, Kaylee Marvel, Kylee Matzke, Morgan McLalin, Tommy Moore, Riley Moran, Mauro Munoz Sosa, David Munoz, PuaLani Naue, Payton Neely, Tyson Nisley, Justin Ohime, Garrott Ott-Large, Megan Owen, Victoria Payton, Prysilla Perez, Madelyn Ponsier, Olivia Powell, Grace Richie, Peter Rokowski, Michael Sacks, Jackson Schable, Aubrey Schnick, Arlaux Schultz, Cristian Silva, Connor Stalbaum, Amanda Swanson, April Tallant, Brea Taulbee, Ja’Quantis Tucker, Anthony Vazquez, Ymunique Wade, Benjamin Wakeman, Mallory Warner, Carissa Webb, Karissa Wolfenbarger, Lilly Yerington

7th grade

James Alexander, Owen Ames, Jesus Andres Jr, Clae Antrim, Christopher Atkinson, Robert Bachman Jr., Owen Barsic, Mateo Bartra, Andrea Batchelor, Madeline Berg, Payton Berg, Courtney Blake, Nicole Bohling, Keatyn Boren, Brittney Bradford, Samuel Brooks, Audrey Cable, Luis Campos, Emma Carson, Riley Cave, Emily Chadwick, Gabriel Chavez, Yamile Chavez, Jeffery Cooper, Katrina Cooper, Hailey Coulter, Kendall Couvillion, Sebastian Cummins, Jessie Daniel, Jacob Day, Malia Dukes, Michael Easley, Nicholas Ferrell, Andrea Franklin, James Freel, Savannah Galaviz, Astrid Gamez, Lluvia Garcia, Wade Garrett, Aubrey Gierke, Dylan Grace, Devin Green, Destaney Greensides, Erin Hayman, Luke Helmken, William Herren III, Faith Hewitt, Seth Hill, Carley Hobbs, Emma Hobby, Hannah Hoke, SaVanna Hurt, Winter Jackson, Sabrina Kautz, Michelle Kazmierzak, Jonathon Kibble, Lexie Kirby, Mathew Koehn, Eliska Krobotova, Sydney Krueger, Caleb Kuzdas, Hunter Lefeber, Aranza Leon, Zachary Levenhagen, Shelby Lewis, Alejandro Lopez, Kristen Luce, Julian Luna, Eve Marshall, Luz Martinez, Brant Maudlin, Sarah McCormick, Lyric McFarrin, Caden McShane, Alyvia Messer, Ethan Mikowski, Brittany Miller, Edie-Lynn Miller, Richard Minor, Jesse Moore, Juliann Moyer, Sydnee Murphy, Jennifer Narvaez, Mackenzie Nehl, Conner Nelson, Conner Nelson, Brooke Nepsha, Kyle Nix, Thomas Noble, Robert O’Donnell III, Brianna Parker, Sonia Pedraza, Andrea Perez, Noah Perez, Rachel Porter, Jaden Redweik, Megan Reed, Kyle Rogers, Cristina Romo, Kandice Scheffer, Connor Schell, Katie Schoof, Brandon Seibert, Alaura Shuble, Blake Sorenson, MacKenzie Stallworth, Alexandria Stone, Ryne Stormer, Chase Summerlin, Evan Tabler, Jeanette Tanksley, Jayton Taylor, Austin Terusiak, Jimena Torres, Brandon Travis, Joshua Trim Jr., Chad Trobaugh II, Allison Varda, Akash Vyas, Jacob Waggoner, Karley Wajda, Andrew Walma, Haley Walters, Terry White Jr, Jada Wiles, Jacob Willis, Kyla Yakel, Kathryn Yeaney, Miranda Yon

8th grade

John Alexander, Katlin Alexander, Claudia Allen, Chandler Banic, Cassandra Bartley, Kaylee Beckingham, Jack Boardman, Noah Bonilla Cavitt, Ashley Boyan, Blake Braddy, Joshua Brown, Katherine Bye, Gwendolyn Cable, Zachery Cooper, Lukas Couch, Kelsey Creager, Shelbi Daily, Jacquelyn Detterline, Alexia Douglas, Dylan Downs, Jordan Downs, Zoe Dunlap, Tyler Eggert, Haley Fairchild, Rachael Fickel, Haley Fort, Austin Galloway, Grace Gesino, Megan Goddard, Kelsey Grinka, Brandon Gurrola, Austin Haferkamp, Molly Hailey, Bruce Hale, Madison Hanley, Morgan Hardesty, Tayah Harris, Ashlyn Hendrickson, Alfredo Hernandez, Madelyn Holmes, Joslyn Holt, Olivia Hubble, James Jackson, McKenzie Jacobs, Abbeigh Johns, Cristian Jongkind, Jasmine Kidd, MaKayla Koontz, Nicolas Korell, Klaudia Ksiezyc, Kaelyn Leach, Cristian Luna, Erica Lynch, Felipe Marcano, Jacob Marsh, Makena Marshall, Karlie Martin, Amanda McDonald, Claire Miller, Gabrielle Morton, Cordell Moyer, Michael Nichols, Jenny Noll, Reihle Oberle, Jose Ochoa, Mailee Peeples, Emma Perra, Kelsi Peters, Jessica Peterson, Chrystina Plude, Shania Povlock, Julia Prather, Karsen Pych, Caleb Rettinger, Jasmin Robles, Hattie Rudnick, Stephanie Salgado, Mariah Sanders, Sarah Schoof, Jay Seaburg, Spencer Shouse, Abigail Singleton, Cody Smith, Deseray Solmos, Faith Stacy, Wyatt Stacy, Hunter Stemmler, Geovanny Tapia Jr., Julie-Ann Thiem, Jake Thode, Matthew Thompson, Chloiee Tibbs, Lee Timmons, Logan Traywick, Kenya Trobaugh, Troy Walker, Jacob Welnetz, Arianna Wetzel, Avery Wolfenbarger, Tayler Woods, Stephanie Wuthrich, Alexander Zoborosky

Johnnie Danielle Jones, 28, of LaPorte, died Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014, at IU Health LaPorte Hospital.

She was born in LaPorte on Sept. 23, 1985.

Johnnie is a beautiful and loving mother. Her children are the light of her life. Her beautiful smile lights up any room she enters. She has an amazing voice and loves karaoke. She enjoys getting together for all family functions (that include food).

Surviving are her beloved children, Camrin and Caylin Van Schoyck; mother, Kristine (Michael) Snyder of Hamlet, IN; father, Russell (Tracy Schultz) Jones of LaPorte; sisters, Melissa Jones of LaPorte and Nicole (Allen) Santana, Nikki Schultz and Rikki Schultz; brothers, Jeff Snyder, Matthew Snyder, Jon Snyder and Adam Snyder; grandmothers, Patricia (Lester) Lindsley of LaPorte and Leona (Ralph) Harmon of Kingsbury, IN; grandfather, Clark Martin of Robinson, IL; great-grandmother, Burdetta McClaran of LaPorte; aunts and uncles, Scott and Rhonda Lain of LaPorte, Johnnie (Terry) Bunch of Naples, FL, and Robby Martin of LaPorte; cousins, Brandi (Chris Hanske) Lain, Johnathon (Ellen Petit) Lain, Amanda (Jason) Coldiron, and Amber Dietz; and 23 nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her grandfather, Russell Jones.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, at Cutler Funeral Home and Cremation Center, LaPorte. Visitation will be Wednesday, Feb. 12, from 4 to 8 p.m. and Thursday from 9 a.m. until the service. A meal will be held following the service at American Legion Post 83, 228 E. Lincolnway, LaPorte.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family of Johnnie Jones c/o Kristine Snyder, 2900 Monroe St., LaPorte, IN 46350.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.cutlerfuneralhome.com.

Thorne

Michigan City attorney Jeffrey L. Thorne is a candidate for LaPorte County Superior Court 3 judge on the Republican ticket.

The primary election is May 6, 2014, and the general election is Nov. 4, 2014.

“As a practicing attorney with a deep commitment to this county, my experience from a personal, business and professional perspective has prepared me to serve all members of the Bar and the public in a firm, fair and respectful manner,” Thorne stated in a press release. “Over the years, there have been far too many uncontested judicial elections which have deprived the public of an opportunity to choose who will be their

judge. I want to offer the citizens of LaPorte County an opportunity to select a judge with integrity upon whom they can depend and be proud.”

Thorne began his practice of law in 1978 at Sweeney, Winski, Dabagia & Donoghue and was admitted as a Fellow of the Indiana Bar Association on Dec. 31, 1979. Since 1981, he has been a partner in the firm now known as Sweeney, Dabagia & Thorne, LLP. He is a member of the LaPorte County (four years as governor),

Indiana State and American bar associations and is licensed to practice in all Indiana courts, U.S. district courts for the northern and southern districts of Indiana, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the

Seventh Circuit. In 1984, he was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Thorne has served as pro bono participant in the annual Martin Luther King Day Talk to an Attorney programs; attorney to the Long Beach Town Council (1981-2012); past president of the Michigan City Bar Association; attorney for the Town of Michiana Shores (1978-1980) and the Town of Pottawatomie Park; member of the Indiana Municipal Lawyers Association (1981-2012); and present counsel to the Michigan City Aviation

Commission.

In 1992, he was appointed by the Indiana Supreme Court to conduct character and fitness examinations of LaPorte County residents seeking admission to the Indiana State Bar. “I was honored to have been appointed by the Indiana Supreme Court on the recommendation of the late Susan Heminger, judge of LaPorte Superior Court 4,” he said. “In a pro bono position, I conduct approximately one dozen interviews per year and I take very seriously my obligation to make appropriate recommendations as to the character and fitness of the applicants to be admitted to the Indiana Bar.”

Thorne has practiced in the areas of civil, criminal, domestic, real estate, bankruptcy, social security disability, municipal, corporate, and aviation law. “Having practiced in all of the courts of LaPorte County for over 35 years, I have had the opportunity and honor to practice before and learn from a number of outstanding

judges. I have had the opportunity to observe how various courts, similar in case load to LaPorte Superior Court 3, operate.”

Thorne was born in Gary and has lived in LaPorte County

since 1962. He is a graduate of Elston High School, Michigan City, and received a bachelor of arts Degree from Indiana University and his juris doctor degree from Valparaiso University School of Law. His civic associations include: prior membership on the Board of Directors of the Michigan City Area Chamber of Commerce for 12 years; prior terms of membership on the Board of Directors of Michigan City Red Cross, LaPorte County Youth Service Bureau, Michigan City Junior Achievement and Samaritan Center; past co-chair of the Professional Division of the United

Way of Michigan City; current member of the Board of Directors of the Michigan City Historical Society; member and former elder of First Presbyterian Church of Michigan City; former member of Michigan City Exchange Club. He has been married to Joanne Thorne for 38 years and they are the proud parents of two daughters, Jennelle and Julia.

Compiled by Mary Hedge, LaPorte County Public Library 

Feb. 11, 1914 – M.C. Rumely, who entered the service of the Rumely Corporation 30 years ago, resigned and plans to engage in business for himself.

Feb. 11, 1964 – Employment in LaPorte industrial and business firms is expected to increase by 400-500 jobs in the January-to-March period.

Feb. 11, 1989 – A comatose woman in Manhasset, N.Y., undergoes an abortion that may save her life, ending a battle with anti-abortion activists.

Feb. 11, 2004 – Michigan City’s Weil-McLain is being assessed for its profitability.

Earn a prize for your eagle eye of antiques during the Downtown LaPorte Antiques District’s Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, Feb. 15, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Participants who register and pay the $10 (cash only) entry fee will receive a scavenger hunt package. You must register by 2 p.m. Feb. 15 at either the LaPorte Chamber of Commerce, 803 State St. (depot) or one of the scavenger hunt sites: UpTowne Shoppes, CO-OP Shoppes, Goosefeathers, Antique Junction, Rocco’s, As Time Goes By, Coachman Antique Mall, Vintage Roses, and Monroe’s. Grand prize is $250 and second prize is $100.

Upon registration you will receive a list of 27 pictured items. In the timed contest Feb. 15, hunt for the items (all in plain view) throughout the designated antique stores listed. If you correctly fill in the blanks in the shortest amount of time, you will be the big winner!

You must turn in your list of answers at the chamber by 4 p.m. Feb. 15. The start and finish lines will be located at the chamber.

All proceeds will benefit the Downtown Antiques District, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing tourism in LaPorte by marketing the iunique characteristics of our city and the surrounding communities.

The Kesling Middle School Talent Show will be this Friday, Feb. 14, starting at 5 p.m. in the Kesling auditorium.

Admission is $3. Tickets are available from the school in advance or at the door.

By Carly Kwiecien, LaPorte High School Hi-Times

As this weary winter progresses, people anxiously await another holiday for a little time off. Once a holiday associated with firing red passion and romance, today Valentine’s Day is more likely to stimulate a sense of obligation or apathy.

In past eras, holidays revolve around celebration, friends and family. The special days were spent with loved ones who gathered to enjoy one another’s company. But as the years go on, people seem to find themselves focusing more on material things devoid of sentimental value. Stores stock the shelves filled with items meant to be bought for loved ones. Immediately after Christmas, retailers begin to advertise for the next holiday: Valentine’s Day. Flowers and chocolates greet shoppers as soon as they enter the store in hopes of being noticed.

According to statisticbrain.com, $13.19 billion is spent on Valentine’s Day — cliché gifts of candy and flowers, cards, fancy dinners, jewelry and clothing. On average, a consumer will spend about $116.21 on Valentine’s Day alone. That number is slim compared to the whopping average total of $704.18 spent by each shopper at Christmastime on decorations, food, greeting cards and gifts. In 2012,

Author Carly Kwiecien

holiday sales increased 3.5% to $579.5 billion. By comparison, 2011’s $560.2 billion was a 5.1% increase over 2010. Every year is expected to experience an upsurge in sales.

“I probably only spend about $15 on Valentine’s Day, and it’s mostly candy for friends,” said LPHS senior Abby Witherow. “I spend about $120 on Christmas every year, though. I think that the holidays are all based on revenue, and as soon as a holiday is around the corner, sometimes still months ahead, they set up the stores with that holiday as the focus.”

During the Christmas season of 2013, several stores opened around 6 p.m. Thanksgiving evening for savvy Black Friday sales. Many retailers debated whether that was too early or not early enough.

“I believe that many businesses profit from the holiday season, although it may be an unintentional act to diminish the actual holiday,” LPHS business teacher Corey Goers said. “Profit motive is what drives our business world.”

Although shopping with family may be seen as a way to celebrate a particular holiday, it may also be a means of separation. “I think holidays have become less about family because people are so worried about getting good deals that they are not really spending time with family as much,” said LPHS junior Austin Macleod.

Holidays drive all varieties of people, whether they’re anxious to participate or not. Valentine’s Day, in particular, draws all types of consumers. Many people in relationships aren’t inspired to participate in the holiday because of romance, but simply because they feel they must.

“Holidays are more about revenue for companies than spending time with family; that’s why I appreciate when people go out of their way to make the holidays special or show they didn’t just pick something off the shelf,” said LPHS junior Kirsten Simons. “Despite this, I do feel obligated to buy something for my boyfriend and my younger siblings.”

The push to expand Valentine’s Day and other holidays beyond the realm of true meaning is inevitable. But next time you go out shopping during a holiday season, don’t overdo it; keep your loved ones’ best interests at heart.

WNLP IS PROUD to occasionally showcase the works of students in LPHS journalism teacher Angela Saoud’s class.

Compiled by Mary Hedge, LaPorte County Public Library

Feb. 12, 1914 – A Carnegie library in Birmingham, England, was burned. This is the first time a Carnegie library has been attacked by suffragettes.

Feb. 12, 1964 – An Arkansas foursome admits to a weekend spree of burglaries in LaPorte County homes as well as elsewhere in northern Indiana.

Feb. 12, 1989 — Locals Karen and Greg Alberding return from a cruise on the ship Celebration that collided with a Cuban freighter.

Feb. 12, 2004 – Twins Roger and Ryan Jackson find success on LaPorte’s wrestling mat.

Strieter

Three LaPorte residents were arrested on drug charges Feb. 10 and 11, 2014, according to a press release from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Office and LaPorte County Metro Operations Unit.

Arrested were:

Arnett

– Phil A. Strieter, 35, of David Court, on a charge of dealing heroin;

– Kristen Arnett, 29, of Wardner Street, on a charge of dealing prescription drugs;

– Curtis Maupin, 25, on a charge of dealing marijuana, a Class C felony.

Strieter and Arnett were arrested at their homes without incident, police said. Maupin was in LaPorte County Jail at the time of his arrest, serving time for previous charges of possession of marijuana, invasion of privacy and driving while suspended. He has since been released after posting $1,500 bond.

Strieter and Arnett were being held at the jail on $25,000 bond each.

Maupin

Additional arrests are anticipated, police said. To report suspected drug activity, call Metro Operations at (219) 325-9022.

Starring in “The Dream Continues” are (standing) Dan Moser, Kathy Chase and Noel Carlson, and (seated) Mary Kay Steele and Deb Reason.

Footlight Theatre, 1705 Franklin St., Michigan City, is presenting two performance events to warm up your February and March.

“The Dream Continues”

Reminisce with “The Dream Continues,” a musical revue that will take you through popular numbers from many musicals staged at Footlight in the past 15 years.

Footlight president and director Robert W. Komendera, who has been active with Footlight since 1985, wrote the show and put together the musical numbers himself. He chose Footlight regulars Mary Kay Steele, Dan Moser, Noel Carlson, Kathy Chase and Deb Reason as the stars.

“This musical is a great way to showcase some of the amazing talent we’ve had on our stage,” Komendera said. “They’ve all performed in musicals here, and some are even recreating their roles.”

The show will feature tunes from well-known musicals such as “Cabaret,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” “Godspell” and “Cinderella,” as well as lesser-known musicals such as “Side by Side by Sondheim” and “Pippin.”

Show dates are Feb. 14-16 and 21-23. Shows begin at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. Reservations are strongly recommended and may be made by calling (219) 874-4035 or visiting www.footlightplayers.org. Non-perishable food donations are being accepted during the run of the show for donation to a local food pantry.

“Love Letters”

Starring in “Love Letters” are Alicia Ebaugh and John Avila.

Footlight Theatre’s latest fundraiser, “Love Letters,” on March 1 and 2, eschews the complications of a traditional theater set to hit audiences with an emotional wallop.

The plot is simple – two actors read a lifetime of letters between friends and sometime-lovers. The characters they relate are much more complex. Melissa Gardner, a troubled artist from a rich family, and the ambitious “liberal Republican” Andrew Makepeace Ladd III, are exposed through 50 years’ worth of correspondence that is at times laugh-out-loud funny, bawdy, and, in the end, heart-wrenching.

These roles will be taken on by Footlight actors Alicia Ebaugh and John Avila, who are also in a longstanding relationship.

“Love Letters” is showing for two performances only at 8 p.m. March 1 and 2 p.m. March 2. Tickets are $12. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 874-4035 or visiting www.footlightplayers.org. Patrons should be aware that this is a fundraiser and patron cards will not be accepted.

LaPorte Moose Lodge, 925 Boyd Blvd., will host an Elvis show, starring Alvie Ellenwine, and a prime rib dinner on Saturday, Feb. 15.

Dinner will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. and the Elvis show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25 for dinner and show, or $15 for show only. Tickets are available at the lodge, or call 219-362-2446.

Vernon James “Jim” Barr, 68, of Springfield Township, LaPorte County, died peacefully at 12:20 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10, 2014, at his home surrounded by his family after an extended illness.

He was born June 2, 1945, in Maywood, CA, to Ward Vernon and Margaret Belle (Adamson) Barr.

Jim was employed since 1977 at Mittal Steel (formerly Bethlehem Steel) in Burns Harbor, Chesterton, IN. He was a millwright foreman at the blast furnace. He continued to do contract work for Mittal Steel after retirement. He also did landscaping and owned/managed a luncheonette in Princeton, NJ, before moving to Indiana. He went to the Quaker City School of Aeronautics in Philadelphia, and took jet engine mechanic training courses during his service in the U.S. Air Force.

Jim had many hobbies, including traveling to Ireland, England, Canary Islands and Australia; sailing on tall ships; horseback riding; reading and gardening. He also enjoyed listening to Irish and classical music and creating stained glass artwork. He loved cooking for his family and playing with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mary Ethel (Bahr) Barr, whom he married on Nov. 30, 1968, in Rocky Hill, NJ.

Also surviving are his two children, son Philip Vernon and his wife Connie (Volstorf) Barr, and daughter Paula Margaret and her husband William Chalik Jr., all of LaPorte. Jim also has two surviving brothers, Ronald Albyn (Melia) Barr of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and William Charles (Joyce) of Coeur d’Alene, ID; five grandchildren, Alexzander and Braeden Barr and Trenten, Owen and Logan Chalik; and several nieces and nephews.

His parents preceded him in death.

A funeral service celebrating his life will be held Saturday, Feb. 15, at 10 a.m. at St John’s Church, Michigan City, IN, with Pastor Fine officiating. Visitation will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. until the service at the church. A luncheon will follow the service. Graveside burial will take place at Rolling Prairie Cemetery, Rolling Prairie, IN, on Saturday at 1 p.m. The American Legion Honor Guard will conduct military honors at the cemetery.

By Mike Kellems

The LaPorte Slicers freshman basketball team finished its season undefeated following a 46-23 win over Mishawaka Marian on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014. Following a hasty search of available records, this is believed to be the first LaPorte High School basketball team to have a perfect record.

The freshmen had 20 wins this season against a tough schedule that included the double round-robin format within the Duneland Conference. The team is led by first-year Coach Ben Anderson and Assistant Coach Zach Coulter, also in his fist year.

Varsity Coach Tom Wells was ecstatic about the freshman team’s perfect season, and also applauded the fact that nine of the 14 players on the team currently hold a 4.0 GPA. Wells cited a common basketball mantra of “play hard, play smart, play together as one” as a key component of this successful team.

The freshman team will be recognized during halftime of the Feb. 13 boys varsity game in Slicer Gym.

Compiled by Mary Hedge, LaPorte County Public Library

Feb. 13, 1914 – A Chesterton woman was taken to the hospital. Her husband was convicted of beating her, but she was injured from overwork. Upon returning home, the woman found her husband dead of heart trouble, possibly from brooding over the arrest.

Feb. 13, 1964 – LaPorte Easter Seals young people are Martha Alexander, 1962 Easter Seal poster girl for Indiana; Delmar Rosetta, 1963 Easter Seal Indiana poster boy; and Michael Minich, 1963 outstanding camper in an Indiana disabled children’s camp.

Feb. 13, 1989 – Bingo would become legal in a bill the Indiana House approved 90-10 and sent to the Senate.

Feb. 13, 2004 – The jobless rate in LaPorte County fell to 6.5 percent, but county unemployment rates are still higher than the state’s.

You don’t have to have a sweetheart to enjoy the LaPorte County Historical Society’s special Valentine program and party on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 1 p.m. at the museum.

“Great Loves of LaPorte County” will feature stories gathered from museum visitors over the past several weeks, and will be read by museum staffers and volunteers. The stories will then be put into the historical society’s archives.

Some of the stories are current and some are historical. Forms are still available at the museum for anyone wishing to add another story to the collection. Or email your story to info@laportecountyhistory.org.

Party refreshments will be served. The program and party are free; however, regular museum admission of just a few dollars will apply (kids under 12 are admitted for free).

The LaPorte County Historical Society Museum is located at 2405 Indiana Ave. in LaPorte. It is handicapped accessible. Regular hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 10-4:30. For more information, call 219-324-6767 and visit www.laportecountyhistory.org.

The LaPorte High School Winter Color Guard placed first at the Midwest Color Guard Circuit Contest at Downers Grove South High School, IL, on Feb. 16, 2014.

Complete class results:

LaPorte 71.75

Batavia 65.98

Naperville Central 63.49

Downers Grove South 59.39

The next contest for LaPorte will be at the Winter Guard International Indianapolis Regional Championship Feb. 22 and 23 at Ben Davis High School. LaPorte is one of 26 guards competing in the Scholastic A Class prelims on Saturday, with 13 advancing to the finals on Sunday. LaPorte performs at 12:03 p.m. EST in the Saturday preliminary competition. Complete info for the contest is available at www.wgi.org.

Grace Elizabeth Baich, 94, of Rolling Prairie, IN, died peacefully at 12:05 a.m. Friday, Feb. 14, 2014, at Golden Living-Fountainview, LaPorte.

She was born Aug. 5, 1919, in Elkhart, IN, to Oliver Porter and Mabel Susie (Ritenour) Wells.

Grace retired from Howmet in LaPorte. She and her siblings, in their family band, had performed on a radio show called “Barn Dance Talent Show.” She enjoyed gardening and fishing, and loved country and western music.

On Nov. 5, 1942, in LaPorte, she married Samuel Baich, who survives.

Also surviving are four children, James (Oralee Joseph) Baich of LaPorte, Michael (Penny) Baich of New Carlisle, IN, Andrew (Kathleen) Baich of Rolling Prairie and Sandra Phillips of Baltimore, MD; 16 grandchildren, Rochelle Phillips and Shea Phillips, Todd, Casi and Tina Baich, Johnnie, Hazel, Janet, Michael, Sandra, Melvin, Barbara, Deborah, Dennis, and Darrell Joseph, and Robert Griffin; and 27 great-grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her parents; four sisters, Rose McDonald, Gladys Sholtey, Mabel Alice Garwick and Norma Wegiel; six brothers, Conrad Wells, Earl Eugene Wells, Marshall Wells, James Wells, George Wells, and Thomas Wells; son-in-law, Gerald Phillips; and grandsons, Gerald Phillips Jr. and Kevin Joseph.

A funeral celebrating her life will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, at Lakeview Funeral Home and Crematory, LaPorte, with Jim Bouslog officiating. Visitation will be Thursday from 4 p.m. until the service. Burial will take place in Rolling Prairie Cemetery at a later date.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.LakeviewFHC.com. 

Bonnie J. Beadles, 63, of Fish Lake, IN, died peacefully at 12:10 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014, at her home.

She was born March 31, 1950, in LaPorte to Richard and Alma (Bottom) Albertson.

Bonnie was a member of American Legion Auxiliary Post 400, Fish Lake. She loved her grandchildren very much.

On Feb. 9, 2006, in LaPorte, she married Michael Beadles, who survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Bobbie (Bob) Chlopacek of Kingsbury, IN, and Robin (Dan) West of LaPorte; one son, Dave (Elldona) Ferguson of New Carlisle, IN; one stepdaughter, Kimberly Beadles of Florida; two stepsons, Duane Beadles of Mishawaka, IN, and Chad Beadles of Union Mills, IN; three sisters, Kandy (Jonathon) Baker of Michigan City, IN, Tracy Gearhart of LaPorte and Stacy (Eric) Schmitz of LaPorte; one brother, Jerry Albertson of Michigan City; 10 grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Preceding her in death were her parents, three sisters and two brothers.

There will be no services. Lakeview Funeral Home and Crematory, LaPorte, is handling arrangements.

Messages of condolence may be posted below on WNLP, as well as at www.LakeviewFHC.com.

The LaPorte County Symphony Orchestra’s 2014 Hoosier Star auditions will be held March 29 and 30 at LaPorte Little Theatre, 218 A St.

The ninth annual competition is open to amateur solo singers of all musical styles and age groups. Auditions will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 29 and noon to 5 p.m. March 30.

The vocal competition brings together amateur singers throughout the state to compete for recognition and cash prizes. Contestants are divided into two age groups: youth – 17 years old and under; and adult – 18 years old and over (at the time of auditions). Twelve finalists, six in each age group, will perform along with the Hoosier Star Orchestra, conducted by Philip Bauman, on Sept. 13 at the LaPorte Civic Auditorium. Audience members will choose the final two winners in each age division based on that night’s performances. First and second place in the Youth Division will receive $500 and $250 respectively. First and second place in the Adult Division will receive $1,000 and $500 respectively.

Visit hoosierstar.com to find registration forms and more information. Contestants are encouraged to pre-register for a guaranteed time slot. The registration fee is $20. Audition applications must be postmarked by March 15 in order to receive a guaranteed time slot. Walk-ins are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis during the audition dates.