Archive - 2012
February 16th
The Decatur Fire Department was dispatched at 9:25 a.m. Wednesday to Donna's Tap, at 254 N. 2nd Street, in response to a gas leak.
A spokesman for the department said the call for assistance was placed by the Decatur Water Department, to report a gas line had been struck.
Firefighters blocked a section of Jackson street, between First and Second streets,as crews from NIPSCO worked to repair the broken line.
Decatur police are continuing their investigation of a burglary that occurred recently at Courtesy Ford in the 1300 block of S. 13th Street.
Police said that on Monday morning when mechanics came to work it was discovered a mechanics' tool box had been pried open and the sets of Snap-on and Matco tools plus Master Craft car batteries had been stolen.
Entry to the shop was gained through a back service door. Police said the incident occurred sometime between Saturday night and early Monday morning.
"We've really been trying to focus on not being content just making it to state. All the kids want to medal, especially Todd (Batt) who has been there twice and come up short both times," said South Adams Coach Eric Myers, who will take three wrestlers to Banker's Life Fieldhouse tomorrow night for the 74th running of the IHSAA State Wrestling Tournament.
Batt will go at 132 and comes in as a top seed, while frosh Sawyer Miller is a No. 2 seed at 106 and junior Lane Moser is a No. 4 at 113 pounds.
February 15th
Phyllis I. Gonzalez, 69, of Poneto, died Monday at Woodcrest Retirement Community.
Among survivors are her mother, Anna Lee Lafferty of Decatur; sisters Sharon (Joe) Gonzalez and Debra (Ronald) Wiegmann of Decatur; and stepsister, Beth Ann (Tom) Reinhart, of Decatur.
Visitation will be Thursday from 2-8 p.m., at Goodwin Memorial Chapel, Bluffton and one hour prior to services at 11 a.m. on Friday.
Daniel N. Schwartz, 69, rural Berne, died Wednesday at his residence.
Arrangements are pending at Haggard-Sefton and Hirschy Funeral Home.
Robert D. Walburn, 88, of Bluffton, died Monday at Swiss Village Community Center.
Among survivors are his daughter, Carol (Tim) Timmons, of Monroe.
Visitation is today at Goodwin Memorial Chapel, Bluffton, from 2-8 p.m., and one hour prior to services,m scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Thursday.
Norbert W. Witte, 74, of Hartsville, S.C., passed away on January 23, 2012. 
 He was born in Decatur, on December 15, 1937, to August and Esther Witte.
He was survived by his wife, Janice Witte, of Hartsville; son Courtney Witte of Philadelphia, Pa.; daughter Kim (Lance) Black of Indianapolis; brothers Vern Witte and Herm Witte of Decatur; sister Sharon Michael, of Fort Wayne; and grandchildren Morgan and Eric Black
He was preceded in death by a brother, Delbert Witte.
Frieda Yager, 94, of Berne, died Tueday at Adams Memorial Hospital
Arrangements are pending at Yager-Kirchhofer Funeral Home, Berne.
Judge Frederick A. Schurger met with Adams County Council Tuesday to address the ongoing problems with security in both the circuit court and superior court locations.
Schurger, the circuit court judge, said one of the court's primary needs is for a second security officer so that each court has an officer dedicated to only one building.
Currently, security officer John Whitright provides security for both the circuit and superior courts.
Future improvements to athletic facilities at North Adams Community Schools could be funded in part by tax-deductible donations from local residents.
A proposal to create a not-for-profit athletic foundation that would allow the school district to raise private funds for athletic capital improvement projects was unveiled Tuesday at the school district's monthly board meeting. The discussion was held in conjunction with the news that a bare-bones upgrade at Worthman Stadium would cost in the neighborhood of a half million dollars.
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