Fort Wayne Observed

Heuer Wins 83rd Caucus

Former Columbia City Council member Kathy Heuer won the caucus Monday night to become the Republican nominee for the state House of Representatives seat currently held by State Representative Matt Bell.

Ms. Heuer, a former Whitley County Republican Chair, won over former congressional candidate Phil Troyer.  Before the final and deciding ballot, Caucus Chair Kevin Ober announced that the two candidates had tied at 20 votes apiece; one additional ballot was disregarded because a precinct committeeperson had voted for one of the candidates who had already been eliminated.

Seven candidates had filed for the position. Joe Hilger, Bill Etzler, and Bruce Scott were eliminated in early ballots.  Brandon Seifert and Paul Moss advanced but were behind Mr. Troyer and Ms. Heuer on the subsequent ballot.

Tuesday night, Republican precinct committeepersons will meet to officially select a candidate to run for state representative in the 80th House district.  IPFW College Republican Secretary-Treasurer Jonathan Moosey is the only candidate to have filed for the nomination.

Photo: Phil Troyer and Kathy Heuer pictured before the final ballot.  Photo credit: Fort Wayne Observed | Mitch Harper.

Waterfall Trail Run Sunday Morning at Kokiwanee Nature Preserve

Runners participating in tomorrow's Waterfall Trail Run at ACRES Kokiwanee Nature Preserve will be running across the top of the waterfall shown below.

The run starts at 8:30 AM. There will be race day registration starting at 7:30 AM at the Tailwaters Pavilion adjacent to Kokiwanee. Runners may also register online until 6 PM today. You can map the location here.

Where in Northeast Indiana?

This sign is located in northeast Indiana.  Can a FWOb reader tell us on what road it is located?

If need be, drive to Wall Drug in South Dakota, set the trip odometer to '0' and work your way back east.

Jackuvalltrades: A New Fort Wayne Weblog

Derek Pillie noted on Facebook that some of his friends might be shocked to know that he has started a new weblog.  What may be more accurate is that many are grateful that they will be able to check in on Mr. Pillie's insights into religion in society, politics, and raising a family in northeast Indiana.

His new weblog is Jackuvalltrades. 

Mr. Pillie writes:

My primary interest in starting a blog is to try and improve my writing - I really love to write and I do not have the opportunities to write as I once did, so I hope to shake any rust off that has gathered during my hiatus and stretch my writings legs a bit.

Tribute: First Lieutenant Joel C. Gentz

 

American flags lined the drive of the Fort Wayne Country Club yesterday where calling was held for Air Force First Lieutenant Joel C. Gentz.  He was killed in action June 9, 2010 while completing a rescue mission in southern Afghanistan.

From a statement issued by the Gentz and Sullivan families:

He lived by the motto of the pararescue men “…these things we do, that others may live.”

Waterfall 5K Trail Run Featured in NS Column by Brett Hess

 

The first Annual Waterfall 5K Trail Run will be held next Sunday at the Kokiwanee Nature Preserve at the foot of the Salamonie Dam on the Huntington / Wabash County line. The Kokiwanee Nature Preserve is one of 69 nature preserves overseen by the ACRES Land Trust, now celebrating the 50th anniversary of its founding.

Kokiwanee contains numerous waterfalls; it is one of Indiana's gems.

Running Notes writer Brett Hess featured the Waterfall Run in today's edition of the News-Sentinel. 

The story contains an error; I haven't hiked all of the ACRES properties. There are 53 properties open to the public and while I have visited many I've not visited all. But I'm working on it.

Actually, it might contain another error. I don't often use the word 'awesome' as a descriptive. 

Mr. Hess writes:

At 8:30 a.m. Sunday, the first running of the Waterfall 5K Trail Run takes place. It will be entirely in the Kokiwanee Nature Preserve at the tail waters of the Salamonie Dam.

This course is south of the town of Lagro in eastern Wabash County, just minutes west of Huntington.

[ ... ]

“This venue is so cool,” Harper said. “And as much rain as we've got, it should be awesome.”

It will be run on roads and trails within the 139-acre property. But your toes may get a little wet as you cross several small creeks. Also, walkers/hikers are just as welcome as runners.

The idea for the race first came to Harper years ago when ACRES Land Trust first bought the property.

An ACRES member, Harper has hiked nearly all ACRES' properties. His goal is to raise awareness not just for ACRES, which is marking its 50th anniversary and will benefit from the race, but for this particular property.

[ .. ]

... I am confident that the people who do come will definitely be back to hike the area again. I just want to promote the area as a historically significant and beautiful place to visit. I know that those who come out Sunday will be richly rewarded.”

Photo: Copyright Ray Steup. FWOb use by permission.

News-Banner Wants Steve Shine Fountain for Wells County Courthouse

The cool, tinkling waters at Steve Shine's law office at Beaver and Broadway in Fort Wayne could soon be replicated at the Wells County Courthouse at Main and Market in Bluffton, Indiana. That idea has an advocate in Dave Schultz, the editorialist for the Bluffton News-Banner. 

Mr. Shultz wrote an editorial in favor of the idea for the Monday edition of the Bluffton daily. The editorial was accompanied by the photo below.  You may read the complete editorial here.

Bluffton Rocks

 

I was pleased to be a guest host on the Gary Snyder Show tonight on FM 100 Talk.

Less pleased were these folks on the north side Bluffton seen on my way back from the FM 100 Talk studio.

Over 165 runners participated in this morning's Father's Day Run at Metea County Park. Results will be posted later here and at RunIndiana.com.

Runners observed a moment of silence in tribute to Air Force First Lieutenant Joel C. Gentz prior to the start of the race.   

Lieutenant Gentz was killed in action June 9, 2010 while completing a rescue mission in southern Afghanistan.

Henry Administration Has Another Personnel Change

Sources have related to FWOb that the Henry administration has made another personnel change.

It is believed that on Friday, Wendy Barrott, the Director of Energy and Environmental Services was relieved of her appointment.

This follows on the heels of the Adminstration naming former Daly administration official Elizabeth Mallory as Deputy Mayor and the former 2007 Henry campaign manager Joe Fox as Director of Communications.