Fort Wayne Observed

FWOb Visitor from Minsk: We Don't Think This Was the Ivan You Were Looking For

FWOb doesn't regularly check the visitor's log.  When it is checked, it doesn't often show that FWOb has had visitors from overseas.

However, this morning, the FWOb visitor log revealed a visitor from Minsk.  It sparked some curiousity as to which FWOb posting had drawn the visitor's interest.

 

Turns out it was a post about an Ivan.  However, the post was about Fort Wayne Republican Ivan Hood, a  young businessman who sought the mayoral nomination in 2007.  As FWOb noted at the time, Mr. Hood gave a dynamic speech to Allen County Republicans that "had the crowd laughing at the start and cheering and on its feet when he finished."

Perhaps Sheriff Fries Could Be Martin Scorsese For A Day

A casting call in Rhode Island for a new movie was an attractive enough offer that law enforcement authorities there were able to arrest 15 persons wanted on active warrants.

TEA Party Sets a Date; Lugar Gives a Reply

US Senator Richard Lugar has issued a statement regarding the TEA Party's announcement that it will hold a meeting in Fishers, Indiana, regarding the TEA Party's position in the upcoming Republican US Senate primary race.

The statement was issued by Fort Wayne native Mark Helmke, a Senior Advisor to Indiana's senior Senator.  Mr. Helmke is the brother of former Fort Wayne Mayor W. Paul Helmke.

Mr Lugar's statement:

Statement by Senator Dick Lugar on Indiana TEA Party Announcement

November 29, 2010

I was pleased to learn that TEA Party and Conservative groups will meet in Fishers on January 22, 2011, to discuss support of a conservative nominee for the United States Senate in the 2012 Indiana election.  I am hopeful that I might have the support of many of those who will gather at that meeting to advocate conservative values and strict adherence to the Constitution of the United States. 

I have tried to exemplify conservative values as a student, a U.S. naval officer, a farmer, an entrepreneurial manufacturer of machinery, and as a public servant.  These values have been implemented in important areas which have included tax policy, trade policy, cuts in government spending, and a strong defense of America against countries and terrorists who have sought our destruction.  I believe that I have also exemplified innovation in finding new methods of production, new ways of creating jobs, and careful and thoughtful defense of the Constitution of the United States to which I have been sworn to defend as a naval officer and as a United States Senator.  I will warmly welcome the support of all Hoosiers who have encouraged my conservative idealism as I have tried to exemplify it through word and deed, and who are now eager for me to carry on the good fight. 

While some Beltway pundits are expressing shock and horror that some are entertaining a primary challenge to Senator Lugar, there have been grumblings among some Indiana conservatives that predate the TEA Party creation by over a decade.  Specifically, some felt that the Lugar campaign could have done more to explain conservative values two re-election cycles ago - in the year 2000.  Such a campaign strategy might have come at a cost of percentage points.  However, some viewed Senator Lugar's campaign team as too interested in achieving a record vote percentage by appealing to Democrats that they neglected making the conservative case to Hoosier voters.

Galloping Gobbler 2010 Final Results Posted

Corrections have been made to the Galloping Gobbler results. 

The Final Results may be seen as a PDF file by clicking here.

Galloping Gobbler: Over 2100 Finishers; Baum, Blanchard Overall Winners

 
UPDATE: Race photos now available by clicking here.

A record setting number of participants took part in what has become a Fort Wayne family Thanksgiving tradition.  There were over 2100 finishers in the run and walk from the campus of the University of St Francis to the historic Lindenwood Cemetery and back.

Overall results are available in PDF format by clicking here.

One note: there will some minor data corrections for a few runners in the near term. Please know that this PDF should not be used as the final results for permanent publication.

Justin Baum, 25, of Bolivar, Ohio, was the Men's Overall Winner with a time of 20:35 for a pace of 5:09.  Justin is pictured above shortly after his finish with the celebratory milk and pumpkin spice bread.

Chelsea Blanchard, 20, of Fort Wayne, was the Women's Overall Winner with a time of 23:01 for a pace of 5:45.

The first 180 finishers received a loaf of pumpkin spice bread. All finishers received chocolate milk from Prairie Farms Dairy.

And You Thought Calvary/Cavalry Was Tough

No, this is not a road sign near a Roman Catholic church. It is a new sign on Aboite Center at Coventry Lane.

A constituent and friend sent me this photo today.  I hesitate to publish it before determining which governmental entity was responsible for the sign.

The construction on Aboite Center Road was a county project. However, the City of Fort Wayne was also a participant in some aspects. 

If it were the county, they wasted a perfectly fine letter.  If it were the City, the Administration may seek to hire a spelling consultant.

Sue Glick Indiana's Newest State Senator

LaGrange attorney Sue Glick has been selected by caucus to succeed Marlin Stutzman in the Indiana State Senate.

Senator Glick has been a longtime Republican activist dating back to Dr. Otis Bowen's succesful 1972 gubernatorial campaign.

In Memoriam: Steve Ochs, Lifesaver

Fort Wayne Observed has learned of the passing of Huntington County's Steve Ochs.  Most recently, Steve was an Independent candidate for Sheriff of Huntington County. 

Shortly before the election, he learned of the return of cancer that he had bravely fought several years before.

Fort Wayne residents may remember Steve Ochs for the story of the lifesaving efforts he and and a lifeguard made at the Wildcat Park Pool at Markle this summer.  That story is recounted here.

However, he is remembered most fondly by me for his key assistance several years ago in getting emergency medical assistance to a runner injured at The HUFF 50K Trail Run.  A runner had fallen and fractured an ankle going down a ravine on the north side of Roush Lake.  While the fracture was not life-threatening, the cold temperatures and the thin clothing of the runner made hypothermia a real and present danger.  Steve figured out that the best way to get EMS personnel to the injured runner was leading the ambulance from Highway 5 down the runway of the Huntington Municipal Airport to a spot nearest the downed runner.

Steve was an athlete and encouraged athleticism and activity for young people.

He was an advocate for keeping the Kekionga Trail open at J. Edward Roush Lake.  I was glad to join with his strong voice when citizens and Huntington County officials met with Indiana Department of Resources officials at the Commissioners' Court in Huntington just two months ago.

Steve retired from the United States Marine Corps in 1999 after a 23-year career that spanned both Enlisted and Officer service. His last tour was as the Marine Corps Test Director for the C-17 aircraft, which is seeing most of the workload in Iraq and Afghanistan, partly due to Steve’s testing and research. 

He competed as a civilian and military member in largebore and smallbore rifle and pistol competitions. He skiied both downhill and cross country and was a PADI certified rescue diver. Additionally, he was an avid hunter and enjoys windsurfing and kayaking. He completed numerous marathons and ultra marathons.

Steve is survived by his wife Elizabeth and their three sons Nick, Riley and Ross.

Integrity. A love of the community in which he lived.  His is a life gone too soon.

A community memorial service will be held on December 12, 2010 from 1 to 3 PM at Huntington North High School.

The HUFF 50K Trail Run has created an award in his honor.

John Crawford in His Own Words - Council, not Mayor

John Crawford, MD, will make an announcement tomorrow at Allen County Republican Headquarters.

His decision, as outlined in a letter to prospective supporters, is to run again for Fort Wayne Common Council At-Large.  You may view the letter as a pdf here.

 

Sylvia Smith Retiring from the JG

Longtime Journal Gazette Washington Bureau reporter Sylvia Smith is retiring from her reporting for the Journal Gazette.  She will stay on to the end of the year.  FWOb expects some of her concluding projects will include a retrospective on the remarkable Hoosiers she covered in Washington.

Her election day coverage marked the last time Ms. Smith will cover a national election for the Journal Gazette. She has had a distinguished professional career in journalism at the JG.  Ms. Smith's tenure in Washington was marked by several milestones.  Not the least of which was her election as president of the venerable Washington Press Club.

The Journal Gazette is one of the smallest newspapers in the country to have had a dedicated presence in the Nation's Capital.  However, she had a tremendous beat to cover.  The congressman from the JG's district became US Senator and then the Vice-President of the United States.

The other legislators she covered held valuable posts as head of the Foreign Relations Committee, Ambassador to German and head of the House Republican Conference.  In addition to Mr. Quayle, Senator Lugar, Senator Bayh and US Representative Pence have been candidates for POTUS, may be a candidate for POTUS or have been considered for the post of president or vice-president.

And, of course, she covered the career of US Representative Mark Souder from his swearing-in to his abrupt resignation.

It has been quite a ride and Sylvia Smith has covered it all with professionalism.  Congratulations on retirement, Sylvia.