One Warsaw man enlist ing in the Army National Guard wants to become a police officer, while another just wants to do something for his country. Ashton Schuh, 18, Warsaw, a graduate of Whitko High School, is the son of Michael Schuh and Wendy Obacz. Michael Schaefer, 26, Warsaw, is the son of Joe and Cynthia Schaefer and attended Wawasee High School. Ashton said he wanted to enlist because he "saw it as an opportunity to pursue my desired career path. I want to be a police officer." He wants to go to college while in the National Guard and get his criminal justice degree. After earning his degree, he said he plans to apply for jobs in criminal jus tice. "I've got a couple of friends that are already police officers," he said. Michael said he joined because, "I know a lot of peo ple do it mostly for the glory, but I just want to do it to say I actually did something for this country." Down the line, he said he'd also like to be a police officer. He will go to basic train ing Feb. 8 at Fort Benning in Georgia. Ashton is going to basic training May 11 at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. For more information on the Army National Guard, contact local recruiter Staff Sgt. Randy Jackson at 574 526 0537.
TIMES-UNION
January 15, 2021
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In Kosciusko County, K21 Health Foundation is looking for ways to invest in organizations that are impacting res idents in health and wellness. Live Well Kosciusko is committed to helping the com munity be a healthier, better place for everyone to live, according to a news release from K21. They are a nonprof it organization focused on community health by oversee ing the Cancer Consortium, the Employer Wellness Coalition and the Tobacco Free Coalition. Live Well Kosciusko is helping to provide the community with resources and educational programming to enhance the lives of all its residents and is the lead organization in obtaining and maintaining the Healthy Community desig nation received from the Wellness Council of Indiana. K21 Health Foundation recently approved an $85,000 grant to support their continued growth and impact. "We are very impressed with the impact Live Well Kosciusko is already having in our community and the great work they do," said K21 President & CEO Rich Haddad. "Most recently, they helped facilitate the comple tion of the Gallup Well being Survey in our county, which will set the groundwork for K21 and other organizations to pinpoint areas where we can help make a positive dif ference within the communities and populations they serve." "We all want to live in a society where each of us is thriving, and any limitations or barriers are no longer in our way. We are excited to continue our growth and
Live Well Kosciusko Continues To Grow With K21 Support
STAFF REPORT
See K21 - Page 2A
PIERCETON - Almost a year into a pandemic and at the beginning of a new year, the Animal Welfare League is still looking to serve the ani mal community. The AWL facility at 1048 S. CR 325E, Pierceton, can house about 70 dogs and between 150 and 200 cats, said AWL Executive Director Sally Scott. As of Thursday, AWL has 25 dogs and over 100 cats. The shelter's adoptions have been really good, Scott said. "Compared to last year, I'd say with the pandemic, a lot of people have been want ing to adopt pets and also our intake numbers have been down." At the beginning of 2020, she said AWL's intake was pretty high, but it began to go down and adoptions went up, she said. At the early stages of the pandemic, AWL saw its cat adoptions "go way up." Scott said she possibly sees it continuing, but can't say for sure. Scott said she thinks that now that a lot of people are working from home, they have the time to spend with their pet, so they're not hav ing to deal with the issues of not being able to house train them or behavioral issues and just being able to give the pet the attention they need. "I think it's a good thing. A lot of people, when they sur render their pet, it's not something they want to do. It's just something they feel is better for the animal to go to a home that can get that chance to get as much love and affection as they need," Scott said. To help fund the shelter, AWL relies on donations and fundraisers. The community has been very generous in giving donations, Scott said. She said donations come in two forms: money and supplies. Scott said she hasn't noticed a huge difference in individual donations. "When we put out a call for items we're in need of, we
BY JACKIE GORSKI
TIMES-UNION
Lifestyles Editor jgorski@timesuniononline.com
Animals Are The Priority For AWL
Photo by Jackie Gorski,
TIMES-UNION
Animal Welfare League Executive Director Sally Scott pets Lovey Dovey, one of the pets of the week, at AWL Thursday. See AWL - Page 2A
A woman who was employed at Pierceton Woods Academy has a war rant out for her arrest to face a felony charge of child seduction. Police are seeking to apprehend Kaitlyn A. McCullough, 24, of Albion, to have her answer to a Level 6 felony charge of child seduc tion, according to the proba ble cause affidavit filed Jan. 5 in Kosciusko Superior Court I. According to court papers, on July 8 the Indiana Department of Child Services received a report of a child seduction allegation at Pierceton Woods Academy involving McCullough and a juvenile resident at the facili ty. Police interviewed the boy the following day who said he entered into a rela tionship with McCullough while she was employed there. The boy provided police with Facebook mes sages between himself and McCullough, according to the affidavit, that showed the nature of the relationship between the two spanned from May through June. The juvenile further described two events that took place in the wooded area by the ropes course on the Pierceton Woods proper ty where he and McCullough kissed and he touched her buttocks and chest over her clothes. According to court papers, when police spoke with McCullough she admitted to everything the juvenile said. When she's arrested, she'll have a $5,250 bond set. This case further ampli fies the allegations Pierceton Woods Academy administra tors and former employees are facing in a civil lawsuit filed by the father of a boy who went there. That suit alleges that an employee, Darby Ellis Perry, engaged in sexual activity with the child and that higher ups there knew it was going on. That lawsuit also claims the employee was able to go into the wooded area and leave the property unsupervised.
BY AMANDA BRIDGMAN
TIMES-UNION
Staff Writer abridgman@timesuniononline.com
Former Pierceton Woods Employee Facing Felony Charge
Valley FFA Forestry Judging Team Wins At State
The Tippecanoe Valley FFA Forestry Judging Team competed in the state competition in late December. There were over 500 participants and 100 teams in the FFA division, and the Vikings came out state champions. The team members had to identify 35 different species of leaves, 10 seeds, five woods and 10 diseases as well as take a written test on forestry management. Team members were Jesse Scott (high individual), Lucas Parson (fifth high individual), Ashton Irwin and Isaac Shafer. Other members participating were Dawson Ault and Skyler Flippo. The team is coached by Michael Jones, Tippecanoe Valley High School FFA advisor. Pictured (L to R) are Dawson Ault, Ashton Irwin, Lucas Parson, Isaac Shafer, Jesse Scott and Skyler Flippo.
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BY DAVID SLONE
TIMES-UNION
Managing Editor dslone@timesuniononline.com
Michael Schaefer (L) and Ashton Schuh (R), both of Warsaw, will soon be headed off to basic training for the Army National Guard.
Photo by David Slone,
TIMES-UNION
Schuh, Schaefer Enlist In Army National Guard
Tippy Valley School Board Reorganizes
AKRON - In their first meeting of the year, Tippecanoe Valley School Board members voted on officers for 2021. Tom Bauters was elected president, Adam Heckaman was named vice president and David Lash, secretary. Jessica McFarland was approved as the school corporation's treas urer. The regular meetings for the year will be at 6 p.m. the third Monday of every month. During Monday's meeting, the school board will be asked to approve several dona tions. Some of the donations include a $100 donation for Boomerang Backpacks from St. Joseph Church, said Superintendent Blaine Conley. Other donations include $5,000 from Instrumental Machine and Development Inc. and a $2,500 donation from Splendor Boats for Viking Vittles, which is the Boomerang Backpack program the school corporation runs out of the middle school. Another dona tion for $2,000 is from Good Oil Company for school safety. Conley said the school corporation will be working with a consultant in the spring for
BY JACKIE GORSKI
TIMES-UNION
Lifestyles Editor jgorski@timesuniononline.com
See TIPPY - Page 2A
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