N-B Video: Graduation Day at Bluffton Boot Camp

Students in Bluffton's annual boot camp celebrated a successful week learning about discipline, team work, healthy choices and how law enforcement officials work, from bike patrol to strategically hitting someone with a baton. (Video by Glen Werling)

N-B Video: Do you believe in magic

Magician CR Ryan appeared at the Wells County Friday to help honor the youngest readers who completed the library's "Around the World" Summer Reading Program. At the end of his performance, he taught the children how to create the illusion that they had severed (and reattached) their fingers. (Video by Barbara Barbieri)

(Stop) Signs of the time.

Forty-four intersections with two-way stop signs and the four-way stop at the intersection of Wayne and Spring streets have now been officially approved by the Bluffton Common Council. While there have always been signs at the intersection, there was no listing in the city's books requiring them, theoretically meaning that the city couldn't enforce them. The city now, however, has taken steps so that police can enforce them.

TWO-WAY STOPS

• Traffic on Adams Street shall stop for traffic on Angel Street
• Traffic on Bennett Street shall stop for traffic on Spring Street
• Traffic on Bellbrook Boulevard shall stop for traffic on Dustman Road
• Traffic on Brookhaven Drive shall stop for traffic on Ridgewood Lane
• Traffic on Capri shall stop for traffic on Terminus
• Traffic on Columbian Avenue shall stop for traffic on Lancaster Street
• Traffic on Deerbrook Court shall stop for traffic on Ridgewood Lane
• Traffic on Echo Lane shall stop for traffic on Spring Street
• Traffic on Elm Drive shall stop for traffic on Spring Street
• Traffic on Farmington Drive shall stop for traffic on Ellingham Pike
• Traffic on Granary Court shall stop for traffic on Greenfield Lane
• Traffic on Greenfield Lane shall stop for traffic on Farmington Drive
• Traffic on Greenfield Lane shall stop for traffic on Clark Avenue
• Traffic on High Point Court shall stop for traffic on Dustman Road
• Traffic on Highland Court shall stop for traffic on Old Creek Avenue
• Traffic on Highland Park Circle (eastbound and westbound) shall stop for traffic on Sycamore Lane
• Traffic on Johnson Street shall stop for traffic on Wabash Street
• Traffic on Kenwood Drive shall stop for traffic on Sherwood Drive
• Traffic on Lakeview Court shall stop for traffic on Dustman Road
• Traffic on Liberty Street shall stop for traffic on Spring Street
• Traffic on Meadow Lane shall stop for traffic on Lancaster Street
• Traffic on Memory Lane shall stop for traffic on Lancaster Street
• Traffic on Mulberry Street shall stop for traffic on Spring Street
• Traffic on North Shore Drive shall stop for traffic on Dustman Road
• Traffic on Old Creek Avenue shall stop for traffic on Stogdill Road
• Traffic on Orchard Circle shall stop for traffic on Sherwood Drive
• Traffic on Orchard Ridge Drive shall stop for traffic on River Road
• Traffic on Parlor City Drive shall stop for traffic on Ridgewood Lane
• Traffic on Plaza Street shall stop for traffic on Harrison Street
• Traffic on Plaza Street shall stop for traffic on State Street
• Traffic on Ridgewood Lane shall stop for traffic on Sherwood Drive
• Traffic on Ridgewood Lane shall stop for traffic on Old Creek Avenue
• Traffic on Riverview Drive shall stop for traffic on River Road
• Traffic on Shadow Run Trail shall stop for traffic on Channing Way
• Traffic on Sherwood Drive shall stop for traffic on Stogdill Road
• Traffic on Stogdill Road shall stop for traffic on River Road
• Traffic on Stogdill Road shall stop for traffic on Ind. 116
• Traffic on Treyburn Court shall stop for traffic on Channing Way
• Traffic on Virginia Court shall stop for traffic on Lancaster Street
• Traffic on Westgate Road shall stop for traffic on Lancaster Street
• Traffic on Wheatfield Court shall stop for traffic on Greenfield Lane
• Traffic on William Wells Circle shall stop for traffic on Madison Avenue
• Traffic on Windsor Lane shall stop for traffic on Ridgewood Lane
• Traffic on Windsor Lane shall stop for traffic on Stogdill Road

FOUR-WAY STOPS

• All traffic will stop, from all directions, at the intersection of Wayne and Spring streets

N-B Video: Bikers flock to Bluffton during state tour

Members of the Indiana Concerns of Police Survivors rode to and stopped in Bluffton Tuesday, July 26, during their annual tour to raise funds to assist families of police officers who died in the line of duty. (Video by Dave Schultz)

N-B Video: How to strategically hit someone

During the annual Bluffton Boot Camp, Bluffton Police Deputy Chief Nathan Huss taught children about how police strategically use their batons to restrain people, and then he let the children use foam-padded batons to restrain him. To learn more about the boot camp, which teaches children more than law-enforcement techniques, see the Tuesday, July 26, News-Banner. (Video by Chet Baumgartner)

Life's a beach in Wells County

Beat the heat and admire the art with the "Life's a Beach" — this year's theme for the annual outdoors art competition sponsored by the Creative Arts Council and the Wells County Chamber of Commerce. (Video by Barbara Barbieri)

Mayor Ted Ellis honors Maureen Butler

Mayor Ted Ellis declared Sunday, July 24, Maureen Butler Day to thank Butler for her work as executive director of the Creative Arts Council. (Video by Barbara Barbieri)

N-B Video: Wells County fires Civil War cannon

To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, Wells County officials and residents worked to restore a cannon from that era. The county held a dedication ceremony Wednesday, July 20, and they fired the cannon so that people could hear it. (Video by Chet Baumgartner)



We'll have pictures from the event on our Friday blog.

N-B Video: Northern Wells school board approves new lancaster principal

Cathy Dunwiddie was approved as Lancaster Central's new principal during the Northern Wells school board meeting Tuesday. (Video by Chet Baumgartner)

N-B Video: Unexpected problems increase renovation costs at Norwell

Northern Wells school board members agreed to spend about $86,000 last night to cover unexpected costs to cover problems associated with the renovation of the 1968 high school. (Video by Chet Baumgartner)

Bluffton-Harrison construction continues

A day after Bluffton Superintendent Wayne Barker updated members on the construction projects, check out these aerial photos from Dick Green depicting the work in progress at the Bluffton-Harrison construction sites.

N-B Video: Yes, the cannon works

Wells County cannon restorers wanted to know if the Civil War cannon they will place on the Courthouse square next week worked Friday. (Videos by Dave Schultz and Frank Shanly)

N-B Archive: Reviewing full-day kindergarten

Now that the state has announced estimated per-pupil funding for full-day kindergarten, relearn the history behind Bluffton's recent decision to move to a full-day program.

(Click on the image for a larger view)

Dollars for ducks

Family Centered Services is now selling tickets for the sixth-annual "Duck Race on the Wabash" to be held on Saturday, August 13, at Kehoe Park in Bluffton. The goal this year is to raise at least $25,000 to assist in sustaining ten youth- and family serving programs in Wells and Huntington counties.

The event will include free children's games, music and snacks from 1:00 - 1:45 p.m. The ducks will plunge into the Wabash at 2 p.m. The ducks will "swim" down the river, racing to the finish line where volunteers from the Wells County fire departments will pluck them out of the water as they come through the chute. The first duck to cross the finish line wins the grand prize of $1,000. The remaining 25 prizes include great products and gift certificates donated by local merchants.

Call 824-8574 in Bluffton or visit the FCS website at www.familycenteredservices.org to buy tickets or get more information.

Looking for back-to-school savings?

With school about a month away, the Indiana Parent Teacher Association is asking any back-to-school shoppers to report any back-to-school savings on its Facebook website at https://www.facebook.com/IndianaPTA. If you have any tips, leave a comment here or put a comment on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/bluffton.newsbanner. If you're not our Facebook friend, you can be our Facebook fan by clicking here and clicking the "like" button.

Take a sample ISTEP+ test

The Indiana Department of Education has several sample ISTEP+ tests for parents. Below are several multiple-choice questions from the English and language arts test and math test.

The sample tests also have several questions that require written responses.

• To see the complete English and language arts test for third through fifth grade, click here.
• To see the complete English and language arts test for sixth through eighth grade, click here.
• To see the complete math test for third through fifth grade, click here.
• To see the complete math test for sixth through eighth grade, click here.
  

You can click on the images for a larger view.

Third grade

• Which sentence would fit BEST on the blank line in this letter?
A. While we are at the lake, we will catch a lot of fish.
B. Let me know if you want to come with us to the lake.
C. Do you like to swim and ride down the river in a canoe?
D. Can you please bring the worms we will need to catch the fish?

Highlight for the answer: B

Fourth grade

• Which of these is a complete sentence?
A. On the sand near the water's edge.
B. Julie and Stella plan to go swimming.
C. When Tom and Brady built a sandcastle.
D. Sandy who likes to walk along the beach.

Highlight for the answer: B

Fifth grade

Read this sentence: Her expression was serene as she relaxed on the beach.

• The word serene comes from the Latin word serenus, meaning "clear, cloudless, untroubled." What does serene MOST LIKELY mean as used in this sentence?
A. amused
B. warm
C. dull
D. peaceful

Highlight for the answer: D

Sixth grade

• Which of these words MOST LIKELY means the same as inducted?
A. visited
B. rejected
C. imitated
D. accepted

Highlight for the answer: D

Seventh grade

• Which of the following is the BEST way to combine sentences 1 and 2?
A. It was very hot that day, so hot that I could see it with my own two eyes.
B. The heat coming off the pavement that summer morning was so powerful I could see it.
C. The hottest day of summer so far, you could see the warmth coming off the pavement.
D. Summer morning was a hot and warm one and you could see it coming off the pavement all the heat.

Highlight for the answer: B

Eighth grade

• These lines from the poem show that the speaker
A. is tired from his climb up the mountain
B. hopes no one will notice he is there
C. appreciates the beauty around him
D. wishes it wouldn't rain

Highlight for the answer: C

Third grade

• Teri gave 2/5 of the set to a friend. Teri sold the rest of the flower pots for $8 each. How much money did Teri earn from the flower pots she sold? Show all your work.

Highlight for the answer: $24 ($8 + $8 + $8 = $24) or other valid response

Fourth grade

Three friends were comparing the number of crackers they ate from their snack bags. The numbers are listed below.

1 3/4 • 7/10 • .25

What is the TOTAL number of crackers the three friends ate in decimal form?

Highlight for the answer: 2.7

Fifth grade

• Which of the following number lines shows the correct placement of the numbers 1.6, 0.75, 1 3/4 and 1/2?

Highlight for the answer: B

Sixth grade

3. Tony ate dinner at a restaurant. His meal cost $14.65, including tax. How much TOTAL will Tony pay for his dinner if he leaves an 18% tip?

A.$2.64
B. $14.83
C. $17.29
D. $32.65

Highlight for the answer: C

Seventh grade

A. - 1/8
B. - 1/2
C. - 2
D. - 8

Highlight for the answer: B

Eighth grade

Highlight for the answer: A

Adopt-A-Pet

CJ is a 5-month-old male poodle/chihuahua mix.

Harley is a 9-year-old neutured, male rat terrier.

Tiggy is an 8-month-old spayed, female tiger DSH. Tiggy's vaccinations are up to date.

Indiana releases ISTEP scores for Wells County schools

Northern Wells

Bluffton-Harrison

Southern Wells

Year-to-Year comparisons

For more data, go to the Department of Education's website. You can learn the percentage of students who passed other tests and passing percentages broken down by different demographic categories.

To acquire your student's individual score, go to the DOE's Parent Network.

N-B Video: Music therapy at Bi-County — and around the world

Laura Mesen, a Costa Rican native, spent about seven months in Wells County to learn about music therapy. She plans to take what she's learned and create a music therapy program in Costa Rica — the first of its kind in that country.

During her seven months at Bi-County, Mesen worked with clients both in groups and individually.



As part of her master's thesis, Mesen created "Dolce Crescendo," Italian for "sweet growth." Through the program, Mesen composed 59 songs to help children — including those without disabilities — with their motor, developmental and language skills. Four of her colleagues in Costa Rica orchestrated about 20 of the songs, including this one, “Es hora de marcharnos,” or
"It’s time to leave" in English.



Translated the song goes:
It’s time to finish
It’s time to leave
It was a great musical day
We sang, we danced
I hope to see you soon (child’s name)
And play, dance and sing
(arranged by Danilo Castro)

Legislators to discuss day care, other issues

State Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, who represents Wells County will meet with other legislators this summer to discuss standards for child-care service providers, particularly churches and other faith-based ministries that provide day care. See the Saturday, July 9, News-Banner for the story, and tap into the Internet here to get even more information.

• To learn more about the child-care service providers in Wells County, go to the the Family and Social Services Administration's Childcare Finder website at https://secure.in.gov/apps/fssa/carefinder/index.html.
  
• To learn more about the interim study committees, go to the Indiana Legislature's website for the committees at http://www.in.gov/legislative/interim/committee/index.html.
• To learn more about what the committees discussed last year, which could reflect what they discuss this year, click on the archives section at http://www.in.gov/legislative/interim/committee/2010/committee/index.html.
• To learn more about the State Budget Committee, on which Rep. Jeff Espich, R-Uniondale, serves, go its website at http://www.in.gov/sba/2370.htm.
  

Christmas in July — and year round

To learn more about the Christmas Behind Bars program — featured in the Saturday, July 9, News Banner — go to its website at http://christmasbehindbars.org/.

N-B Video: A wheat harvest to remember

Members of the Wheels of Yesteryear harvested wheat Thursday, July 7, in preparation for their annual show on Aug. 12, 13 and 14. They harvested the wheat with a vintage wheat binder, and they will thresh the wheat with a vintage thresher at the show. (Video by Chet Baumgartner)

N-B Video: Ronald McDonald visits the Wells County Library

Highlights from his visit. (Video by Barb Barbieri)

N-B Video: Fireworks over Baltimore

The News-Banner's Gregg Palmer traveled to Baltimore over the Fourth of July, and while there, he captured video of that city's fireworks. The bursts are partially obscured by a building because of where he sat, but in case you quite aren't ready to stop celebrating, enjoy this video. (Video by Gregg Palmer)

N-B Video: Fireworks spread red, white, blue and more over Bluffton

Bluffton's 2011 Fourth of July fireworks ceremony.

N-B Video: Behind the boom: The physics of fireworks

Learn how a combination of magnesium, copper sulfate and a lot of heat created the red, white and blue sparks of Bluffton's fireworks. (Video by Chet Baumgartner)

N-B Video: Celebrating Independence Day — Bluffton style

Visit the Fourth of July celebration in Bluffton before the fireworks began. (Video by Chet Baumgartner)

Wells County veterans travel to Washington, D.C.

World War II veterans, including three from Wells County, recently spent the day in the capital as part of an honor flight, in which soldiers travel for free to tour the different memorials. To learn more, see the Saturday, July 2, News-Banner.

Departing from Fort Wayne International Airport

Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., greeted the veterans when they arrived.

At the Tomb of the Unknowns

Arlington Cemetery

The Korean War Memorial

The World War II Memorial

N-B Video: Ossian celebrates Freedom

Ossian held its annual Freedom Festival Thursday, June 30. If you couldn't make it, watch highlights here. (Video by Chet Baumgartner)

N-B Video: Wells County resident earns citizen's highest award

During the Patriotic Pops concert at Ouabache State Park, Bob Greiner received the highest award a civilian in Indiana can receive — the Sagamore of Wabash Award.