2010 Montpelier Jamboree!

We are already looking forward to next year! Don't forget to visit our YouTube channel (search: newsbanner) for even more cool video!

Wells County Rodeo 2010

News-Banner Intern Brandon Gephart shot some great photos and video during the 2010 Wells County Rodeo on Saturday. Gephart was able to get up-close and personal with the riders and capture the action.

The Reading Plus program has expanded to include 20 sixth graders this year. That is a total of 55 sixth, seventh, and eighth graders.
The kids visited Camp Lutherwald last Friday to have a day of team building activities.
Chaperones for the trip included Angie and Jason Worman, Rick and Deb Brickley, Chris Wolf, Kim Steckbeck and Missy Lambert. Mel Carpenter did the kayak teaching. Amy Henderson, an education director from Grace Lutheran Church, Columbia City  and Timothy Hill, a teen  motivational director from Ohio, directed games to build team spirit and direction.
During the day the groups went hiking, played team building games and, of course, kayaking and canoeing. They also built a fire and roasted hot dogs for lunch with parents as very supportive helpers.

(Contributed by Rosemary Henderson)

2010 Montpelier Jamboree!

The 2010 Montpelier Jamboree runs all weekend. Find more information and a schedule of events by clicking here.

Shanly does pie judging

News-Banner employees love to get involved in community events. So when Markle Wildcat Days Festival organizers asked Frank Shanly to participate in the pie judging contest, he jumped at the chance. Unfortunately he was only allowed to eat a small bite of each pie he tested. He is so thin, we were hoping the contest might fatten him up, but that simply was not the case.

More Markle Wildcat Days 2010

Markle Wildcat Days was a great weekend event full of full stuff for the kids, games, a parade, a fireworks display and of course lots and lots of tasty food!

Scoring a bunny at Markle Wildcat Days 2010

Tristen Helvie, 2, of Markle, was the first kid in line to win a bunny Friday night at Markle Wildcat Days. Barely able to see past the fencing Helvie did not hesitate when it came to pitching ping-pong balls. And in fact was the first kid to win his very own fluffy bunny....