Talk of the Town story by Jennifer Zartman Romano, photo by Mahri Romano, September 29, 2008:
The second annual Columbia City High School Alumni Association Legacy Golf Outing was held at Eagle Glen Golf Course on September 27, 2008.
The winners of this year’s outing were: Ryan Modglin, Ron Modglin, Randy Smith and Steve Smith – all Columbia City High School graduates. The winners names will be engraved on the large trophy, which will be on display in Columbia City as soon as a semi-permanent location is determined.
Following the tournament, golfers enjoyed a delicious lunch catered by the CC Deli.
In addition to cash prizes, several other prizes were awarded as well, including donated items from Chad Moore Photography, Sherri’s Place, Pizza Hut and others.
The oldest participating alumni was Graham Kleespie (Class of 1954) and the youngest was Tia Lantz (Class of 2007).
The golf outing was coordinated by Andrew Thompson (1984).
CCHS Homecoming week is September 22 to 27. Activities include the following:
Friday, September 26, 2008 --
| 4:30 p.m. | A parade from DeVol Field to the high school |
| 5 - 7 p.m. | Optimist-Band Fish Fry in the HS Cafeteria |
| 7:30 p.m. | Football game, Eagles vs. New Haven |
Saturday, September 27, 2008 --
| 8:00 a.m. | CCHSAA golf outing at Eagle Glen. Open to non-alumni. Register at Eagle Glen. Cost $50 per player. Benefits the CCHS Alumni Association Scholarship Fund |
| 1 - 3 p.m. | Alumni Association Open House at Marshall Community Center, 107 N. Walnut Street (old high school) |
| 3:00 p.m. | Alumni Association meeting at Marshall Community Center |
CCHS Alumni Association participated in the American Legion's Old Settler's Day parade on Friday evening, June 27, 2008.
The float was decorated by CCHS alumni. Richard Hoffman provided the farm wagon which was its base and pulled it with an antique tractor. In front of the float, CCHSAA Founder Ted Gruver (1957) and Andrew Thompson (1988) rode in a golf cart provided by Eagle Glen Golf Course. CCHSAA President Richard Phend (1951), webmaster Brenda Reeg Robison (1960), and board member Bill Kettelkamp (1952) accompanied the float and passed out 1,100 bags of candy to children along the parade route.
Published in Talk of the Town - Whitley County June 25, 2008
Esteemed community volunteer, businesswoman Jacie Worrick asked to wear the Red Coat
By Jennifer Zartman Romano
An annual rite of Old Settlers Days, the traditional Red Coats Dinner was held Tuesday night at the Eagles Nest Event Center, an event marked by the ceremonious presentation of a new red jacket to the next person deemed worthy to wear it and serve as the association’s president in the coming years. 
A noted community leader, philanthropist and business owner, Jacie Worrick was selected as the latest recipient of a Red Coat and will serve as president of the association in three years.
A crowd filled with many former presidents cheered as current second vice president Jim Brock read Worrick’s impressive resume of servant leadership and involvement in the business community. She has served most recently as the president of the Whitley County United Way board of directors and serves on the Columbia City Rotary board. Additionally, she has been a past board member of the Columbia City Chamber of Commerce and a graduate of Leadership Whitley County.
Worrick is the third woman to be selected as a Red Coat recipient in the organization’s 105-year history and the fifth member of the Columbia City High School Class of 1963 to be selected for the honor. When the class of 1963 gathers for their class reunion on Saturday, there will be five Red Coats in attendance – namely Bill Webber, Jim Nelson, Mike Rush, Mike Redman and Worrick.
“I love this community and the people who live and work here,” Worrick said after donning her newly minted red jacket and addressing the audience following dinner.
Rather than an event fully focused on the rides and games, Worrick shared her vision of Old Settlers Days as something more meaningful. “It’s about saying thank you to those who’ve formed and cultivated the community we live in.”
In her entire life, Worrick can only recall missing the Old Settlers Days festivities on two occasions. “It’s just something that you do,” she said. “It’s a time to go and visit with friends.”
Worrick concluded by saying in the same way the community needed to debate some serious issues 50 years ago when it came to deciding the future for youth at that time, she sees the same issues at the forefront today and challenged those in attendance to consider the needs of the community’s youths, saying they will be the “Old Settlers” of tomorrow.
“I would be remiss in not saying, ‘Jacie, welcome to the group,” said 2008 OSD president Fritz Martin. Martin is serving this year alongside first vice president Tom Drew and second vice president Jim Brock. The OSD association secretary is Bill Webber and treasurer is John Lefever.
Published in Talk of the Town - Whitley County June 25, 2008
The year was 1928. Lindberg received a medal of honor for his transatlantic flight. Mickey Mouse made his first appearance in a sound cartoon. Shirley Temple was born, and Whitley County saw the founding of a local family tradition, Camp Whitley.
Walter Stephenson, an educator with the Columbia City schools, created Camp Whitley 80 years ago, with the goal of providing an outdoor learning experience for youth of our community. Over the last 80 years, Camp Whitley has upheld the vision and traditions began so long ago.
In celebration of our 80th year of operation, the Board of Directors and Staff are requesting stories and memories of former campers to compile into a booklet. The staff would like to conduct as many personal visits as possible, but we are willing to also interview over the phone or compile stories from the form below. If you are a former camper, or know someone who has been a camper, and would like the Camp Whitley memories to be documented, please contact Tara Brandon at 260-609-2154 or email her at
Click here for form to submit Memories of Camp Whitley
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