While the COVID-19 crisis has caused the cancellation of nearly all the county’s fairs and festivals this summer, those who love a good fireworks show will have three to choose from on the nation’s birthday.

July 4th fireworks displays will happen in Huntington, Roanoke and Markle, all taking place at dusk.

The celebrations include:

In 1985 two young men decided to lay it all on the line and quit their jobs to pursue their dream.

Russ Grindle and Scott Trauner wanted to start their own newspaper in Huntington County.

Russ and Scott previously worked at The Paper of Wabash County. They saw how successful the Rees family was with their newspaper. Grindle and Trauner knew if they followed The Paper’s formula they too could be successful in Huntington County.

It will be open, but it won’t be the same place it was this time last year, when students entered school through the doors one way but finished the school year in an entirely different scenario. With COVID-19 still claiming lives in Indiana, the way Hoosier schools will welcome back students this fall will be, simply defined, “different.”

Huntington County Community School Corporation is no exception, says Superintendent Chad Daugherty, when the county’s school children head back to class on Aug. 5.

Even during a pandemic, when hospitals have shifted focus to being able to care for acutely ill patients fighting COVID-19, and stay-at-home orders have been in place to reduce the spread and protect vulnerable people, community members still have serious, non-virus-related needs that require attention.

It was a high school graduation that might not have happened, and reminded some of a scene from “The Twilight Zone,” no thanks to a virus that disrupted nearly every aspect of the lives of seniors in the Class of 2020.

But the show at Huntington North High School went on.

After juggling a variety of possibilities of how to graduate the school’s 308 seniors and conferring with school officials from a variety of districts, community members and the local board of health, seniors got their most fervent wish: to “walk” across the stage and receive their diplomas.

A sophomore at Huntington North High School and only 16 years old, Brianna McIntyre’s future looks as bright as the awards she recently received; all she has to do is decide what she wants to do with them.

McIntyre is the 2020 Parkview Boys & Girls Club of Huntington County’s Youth of the Year, an honor she received after she wrote a speech and three essays on how to make the world a better place, in a competition with the other members of her club.

For her win, the seven-year club member received a $500 scholarship from local sponsor Lake City Bank.

Would Ruth Reed let a little thing like retirement slow her down? All indications are she will be on full-steam ahead, just like she’s done the past 41 years teaching at Huntington North High School. Reed’s last day in the Huntington County Community School Corporation will be June 30.

Over the past 35 years, Dr. Norris Friesen has become a cornerstone of Huntington University and the wider community.

Now, as he announces his retirement from higher education, a city proclamation signed Friday, May 8, recognizes his years of service, instruction and leadership and declares May 8 as Norris Friesen Day.

“I have met and worked with some phenomenal people who have impacted my life in so many ways,” Friesen said. “It has truly been a privilege to serve together.”

A world leader in water, hygiene and infection prevention products that has a location based in Huntington has experienced heightened business during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Some Huntington North High School Viking New Tech students have been using their creative superpowers to put together some engaging comic books aimed at helping younger pupils become more familiar with the elements.

The Huntington County Jail was built to house 99 inmates.

But over his 25 years with the Huntington County Sheriff’s Department, Sheriff Chris Newton says the jail’s occupancy has always been higher than that.

“Routinely, since I’ve been here, we’ve always been at 120-ish,” he remarks.

And just four months ago, the jail hit its highest occupancy ever, with 175 inmates.

With a number like that in the back of his mind, Newton couldn’t be more relieved that a long-developing project to expand the jail is finally on the verge of starting.

Huntington County Community School Corporation and Huntington North High School has announced the Class of 2020 Top 25 students.  They are (first row from left) Autumn Anderson, Elizabeth Bercik, Logan Bolding, Alyssa Brinkman, Emily Daas, (second row from left) Grace Dimond, Ashley Dorsett, Bailey Godfrey, Hannah Lehman, Clara Lesperance, (third row from left) Meg McDonald, Katie Melcher, Haileigh Nissley, Caleb Peare, Taylor Reust, (fourth row from left) Morgan Richison, Derrik Scharland, Nicholas Scheiber, Hunter Smith, Jessica Smith and (fifth row from left)  Corbin Snow, Justin

Huntington North High School has announced that senior Jessica Smith has been tapped as the valedictorian for the Class of 2020.
In addition, HNHS has chosen two students, Logan Bolding and Haileigh Nissley, as Class of 2020 co-salutatorians.

Smith is the daughter of Todd and Tina Smith. She has a grade point average of 11.5614 on an 11.0 scale.

It’s been an invisible scene reminiscent of a past world war, when (mostly) women who stayed at home contributed to the war effort by any means they could. With the current onslaught of an unseen enemy – the COVID-19 virus – many people in Huntington County are stepping up to use their sewing expertise to support those battling the virus on the front lines by making facemasks.

Another, more inspirational wave that is sweeping not only the country but globally will be the topic of an upcoming lecture Thursday, April 16, at Huntington University.

Dallas Jenkins, the creator, producer and director of “The Chosen” will speak – virtually – to HU’s School of the Arts about the first-ever multi-season television show about the life of Jesus Christ.