The Samuel Huntington Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution held a rededication service at Woodlawn Cemetery on Saturday, Sept. 12, honoring Elijah Mitchell, an American Revolution soldier, as well as two Vietnam War soldiers, Mike and George Bustos.

Huntington University’s occupational therapy assistant baccalaureate program has been awarded the maximum years of accreditation possible for a program of its kind. This is a significant accomplishment, as HU is the first occupational therapy assistant baccalaureate program in the country.

Drake Goetz was known by many in the Huntington community, growing up in Huntington and attending Life Church. He attended Canterbury High School, where he was a soccer player.

At the age of 15, Drake died after being involved in an ATV accident. Shortly after his death, family members and friends started thinking up ways to help Drake’s memory live on that could also impact the community he grew up in. The answer became building the Drake Goetz Memorial Park.

Make I­t Your Own Mural Fest starts tomorrow, Tuesday, Sept. 8, and will last until Sept. 18, in Northeast Indiana’s 11 counties, including Huntington.

The regional mural festival concept is intended to enhance the region’s efforts to drive and attract talent and tourism by investing in public art.

Over the 11 days, 11 artists will install a high-quality mural in each of the 11 counties.

In Huntington, America Carrillo will create her masterpiece at 35 W. Market St., Huntington.

A Huntington not-for-profit agency that focuses on helping children and families embroiled in domestic violence may be one of the town’s best-kept secrets.

It’s called McKenzie’s Hope Huntington County Child Advocacy, Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Center, Inc., named to keep alive the names of victims of child abuse in the hopes of giving other children a safe, non-threatening place in which to tell their stories.

Huntington University students flocked to campus on Thursday, Aug. 27, to kick off move-in day and orientation weekend. Parents moved in their children, campus staff and administrators were present to greet students and give information and students new and returning were able to “come home” for the new fall semester.

A chunk of land in Huntington County has been deemed a Certified Wil-dlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF).

The parcel belongs to Huntington County resident Robert Meier and his wife Dalphe.

The 17 acres of land are a welcoming home to all types of native wildlife, a flock of free-range chickens and the Meiers’ dog, Roger.

Driving down the gravel lane to the home on the property, visitors are greeted with the signage that shows the land has been designated as a wildlife habitat.

After being in partnership with Kroger since July 1998, the Huntington grocery store Owen’s, located at 2718 Guilford St., is officially changing its brand, now running under the Kroger brand name.

A lot can change in 40 years – and at the Huntington campus of Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, it has.

What started as a 30-person warehouse and distribution center in February 1980 has grown into a leading-edge, multifaceted operation encompassing multiple facilities and employing nearly 450 people across the city.

What hasn’t changed is the primary reason Bendix Huntington is marking four decades of expansion, success and community leadership.

Wyatt Schmaltz loved all things superhero and dinosaur related. He was part of Cub Scout Troop 3607, attended Horace Mann Elementary School and was the youngest brother to Cayden Schmaltz, 12, and Deacon Schmaltz, 15.  And from the age of 3, Wyatt was also a cancer patient. But that didn’t stop him from caring about others and always looking to the future.

“He didn’t know a stranger,” says April Schmaltz, Wyatt’s mother.  “Even on his worst days, he always had a smile.”

Huntington area mountain bikers have been competing for state champion-
ship titles in a mountain bike race series across Indiana.  Three of the six races have been completed, and all of the local racers are in contention to win a state championship title in their respective categories.

As of Aug. 2, 13-year-old Hunter Bauman, of Ossian, is leading the 11 to 14-year-old junior division, and 13-year-olds Wyatt Doctor and Zane Loshe, both of Huntington, are also in contention for that division.

Kindness, compassion, commitment. Huntington resident Donald Schoeff Sr. embodies all three in his past work in law enforcement and public service as Huntington County’s assessor and auditor.

However, his lifelong commitment and implementation of the ideals of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks (BPOE) have impacted all in his sphere.

On July 8, Schoeff was installed as the Grand Tiler of the Grand Lodge. This national honor is a culmination of 56 years of dedication. Schoeff’s sponsor for the position was Jim Nichelson, past grand exalted ruler.

The mission to help the city’s homeless women will see a change in leadership, as the director of Huntington House, Rosella Stouder, officially retires this month and hands the job to its new director, Jennifer Gomez.

A retirement party will be held for Stouder on Thursday, Aug. 20, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Café of Hope, 900 E. State St., Huntington. But until then she will be on vacation, with Gomez in charge.

Three doctors in northern Indiana, Drs. Janelle and Matt Pflieger of Cardinal Family Medicine, in Huntington, and Dr. Joel Schumacher of Schumacher Family Medicine, in Plymouth, have pledged to erase $1.7 million in medical debt for their eight surrounding counties by partnering with RIP Medical Debt, a non-profit organization that allows generous donors to clear the medical debt that cripples families and individuals.

A single calla lily lay on the crest of a gravestone of Corporal Edwin Sexton, a soldier long dead in Huntington’s Mt. Hope Cemetery. A wreath was laid in front of his grave and a newly-installed marker acknowledged him as the last Union soldier buried in Huntington County.