Karing for Kids, based out of Bluffton, has been assisting families in need within Wells and Huntington counties during Christmas time for 17 years through their Blessing Trees program.

Every year, school counselors and social service agencies refer families to Karing for Kids for assistance. Usually, in the beginning of November, churches, nursing homes, businesses and other organizations are able to set up a Blessing Tree. Participants may then choose items from the trees to shop for and drop off, or donate money so that volunteers may purchase the items.

By KATELYNN FARLEY During her middle school years, Katie Blair, originally of Mannheim, Germany, and currently of Huntington, picked up swimming. She joined the German junior national team in triathlon, doing it professionally in her early twenties.

Blair moved to the U.S. in 2003, living in Colorado Springs, Colo., prior to her move to Indiana.

Annually, the Huntington North High School choral department holds their Pomp and Plenty concert at the end of November, featuring the Varsity Singers, Varsity Brass and Viking Volume, along with the Varsity Crew.

Though COVID-19 has brought on changes for many groups, especially school groups and athletic groups, the HNHS choral department is doing what they can to ensure the students within the department have their time to shine and perform for the community this year.

Huntington North High School junior Josie Eckert had the best horse in Malcolm, a Paint showman.

“We had wanted a family horse for Josie,” Heather Eckert, Josie’s mother, said. “We bought him sight unseen when he was two weeks old. He came to us weaned and was immediately all over us. He loved being a horse, riding the trails and eating his favorite snacks, carrots.”

Josie added, “He was bratty. He could open doors. His personality was big. By the time he was two, he was a fancy horse.”

For nearly 20 years now, quilters and creators of all skill levels have been gathering at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church on Wednesday mornings, making quilts for those in need.

Now, after working as much as possible during 2020, the group is ready to ship out 61 finished quilts to Maryland.

Two local women are giving back to veterans in their community, using their sewing and creativity skills to do so.

Karen Wehr, of Warren, and Gloria Holzinger, of Huntington, have a special connection, through their sons who have received the Purple Heart award.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, both Wehr and Holzinger were involved with making facemasks for the Hamilton County Emergency Management Agency.

A signing ceremony on Friday, Oct. 2, proclaimed October to be Respect Life Month in Huntington.

During the ceremony in the City Council Chambers, Mayor Richard Strick read and signed the proclamation, which states “human life in the fullness of its diverse panoply at any and every stage of development” is worthy of respect and protection.

Huntington has recognized Respect Life Month for the past 42 years.

As with many events in 2020, Huntington North High School’s 2020 Homecoming events, slated for Friday, Oct. 9, will look a little different due to COVID-19.

The most drastic change for this year will be the cancellation of the Homecoming parade. The decision to cancel the 2020 parade was made by members of the administration. This will be the second year in a row that the HNHS Homecoming parade has been canceled, as the 2019 parade was unable to be held due to poor weather conditions.

The crisp Fall air and the gentle dew on the pumpkins contrasts with the fragrance of fresh-picked cantaloupe and sweet corn at Loon Creek Valley Farms in Banquo in the southwest corner of Huntington County.

Easy to find just south of Ind.-124 on Ind.-105, the colorful vegetable stand lures passersby to stop and revel in the bounty.

Behind the beauty of the early fall harvest is a long family tradition. Current owners Katelyn and Ryan Shuttleworth are the third generation of Raders to offer produce in Huntington County.

The Huntington County Community School Corporation (HCCSC) school resource officer (SRO) Ben Whitman may not have realized he was training for his job.

Whitman, a 2009 Huntington North High School (HNHS) grad, joined the Navy and studied business administration at Ivy Tech, but found his place at Pathfinder Services and as a paraprofessional working with emotionally disabled students at HNHS.

“Both jobs were rewarding,” he said.

Little did Whitman know he was preparing for a future with all HCCSC students.

In September of 2019, discussion of adding a junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (JROTC) to the curriculum at Huntington North High School was taking place at a Huntington County School Corporation Board of Trustees meeting.

Now, just one year later, the JROTC program at HNHS has taken off, seeing 90 students involved through in-person and virtual attendance.

With the theme “Live United: Now More Than Ever” the United Way of Huntington County kicked off its 2020 fund-raising campaign on Wednesday, Sept. 16.

Kyle Metzger, president and CEO of the United Way of Huntington County, addressed those in attendance, both physically and virtually, at a kickoff luncheon, which was held at St. Peter’s First Community Church.

This year’s fund-raising campaign will look different than years past in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic. However, Metzger states that things are in fact “moving on all cylinders.”

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.