Kent Schenkel has been chasing a lifelong dream for almost a decade.
Literally chasing. And passing. And tuning up.
Schenkel, 58, of Huntington, will be at the Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Mich., on May 27, testing for a chance to qualify in the Automobile Racing Club of America's (ARCA) RE/MAX Series "Racing for Wildlife 200" on June 12.
A duo determined to help lost and abandoned animals has expanded to become a trio, holding fast to their dream of helping to build a new shelter for the homeless pets.
"We love animals so much," says Chloe Spencer. Spencer and friend Kylie Frederick were recognized last year by the Huntington County Humane Society for their longstanding efforts to help improve the humane shelter.
Judy Fitzmaurice - Wednesday, May 27, 2009 8:52 AM
Photo contributed.
Originally published May 11, 2009.
It's a family affair, but it's the family dog that is basking in the spotlight.
Brian Johnson and his dog Gunner got involved in dock jumping last year and enjoyed it so much, they plan to go to even more competitions this year. Since the whole family generally goes along, the Johnsons consider the events "mini vacations," Brian says.
Ted Rogers seems almost offended when asked why, after spending four years serving his country during World War II, he agreed to take on the responsibility of establishing an Army National Guard armory in Huntington.
"To protect our country," he says, after a pause. He had the training and the know-how, he adds. "I wanted to pass that on to another generation."
Members of the Andrews Lions Club recently recognized the accomplishments of the famous Clark Twins, who hailed from the small burg in western Huntington County, by having signs made to place on the north and south ends of town in their honor.
The signs, which read "Hometown of the Clark Twins," will be placed along Ind.-105 - near the Andrews-Dallas Township Fire station on the north edge of town and just before the curve on the south edge of town.
One of the last things anyone would associate with Huntington County is bison.
However, Huntington resident Blaine Kaylor is now the owner of a small herd of the unusual - for these parts, anyway - animal.
The decision to start raising bison, more commonly known as buffalo, came after a lot of research.
"Four years ago, I decided that I wanted to build a barn to raise beef cattle," Kaylor states. "I started building the barn and began to research bison."
Long before the white settlers came, a frequently used trail ran along the Salamonie River.
It was known as the Godfroy Trail, or trace, and ran between Chief Francis Godfroy's reservation further southeast along the Salamonie River to his principal village near present-day Peru.
The trail became the River Road, and it remains today one of the most scenic drives in the county.
With rising food prices, many families find it difficult to maintain balance when it comes to eating healthy and staying within budget.
In response, Indiana Family and Social Services Administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture have teamed up with Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service to offer the Family Nutrition Program.
Susy Jennings, program assistant and recent addition to the Huntington County Extension Office staff, says the aim of the program is simple.
In Huntington, we're enamored of Stephanie Plum, "a bounty hunter with attitude."
In Markle, we'd rather settle down with a thriller.
"There is a big difference in what is read in Huntington and what is read in Markle," says Huntington City-Township Public Library Director Kathy Holst as she flips through a list of the most-checked-out books for 2008.
Robert Fettinger's family seems to have a history of coming home.
His parents, who were living elsewhere when he was born, came to Huntington when he was just 2 years old.
That was a homecoming for his mom, whose family was from the Lancaster and Huntington areas.
When Fettinger himself came home, it was after stints in Arizona and Mexico, where he met and married his wife. The city he came home to was a place so familiar to him that, even at age 77, he can reproduce the exact shades of the bricks that made up the facades of its downtown buildings.
When it comes to fitness and strength training, five Huntington men are taking the sport to a new level.
The group, known as "The Tribe: Huntington Strength Athletes," consists of Aaron Snider, Nate Falcone, Gabe Rice, Scott Smith, Bryce Davis and Chris Schuman. Snider, the team leader, says the name means a lot to the group.
"The definition of tribe is a group of individuals who come together for a common purpose," Snider states. "We all have different personalities and backgrounds, but the sport is what brings us together."
