Farner Twins Receive Whitko Valor Award At School Board Meeting
Farner Twins Receive Whitko Valor Award At School Board Meeting
Posted
Teresa Carrano-
Farner Twins Receive Whitko Valor Award At School Board MeetingSOUTH WHITLEY – When Kevin and Darla Minnix’s house caught on fire in the early hours of New Year’s Eve, their Larwill neighbors ran to the property to help.
North Street neighbors and twin brothers William and Matthew Farner were two of the first to arrive and literally caught people jumping off the roof.
Whitko Junior-Senior High School Principal Jake Everett presented the seniors with Whitko Valor Awards during the school board meeting Monday. Everett called their actions “courageous” as he gave them the first-time awards.
The boys also put a ladder against the house to help other family members off the roof and assisted Kevin to safety. Kevin was later hospitalized for smoke inhalation as he frantically searched the house to make sure everyone got out. The house was a total loss.
In other business at the school board meeting:
• State Legos Robotics champions Logan Denton and Keaton Cornell gave a demonstration of their robot’s abilities with Legos sponsor and teacher Teresa Knepple explaining the competition’s requirements.
• Band teacher John VanPatten outlined a trip to Disney World in Orlando, Fla., planned for spring break of 2021. Costs for travel, rooms and all meals for the five-day trip are about $1,200 per student and three fundraisers are planned prior to the trip to offset student costs.
VanPatten said it’s been a long time since band members took a long-distance group trip.
• School resource offer Tim Clark approached the board with the idea of a canine officer that would be with him when he visits all three schools. He said the K-9 officer would be a passive breed mainly used for therapy for kids who need a little emotional decompressing. The animal could also be used for locker searches and tracking.
Clark said he’ll next approach the South Whitley Town Council with the request to have the dog and begin fundraising. His goal is to have to animal on duty by next August.
• Students of the month were recognized as Austin Kreps, a Whitko High School student; Chloe Clark, a Whitko Junior High School student; Brooklynn Anderson, of Pierceton Elementary School; and McKinley Rogers, of South Whitley Elementary School.
• Pierceton Elementary School Principal Michele Smith said the recent parent-teacher organization’s family movie night went well with 50 families attending. She said the students will observe World Read Aloud day on Feb. 5.
• Superintendent Dr. Brandon Penrod read South Whitley Elementary School Principal Bryan Emmert’s report, which notes that third- and fourth-graders will travel to the Shrine Circus Friday, as last year’s trip was cancelled for the then-third-graders because of the weather.
• Transportation and Maintenance Director Jim Bumbaugh said new camera systems have been ordered for bus stop arms. He added that the shuttle route changes have been well-received.
• In his report, Everett said more than $2,000 was raised for the West family, who also lost their house to fire this winter.
The Minnix family has received donations of household goods and clothing.
