City Commissioner Bette Erxleben helped Cindy Stuff serve lunch today – lunch was pulled pork sandwiches, baked beans, choice of desserts and a beverage.  Thanks ladies!

Last night there was something noisier than a game of basketball happening at the City Gym. The local banks banded together to hold a cornhole tournament and auction – all to benefit the United Way of Wells County and to kickoff their annual giving.

Auctioneers Rudy Frauhiger, Gary Shaw and Isaac Stoller all donated their services for the annual event.

While the auction was busy looking for bidders and selling items to the generous banking community, those same banks fielded teams of two for a cornhole tournament. Bragging rights and a traveling plaque were given to the winning team from Ossian State Bank represented by Rick and Shane Brodie.

When all was done, leaders from each of the banks competed against each other in cornhole. Tim Schwartz from 1st Source Bank took top honors for the night.

MarkleBank holds an internal auction and many special events that benefit the United Way of Wells and Huntington Counties. Yesterday, was said auction.

Two plates of fudge made and donated by Dorothy Stinson are a perennial favorite and brought quite a bit of interest and dollars. And then, there was the surprise auction item – MarkleBank President’s license plate removed from his vehicle. In order for him to get it back, several bank employees drove up the price. Greg was a good sport with all of it – and paid the price to retrieve his license plate.

In addition this year, there was a cake decorating contest where each branch made and decorated a cake – all bank employees then had the opportunity to vote for their favorite cake. Cakes were auctioned off to the highest bidder as well. The winning cake was the Frankenstein cake decorated by the Warren branch.

Peg DeBolt continues to put a lot of thought and energy into running their employee campaign. Phil Patz spoke on behalf of United Way indicating that bankers should all be in the business of helping people – and giving to United Way was a key example of how to do that.

If your company is interested in running an employee campaign, please call Pamela at 824-5589 to talk about what we can do together.

Over 60 community and business leaders in Wells County gathered at Lighted Gardens for a luncheon to officially kickoff the campaign season.

Mr. Kneller also introduced his campaign cabinet – Vice Chair Tamra Boucher, Industry Chair, Rick Singer, Government Chair Bob Plummer, Commerce Chair Chuck King, Finance Chair Alan Gunkel, Medical Chair Karyn Gilly, Service and Nonprofit Chair John Whicker.

Campaign Chair Tom Kneller will speak briefly to kickoff the annual campaign – the goal this year is an ambitious $315,000. That is just over last year’s campaign. The needs are up and the entire community is going to have to come together to support the United Way efforts so that agencies and programs can continue doing all the good works that they have been doing.

Please join us as we kick off the annual campaign this year. Call 824-5589 for reservations.

United Way of Wells County is pleased to participate with the Wells County Public Library by extending a grant to purchase books to be used in the schools for the One Book One County project. This year’s book is Rocket Boys.

I have read the book, and, as a disclaimer was also on the selection committee. Rocket Boys is riveting and will appeal to folks of all ages and genders. Click here for more complete information on the book and the activities in the community.

I encourage you to support the project by encouraging your friends, service clubs, organizations and businesses to participate. Discuss the book everywhere you go. The whole point it to promote conversation.

There is a discussion board available on the website also. Please add your comments about the book and help us get, and keep, a lively online discussion going.

If you haven’t picked up a copy of Rocket Boys at the Wells County Public Library yet, do so today and start reading this engaging book.

Be sure to talk about what you are reading and ask “What Page Are You On?”

Dolly Parton started the Imagination Library for her home community if Sevier County in Tennessee in 1995 – it was opened up to other areas in 2000 – Wells County United Way became involved in 2001.

Today there are over 1100 communities offering the Imagination Library to its children. Children from the time of birth through their 5th birthday are eligible to receive age appropriate books mailed to their home every single month – at no charge to the families. United Way of Wells County is proud to support the Imagination Library in Wells County and has over 850 children receiving books every single month. The cost of this program is $29 per child per year. The Imagination Library promotes reading, but it also promotes a love of books and learning.

There have been over 20 million books mailed in the years since the Imagination Library began – over 550,000 books are sent every single month. I remember attending a conference with Dolly Parton when she presented the 1 millionth book – the program has been exploding since then.

We plan to continue offering this program for the children in Wells County. If you would like to support this program, please contact United Way of Wells County at 824-5589. If you would like to register your child living in Wells County, please go to our website

We are looking for individuals who are willing to be recorded on video to tell their story in 2 minutes or less. Personal, authentic video clips of how real people, right here in Wells County, Live United.

Do you volunteer? Do you work with a United Way agency? Do you donate to United Way?

Let us record you and post it on our blog – we want to know how YOU Live United.

Contact the United Way office at 260-824-5589 or comment on this blog and we will make arrangements with you to set up the taping.

Again, we are blessed with wonderful things here in Wells County – and this is just one more of those things.

If you are a business, please consider participating. You can contact the Chamber for more information.

If you are a high school student, go to the Career Expo and soak up all the information and knowledge that will be there.