Putting Duneland on the Map: Honored Wednesday at the Duneland Chamber of Commerce awards banquet for their unique activities which have increased the visibility of the Duneland area were (left to right) Kelle Mobley, of Lake Erie Land Co., who is tournament director for the Northern Amateur Golf Tournament; Jenni Anderson, a top-ranked competitive swimmer and Betsy Bobel, Miss Indiana. Second row, Chesterton Fire Chief Skip Highwood, organizer of the annual Chesterton Fire School and firefighter Kevin Murray. (Photo by Margaret Willis)

By MARGARET L. WILLIS

Organizing and planning a four day fire school started out small and has grown to the point that the Chesterton Fire Department has succeeded in “Putting Duneland on the Map,” said award presenter Jim Jeselnick at the summer Duneland Chamber of Commerce awards banquet.

The Chesterton Fire Department also gained wider recognition for a video clip of the tragic fire which destroyed the 100-year-old St. Patrick Church at Indiana Ave. and Third St. The tape, played for the gathering, showed firefighter Chad Bogue barely escaping certain death when the bell tower of old St. Pat’s toppled during the fire.

Ten years ago, the idea of a fire school was transformed into reality when the Duneland School of Emergency Response was begun. A 19 person committee began what has become the largest fire training school in Indiana. This year 792 firefighters and 42 younger students participated.

The two weekend event offers one, two or four day classes covering a myriad of topics involving every aspect of fire fighting, emergency response and, recently, terrorism response.

Ten years ago, Highwood recommended video cameras be mounted on fire trucks. The video, which aired on Real TV, earned the Chesterton Fire Department $500, Liberty firefighter Ray Wesley $500 and Chesterton firefighter Kevin Murray $50.

Fire Chief Skip Highwood, in accepting the award, thanked the Duneland School Corporation and former superintendent Dr. Kenneth Payne for cooperation which has made the school possible.

“We’ve had nothing but great cooperation,” in building the annual school, he said. Highwood also thanked the Porter County Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission for the grant funding for the mailing to announce the school each year. Joe’s Towing has also provided essential service, Highwood said.

“There are numerous others in the community who’ve supported us,” Highwood said, “Thank you.”

Swimmer Extraordinaire

Recent Chesterton High School graduate Jenni Anderson was also honored for Putting Duneland on the Map. Anderson, who has been swimming since she was 7 years old, has earned local, state and national recognition for her aquatic accomplishments and for being “an all around nice person” Jeselnick said.

The gathering was treated to a video of the 50 yard freestyle race Anderson won at the I.U. Natatorium. She also set a state record time of 55.24 seconds in the 100 yard backstroke. She has won the 50 freestyle and the 100 backstroke events three years in a row. Anderson was also awarded the 2001 Mental Attitude Award for the meet.

The March 2001 issue of Sport Illustrated featured Anderson in the “Faces in the Crowd,“ section, noting up and coming athletes to watch.

Anderson, who has earned a full scholarship to Auburn University, transferred the $1,000 scholarship which accompanied the Mental Attitude Award to her friend and fellow senior Christy Poparad.

With her sights set on the 2004 Olympics in Greece, Anderson’s motto is “If you don’t love it, you’ll never go anywhere.”

Northern Amateur

The Sand Creek Country Club hosted Northern Amateur Golf Tournament brings golfers from around the world and media attention, Jeselnick said. The tourney has been held for 35 years, the last 18 of which have been at Sand Creek.

The international field of 140 golfers represents 43 universities and 29 states, as well as Australia, England and Canada. “It’s a prestigious international amateur event,” Jeselnick said.

Over 200 Sand Creek employees and 70 volunteers work together to make the tourney a success.

Jeselnick showed a Fox Net Sports of Chicago clip of Northern Amateur 2000 coverage.

Kelle Mobley, of Lake Erie Land, is tournament director. In accepting the award, she thanked the hundreds of employees and volunteers who make the event possible.

Miss Indiana

Fourth in the string of Putting Duneland on the Map was Betsy Bobel, Miss Indiana.

Bobel, a Peru, IN native, has recently moved to the town of Porter. Bobel began her gymnastics career in the Peru Amateur Circus, a skill which carried her to the Miss America Pageant in October of 2000.

Bobel’s degree in Dietetics from Ball State University provided her with the background to use her Miss Indiana work to talk to kids in 110 schools and over 200 appearances about proper nutrition. Her image appeared on a MSA fire equipment poster given out at the International Fire Convention in Indianapolis.

Bobel has interned at Porter Memorial Hospital and is working on a Masters in Communication at Purdue Calumet. “This has been an amazing experience,“ Bobel said. “I’ve only lived here two years, but I feel so welcome. I’m proud to be a Porter resident."

Posted 7/26/2001