Southwood High School Principal Andrew McDaniel (second from left) accepts his school’s 2016 Advanced Placement Award. The award recognizes Indiana schools that 25 percent or more students earn a 3 or higher on AP exams. Standing with McDaniel are (from left) SHS Science teacher Jeff Springer, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jennifer McCormick and SHS Science teacher Cynthia Bell. Southwood’s AP teachers that were unable to attend the ceremony include Rod Cole, Troy Andrews, Shelly Faust and James Sparks. Photo provided

By Emma Rausch

The Indiana Department of Education honored Southwood Jr.-Sr. High School Wednesday, June 14, as a recipient of the 2016 Advanced Placement (AP) Awards.

One of 53 schools to receive the award, the Tuesday afternoon ceremony at the Indiana Statehouse North Atrium recognized schools that had at least 25 percent of their 2016 graduating class receive a 3, 4 or 5 on an AP exam.

Based upon 2016 information, 36 percent of Southwood’s eligible students took an AP exam with 50 percent of those students passing, according to the U.S. News & World Report 2017 Best High Schools of Indiana.

Shepherd's Chevrolet in North Manchester sponsored three National FFA scholarships for $1,000 each. Lindzy Shepherd (left) and Tyler Shepherd (right), both of Shepherd’s Chevrolet, pose with scholarship recipients (second from left) Northfield’s Jacob Schuler and Manchester’s Hallie Sorg and Audrey Wilcox. Photo by Eric Christiansen

By Eric Christiansen

NORTH MANCHESTER -- Two Manchester High School graduates and one Northfield High School graduates received help with their college funds, thanks to Shepherd's Chevrolet sponsoring a national FFA scholarship.

Manchester’s Audrey Wilcox and Hallie Sorg, and Northfield’s Jacob Schuler all received $1,000 scholarships through the National FFA Organization, sponsored by Shepherd's Chevrolet in North Manchester.

Past and present students of the Manchester Early Learning Center cut a paper chain ribbon, made by the current students, at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Center's new location Saturday, June 24. Photo by David Fenker

By David Fenker

NORTH MANCHESTER -- After nearly four years of fundraising phone calls, letters and presentations, Manchester Early Learning Center’s (MELC) new facility opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony Saturday, June 24.

“What a day, what a celebration, what a facility,” MELC Board President Jim Smith said, speaking to a large crowd gathered at the Center’s new location, at 705 N. Market St. in North Manchester.

Smith thanked several people and organizations, including past and present MELC board members, the North Manchester Town Council and the donors and organizations that help fund the Center.