Dennis Badke tends to a young motherless fawn.
Dennis Badke of rural Bristol is one of four Elkhart County residents to appear on a list of “Indiana Licensed Wild Animal Rehabilitators,” which is maintained by the Division of Fish and Wildlife of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Dennis is also licensed by the [...]

Eight year old Ali Weaver proudly holds up the ponytails of (from left) Candice Meert, Amanda Kindel (Aly’s mom) and Elyse Graber. Ali cut the ladies’ hair herself to be donated to “Locks of Love” in Ali’s Honor. (Photo by Laurie Eads)
Although Ali Weaver, age 8, will not be a direct [...]

Free Community Co-Ed Sand Volleyball League held at Riverbend Park just East of downtown Middlebury. Practice will be held Monday nights starting at 6:30.   The first league game will begin Monday’s at 6:30 starting July 11th. This is a 4 person co-Ed league. To sign up a team or as an individual to join a [...]

An area student was named to the Dean’s List for the spring semester 2011 at Manchester College in North Manchester, Ind.: Matthew Ellis of Bristol, is a biology-chemistry major.  Ellis is a graduate of Elkhart Central High School.
To achieve the Dean’s List distinction, students must earn a semester grade point of 3.5 or higher and [...]

Carly Chomer and Kathy Mow on the West Face of Mt. Shasta, at around 11,000 feet. (Photo provided)
Kathy Mow, age 60, has just returned from northern California, where she and her daughter, Carly Chomer, joined 32 others in an attempt to hike to the summit of 14,179-foot Mount Shasta. Although neither woman reached the [...]

Ross Hougland, right, enjoys meeting and conversing with Jim and Ruth Nickel as they look over their financial accounts at the Edward Jones office in downtown Bristol. (Photo by Laurie Eads)
Ross Hougland has been selected by Edward Jones as its new financial advisor for its Bristol office, located at 203 E. Vistula Street, Suite A, [...]

Above, Ron Reigle the 2nd, was the winner of the ice cream eating contest. The contests were held at Stone Soup Emporium’s Grand Opening Event. The store is located in downtown Bristol. (Photos provided)
Above, Michael Russell, age 12, was the winner of the stone soup contest, $100 stone. Michael donated $50 back to [...]

BOY SCOUT TROOP 31:
Hungry for the best fish, chicken, and shrimp in town? Come on out July 8th from 4:30pm-7:30pm to the Bristol American Legion and support your Bristol Boy Scouts! The Boy Scouts will be working the Friday Night Fish Fry during the Bristol Homecoming! Take out is available.
The troop had an awesome time [...]

Summer brings us many pleasures, fresh fruit and vegetables, the Bristol Homecoming, and Japanese Beetles.. We all enjoy the fresh fruit, vegetables, and the homecoming, but the beetles are another story. The beetles eat many of our plants and then lay eggs in the lawn. The eggs will hatch in our lawns later in summer [...]

Greetings  Bristol!
Wow, 2011 is halfway over already! I can hardly believe it. I’ve been pleasantly surprised lately at how many patients are choosing to treat themselves for minor ailments before running to a doctor right away. I am also starting to see in the news that some small clinics and pharmacies are taking over the [...]

ADEC RIDE-A-BIKE AWARD recipients gather after a luncheon in their honor Thursday (June 16) at Antonio’s Italian Restaurant in Elkhart. Bradley Vite (center) presented the Bradley S. Vite Award for dedicated volunteerism to Tonja Stern-Gilbert (second from left). Other award recipients are (from left) Tom Nickel, Top Adult Pledge Winner; Ross Kirkton, Top Youth Pledge [...]

Ed McCourt sets up his herbs and plants at the Bristol Farmers' Market. (Photo provided)
If you are looking for a unique, local shopping experience, come and check out the Bristol Farmers’ Market.  In a Farmers’ Market, a group of farmers sell their products once or twice a week at a public place like a [...]

June crashes are down two crashes for the year compared to last year.  We remind everyone to be watchful for pedestrians as many of them are walking along roadways.  As always, remember to drive defensively and to always wear your safety restraint properly.  Our officers are once again taking part in the statewide Selective Enforcement [...]

Janie Stamm of Child and Parent Services (CAPS) attended the June 16 meeting of the Bristol Town Council (BTC) to seek approval to place a life-size painted elk near the quilt garden in front of the Elkhart County Historical Museum. The council unanimously approved the request.
The fiberglass elk is one of 30 such pieces that [...]

Phil Montieth displays the portrait he painted and donated to the Bristol Public Library after his other painting was moved to the Lerner Theatre in Elkhart. (Photo by Laurie Eads)
Phil Monteith, 84, a retired music teacher who pursues painting as a hobby, has several examples of his work on display in prominent area locales. [...]

In conjunction with Bristol Homecoming events, the Friends of the Library is holding a book sale at the Bristol Public Library on July 7th 10am – 8pm, July 8th 10am – 5pm and July 9th 10am – 3pm.
Exciting news!  Two raffles will be held at the book sale with the proceeds going towards repair of [...]

Carol Willis is a freelance writer and editor. She specializes in written communications for businesses and nonprofits and other editorial projects. Carol also is the development director at Church Community Services.Sauntering into Summer
Independence Day
Independence Day. It’s when we celebrate the colonists declaring themselves a free nation. It’s about freedom, liberty, [...]

Summer Reading Program Events

The Book Trailer Contest for grades 7-12 ends Wednesday, July 6 at 8:00 p.m.  All entries must include the information about music and pictures used in the video.  Prizes will be awarded after the judges have viewed all entries.  The library will post the best videos on the website at www.youseemore.com/bristolwash
Ronald McDonald [...]

Just as Middlebury Pantry ran out of funds this Spring, Bristol Community Food Pantry is now out of funds.  In fact the Pantry is in the red for the first time.
Although 4500 pounds of food were gathered by the Post Office Letter Carriers in May, the pantry shelves are nearly bare.  Donations are down and usage [...]

On Saturday July 2nd, 2011 – A beam from the former North Tower of the World Trade Center will be coming through Bristol on its way to its final resting place, Osolo Fire Department. The escorted motorcade will be leaving Angola, IN. on Saturday July 2nd, at 10:28 a.m. (the time that the north tower [...]

Mitch Bender, owner of Bravo Trailers is pictured above at left outside of his manufacturing facility in Bristol. To the right of the Bristol Pirate are Kate Lockwood, VP of sales; John Bolstettler, VP of Finance; and Gary Mackelprang, VP of operations. (Photo by Laurie Eads)
Bristol’s Monthly Beautification Award was presented to Bravo Trailers, [...]