Tranter is Fall Festival parade grand marshal

The South Whitley Fall Festival would be a different kind of community event without the famous bed race.
And there wouldn’t be a bed race so popular without this year’s parade grand marshal, Dave Tranter.
Years ago the Tribune-News’ publisher emeritis sat down with Dave Bollinger, Bill Pauley and Marv Goble and hatched the bed race event. It has developed into a real crowd-pleaser with people lining State Street to watch the teams compete.
Tranter owned the South Whitley Tribune – Piercton News for 33 years, selling it and the commercial printing business to yours truly in June 2007.
He and his wife, Linda, lived on South Whitley’s Sunset Drive for 30 years along with their two children Chad and Lisa. Chad and Angie (Eberly) live in Fort Wayne and Lisa lives in Sidney.
The Tranters have three grandchildren; Cory, 9; Carson, 7; and Adrienne, 5.
Dave worked with several organizations, boards and committees while publisher, including: The South Whitley-Cleveland Township Fire Department, from 1974 to 1986; The Whitley County Memorial Hospital Health Services; the South Whitley Chamber of Commerce where he was an active participant and tireless promoter of the annual Community Garage Sale; the South Whitley Community Facilities Foundation, the SW Economic Development Commission; the SW Bicentennail Committe; and a two-term Whitko School Board member.
Tranter won the Hoosier State Press Association’s Distinguished Community Service Award for coverage and promotion of the fund drive establishing the local medical clinic.
He attained the rank of commander in teh U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and still enjoys racing sailboats with family on Lake Wawasee. He served as Commodore of the Wawasee Yacht Club.
Currently, semi-retired, and, of course, busier than ever, Dave is the Monday evening captain of the historic Dixie paddlewheel tour boat on Lake Webster.
He has collected and traded antique outboard boat motors for years.
In North Manchester he is owns Tranter Paper Co. and manages several rental properties in South Whitley.
Be sure to give Dave a big wave hello as he passes by during the “Celebrate the Seasons” Parade at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20.



This year’s Day of Caring event in Kosciusko County revolved around home repairs for homeowners. United Way of Kosciusko County and Housing Opportunities of Warsaw partnered with Grace College, which supplies teams of more than 200 students and adult volunteers; Kosciusko County Senior Services, which provides transportation and distributes forms to seniors to request work they cannot do.
The August 27 event also included more than 600 people in association with 62 businesses and organizations helped others improve their living conditions.
In Pierceton there were 18 homes that received repairs.
The volunteers painted, installed doors, landings, steps and handrails and locks. They hooked up smoke detectors and trimmed trees. They cleaned gutters, mowed yards and remodeled kitchens.
They made plumbing repairs, glazed windows and cleaned out garages.
A total of 86 properties were improved before the day was done.