Daniel Beals
21Country Producer
Fort Wayne
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Daniel Beals graduated from Grand Valley State University. With several years experience as a newscast producer at WPTA, he made the transition to Executive Producer of Special Projects in 2020, and creates stories for the "21Country" franchise, special reports, and 30-minute programming that routinely airs on ABC21.
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“One could say, if it’s community-focused and art-centric I probably do it — or have done it,” Julia Meek said, of her 40+ year career with WBOI.
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The Fort Wayne Railroad Historical Society began a summer of passenger trips in Angola called: the Indiana Rail Experience. The excursions are the product of a new partnership with the Indiana Northeastern Railroad Company.
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After discovering a late relative was buried at a forgotten Ossian cemetery, Larry Heckber began a passion project to restore it back to its former glory.
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With the theme of 'homemade happiness', Warren's claim to fame -- the 55th Salamonie Summer Festival, is prepared to take place July 1-4.
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150 car ornaments are on display -- all American-made between 1911 and 1957. Car mascots served two purposes: as a thermometer to make sure the radiator didn’t overheat, and to convey a brand’s image and/or style.
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“Cars are one of the most creative and inspired things that we can relate to — we all have a car, we all love cars. They’re approachable.” artist A.D. Cook told ABC21. “There’s a lot of talent and energy that goes into glorifying them, and celebrating them.”
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WBOI's Terra Brantley brings us her new segment 'In the Spotlight'. This week, she showcases Ribfest, the Heartland Sings Vocal Conference, and Juneteenth.
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“A water strike is a poor consolation to a gas strike, but he was an opportunist,” historian Mark Linehan told us, of Abbott Magnetic Mineral Well's founder. A sanitarium built, would soon become a place of healing for those in 21Country.
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Over 140 years ago, the Craigville Depot was a stopping point for passengers on Nickel Plate Railroad. After complete renovation from decades of decay, it has a new purpose near Fort Wayne's developing downtown.
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Dozens of veterans and guardians made an unusual June trip to Washington DC, taking part in the 37th Northeast Indiana Honor Flight.
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The non-profit carries a high reputation, often offering a permanent residence to animals surrendered, abused, neglected, and seized. Part of the non-profit’s care plan includes enrichment activities, like ‘animal art’.
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Since 1990, the Little River Wetlands Project has transformed farm acreage in Indiana into wetlands -- serving as a home for robust wildlife and native plants.
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At 102, Jack Garrett is the nation's oldest active honor guard member, and a survivor of the attacks on Pearl Harbor. He makes a priority that fallen fellow veterans receive a proper send-off before being buried at their final resting place.
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"We have about 750 backpacks in 35 countries,” Kevan Chandler told us. “I would say out of the 750, maybe a little more than half of those were given away for free to families, and we would just like to do more of that.”
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“I will warn you — it is very addicting. Before you know it, you’ll start out with one or two planes, or like myself, might end up with about fifty.”
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Portland shows support for longtime amateur baseball team, which begins 63rd season.
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A Belgian man finds lost WWII dog tags, and travels to the U.S. to return them to their late owners' families.
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“I was completely blown away that it was her giving spirit,” executive director Wendy Hoering told us. “For young people to have an interest for supporting others, especially through philanthropy — it is just so admirable, and I am so fortunate that we’re the organization that she wanted to work with.”
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40 years later, the Auburn Community Band is still going strong -- in part, through the players who have bonded so closely, over the love of music.
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“We have lots of different ethnic backgrounds in this area and this community,” Adams Elementary administrative assistant Misty Zent ABC21. “We’re a neighborhood school also, and our families — we just wanted to make them feel celebrated.”
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“17 years ago, this field was corn stubble,” Maraiah Russell said of Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve. “Now, it’s a thriving habitat that supports salamanders, otters, bald eagles, beaver, muskrat — all manner of wildlife. And it’s just incredible to watch that.”
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A lifetime fascination of farming led Don Landers to amass one of the biggest collection of antique equipment and tools all showcased in his Corunna home.
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“When people are out in the woods," Indiana Mater Naturalist Carrie Vrabel told us. "I think a lot of people don’t realize, there are a lot more really nice, wild edibles -- including wild mushrooms that you can find while you’re morel hunting."
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Manchester University's music department chair will lead original work, an hour-long piece "A Family Portrait" in a performance at Carnegie Hall May 30. Debra Lynn will have only a couple of practices as several groups of musicians come together the day before — which includes MU’s A Capella choir, alumni, the New England Symphonic Ensemble, and other singers from Indiana, Idaho, and Missouri.
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The blind radio host of Z103.com was informed his story, the one we first shared with you earlier this month, would be included in ABC's World News Tonight.
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Taylor Talamantes is more than just your average licensed barber -- she also holds a Bachelors degree in Psychology. Before she cut hair, she worked as a registered behavioral technician. Talamantes saw a need to combine both her passions, helping kids in the autism community with an activity that often overstimulates them.
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During the virtual event in March, Columbia City student Lila Ward took first in the statewide competition, Poetry Out Loud. Now she moves on to represent Indiana in the nationals this weekend.
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From a humble YMCA, to the McCulloch Recreation Center, to the Jennings Center -- the building in Fort Wayne's East Central neighborhood has changed, but its purpose in the community has had a significant impact through the decades.
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Political Radar focuses on the Allen County Sheriff's Race. Two Republican candidates participate in a debate hoping to win votes before the May primary.
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Monte Sieberns, a blind radio host, began z103 last year, though he has decades of experience in the broadcast industry.
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When Mike Klinger learned of the 118th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, he wasn’t happy with what little information was available — especially when he learned of a family connection. That's when he took research into his own hands.
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Though Connie Brubaker works to teach others about Wells County history, she’s also remained a pupil of the past. “I love history, I love doing this. I have researched… I’ve produced five other books. I just can’t get enough of it. I’m a sponge I can’t learn enough.”
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“Paint fades. Bricks weather and wear. These signs do change over time,” Connie Haas Zuber said. “The general guideline is: if you have a historic building with a sign on it, whatever kind of sign it is, in general — keep the sign!”
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Though its lifespan was between 1903 and 1919, and most memories and information on the beloved trip all but disappeared from the community’s history, until train enthusiast and historian Craig Berndt retraced the route, and uncovered information on the Lake James Electric Railway.
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The Last Supper drama focuses on what each follower of Jesus thought and felt, when they learned one of them would betray him.
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The Huey was their lifeline, it was their sound of hope. When they heard it coming," John Walker said. "It was either going to get them out of a bad day, or bring them beans, bullets, or Band-Aids.”
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Ken Licklider’s K9 Britta’ was selected as the co-lead role of the 2022 film Dog.
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“We’re really proud that in this little unassuming factory, we make these really complicated, really detailed, really high quality instruments,” Stephanie Patterson told us, “just in South Whitley, where we have one stop light, and make world class bassoons.”
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'Born to be Soldiers' features thirteen stories of women who served in World War II.
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A time capsule discovered on Manchester University's campus included newspapers, programs, doctrines, and lists of then-Manchester College’s first students and faculty — a window into college life 133 years ago.
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Cinema Center screening Oscar-nominated short films
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Wednesday, the Fort Wayne Public Art Commission (PAC) met for the first time this year — discussing an agenda that lays out plans for several big projects in the coming months.
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Larry “Doc” Wiedman is well-known, in two very different career fields: as a scientist, and as an artist. But both profession and hobby have become intertwined over the past few decades.
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“Historically, it’s the oldest and longest operating winter quarters in America — that should be the number one priority, to know that you have the only thing that’s ever lasted this long, right here, in the state of Indiana.”
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“It shows in an interesting way,” TJ Honeycutt told us, “how small town people can come together and engage in a unique project together that ends up accidentally planting us into world history.”
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Fort Wayne's impressive collection on America's 16th president has a new home, and is accessible to all.
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“The passions feed each other. I can’t really consider myself a teacher over an artist, or an artist over a teacher,” Hannah Burnworth told us. “They just have become one thing.”
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LC Nature Park hopes to take visitors back in time, to the landscape it once had before settlers -- including bison and elk.
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Dwi Sutander and his team developed the mobile app AeonCharge -- described as the ‘Airbnb’ of navigating, activating, and paying to charge electric vehicles.
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“I think Christmas is a lot about… a lot about the senses,” Annie Oakely Perfumery owner Renee Gabet explained, listing key ingredients like: Douglas fir, Indiana peppermint, cinnamon, eucalyptus, vanilla, and sweet orange.