The year 2014 was a busy one for Niles. The community witnessed its share of tragedies, but a number of triumphs as well.

Over the next several issues of the Niles Daily Star, staff will count down the top stories of the year, ending with the top three stories of the year in the New Year’s Eve edition of the paper.

The list was voted on by staff in various departments at Leader Publications based on the most read, talked about stories of the year that carried the most impact in the community.

Stories 10 through eight are as follows:

 

10: Traveling Vietnam wall memorial visits Niles

For three days in June, a 360-foot long replica of the Vietnam Memorial Wall was parked on the practice field outside Niles High School.

Hundreds of people stopped for a few minutes, while others stayed for a few hours, to pay tribute to those who sacrificed their lives in the conflict.

The wall contained the names of the more than 58,000 Americans who died in the conflict.

Many used paper and pencil to make etchings of names of those who died.

Gary Lisle, of Benton Harbor, came to etch out the names of those who served with him in Delta Company First Battalion Ninth Marines in Vietnam.

“It gets a little easier as time goes on,” Lisle said as he sketched the seventh name of 22 that day. “What’s really tough is it took me a long time just to remember the names. People would come in and be there a week or two weeks and then they are gone. You hardly had a chance to get to know them.”

Another of the many veterans who visited the wall that weekend was Buchanan graduate Bud Baker, a member of the 199th Army who was shot several times during a mission to free Prisoner’s of War in Vietnam in April 1968.

Forty-seven men from his unit have their names upon the wall.

“We were brothers — closer than brothers. We could finish each others’ thoughts before they could,” he said that day. “If it weren’t for them I wouldn’t be here right now. I owe everything to them.”

The traveling wall was the centerpiece of what is called the Cost of Freedom Tribute, which honors all who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the U.S., from veterans to active duty military to police offers and firefighters.

The American Legion Post 26 in Niles was responsible for bringing the tour to the City of Four Flags.

 

9: 12-year-oldBrandywine student dies in crash

The year opened on a sad note as a 12-year-old Niles boy was killed in an accident on New Year’s Eve day.

Adrian Chiquito was the passenger in a vehicle his friend, Brandon Burr, 14, was driving on Bertrand Road in Milton Township. Burr lost control of the vehicle and struck a tree.

Chiquito was pronounced dead at the scene, while Burr was hospitalized for treatment of his injuries.

Chiquito was a seventh-grade student at Brandywine Middle School where he played defensive tackle on the football team.

His coach described Chiquito as likeable and coachable kid.

“Obviously with the name Chiquito — I always try to find a nickname for the players. He wound up being Chiquita Banana. He never took it bad, just got a big ol’ smile on his face,” said coach Erick Szilagyi in an interview shortly after the accident.

Chiquito’s English teacher said he was a well-adjusted, smiling kid.

“He got my sense of humor, and not a lot of kids do,” said teacher John Schulte. “He was one of those kids that was sort of finding their way in 7th grade. The sky’s the limit for kids like that.”

Family said Chiquito was known for his work ethic and in the summer he could be found mowing lawns to make extra money. He loved listening to music and had aspirations to master the guitar and play drums.

 

8: River Valley Trail completed

Niles residents celebrated a new recreational asset in the community benefitting people all over Michiana with the completion of the first phase of Niles Township’s portion of the River Valley trail this August.

After just over a year of fundraising, leaders with the trail effort collected the nearly $850,000 necessary to construct the Niles portion of the trail through grants and donations from private sources. Because of the fundraising efforts, Niles Township was only responsible for $25,000 of the $842,000 project.

The first phase of the trail spans a total of 3.3 miles through Niles Township and provides an safe place for bicyclists, runners and walkers to enjoy nature while exercising.

“We’re starting a new chapter of recreation activity in the township. It’s going to be the responsibility of the ongoing park commissioners, the ongoing township boards, to make sure that this trail is maintained in the condition that we see it today. If we do nothing, this will not be like this in five or six years,” Niles Township supervisor Jim Stover said at the grand opening of the trail in early August.

A second phase of the trail is projected for 2015-16, and trail supporters estimate that project to cost $278,000.

When completed, the River Valley Trail will be 34 miles long, connecting Niles to St. Joseph County, Indiana, including Roseland, Notre Dame, South Bend and Mishawaka.