SUNDAY, MARCH 14, 2021 VIEWPOINTS kpcnews.com B7 • Local performers’ music hits the internet

It turns out, you can teach an old Lane,” written by Dan Cory, and the band are vocalist Pam Good, band new tricks. “Last Chance Texaco,” composed the wife of drummer Mike Good, Now in its 45th year, Auburn- by Littlejohn — for 99 cents singer and keyboard player Carol based rock band Choice recently apiece. Both tunes lay down an Foley and trumpet player Steve shared its music on iTunes and easy-rolling groove that makes the Butler, a former Choice member. other music-streaming services for perfect backdrop for a road cruise. Other core members of Choice are the fi rst time. You also can fi nd Dan Guinn and Mike Penland. After a long career as Choice on Pandora, Spotify, The extra musicians add northeast Indiana’s favorite YouTube, Amazon and “frosting” to the songs, Mike Good party band, playing faithful Apple Music. said. “It’s so much fun. We have versions of classic rock More songs are on their a ball” recording them again, he hits, Choice is releasing way to the internet, Little- added. original songs written by john promised. “We’re still writing new ones,” its experienced musicians. “I think we’ll be Littlejohn said. Plans call for “It’s one thing to be a releasing one every two uploading a new song by Pam cover band. It’s another to DAVE weeks or week-and-a-half Good and Cory, entitled “Sea have original music. You for a while,” Cory said. Breeze.” want to leave a legacy of KURTZ “It’s fun for us — just to “Am I Ready,” written by Cory that,” said Mike Littlejohn, • see what happens.” and sung by Pam Good, made the newest member of Over the past fi ve years, its debut last year in a service at Choice with 13 years in the lineup Choice members have recorded some Auburn First United Methodist on bass guitar. 30 compositions of their own, Little- Church. It also will be made Choice is part of a sudden surge of john said. They played a sampling available soon for streaming and online music from Auburn musicians. of their originals in a concert at the downloads. Austin Marsh released his fi rst full DeKalb Outdoor Theater in Auburn To place a song on the Internet, album, “Bohemians,” on streaming three summers ago. a band needs to choose a distrib- services March 5. Backed by a solid Following that one-of-a-kind utor. The tune then goes through band, Marsh displays the maturation concert, fans asked how they could a process in which the music and of his songwriting and multi-instru- obtain copies of the songs. artwork are reviewed for originality. CONTRIBUTED mental talents. “It’s not about the money,” Cory “Everything’s scrutinized,” Artwork for Choice and Friends’ music online Sarah Reasner of Auburn and said about selling the music on the Littlejohn said. When a song passes her collaborator, Cami Akhamie internet. “We ’re just trying to get it muster, the distributor sends it to Lane,” all 99 cents went to Choice’s comfort of its “Barn Studio.” of Florida, posted their album, “I out there for them.” all the major services. Cory said account, with no cut to anyone else. “This is kind of what we’ve Choose Love,” on YouTube about Early versions of the songs are Choice’s music went to a total of “The world is so different. evolved to over the years,” Cory three months ago. Friday at 8 p.m., being upgraded, thanks to better 15 platforms. You used to have to have a record said about Choice’s new style they’ll release a full concert on recording equipment and a richer The band pays a one-time fee — company to do things you can do of playing its original songs in a YouTube, Facebook and the silver- sound provided by additional which Littlejohn described as “very on your own, now,” Littlejohn said. studio. “Some people take longer to birch.studio website, with no charge performers. nominal” — for unlimited uploads. “It’s a process we enjoy,” evolve than others.” to watch and hear their versatile For the new recordings, the The distributor keeps track of sales Cory said about recording for the worship songs. band added three musicians to its and sends the band a payment at the internet. After 40-plus years of road DAVE KURTZ is the editor of The Star And you can log onto iTunes fi ve-man mix and labeled the songs end of the year. I was surprised to trips and late nights, the band fi nds in Auburn. He may be reached at and buy two Choice songs — “Two as “Choice and Friends.” Joining learn that when I purchased “Two it relaxing to make music in the [email protected]. Protecting the ‘great experiment’ Joe Biden has always opposed with his loyalty to the fi libuster and lose eliminating the Senate’s fi libuster rule, and on voting rights? Or alter his position and for good reason. Proponents of its elimina- entertain changes to the Senate rules? tion ignore the reality that today’s majority The argument for change is rapidly will surely be in the minority again. And the gaining strength. For one losers will then realize the value of being thing, the entire Republican able to thwart the winners’ worst impulses. voter suppression effort This is not a hypothetical question. is premised on a Big Lie: In 2013, Democrats foolishly altered the that the last election was fi libuster rule — which requires 60 votes somehow stolen by the to end debate — so it no longer applied Democrats, and that stricter to federal judgeships. Four years later, laws are necessary to Republicans followed their lead, ending the prevent future fraud. But, fi libuster for Supreme Court nominations as countless courts, election and enabling President Trump to fi ll three STEVEN offi cials and Trump’s own seats in four years. attorney general have Do you think Democrats might regret ROBERTS concluded emphatically, being powerless to block Amy Coney • THAT IS NOT TRUE. Barrett’s elevation to the court in the waning Here’s the president’s days of Trump’s presidency? other problem: Even But now Biden faces a crisis, an infl ec- if Biden were to change his position, tion point, that’s forcing him to reconsider Democrats almost certainly don’t have his position on the fi libuster. Following the votes to eliminate fi libusters entirely. their defeats last fall, Republicans across With only 50 seats in the Senate, they the country are mounting a concerted can’t afford to lose anybody, and Sen. Joe effort in state legislatures to change the Manchin of West Virginia has made his rules and make it harder to vote. The position very clear. Asked if he’d consider Brennan Center for Justice counts 253 ending the fi libuster, he recently told bills introduced in 43 states that would reporters, “Never!” restrict the franchise and damage basic But there is another option, one that democratic norms. Manchin has indicated he might support: Child seduction arrest Michael McDonald, an expert on amending the fi libuster rules to make an election law at the University of Florida, exception for bills on voting and civil warns: “I don’t say this lightly. We are rights. Those rules are hardly sacrosanct; witnessing the greatest rollback of voting they have been altered many times. For rights in this country since the Jim Crow instance, the number of votes needed to tops most-read list era.” break a fi libuster was dropped from 67 to A Washington Post editorial adds that 60 in 1975. KENDALLVILLE — A woman arrested On the KPC News Facebook page this Republicans “have embraced a strategy of Carve-outs already prevent fi libusters for allegedly having sex with a teen was the week, Auburn’s being named a top ‘microp- voter suppression because they fear that, if on budget bills, trade deals and military most-read story of the week on kpcnews. olitan’ area, the one-year anniversary of the rules are fair, they will lose.” base closings. Voting rights are at least com. Indiana’s fi rst COVID-19 case and and What makes the crisis even more acute as important — if not more — than any Crime stories continue to be popular in East Noble Superintendent Ann Linson is that the Supreme Court, with its 6 to of those issues. In his eulogy last July recent weeks as readers frequently click announcing her retirement were the top 3 conservative majority, is unlikely to for civil rights icon John Lewis, Barack to read stories about new arrests and court posts of the week: uphold legal challenges to those laws once Obama made this precise point: “If all this hearings. March 5: Auburn’s ranking is based on they’re passed. The best option for Biden takes eliminating the fi libuster, another Nichole L. Thornsbearry, 35, of the 2900 corporate projects that include Butler and and the Democrats is to adopt federal Jim Crow relic, in order to secure the block of North Oak Street, was arrested by Ashley. Also, Angola ranks 32nd — 8,940 legislation that sets national guidelines God-given rights of every American, then Noble County police on a charge of child people reached, 306 reactions, 46 shares, 21 and impedes the GOP’s attempts at voter that’s what we should do.” seduction, a Level 5 felony. comments suppression. In 1965, my late father-in-law, Senior Judge G. David Lauer set Thorns- March 6: One year ago today, Indiana Two bills are moving steadily through Hale Boggs, then a congressman from bearry’s bond in Noble Circuit Court Friday reported its fi rst COVID-19 case — 6,480 Congress that would do just that. One Louisiana, risked his career to endorse and ordered her to have no contact with people reached, 39 reactions, four shares, 77 measure, which has already passed the Voting Rights Act. Boggs said on any children under the age of 18. During comments the House on a party-line vote, would the House fl oor, “I shall support this bill Friday’s initial court appearance, it was March 4: Linson previously taught at mandate procedures like automatic voter because I believe the fundamental right to divulged that Thornsbearry works with DeKalb High School and worked at Impact registration, expanded early voting and vote must be a part of this great experi- children in a school system. Institute, then served as East Noble High free mail-in ballots. The second proposal ment in human progress under freedom Court documents allege Thornsbearry School principal and assistant superintendent would restore provisions of the Voting which is America.” had sexual intercourse with a child at least before taking over the lead in 2010 — 4,924 Rights Act of 1965 — gutted by the Biden and the Democrats must amend 16 years of age and younger than 18. The people reached, 25 reactions, 32 shares, Supreme Court in 2013 — that imposed the fi libuster rules to protect that “great alleged crime did not occur as a function of three comments federal supervision over states and experiment” once again. her job. On the individual newspaper Facebook districts with a history of discrimination. The story picked up nearly 4,000 after pages, a story about Angola High School Here’s Biden’s fi rst problem: Those STEVEN ROBERTS teaches politics and being posted to the web. recalling failing students to its building, the bills will inevitably be blocked in the journalism at George Washington Univer- These were Top 10 stories on kpcnews. retirement of Eastside’s longtime superin- Senate by Republican fi libusters. So the sity. He can be contacted by email at com from March 4-10: tendent and Kendallville and Shipshewana new president must make a choice: stick [email protected]. 1) Kimmel woman charged with child getting state grants were the top posts of the seduction — 3,984 pageviews week: 2) Police arrest couple who brandished March 9: (The Herald Republican) weapon — 2,519 pageviews Parents of Angola High School students Commentary 3) Angola High School orders failing that are failing at virtual learning are being students to return to school — 2,035 ordered to send their kids back to school • pageviews before the month is over — 1,577 people To the Auburn Cord Duesenberg ranked fourth among midsize cities with 4) Linson retiring as East Noble superin- reached, 116 reactions, 51 shares, 82 Automobile Museum, which won a populations 10,000-50,000. tendent — 1,276 pageviews comments competition for a $249,275 state grant 5) Kidds share memories as they pack for March 4: (The Star) Longest-serving to create a new E.L. Cord To DeKalb High School move — 1,254 pageviews school chief reaches retirement — 460 Gallery of Entrepreneurship. sophomore Nate Fillenwarth, 6) Auburn ranks 5th among U.S. ‘microp- people reached, 15 reactions The permanent exhibition High5s who launched a project selling olitan’ areas — 1,179 pageviews March 4: (The News Sun) BREAKING: will tell the story of Auburn bracelets for $5 each to raise 7) Wreck claims lives of two teenage Kendallville, Shipshewana receive a total Automobile Co. owner E.L. & money for Hoosiers Feeding the brothers from Orland — 1,123 pageviews of $1.38 million for trails projects from the Cord. Hungry. The $5 donation is enough (50,864 total) state’s Next Level Trails program — 5,177 Hisses to feed a person for an entire week, 8) Longest-serving school chief reaches people reached, 181 reactions, 25 shares, 26 To local communities that according to the statewide hunger retirement — 1,091 pageviews comments rank among Indiana’s safest. Ligonier charity, based in Garrett. 9) Kendallville, Shipshewana awarded was rated the second-safest small city — Next Level Trails grants — 994 pageviews KPC NEWS is available 24/7 online at among communities with less than 10,000 HIGH FIVES AND HISSES is a Sunday feature 10) Woman faces charges after found in kpcnews.com. Browse stories, view photos residents — by online insurance website compiled by this newspaper’s editorial board. If shop cleaning — 982 pageviews (15,904 and videos or view the e-edition of your AdvisorSmith. Garrett was seventh-safest you have a “high fi ve” or a “hiss” to nominate, total) local newspaper any time online. in the small city category, while Auburn call or email the editor of this newspaper.