Memories Of '97: Wilcoxson, Wiggins and Wawasee among top stories of 1997
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
Changes in two communities and violence against two of the most innocent institutions - a child and a church - were among the top local stories of 1997.
By a unanimous choice, Winona Lake's restoration project was the top news story of the year, according to news staffers of the Times-Union and WRSW radio.
The massive restoration project, led by town council president Brent Wilcoxson and entrepreneur Dane Miller, spurred debate on several levels. While nobody doubts the project is well intended and will be a major benefit to the town, questions arose regarding Wilcoxson's role since some of the $7 million project has involved town council approval.
While Wilcoxson, a first-term elected official, stayed busy with the widespread renovation project, the longtime leader of the adjoining city of Warsaw was stepping aside.
After 13 years as mayor, Jeff Plank resigned and left office March 1 to join InstruMed, an upstart firm located in Warsaw.
Two other top stories of 1997 will remain in the news in 1998 as the subjects see their fate handled in criminal court.
Seventeen-year-old Timothy Grevenstuk is accused of setting a fire that destroyed the Leesburg Grace Brethren Church on July 21.
In a story that captured regional attention, Kristina Crooks, 20, stands accused in the death of her daughter, Lois. The infant died of nicotine poisoning after she ingested cigarettes. The infant's death spurred community outrage with some people using "Justice for Lois" bumper stickers and yard signs to get their message across.
News staffers for the Times-Union and WRSW reviewed nearly three dozen issues and incidents from 1997 and made selection based on news value and community impact.
The following is a synopsis of the top 10 news stories of the year:
p WINONA LAKE RESTORATION - Town council president Brent Wilcoxson mixes his role as community leader and businessman as he and entrepreneur Dane Miller take major steps to restore and reshape the town. The issue stirred debate over whether a conflict existed between Wilcoxson's role as council president and major town developer. Wilcoxson's desire to permit a future restaurant to sell alcohol also created waves among some town residents.
The project involves several dozen properties and eliminates some of the most blighted properties in the town. It will be complete by the turn of the century and is already having a positive impact on the town's tax base.
p Mayor Plank Resigns - After 13 years in office, one of the most productive mayors in Warsaw city history, Jeff Plank, stepped down. Plank, who espoused conservative values, was responsible for a slew of major projects, including development of Central Park, expansion of North Detroit Street and opening of the Senior Activity Center.
Longtime City Councilman Ernie Wiggins was named to replace Plank. Banker Paul Siebenmorgen replaced Wiggins on council and few changes were seen during the first year of Wiggins' tenure.
p Leesburg Arson - Seventeen-year-old Timothy Grevenstuk is charged in the fire that destroyed Leesburg Grace Brethren Church July 21. Grevenstuk will stand trial May 11 and is charged with arson, intimidation and obstruction of justice. Meanwhile, the church is working to rebuild.
p Zimmer layoffs - The world leader in orthopedic manufacturing announced layoffs affecting more than 250 Warsaw workers in a move to relocate some of its operations to Puerto Rico.
p Justice for Lois - Kristina Crooks, 20, is charged with murder after her 11-month-old daughter, Lois Ozenbaugh, was found dead. Crooks was charged after undigested cigarette butts were found in Lois' stomach. The infant died in late Feburary. Trial is set for Jan. 12.
p Prosecutor David Kolbe - Kosciusko County's first-term prosecutor David Kolbe continued to draw attention in several ways. A proposal by Kolbe to confiscate vehicles from repeat drunk drivers will be taken up by the Indiana General Assembly next year. This fall, he announced he would become a part-time prosecutor and then changed his mind days later, hinting that he would run for a second term.
Kolbe, whose office has expanded more than any other Kosciusko County department in recent years, also established a "Courtrooms to Classrooms" program and is seeking to start a teen court program to help alleviate the burden in the juvenile court system.
p BiCYCLE Bandit - Attempts to solve a series of residential break-ins dating back to the summer of 1996 unraveled after charges against two suspects were dropped and a suit was filed against the city of Warsaw and the town of Winona Lake.
p Racism at Wawasee - In two incidents teachers within the Wawasee School Corporation faced allegations of racism. Outrage surfaced last spring when a teacher distributed a quiz packed with racist terminology and was suspended. Members of the Ku Klux Klan held a rally to support the teacher and were roundly booed by onlookers.
This fall, a teacher accused of making a racist remark in class was forced to retire and then reinstated after the community rallied to her side and accused the school board of overreacting. One board member resigned in protest.
p Fireman Killed - First-year fireman Jeff Sammons was killed and two others injured while fighting an Aug. 21 fire that destroyed the Farmer's Exchange, a popular country western bar in Larwill.
p Warsaw Library expands - After years of debate, a new wing of Warsaw Community Public Library opened this winter. Renovations to the original building will be complete this spring.
Other stories that fell outside of the Top Ten but remained significant included the death of teen-age cancer victim Megan Easterday, the start of the 1988 campaign for sheriff and efforts to construct a major highway through Syracuse. [[In-content Ad]]
Changes in two communities and violence against two of the most innocent institutions - a child and a church - were among the top local stories of 1997.
By a unanimous choice, Winona Lake's restoration project was the top news story of the year, according to news staffers of the Times-Union and WRSW radio.
The massive restoration project, led by town council president Brent Wilcoxson and entrepreneur Dane Miller, spurred debate on several levels. While nobody doubts the project is well intended and will be a major benefit to the town, questions arose regarding Wilcoxson's role since some of the $7 million project has involved town council approval.
While Wilcoxson, a first-term elected official, stayed busy with the widespread renovation project, the longtime leader of the adjoining city of Warsaw was stepping aside.
After 13 years as mayor, Jeff Plank resigned and left office March 1 to join InstruMed, an upstart firm located in Warsaw.
Two other top stories of 1997 will remain in the news in 1998 as the subjects see their fate handled in criminal court.
Seventeen-year-old Timothy Grevenstuk is accused of setting a fire that destroyed the Leesburg Grace Brethren Church on July 21.
In a story that captured regional attention, Kristina Crooks, 20, stands accused in the death of her daughter, Lois. The infant died of nicotine poisoning after she ingested cigarettes. The infant's death spurred community outrage with some people using "Justice for Lois" bumper stickers and yard signs to get their message across.
News staffers for the Times-Union and WRSW reviewed nearly three dozen issues and incidents from 1997 and made selection based on news value and community impact.
The following is a synopsis of the top 10 news stories of the year:
p WINONA LAKE RESTORATION - Town council president Brent Wilcoxson mixes his role as community leader and businessman as he and entrepreneur Dane Miller take major steps to restore and reshape the town. The issue stirred debate over whether a conflict existed between Wilcoxson's role as council president and major town developer. Wilcoxson's desire to permit a future restaurant to sell alcohol also created waves among some town residents.
The project involves several dozen properties and eliminates some of the most blighted properties in the town. It will be complete by the turn of the century and is already having a positive impact on the town's tax base.
p Mayor Plank Resigns - After 13 years in office, one of the most productive mayors in Warsaw city history, Jeff Plank, stepped down. Plank, who espoused conservative values, was responsible for a slew of major projects, including development of Central Park, expansion of North Detroit Street and opening of the Senior Activity Center.
Longtime City Councilman Ernie Wiggins was named to replace Plank. Banker Paul Siebenmorgen replaced Wiggins on council and few changes were seen during the first year of Wiggins' tenure.
p Leesburg Arson - Seventeen-year-old Timothy Grevenstuk is charged in the fire that destroyed Leesburg Grace Brethren Church July 21. Grevenstuk will stand trial May 11 and is charged with arson, intimidation and obstruction of justice. Meanwhile, the church is working to rebuild.
p Zimmer layoffs - The world leader in orthopedic manufacturing announced layoffs affecting more than 250 Warsaw workers in a move to relocate some of its operations to Puerto Rico.
p Justice for Lois - Kristina Crooks, 20, is charged with murder after her 11-month-old daughter, Lois Ozenbaugh, was found dead. Crooks was charged after undigested cigarette butts were found in Lois' stomach. The infant died in late Feburary. Trial is set for Jan. 12.
p Prosecutor David Kolbe - Kosciusko County's first-term prosecutor David Kolbe continued to draw attention in several ways. A proposal by Kolbe to confiscate vehicles from repeat drunk drivers will be taken up by the Indiana General Assembly next year. This fall, he announced he would become a part-time prosecutor and then changed his mind days later, hinting that he would run for a second term.
Kolbe, whose office has expanded more than any other Kosciusko County department in recent years, also established a "Courtrooms to Classrooms" program and is seeking to start a teen court program to help alleviate the burden in the juvenile court system.
p BiCYCLE Bandit - Attempts to solve a series of residential break-ins dating back to the summer of 1996 unraveled after charges against two suspects were dropped and a suit was filed against the city of Warsaw and the town of Winona Lake.
p Racism at Wawasee - In two incidents teachers within the Wawasee School Corporation faced allegations of racism. Outrage surfaced last spring when a teacher distributed a quiz packed with racist terminology and was suspended. Members of the Ku Klux Klan held a rally to support the teacher and were roundly booed by onlookers.
This fall, a teacher accused of making a racist remark in class was forced to retire and then reinstated after the community rallied to her side and accused the school board of overreacting. One board member resigned in protest.
p Fireman Killed - First-year fireman Jeff Sammons was killed and two others injured while fighting an Aug. 21 fire that destroyed the Farmer's Exchange, a popular country western bar in Larwill.
p Warsaw Library expands - After years of debate, a new wing of Warsaw Community Public Library opened this winter. Renovations to the original building will be complete this spring.
Other stories that fell outside of the Top Ten but remained significant included the death of teen-age cancer victim Megan Easterday, the start of the 1988 campaign for sheriff and efforts to construct a major highway through Syracuse. [[In-content Ad]]