Congressman Banks Honors Dobbins; Pucket Encourages Others To Serve
February 8, 2020 at 2:31 a.m.
Congressman Banks Honors Dobbins; Pucket Encourages Others To Serve
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Dobbins, who died Feb. 1 following complications from surgery, joined the WPD in 2012 and served as a full-time law enforcement officer in northeast Indiana for 16 years.
In his one-minute allotted time on the House floor, Banks said Jason was following in the footsteps of his father, Ted, who also served as a WPD officer for 20 years.
“In the wake of his tragic passing last Saturday, officer Dobbins is mourned by the Warsaw Police Department and the whole of Warsaw who remembers him as a great leader, father and friend,” Banks said. “And as Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer told me just earlier today in a text message, he said, ‘The overwhelming immediate outpouring of support is testimony to his committment to the well-being of the Warsaw community. His legacy of service lives on.’”
Banks said it’s people like Jason who embody the “very best of what our nation has to offer.” He offered his deepest condolences to Jason’s wife, son, daughters and stepson and prayed they’d find peace.
A video of Banks’ statement can be found on his Facebook page.
HEART OF A SERVANT – Readers may remember that County Auditor Michelle Puckett received the “Excellence in Government” award at the 108th annual Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce dinner Jan. 30.
Due to time constraints, many Chamber award winners don’t get to publicly thank their supporters or provide any remarks. That’s understandable.
However, after Kosciusko County Community Foundation CEO Suzie Light and County Commissioner Bob Conley congratulated Puckett and thanked her for all her hard work at the commissioners meeting Tuesday – which was followed by a round of applause – Puckett made a comment we felt should be highlighted.
Puckett said, “It’s an honor, it’s a privilege to work with the commissioners and council, and serve the county. So that’s not a privilege that everybody has an option to be in. It is an election year, and not that those are fun, those are never fun, but truly if you have the heart of a servant, I would really encourage people to continue to step forward to serve.”
GOOD JOB – At the Warsaw Common Council meeting Monday night, city Senior Planner Justin Taylor gave a presentation on the Ride+Walk Committe and everything the committee, town of Winona Lake and city of Warsaw have done to provide walking and bike trails for the public.
Later in the meeting, before giving a presentation of his own, Taylor’s boss – City Planner Jeremy Skinner – had some nice things to say about Taylor’s efforts.
“Great job, Justin,” Skinner said. “All the work he’s done, and looking back over the last eight years and just seeing that (trail) map and the progress we’ve made, it’s taken a lot to get there. It’s easy to look back now and see ‘oh, that’s great, we have the trailhead, we have Rotary Park and we have Market Street done in two phases.’ Phase I was done with local money, phase II was done with INDOT grant money. So to look back on that and see what we accomplished over the last eight years, it’s inspiring to push forward and hopefully accomplish more in the future. So, great job, Justin.”
TWICE IS BETTER THAN NONE ... – Because City Councilman Mike Klondaris was absent at the January Redevelopment Commission, it was decided he would be sworn in to the commission that night at the city council meeting along with taking the oath for the city council.
So at the first city council meeting of the year, Klondaris took two oaths of office.
But at the start of Monday’s Redevelopment Commission, Klondaris insisted he needed to be sworn in because he hadn’t taken the oath in January. Skinner told Klondaris the plan was to have him sworn in at January’s council meeting, but Klondaris said that didn’t happen.
A reporter was certain Klondaris had taken both oaths at the city council meeting, but Klondaris argued otherwise and the mayor ended up giving him the oath for the Redevelopment Commission.
As it turns out, the reporter was right. A city official confirmed Tuesday that Klondaris was sworn in to the Redevelopment Commission at the council meeting.
Farmer’s Market Expansion – During Wednesday’s Mentone town council meeting, an addition to the farmer’s market was discussed.
Councilwoman Shelley Krueger said she thinks the farmer’s market will hold an event to sell crafts at the beginning and end of the market. The idea came from vising a farmer’s market while in Ohio. It will run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 9 and Oct. 10. There is no registration fee, but anyone interested would have to e-mail Krueger at [email protected]. She will then send the interested party the proper form needed.
HICKORY – We got an email Friday afternoon from the Milan 54 Hoosiers Museum that we thought fans of basketball, Indiana and the movie “Hoosiers” might be interested in.
It offers people a chance to win a vintage-style “Hickory” varsity jacket, inspired by the movie “Hoosiers,” as part of the museum’s spring 2020 fundraiser raffle for its endowment. Only one jacket will be awarded, and size fits up to XXL.
As a special bonus, the winner also shall receive a personal phone call from Brad Long, who played Buddy, Hickory player #14, in the classic basketball movie “Hoosiers,” and an autographed picture of the original Milan 1954 team.
Deadline for all entries is midnight March 13. Each “Game Ticket” costs $86 to commemorate the movie premiere in 1986.
For official rules and more information, visit the website https://milan54.org/.
As most local people know, local dentist Dr. Steve Hollar played Rade Butcher in the iconic film starring Gene Hackman.
SOTU RESPONSES – Shortly after President Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night, our email inbox quickly filled up with responses from both sides of the aisle.
Some were long, some were quick and to the point, but here’s a few snippets from the statements we received:
Indiana Attorney General and Republican Curtis Hill said, “Thanks to the hard work put forward by our President, his administration, and Republican leaders across the country starting with 26 Republican attorneys general, the state of our Union is strong and thriving.”
Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody said, “Donald Trump is an ineffective president hellbent on lining the pockets of the well-off and well-connected. An hour and twenty minutes of manufactured applause lines won’t lower the skyrocketing cost of health care or put more money in the pockets of working Hoosiers. They look to Washington and see a system still rigged to favor the powerful and a president who can’t or won’t reform it.”
Indiana Republican Party Chairman Kyle Hupfer said, “President Trump gave a optimistic, forward looking State of the Union speech tonight. The contrast couldn’t be greater between the President’s record of accomplishment and the Democrats’ record of witch hunts, conspiracy theories, and a sham impeachment.”
Indiana 3rd District Congressman and Republican Jim Banks said, “President Trump delivered an optimistic message tonight and rose above the circus and petty politics that has mired Capitol Hill in recent months. He’s the most effective president of my lifetime and has a lot of accomplishments to highlight.”
U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) said, “President Trump delivered an optimistic message about our country’s future and renewed his commitment to preserving and strengthening the American Dream. Our economy is booming, with more jobs and higher wages for hardworking Americans and new opportunities for our farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses.”
U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) issued the following statement: “Tonight, President Trump delivered an optimistic message about the great successes we have achieved over the last three years and the work that remains in order to keep America strong. Spurred by lower taxes, fewer regulations, and emerging trade deals, we are poised to continue this period of economic growth.”
People For the American Way President Michael Keegan said, "Donald Trump's dishonest and grandiose claims tonight belie the experience of millions of Americans. His remarks make it clearer than ever that he neither understands nor cares how his ill-advised tax cuts have widened the economic gap between working families and the richest of the rich; how his haphazard foreign policy has made us less safe and less respected around the world; how his trade wars have destroyed family farms; and how his blatant racism has led to untold harm and suffering for communities of color.”
Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron said, “The State of the Union is when the president is supposed to update Congress on the health of our democracy. Trump may see his many judicial appointments as a proud legacy, but it is already proving to be one of the biggest black marks on his administration.”
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Dobbins, who died Feb. 1 following complications from surgery, joined the WPD in 2012 and served as a full-time law enforcement officer in northeast Indiana for 16 years.
In his one-minute allotted time on the House floor, Banks said Jason was following in the footsteps of his father, Ted, who also served as a WPD officer for 20 years.
“In the wake of his tragic passing last Saturday, officer Dobbins is mourned by the Warsaw Police Department and the whole of Warsaw who remembers him as a great leader, father and friend,” Banks said. “And as Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer told me just earlier today in a text message, he said, ‘The overwhelming immediate outpouring of support is testimony to his committment to the well-being of the Warsaw community. His legacy of service lives on.’”
Banks said it’s people like Jason who embody the “very best of what our nation has to offer.” He offered his deepest condolences to Jason’s wife, son, daughters and stepson and prayed they’d find peace.
A video of Banks’ statement can be found on his Facebook page.
HEART OF A SERVANT – Readers may remember that County Auditor Michelle Puckett received the “Excellence in Government” award at the 108th annual Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce dinner Jan. 30.
Due to time constraints, many Chamber award winners don’t get to publicly thank their supporters or provide any remarks. That’s understandable.
However, after Kosciusko County Community Foundation CEO Suzie Light and County Commissioner Bob Conley congratulated Puckett and thanked her for all her hard work at the commissioners meeting Tuesday – which was followed by a round of applause – Puckett made a comment we felt should be highlighted.
Puckett said, “It’s an honor, it’s a privilege to work with the commissioners and council, and serve the county. So that’s not a privilege that everybody has an option to be in. It is an election year, and not that those are fun, those are never fun, but truly if you have the heart of a servant, I would really encourage people to continue to step forward to serve.”
GOOD JOB – At the Warsaw Common Council meeting Monday night, city Senior Planner Justin Taylor gave a presentation on the Ride+Walk Committe and everything the committee, town of Winona Lake and city of Warsaw have done to provide walking and bike trails for the public.
Later in the meeting, before giving a presentation of his own, Taylor’s boss – City Planner Jeremy Skinner – had some nice things to say about Taylor’s efforts.
“Great job, Justin,” Skinner said. “All the work he’s done, and looking back over the last eight years and just seeing that (trail) map and the progress we’ve made, it’s taken a lot to get there. It’s easy to look back now and see ‘oh, that’s great, we have the trailhead, we have Rotary Park and we have Market Street done in two phases.’ Phase I was done with local money, phase II was done with INDOT grant money. So to look back on that and see what we accomplished over the last eight years, it’s inspiring to push forward and hopefully accomplish more in the future. So, great job, Justin.”
TWICE IS BETTER THAN NONE ... – Because City Councilman Mike Klondaris was absent at the January Redevelopment Commission, it was decided he would be sworn in to the commission that night at the city council meeting along with taking the oath for the city council.
So at the first city council meeting of the year, Klondaris took two oaths of office.
But at the start of Monday’s Redevelopment Commission, Klondaris insisted he needed to be sworn in because he hadn’t taken the oath in January. Skinner told Klondaris the plan was to have him sworn in at January’s council meeting, but Klondaris said that didn’t happen.
A reporter was certain Klondaris had taken both oaths at the city council meeting, but Klondaris argued otherwise and the mayor ended up giving him the oath for the Redevelopment Commission.
As it turns out, the reporter was right. A city official confirmed Tuesday that Klondaris was sworn in to the Redevelopment Commission at the council meeting.
Farmer’s Market Expansion – During Wednesday’s Mentone town council meeting, an addition to the farmer’s market was discussed.
Councilwoman Shelley Krueger said she thinks the farmer’s market will hold an event to sell crafts at the beginning and end of the market. The idea came from vising a farmer’s market while in Ohio. It will run 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 9 and Oct. 10. There is no registration fee, but anyone interested would have to e-mail Krueger at [email protected]. She will then send the interested party the proper form needed.
HICKORY – We got an email Friday afternoon from the Milan 54 Hoosiers Museum that we thought fans of basketball, Indiana and the movie “Hoosiers” might be interested in.
It offers people a chance to win a vintage-style “Hickory” varsity jacket, inspired by the movie “Hoosiers,” as part of the museum’s spring 2020 fundraiser raffle for its endowment. Only one jacket will be awarded, and size fits up to XXL.
As a special bonus, the winner also shall receive a personal phone call from Brad Long, who played Buddy, Hickory player #14, in the classic basketball movie “Hoosiers,” and an autographed picture of the original Milan 1954 team.
Deadline for all entries is midnight March 13. Each “Game Ticket” costs $86 to commemorate the movie premiere in 1986.
For official rules and more information, visit the website https://milan54.org/.
As most local people know, local dentist Dr. Steve Hollar played Rade Butcher in the iconic film starring Gene Hackman.
SOTU RESPONSES – Shortly after President Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night, our email inbox quickly filled up with responses from both sides of the aisle.
Some were long, some were quick and to the point, but here’s a few snippets from the statements we received:
Indiana Attorney General and Republican Curtis Hill said, “Thanks to the hard work put forward by our President, his administration, and Republican leaders across the country starting with 26 Republican attorneys general, the state of our Union is strong and thriving.”
Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody said, “Donald Trump is an ineffective president hellbent on lining the pockets of the well-off and well-connected. An hour and twenty minutes of manufactured applause lines won’t lower the skyrocketing cost of health care or put more money in the pockets of working Hoosiers. They look to Washington and see a system still rigged to favor the powerful and a president who can’t or won’t reform it.”
Indiana Republican Party Chairman Kyle Hupfer said, “President Trump gave a optimistic, forward looking State of the Union speech tonight. The contrast couldn’t be greater between the President’s record of accomplishment and the Democrats’ record of witch hunts, conspiracy theories, and a sham impeachment.”
Indiana 3rd District Congressman and Republican Jim Banks said, “President Trump delivered an optimistic message tonight and rose above the circus and petty politics that has mired Capitol Hill in recent months. He’s the most effective president of my lifetime and has a lot of accomplishments to highlight.”
U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) said, “President Trump delivered an optimistic message about our country’s future and renewed his commitment to preserving and strengthening the American Dream. Our economy is booming, with more jobs and higher wages for hardworking Americans and new opportunities for our farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses.”
U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) issued the following statement: “Tonight, President Trump delivered an optimistic message about the great successes we have achieved over the last three years and the work that remains in order to keep America strong. Spurred by lower taxes, fewer regulations, and emerging trade deals, we are poised to continue this period of economic growth.”
People For the American Way President Michael Keegan said, "Donald Trump's dishonest and grandiose claims tonight belie the experience of millions of Americans. His remarks make it clearer than ever that he neither understands nor cares how his ill-advised tax cuts have widened the economic gap between working families and the richest of the rich; how his haphazard foreign policy has made us less safe and less respected around the world; how his trade wars have destroyed family farms; and how his blatant racism has led to untold harm and suffering for communities of color.”
Alliance for Justice President Nan Aron said, “The State of the Union is when the president is supposed to update Congress on the health of our democracy. Trump may see his many judicial appointments as a proud legacy, but it is already proving to be one of the biggest black marks on his administration.”
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