Syracuse Zoners Offer Settlement To Developer

SYRACUSE - If Capital One Realty Corp., Chicago, accepts the Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeal's proposed settlement of $2,000, they will be getting off much cheaper than if the case was taken to court. Capital One Realty Corp.owns Turtle Bay Estates in Syracuse.In July 1998, they were granted an exception and variance provided they get a building permit for the office they had planned as well as a survey.As of August 1999, the corporation had failed to get either the permit or the survey. At Thursday's Syracuse BZA meeting, Barry Coy, representing Turtle Bay Estates, said he thought the corporation was getting the survey completed, and the corporation thought he was getting the survey completed. According to Syracuse BZA Chairman Mike Brown, the BZA could charge anywhere from $10 to $300 a day for the violation.

Syracuse Works Toward Purchasing Old Train Depot

SYRACUSE - Syracuse Town Council heard a presentation by Mark Baumgartner regarding the possible acquisition of the train depot by the town.

Schools Focus On Anti-Drug Message

Schools across Kosciusko County are choosing different ways to celebrate Red Ribbon Week (Oct.25-31), but the overall message remains the same: Just say no. Red Ribbon Week began in 1985 after drug traffickers murdered federal agent Enrique Camarena, who was working for the Drug Enforcement Administration in Mexico.Camarena's neighbors began wearing red ribbons as a symbol to end drug-related violence; these ribbons evolved into the national symbol for eliminating illegal drugs. Students in the Warsaw school system moved Red Ribbon Week activities up a week because of parent-teacher conferences next week.In some schools teachers planned activities for their classrooms.Many students made posters, decorated doors and classrooms, and of course, wore their red ribbons.

Wawasee Studies Alternative Education, Safety

SYRACUSE - Alternative education and school safety were two issues discussed by the Wawasee School Board Tuesday. Superintendent Mark Stock planned to have an update on Wawasee's alternative school program for the board, but not all the information was complete.Erick Jones, director of alternative education, has resigned to take a position in Illinois. Alternative education for Wawasee high school and middle school students is for students who are "candidates for expulsion," according to Stock. Board member Marion Acton asked about student attitudes last year.

WCS Board Members Quizzing Architects

Before beginning the interviews with architectural firms Wednesday, the Warsaw School Board and Superintendent Dr.Robert Haworth discussed interview and selection processes. The firms are not making their presentations to sell a particular project, Haworth said, but to sell themselves to the board for whatever building projects the board decides to take on, and to help sell any such projects to the community.Moake Park and Scearce Rudisel/Schmidt Associates made their presentations Wednesday.Tonight, the firms of MSKTD, Odle McGuire & Shook and Kovert Hawkins make their presentations. In September 2003, the previous Warsaw School Board voted to close the Atwood, Claypool and Silver Lake elementary schools, citing budget concerns.Students at those schools have since been bussed to other Warsaw School Corp.elementaries.

North Webster Seniors Seek Space In Community Center

NORTH WEBSTER - To make sure all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed, state commerce department representatives visited with about 25 senior citizens, town council members and grant administrator Bob Murphy Monday. The seniors want to organize a space of their own in the community center - the former North Webster Elementary school building. North Webster Community Center Inc.took ownership of the facility Feb.18. Murphy wrote a grant asking for $260,000 from the Indiana Department of Commerce's Community Development Division. Mary Beth Schmucker, an IDOC deputy director, and Ed Fansler, a north field representative, were more than half an hour late for the meeting at town hall.

Pierceton Approves Rezoning For Juvenile Facility

PIERCETON - Despite protests from adjacent neighbors, the town council approved a rezoning of 60 acres to public use in the Cubs Development industrial park north of U.S.30. Lifeline Youth and Family Services Inc.'s Chief Executive Officer Mark Terrell answered questions and talked about the proposed complex Monday. The proposed facility would initially house 60 to 70 male juveniles, ages 8 to 18, in three group homes.Future plans include two more group homes, a school, a chapel and recreational facilities. "It's a secure facility, not a juvenile prison," Terrell said."They are there for two reasons.Either they made poor decisions or their parents made poor decisions.They are considered a moderate security risk." Lifeline does not accept children who need to be medicated to modify their behavior, although they may be on medication.Length of stay is from 90 days to nine months, as ordered by a judge.

Lack Of Space Projected At Madison

Art is being moved to a portable classroom at Madison Elementary School this fall because of the projected lack of space. According to information presented by Warsaw Schools Superintendent Dr.Dave McGuire to the Warsaw School Board Monday, as the administration has looked at the projected number of students for next year, there appears to be a need for another classroom at Madison.The suggested option is to move a portable classroom unit from Jefferson Elementary to house the Madison art program and use the existing art room as a regular classroom.Simply converting the room from an art room to a regular classroom will require the art teacher to move from room to room to provide art instruction.WCS maintenance director Greg Schroeder received a quote of $13,282 for the portable to be relocated. Cathy Folk, WCS board member, questioned making this decision before they knew what the number of students at Madison were going to be for the 2005-06 school year.

Commissioners Hear Fund Requests From Local Social Service Agencies

Every year, right before the Kosciusko County Commissioners plan their overall budget request to the county council, local not-for-profit organizations make their budget requests to the commissioners. If approved, the organizations will then receive their requested funds next year out of the commissioners' budget. Tuesday, 10 organizations presented the commissioners with their requests for 2001. The largest amount requested is from the Cardinal Center for $117,000, an increase of $37,000.However, the increase includes a one-time-only appropriation of $37,000 to help them repair roofing. The second largest request is for $100,500 from the Bowen Center/Juvenile Center.The requested amount is the same as last year's request. Also keeping their requests the same for next year were a request for $500 from Arrowhead and $23,000 from the Kosciusko County Historical Society.

Council Hears Of Biomet's Expansion Plans

Biomet's Tom Bauters, director of tax, discussed the company's expansion plans before the county council Thursday. The company's request for 10 years worth of abatement for two phases of expansion unanimously were approved. The first phase includes conversion of a warehouse building on Boeing Drive to a manufacturing facility.Costs are about $1.2 million.Plans are to hire 102 people with an estimated payroll of $3.3 million. The second phase is an addition to Biomet's existing facility.An additional 60,000 square feet to the southwest corner will cost about $9 million.No cost was given if a second story was added. The company would add an estimated 160 manufacturing jobs with an annual payroll of $5.3 million.An additional $8 million worth of manufacturing equipment would be installed. Bauters said with the local approval, the company can petition the state for additional incentives.

Two Alleys Vacated For Syracuse CVS

SYRACUSE - Another step toward development of a new CVS store was taken by the town council Tuesday evening. The council voted 4-0, with Paul Stoelting abstaining, to vacate a couple of alleys. The new store will be at the corner of Huntington and Chicago streets. The alleys vacated are south of Pittsburgh Street south to Chicago Street, and east of Huntington Street to Walnut Street. Attorney Steve Snyder, representing CVS, told the council the alleys didn't access any property other than that owned by CVS. He also noted CVS would absorb the cost of moving utilities, if necessary. The council heard a presentation from Mike Todd of Accu-Med. Accu-Med is an ambulance billing service.Currently, the town does its own ambulance billing and is collecting at a rate between 80 and 92 percent. Councilwoman Cassie Cowan asked Todd if his company could improve the rate of collection.

New City Hall Scheduled To Open Mid-November

The new Warsaw city hall on Buffalo Street is expected to open mid-November, and the 10-month project is going smoothly, according to Jeremy Skinner, planning department.

Robinson - Obama Needs a Jobs Plan So Crazy it Just Might Work

WASHINGTON – President Obama’s promised jobs plan needs to be unrealistic and unreasonable, at the very least. If he can crank it all the way up to unimaginable, that would be even better.

Parker - Newt's Fib About Romney

Rarely has such a small, innocuous, truth-based remark garnered so much attention from the chattering classes as Mitt Romney’s proposed $10,000 bet with Rick Perry during this past weekend’s Republican primary debate.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS-CITY OF WARSAW-EAST MAIN STREET

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY AREA PLAN - APRIL 12 EXCEPTIONS

Redevelopment Hears Buffalo Street Update

Other than the election of officers the Warsaw Redevelopment Authority had no business on its agenda Wednesday, but City Planner Jeremy Skinner gave members an update on the Buffalo Street project.

Redevelopment Buys Lots For Possible Senior Housing

The Warsaw Redevelopment Commission’s purchase of five lots on East Market Street from Kosciusko County Habitat for Humanity will allow the properties to be repackaged for a future housing development, possibly senior housing.

Syracuse Accepts Easement for Sewer Under Private Land

SYRACUSE – Syracuse Town Council adopted an ordinance Tuesday night accepting a permanent easement for an existing sewer line.

Area Plan Ward