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BZA Denies Tattoo Request

If it's true a picture says a thousand words, then 122 S.Buffalo St.will remain silent, following a denial of a special exception request Monday by the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals. Jeannie Williams, of Columbia City, was seeking the special exception to permit her to open a tattoo and piercing parlor in the vacant Buffalo Street store. "I have a lot of plans for the building.In addition to the tattoo and piercing business, I'd like to have apartments on the third floor and an art gallery on the open second floor," Williams said. She asked the board to put aside the preconceptions about tattoo artists and their customers and focus on the business aspect of her petition.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

WCS Looks To Heighten School Security

Tightening security throughout Warsaw Community Schools by restricting access will be proposed at the July school board meeting. Started last year on a pilot program at Washington and Harrison elementaries, the restricted access policy was accepted by staff, students and parents, Harrison principal Randy Polston told the school board Monday. "This was not to lock anybody out, as far as taxpayers or volunteers, and it was not to lock any children in," Polston said of the policy that limited entry to the school to the door nearest the office."For the most part everybody was positive....Parents were pleased that the school is concerned about the safety of their children." Principals of both schools said they worked with parent-teacher organizations in developing plans for their schools.Rande Thorpe, WCS business manager, said the problem is in the design of some of the schools.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

County Council Approves Buhrt Tax Abatement, Hears Funding Requests

Thursday night, the Kosciusko County Council approved an abatement for Buhrt Engineering and funds for the Convention and Visitors Bureau Inc. Dennis Buhrt, president of Buhrt Engineering, said the abatement was for two new pieces of equipment.Once the equipment is fully operational, four new employees will be hired.The council approved the request for five years. The $50,055.62 for the CVB Inc., according to Kosciusko County Convention and Recreation Visitors Commission member Joy McCarthy-Sessing, includes $26,885 for administration, $600 for community services, $16,362.12 for current resident and visitor services, $3,708 for outreach, $600 for community relations and $900 for attractions. In addition, she requested another $35,000 for a tourism consultant to work on a long-range strategic plan.McCarthy-Sessing said the commission spent a day interviewing consultants to choose the best one to help them make a 10- to 20-year plan.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Prosecutor Declares War On 'Deadbeats'

Announcing a stepped-up war on deadbeat parents, Kosciusko County Prosecutor David Kolbe today unveiled a six-pronged approach to collecting delinquent child support payments. "Parents who refuse to support their kids is unacceptable," Kolbe said at a press conference this morning. The prosecutor's office is working with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office on a large sting operation in which charges will be filed on at least 30 people, Kolbe said.Normally a Class D felony, nonsupport will be upgraded to a Class C felony if the amount owed is $30,000 or more, he said.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Coach Reacts To Suspension

BOURBON - Mike McBride said he was as surprised as anyone that the Triton School Board decided to suspend him from his varsity basketball head coaching duties for the rest of the season during Monday night's school board meeting. "I wasn't aware it was going to happen.The only thing I knew, there would be a discussion," said McBride."I didn't know there was going to be a vote at the public meeting." McBride wasn't present at the school board meeting nor did he have any representation.He was notified of the school board's decision last night by Triton High School principal Mike Chobanov. The board voted unanimously to suspend McBride and replace him with junior varsity head coach Jason Groves and McBride believes he won't be returning to the Triton bench. "I was under the impression I've been relieved of my coaching duties," said McBride. McBride, an elementary school teacher in the Triton school system, plans to continue his teaching duties.
DANIEL RIORDAN, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Gardening Group Seeks Reduction In Center Lake Pavilion Rental Rates

Kosciusko County master Gardener Kathy Kostro asked for a reduction in Center Lake Pavilion rental fees at the Warsaw parks board meeting Tuesday. Kostro said the local organization plans a gardening event with regional speakers Feb.21 and the Master Gardeners have raised $240 of the $300 fee for the Saturday event.She said the group had gone to the Convention and Visitors Bureau and was denied funds because the CVB has no money.They were directed to the county council. "We expect more than 100 people and are encouraging them to spend the night.We expect people from Chicago, Michigan and Wisconsin," she said."Since we do rent the pavilion frequently, could we have a reduction?" Park board president Bill Baldwin said many not-for-profit groups seek reductions in the fees and they have been denied. He asked Kostro to attend the Feb.17 meeting.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Winona Town Council Considers Road Work

Winona lake - Decisions on road improvements to several parts of town - including a redesign of the Argonne Road-Winona Avenue intersection - could be decided in the next month. Town council mulled over several ideas involving road work, some of which could begin within two weeks and others destined for next year. The proposals included: • Resurfacing of Kings Highway from Sixth Street to the Argonne intersection, which will occur soon.Plans were changed Tuesday to mill and resurface the road instead of just partially resurfacing it. • Two versions for restructuring the Argonne intersection, which historically involved five roads converging just south of the Argonne viaduct.Town engineer Larry Long wants to improve the intersection so the streets intersect at right angles. • Public works superintendent Kim Endicott will assemble a list of streets needing patch work.The list should be ready for review in two weeks.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Winona Discusses Sewers, Drainage

WINONA LAKE - Sewers and drainage dominated the town council meeting Tuesday, with a former resident complaining about the lack thereof, and Robson Road residents wanting to stop plans for the service. Former Winona Lake resident Sarah Longacre appeared before the council requesting their assistance in her pursuit of an insurance claim against a Winona Lake landlord. "I want the town council to give me something in writing about what was wrong with the sewer at 1108 W.Canal St.," Longacre said."I'm trying to get the insurance company of my former landlord to pay for the medical bills we incurred because my daughter was made ill by having no sewer hooked up at that house. "I've asked Mr.(Dick) Leaf and Mr.(Kim) Endicott for information on what was wrong with the sewers at that house, and why, through the town's negligence, my daughter was made ill from having to breathe methane gas and natural gas," she added.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Manchester Looks At Ways To Help Fund LifeMed

NORTH MANCHESTER - Town manager Dan Hannaford and H.J.Umbaugh & Associates, Plymouth, will look at several ways to supplement LifeMed. "We've got to be creative to come up with a way to pay for this," Hannaford told the North Manchester town council Wednesday.LifeMed is the only ambulance service north of Ind.16, which includes approximately one-third of the town. Hannaford plans to hash out "the problem from hell" with Umbaugh Monday. "It's progress," said Marvin Gheen, LifeMed's director of operations in North Manchester. Wabash County Council accelerated payments to LifeMed starting in May.They approved an additional $4,000 per month. The money will be exhausted by September.The $77,500 originally appropriated by the county council for LifeMed was intended to last until December. Hannaford said he will look at the legality of user fees and the fees' amount and other possible solutions.
Matthew Weigelt, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Library Friends To Help During Move

MENTONE - Friends and acquaintances come and go over the years.The best friends are always there to help when the going gets rough. In January, Friends of the Library reformed to aid the Bell Memorial Public Library and the library board's intention to occupy part of the Frank Manufacturing building at the corner of Broadway and Ind.25.There are plans to include a senior citizens' center and day care at the site.The library will occupy 4,178 square feet of the space. While the library board and town council have applied for and received grants, former Friends of the Library, anticipating that the move will come with expenses, decided it was time to regroup. "We know there will be needs for the library," said Jacque Bradley, Friends president."We'll see what we can do." Bradley is a "new" member of Friends, unlike Linda Cochran who also was a member in the 1980s during the Friends' first incarnation.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Airport Upgrades Planned

Warsaw City Council heard Monday from Municipal Airport Manager David Beall about an upcoming hanger taxiway project. Two grants have been received for the work, Beall said for the council's information only, one from the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Improvement Program for $300,000 and another from the Indiana Department of Transportation for $16,666.The local share is $16,000. Beall asked that $30,000 be appropriated from aviation depreciation to cover costs and unexpected contingencies as construction on the project nears. The taxiway will be 1,175 feet long. A public hearing regarding voluntary annexation of property east of the city, at the corner of Old Road 30 and CR 225E, was held with no remonstrators attending. Petitioners are Richard and Sharon Jaynes, Gary and Marthene Burneau and Jason and Tara Strickler.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Center Street Set For Rehab

Warsaw street crews are scheduled to begin this month to finish work on the block of Center Street that was renovated last fall, downtown merchants were told Tuesday. According to Kim Leake, superintendent of public works, brick crosswalks at the intersections of Center and Lake streets and Center and Buffalo streets will be installed and final paving will be laid.Weather permitting, Leake said, the work should be done in approximately three weeks - no later than the week of April 21. Leake discussed the downtown beautification project with at least 60 interested people at the meeting in First United Methodist Church.The audience of mostly downtown business owners also included rehab committee members and several members of the city council. Instead of continuing the street rehab project around the county courthouse as originally planned, Leake said the committee decided to extend the street work down Center Street to Detroit Street (Ind.15).
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Mentone's Revised Water Plan Doesn't Include A Tower

MENTONE - Mentone's water project is moving ahead with the current bids to the tune of $1.104 million. The plan, adopted pending the purchase of land for a well, will not include a water tower.But the new improvements should solve some problems for Mentone residents. Mentone's water utility director, Brian Reed, told the town council Monday that water pressure would increase despite the lack of a new tower."The larger mains will rectify the pressure problem," Reed said. He suggested that the council cap the existing water tower base with concrete as a means of extending the tower's life. The water project will include improvements in the existing well house, a new well, new water lines, a new standby power generator, four new valves and recapping the concrete base of the existing water tower.
GREG BROWN, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Stephens Motivated To Succeed

Shandis Stephens is a lot like other high school juniors. She struggles a little in math.She is a varsity cheerleader and a member of the youth group at Warsaw Wesleyan Church.She was in band until this year.She says her friends would describe her as "always there to listen.Talkative.Fun to be around." But then there are attributes that make Shandis, 17, stand out among the rest. At her school, Lakeland Christian Academy, she takes extra classes, studying courses like algebra II, anatomy, history, astronomy, geology, Bible geography, English literature and psychology.She plans to study law, becoming either a criminal or sports attorney. She was the second-place winner of the Dr.Martin Luther King Jr.Academic Excellence award, receiving a plaque and a $500 scholarship. She is motivated to succeed "because my dream is to be a lawyer and make something of myself," she said.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Tommy James Signed For June 21 Concert In Park

After introducing Janelle Wilson as the parks department activity director, parks superintendent Jon Garber presented a $22,000 contract for an appearance by Tommy James and the Shondells June 21 in Central Park. Garber advised the Warsaw Board of Works members Friday that the musicians will appear for one hour beginning at 8 p.m.at a cost of $22,000. Garber said the price has been covered by donations. The board approved a contract with GAI Consultants for an East Center Street traffic study in the amount of $5,300. The engineers will study the traffic patterns at two intersections: Center Street at Harrison Street and Center Street at Cleveland Street. The contract is a result of questions regarding the placement of street cuts for a Kroger Co.gas kiosk request that came before the Warsaw Plan Commission.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Board Of Works Accepts Recycling Program Bids

Bid documents for the city's curbside recycling program were presented to and approved by the Warsaw Board of Works Thursday. The meeting was moved to Thursday instead of Friday because board members will be meeting with Indiana Department of Environmental Management today. The recycling schedule shows citizens should have the service by April 6, on a biweekly basis. Plans are for the city to purchase 40-gallon containers for either no sorting of materials or a "two-point" separation, dividing paper from other materials. Bidders are requested to run their routes the same day as the city trash pickup.Bids are expected to be received Feb.21 and awarded March 7. Currently, the only place to take recyclable materials (except glass) in Warsaw is the collection station behind the KC Depot, 220 S.Union St. BOW members Mayor Ernie Wiggins, Jerry Patterson and Charlie Smith approved several contracts requested by parks department activity director Janelle Wilson.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Hobbs Returns To Full Duty In Milford

MILFORD -ÊMilford Town Marshal David Hobbs was authorized to return to unrestricted full-time duty Monday by the Milford Town Council. Hobbs passed his last physical medical examination. In June 1998, Hobbs was seriously injured when his motorcycle hit a pickup at the intersection of Armstrong Road and CR 350E, near Oswego.Hobbs was off duty at the time of the accident. During the first week of January this year, Hobbs had his hip replaced. Hobbs has served as Milford's marshal since June 1978.Chief Deputy Marshal Lou Mediano acted as town marshal until Hobbs returned. In other business: • The council changed the speed limit on Smith and Williams streets from 30 to 20 miles per hour. • Kent Sawyer was recognized as the Kosciusko County EMS driver of the year. • Milford will apply for a federal COPS grant for another officer for the town.The grant would provide 75 percent of the funds and the town must provide 25 percent.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Patrols Focus On Park

Police bicycle, canine and undercover units are currently heavily patrolling Central Park to reduce criminal activity in and around the premises, a report by Warsaw Police Lieutenant Kip Shuter said. Shuter's detailed briefing of how park problems were being addressed was presented to the Board of Public Works and Safety Friday by WPD Captain Perry Hunter. In an effort to create a safer atmosphere for city residents, Hunter said the department was utilizing the Winona Lake Police K-9 unit to identify possible drug trafficking in the area.Other suspicious activity could be identified by the bicycle patrol, undercover officers or patrolmen working overtime hours inside the park, Hunter said. Currently Warsaw's canine units are in the process of being trained for police work, and will be sent on patrol as soon as they are ready.
Joe Kirkendall, Times-Union staff writer- | July 28, 2016

Foreman, Masur, Menzie Honored With Full-Rides To Indiana Schools

Three Kosciusko County seniors are now assured that they can attend the Indiana college of their choice after receiving full-ride scholarships from Lilly Endowment Inc. Kelsi Foreman and Kyle Masur, both of Warsaw Community High School, and Rebecca Menzie, Whitko Community High School, learned Wednesday that they had been chosen by the selection committee.As a result, their tuition and books will be fully paid when they attend any college, public or private, in Indiana. The seniors were chosen by a committee that considered volunteer and community service, work experience, school activities, academics, goals and the students' responses to an essay question.Applicants were considered on the basis of merit only, because all identifying information, such as the student's name, school or parents' names, had been removed from the applications.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Schools Talks All-Year School, Budgets, Technology

Warsaw Community High School is in it's second year of a three-year grant generated from PATINS, aimed at finding a "universal design" for learning.
Erin Windle- | July 28, 2016
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