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City May Expand North TIF District

Warsaw's Redevelopment Commission will consider expanding the northern tax increment financed district by approximately 90 acres in January. The move, according to city planner Jeff Noffsinger, will allow the city to take advantage of a possible major retail development planned near the Ind.15/U.S.30 interchange and the new Sofamor-Danek facility under construction at U.S.30 and CR 150W. "We need to look at expanding the northern TIF district after the Sofamor-Danek annexation takes effect on Jan 19," Noffsinger told the board."This will allow us to capture the increase in assessed value from Danek and on other development that is proposed adjacent to the Petro property." Noffsinger said state statute allows for only a 20 percent increase in size for a TIF district in any given year.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Local Cancer Victim Overwhelmed By Community Support

She hasn't asked for help from anyone other than God, but Leanne Coffman has been overwhelmed by support and caring since she learned she has cancer. If the name is familiar, perhaps you've seen it on one of the many donation cans on business counters throughout the community.Coffman's mother came up with that idea. And, because of those cans, Joey Hall of Dayton, Ohio, came up with the idea to perform a benefit concert to help defray Coffman's mounting medical bills.Coffman was diagnosed with Hodgkins disease in April. Hall has never met the 32-year-old Coffman, but after reading about her and seeing the picture of her with her husband, Scott, and their five children on one of those cans, he felt compelled to do something for her.And, since he's lead singer in the band "Father, Son and Friends," he decided to sign the group up for two performances and not accept a dime for the work.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Shirtless Man Arrested On Drug Charges

Complaints of a shirtless, shoeless man around Burger King and Dollar Inn led to the arrest of the man, and a woman that was with him was taken to another police agency for questioning. Dean Curtis Gray, 37, of Mentone, was booked into the Kosciusko Cou`nty Jail on charges of possession of a narcotic drug/cocaine and resisting or fleeing law enforcement.His bond was set at $3,000. Two calls about the man came in just a few minutes apart at approximately 6:30 a.m.Monday.A Burger King employee told police that the man was wearing only a pair of pants and that he had a knife in his back pocket.A Dollar Inn employee said the man was staying at the motel and was complaining about men coming through holes in the ceiling trying to rob him.
RUTH ANNE LIPKA, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Manchester Fifth-Graders Show 'Product' To School Board

NORTH MANCHESTER - Tina Bailey, a Laketon Elementary School fifth-grade teacher, brought four foremen Tuesday to Manchester's school board meeting. Bailey - a self-proclaimed kinetic teacher - shared her class' magazine production leaders with the board. Kaitlynn French, illustrator foreman and writer, wheeled through the magazine's pages via a laptop.She showed her art work and talked about her responsibilities. Austin Metzger shared his duties as puzzlist foreman and writer.His job entails record-keeping, writing, creating and researching topics.The magazine has a new topic each week. Derrek Freshour, the writer's foreman, creates, writes, edits and publishes the final draft.Deadline is Friday at 11 a.m. "We wrote with our hearts.We didn't care about grammar until Thursday," said Katie Bower, advertising foreman and writer.
Matthew Weigelt, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Response To Tire-Slashing Upsets Pierceton Residents

PIERCETON - Sunday morning 33 residents went to their vehicles only to find their tires slashed and other vandalism to their property. Footprints in the snow led to five juveniles - three Pierceton minors, one from Warsaw and one from Columbia City - believed responsible for the crimes.They cut 56 tires around town.They were placed into custody. One victim, Lee Joy, wasn't happy with the response he received from an emergency dispatcher.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Development Panel Eyes Second TIF District In City

The Warsaw Redevelopment Commission took another step Monday toward establishing a second Tax Increment Financing district on the city's north side. The commission approved a timetable City Planner Jeff Noffsinger proposed to complete the process by the March 1 deadline required for the city to begin receiving TIF revenue beginning in 2000. "I've been working on an economic development plan for you to adopt along with a TIF declaratory resolution on Feb.1," Noffsinger told the board. According to the proposed schedule, the resolution would be presented to the plan commission Feb.8 and the city council would conduct a public hearing on the measure Feb.15.If this schedule is followed, the final resolution would be passed at a special redevelopment commission meeting Feb.21.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Recycling District Battles Budget Cuts

R.R.Donnelley and Sons employee Sean Ambrose attended the Kosciusko County Solid Waste District Monday, providing a few ideas of his own. Ambrose works in the bindery - the hub of the printing company's recycling program. He said he hated to see the district's budget get cut.Board president Ron Truex said the board hated to see it cut, too. Ambrose said with recycling, he puts out less than a bag of trash each week.He said he hated to see glass recycling stopped. Bob Knudsen, of the Citizens Advisory Committee, commented the Donnelley company has been a supporter of recycling since the beginning of the program. Sue Ann Mitchell gave the financial report, saying the Internal Revenue Service paid $7,853.53 owed to the district in a tax refund, and a $35,000 tax draw will be received by the district in December.November tipping fees came in at $11,780, and Mitchell figured the district would begin the year with a $90,000 to $95,000 balance.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Emmons Takes Over As City's HR Director

Phyllis Emmons was introduced as the city's human resources director during the city council meeting Monday. Emmons, of South Bend, has been at work for a week with an office in the police station on Fort Wayne Street. She has worked in the human resources field for 20 years and has a bachelor's degree from Cornell University and a master's degree from Notre Dame. A native of Walkerton, she said she was somewhat familiar with Warsaw, through consulting work with Zimmer Corp.and as a member of the Workforce Investment board in the 1990s. Mayor Ernie Wiggins said the police station office is a temporary stop for Emmons."Depending on where we end up, she'll end up," he said alluding to the possibility of relocating city hall.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Covered Bridge Tour In North Webster

The Covered Bridge Christmas Tree Walk is planned for 10:30 a.m.to 8 p.m.Dec.6 in North Webster. Following in the tradition of previous open houses, visitors may tour log homes, shop at the Mercantile, and relax by the fire with a cup of hot wassail and Christmas cookies.Homemade soups and breads will be available mealtimes. This year crafters will be featured in each home.They will offer a variety of items, including wreaths, sweatshirts, baked goods, children's books and many crafts. Cost of the Christmas tree walk will be $3 per person. The event takes place on the Tippecanoe River on Ind.13, North Webster. For more information, call Deb at 691-3901.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Christmas Tree Giveaway Planned Sunday

Approximately 1,000 Christmas trees will be given away Sunday. Mike Dewitt, owner of the Car Company, announced his annual Christmas tree giveaway will begin at noon Sunday at all three of his used car dealerships. The entire Car Company staff will be on hand to help load trees.Trees will be given free of charge, one tree per family, on a first-come, first-served basis. The Car Company also will provide hot chocolate, coffee, doughnuts and cookies during the event. "It's a way for us to give something back to the community," Dewitt said."A way to show that we really appreciate the business the community gives to us." The 1,000 trees will be divided between the Car Company's three locations on U.S.30E, Warsaw; Ind.15N, Warsaw; and U.S.33S, Goshen.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Leesburg Grace Brethren Rising From The Ashes

LEESBURG - July 22, 1997, is a date that few of the members of Leesburg Grace Brethren Church will ever forget.In the early morning hours of that day, their church was destroyed by a devastating fire, the work of arson. Within a couple of weeks Timothy Grevenstuk, a Leesburg teen, was charged with the crime and, a year later, was found guilty and sentenced to 20 years in prison. In the aftermath of the fire, the small community of Leesburg rallied behind the church.Local churches offered the use of their buildings to the congregation of Grace Brethren.The town council building, the Lions Club building, Leesburg Elementary School and even a local funeral home were offered as meeting sites.The congregation decided on the elementary school and they have met there since the fire.
KAREN HOLDERMAN, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Valley Groups Host Free Meal

AKRON - Tragedy can bring people closer together, but it doesn't have to be the only thing that does. Sunday, two Tippecanoe Valley High School groups provided the school corporation community a free Thanksgiving dinner at the high school.Students, Teachers Advocating Racial Tolerance and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes joined together to serve anyone who attended a meal of mashed potatoes, turkey and noodles, seasoned green beans, mixed fruit, pumpkin bars and a choice of milk or punch.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Akron Honors Bob Allen For Service

AKRON - Bob Allen was recognized Tuesday for his years of service to the Akron community.Town council president Roger Gearhart described Allen as a good family man always willing to help regardless how long it took to get things done. Allen's son, current board member Phil Allen, presented his father with a plaque commemorating his service.Allen has been a resident of the Akron area since May 1983.He served in the Navy in World War II in the Pacific arena. Allen served on the Akron town council for four years, from 1989-92, and is a member of the Akron United Methodist Church.He is serving as president of the Akron planning commission, secretary-treasurer of the Akron revitalization committee and a member of the Local Coordinating Committee for a Drug-Free Indiana.
DEBBIE CLARK, Times-Union Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Whitko Gets Good Report On GQE Scores

PIERCETON - Dr.Diana Showalter, Whitko School Corp.director of curriculum, reported to the school board Monday that she is very happy with this year's results of the ISTEP+ Graduation Qualifying Exams. "I was really pleased with our scores when they came back this year," she said. The sophomores took the exam in the fall with juniors and seniors who retested on the exam and some adults who wanted to earn their diplomas.There were 151 sophomores who took the exam and 62 others. Showalter said the good test scores reflect highly on everyone who worked to make sure the students did well on the testing. For the sophomores, 70 percent of them did above standard in English, compared to 68 percent at the state level.In math, 74 percent did above standard compared to 68 percent at the state level.And in both English and math, 63 percent scored above standard, compared to 60 percent in the state.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Planners Consider Ind. 15 Rezoning

The Warsaw Plan Commission considered three items Monday, including a rezoning of 134 acres north of Petro Drive to and bordered on the east by Ind.15N and the Tippecanoe River. Currently, three parcels are zoned I-2 or light industrial.Commercial use to the south indicates the best use of the property may be C-3, arterial commercial, said city planner Jeff Noffsinger, who initiated the proposal. Noffsinger said he wanted to be proactive regarding the rezoning, rather than reactive. The three properties are owned by Petro Family LLC, the John R.Nye Trust, with Alfred and Marilyn Brandt as trustees and Unitechind Inc. It was noted by commission president Joe Thallemer that a large, long-established blue heron rookery is near the parcels, along the Tippecanoe River.He noted the change to a C-3 zoning would be a little less obtrusive to the birds. In other business, the board approved two vacation-of-public-way requests.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Pierceton Approves 2 Alley Vacations

PIERCETON - Two alley vacations were approved and a third request tabled during Monday's Pierceton Town Council meeting. A request from Dana and Kathy Cone was approved for final passage on first presentation for an alley south of Church Street and east of Ind.13 on an undeveloped tract of land.The unimproved alley is on property the Cones plan to develop. Ron Hall's request for an alley vacation on property north of Church Street and east of Ind.13 was also approved.Hall, a member of the council, excused himself from discussion and voting on the matter. Another request, for two alleys south of Church Street and east of Ind.13, was tabled to give a property owner who has concerns about the vacation a chance to offer input at the January meeting.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

MTEMS Receives $25K From Vandermark Trust

Multi-Township EMS has received $25,000 from the Helen Vandermark trust at 1st Source Bank. Vandermark directed that at her death a donation should be made from her trust in thanks for the great service she and her husband, Lester "Bud" Vandermark, received from MTEMS. Helen Vandermark had a difficult time sleeping at night because of health-related issues.To keep her company, she would listen to the police radio.She learned by listening how many individuals were assisted by MTEMS and she was very appreciative of the service provided to the residents of our community.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

City, Housing Authority Enter Agreement On Inspections

The Warsaw Housing Authority board approved an agreement with the city of Warsaw that will bring the city inspector to full time. Once approved by the Board of Public Works and Safety the plan will contract Pamela N.Kennedy to work full time for the city while also inspecting for WHA. Kennedy, previously part time with the city and the WHA, will do WHA Housing Quality Standards Inspections and the Housing Authority's Section 8 Rental Assistance Program inspections. The WHA will pay $3,700 per year to the city for Kennedy's inspection services.The sum is based on the total spent this year on inspections. According to Vicki Provine, WHA executive director, the yearly cost works out to about $16 per initial inspection and $6 for secondary inspections. Kennedy previously worked part time for the WHA and Warsaw.She will be full time with the city and continue to do inspections for WHA. Provine is pleased with Kennedy's work for the housing authority.
GREG BROWN, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Zoners' Agenda Moved Ahead

The Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals moved its agenda up a couple of weeks, to this evening, at 6 p.m. Rick Hernandez is expected to appear as a potential tenant, requesting a special exception for a tattoo parlor at 3869 Lake City Highway, in a C-3 zoned district. The proposed business is within 200 feet of a residence.City ordinance requires a minimum of 400 feet from any church, licensed day care center, public park, school or residence. Renee Walsh, 214 Funk St., is requesting a variance from developmental standards to build an attached porch in an R-2 district with an 8-foot setback.On a corner lot, the side yard setback facing the street shall not be less than 15 feet. Peter Brooks, 2432 Sally St., is requesting a variance from developmental standards to complete construction of an 8-foot-high wood privacy fence in a residential district.The maximum height for a privacy fence is 6 feet.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Town employees' 'out-of-pocket' rises

SYRACUSE - Due to increases in the town of Syracuse's group health insurance premiums, the town council Tuesday approved to increase town employees' out-of-pocket maximum to $2,000 per year but keep the deductible at $500. The town council approved to keep John Alden Insurance as their insurance carrier for 2004 with the changes. Chris Cotton, insurance agent for the town, said when he was looking at insurance for the town, he tried to keep any increases under 15 percent as directed by the town council.However, with premium increases for next year, the town's insurance costs for town employees would increase at 17.6 percent if the council made no changes to the employees' benefits. If the town council approved changes to the town employees' deductibles or out-of-pocket expenses, it would lower the cost.The least painful change for the employees, Cotton said, would be to switch the co-pay from 80-20 percent of $5,000 to 80-20 percent of $10,000.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016
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