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Waste District Board Hears Update From State Rep. Wolkins

State Rep.Dave Wolkins spoke briefly about upcoming legislative topics at the Kosciusko County Solid Waste District joint city advisory committee and board meeting Wednesday. In the last year, the Indiana Legislature passed a bill that basically let a mobile home owner not pay property taxes on the mobile home up to $12,500.It cost the state $200 million, Wolkins said. Wolkins said property reassessment will have to be addressed because a tax court judge said it is time for the Legislature "to do something about it."He said he expects changes in the reassessment to cause taxes on private property to go up but taxes for businesses to go down. "We will be spending a lot of time on that issue," Wolkins said. All-day kindergarten will be back before the Legislature, he said.He said they are thinking of making educational money available, probably in the form of a grant, for those communities who want all-day kindergarten.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Syracuse Residents Withdraw Zoning Petitions

SYRACUSE -ÊIf a petitioner withdraws a petition before the Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals votes on it, the petitioner can bring it back before the board at a later time. Two petitioners decided to do just that Thursday. Reasa Rinker petitioned the BZA for an exception for the placement of a residence in a commercially zoned district and to allow two uses on one tract of ground in a commercial district.The property is on the west side of Harkless Drive and 400 feet north of Ind.13. The contractor contacted the zoning board and asked the petition be withdrawn.The board agreed. Another petitioner, Scott Richey, withdrew his petition for a variance to permit a tract of ground to be split, creating an undersized lot of 8,000 square feet.Ordinances require 10,000 square feet.The property is on the south side of Pearl Street and 66 feet east of Huntington Street.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Musical Entertainment Celebrates Christmas

Two distinct sources of entertainment offered their specialties Thursday night in separate Christmas programs.Wilma Dee, a well-known country music entertainer who recently signed a national recording contract, was the featured guest during a special concert at Wagon Wheel theatre benefiting Toys For Tots. Meanwhile the newly created Heavenly Echoes hand chimers performed at Grace Village Retirement Home in Winona Lake.The group honored Mary Horn, seated, who donated funds to start the group in the name of her late husband, Wilson.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Latest GIS Offers Public A Sharper, Detailed View

Clicking back and forth between the aerial photographs taken in 1996 and the images delivered in the last couple of weeks, Warsaw Geographic Information Systems coordinator Mary Haberman presents a series of startling contrasts. Six years ago the "latest" technology was little more than recognizable shapes in various shades of gray. Now buildings, sidewalks, street lights and landscaping are in sharp focus. The images, taken over the county in April, are presented on a 1-inch-equals-50-feet scale.The old image scale is 1-inch to 200 feet. The black and white photographs are available in the Warsaw Planning and Building Department as well as in the Kosciusko County Courthouse through Public Access System computers. Uses for the technology are endless, Haberman said.The GIS analyzes large amounts of data and produces maps with "layers" of information. "The more people see, the more they want," she said in her quiet manner.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Inmates Face Charges After Escape Attempt

Six inmates from the Kosciusko County Jail face charges after an alleged escape attempt last week. According to a Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department report made available today, the incident occurred Thursday evening and resulted in one man becoming stuck.A crew from the Warsaw Fire Department was called to the jail, where a portion of a wall was cut away to free the inmate who was wedged between the wall and the ceiling. Keith See, 21, of 1823 E.Market St., Warsaw, told KCSD officials that he and several others were involved since at least September in entering the ceiling and working on breaking through the wall. See told police he made it through the wall but couldn't find his way out of the jail and was returning through the opening in the wall when he got stuck between the cement block wall and the ceiling.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

City Woman Robbed In Front Of Store

Two Warsaw men who allegedly robbed a store clerk were caught after police traced their escape route in last night's freshly fallen snow. The night clerk's purse and $3,675.24 were taken from the parking lot of the Dollar General Store, 540 E.Market St., at 10:03 p.m.Thursday Marshall Boomer Slone, 16, of 405 S.Wood St., and Ryan Lee Bussard, 20, of 1620 E.Sheridan St., were taken into custody last night in connection with the robbery. Police investigators at the scene followed footprints through the north parking lot to a nearby apartment. Slone and Bussard approached the night clerk and her husband from the south side of the store as they walked to their car. The suspects allegedly ripped the deposit bag and her purse from under the left arm of the clerk and fled.The two ran through the north-south alley just east of 533 E.Market St. The victim described the two as wearing ski masks and dark clothing when they took the purse and deposit bag.
GREG BROWN, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Violence Includes Different Tales

Editor's Note: This is the fifth in a six-part series. For a look at domestic violence in Kosciusko County, the following examples were taken from incident reports on file at the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department: A 32-year-old man was charged with battery and criminal recklessness after hitting his wife with his fist and then trying to stab her with a knife.The woman said the violence began when she told him she was leaving because he was bragging about seeing another woman. The husband also hit his wife with a broom after she hit him once with it.When he tried to stab her with a knife, relatives separated the couple and the husband left the camper, which was parked at Sellers Lake.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Architects To Meet With WCS Officials To Discuss Elementary School Plans

Architectural consultants for Warsaw Community Schools will meet Tuesday with school administrators to discuss the upcoming study of Silver Lake, Atwood and Claypool elementary schools. According to R.Duane Odle, president of Odle, McGuire and Shook Corp., Indianapolis, the Tuesday meeting will determine the objectives of the study, which was announced by Warsaw Superintendent Dr.Lee Harman at the November school board meeting at Silver Lake Elementary. "They'll tell us how they want us to approach it, the depth of investigation they want, and we'll help arrange community forums," Odle said today.He said they would explore both options - renovating existing buildings or building a new school - according to the school corporation's educational goals.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Council approves vacation over objections of neighbor

Despite an objection from one of the three adjacent property owners, the Warsaw City Council Monday approved the vacation of a portion of Taft Street. The portion of road is between Jefferson and Hendricks streets and is an unimproved street right of way. According to Jeff Noffsinger, Warsaw city planning department director, J&D Enterprises originally petitioned to vacate the portion of road and later George and Don Clemens, adjacent property owners, joined in on the petition.J&D initiated the petition to expand a building adjacent to Taft Street, Noffsinger said.They also want to put up a fence around the property.There are no utilities, public or private, in the right of way.
Stories by David Slone, Times-Union- | July 28, 2016

WPD Employees Say They'll Boycott Christmas Luncheon

Tension between the Warsaw Police Department and the city administration escalated Tuesday after the city council refused to approve a fund transfer for WPD. In an internal memo, nearly all of WPD's 45 employees said they would not attend the Christmas lunch for city employees Monday.The memo, written by Sgt.Doug Brumfield, says: "We request the money to be used for our lunch to be placed in a special fund to use for gas for squad cars or any other emergency that arises between now and the end of the year...." Brumfield's statement was in reference to the fact that Warsaw Police Chief Craig Allebach asked the council to approve an internal $5,000 transfer to pay for gasoline and cover possible emergency expenses until Dec.31.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

WCS Board Hears From SOS Architect

Debate on whether or not to close Silver Lake Elementary took another turn Monday when an architect hired by Save Our School and the Historic Landmarks Foundation made a preliminary report to the Warsaw School Board. Gregory A.Kil, of Kil Architecture and Planning, South Bend, said he expects to have his final report ready for the board at the Jan.10 public work session. He said he has inspected Silver Lake Elementary once and expects to go back again.According to his inspection and his review of the original report done by Odle McGuire & Shook Corp., he said the new construction costs quoted by Odle McGuire & Shook "seem to be in line" at approximately $110 per square foot.However, he said, "The remodeling costs seem to be very much at the upper end of what we would see for remodeling." Based on similar projects, Kil said, remodeling costs usually run in the range of $40-$60.Estimates by Odle McGuire & Shook for Silver Lake School are in the $90 range, he said.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Dana Closing Syracuse Plant

TOLEDO, Ohio -ÊDana Corp.Tuesday announced four of eight facilities it plans to close during the next two years, including the Syracuse plant. The actions will consolidate production and are designed to balance capacity and take advantage of lower-cost manufacturing locations.Dana announced preliminary plans to close eight facilities last month. The Syracuse plant employs approximately 65 people and manufactures axle components.The facility is expected to close by Sept.30. In addition to Syracuse, plants in Cape Girardeau, Mo., and Guelph and Thorold, Ontario, Canada, will close. Production from the Syracuse and Cape Girardeau facilities will be moved to Dana operations in Mexico.Closure of the Guelph plant coincides with the end of a customer program that comprised all production volume at the facility.The majority of the production at the Thorold operation will be moved to Dana's Elizabethtown, Ky., structures plant.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Wawasee Discusses ISTEP, Sets Wages

SYRACUSE - Preliminary ISTEP scores discussed at last night's Wawasee School Board meeting held in the administrative building showed that at the third-grade level, 68 percent of the students scored above the standard on both the math and language arts portions of the test - the highest in six years. It also showed that 64 percent of the eighth-graders and 65 percent of 10th-graders scored above the average on both sections; while only 49 percent of sixth-graders throughout the corporation did so.At the same time 15 seniors, 53 juniors and 93 sophomores failed to pass the graduation-qualifying exam.All will have additional opportunities to take the test.
VIRGINIA NIZAMOFF SURSO, Times-Union Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Pepper Spray Used On Pierceton Suspect

Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department deputies had to resort to pepper spray to subdue a Pierceton man who was destroying the inside of a squad car Thursday night. Steven M.Wolfe, 23, 209 S.Maple St., was stopped by a deputy last night for driving left of center.Wolfe was arrested and placed in the squad car. Once in the car, Wolfe began kicking the window frame of the passenger side of the car and bent it.He then turned and began to kick the interior of the rear driver's side door, breaking off the lock. KCSD officers verbally requested he stop and warned Wolfe prior to using the spray. Officers removed Wolfe from the car and transported him back to Kosciusko County Jail in a vehicle with an interior cage. Wolfe is charged with driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to chemical testing, leaving the scene of an accident, criminal mischief, and driving while suspended following the incident.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Two Graduate From LEA

PLAINFIELD - Two local police officers graduated Friday from the basic training course at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield. Deputy Douglas K.Brumfield Jr., of the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, and Ptl.Danny L.Hall, of Winona Lake Police Department, completed the 12-week course.The course includes training in firearms, emergency vehicle operation, criminal and traffic law, and defensive tactics. Tippecanoe County Sheriff David R.Murtaugh was the speaker for Friday's graduation ceremony. All nonelected law enforcement officers in Indiana are required to complete this course within their first year of employment by a department.There is no cost to the department for training; funds are acquired through traffic fines and court costs.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Author Adams To Speak On Heart Disease At 'Holiday Tea'

Marcia Adams, nationally known food columnist and cookbook author, will be the featured speaker Wednesday at the Wreath of Hope Holiday Tea. Adams, who lives in Fort Wayne, said she expects to talk about Christmas entertaining and about her most recent book, "Marcia Adams: Heart to Heart." She also may touch on a subject that is, quite literally, close to her heart - organ donations and heart disease in women.In April she received a heart transplant after suffering from a virus that attacked her heart in 1993. Adams said Friday her heart condition is "marvelous."Her mission now is to educate women through her books, TV shows and a grass-roots organization, HeartStrings, on the signs and frequency of heart disease.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Planners OK Biggs Request; Evaluates New Subdivision

The preliminary plat for the Paths of Deerfield subdivision was approved by the Warsaw Plan Commission Monday night. The decision, following months of tabling from the board, received a final vote of 5-2 in favor of the request.Commission President Joe Thallemer and Vice President Jeff Grose both voted in opposition. The proposed housing addition, located at the southwest corner of CRs 75N and 175E drew negative attention from surrounding residents during previous meetings because of traffic concerns and possible drainage complications. Before Monday's vote, Scott Lougheed, of Biggs Inc., reported the company's intention of constructing a detention and sedimentation basin along the southwest corner of the subdivision to both protect an adjacent wetland and control drainage issues in the area. Thallemer and city planner Jeremy Skinner discussed a possible ordinance that could enforce a 75-foot setback between the basin and residential lots.
Joe Kirkendall, Times-Union staff writer- | July 28, 2016

Manchester Town Council To See 3 New Members

NORTH MANCHESTER - North Manchester Town Council said good-bye to three board members at Wednesday's final 2003 meeting. Warren Garner and Bill Hix, eight-year council members, and Karl Merritt, a four-year member, all served their final term ending last night. Council president Don Rinearson thanked all the board members for their service and called the three departing men "invaluable" to the town. "This group has put community and employee groups ahead of their own wants and needs," Rinearson said, before presenting recognition plaques to all three men. Garner held back tears as he read a statement thanking the town for allowing him to serve on the board. "I leave with some misgivings but also with a sense of relief because those that follow have the best interest of the community at heart," Garner said. Hix and Merritt also thanked the board and town for allowing them to serve, each saying they have learned much from their tenures.
KRISTA PRIMROSE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

AWL Works To Keep Order At Animal Shelter

Dogs and cats have been under the care of the Animal Welfare League for only six weeks and is working out some kinks. Linda Mullins, president of the Animal Welfare League, said if county residents have complaints about the shelter, she would be more than happy to talk to the residents about their questions and concerns. In fact, after talking to several people who complained on previous occasions, she said, those who complained are now volunteering at the shelter. One reader Mullins would like to talk to called and voiced her opinion to the Times-Union Friday.The reader said the shelter is severely overcrowded, animal diarrhea was everywhere, most of the cats and kittens looked ill, and the facility appeared to be understaffed. The reader also said she had been to the shelter on another occasion and the smell was unbearable.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Remember When September 12

10 Years Ago September 12 1990 Warsaw Community High School English teacher Jane Starner was one of 150 educators representing 30 states at the annual Teacher Institute at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., last month.The program concerned impressionism and post-impressionism. 25 Years Ago September 12 1975 Army Pvt.Mark D.Conley, son of Mr.and Mrs.Bert Conley, Etna Green, completed nine weeks of advanced individual training Aug.27 at the U.S.Army Infantry Training Center, Ft.Polk. He received general training as a light weapons infantryman and as a mortar and recoilless rifle crewman, in addition to specialized weapons instruction. He also was taught the proper use of high explosives and the placement, detection and disarming of mines.
- | July 28, 2016
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