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Syracuse Woman Hurt In Fire

SYRACUSE - An elderly woman was injured Monday evening when a kerosene heater she was filling ignited and the fire spread throughout the home, resulting in a total loss. Elsie Modglin, 79, of 11743 N.Elm Grove Drive, Syracuse, suffered burns to her left foot and ankle and smoke inhalation.She called for help from inside the burning home before exiting to safety, according to Syracuse Fire Chief Larry Hunter. Crews at the scene wrapped Modglin's foot and administered oxygen to her, but she did not want to go to a hospital.However, Modglin's son later arrived from Columbia City, Hunter said, and he was planning on taking her to an area hospital. A firefighter also was injured at the scene.William Mitchell was hit in the face with a hose coupling as the hoses were pulled from the truck.He was treated at Goshen General Hospital for a cut to his nose and later released.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Parks Department OKs Use Of Park For Skating Rink

The Warsaw Parks Department Board Tuesday approved the use of the Richardson - DuBois Park on Market Street as an ice skating rink this winter. Brian Smith of the Northern Lakes Skating Association attended the meeting.The park will work with him to put the ice rink together. Board member Don Clemens said there aren't enough recreational activities in the winter and the town needs a year-round skating and ice hockey facility.The rest of the board agreed. In other business: • Parks Department director Jon Garber said he talked with the inspector for the Indiana Health Department about the Pike Lake campground. The water and sewer lines at the campground run too close together.To meet state standards they must be at least 100 feet apart. Garber said the campground will probably have to get city water.He said the Parks Department has until 2002 to fix the problem. "City water out there is the way to go," Clemens said.
ANITA WEISHEIT, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Oakwood Organizes Future Plot Placement

The discovery of an uncharted 2-foot wide strip of concrete inside Oakwood Cemetery sparked a discussion Thursday between regency members as to how headstones would be positioned to best coincide with the newly found unusable land. The board decided future plots affected by the concrete strip will be installed with headstones facing west towards Central Avenue.Cemetery sexton David Shaw said the agreed placement would help prevent headstones from becoming organized non-traditionally. Shaw reported plans for Phend and Brown to begin road work on Legion Avenue this week.A road patch will be installed to straighten out Legion, allowing for easier access through the cemetery. Shaw also said all headstones and monuments had been washed within the last month, and all equipment was ready for the fall season.
Joe Kirkendall, Times-Union staff writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw PD Grants OK'd By Board Of Works

The Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety approved the receipt of $186,142 in grants for the Warsaw Police Department today. According to Police Chief Steven Foster, $31,710 is from two grants from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute for Victim's Service Center, $27,432 is from the Governor's Council on Impaired and Dangerous Driving for Operation Pullover, and $125,000 is from the U.S.Department of Justice for the COPS in School program. "The two grants for the Victim's Service Center will pay for the salary of the coordinator and for the office," Foster said. In other business, the board approved a $2,000-per-year professional services contract with Kenneth Ledgerwood to serve as the coordinator of the Warsaw/Kosciusko County Hazardous Materials Response Team.The contract will pay Ledgerwood $250 for the remainder of 1999 and $2,000 for 2000. The board also accepted road salt bids from two suppliers for the 1999/00 winter season.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Conlon In Running For Teacher Of Year

Warsaw Community High School English teacher Joe Conlon is a finalist for Indiana Teacher of the Year honors. Conlon and nine others were announced as the top Hoosier educators yesterday by the Indiana Department of Education.The Indiana Teacher of the Year will be chosen from this group. Teachers from more than 300 districts submitted a portfolio including a series of essays; samples of teaching; lesson plans; and letters of recommendation from colleagues, students and former students.The Indiana Department of Education selected the 10 best teachers based on these portfolios. Conlon said he spent most of the summer working on his portfolio.He said he was honored when Warsaw chose him as Teacher of the Year, and he wanted to be able to say he had given it his best shot."Since they cared enough to nominate me, I wanted to do my best to make Warsaw look good," he said.
DEB McAULIFFE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Jackson Construction Wins Top Award At Home Show

Sunny, pleasant conditions that provided a perfect backdrop for opening ceremonies of the Homes on Parade Thursday will continue through the weekend as the parade opens to the public Saturday. Nearly 600 people attended Thursday's invitation only VIP night at the 12th annual parade sponsored by the Builders Association of Kosciusko and Fulton Counties. This year's parade features seven homes constructed by seven builders in Deeds Creek, a subdivision located on CR 225E north of CR 75N in Warsaw.This year, spectators will enter the parade through a merchant's tent with a record number 26 booths. This year's developer is Dave Creighton. Highlighting Thursday's opening ceremonies were the awards ceremonies. T.L.Jackson Construction, Syracuse, was the big winner, capturing the "best overall" award.Finishing second in the overall category was Legacy Homes, Warsaw.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Leadership Council Organizing At Whitko

SOUTH WHITLEY - Residents of Larwill, Pierceton and South Whitley started meeting about a year ago and formed the Whitko Leadership Council. About 20 "council" members met Wednesday in the Brownstone Cafe to continue business. All the towns of the Whitko school district were represented except a Sidney resident, said school board and council member Dave Tranter. School board members, town council members, school principals and business representatives discussed plans for a Celebrate Whitko Day, a proposed festival. District financial officer Phil Menzie restated the council's mission: to promote common goals to benefit the communities and schools. South Whitley Elementary School Principal Barb Flory said the school was named part of the Indiana Achievement Institution, which will conduct a three-year study, to help all students succeed.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Winona Lake New MasterWorks Home

A popular summertime feature in the area will soon move to Winona Lake. Dr.Patrick Kavanaugh, conductor of the MasterWorks Festival, said Friday that the entire MasterWorks organization make to Winona Lake its new permanent home. "We really like it there," Kavanaugh said, "and we hope you like us as much." He said the plan is to move in May or June, and they will start with "about a dozen people," adding more people each year, including the MasterWorks board of directors. "We're starting kind of a musicians' colony," he said. For the past two summers, the MasterWorks Festival has taken place for approximately one month at Grace College in Winona Lake.These summer "camps" have been characterized by free concerts, operas and theater, and have been popular and well-attended by people in this area.The summer festival includes music classes that attract music students, age 14 to 26, from all over the world.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Triton Schools Budget Slightly Higher This Year

BOURBON The Triton School Board Monday voted in favor of advertising the 2005 budget for the Triton School Corp. The advertised budget will be slightly higher than last year's.This year's total budget figure is $9,150,343, approximately $70,000 more than last year's advertised amount. The general fund decreased by about $4,300.The debt service fund dropped $2,000 due to bonds aging and payments decreasing. The advertised capital projects amount will be $84,000 less than last year's advertised amount, but the state cut last year's capital projects budget by $250,000.Schools Superintendent Ted Chittum said he expects a similar cut this year. The transportation fund increased 5 percent, to $482,900.Chittum told the board the fund was increased to compensate for increased gas and oil prices and increased mileage on the bus fleet.
TIM ROBERTSON, Times-Union Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Manchester Schools Proposes Hike In '03 Tax Rates

NORTH MANCHESTER - Manchester Community Schools proposed increases in school tax rates, acting superintendent Kim Thurston said Tuesday at the Manchester school board meeting. The increase could be 7 cents to 15 cents above last year's rates. The 2003 budget adoption will be at 7 p.m.Sept.17 at the Maple Park Educational Center. The school corporation will not know what the assessed valuation will be until next year, Thurston said. "The uncertainty surrounding reassessment leaves many questions unanswered," he said."These are issues facing public schools across the state of Indiana, not just Manchester Community Schools." Since 1999, MCS' total tax rate has declined 89 cents.A tax increase of 69 cents over the 2002 rate would be less than the 1999 rate, Thurston said. In another matter, the board unanimously voted to "unfreeze" the food service department employees' wages and to pay the premium for a health insurance plan.
Matthew Weigelt, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Ivy Tech Receives $1.6 Million From Lilly

Ivy Tech Community College has been awarded a $1.6 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.for the development of accelerated and targeted remedial education. Ivy Tech maintains a campus in Warsaw at 3755 Lake City Highway. About 75 percent of the college's degree-seeking students require at least one remediation course. "We are honored by the investment that Lilly Endowment has made in Ivy Tech Community College," said Carol D'Amico, the college's executive vice president. "Our mission as the state's community college is to raise the educational attainment level of Hoosiers.The development of accelerated and targeted remedial education is an important and often overlooked aspect in allowing students to quickly and effectively receive the education and training that they need to be successful in the ever-changing and more-demanding workplace.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Triton Names Top Students

BOURBON - Kelly Rettinger has been named the valedictorian for the class of 2006 at Triton Jr.-Sr.High School, with Karisa Voreis earning the honor of salutatorian. Kelly, daughter of Jon and Jeanette Rettinger of Bourbon, achieved the All-A Honor Roll each grading period this year, as well as being selected as this year's top student in the mathematics, science and business departments.She was presented an engraved clock at the academic awards banquet for reaching the top level of academic points at Triton. President of the student council this year, Kelly also is active with Future Business Leaders of America, National Honor Society, Science Club, Spanish Club and Pep Band.A graduate of the Kosciusko County Youth Leadership Academy, she is a varsity athlete in basketball as well as a four-year band member.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Pierceton Takes Bids On Tank Removal

PIERCETON - Bids were awarded in the proposed cleanup of an abandoned gas station, a decision was made to sell 2 acres in the industrial park and the go-ahead was given to upgrade street lighting in the downtown area. During Monday's Pierceton Town Council meeting, Avant was awarded the bid for soil testing, while R.P.Murphy & Associates will do the administrative, planning and engineering of a proposed project to clean up property at Market and First streets, where buried tanks are located at the site of a former gas station. The bid reward for both portions of the job is contingent upon receipt of grant funds, and soil testing will determine whether it will be feasible for the town to move forward with the cleanup. The town has an opportunity to receive grant money from the Indiana Department of Commerce for cleanup of the property. Avant's portion of the project was bid at $6,190, and Murphy's part will be $21,500.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Queen Of Lakes Winners Announced

NORTH WEBSTER - Amanda Blackman, Miss Sylvan Lake, was crowned Queen of the Lakes Friday night during the 54th Annual Mermaid Festival. Blackman, 20, is the daughter of David and Carol Blackman, Albion. She is a sophomore at Butler University, studying elementary education, and is a member of several honor societies.She was voted Miss Noble County in 1996; and has been on Butler's dean's list every semester since attending Butler. Prizes for the queen include a $2,000 scholarship. Renee Welch, Miss Sechrist Lake, was selected first runner-up.She received a $1,500 scholarship.She is the daughter of Reece and Linda Welch, Ridgeville. Welch is a junior at Ball State University and plans to study veterinary medicine. Second runner-up was Shiloh Butler, 19, who entered as Miss Wawasee II.She received a $1,000 scholarship.Her parents are David and Susie Butler, Syracuse.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Syracuse To Get Chinese Restaurant

SYRACUSE - A new Chinese restaurant will open in Syracuse soon thanks to the Board of Zoning Appeals granting a variance June 21 on the number of parking places needed. China Star will feature mostly carryout from its location at 734 Huntington St., next door to the video store, just south of Lance's.It will have four tables for those few who wish to dine in. When he built the building that now houses the video store, George Miller anticipated putting in a pizza parlor, but hasn't been able to find one that was interested in Syracuse.In looking for alternatives, he decided that Chinese food won't compete with local restaurants and will give Syracuse diversity. The variance was granted on the condition that all employees of both businesses park behind the building. Kheong Lee, who operates a Chinese restaurant in Goshen, has hired Zheng Kui Zheng and his family to operate the establishment.
VIRGINIA NIZAMOFF SURSO, Times-Union Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

HB Buys Sun Metal

HB Performance Systems Inc., which was Hayes Brake until a management buyout less than a month ago, acquired Sun Metal Products Inc.of Warsaw. Financial details of the sale were not disclosed. Rhonda Kirkwood, vice president and general manager at HB Performance Systems, will manage the new acquisition, now named Sun Components, under the company's Hayes Bicycle Group division.Bob Piecuch, former owner of Sun Metal Products, will continue to operate the business and report to Kirkwood.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Lake City Bank Sells 5 Branches

Five southern Lakeland Financial Corp.offices will be sold to First Farmers Bank and Trust of Converse, Lakeland Financial Corp.announced today. The offices included in the agreement are in Peru, Greentown, Wabash, Roann and Logansport.Collectively, the offices have approximately $80 million in deposits and $30 million in loans.The sale is contingent upon regulatory approval and completion of financing by First Farmers. "We are pleased to announce the sale of these five branches to a locally based bank with the same commitment to employees, customers and community participation that has been a cornerstone of the way Lake City Bank has approached business for more than 125 years," said Michael L.Kubacki, president and chief executive officer of Lake City Bank."While these southern market offices have played a meaningful role in our development over the past several years, they no longer fit our strategic expansion plan.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

City Approves Budget For Redevelopment Commission

Warsaw redevelopment commissioners approved a $341,418.50 budget Monday for 2002. Two bond payments are included in the request.One is for a 1991 tax increment financing bond for the downtown area in the amount of $138,017.50. The second large expenditure is for Medtronic Sofamor-Danek's economic development commission bond repayment of $105,785. The redevelopment commission budget proposal will come before the city council for final approval. A portion of Jeff Noffsinger's salary was included in the budget in the amount of $6,316, including benefits and taxes. Noffsinger, the city planner, also serves as the redevelopment director.He spends approximately five hours per week on redevelopment issues. The salary transfer would lessen the plan department budget. Professional services were projected to be $74,000 for the northern TIF district and $5,000 for the general budget. General costs were increased from $5,900 to $7,300.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

WCPL Preliminary Budget Seeks 7% Increase

The Warsaw Community Public Library Board of Trustees unveiled its preliminary budget for 2000 Monday, and the initial plan calls for a 7 percent increase over the 1999 budget. "This is only a rough outline of the budget," Ann Zydek, library director, told the board. The initial budget for next year calls for (by line item): • Personnel services (salaries, wages and benefits) - $868,996; • Supplies - $52,411; • Other services (professional services, communication and transportation, utilities, printing and advertising, debt service, repairs and maintenance, etc.) - $319,685; • Capital outlays (land, buildings, furniture and equipment, books, periodicals, sound recordings, videos, software) - $373,315. According to business manager Renee Sweeney, the proposed budget includes an anticipated increase in the minimum wage to $6.50 per hour. The public hearing for the 2000 budget is tentatively set for Aug.30 at the library.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Pierceton Days Start Today

PIERCETON - Fun, entertainment and a special celebration is planned this weekend for Pierceton Days. Observing 125 years of service, the local fire department is hosting Firefighter Games on Sunday. Firefighters from all over the state will converge at the Pierceton Elementary School parking lot Sunday.The games include a Challenge Obstacle Course for single and team competition and a waterball tournament. Participation in the games is restricted to firefighters and their families.The public is invited to watch. Regular events for the annual festival begin today at 4 p.m.with the Lions chicken barbecue and DJ Terry's tunes.The American Legion will host Bingo games at 5 p.m.Also at 5 p.m.is the Car and Fire Truck Show. At 8 p.m.the Nostalgia band will play five decades of rock 'n' roll. On Saturday, EMS personnel will hold a 7 a.m.pancake breakfast in the community building.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016
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