Syracuse Chamber Has New Director

SYRACUSE - The new executive director of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce is off to a running start. Kristi E.Young took on the duties of executive director on Jan.26, exactly one month before the Taste of Home Cooking School event.Young is stepping up to the challenge of presenting a successful community event by bringing together the resources necessary in the allotted time. Although she is thrilled to be taking on this project, she was initially worried about the short amount of time left to plan the event.This is no longer a concern. "Everything is falling into place," said Young, "and tickets sales are starting to take off." The Taste of Home Cooking School will take place Feb.26 at 7 p.m.at the Syracuse Elementary School Gymnasium.Between 1,000 and 1,500 attendants are expected to be present.The Taste of Home Cooking School presentation is for everyone, from a novice to an experienced cook.

Zoners Approve Parking, Signage

Property at the corner of Lincoln and Market streets could see improvements following two approvals by the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals Monday. Two petitions were approved to allow for both the construction of a parking lot and commercial sign at 207 S.Lincoln St., the location of Rayco Steel Processing. Chris Rooney and Blake Pilcher, both of Rayco, presented the requests, saying they hoped to solve employee parking complications while cleaning up the property. "This is certainly an improvement from the last 25 years," BZA member Bruce Woodward said."It'll be the nicest parking lot in the neighborhood." Plans for the parking lot consist of six parking spaces, and landscaping will be planted along adjacent properties for buffering purposes. In other matters, a variance from developmental standards request by Kevin Dixon and Jocelyn Orlowski was approved to allow for an 8-foot privacy fence on their property.

GOP Field Crowded In Prosecutor's Race

Three Republican candidates are vying for the position of Kosciusko County prosecutor in the primary election May 5. David Kolbe is the incumbent prosecutor with 3-1/2 years experience.Kolbe cites his experience and record for number of felony trials during his term.Kolbe says his office is more aggressive than the previous administration and will continue to make changes if he is re-elected.Kolbe said his administration has seen improvements in raising delinquent child-support and trying criminal cases against child molesters and shooters. Kolbe, a resident of Claypool, was in private law practice in Warsaw before winning the 1994 election. Daniel Hampton is currently a deputy prosecutor in Allen County.He points out his law experience has been focused only on prosecution for the past 10 years, including five years in Kosciusko County as deputy and chief deputy prosecutor.

State Cops Target Motorists Driving Under The Influence

BREMEN - School proms, graduation parties, race events and other summer activities frequently invite the use of alcohol, which often leads partygoers to get behind the wheel. During May, the men and women of the Indiana State Police will target motorists who are driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. "Too many lives are needlessly lost each year because someone was driving under the influence," said Dr.Paul Whitesell, superintendent of the Indiana State Police."I've challenged our troopers to take action before more Hoosiers get hurt or killed." More than 200 motorists traveling on Indiana roadways lost their lives in 2004 as a result of alcohol-related crashes.Nationally, 17,000 Americans die each year in alcohol-related traffic crashes, and nearly 600,000 people are injured by impaired drivers.

BOW Approves New Investment Service And Phone System

A new interest-bearing account was adopted by the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety Friday, allowing for a change in investment services for city checking accounts. Lake City Bank will convert the city's current investment sweep service to an Indexed Super Now Account.These accounts will earn interest compounded daily at a rate of 2.81 percent.All transfer fees assigned to this type of financial adjustment will be waived by the bank. The new account began Wednesday and will be in effect for the next two years. The board also approved plans to incorporate a uniform phone system for the offices of the Mayor, Warsaw Fire Departments, Parks Department, Oakwood Cemetery and Aviation Board. "We look forward to the convenience of the new phone service for the fact that all city departments will be connected under one telephone system," Mayor Ernie Wiggins said.

Lt. Gov. Weighs In On New Laws

INDIANAPOLIS - Lt.Gov.Becky Skillman called the most recent legislative session was remarkable during a telephone interview Wednesday. "From a jobs standpoint this legislative session was historic.We're going to be a national leader in transportation and a national leader in telecommunications, due to the inititatives passed this session. "With passage of Major Moves we stand to be perhaps the only state in the nation with a fully-funded 10-year highway construction plan aend the money in the bank to pay for it." Kosciusko County's share, Skillman said, is $3 million in a new construction project on Ind.15 north of U.S.30, although it probably won't get started for several years.She gave a figure of $5.22 million as the county's total for local roads, bridges and streets. "The administration understands that cities, towns and county government has a backlog of projects.

South Whitley Swears In New Council Members

SOUTH WHITLEY - Town council members Tony Starkey, Tom Rudd and Judy Earnhart were sworn into office Tuesday evening at the start of the meeting. Starkey was elected president of the board. The council members decided Emergency Management Services equipment, such as their computer and other gear, could be kept in the council meeting room due to the rough shape of the Morsches Building, where the Medic 41 ambulance is garaged. The building's roof is leaking and is considered structurally unsafe. Work has begun on a rough draft for a combined utility building and storage facility to be constructed in the industrial park northwest of town. The multipurpose building would house Medic 41 and the EMS equipment. A proposal by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to lease land in the town park was acknowledged by the board.IDNR plans to reconstruct a boat launch on the Eel River and has indicated they want to lease a large amount of land, too.

Manchester 3rd Graders To Undergo Assessment Testing

NORTH MANCHESTER - Third graders at Manchester Elementary School soon will be participating in a self-assessment study. On Jan.11, the students will take the Behavioral Assessment Scale For Children II, a self-assessment test that will allow school officials determine how to help students adjust to the school atmosphere. Dr.Rusty Coulter-Kern, a licensed psychologist and Associate Professor of Psychology at Manchester College will score the tests and prepare a short feedback form for parents.Parents will receive the explanation of the results at a feedback session Jan.17.At that time, Coulter-Kern will answer general questions about the results and schedule individual sessions with parents who want more information.The service is free for parents. Once the program is finished, it will be evaluated by Coulter-Kern and used in Manchester Elementary School's improvement plan.

Warsaw Library Wants Community Input On Services

Now that they have a spanking new building and an increasing base of patrons, the Warsaw Community Library Board of Trustees wants help with its annual budget. Ann Zydek, library director, said in advance of their work beginning in earnest on the 2000 budget she would like to have greater community input into what services the library offers and the times they are offered. "I would like to see a broad cross-section of the community polled in developing the annual budget," she said."That would help us develop a plan of providing services they'd like and how those services are provided." She said she received many requests for the library to remain open later, and to open on Sunday. "We would, of course, have to modify the number of hours we are open the rest of the week to keep the hours to 68 per week from Labor Day to Memorial Day," she said. Opening on Sunday, between 1 and 5 p.m., would add an additional expense of $70,000 per year, she said.

Kambs, Nordmann Tops At Manchester

NORTH MANCHESTER - Jill Elise Kambs has been named valedictorian and Amanda L.Nordmann has been named salutatorian for the class of 2003 at Manchester High School.Kambs earned this honor with an 11.0 grade point average, and Nordmann has a 10.844 GPA on an 11.0 scale from the past four years. Kambs earned academic excellence honors for the past nine years.She was awarded a Purdue Junior Scholar in mathematics and a Scholastic Art and Writing Award.She earned Division I ratings at the district and state vocal solo and ensemble contests in grades seven to 11 and was a member of the Indiana All State Choir in 2001. Kambs has been a varsity athlete in cross-country, track and swimming, where she earned TRC Academic All Conference honors, and was a regional qualifier twice in track.She has been active in the Science Club, Art Club and on the staff of the literary magazine.She has served as secretary of the National Honor Society and as a peer mentor.

Winona Pays $75,000 For Property At 800 Park Ave.

WINONA LAKE - Town council members provided $75,000 as damage payment to Ralph and JoEllen Fitch, Larwill, in a resolution passed Tuesday at the council's meeting. The amount, taken from the wastewater operating fund to the tax increment financing account, represents the fair market value of the apartment building at 800 Park Ave. Three appraisers - Jon Shively, John Beer and Jean Williams - found $75,000 to be the fair market value of the condemned property secured through eminent domain procedures by the town's redevelopment commission. Standing on the northeast corner of an area commonly known as the Village at Winona, at the corner of Park Avenue and Canal Street, the two-story dwelling is surrounded by specialty shops to the south and west, a parking lot to the north and Hillside Park across the street to the east. The property is zoned as a planned unit development with combined commercial and residential uses, owned by the Village at Winona.

Planners Recommend Approval Of Controversial Rezoning

In a controversial decision, the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission is sending a recommendation to approve James Evans' rezoning request. Evans asked that an agriculturally zoned tract of land to be rezoned to residential, to allow for a residential development.The property is located on the north side of CR 1000N and 722 feet east of Ind.13 in Turkey Creek Township. The big issue with the rezoning is that a large section of land would be zoned residential and increase the amount of children in the area. With the Wawasee Middle School being only a short distance from the proposed rezoning and sitting on a hill, which obstructs the vision of drivers on Ind.13, several of the board members felt there would be a significant risk to the children. Four members of the nine-member board voted in favor of the motion and four against it, placing board member Kevin McSherry in a difficult position.

Governor orders flags at half-staff

INDIANAPOLIS - Gov.Mitch Daniels is asking that flags in Indiana be flown at half-staff until dusk Friday to honor the four Indiana National Guard soldiers who were killed in Afghanistan Saturday. The men were members of Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix, 76th Infantry Brigade.They died when their vehicle hit a landmine about 50 kilometers south of Kabul, Afghanistan. Coalition Task Force soldiers paid tribute to the fallen Monday. Dead are: Capt.Michael T.Fiscus, 37, the plans officer.He is survived by his wife and two children, who live in Milford. Master Sgt.Michael Hiester, 33, of Bluffton, the operations sergeant for the 76th Infantry Brigade.He is survived by his wife, two children and his parents, who live in Bluffton. Spc.Brett M.Hershey, 23, of Indianapolis, a radio transmitter/operator and driver.He is survived by his parents, who live in State College, Pa.

Tax Credit Deadline Extended

Kosciusko County Auditor Marsha McSherry extended the deadline for homeowners age 65 and older to sign up for a new tax credit Tuesday.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY HEARING OFFICER - OCTOBER 13, 2008 MEETING

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS - SEPTEMBER 9 EXCEPTIONS

Remember When Dec. 28

10 Years Ago Dec.28 1986 Leesburg native Don "Danny" Bayne is taking a major role in planning of the upcoming Pan American Games.He is vice president of finance/comptroller for the 10th Pan American Games to be held Aug.7-23 in Indianapolis. 25 Years Ago Dec.28 1971 Brooks Leedy, Warsaw wrestler in the 100-pound division, has been named Tiger of the Week.Leedy enters tonight's Warsaw match with Plymouth with a 6-1-1 season's mark. 50 Years Ago Dec.28 1946 Joe Ault, delivery truck driver for Crystal Dairy, Warsaw, bounced into the newspaper office early Monday morning, grinning ear to ear.His pretty wife, the former Maxine "Mac" Miller, of near Claypool, had presented him with an almost 10-pound son.

Property Tax Rally Set For Thursday

A property tax repeal rally to educate property owners, elected officials and legislators about methods to repeal property taxes will be Thursday in Warsaw.

Author Visiting MPL June 8

MILFORD - Robert Garrett Scott, author of "Skeleton of the Plane," will be signing books at the Milford Public Library June 8 at 2 p.m.

Diercks, ML Motorsports 24th In Busch Race

FORT WORTH, Texas - Making their third NASCAR Busch Series start of the season, Justin Diercks and his Warsaw-based ML Motorsports team scored their third top-25 finish of the season Saturday.