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Valley, Whitko Compete For Most Pop Tabs

AKRON -ÊThe gauntlet has been thrown down. Tippecanoe Valley High School has challenged Whitko High School to a competition, and the victor will be announced at the basketball game Friday at TVHS. The winner will be whichever high school collects the most pop tabs for Riley Children's Hospital, Indianapolis. Nancy Blake, WHS teacher, said at Whitko, the Sunshine Society is responsible for the tab collection.She said TVHS made the challenge to Whitko during the first week of December. "They do a lot of things for Riley's here," said Blake, making the perfect competition.Cans are placed around WHS for the collection, she said.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw BOW OKs Contracts For 2000

The Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety approved several contracts Friday to close out 1999. The agreements include: • 911 Service - Kosciusko County will pay the city $88,682 for three dispatchers at the new countywide dispatcher center. • Parks facilities and programs - Wayne Township will pay the city $42,000 for the city's management of facilities and programs for residents of Wayne Township. • Insurance Consulting Services - The city will pay SourceOne Insurance $20,000 for consulting services during 2000. • Housing Services - The board approved two contracts with Warsaw Housing Authority.The first calls for the housing authority to pay the city $3,700 for the services of Building Inspector Pamela Kennedy.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Moore Gives Liberals A Bad Name

Michael Moore, the "documentary" director from Michigan, is all in the news these days because of the his new movie "Farenhate 9/11." (Note to copy editor - That's not a typo.) Moore is an award-winning filmmaker.His "documentaries" (I thought documentaries were supposed to be non-fiction) have won Oscars, Emmys, Writers' Guild Awards and jury prizes at Cannes. He's sold more books than Limbaugh, O'Reilly, Coulter and Hannity combined, too, by the way.(Sometimes I think these people give conservatives a bad name.Like when Coulter called Ted Kennedy an "adulterous drunk.") But even some of my liberal friends say they have had enough of Michael Moore. Certainly there is nothing wrong with having opinions.Lots of people make a decent living doing just that. And there is nothing wrong with a liberal point of view.Certainly, liberals can make principled arguments against policies of the Bush administration.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Animal Welfare Has To Be About The Animals

Circumstances surrounding the Kosciusko Animal Shelter are unfortunate. First of all, I want to make it clear that at the Gerard house, we like animals.We own a couple dogs.One is a Norwegian elkhound.The other is a Yorkshire terrier.(Have you ever heard that you don't really own a Yorkie, a Yorkie owns you? It's true.) Over the years, we've had cats, hamsters, a rabbit or two, guinea pigs, hermit crabs and fish.So I am no stranger to the bond between pets and their owners. That's why I fully understand that all those involved in the issue surrounding the shelter are dedicated and well-meaning. But for whatever reason, some folks have gotten a little out of control. I am referring to a letter to the editor that appeared in this newspaper this week.The letter writers all but accused the board of directors of the now-disbanded Humane Society of lining their pockets with money meant to go to animals.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Why We Print What We Print

It is almost inconceivable to me that it will be another year before my next vacation. Why is it that vacations are so excruciatingly short? In the weeks prior to your vacation, time drags.That final Friday seems as if it will never arrive. Then, once vacation begins, time flies.Before you know it, it's over.You're back at work.Within two days, it feels as if you never left. While I was away, we got a couple calls and letters about our photo coverage of a mo-ped accident on U.S.30 near Atwood. The sentiment - albeit limited - was that the coverage was too graphic.One person even went so far as to say we shouldn't print accident photos at all. And one person said the only reason we print them is to sell papers. Please allow me to dispel that myth first.The old "you're just trying to sell newspapers" argument simply doesn't hold much water.The circulation varies very little based on what's on the front page. There are glaring exceptions.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Teen Drinking Problem Needs Attention

I hate it when teenagers die or ruin their lives over booze. It seems so unnecessary and preventable. But it happened again last weekend.A 19-year-old victim this time.His friend, another 19-year-old, facing prison. It would be easy to write about pointing fingers or argue about who is to blame or who needs to be arrested and who doesn't. My guess is that everybody who needs to be held accountable will be.I am fairly confident about that. But what about the future? As a community, what is our view of last weekend's tragedy? Is it acceptable to us? Do we just shrug our shoulders and resolve ourselves to the notion that every other year or so a teenager will die in a drunk driving accident? Or is it time we get proactive and take some positive steps? I think parents need to take control.School officials need to crack down.There have been rumors for years about parents, cops and school officials looking the other way when certain teens drink.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Now I Notice The Wind

There is a lot of bad news in the world and sometimes I just need a break from writing about that stuff. So this week, nothing about terror, high gas prices, global warming or anything else disturbing. After living on Dewart Lake for the past 17 years or so, I have taken up a new hobby - windsurfing. Some people call it sailboarding.Some people just call it sailing. Anyway, it's basically a surfboard with a mast and a sail attached to the middle. It has straps on the back that you put your feet into. I know what you're thinking.Sounds like kind of a dumb hobby. Well, I don't know. Sure, one could say that standing on a floating board, hanging on to a sail and being pushed or pulled around a lake by the wind is kind of lame. I've heard people say that about guys in sailboats.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Mishler Survey Gives Voters A Preview Of Upcoming Legislation

Indiana State Sen.Ryan Mishler has mailed a survey for citizens to complete that provides a clue about upcoming legislation in the months ahead.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

City Council To Review Menard's Proposal Next

Approval for a request by Menard's Inc.to rezone approximately 21 acres from R-1 residential to C-3 commercial along Husky Trail and Patterson Road will be decided by the Warsaw City Council. The Warsaw Plan Commission held a public meeting Tuesday night at the courthouse where Menard's representatives, citizens and commission members discussed the proposal for two hours. Menard's Inc.is requesting a map amendment for the zoning ordinance in order to accommodate the development of a Menard's store with additional commercial lots. The commission voted 3-3 in support of the rezoning proposal.Commission member Richard Keeven was absent from the meeting and a unanimous vote was not reached to make a recommendation to the city council. City councilman and commission member Joe Thallemer said the city council will discuss the request at its January city council meeting where another public hearing will be held.
JENNIFER PERYAM, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Manchester Town Employees to Receive Raises

NORTH MANCHESTER -ÊNorth Manchester's town employees will be reimbursed the annual 3 percent raise that was put on hold due to financial concerns, North Manchester Town Council President Don Rinearson said Thursday. An uncertain financial forecast stayed the employees' raises until the year's end.The council now has a clearer read on the state of the finances. The town needed at least $40,000 to cover the pay increases, Rinearson said.With departments' savings and other unencumbered money, the town now has $80,000 left over, he said. Department heads kept their spending down.Throughout the year, no special fund appropriations were needed, Rinearson said. He called the surprise amount a "highlight of the year." Employees will receive the money in a special check due Monday, clerk-treasurer Nancy Reed said. Most employees will get more than $200.Several department heads will receive more than $1,000, according to records.
MATTEW WEIGELT, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Some Days Are Better Than Others

Well, Tuesday turned out to be quite the unusual, eventful day for me. On Monday, I got a call from somebody who said there was a really big, fast-looking boat in town. He gave me a number.I called it. I spoke to a very friendly gentleman, Jim Franklin from Rowlett, Texas, who offered to take me for a boat ride on Lake Wawasee. I met him at the ramp and went for a ride in an Eliminator 33 Daytona with around 1,140 horsepower. We reached a speed of 107.5 mph. It was quite exhilarating, I must say.Our family boat goes about 40. Forty in this boat seemed as if you could jump out and go for a swim. He let me drive the boat, too.That was really nice of him.Of course I drove the boat a great deal slower than he did.I mean, after all, it wasn't my boat. So I got some basic information from him and decided to run a couple pictures in the newspaper because it was, after all, a really cool boat.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

It's Just Me Whining Again

I am always writing about things that bug me. Usually, they are things that the government has done, or is planning to do.Important things that could affect us or our paychecks. But there are lots of other, less important things that bug me, too.So, at the risk of being called a whiner, here goes. • I hate it when you see something on sale in a store and then when you go to the register it scans the regular price.You have to watch every scan.Then, when you catch a mistake, the clerk looks at you as if you are anal-retentive and the people waiting behind you throw a few angry stares your way. • The other day I say a big V-8 Cadillac cruising around with an "environment" license tag. • One of the hottest-selling vehicles right now is a big, 4-wheel-drive sport utility.Lots of people are driving around in Suburbans, Cherokees and Explorers and simultaneously complaining about high gas prices.Some of them have "environment" license plates, too.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Giving Demos A Reason To Crow

A few weeks ago in this very space I implored W to stop giving the liberals ammunition. He hasn't heeded my words (as if he knew I had words). Nonetheless, he keeps sticking his neck out and the Demos keep lopping off his head, so to speak. He was giving them plenty of reasons to crow when he was talking about the environment a while back. That's what prompted my first advice-to-W column. But now things seem to be taking a turn for the worse. The W administration has even disillusioned one Senate Republican to become an independent, a monumental development that may well handcuff W's attempt to press his agenda. This senator effectively will hand over control of the Senate and all its committees to the Democrats. And more than likely screw up a whole bunch of possible judicial appointments. One would think W and his men could have stroked Rep.Sen.James Jeffords of Vermont enough to keep him in the fold. But no.They honked him off instead.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Residents Speak Against Menard's Rezoning

Patterson Road area residents and other interested parties spoke against a controversial rezoning petition at the Warsaw Plan Commission Tuesday. Held in the courthouse in the old Superior Courtroom to accommodate a large audience, the planners ended up in a 3-3 vote, forwarding no recommendation to the city council.(See accompanying article.) Menard's, a hardware chain, is asking that about 21 acres of a residential-1 zone be rezoned commercial-3.Much of the property from U.S.30 northeast to Harrison Elementary School is already commercial. The remonstrators cited increased traffic, possible well water contamination and unfair competition as reasons for the planners to deny the petition. Jim Maze, owner of Warsaw Ace Hardware, gave the planners a petition against the rezoning. He said the presence of the hardware chain would have an adverse effect on small businesses and siphon dollars out of the community.Instead of increasing jobs, jobs would be lost.
TERESA SMITH,mTimes-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Wawasee OKs Teacher Contracts

SYRACUSE - After much negotiation, the Wawasee School Board Tuesday approved an agreement with the Wawasee Community Education Association for teacher contracts. The agreement is effective July 1, 2000, to June 30, 2001, Superintendent Mark Stock told the school board. According to Stock, the highlights of the agreement are: a 3 percent increase in base pay plus experience and longevity increments; 2 percent increase on the base pay for sponsoring extracurricular activities; and an agreement to form a teacher evaluation committee to discuss the teacher evaluation procedure. With the 3 percent increase on the base, the total increase for teachers, including increment, will be 4 percent, he said. "I just want to commend both sides on the excellent job of working together," said board secretary Marion Acton."I'm very appreciative." Administrator salaries and contracts for 2000-01 were approved.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Red Alerts Causing Overreactions

Ever since the 9/11 tragedy, we seem to have this penchant for overreaction. A couple things reminded me of that this week. First, there was the evacuation of Fort Wayne International Airport. A suspicious metal case was found in a bathroom at the airport. Airport security staff was told there was an aluminum case in a restroom in the boarding area. An X-ray showed the case had numerous electric wires inside. Security staff called the Fort Wayne PD's bomb squad and evacuated people in the boarding area and passengers in two planes. The bomb squad determined the device inside the case was a handheld video game. The passengers were allowed to return to the planes after about a 40-minute delay.Other passengers were kept out of the boarding area until police thoroughly checked out the area. No word on whether the kid came back to claim his Gameboy¨.I wonder if he flew off and left it or if he was on the way home.Either way, I bet he (or she) is bummed.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Joe Camel Drawing Fire Once Again

I guess I'm a little confused by all the attention Joe Camel gets from lawmakers. You know Joe.He's the cartoon character with the gigantic nose who hawks Camel cigarettes. The latest salvo against the maligned mammal is a letter from Paul McHale, Tim Roemer and Joe Kennedy to the Federal Trade Commission. They are asking - with the blessing of 67 members of the House of Representatives - for the FTC to reopen its investigation of the Joe Camel cigarette advertising campaign. In their letter, they point out that the FTC already investigated Smokin' Joe two years ago.At that time the FTC decided to discontinue the investigation.They said there was "not enough factual evidence to conclude there is a direct correlation between the Joe Camel ads and increased smoking among children." Your tax dollars at work.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

City Council Hears Update On NIPSCO Building

The Warsaw City Council received an update on the former NIPSCO building Wednesday. Ken Herceg of Herceg and Associates, the engineering and architectural company working on the renovation design for the building, gave a report during a special meeting. The property, located behind Owen's on Center Street, has a main office building, a garage and plenty of parking, according to Herceg.Renovation for the main office building will consist mainly of basic drywall and painting, adding heating and cooling and installation of a new roof, he said. The new police department site will eliminate congestion in the current building it shares with the mayor and clerk offices.Once the police department moves, the clerk's office in the city building can be expanded.There will be no jail facilities or victims' center at the new police department.It will be able to accommodate a holding cell if necessary.
ANITA WEISHEIT, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Gunter Ends Long Career Of Public Service

Avis B.Gunter was presented with a Distinguished Hoosier Award by State Representatives David Wolkins and Bill Ruppel. County council members Charlene Knispel, Harold Jones and John Kinsey thanked the three-term commissioner of the southern district with a certificate of appreciation. Congressman Mark Souder dropped by with a letter thanking her for her 43 years of public service. People dropped off cards and small gifts, pausing to look at a scrapbook of Gunter's accomplishments or to watch a digitalized photo album on a television set. Gunter, 78, a Claypool native who still lives on the Kimes family farm there, was surrounded by well-wishers, hundreds of old friends and new acquaintances during a retirement party held in her honor.She had a word, a touch, a hug and a smile for everyone. Gunter lost the Republican primary election for the commissioner's post to fellow Claypoolian Bob Conley in May.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Valley Girls Knock Off Northfield

AKRON - The Northfield Lady Norse traveled to Tippecanoe Valley Friday evening to take on the Lady Vikings in a Three Rivers Conference game. Tippecanoe Valley held off the Lady Norse 64-45. The Lady Vikings outscored Northfield 6-1 to start the first quarter.After a bucket by Northfield, the Lady Vikings went on a 13-2 run to finish the quarter with a 19-5 lead.Chelsy Rhoades led the Vikings with 4-of-4 shooting, including a three-point goal.She finished with nine points. "We came out with a new and different defensive strategy in the first quarter to add to their confusion.Our goal was to contain (Courtney) Reed.She is one of their better players," Viking Coach Gary Teel said. Jennifer Hathaway was 2 of 2 from the floor and 1 of 1 from the line to add five points.Hannah Krueger also added four points on 2-of-4 shooting.The Lady Vikings held Northfield to just 2-of-11 shooting from the floor in the quarter.
Cliff Tanner, Times-Union Sports Correspondent- | July 28, 2016
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