Teens Nabbed In Attempted Auto Theft

Two Warsaw teens are in custody following an attempted auto theft Sunday night in which the car owner refused to give up her car. Warsaw police report that Barbara Jean Bacon McKinley, West Street, Winona Lake, left her car running at 2501 Glad Street.She heard someone trying to take her car and confronted them.When the car stalled while backing out of the driveway, McKinley jumped onto the hood. The teens allegedly drove north on Husky Trail while McKinley rode on the car's hood clinging to the windshield wipers.They stopped the car at Harrison Elementary School, Glad Street, Warsaw. The teens fled to the Glad Street Group Home, where they were arrested by police. Nicole Dawn Walsson, 16, Fremont, was charged with criminal recklessness and auto theft, while Jamie Carolyn Eihler, 14, Andrews, was charged with auto theft. McKinley was uninjured except for a scrape on her nose.

Syracuse Business Owner Upset By Recent Burglaries

SYRACUSE - Small businesses in Syracuse may have to step up their security since a number of them have been the victims of thefts and burglaries. One such business is Higgins Sport and Lawn Equipment.Pat Higgins, proprietor, said he has been hit six times in the last year. "My gut feeling is that 50 percent is youth, but there are a large number of professionals who come into the area," Higgins said. Higgins said the only way to solve the problem was for the Syracuse police to drive through the village and through the town at least once an hour.But, he said, he has contacted the state police to handle the investigation because the local police don't seem to put enough hours into the case. "I feel that the state police will take more time to investigate them than the city," he said.

Da-Lite Sues For E-Mailer's Identity

Hoping to learn where an electronic mail item came from, Da-Lite Screen Co.Inc.has filed a lawsuit in Kosciusko Circuit Court. Although the lawsuit names "John Doe" as the defendant, it seeks a subpoena ordering Wave One to disclose the telephone number from which a Sept.7 e-mail originated and that, once identified, Doe be ordered to turn over any Da-Lite Screen business records in his or her possession and to enjoin Doe from further use of Da-Lite's records or e-mail system.The communication was allegedly sent by "Deb Davis," but it is not known if this is the sender's legal name.

Home Decorations Come Up Missing

The Grinch made five stops in the Warsaw area this weekend, stealing Christmas lights and decorations from recently decorated homes. Bruce and Regina Lackey, Pike Street, Warsaw, suffered a visit from vandals who were after their Christmas cheer.The Lackeys made it out a week ago to decorate their home. "I just don't understand how someone could come right up to our front window while we were in the house and steal our lights," said Regina Lackey. Bruce Lackey reported the theft of three strands of lights from his front porch to Warsaw police at 6:40 p.m.Sunday.Police told the Lackeys the theft was probably vandalism: The suspect cut the wires rather than unplugging them. He may have made off with the lights, but the thief did not steal their Christmas cheer. "We put the lights right back up for our little girls," Mrs.Lackey said.Lackey said she had many more strands of lights that she would have given away rather than feel unsafe in her home.

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.

Teens Suspected Of Auto Theft

Two Warsaw teens who were picked up walking north on Ind.19 in last night's bitter cold have been connected to a Thursday night auto theft. An Indiana State Trooper picked up the teens walking north on Ind.19, north of Etna Green.In a written statement to police they reported hitching a ride with a truck driver after abandoning the stolen car. Ty Ronald Shepler, West CR 250S, Warsaw, reported to the Warsaw Police Department his car was taken from Kmart, East U.S.30, Warsaw, at 8:56 p.m.Thursday. The teens who allegedly took the car, Armando Anthony Otis Castillo, 17, of 1407 Riverwood Ave., Warsaw, and Sharif Abdul-Muhammed Cureton, 17, same address, are in custody today. The two broke the window of SheplerOs car with a screwdriver that Castillo took from the store.A Kmart employee reported seeing the two in the store prior to the theft.

Stolen 4-Wheelers Recovered

PIERCETON -ÊThe Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department is looking for information related to the recovery of a pair of all-terrain vehicles early this morning near Sellers Lake. Investigators with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department found two stolen four-wheelers in a trailer this morning near Sellers Lake.The wheels of the vehicles were removed. A witness told police that Maximo P.Ybarra was seen riding one of the vehicles within the past two days. Ybarra, 24, of 3104 E.Wooster Road, Pierceton, was arrested this morning on a probation violation charge, but has not yet been charged with anything related to the thefts of the four-wheelers. Ybarra also is wanted on warrants for charges in Whitley County. Although the owners of the four-wheelers have been identified, officials are still looking for information related to the thefts.

Public Servants Face Indictments

Indictments were handed down against six people this week at the conclusion of a two-week grand jury investigation.All of the people involved have connections to public service agencies and misappropriated funds over which they had control, including money targeted for the National Police and Fire Disaster Relief Fund. "This is about public servants and people who have been entrusted with public money and donated money," Kosciusko County Prosecutor Charles Waggoner said in a press release in answer to why the cases were taken before a grand jury."The presentations before a grand jury composed of citizens helps keep us all accountable to the people of Kosciusko County." The indictments were filed Wednesday in Kosciusko Circuit Court and were initially sealed to allow the defendants time to turn themselves in.As of this morning, four of those indicted were booked into the Kosciusko County Jail.

Letters to the Editor 06-15-2006

Remember When February 12

10 Years Ago February 12 1994 METAMORA, Ill.- A pair of wrestlers from the Warsaw Wrestling Club returned home as champions from the Metamora Folkstyle Open. William Eloph claimed the championship in the Jr.103-pound weight class and Dillon Whitacre earned the championship in the Midget 85-pound class. 25 Years Ago February 12 1979 Members of the Tippecanoe Valley High School physics class recently designed and made balsa bridges in a study of forces and stress. The bridges of Claire Helmreich, Chris Baker and Tim Stokes tied for top honors with the bridge of Claire Helmreich being declared the final winner with a weight of nine kilograms.

Remember When October 9

10 Years Ago October 9 1996 Kimberly Rose of Pierceton was awarded third place recently in the 1996 Adult Learners Essay Contest. Rose's essay was titled "A Mother's Turning Point, A Lesson From My Children."In it, she told how she quit school at a young age and got married and had children.As her children got into high school, she faced the dilemma of telling them the importance of graduating when she had not done so.She went back to school at the Adult Learning Center in Warsaw.

Remember When September 26

10 Years Ago September 26 1996 Winners of the Rozella Ford 9-hole league this year were: Carolin Morrison (D-flight runner-up), Helen Wallace (D-flight winner), Jeanine Cavell (A-flight winner), Alma Vehling (sportsmanship), Peg Garber (C-flight winner), Clara Parker (B-flight winner), Lois Baker (A-flight runner-up) and Doris Ulrey (C-flight runner-up). 25 Years Ago September 26 1981 It was announced recently that Mary Lou Smith, fifth-grade teacher at Washington Elementary School, has received the Warsaw Community Education Association's Charles Reece Award honoring her as 1981 Teacher of the Year.

Remember When May 26

10 Years Ago May 26 1996 The winners of the Bourbon Summerfest poster contest have been announced.Winners received $50 savings bonds, and a packet of art supplies was given to the runners-up.Daniel Sellers and Ansley Nordmann were runners-up and Josh Brown and Kirk Bates won firsts. 25 Years Ago May 26 1981 Warsaw Community Schools bus drivers were honored at a Safety Awards Banquet held at Wongs Restaurant.The banquet was sponsored by the Indiana Insurance Co.to recognize individuals with accident-free driving records. Judy Dobbins received the Bus Driver of the Year award.

On The Court Basketball Previews

Careful What You Ask - Someone May Answer

Last week I wrote a column about my son's stuff getting stolen at school. In the column, I whined about what I perceive as a general moral decline among a certain segment of our population. "Kids lie, cheat and steal without guilt.For them, getting away with something is perceived as an accomplishment," I wrote. I suggested that the removal of the Bible from the classroom may have had something to do with it.I accused media and government of trivializing religion.I accused the young thieves of having a lack of "conscience training." And I asked the rhetorical question, "Where will they get that very valuable training?" A rhetorical question is one that is asked with no answer expected. I admit it.I didn't expect an answer, but I got one. On Monday I got a call from a guy named John Urschalitz. I sort of knew this guy.He and his family - from Illinois - rented a summer home next door to my house a couple times.

Oak Hill Edges Whitko 58-53

CONVERSE -ÊPropelled by a 16-point first quarter, Oak Hill defeated Whitko 58-53 Friday night in Three Rivers Conference action. The Golden Eagles jumped out to a 16-10 lead after the first quarter and took a 28-25 advantage at the half. Oak Hill outscored Whitko 30-28 in the second half to secure the win. Whitko senior Alex Frantz led all scorers with 19 points.Jeremy Coble added nine points for the Wildcats, while John Woods scored seven points. Oak Hill saw three players score in double figures as Travis Owsley had 13, Jordan Lab 12 and Trey Boswell 11. Oak Hill and Whitko now sport identical records, 9-5 overall and 3-2 in the TRC.

On The Court Basketball Previews

Physical Minutemen Outlast Warriors

DUNLAP - Jerry Davis is a quick learner. Two-thirds of the way into his first season Davis understands his new conference pretty well.He knows that you have to play physical in the Northern Lakes Conference. Last night his Wawasee Warriors couldn't withstand the physical pressure of the Concord Minutemen, losing 65-56. "The difference in the ball game was their physicalness under the boards and inside," he said."It made it very difficult for us to post up inside, and once we did, to do anything positive. "They did an excellent job of working the boards and going to the boards hard.We didn't block out the way that I would have liked.As physical as the NLC is, you have to be physical back or you're gonna be in trouble." The Warriors were down by 14 entering the fourth quarter, then finally started to make a run.

Triton Braces For Rising Sun's Triple Towers In State Finals

BOURBON - The talk has been that Triton's romp through the tournament has come a year early. Mark Heeter has one question for those who think that: What about Missy Nifong? Nifong is the lone senior on the team and the leading scorer at 12.7 points per game.More importantly, Heeter considers her leadership "invaluable." "Next year was no good to her," Heeter, the Triton coach, says."She wanted to go this year." The Trojans are going, the first Triton team to advance to the state finals in any sport in school history.The 19-7 unranked Trojans meet No.4 25-2 Rising Sun in Saturday's 10:30 a.m.Class A state championship. Rising Sun advanced by beating No.1 White River Valley (25-1) 50-42 in the Loogootee Semistate championship; Triton advanced by drubbing 13-12 Lapel 64-38 in the Triton Semistate.

Whitko Tennis Team Defeats Triton

LARWILL -Ê"We came out ready to play tonight." Victoria Cripe, Whitko's tennis coach, summed up the tennis match against Triton Tuesday with that one statement. Whitko had not defeated the Triton tennis team in several years, but Tuesday the Wildcats surprised the Trojans by handing them their first loss of the season, 4-1. "They are tougher than we anticipated," said Triton coach Laura Lamaster."They are good athletes and good, solid tennis players." At No.1 singles, Whitko's Aly Frantz was down 3-0 in the first set but came back to win the match 6-4, 6-4 over Triton's Joanna Blackmer. "Our No.1 singles lost 4-6, 4-6 in a close match," said Lamaster."Both girls played very well.It just didn't go our way this time." Trisha Peters recorded the second point for Whitko when she defeated Triton's Kelli Hackett 6-3, 6-3 at No.2 singles.