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Neighborhood Residents Ask City To Designate Reed Street As One Way

It's a narrow little street, unofficially measuring 21 feet and 9 inches. When cars are parked along the west side, it's not uncommon for vehicles to pull over and stop to let others through.The street-level sidewalk is often employed while a car is passing. Local residents are aware of the tight situation, and recently more than 60 neighborhood people signed a petition to change Reed from a two-way to a one-way southbound street. Betty Gilbert presented the Warsaw city council with the petition Monday, along with photographs of the street and police report data, which list 31 accidents in less than three years. Residents along Reed, Fort Wayne and Main streets signed the petition, which claims Reed is a dangerous environment for pedestrians and has congested intersections.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Claypool Man Critical After Self-Inflicted Wound

CLAYPOOL - A Claypool man is in critical condition at Parkview Memorial Hospital in Fort Wayne after shooting himself in the stomach Monday afternoon with a muzzleloader. Police said Phillip Richard Gibson, 24, of South CR 750W, shot himself with the .50-caliber muzzleloader in a suicide attempt after his girlfriend told him she wanted to break off their relationship. Marcia Lynn McDonough, of the same address, told police she and Gibson have been living together since April and discussed breaking up for the past few months, but she never went through with it until Monday.McDonough said that when the breakup was discussed this summer, Gibson made a threat about killing himself, but he didn't make any threats Monday.
RUTH ANNE LIPKA, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Getting Soft On Capital Punishment

I guess I must be getting a little soft in my old age. I think as one grows older - I turn 42 this month, for the record - perceptions change. For example, I used to think golf was kind of dumb.The whole concept seemed dull and boring. Then I started to play a little bit.Now I am fully bitten by the golf bug.I find it challenging and enjoyable at the same time.In my youthful days - 20s and 30s - I perceived something like golf to be a waste of time.Now I wish I would have started a little earlier.Everybody my age hits the ball straighter than I do. My perception of golf isn't the only thing that has changed over the years. A much more significant perception that has changed is that of the death penalty. I used to be a string-'em-up proponent of capital punishment. An eye for an eye kind of guy. But you know, over the years I have watched what happens in death penalty cases and I must say I really don't like some of what I see.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

County Approves Purchase Of New 911 Equipment

Because of minor glitches in the new 911 communication center equipment in the Justice Building, the Kosciusko County commissioners agreed Tuesday to purchase new equipment. County Administrator Ron Robinson told the commissioners the biggest problem is with the IDEX system.IDEX is the information system in which police data is kept nationwide for outstanding warrants, criminal information, license plate numbers, driver license numbers and other pertinent information.The current system is 15 to 16 years old and was purchased for $18,000.A new system will be bought from Netcom for approximately $10,298. The 17-year-old phone system also will be replaced.Robinson requested $25,000, though the system is expected to cost only $21,000.The extra $4,000 would cover any unforeseen costs.The money will come from the approximate $57,000 remaining balance of the construction costs of the dispatch center, which cost less than expected.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

State Chamber Representative Looks Ahead To 1999 Legislature

Indiana businesses have a lot riding on the upcoming session of the Indiana legislature - and the state Chamber of Commerce isn't optimistic the results will be favorable. That was the message Warsaw business leaders were given Thursday by three representatives of the state chamber. "The elections didn't turn out quite as we would have hoped.We hoped for a more pro-business legislature than what we ended up with," said Brian Burton, the chamber's vice president of legislative affairs. He said with the Indiana House of Representatives being controlled by Democrats (53-47) and the Senate under the control of the Republicans (31-19), this long-session General Assembly promises to be highly partisan and acrimonious. "This will probably be one of the longest and harshest sessions we've seen," Burton added.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Reality TV Is Changing How We Watch

There's a pretty interesting phenomenon going on right now in the world of television. It's the preponderance of the so-called "reality" shows. Seems like every week there's a new concept being aired by one of the networks or cable. And these are pretty popular shows. Donald Trump's "The Apprentice" is top-rated. Other network shows are doing pretty well, too. Shows like "Fear Factor" and "Average Joe."And then there's the show featuring Adam, the loser on the first "Average Joe" series. Cable reality shows also are hot these days.There's "The Osbournes," a chronicle of disfunction in the family of rock legend Ozzi Osbourne. Cable also gives us "Newlyweds" with former "98 Degrees" member Nick Lachey and pop singer Jessica Simpson. And then there's "'Till Death Do Us Part" with pinup model Carmen Electra and Dave Navarro, the guitarist for the alternative band Jane's Addiction.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Special Prosecutor To Settle Dispute Between Hearn, Jarrette

A hearing Monday afternoon led to the hiring of a special prosecutor to settle a dispute between the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office and a county Superior Court judge. Superior Court 2 Judge James Jarrette shifted $10,000 from the jury expenses fund to the court's prosecution budget to cover the costs of the special prosecutor. During the hearing, county prosecutors were removed from 18 misdemeanor probation violation cases after Jarrette denied Kosciusko County Prosecutor Steve Hearn's motion to have a new judge appointed to the cases. The dispute began during a probation violation case in April and continued until Monday's hearing. Jarrette handles misdemeanor cases in Superior Court 2, and Hearn and the prosecutor's office handle hearings in Kosciusko Superior and Circuit courts. A retired prosecutor from Miami County is expected to fill the position of special prosecutor.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Architects To Present WCS Building Proposals

After months of gathering input, KovertHawkins Architects, Jeffersonville, is ready to present building options with estimated costs for Warsaw Schools. Warsaw Superintendent Dr.Robert Haworth said KovertHawkins will show the school board options and estimated costs at a special school board meeting Jan.8 at 6 p.m.at the central administration building.Then on Jan.15 at 7 p.m.in the Lakeview Middle School auditorium, KovertHawkins will present the options and costs to the public in a community meeting.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

City Tables Request For Mobile Home Park Annexation

The old saying is no man is an island.But don't tell that to Roland Arnell, owner of Graceland Village Mobile Home Park. Arnell's property, at 2854 U.S.30E, is surrounded by land that was recently annexed by Warsaw.He wants to expand his park by three mobile homes.He has the permission of the Kosciusko County board of zoning appeals and now all he needs is an agreement from Warsaw via the Board of Works to accept an estimated 600 gallons per day of additional flow into its sanitary sewer system. "What Mr.Arnell would like to do is add six mobile homes to his development, but he has removed three mobile homes to upgrade the entrance, so the net increase will be only three new units," said Larry Long, of Long & Associates. However, the interim city planner, Jeff Noffsinger, opposed the additional agreement for sewer service in lieu of annexation.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

We Use Lots And Lots Of Gasoline

Is it surprising to anyone else but me that the price of gasoline is going down? I know, I know.The price is higher in Warsaw than anywhere else.All you have to do is read the letters to the editor to figure that out. But, seriously, the price of gasoline is going down. I guess it's a supply and demand thing.And one thing is certain.Gasoline is in higher demand these days than ever before. More people, more cars, more driving.And the types of cars we drive are using more gas, too. Remember the good old days, back in the '70s and '80s? Ford was manufacturing models with a II after them - Mustang II, Bronco II. The II meant that the model was a scaled down shell of its former version. The scaled down versions had smaller engines and got better gas mileage. Foreign manufacturers were coming out with tiny cars that looked like motorized roller skates.Some of them got more than 40 miles per gallon.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Teens Help Others Through Junior NHS

Three Warsaw teenagers have decided to use part of their Christmas vacation to help others. Lindsey Bruner, Trenton Porter and Brooklynne Slabaugh, all 14 years old and all eighth-graders at Edgewood Middle School, are volunteering at Our Father's House and the Animal Welfare League. The three friends are all members of the Junior National Honor Society, which calls for students to get involved in community service. At Our Father's House the teens unloaded food supplies and helped organize clothing and shoes.At the AWL, they walked animals. "It was a lot of fun.I liked the animal shelter a lot," said Bruner, who added that her cousin is the AWL director. A lot of students from Edgewood volunteer time in various ways in the community, Bruner said, and they enjoy it as well. "People should know that volunteering isn't all work and can be fun," she said. Bruner, Porter and Slabaugh plan to continue their volunteer activities after the holidays.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

'Contributing' Charge Filed In Fatal Crash

A man police say purchased alcohol for minors at a party prior to a traffic accident in which three teens died was charged Thursday with contributing to the delinquency of minors. Bruce Lee Clark, 39, of 9840 N.American Way, Syracuse, was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 9 p.m.Thursday after police learned his identity through interviewing other minors who attended the Oct.31 party at the Shepherd residence on South CR 400E, Warsaw.No adult occupants of the residence where the party took place were at home the night of the party, police said. According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, 20-year-old Josh Church of North Webster drove Clark to Liquid Assets about midnight Oct.31, where he purchased beer with money collected by minors present at the party.Three minors who were celebrating Halloween at that party later died when the car they were in left the roadway and struck several trees in a wooded area off Ind.13, near Pierceton.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Special Education Cooperative Restructures Delivery Of Services

Special needs students in five area school corporations should see little, if any, change next year in the services they receive.But the way those services will be delivered will change greatly. According to Tamra Ummel, director of the North Central Indiana Special Education Cooperative, the NCI administration will decentralize - with each member school district hiring its own special education director. Ummel said the change is another step in the evolution of NCI, which began in 1972 and includes Warsaw, Wawasee, Tippecanoe Valley, Whitko and Bremen school districts.In the early 1990s, the special needs students, who were bused to Warsaw for services, were returned to their home schools and districts.In the mid-1990s, she said, much of the instructional staff was sent to individual school districts as well. The change was decided in October by NCI's governing board, which is composed of the superintendents of the member school districts.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Milford Approves Removal Of Trees At Waubee Park

MILFORD - Four cottonwood trees at Waubee Lake Park will be cut down next year. Monday, the park advisory board asked for and Milford Town Council approved $180 per tree to be encumbered for next year. Marion Acton, park advisory board, also said some fill work will be done in preparation for the new pavilion the Lions Club plans to build at the park.Money for the fill work also was approved to be encumbered. Utilities superintendent Dallas Winchester reported he received the combined sewer overflow draft permit.He turned it over to the engineering firm of Jones & Henry for professional review. Council president John Lehman thanked Winchester and the street department for their work in removing snow. The town council will meet at 11 a.m.Dec.29 in the town hall for an executive session to discuss personnel matters.A public meeting will be held at noon.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Lots Of Room For Improvement

It's funny how things evolve. Take government, for example. Generally I'm for less government.It seems the government is everywhere and into everything. Does this mean that we need no government or that all government is bad? Of course not. We very much need to be governed.And we very much need a federal government. Think of it this way.If there were no federal government, there might still be places in this country where women and blacks wouldn't be allowed to vote. There would be no interstate highways.There would be no Social Security.No Medicare.No national monuments or parks.No national security. Point is, there are lots of reasons we need federal supervision.Our founding fathers knew that and provided a most innovative and progressive way to carry it out - a representative government. A government that grew from the people. It's the evolution of our government that bothers me.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

North Pointe brings county it's first 'cineplex'

Better sound. More choices. And no more drinks wedged between your legs. Those are some of the amenities movie-goers can expect at North Pointe Cinemas, the new multiplex theater located off Husky Trail north of U.S.30 in Warsaw. In what has become a major deadline production, workers were busy laying carpet and putting the finishing touches on the six-screen facility Wednesday in preparation for a VIP showing tonight. Grand opening festivities Friday and Saturday will include free engraved mugs for the first 400 customers. "It's a dream come true," said Bess Joyner, whose family has built and operated all of the city's big screen facilities over the past half century. Joyner's father, Nick Mallers, arrived from Greece in 1916 and joined family members in Springfield, Ohio, to operate a small picture show business.He later joined his brother and counsins to form Mallers Bros.Circuit, a string of theaters in Ohio and Indiana.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Kosciusko Takes Conservative Approach To Take-Home Vehicles

While some counties may provide vehicles for their county commissioners, council and/or county administrators, Kosciusko County does not. In fact, when it comes to vehicles, Kosciusko County is known to be rather conservative. "I know we are a lot more conservative with vehicles than some counties," said Ron Robinson, county administrator.The county commissioners and council do a very good job of trying to keep things under control, he said. As for other departments, the county highway department has 40 dump trucks, 15 pickups, six specialty vehicles, five loaders, two graders, two backhoes and a semi. Usually, highway department employees take their vehicles home for snowplowing from Dec.1 to the end of February.However, that may change if the weather is severe earlier or if the winter lasts past February.The snowplows are placed strategically around the county to provide better snowplowing service for the county, said Robinson.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

County Votes Not To Vacate Portion Of CR 350N

Even though the environmental benefits would be numerous and even though the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission recommended the vacation, the Kosciusko County commissioners sided with remonstrators Tuesday and voted not to vacate the portion of CR 350N from CR 925E to the Whitley County line. At least for now. The Indiana Department of Natural Resources petitioned in November to vacate the portion of CR 350N.However, to give remonstrators more time, the commissioners tabled the vacation until their Tuesday meeting. The gravel road extends approximately 6,280 feet between Ind.5 on the east to Kosciusko CR 925E on the west.About 2,330 feet lie within Whitley County and 3,950 feet are within Kosciusko County. According to Jed Pearson, fisheries biologist, Division of Fish and Wildlife, the DNR wants to vacate the portion of road to get rid of maintenance problems on the road by Durham and Pisgah lakes and to restore the integrity of the wetlands.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Salvation Army Tradition Dates Back To 1891

The next time you pass a Salvation Army bell ringer, think about the long tradition that has existed since 1891. The annual tradition of Salvation Army red kettles and ringing bells began in December of 1891 when an Army captain in San Francisco sought to find a way to provide a free Christmas dinner to the area's poor persons.But how would he pay for the food? As he went about his daily tasks, the question stayed in his mind.Suddenly, his thoughts went back to his days as a sailor in Liverpool, England, where he saw a large pot into which charitable donations were thrown by passersby.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw's ISTEP Scores Improve

Warsaw Schools' ISTEP scores are improving, but they're still not high enough, the superintendent told the Warsaw school board Monday. Dr.David McGuire said math scores in grades three, six, eight and 10 were up slightly over last year. "Our forward progress isn't as great as we'd like, but we're moving forward," he said. In language arts, grades three and six improved, but grades eight and 10 stayed at last year's scores. McGuire said the reason for that is because 8 percent of Warsaw students are limited English proficiency students (compared to an average of 2 percent in the state).There also is a larger than normal number of special education students at Warsaw, he said.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016
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