Relevance Date

Syracuse Passes Whistle Ban

SYRACUSE - For better or worse, the Syracuse Town Council approved a train whistle ban ordinance Tuesday by a vote of 3 to 2 after months of heated discussion. Voting for the ordinance were councilmen Bill Cutter, Carol Koble and Paul Stoelting.Voting against the ordinance were Bill Hane and Barbara Carwile. According to town manager Brian Redshaw, there are several steps left before the train whistles will stop blowing in the town.First, the ordinance will be transmitted to the Indiana Department of Transportation.INDOT will then ask the town for a petition and more information.After the town compiles the petition and information, they will be sent back to INDOT.An engineering study will be conducted by INDOT to determine if a whistle ban is in the best interest of the town. The ordinance itself allows for the blowing of whistles if an apparent emergency exists or at a crossing that does not have an automatic train-activated warning signal.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Sheriff's Race Features Rovenstine, Bronsing

The Kosciusko County sheriff's race comes down to one of two things. Experience vs.family tradition.Bronsing vs.Rovenstine. "Experience is a consideration in any operation," Democratic sheriff candidate Jeff Bronsing said. Bronsing has 26 years experience with the sheriff's department.He became a patrolman with the department on Jan.1, 1973. Rovenstine, 39, has eight years experience with the sheriff's department and six years with the Milford police.He said he thought experience was important for the sheriff's job, too. Bronsing's experience is only one reason he's running. "I had a number of friends who said I should," he said. He said many people told him they were ready for a change in the sheriff's department. Rovenstine said change in the department is an issue only to his opponent.He said he was a totally different individual from his father (the current sheriff) anyway.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Valley To Fire Up Boilers This Week

MENTONE - Although part of the Tippecanoe Valley High School building project is behind schedule, at least one aspect of the project is right on schedule - the heat. Throughout the project, the goal for turning on the boilers has been Oct.15, and the boilers will be fired up for the first time this school year Thursday after school.According to construction manager Jim Mitterling of the Skillman Corp., everything looks good for the startup. Mitterling also said contractors are approximately two to three weeks behind schedule.A period of dry weather helped contractors go from three to four weeks behind to two to three weeks behind. And the board postponed making a decision on a cooling unit for the auxiliary gym.The bid for the equipment costs will be good until the next board meeting, but after that, the price may rise.The board has delayed making a decision on the cooling system to see if a roof coating will reduce the temperature of the structure adequately.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Residents seek answers about town marshal resignation

NORTH WEBSTER - Town council members let attorney Mike Armey speak for them when they were questioned about the demotion of former town marshal Jerry Craig and his subsequent resignation. Dave Anderson started the questions when he asked when a new marshal would be named.Board president Kay Andrews said applications will be taken. "I am making an appeal to the board that they pull from the existing police force when making a selection," J.D.Hoy said.Andrews said the comment was appreciated and the board would keep that in mind. Jay Clutter asked the board specifically about Craig, who tendered his resignation Sept.6 after the council passed a resolution demoting him and giving him notice of termination effective Sept.11.No specific reasons were given for the council's action. "Did he do something wrong?" Clutter asked, referring to Craig.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Incumbents, Newcomers Join Three Area School Boards

Incumbents will return to Warsaw's school board, while Wawasee's and Triton's school boards will welcome incumbents and newcomers. In Warsaw, current school board member Dan Robinson defeated retired teacher Albert G.Smith for the District 3 seat.Robinson won 1,399 votes, or 80 percent of his district, to Smith's 347 votes, or 20 percent. In District 6, Warsaw Police Chief Craig Allebach was unopposed and will return for another term on the school board. The closest Warsaw school board race was in District 4, where incumbent Charles Sauders narrowly defeated former school board president Terry Klondaris by only 50 votes. Sauders won 719 votes, or 52 percent, and Klondaris had 669 votes, or 48 percent. On the Triton school board, incumbent Steve Feldman was unopposed and will return to represent District 3.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Grad Receives Bronze Star For Valor

U.S.Army Specialist David Liebsch, a Warsaw Community High School 1999 graduate, received the Bronze Star Medal Oct.7 from his brigade commander at Fort Stewart, Ga. Liebsch, the son of Stephen and Holly Liebsch, was one of eight men of the 130 men in his squadron serving in Iraq to receive the medal.He is a member of the U.S.Army B Troop, 3D Squadron, 7th Cavalry, 3D Infantry Division (mechanized). According to Stephen Liebsch, the Bronze Star Medal usually is awarded for one of two reasons - for one great act of valor in the war or for valor over the course of the war.Stephen said David told him he believed he received the medal for actions over the course of the war.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Pumpkin Hurl's Second Whirl

For the second time in as many years, pumpkins will be flying through the air and it won't be the result of Halloween tricksters. Once again, the Pumpkin Hurl, sponsored by the Bowen Center, is set for Halloween weekend.This year's event is from noon to 2 p.m.Nov.1 in the field south of Petro Olds-Buick-Pontiac-Cadillac-GMC on Ind.15N, Warsaw. Last year's hurl attracted about 200 participants, according to Mike Szymanski of the Bowen Center.The pumpkin hurled the farthest traveled 117 feet and was flung by employees of Safe-Way Door, who created a hurling machine from garage door parts.In all, eight machines were entered in the contest and the rest of the people chose to hurl by hand. Szymanski said that many of last year's participants plan to return this year and, once again, high school physics classes are being challenged to make hurling contraptions, such as huge slingshots, catapults, centrifugals and other machines to fling pumpkins.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Area Anthrax Scares Keep Cops On Their Toes

• Manchester post office closed for an hour NORTH MANCHESTER - North Manchester Post Office was closed today from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m.when a suspicious white powder came from a package, according to postmaster Roger Staley. North Manchester police and Wabash County fire departments were called. Patty Barker, post office window clerk, stamped the incoming parcel and saw the white powder. Staley said the amount of powder was "just enough to be able to see it against a black counter." The parcel "did not fit any profiles of the anthrax," said Staley. The post office "took precautions because of the situation," and then was reopened.There was no testing planned for the powder. "It wasn't a big deal.Don't play this up too big," said Staley. • Money at Syracuse bank to be tested BY TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer SYRACUSE - There is no need for alarm or panic in the Syracuse community, according to Syracuse Town Marshal Tom Perzanowski.
Matthew Weigelt, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Gunter Thanked By Foundation

Because of her service to the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, County Commissioner Avis Gunter was surprised with a resolution of appreciation Tuesday during the commissioner's meeting. Suzie Light, the foundation's executive director, read from the document detailing Gunter's tenure on the board, which ran from September 1992 until this month. The resolution, signed by all the foundation's board of directors, noted the commissioner was a member of the executive, development, finance, governance, planning and scholarship committees. The commissioners also: • Approved changes to the speed limit ordinance as recommended by county road supervisor Dennis Pletcher. The speed limits on Ferguson Road from CR 300S to 200S will be 45 miles per hour and 35 mph from CR 200S to Ind.25. The speed limit on CR 450W from CRs 525S to 625S will be 45 mph, a change from 35 mph. • Approved USI for bridge inspections.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Manchester Hears Proposal To Reinstate Male Cheerleaders

NORTH MANCHESTER - Pleas to reinstate male cheerleader lifters were heard at Manchester's Tuesday night school board meeting. Yvonne Byers, the mother of a former lifter, spoke to the board, saying male lifters are an important part of the cheer team.They raise morale for all participants, she said. She also noted that lifting is a very low-cost sport.There are no equipment or coach costs and participation has traditionally been high at Manchester High School. The only cost for a lifting squad is the price of sectional tickets and transportation costs, which Byers said her family would donate if lifters are reinstated. Board member Larry Miller reminded the board of the safety factor involved with lifting, noting that high school lifters are not always trained well enough to ensure the girls' safety.He recalled stunts where girls were thrown and lifters missed or nearly missed catching them.
KRISTA PRIMROSE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Ballot Error Shuts Off Voting Machine

The race for Warsaw School Board seats hit another snafu today. A voting machine for Warsaw Ward 2, Precinct 2, did not include school board District 4 candidates Sterling Watkins and Charles E."Chuck" Sauders, Kosciusko County Clerk Sharon Christner said at 11 a.m.today. She said the candidates were missing from ballots on just one machine.The machine was shut down as soon as the error was found, but Christner said she did not know how many people had voted on that machine before the precinct stopped using it. "It was fairly early when it was caught," she said. Asked if the voters who used the machine would be allowed to revote, Christner said once a voter has been in a polling place, they can't go back in.Whether or not the school board race is run again because of the problem, Christner said, she couldn't say. A recount could be called by the candidates. This is the second problem to hit the Warsaw School Board election in a week.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

County Incumbents Face Challenges

Longtime Republican control of Kosciusko County government is getting its biggest test from Democrats in years. Although Republicans hold every office in county government, Demos have candidates running against incumbent Republicans for county council's three at-large seats, the lone commissioner's seat and three other offices. Here's a breakdown of the county races: Democrat John Bell faces Republican Brad Jackson, who defeated longtime commissioner Maurice Beer in the primary for the northern district seat, and recently picked up an endorsement from Beer. Bell, a retired manager from R.R.Donnelley, has warned that efforts to establish an economic development income tax will likely rise again.The tax has been proposed and defeated for three consecutive years. Bell is a member of the Taxpayers Action Network, one of the most vocal opponents of the tax.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Three Area Farmers See The Benefits Of Ethanol

In the ongoing ethanol discussion, one viewpoint that has had little voice in the issue is that of the farmers who produce the corn in the first place. Their day-to-day business will be impacted by an ethanol refinery in the local community. Bob Bishop, vice president of the Kosciusko Farm Bureau; Tom Smith, president of the Kosciusko Farm Bureau; and Kip Tom, of Tom Farms, decided to talk about the issue. Smith lives in Etna Green, while both Bishop and Tom live in the Leesburg/Milford area.ÊTom has been active in FFA on the local, state and national levels, and has served on the Indiana Economic Development Corp.'s Board of Directors representing agriculture. One of the first things they said is the actual nature of the proposed site for Milford.
JOHN DeGROFF, Times-Union Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

County Offices Change Locations To Improve Service

A series of moves between some offices in the Kosciusko County Courthouse is under way in the name of public convenience. The county plan office and the Wayne Township office will be closed Monday to accommodate the flip flop as workers shuffle equipment, furniture and records. By moving the plan office to the third floor, people seeking a number of permits will be closer to the health office, the other big department that provides permits. Often people needing permits in both offices had to walk a long distance, said Ron Robinson, personnel director for the county. The move should improve convenience, Robinson said. The area plan was located in the basement, and the office will now be home for Wayne Township.In another move, the veterans affairs office has moved to the basement of the courthouse.The new office is closer to the handicap access doors, Robinson said.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Chicago Trucker Dies In Crash

A Chicago man died Thursday night after the semi tractor/trailer he was driving slammed into the back of another rig stopped at a traffic light on U.S.30. Ryszard Kulinski, 52, suffered internal injuries and was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw, where he died about an hour after the 10:03 p.m.accident at the intersection of U.S.30 and CR 250E, near Warsaw. According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, Kulinski was eastbound on U.S.30 when he rear-ended a semi tractor/trailer driven by Stephen J.Vallely, 48, Fort Wayne.Vallely told police he was stopped at the traffic light at CR 250E when the collision occurred.Vallely was did not suffer any visible injuries as a result of the accident and refused medical attention.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Former Warsaw Resident's Show Business Career Heats Up

LOS ANGELES - If you watch "The Practice" at 10 p.m.Sunday on ABC, you'll catch a former Warsaw resident who just may steal the show. Bernard White lived with his family in Warsaw from 1960 to 1966 and attended Sacred Heart Catholic School. On Sunday's episode of "The Practice," he will portray a Pakistani-American named "Imaad Sharif" who is accused of conspiring to kill his wife. "It's a politically controversial episode and a really good role," White said Thursday morning in a telephone interview from his Los Angeles home. According to White, the show's executive producer told him the episode is probably the strongest episode of the season due to White's portrayal of Sharif. White's interest in show business began when he was young.He said he became interested in acting through his sister. "My sister, Ivy, who also went to Warsaw High School, I saw her in a play at the old Warsaw High School in the early '60s.That did something to me," he said.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

WPD Officers Take 'Byte' Out Of Crime

Warsaw police are hoping to take a bigger "byte out of crime" next year by using computer technology in some of their squad cars. If everything goes as planned, at least 15 police cars will be equipped with laptop computers that will give patrol officers almost instant access to information that could save their lives. A demonstration of the system was given to the police department Wednesday by representatives of Cerulean, the company that makes the software. While radio communications will still be available, the computers also will allow the officers to communicate without using radios that can be monitored with scanners.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Syracuse Wrestles With Costs Of Water Project

SYRACUSE - "Where do we go from here," was the question, and "I'm not certain," the frequent answer, at Tuesday's special Syracuse Town Council meeting. The board met with representatives from Greeley and Hansen to discuss the town's water distribution project and expected to get a final dollar amount for the project, along with a final draft of building plans.Instead they got a newer, higher-than-expected estimate and a "95 percent complete" plan. Initially, the plan was estimated to cost $4.2 million.Last night, the estimate climbed closer to $7.2 million and though the board assembled specifically to review final documents, they were handed the 95-percent version instead. "What's the hold up?" town manager Jeff Noffsinger asked after Stan Diamond, of Greeley and Hanson, announced the plans were not complete."We were on track this summer to have plans submitted to IDEM by October and now it's November." Diamond was not certain.
KRISTA ZARTMAN, Times-Union Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

New Regs Miff Some Local Child Care Providers

Licensed child care providers around Indiana will gather at their local post offices this weekend to send a message to Gov.Joe Kernan. They will be sending shoes.Lots of shoes. The message will be "Walk a Day in My Shoes" and invites the governor and state legislators to visit licensed home child care providers in their areas. Kosciusko County-area providers will meet at the Warsaw post office at 10 a.m.Saturday to send their message. The reason for the message will be the providers' opposition to proposed changes in the requirements for child care providers. One of the regulations causing the most uproar is one sentence: "Children shall not be left unattended and shall be supervised at all times within sight and sound." "They've taken the common sense out of this," said Donna Mosco, who has three licenses in Pierceton. While the rule does allow for brief bathroom privileges for providers, it still causes other headaches.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Subdivision Request Tabled

Ralph Biggs Inc.'s petition for a subdivision was tabled to Dec.12 after the Warsaw Plan Commission failed to approve an ordinance for the Paths of Deerfield. With two commission members absent, the board voted 3-2 in favor of approving the ordinance, but missed the quorum vote needed for approval.Four votes are needed for a board majority. President Joe Thallemer and Vice President Jeff Grose voted against Bigg's request, both of whom denied approval of the subdivision during its previous stage as a planned unit development. "I didn't support this at the PUD level, and I still don't like the plans I see," Thallemer said.
Joe Kirkendall, Times-Union staff writer- | July 28, 2016
Previous Next