Local Foundation Featured In USA Today

Out of all the community foundations in the country and the 81 in Indiana alone, a USA Today writer chose the Kosciusko County Community Foundation for an article in Friday's issue. The article, titled "Yes, you can start your own charitable foundation," by John Waggoner, briefly quotes Foundation Executive Director Suzanne Light.

Water Project On Schedule At Akron

AKRON - Akron's $1.8 million water project is proceding according to schedule. Patrick Zaharako, Vince Sommers and Shannon McCleod, Commonwealth Engineers, attended Tuesday's council meeting with reports. Zaharako gave an overview of the project, which will include a treatment plant, storage tank and installation of water mains. McLeod advised the council on obtaining the necessary easements.Once the easements have been procurred and IDEM, INDOT, and Fire and Safety Building permits have been received, the council can ask the Department of Commerce to release the $500,000 grant money and issue construction contracts. Construction is expected to begin in November and be completed in June 1998.

Crooks' Bond Modified

A report filed by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office with the Circuit Court alleges that Kristina Crooks broadcast her intention to flee the county and her upcoming trial. According to the report, Crooks said over her citizens band radio: "I've got a plan on how to get out of all this stuff.I'm going to take the kids and run." The statement was heard over the CB by Brandon Lechleidner, who has known Crooks for 3 years and recognized her voice. Crooks is out of jail on bond awaiting trial for reckless homicide and neglect of a dependent.She was charged in connection with the Jan.24 death of her 11-month-old daughter, Lois Ozenbaugh. An autopsy revealed six cigarettes in Lois' stomach and Valium in her blood. Lechleidner said in the statement that he told Crooks running was not a good idea.He said she replied that it would give her more time.

Local Ceremony Planned To Honor WWII Veterans

Kosciusko County World War II veterans will be recognized in a special ceremony at Warsaw Community High School's gymnasium May 29. The World War II Veterans Memorial will be dedicated on that date on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.Tickets to that event are sold out, according to the www.wwiimemorial.com Web site. American Legion John C.Peterson Post 49 is registering World War II vets and inviting them to be honored for their service, said Post Commander Dennis Nice.A satellite feed of the national dedication ceremony will be shown. "We do not want one World War II veteran in our county to be missed," he said."Even if the veteran cannot attend the community celebration, members of Post 49 will see their recognition awards are delivered." The Kosciusko County World War II registry has fewer than 100 names so far.Nice is sure there are many more than that. Some 17 million Americans served in the U.S.Armed Forces; almost 400,000 of them were Hoosiers.

4-H Parade To Start In Winona

With one off-site parade under their belts, the Kosciusko County 4-H and Community Fair parade committee plans to start this year's parade in Winona Lake, too. "Last year we had 131 units and all 14 county fire departments participated," said Frank Rhoades, parade coordinator."We hope to have that many entries and more this year." This is the second year the parade will start in Winona Lake at Rodeheaver Auditorium, a departure from beginning and ending the parade on the fairgrounds. Units will proceed down Park Avenue past the first of two review stands, turn west on Winona Avenue and enter the fairgrounds off Smith Street. Rhoades acknowledges there were a few glitches in last year's parade - long empty stretches in the parade as units paused before the review stand.

Grant helping rehabilitate former Gatke property

Remediation and rehabilitation of the Gatke property is scheduled to begin and end this summer. No one commented during the public hearing regarding the $300,000 Community Development Block Grant available to the city to help fund the cleanup. Ken and Donna Anderson, Kenna Consulting, Indianapolis, will serve as administrators of the grant.The couple were present at Monday's Warsaw city council meeting. City planner Jeff Noffsinger outlined the course of the work, saying the environmental remediation includes the removal and proper disposal of asbestos, bunker oil, phenolic resin and one underground storage tank. The original Winona Interurban power plant building and a large warehouse will remain intact.Most of the other buildings will be torn down. Sanitary sewer and water will be extended to the site, and McKinley Street will be extended to Winona Avenue.

WCDC Releases Schedule For City Of Lakes Fest

A City of Lakes Festival preliminary schedule was presented at the Warsaw Community Development Corp.board of director's meeting Wednesday. Events are planned in Central Park, at the municipal airport, in Winona Lake and at Hidden Lake from June 21 - 23. After reviewing minutes of a May 7 executive committee meeting, board member Bob Sanders commented that the board has become a screening committee. "What do we need a board of directors meeting for?" he asked, noting the executive minutes looked like everything on the present agenda was already discussed. Charlie Smith said nothing was decided at that meeting. Kent Adams said he thought the executive sessions serve to bring issues to the board. Carmen Lock, executive director of WCDC, commented that the executive board members bring information together and help keep the directors' meetings to an hour.

Ex-Warsaw Track Star To Wed NFL Player

Though their college diplomas came from fierce rivals, Kerry White and Paul Grasmanis will soon be family. White, who graduated from Warsaw Community High School in 1992 as a two-time state track champ in the 800-meter before taking her talent to Florida State University, was recently engaged to the former Notre Dame football star Grasmanis.She will marry the Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle on May 10. The two met in Orlando, Fla., in February 1999 while Grasmanis, a seven-year veteran of the National Football League, was attending a meeting of a Christian organization for athletes called Champions For Christ, a group he has belonged to for several years. White, also involved in the group, was babysitting at the Orlando function.

Mobile Home Park Might Close In 2001

WINONA LAKE - A resolution between the plan commission and Jerry Smith could lead to the closing of his mobile home park. At the heart of the matter is how Smith can best use his property at 2308 E.Winona Ave..Currently, Smith has approximately 20 mobile homes he rents on the portion of his lot that fronts Winona Lake.Town officials want them moved because they create an eyesore on a major route into the town, and proposed rezoning the property to residential and prohibit the property from any commercial use without the prior approval of the town. Smith and his attorney, Stephen Snyder, have argued that the highest and best use of the Winona Avenue frontage is low intensity commercial use that will allow Smith to recoup some of his investment.They have proposed a restrictive covenant in lieu of rezoning to restrict the types of commercial uses permitted on the property.

Manchester Buys Seiler Property

NORTH MANCHESTER - A property that has been the source of problems for the town of North Manchester for more than seven years is one step closer to becoming an asset to the community. The Manchester Town Council announced at its meeting Wednesday that the purchase of the Seiler property on Ind.114 near the railroad tracks in North Manchester was finalized Feb.24.The town paid $100,000 for the property plus $438 in title insurance and a $22 recording fee, for a total expenditure of $100,460. Closing on the property took place Feb.24 and the town now has the deed to the property.The next step for the property is to remove the current structure (at a cost of around $150,000) and prepare the land for use.Once that section of the project is complete, the property will be readied for sale.

Reduction-In-Force Letters Go Out To 24 Manchester Teachers

NORTH MANCHESTER - Twenty-four letters have been hand delivered to teachers at Manchester Community Schools who are on the reduction-in-force list. However, the school system does not anticipate any major cuts in employees.The letters are considered a precautionary measure, and as the spring progresses and schedules for next year are set, more information will be available about the status of many jobs. Unlike years past, the reductions in force this year are not due to budget cuts.The reductions will be related to enrollment numbers, mostly at the high school and junior high school level.

Warsaw Gets Grant To Clean Up Gatke Property

Warsaw has been awarded $300,000 for underground storage tank removal, waste removal, lead paint abatement, asbestos removal, demolition and road construction of the former Gatke Corp.property at 2321 E.Winona Ave. Mayor Ernie Wiggins, city planner Jeff Noffsinger and assistant planner Kristy Mehlberg met with Lt.Gov.Joe Kernan in Indianapolis Wednesday during the award presentation. Warsaw is one of three Indiana communities to benefit from a brownfield pilot program developed by the Indiana Department of Commerce's Community Development Division. Tell City and Michigan City also were notified of their awards yesterday. Funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant, the program is designed to assist in a community's redevelopment and site preparation efforts. Built in 1906, the power plant served the Winona Interurban Railway and the town of Winona Lake until 1915, when the railway filed for bankruptcy.

South Whitley May Annex Property South Of Town

SOUTH WHITLEY - Annexation of properties south of town limits, including the Spear mobile home park, was discussed by town attorney Greg Hockemeyer Tuesday night. While most of the process has been complete for some months, the town has the project on hold pending a fiscal plan report from H.J.Umbaugh and Associates, Plymouth. Hockemeyer said he has received signed voluntary annexation forms from Jeff Spear and Lilly Schultz. The board approved a request by town marshal Dave Wilkinson to purchase three hand-held radios, replacing 7-year-old units. The equipment costs $2,648 with trade-in. Utilities manager Dennis Eberhart said he received a request from Alliance Insurance Co.regarding development of a complaint system for street repairs as well as a schedule regularly inspecting playground and parks equipment used by the public. Eberhart also submitted a list of street repairs for the year.

No Late Hours April 15 For Warsaw Post Office

For years, the Warsaw Post Office extended its hours on April 15 to accommodate customers who who wanted to mail their tax returns at the last minute. This year, the office will not be open late due to security concerns.This is not a local decision but one that was made at the state level. "It may not happen in Warsaw, but there are security issues that were brought up, that we can't protect our employees (from)," said Postmaster John Rupe. For example, he said, there could be tax protesters against the war who could cause problems.However, Rupe said, he didn't believe that could happen here.

Group Forms To Promote Pierceton Skate Park

PIERCETON - Youth with skateboards congregate on the town's streets because there's no other place to roll. The practice causes vehicle drivers, law enforcement and parents concern.They would rather the children have a safe place to skate. In March, a group of parents and skateboarders attended a town meeting and announced their intention to establish a skate park. Town Board President Jerry Kreger said then the town would donate a piece of land adjacent to the grain elevator and provide liability insurance. The rest is up to the newly formed group.The Pierceton Skate Park committee has two sets of directors, adults and youth. "We want to teach our youth how to give and work for what they want," said Tonia Bricker, a board member. The adult directors are Brian Hartman, representing the Chamber of Commerce; Tonia Bricker, president; Deb Mosher, vice president; Sharon Slusher, secretary; Nancy Sommers and Annie Espinoza.

Instrumed Buys Zimmer Plant

Instrumedical Technologies Inc.will purchase and renovate the Zimmer manufacturing facility on North Detroit Street in Warsaw, according to an attorney representing Instrumed. The announcement was made at Warsaw City Council meeting Monday night and coincided with a tax abatement request. The building sits between the four-lane highway and Center Lake and includes 45,000 square feet of manufacturing space and almost as much office space. Attorney Steve Snyder told council Instrumed President Tony Miller plans to make about $400,000 in renovations to the manufacturing area and purchase about $400,000 in new machinery. The company, commonly referred to as Instrumed, needs to relocate into a large building, Snyder said. As a result of the move, about 20 full-time jobs and three part- time jobs will be created. Thirteen of those jobs would be created within the first year of operations at the new site.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS - TUESDAY FEBRUARY 10 MEETING

Cox Resigns After 13 Years With City

After 13 years with the city, Gisele Cox resigned Friday.

Board of Zoning Appeals of Kosciusko County, Indiana-March 10 Exceptions

OrthoNews 8.9.08

Essig Steps Down As Director At ZimmerZimmer Holdings Inc. (NYSE: ZMH) announced Thursday that Stuart M. Essig has resigned from its board of directors.