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Variances Allowed Along Swick Meredith Drain

Along the Swick Meredith drain, the Kosciusko County Drainage Board approved two requests for variances today. Richard Dickerhoff wants to construct a building no closer than 50 feet from the top of the Swick Meredith ditch.Ordinances require a 75-foot setback.The Dickerhoffs are replacing a mobile home with a house.The property is south of Mentone. Dick Kemper, county surveyor, said his department could still get the ditch cleaned and maintained and therefore was OK with the variance. The board approved the variance request unanimously. Phil Kreider built a garage closer than the ordinances allow to the Swick Meredith drain.He had received a permit with a site plan showing a 75-foot setback, but not only did not meet that setback, but also built the garage in a flood plain.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Wawasee Struggles With Uncertainties Of Assessment, Tax Draws

SYRACUSE - The uncertainty as to when Indiana's reassessment will be completed is leaving school corporations across the state wondering when they will get their tax draws. A school corporation receives its tax draw after the county figures the school corporation's tax rate, which is based on the reassessment figures.Those tax draws usually come twice a year - in June and October. Tuesday, because of uncertainties of the reassessment, the Wawasee School Corp.Board of Trustees was presented with a notice of sale of tax anticipation warrants for approval for advertisement at an amount three times what it was last year.The corporation is asking for 2003 for amounts of $6.45 million for the general fund, $1.785 million for the debt service fund, $655,000 for the capital projects fund and $485,000 for the transportation fund.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Veterans Visit Local Schools

Veterans from two different wars 60 years apart spoke Thursday at two local Warsaw schools. On two-weeks leave for rest and relaxation from Afghanistan, U.S.Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Brian Yoder spoke to students at the Alternative Learning Center about his personal views of the war in that country.Air Corp P51 pilot Don Locke talked briefly to Edgewood and Lakeview middle schools' students during their Veterans Day concert about a World War II experience. Yoder has served in the Army since Sept.22, 1986, and expects to retire June 1.His sister and father are both veterans. For his presentation, Yoder showed the ALC students a slide show of photos of Afghanistan taken from a UH60 helicopter.The photos showed the Kandahar Airfield in Afghanistan, the desert and views from the UH60.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Library Tracks Usage

The Warsaw Community Public Library served an average of 77 patrons an hour during a "typical week" when 4,202 patrons were served and the library was open 54.5 hours. The "typical week" - a tool used by libraries to measure circulation - was Oct 18 through 23 when 9,527 were checked out. WCPL board of directors heard these numbers Monday, with director Ann Zydek saying the figures were down from last year's total of 10,654 items checked out and 4,687 patrons served during 62 hours (or 75 patrons per hour) in 2004. Zydek said patrons are adjusting to the reduced hours and she hopes to increase the library's hours again in February. Through October, 419,480 items have been checked out this year.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Da-Lite Begins Recovery Process With Cleanup

Da-Lite Screen Co.Inc.employees are forging ahead with business, just days after a tornado ripped the front off the company's Ind.15 facility and left behind millions of dollars in damage. Rich Lundin, chairman, president and CEO of Da-Lite, said they expect to be back in production on Monday and all employees have been told to return to work. In fact, Lundin said, the company has a no-layoff policy and nobody will be furloughed as a result of the storm damage.Roughly 400 people are employed in the two shifts at Da-Lite. The newest portion of the facility, located at the south end of the building, was destroyed, and the company has moved a portion of its warehouse (finished goods inventory and shipping) to the former Sofamor Danek building in Winona Lake.About 25 employees will be based there until the reconstruction process is completed at Da-Lite.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Branching Out: Hometown bank enjoying some rapid growth

Something old, something new, a place to borrow and a sign that's blue. It's a twist on an old adage, but it describes some of the goings on at Lake City Bank, where growth is spreading "like gravy on a silk tie." During the third quarter of this year, LCB acquired nine bank branches from three separate purchases.Also, the banking organization has built 17 new facilities since 1982, with the most recent opening in Granger, the Mishawaka branch set for this month, and the Plymouth office scheduled to begin operations in the spring.At that time, LCB will have a total of 44 offices. R.Douglas Grant, president of LCB, attributes much of the local growth to big banking industry's lack of small communities in its strategic plan.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Manchester Restructures Tax For Ambulance Service

NORTH MANCHESTER - North Manchester's three tax-exempt organizations doubled their share of the ambulance service support tax, lifting the burden from small business owners opposed to potentially paying too much, the town council announced Wednesday. With preliminary restructuring, Manchester College will pay $850 per month, Timbercrest Church of the Brethren Home Inc., $1,400 per month and Peabody Retirement Community, $1,700 per month. The three groups voluntarily agreed to double their costs earlier this week, Manchester College public relations director Jeri S.Kornegay said.The agreement was made, then the town was notified, she said. "We recognize the importance of ambulance service to the community," Timbercrest administrator David Lawrenz said. "We are committed to this commuity.This is our home," Kornegay said. Small businesses, most defined as "commercial" in General Ordinance No.7, saw their monthly rate per water meter drop from $30 to $5 per month.
Matthew Weigelt, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Changes in bus policy considered

SYRACUSE - Seven options for changes in Wawasee School Corp.'s busing policy were presented before the school board Tuesday night. Options 1 and 2 were chosen by the board for further study. Under option 1, the school board could identify specific locations or neighborhoods in which group bus stops would be determined.A priority for picking areas would center around safety areas. Option 2 would run a series of bus routes for elementary students only.The bus would take them to school, drop them off and then the same bus drivers would go back out and run double routes over the same areas and pick up middle and high school students. Wawasee Superintendent Dr.Mark Stock presented the busing information to the school corporation by beginning with the current board policies that affect transportation.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Harrison Teachers Nominated For Disney Awards

At 2 a.m.Thursday, Harrison Elementary School teacher Ethel Ringle was buying hot dogs at Wal-Mart. Twelve hours later, she told her third-grade students they would be taste-testing condiments on "worms."The students' reactions were "Ewwwwww!" and "Gross!" The "worms," of course, were the hot dogs Ringle boiled an hour earlier. Ringle's class is reading "How To Eat Fried Worms" and the condiment testing on the "worms" was a way for Ringle to interest her students in the book. Ringle and fellow Harrison Elementary School third-grade teacher Katie Beehler both have been nominated for the Disney Teacher Award for their creativity and success in the classroom.As the next step in the award process, both teachers must submit an application to be considered for the 2006 Disney Teacher of the Year Award.A third Harrison teacher was nominated but chose not to pursue the award further.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Mentone May Move Town, Police Offices

MENTONE - Mentone Town Council continues to review possible new locations for town offices and the police department. The current town council office, housed in a building belonging to the Mentone Fire Board, has become too small to store all necessary records and equipment for the street department, police department and town clerk. Town Marshal Tim Carpenter presented his findings Monday in a search for new police department housing.The council and marshal had wanted to find a site on Main Street, but no properties are available. The new office space would provide space to store city records and evidence for the police department.Carpenter told the council his storage space for evidence is full. The council advised Carpenter to continue looking for either an existing structure or a possible construction site for a new town office, with the possibility of moving one or two blocks off Main Street, but keeping on the eastern end of town.
GREG BROWN, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Silver Lake Approves Loan To Build Fire Station

SILVER LAKE - Silver Lake Fire Department stepped forward Tuesday in its proposed five-bay fire station, with the town council's unanimous approval of a $265,000 loan. The council unanimously appointed Rob Clark as the department chief.Clark has been chief for three years and a Silver Lake firefighter for 11 years. Silver Lake previously received a $450,000 grant to aid in building the fire station.Its location will be on Ind.14E, Clark said. "It's going to be awesome," Clark said. The current station is two bays. The loan will be paid back in five years at 4.25 percent interest. "We have got hours to go yet," Clark said about the work to finish the facility. In an unrelated matter, councilman Gale Owens said he wants to compact the 2003 budget by trimming part-time employee jobs. That would cut the deputy clerk-treasurer position, which council president Brenda Wadkins holds.
Matthew Weigelt, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Most County Tax Rates Finalized

Most of Kosciusko County's property tax rates are in. With those in hand, Kosciusko County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell said the county hopes to mail out the tax bills next week.They will be due Nov.24. Mitchell said she expects the actual tax bills will be available on the Internet today. For five taxing entities in the county, tax rates still are not available.Because Washington, Jackson and Monroe townships and the towns of Pierceton and Sidney cross the county line with Whitko School Corp., and because Whitley County is behind in the reassessment, it is unknown when those taxing entities will receive their tax bills. "The Whitley County folks," Mitchell said, "we don't have a clue."She said she hopes to get their tax bills out by late December, but the due date will not be until sometime in 2004 as the county council did not want the tax bills to come due at Christmas time. "That we already know," she said.
DAVID SLONE. Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Local PGA Pro Hepler Has Fond Memories Of Stewart

"I played with him in his first professional tournament in Chicago in 1979, and we became friends," said Hepler, owner of the local Raccoon Run Golf Course."But that's just the way he was.He made friends with everyone he played with." After that first meeting in 1979, Hepler and Stewart ran into each other several times and got to be good friends.In fact, Hepler persuaded Stewart to come to Warsaw in 1993 for the Stonehenge Pro Am. "The Stonehenge Pro Am charity event was held eight years in a row, from '89 to '97," said Hepler."I finally talked him into coming in 1993.I had asked him to come for it every year, but he usually had other tournaments or commitments." That year turned out to be one of the most successful for the event.Jim Gallagher was at the event the same year, and just two weeks later, he and Stewart competed as members of the Ryder Cup team.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

U.S. Rep. Souder Tours New Jail

U.S.Rep.Mark Souder toured the Kosciusko County jail facilities Friday and briefly discussed the rise in use of methamphetamines and other illegal narcotics. The old jail capacity was only 88 but the county housed an average of 150 prisoners daily, Rovenstine told Souder.He also told Souder about the merging of the city of Warsaw's and the county's dispatch services."City and county can work together," Rovenstine said. When the justice building/jail renovation project is complete, the jail's capacity will be 325 inmates. Approximately 20 percent to 30 percent of all inmates, Rovenstine said, are in jail on drug- or alcohol-related charges.Even crimes such as burglary often can be traced back to drugs or alcohol.
DAVID SLON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Leesburg Students Bake Cookies To Raise Funds For Afghan Children

LEESBURG - Fifth-graders at Leesburg Elementary are trying to make a difference in the lives of children half a world away - by making and selling hundreds of "monster" cookies. According to Samantha Pierog, 10-1/2, "When President Bush told all kids to send $1 for the Red Cross, the fifth-grade students and teachers decided to make monster cookies and sell them for $1." The kids gathered in Leesburg's cafeteria after school this week to bake the cookies; so far they have approximately 500, but are planning to make more. "We just thought it would be a nice idea, a kind idea," said Nicole Kuhn, 11, of selling the cookies to raise money to help children in Afghanistan. But making and selling the oatmeal-and-chocolate-chip cookies is not all the Leesburg students are doing.According to teacher Marsha Cook, the students decided this year that instead of exchanging gifts for Christmas, they would donate items for kids overseas.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

WCHS Construction Could Begin In Spring

Construction on the renovation and addition projects at Warsaw Community High School should begin this spring if the bidding process goes as expected. The Warsaw school board was told Monday by the architect and construction manager for building projects that the drawings are complete and bid documents will be distributed the week of Dec.8.Final bids will be opened Jan.8, and construction is slated to begin around March 1, with an estimated completion date of September 2006.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Farm Bureau Survey Shows Big Drop In Thanksgiving Food Prices

A significant decrease in the price of turkey contributed to a drop in the cost of a traditional Thanksgiving meal, according to Indiana Farm Bureau's annual "market basket" survey of Thanksgiving food prices. The survey showed that the cost of 13 basic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table decreased from $37.43 in 2003 to $34.91 in 2004.This is the lowest price recorded by the survey since 2000, when the cost of the meal averaged $34.87.IFB volunteers scattered around the state collect data for the survey at their local grocery stores. Turkey dropped in price to 83 cents per pound, compared to $1.10 in 2003, which means that the price of a 17-pound turkey dropped from $18.17 to $14.11.This is the lowest price for this Thanksgiving staple since 1997, when turkey cost about 80 cents/pound, and it's identical to the price shoppers paid in 1995.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

City Creates Leasing Co.

The Warsaw City Council met in special session Wednesday to establish the City of Warsaw Building Corp. A not-for-profit corporation is being created because the city plans to dedicate County Economic Development Income Tax revenues, among other funds, to pay for the proposed wastewater treatment plant. Using EDIT without going through a leasing company, Jeff Heck of Baker and Daniels explained, would cause the city to exceed the 2 percent debt limit.With this standard procedure and issuance of lease rental revenue bonds to pay for a portion of the project, the city's debt limit is not affected. The debt limit is affected by general obligation bonds. The organizational meeting of the building corporation's board of directors - Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins, John Elliott and Bob Gast - is set for 11:30 a.m.Oct.29 at the Boathouse Restaurant in Winona Lake.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

ABC Vote Tied On Stimmelators License Review

A tie vote of 2-2 was reached by the Kosciusko County Alcoholic Beverage Commission Thursday on the renewal of Stimmelators Gentleman's Club's beer, wine and liquor retailer permit. The decision on the permit now will be left to the state commission. Sam Stimmel is owner of the club. The fate of Stimmel's Indiana permit came into question in October after Indiana Excise Officer Sgt.Greg Wiese questioned Stimmel about an alcohol license permit Stimmel applied for in Victoria County, Texas, in September 2003.To apply for an alcohol permit in Texas, an applicant must be a resident of the state for at least one year.Stimmel, on his application, provided a Texas address.Stimmel admitted at the October meeting he gave false information to Texas and is a Hoosier.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Biomet Expansion To Bring 260 Jobs

Biomet will undergo a $21.2 million two-phase expansion to its facilities that will create 260 new jobs for the orthopedic company in Kosciusko County. Gov.Mitch Daniels announced the expansion plans Monday at a press conference attended by Biomet representatives, county council members and Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins. "Biomet is a home-grown Indiana company and a prime example of a technology-based, high-growth business that will help advance and diversify our economy, while raising the average income for hard-working Hoosiers," Daniels said. The first phase of the expansion will cost $1.2 million, with an additional $3 million to be invested for manufacturing equipment. It is expected to create more than 100 manufacturing jobs, according to Daniel Hann, interim Biomet president and chief executive officer.
JENNIFER PERYAM, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016
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