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La Pasadita Cooperates With ABC

Owners of La Pasadita, East Winona Avenue, Warsaw, have been cleaning up the business and were rewarded for their efforts by having their alcohol permits renewed by the Alcoholic Beverage Commission Thursday. The renewals were for a beer retailer and Sunday sales retailer permits. The business had paid $900 in fines for 22 violations against it.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

K Of C Gets Variance Extension

The Knights of Columbus received a six-month extension for a use variance to operate a club/lodge in a R-1 zoned district by the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals Monday.The building is planned for the northeast corner of Fort Wayne and Lindberg streets.No activity has begun on the site.Board member Dan Hampton, a K of C member, abstained from the vote. The board also approved a variance from developmental standards as requested by Warsaw Health Foods.A 32-square foot flashing, illuminated wall sign has been installed at 1228 E.Center St., on the building's east side.Flashing, illuminated signs are not permitted in a R-2 district. Store owner Chuck Gunsolley said he purchased the building in 1987.He was unaware of any sign restrictions because there are several similar signs on Center Street. Hampton asked if the "flasher" portion of the sign could be switched off and Gunsolley said yes.The item was approved with board member Rick Keeven voting nay.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Winona Council OKs Fire Equipment Payments

WINONA LAKE - The Winona Lake Fire Department will continue to be equipped with protective gear needed to fight fires. The Winona Lake Town Council approved a $4,100 payment to purchase bunker gear for the Winona Lake Fire Department at its meeting Tuesday.The bunker gear includes fire coats and pants that were more than $2,500. Town Council President Rolly Ortega said expenditures of more than $2,500 need council approval. Winona Lake Fire Chief Roger Gelbaugh said the department replaces five sets of gear each year and the money to purchase the equipment already has been budgeted. The board also approved a waiver of sewer tap fees for Grace Village Robin Hood homes that has another four units that are ready to tap into the sewer.The sewer tap fee would be $200 each for a total of $800. Ortega informed the board that Winona Lake has received an Indiana Public Employers' Plan Safety Award for 2005.
JENNIFER PERYAM, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw City Council Won't Cut 2001 Budgets

Warsaw City Council decided not to cut any of the city departments' 2001 budgets at the special meeting Wednesday. Mayor Ernie Wiggins said the meeting was held to give the council an opportunity to cut something if necessary.None of the budgets will be increased and Wiggins recommended there not be too many cuts.He also said the 2001 budget has incurred expenses not budgeted because of the NIPSCO building purchase. Wiggins said there would probably be transfers.Clerk-treasurer Elaine Call said transfers can be made within a budget, but no transfers can be made between different budgets. The tax rate for 2001 is $2.78, said Wiggins, which is below last year's tax rate. The council discussed concerns for each budget and listened to the defenses of the department heads.
ANITA WEISHEIT, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Kings Highway Crosswalks Rethought

At least two of the "traffic calming" crosswalks on Kings Highway will be removed because of their unpopularity. The raised crosswalks have been anything but calming to citizens, according to town councilmen Jerry Clevenger and David Delp Tuesday, although councilman Rolly Ortega preferred to keep the devices in place. "I think it's easier to cross the street.I still see college students bolting across the street wherever they want to.I think it is something they'll get used to," Ortega said, adding that people in his neighborhood like the crosswalks. "I've heard just the opposite," Clevenger said."My neighbors are just passing through and it's not calming to drivers." Delp said he wanted to see the crosswalk at Jefferson Elementary School remain there, and the board voted 2 to 1 to remove the two farthest north of the stop sign at Rupe Drive.Jeff Carroll and John Boal were absent.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Barbee Board Accepts Petition To End District

A petition with 303 signatures to dissolve the Barbee Lakes Conservancy District was accepted by the board of directors Wednesday. The dissolution petition is allowed since no construction projects have been approved by the board in six years (IC 14-33-16).Board Secretary Scott Fox said he certified the signatures.The next step is to enter the petition with the county circuit court. The action was met with howls of protest and accusations of underhanded maneuvering by board members Barry Hecker, Scott Fox, Bart Brugh and Don Harris. Many people said there wasn't enough notice for the meeting.Fox said the Mail Journal and the Times-Union both received 48 hours notice, per state statute. That explanation didn't satisfy many of the 70 district residents because the meeting wasn't publicized until Tuesday.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Diploma Awarded 60 Years Later

By the time he got out of service, Bishop was no longer 17 years old and too old, in fact, to go back to high school. He was the only one of his eight brothers and sisters who never received a high school diploma. That all changed Monday when the Whitko Community School Corp.Board of School Trustees, in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Veterans' Affairs and Indiana Department of Instruction, presented Bishop with his diploma. "At one time or another, everyone in the school corporation went to bat for him," Dave Tranter, school board president, said of Bishop's attempt to receive his diploma. "I want to thank you very, very much," said Bishop.He said a big share of the men on his ship were 17 years old like himself.His ship didn't lose any men to the Japanese, but did lose some to blunders.His ship was the first to arrive at Nagasaki, where they liberated prisoners of war.
PIERCETON - In 1942, Jack Bishop dropped out of high school to enter military service during World War II.- | July 28, 2016

City Shuts Down Duplex Because Of Alleged Violations

A duplex at 214 Fort Wayne Ave., Warsaw, owned by Ralph and JoEllen Fitch of Larwill, was ordered to be vacated and shut down by Hearing Officer Larry Clifford at Monday's code enforcement hearings. Ralph Fitch said he was under the impression he'd taken care of all the repairs.Building inspector and assistant building commissioner Pam Kennedy said half of the repairs are unacceptable.She said Fitch is in about 50 percent compliance.The chimney leaks, the floor needs to be ripped up and the roof needs to be repaired. There is also a bad cockroach infestation in both apartments.One apartment is occupied.Fitch said the tenants have stopped paying rent, but they won't leave the apartment. "This is one of the worse infestations I've seen," said Kennedy. The roaches are spreading to the neighbors, Kennedy said.They had three or four professional treatments already. Fitch said he is having the roaches sprayed, but he hasn't hired an exterminator yet.
ANITA WEISHEIT, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

City To Release Funds For Argonne, Parker Project

The city is one step closer to making Dubois Drive a one-way street now that funds to be used for project changes have been approved. The Warsaw Board of Works approved releasing an amount not to exceed $10,000 for proposed changes for the Argonne Road and Parker Street project at its meeting Friday. The Warsaw Traffic Commission approved recommending making Dubois Drive one way at its meeting Thursday. Warsaw Police Department Lt.Kip Shuter attended Friday's Board of Works meeting and distributed an ordinance and letter that will go before the city council Monday night recommending Dubois Drive from Parker Street to Provident Drive be one way westbound. The letter states the current proximity of the Parker Street and Dubois Drive intersection create multiple traffic conflicts. It states at peak times, traffic backs up and drivers who refuse to leave or create openings obstruct business traffic and many vehicular movements are difficult to make when this occurs.
JENNIFER PERYAM, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

KDI Falls Short Of Quorum

No action could be taken at the Kosciusko Development Inc.meeting Wednesday because not enough members of the board attended. President Joy McCarthy-Sessing said in the future, KDI will have to look into changing the number of board members present at the meeting to take action.Currently, KDI has 27 members on the board.KDI bylaws state that 51 percent of board members are required to be present to take action. Because of this, the minutes and financial report could not be approved. McCarthy-Sessing still discussed certain issues to bring the board up to speed. In other business: • The Indiana Health Industry Forum did a state study on the economic impact of the health industry this year.Warsaw stood out because of its biomedical industry and KDI wants a more in-depth study done on Kosciusko County.
ANITA WEISHEIT, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Car Lot Variance Approved

Warsaw will have a new auction company on Winona Avenue. The Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance of use request from Donald Bays, doing business as Tri Lakes Auction, at its meeting Monday night. Bays presented two variance requests at the board's Sept.25 meeting, including a variance to permit retail sales and automotive sales at 740 W.Winona Avenue. The board tabled the requests in order for Bays to provide more detailed information for the proposed use of an auction house on the property. The petitioner withdrew the petition for automobile sales and requested a variance of use to permit retail sales in the I-2 zoning district for an auction house at Monday's meeting. The board approved the variance to permit retail sales with the following conditions: All sales must be held inside the building, sales must be completed by 10 p.m.each night, and hard surface parking must be installed by November 2008.
JENNIFER PERYAM, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Downtown Streetscape Project To Start In March

Trees, shrubbery plantings, concrete pavers and hanging flower baskets are all part of phase one of the downtown streetscape project, which should begin next spring, according to Kevin A.McCrory of The LandPlan Group. McCrory addressed the Warsaw City Council Monday, bringing illustrations of the downtown area and a rendering of how the streets will look with greenery added. The council has approved $265,000 from the Cumulative Capital Development Fund for phase one, or both sides of Center Street from High Street to Washington Street. A sample of materials was presented, showing a prefabricated concrete curb, custom limestone accents on all four corners of each planter and red and gray paver bricks.The plan calls for hanging flower baskets and decorative banners hung from light poles, square poles for street signs, lighted street name signs, benches and bicycle racks.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Buyer Accuses Demos Of Political Gamesmanship

Indiana Congressman Steve Buyer visited Warsaw Tuesday to make himself available to Hoosiers and discuss his campaign. "I wanted to make myself available to you because we were supposed to have been done legislatively Oct.6 in Washington," Buyer said."We're obviously not." Buyer said Speaker of the House Dick Gephardt and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle are playing a political game to keep Congress in session and cause a backlash on the Republicans. "They're doing everything they can to delay, stall the legislation," said Buyer."They're holding us as long as they can." Buyer called it "political gamesmanship."Gephardt and Daschle are obstructing the process to make it appear as if the Republicans aren't getting the job done so they will lose credibility.Buyer is hoping Congress will be out of session by Friday or Saturday, which will give him two weeks to campaign against Democratic opponent Greg Goodnight.
ANITA WEISHEIT, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Lead Paint Law Summary Available

A comprehensive study for determining lead-based paint laws in Indiana is now available for citizens to view. Pam Kennedy, executive director of Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, presented the study titled "Lead Based Paint, The Law In Indiana: Improving Kid's Environment, Inc.Rights and Responsibilities of Tenant and Landlords." Those who attended Wednesday's meeting included Kennedy, Laura Cooper of Housing Opportunities and Kathy Stanley, school nurse for Warsaw Schools. The study was prepared by Janet McCabe, executive director of Improving Kids' Environment, Indianapolis. Improving Kids' Environment is a non-profit advocacy coalition that facilitates improvements to children's health in identifying health environmental threats to children. Founded in 1999, the organization focuses on lead poisoning prevention, environmental health threats to children and ensuring citizens have access to information about health threats.
JENNIFER PERYAM, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Works Board OKs Police Grant Requests

The Warsaw Police Department is receiving a grant that will help it be better equipped to assist drivers involved in serious driving accidents. The Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety at its meeting Friday approved a grant that will provide funds for equipment, training and overtime for officers to investigate impaired driving, fatal or serious bodily injury crashes. The WPD, as part of the Kosciusko County Fatal Alcohol Crash Team, has been approved to receive a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration grant that began Oct.1 and runs through Sept.30.The federal grant monies are administered by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute. The team has been awarded $82,324 for the project.The police department's portion of the project will be approximately $20,000.
JENNIFER PERYAM, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

McIntosh Brings Bus Tour To Warsaw On Monday

Republican candidate for governor, Congressman David McIntosh, stopped at the Kosciusko County courthouse Monday with State Senator and Republican candidate for Lt.Gov., Murray Clark, and Republican candidate for Attorney General, Steve Carter, as part of their 35-city bus tour, The New Leadership Express. The tour started Friday and is scheduled for seven days. "We're basically going to hit every corner of the state," said Leah Dietrick, McIntosh's deputy press secretary. McIntosh, Clark and Carter greeted spectators and each made a little speech in front of the courthouse. "What (McIntosh) will bring back is integrity, is honesty, is public credibility," said Clark.
ANITA WEISHEIT, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Ag II Zoning Under Scrutiny

If people at Thursday's meeting got their way, Kosciusko County would more strictly enforce zoning ordinances, take more of a leadership role and establish some type of park system. But most of all, the county would get rid of the Ag II classification that opens the door to mini farms. Of the two dozen people who attended the first of two meetings Thursday, the loudest complaints were aired about Ag II, a classification established about six years ago as a way of providing residential growth in rural areas. Ag II allows property owners to subdivide large tracts of land and pursue sell-offs as small as one acre.The option has proved popular for farm families who want to see their children build homes nearby, and for other families who prefer a rural atmosphere. However, the zoning has inadvertently chewed away at what is often quality farm land, and many consider it a form of spot zoning.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Financially Plagued Families Turn To 'Minister Of Finance'

More and more Warsaw area residents are turning to a free service to sort out severe personal finance problems. And the man they're turning to is Dan Walcott, the unofficial minister of finance. Walcott is a counselor for Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Northeastern Indiana, a nonprofit organization with a satellite office in Warsaw. The service is free and available to anyone who's having trouble managing personal finances and willing to make a change in their lives. For many, the service is a last ditch option before bankruptcy. "It's a marvelous program," said Walcott, an ordained minister who took an early retirement from Zimmer where he worked for 12 years and at one point served as director of corporate finance. "The church views this as a ministry, but I don't provide any religious consultation.I think I'm pretty good at reading people," he said.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw's Marketplace Getting 2 New Stores

Two new stores are popping up in Marketplace Center, Warsaw: Pier 1 Imports and a new branch of Courthouse Coffee. Courthouse Coffee, located next to Elder-Beerman, is open now and the open house is coming up. "It's just beautiful," said Gary Salyer, the exclusive leasing agent of Marketplace, of the new enterprises. Salyer owns Warsaw Real Estate, which specializes in commercial-retail sales. Salyer started negotiations with Courthouse Coffee owner Paula Bowman in May and is pleased with the results. The exterior for Pier 1 is finished and all that remains to do is landscaping and interior remodeling.Salyer said the owners are not commenting on the exact date for the store to open, but he said it will be soon. "'Soon' could mean several more months," he said."The lease is signed.That's critical." "They're excited about coming to Warsaw," he said of Pier 1. Negotiations for Pier 1 started more than a year ago.
ANITA WEISHEIT, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Staples Coming To Town

Staples, the Wal-Mart equivalent in the office supplies market, is coming to Warsaw. The east coast-based company will construct a superstore in the Wal-Mart plaza, according to a spokesman for the company. Staples, which recorded $4 billion in sales last year, is in the midst of a massive expansion that includes construction of 160 stores within a 12-month span.The company has 649 stores throughout North America and specializes in discounted brand name office products, supplies, furniture and computer equipment. On Monday, the company's design plans were approved by Warsaw Plan Commission.The store will be located in a lot on the west end of the shopping center near Commerce Drive. As is the case in many of the markets Staples is expanding into, it will compete with a handful of small office supply companies. The company is expected to employ about 40 people and is looking at opening in the spring of 1998.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016
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