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Biggs Again Seeking Planners OK For Paths Of Deerfield Subdivision

Ralph Biggs will be before the Warsaw Plan Commission tonight for the fourth time in as many months, hoping for approval of his proposed subdivision, Paths of Deerfield. Biggs' platting of the housing edition is currently designed as a planned unit development, which recently sparked debate with the board regarding what is expected of a PUD request. Commission members tabled an identical petition from Biggs during a Nov.15 meeting after failing to obtain a majority vote.With two members absent, a 3-2 decision fell short of approval by one vote. The property, at the southwest corner of CRs 75N and 175E, consists of roughly 40 acres, which Biggs intends to turn into 110 lots. In a commission report, city planner Jeremy Skinner recommended the board approve the request, pending Biggs' submission of proper drainage calculations for the subdivision.
Joe Kirkendall, Times-Union staff writer- | July 28, 2016

Paragon Medical Acquires Companies

PIERCETON - Paragon Medical announced Wednesday that it acquired a cluster of four companies in New Jersey and Florida. Paragon Medical Inc., a supplier of surgical instrumentation, implantable components and delivery systems, acquired Mark Machine Inc.and Ortho-Craft Inc., manufacturers of precision orthopedic instruments and medical devices headquartered in Fairfield, N.J., and their affiliate companies Osteomac and Ortho-Precision, respectively. The acquisitions were completed Dec.16.Mark Machine, Ortho-Craft and Ortho-Precision are in Fairfield, N.J., and Osteomac is in Pompano Beach, Fla. Structurally, Mark Machine and Osteomac will maintain their corporate identities.Ortho-Craft and Ortho-Precision will fold into Mark Machine.
Staff Report- | 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

Fisher's Sentence Modified

Jason Fisher of Goshen was granted a modification of his prison term and will be allowed to serve the balance in the Elkhart County Work Release Program. Fisher, 24, was sentenced Oct.10 to four years in prison for burglary and 1-1/2 years for theft, with the terms ordered served concurrently.He was credited for time served while awaiting trial, and inmates in Indiana are given one day off their sentence for each day served on good behavior. Fisher pleaded guilty to his part in a December 2000 burglary at Rice Ford in Warsaw, where more than $100,000 in vehicles were reported stolen. Three other men were convicted of related crimes in connection with the auto thefts. The auto theft ring was linked by officials to the murder of Kathy Vroman of Milford, who was believed shot to death inside Country Car Co., a Milford used-car business owned by Fisher.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Suspect In Odometer Tampering Surrenders, Booked At County Jail

The Warsaw man accused of odometer fraud and other charges turned himself in to police Thursday morning. Chad Allan Gottschalk, 38, of 2028 Maple Run, Warsaw, was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 11:30 a.m.Thursday on one count of felony theft and four counts of forgery.His bond was set at $40,000. Gottschalk's wife, Karen Gottschalk, 37, was arrested and booked into the Kosciusko County Jail Wednesday at 1:14 p.m.on two counts of check forgery.Her bond was set at $20,000. Chad Gottschalk may face up to 15 counts of forgery (Class C felony), four counts of theft (Class D felony) and four counts of odometer altering/odometer fraud (Class D felony). The Gottschalks allegedly purchased luxury vehicles with high mileage then turned back the odometers or replaced the odometers with one purchased on the Internet or in a junkyard. Once the odometers were altered or replaced, the vehicles were sold for nearly 100 percent profit.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Orbans Surrender To Face Charges

Richard D.Orban, 47, and Janet Lee Orban, 47, both of 165 Deerwood Court, Warsaw, surrendered to authorities Sunday evening and were booked into the Kosciusko County Jail in connection with allegations of corruption in business. The Orbans are each charged with 10 felony counts, including corrupt business influence, perjury, theft and failure to remit sales tax.Mr.Orban is a partner in Carpet Express at West Levi Lee Road and Ind.15N, Warsaw, where Mrs.Orban was employed as the bookkeeper. Mr.Orban also is charged with fraud in connection with an alleged false insurance claim. Police and a Department of Justice investigator began looking into the matter after receiving a complaint from the other partner in Carpet Express.The business currently is in receivership after Orban filed a petition for the partnership to be dissolved. Both of the Orbans posted bond of $5,000 and were released from custody.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Vietnam MIA Laid To Rest In Akron Cemetery

The remains of a Mentone High School graduate missing in action in Vietnam since 1962 have been buried in Akron Cemetery. Lt.Neil B.McKinney was flying routine air cover missions over Vietnam when his B-26 bomber failed to return to its base. After a search failed to turn up any sign of the four-man crew, McKinney and the other crew members were listed as officially missing.A year later the Air Force declared Lt.McKinney deceased. "I didn't know where Vietnam was when he left, and I am not a dumb person," said Grace Waechter, McKinney's former mother-in-law and a former teacher. "He left in March and we found out in September that he was missing," said Waechter. But since his disappearance 34 years ago there hasn't been much information on his remains. "We would hear a story, and then we would hear another story and nothing would come of it," she said.
GREG BROWN, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Construction Company Reports $356,000 In Missing Funds

Approximately $356,102 was reported stolen by C.R.I.Construction Tuesday. An employee, Marvin Christopher Whitehead, 39, was arrested in connection with the missing funds. Whitehead was preliminarily charged with forgery by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, and booked on a $100,000 bond Thursday. According to police reports, on Sept.20, 2002, Whitehead opened an allegedly fraudulent C.R.I.Construction business account at Farmers State Bank, Mentone.He allegedly collected checks from customers and deposited them directly into the account without authorization from business owner Mavis Whitehead.He then had bank workers make out cashier's checks directly to him, police said. Christopher Whitehead reportedly had misappropriated business funds once before and was removed from financial authority in 1999. Police said Christopher Whitehead admitted the theft to his family, but said if prosecuted he would flee to Mexico.
KRISTA PRIMROSE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Garage Burns

BY KRISTA PRIMROSE, Times-Union Staff Writer Two vehicles stolen early this morning were found wrecked within Warsaw city limits today.Jeremy L.Morgan, 21, of 517 W.Pike St., Warsaw, was arrested for the crimes.He also was reportedly intoxicated at the time of the accidents, but he is preliminarily charged with auto theft only. A 1990 Pontiac, stolen from Melanie Marie Davis, North Washington Street, Warsaw, was found wrecked at 2:03 a.m.today. While investigating the car crash, a Warsaw police officer reportedly heard of a second crash, a truck wrecked near the intersection of Pike and Columbia streets, Warsaw. Both vehicles had been reported stolen. During an area search near the second accident, police found Morgan sitting in a parked car.Upon questioning him because of suspicious behavior, he gave police conflicting reports about his actions.Police searched him, and keys to one of the wrecked cars were found.
Photo by Gary Nieter, Times-Union- | July 28, 2016

Local Medical Firm Nuell Sues 2 Former Employees

Two former employees of Nuell Inc., a local medical instrument-production company, are being sued for breach of confidentiality, violating Indiana Uniform Trade Secrets Act, breach of non-compete agreement and conversion. Vicki Adkins and Matthew Fluke, both former Nuell employees, allegedly stole blueprints and product models from Nuell and contracted a second local company, Applied Team Technologies, to manufacture the product. According to the suit, during Adkins' and Fluke's employment with Nuell, both were given product samples and blueprints they were allowed to take home for work purposes. Upon their leaving the company, both failed to return the company assets and later used them to start their own competing company, Capital Marketing.
KRISTA PRIMROSE, 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

County Police Veteran To Run For Sheriff

The first candidate has thrown his name into the hat to run for Kosciusko County sheriff. Det.Sgt.Sam Whitaker, a 17-year veteran of the department, said he will pursue the elected office on the Republican ticket. Whitaker has been building a base of support in recent months and has assembled a series of proposals he would implement if elected. Next year's election ends one of the longest eras in law enforcement as Sheriff Al Rovenstine concludes his fourth term served over a 20-year span. In recent elections, Rovenstine has seen few if any opponents, but this year's Republican primary could include several candidates. Of the names being mentioned as possible candidates, Whitaker will likely have as much experience as anyone.In his 17 years, Whitaker said he's had a hand in 1,500 felony arrests.He was responsible for establishing the Special Operations Drug Task Force Team in 1987 and oversees a $300,000 budget today for that task.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Education Summit Addresses Concerns Of At-Risk Youth

Are kids today really more difficult and more alienated than previous generations? What responsibilities do all adults share in making sure all children grow up happy, healthy, secure and well-adjusted? Dr.Dennis Bumgarner, a licensed clinical social worker and clinical therapist from central Indiana who specializes in working with at-risk children, addressed these concerns and more at the eighth annual Education Summit Tuesday at 2517 Restaurant, Warsaw. Many adults today believe young people are "fundamentally and distinctly" different from earlier generations, Bumgarner said, and after the events at Columbine High School, some people see kids as dangerous. Bumgarner disagreed that kids are different or "worse" than their parents or grandparents were."Young people today are the same as they have ever been," he said.It's the world that has changed.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

EMT Course A Practical Learning Experience

Students from area high schools are getting a chance to get their feet wet in the medical field. The EMT course lets students decide if they are interested in pursuing a career in being an EMT or nurse.The Warsaw Area Career Center offers the EMT program at Warsaw Community High School.Students attend the course from six area high schools, including Fairfield, Tippecanoe Valley, Warsaw, Wawasee, West Noble and Whitko.Students that complete the course and pass the state exam for licensing can earn dual credit with Ivy Tech Community College. The WACC partners with Multi-Township EMS for the instructors, while WACC supplies the facility and students. Program Assistant for Career and Technical Education Diana Yarian said the EMS decides the criteria for the class. "We do find the students who apply are real interested in it," she said.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Alleged Theft Of Anhydrous Ammonia Brings Two Arrests

Two men were arrested about 3 a.m.this morning after officers of the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force found them at North Central Co-op, Burket, allegedly stealing anhydrous ammonia. Anhydrous ammonia is an ingredient commonly used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, an illegal street drug. Steve Alan Sroufe, 41, of 6403 W.CR 800S, Claypool, was arrested and preliminarily charged with operating an illegal drug lab, theft from a business and criminal trespassing. He was booked into Kosciusko County Jail on $2,000 bond. Rodney Dane France, 46, of Roann, was arrested and preliminarily charged with assisting a criminal and illegal possession of a police radio.He also was booked into KCJ on a $2,000 bond.
KRISTA PRIMROSE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

County Police Solve Recent Thefts

The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department has solved several crimes committed by juveniles over the past few weeks. One of the first cases was the burglary and theft of almost $400 from Detailing Unlimited, Warsaw.Joshua Bays, of Warsaw, was apprehended and is detained at the St.Joe Juvenile Center.The investigation continues involving another juvenile involved in the crime. A string of thefts in the southwestern portion of Kosciusko County led the sheriff's deputies to six juveniles, three of whom are facing arrest warrants. More than $3,000 worth of stolen merchandise has been recovered for the owners, and the department has enough fishing equipment in evidence to last the rest of the century. Jason Davis, Burket; Cody New, Rochester; and Christopher Gerber, Beaver Dam Lake, Claypool, all 15 years old, confessed to the crimes.
TIFFANY SHAW, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Former County Clerk Sentenced In Theft

Restitution, a suspended jail term and counseling were ordered for a former Kosciusko County deputy clerk who admitted taking money from her employer. Jalaine Brumfield, 42, of 1403 Alpha Drive, Warsaw, was sentenced Friday in Kosciusko Superior Court I after admitting to a Class D felony charge of theft in August.She was arrested in July after it was learned that money was missing from the clerk's office, where Brumfield served as a deputy clerk, taking in fines for traffic tickets, among other duties.She resigned her position July 13.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Fatal Accident

Plain Township fire and EMS personnel work to free a victim from wreckage after a crash this morning on Armstrong Road, west of Oswego. Indiana State Police worked the accident. One female died and three males were injured in the head-on crash, but the identity of the victim was being withheld pending notification of relatives. Photo by Gary Nieter, Times-Union
Photo by Gary Nieter, Times-Union- | July 28, 2016

Juvenile Charged In Car Theft

Two juvenile boys were found Wednesday night after they allegedly stole a car in Warsaw. Daniel R.Olivo, 14, Warsaw, is being charged in the incident.Brett A.Hall, 13, Silver Lake was held for questioning and then released to his parents. Leroy R.Long reported his car stolen from his home on Clearwater Drive, Warsaw, Wednesday evening. As Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department Deputy J.D.Ayres was en route to the scene, he passed a vehicle that matched the description of the stolen car.He turned to follow the car on Argonne Road.Ayres' check of the license plate matched the stolen car's plates. Ayres then stopped the car on Argonne Road and Winona Avenue. The juveniles were taken to Kosciusko County Jail and held for questioning until their parents arrived. Olivo was taken to Parkview Juvenile Center in South Bend.He is scheduled for a hearing today in Kosciusko County Juvenile Court. Charges are pending against Hall.
TIFFANY SHAW, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Two Held After Thefts Of Ammonia From Farm Center

Two people are in custody this morning after allegedly stealing anhydrous ammonia from a farm center near Mentone. Police said the men had six or seven of the ingredients needed to manufacture methamphetamine in the vehicle they were traveling in and that they believe the men were going to use the ammonia to set up a mobile lab. Bradley Michael Troyer, 28, of 501 S.Locke St., Nappanee, is preliminarily charged with theft, possession of two or more ingredients with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine and criminal trespass.He is being held in the Kosciusko County Jail on $2,000 bond. Clint M.Mishler, 26, of 103-1/2 Maple St., Nappanee, faces charges of theft and possession of two or more ingredients with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine.His bond also is $2,000. Troyer and Mishler were taken into custody near Royster-Clark, at the intersection of CR 100S and Ind.19.Police said the location has continuously been victim to anhydrous ammonia thefts.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016
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