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Aldrich Sentenced To Maximum

Despite a plea from his attorney for leniency, George Aldrich of Etna Green was sentenced today to the maximum term allowed under a plea agreement entered in Kosciusko Circuit Court.He also was ordered to make restitution of more than $100,000. Aldrich, 28, was the driver in the Dec.2 burglary and theft from Rice Ford in Warsaw and Judge Rex Reed said that even though Aldrich didn't participate in the actual removal of vehicles from the lot, "this crime couldn't have occurred without that kind of assistance....You were very important to the overall burglary that occurred."The automobile theft ring has been linked to the death of Kathy Vroman, 48, of Milford. Aldrich is the final defendant of three charged in connection with the theft of several vehicles from the car dealership.For sentencing purposes, a Class D felony auto theft conviction was merged into the Class C felony burglary conviction.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Teen Waived To Adult Court

The teen-ager suspected in the arson fire that destroyed the Leesburg Grace Brethren Church has been waived from juvenile court to adult court. Timothy Grevenstuk, 17, of Leesburg, is charged with arson causing bodily injury and burglary of a church, both Class A felonies; Class C felony burglary of a business; and theft and attempted theft, both Class D felonies. Grevenstuk and his defense lawyer consented to the case being waived to adult court. The arson charges are a result of the July 22 fire that destroyed the newer part of the Grace Brethren Church and gutted the historic half.According to police reports, investigators believe the fire was started in the basement sometime around midnight.Remains of an accelerant were allegedly found.
TIFFANY SHAW, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Three Held In Auto Theft

LEESBURG - Three Lake County residents are in the Kosciusko County Jail after allegedly being caught Wednesday evening in possession of a stolen car.The three men also are suspects in an Elkhart County carjacking earlier in the day. Booked into the KCJ were: • Gregory Price, 18, Gary, charged with receiving stolen property and carrying a handgun without a permit; • Renard Allen Davis, 19, Merrillville, charged with possession of property and carrying a handgun without a permit; and • Michael Dwayne Brewer, 20, Merrillville, charged with receiving stolen property and carrying a handgun without a permit. All three are being held without bond.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Fisher Sentenced For Theft, Burglary

A slight confrontation occurred among family members when Jason Fisher was sentenced this morning on charges of burglary and theft. Fisher, who was released from custody for murder after accusing his father in the death of Kathy Vroman, was sentenced by Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Rex Reed to four years in prison for burglary and 1-1/2 years for theft.The terms were ordered served concurrently and Fisher will be given credit for time already spent in jail on the charges. Fisher, 24, of Millersburg, pleaded guilty in August to his role in a December 2000 burglary at Rice Ford, Warsaw, during which more than $100,000 worth of vehicles were taken. Police and court testimony in the case against Jason Fisher's father, Ralph Fisher of Shipshewana, indicated that the Jan.15, 2001, murder of Kathy Vroman of Milford was related to the vehicle thefts and that those thefts were part of a bigger car-theft ring.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Volunteers Drive Area's AIDS Task Force

FORT WAYNE - When a small group of volunteers became aware of at least one person in Fort Wayne suffering from AIDS in 1985, they weren't sure what to do to help. So they educated themselves about the disease.They agreed to do that so they could educate the public about the disease.They then provided care coordination for those with HIV and their families. Thus the AIDS Task Force of Northeast Indiana was born, with the same principles in place today - education and care.About eight or nine years ago, the Indiana State Department of Health mandated the Task Force expand to include 11 counties now including Kosciusko. The Task Force is Indiana's geographically largest and its oldest AIDS organization.Over the years, a number of other AIDS service organizations in Indiana have modeled themselves on the Task Force's structure, according to Greg Manifold, executive director.And the Task Force always is happy to be a resource for others in the state, he said.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Mobile Meth Lab Found

An employee of Maple Leaf Farms performing a routine check on the north side of the property stumbled upon an alleged mobile methamphetamine lab Monday morning. According to Brooks Shirk of the Indiana State Police, around 6:15 a.m.Monday, an employee of Maple Leaf Farms was checking pumps on the north side of the company property when he saw a male and female at the trunk of a vehicle. The man's presence startled the pair, causing them to drop several items, including a tank of anhydrous ammonia.The chemical began to react with the air, producing smoke as the man and woman fled the scene. Brooks arrived at the scene where the smell of anhydrous ammonia was so strong it was difficult to get near the vehicle.Once he got close to the car, he discovered it was still running and in drive.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Teens Face Charges In Bike Shop Break-In

Preliminary charges were filed recently against four juveniles suspected of almost burglarizing a Warsaw bike shop.One of the four is a suspect in several other recent burglaries. Patrick J.Whetstone, 17, of 1502 Dot St., Warsaw; Dustin K.Catanzarite, 15, of 2441 W.CR 250S #113, Warsaw; and Josh A.Cooley, 17, of 912 W.Winona Ave., Warsaw, are each preliminarily charged with attempted burglary in connection with a Sept.10 incident at Tarkio Road on Washington Street in Warsaw.Robert Lugo, 15, of 1146 S.CR 250W, Silver Lake, faces charges of attempted burglary and theft in the same case. The teens allegedly pounded and pried on a door in an attempt to gain entry to the store, with at least one of the four jumping a fence and throwing two bicycle rims over it.The items were hidden in nearby bushes when the foursome was scared off by an approaching vehicle.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Police Remind Drug Dealers That 'Enough Is Enough'

Just as parents must occasionally remind their children of the importance of following a straight and narrow path, area law enforcement officers must occasionally remind drug dealers that their activities are not wanted in Kosciusko County. Like parents, police get fed up with bad behavior and it's time to say, "Enough is enough." The "Enough" campaign is conducted periodically throughout the year and concentrates on eradicating illegal drugs with help from citizens. While the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force routinely carries out investigations and drug busts for a variety of illegal drugs, task force coordinator, Detective Sgt.Joe Mooney, said an intense focus is currently being placed on methamphetamine laboratories.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Teens Held In Auto Theft, Fleeing

Two teens were charged Tuesday night after allegedly stealing a vehicle earlier in the day from Warsaw, then fleeing from police. Darren Glenn Fields, 17, of 415 S.Buffalo St., Warsaw, is preliminarily charged with driving while intoxicated, auto theft, fleeing law enforcement, public intoxication, illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor and criminal conversion. Gabriel Raymond Fields, 17, of 3925 Meadowridge Drive, Warsaw, is preliminarily charged with criminal conversion, public intoxication, possession of marijuana and illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor. According to Warsaw Police Department reports, a pickup belonging to Rob Logan Gast of Warsaw was taken from a parking lot near the intersection of Washington and Market streets Tuesday evening.The vehicle was left unlocked with the keys inside.The report of the theft was made at 5:58 p.m.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Zoll Faces 5-1/2 Years In Leesburg Robbery

If a plea agreement is accepted by Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Rex Reed, Jeffrey R.Zoll of Warsaw will get a total of 5-1/2 years in prison for robbing a Leesburg bank in January and taking a pickup from a neighbor. Zoll, 40, pleaded guilty Thursday morning in Kosciusko Circuit Court to conspiracy to commit robbery, a Class C felony, and auto theft, a Class D felony.The presumptive terms for those offenses, respectively, are four years and 1-1/2 years and, by pleading guilty, the Kosciusko County prosecutor agreed to seek only that amount of prison time for Zoll. As a condition of the plea agreement, the prison term here would be ordered served consecutively to a 20-year sentence in Whitley Circuit Court, where Zoll was sentenced in June for robbing a South Whitley bank. Zoll's plea agreement has yet to be accepted by the court, but if it is, Reed will sentence Zoll during an 8:15 a.m.hearing Sept.18.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Arson Charges Filed Against Teen In Church Fire

Arson charges were filed Tuesday against the suspect in the Leesburg Grace Brethren Church fire. Timothy Grevenstuk, 17, of Leesburg, was charged with arson and burglary, two Class A felonies; Class C felony burglary; and theft and attempted theft, both Class D felonies. According to Kosciusko County Prosecutor David Kolbe, the charges were filed in Kosciusko Superior Court I, Juvenile Division, as a result of an investigation by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, agents from Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The fire that occurred in the early morning hours of July 22 destroyed the newer part of the church and gutted the historic half.No one was injured in the blaze, and police at the time said they believed it was started in the basement sometime around midnight.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Valley Starts Student Crime Stoppers Program

AKRON - Progressive: moving forward; continuing by successive steps; favoring progress, reform. Tippecanoe Valley High School is looking to be progressive in preventing crime at school.In conjunction with DARE officer Timothy Sammons and the Kosciusko County Crime Stoppers, the high school is implementing a Student Crime Stoppers program this year. TVHS assistant principal Rod McKee said the county Crime Stoppers has taken Tippecanoe Valley under their wing as a pilot program. "It's not that we have any problems," he said, "but it's always nice to have a program in place. "Students are in the forefront and know what's going on far before the principal or administrator," said McKee.He said if the school were to do nothing, then real problems could begin. The school's program works much like the Crime Stoppers program seen on television.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Cleanup Finally Begins At Claypool Landfill Site

CLAYPOOL - Work has finally begun on the Lakeland Disposal Landfill Superfund site on CR 450W, near CR 600S, after the site was closed in 1978. Beginning in 1974, general refuse and hazardous wastes including cyanide and sludges containing paint, hydroxides of aluminum and heavy metals were disposed of at the site. In 1978 the Kosciusko County Circuit Court ordered the landfill closed. The area has several wetlands, which could be affected by contaminated runoff from the site. The 39-acre sanitary landfill is 3-1/2 miles northwest of Claypool. Approximately 1,200 residents living within two miles of the site rely on private wells for their water supply. Claypool's two municipal wells are located within three miles of the site. The landfill was originally added to the Environmental Protection Agency's superfund list in 1989 after the EPA detected high amounts of methane concentrations leaking from the ground beneath several mobile homes.
TERESA CARRANO, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Two Face Charges In July 22 'Robbery' Of Ice Cream Shop In Warsaw

Charges were filed last week against two men who allegedly staged a robbery July 22 at a Warsaw ice cream shop. Matthew Neal Sims, 22, of 2286 Laurien Court, Warsaw, and Christopher Michael Harmon, 20, of 2703 Wayside Court, Warsaw, are each charged with one count of theft, a Class D felony.The two allegedly took about $7,400 from Ritter's Frozen Custard on U.S.30E. Sims was working at Ritter's the night of the alleged robbery and told police an unknown man was waiting outside the door when he left the store.The alleged robber was said to have pushed Sims back inside, where he was made to turn off the store's alarm system and open the safe. A detective interviewed Sims after the alleged robbery and said the story was not believable, partly because some of the information changed between the time the 911 call was made and the time police talked to Sims at the scene.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

2 Face Check, Theft, Fleeing Charges In Wednesday Incident

Two people are in custody after allegedly trying to pass bad checks in Warsaw.One of the two led police on a high-speed chase before her vehicle was disabled and she was apprehended. Tracey Elizabeth Davis, 29, of Bristol, is being held without bond in the Kosciusko County Jail on charges of forgery, attempted theft, receiving stolen property and fleeing law enforcement. According to a press release issued by the Warsaw Police Department, Davis attempted to cash a check at 2:18 p.m.Thursday at the Lake City Bank branch on Commerce Drive.Bank officials refused to cash the check because it appeared to be similar to fraudulent checks that have been presented at other LCB branches and at banks throughout northern Indiana. Davis left the bank before police arrived, but, several minutes later, officials at the LCB branch on West Lake Street reported the same woman was at that facility attempting to cash the same check.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Fisher Seeks To Postpone Murder Trial; Charged In Death Of Milford Woman

Defense attorney Mike Miner on Wednesday filed a motion in Kosciusko Circuit Court to postpone the trial of Jason Fisher. Fisher, 22, of Millersburg, was scheduled to go on trial accused of the murder of Kathy Vroman, 48, of Milford.The seven-day trial was to begin Sept.13, with the first two days for jury selection only and five days set aside for testimony.Miner is Fisher's court-appointed attorney.The trial is tentatively rescheduled for early December, according to Kosciusko County Prosecutor Charles Waggoner.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

No New Burglaries In Past Two Weeks

Even though local police are receiving calls about suspicious people and vehicles in and around Warsaw, the number of burglaries in the area hasn't increased in the past two weeks, according to authorities. A string of residential break-ins that began in May stopped on August 26; none has occurred since then, said Captain Steve Foster of the Warsaw Police Department. "As of 8 a.m.Friday, there have been no additional thefts or burglaries as related to this guy," Foster said. Thirty-six burglaries so far have been reported since May.In almost every case a house in an upscale residential area was entered, often at night while the residents were asleep and often through an unlocked door or window.Only small, easily carried items, such as cash, wallets or jewelry, were stolen.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Grand Jury Indicts Syracuse Man In 1998 Fatal Fire

A Syracuse man was indicted by a grand jury Friday on two counts of murder in connection with a 1998 fire that left his two young sons dead. David Reed, 29, was already in the Kosciusko County Jail when the charges were filed against him in Kosciusko Circuit Court after two days of grand jury testimony.He was scheduled to be sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court I this morning on three counts of theft. Austin David Reed, 3, and Justin Allen Reed, 1, died in their beds in the 11:17 a.m.March 1, 1998, fire at 9816 Majestic Way in Marineland Gardens on the south side of Lake Wawasee. According to information gathered at the time of the fire, David Reed told investigators that he awoke to the smell of smoke and went across the street to his grandparents' house to call the fire department.He said he made several attempts to get into the house and rescue his sons, but was unable to do so because of the heavy smoke.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Local Libraries Cope With Theft

Books, magazines, CDs - libraries are loaded with items that are free for the taking. Trouble is, some people forget to check them out. While theft is not a serious problem at area libraries, almost all of them report things that "get up and walk away." "It's one of those ongoing things you have to face in a library," said Carolyn Buckmaster, media services director at Whitko High School."Every library has to face that." Anything by Stephen King is most likely to come up missing at a school library.Other hot ticket items are car magazines, science fiction, the "Goosebumps" series, books on the occult and materials used as research. Sometimes an item will disappear almost as soon as it's replaced."We have a problem keeping dictionaries.Our dictionaries come up missing all the time," said Shirley Gackenheimer, instructional media assistant at Tippecanoe Valley High School.
DEB McAULIFFE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Fourth Assailant Sentenced In 'Bashing'

She was too nervous to speak on her own behalf, so Jennifer Krull's attorney asked the court for leniency in sentencing for her part in what has been called "Amish bashing." Krull, 21, of 251 E.Lincoln St., Nappanee, was the first of the five defendants in the case to be sentenced without a pre-arranged plea agreement.However, taking that gamble did not affect the outcome - Kosciusko Superior Court Judge Robert Burner sentenced Krull on Thursday to six years in prison, with two years suspended for probation.That is the same amount of prison time received by the three defendants already sentenced.Unlike the others, Krull was not ordered to serve 500 hours of community service. The final defendant, Jonathon Pickerl of South Bend, will be sentenced Sept.26.He also does not have a plea agreement.
Ruth Anne Long, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016
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