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Silver Lake Man Arrested After Citizen Chase

SILVER LAKE - One man is in custody and another could face charges after an alleged "pump-and-run" incident at a North Manchester gas station. The owner of Clark Quick Stop on Ind.15N in North Manchester chased the suspect from the business into Kosciusko County, where he allegedly shot out two tires on the suspect's vehicle. Neil Lister, 23, of South CR 300E, Silver Lake, is charged with theft in Wabash County in connection with the Monday morning incident, according to Wabash County Sheriff Tim Roberts. Information in the case was forwarded to the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office for review because Daniel A.Friedman, 40, of North Manchester, discharged a handgun in a possibly reckless manner, according to a Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department report. The incident here occurred shortly before noon, with Friedman trying to detain Lister near the intersection of CRs 1300S and 200W, just inside the Kosciusko County line from Wabash County.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Identical Twins Have Lifetime Of Experience In Local Grocery Stores

Few people know the inside of a grocery store better than identical twins Sharon Clay and Sharodene Morris. Sharon is the fruit bar manager at Marsh Supermarket and is in her 29th year of service with Marsh.Sharodene works in the produce section with her sister and is in her seventh year with Marsh. Now age 62, both have been working in grocery stores since age 7, when they did odd jobs at their father's store.At night, while their parents stocked the store and cleaned, the twins and their sister would sleep on the three cash registers in the store after a hard day's work. Their father, H.B."Doc" Lowery, owned Chief's Supermarket beginning in 1939.Chief's was on North Lake Street where Lakeland Art Center is now. "We were in the store working since the time we were old enough to work," Sharodene said.
DAVID A. SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Ralph Fisher A Free Man

The six-man, six-woman jury deliberated about 1-1/2 hours before returning to the Kosciusko Circuit Court, where Judge Rex Reed read the verdict of not guilty. Fisher, 47, of Goshen, was charged with murder in the Jan.15, 2001, shooting death of 48-year-old Kathy Vroman of Milford inside the Country Car Co., a Milford business owned by Jason Fisher. Fisher began to cry as the verdict was announced, and his wife and stepdaughters also shed tears as shouts of triumph were given by many of his nearly two dozen supporters in the courtroom.Fisher then wrapped his attorney, Thomas Leatherman of Goshen, into a bear hug.Afterward, Fisher spoke about the circumstances surrounding the murder charge.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Syracuse Break-Ins Related, Cops Say

SYRACUSE - Police believe a rash of recent break-ins along Grand Boulevard, Syracuse, are related to those found last week on Pickwick Park Drive. Caretakers first reported 16 summer cottages broken into along Pickwick Park Drive on Tuesday.Kosciusko County Sheriff's deputies checking the properties soon spotted more cottages that were burglarized. Police report that the suspects broke windows or door windows to gain entry to the cottages.Since caretakers do not check the properties daily, police are unsure exactly when the burglaries occurred. Many of the cottages were ransacked, according to police, with the suspects pulling out drawers and emptying most of the belongings left in the cottages.Exact reports of what items are missing from the properties are unknown since many of the owners are not in the area.
TIFFANY SHAW, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Robbery Suspect Arrested

Less than 24 hours after an armed robbery at Freedom Oil, Winona Avenue, Warsaw, police arrested their lone suspect. Terry J.Wright, 25, of 420 W.Pike St., Warsaw, was arrested at his residence after police located a car matching one described by robbery witnesses. According to police, they searched Wright's residence and found the air gun used in the crime and other evidence linking Wright to the robbery.Some of the stolen money also was recovered. Wright allegedly purchased the air gun at a local sports store about an hour before the robbery. After admitting his involvement, Wright was booked into Kosciusko County Jail on charges of armed robbery and theft.He is being held on a $10,000 bond.
KRISTA PRIMROSE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Mentone Man Pleads Guilty After Assault On Fellow Inmate

COLUMBIA CITY -ÊA Mentone man jailed in Whitley County on burglary charges pleaded guilty to several charges including attempted murder Monday in Whitley Circuit Court. William T.Springer, 26, of Mentone, admitted to severely beating his cell mate, Justin Baden, and trying to kill him in the Whitley County Jail Jan.6. Springer kicked, punched and choked Baden before attempting to stab him with a pen and twist his neck until it broke. During the attack, Springer stopped to drink a beverage and told his cell mate he would continue the assault when the drink was finished. In court Monday, Springer told Whitley County Prosecuting Attorney Matt Rentschler his intent was to kill Baden.During the same hearing, Springer pleaded guilty to attempted burglary and burglary, both Class B felonies; theft, a Class D felony; criminal mischief, a Class B misdemeanor; and being a habitual felony offender.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Stolen Vehicle Recovered From Lake Wawasee

A stolen vehicle was recovered Thursday morning from Lake Wawasee. Kim Cripe, Cassandra Drive, Syracuse, reported a 1998 vehicle stolen from the carport.While a Kosciusko County Sheriff's deputy was investigating the auto theft report, the dispatcher received a call that a vehicle was found in Lake Wawasee. Cripe identified the roof of the vehicle from the public access boat launch.The Sheriff's dive team was able to recover the vehicle and pull it from the lake. The vehicle was found with the doors locked and the interior was reportedly destroyed.Police reports said large rocks were placed on the accelerator of the vehicle. The loss of the vehicle was estimated at $42,000.A cellular phone in the vehicle also was stolen.
TIFFANY SHAW, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

KDI Member Wants To Step Up Economic Development

With a local funding request of $400,000 for the next four years on the line, Max Courtney took the Kosciusko Development Inc.executive board of directors to task Wednesday, advising them to get serious about economic development. Courtney, KDI chairman Roger Moynahan and KDI president Joy McCarthy-Sessing approached the county council this month, requesting $100,000 each year for the next four years to bring new companies to the county. The funds are available in the economic development income tax money.The county receives $2.5 million in EDIT funds; most of that, $1.9 million, is allocated to pay for the Justice Building renovation including the jail expansion.About $600,000 is left to spend on economic development, Courtney said.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

LEPC, Heath Dept. Compiling List Of Seasonal Health Professionals

The Local Emergency Planning Committee, along with the Kosciusko County Health Department, wants to create a list of health professionals who live in the county on a seasonal basis. LEPC President Gary McDaniel and Bob Weaver, the health department administrator, said inclusion on the list to volunteer during a catastrophic emergency is strictly voluntary and confidential. Individuals wouldn't be contacted except in case of an emergency. In 1986, the U.S.Congress enacted the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act. The federal law relates to planning for chemical emergencies.It also allows the citizens the right to know the identity, quantity, location and properties of hazardous substances. The Indiana State Emergency Response Commission created LEPCs.The local committee serves as a liaison between industry and the community.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Mentone Police Ask Residents To Keep Cars Locked

MENTONE - Residents are being warned to remove valuables from their vehicles and to keep their garages locked. Mentone Town Marshal Jim Eads said his department has investigated several minor thefts during the past three weeks in which purses and other items are taken from unlocked vehicles and/or garages. Anyone with information as to the suspect in these thefts is asked to contact the Mentone Police Department.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Farm Bureau Hosts Legislative Update

Three state representatives, Dave Wolkins, Bill Ruppel and Bill Friend, and one state senator, Kent Adams, attended the legislative meeting at Kosciusko County Farm Bureau building Saturday, along with about 50 citizens. The elected officials admitted promises had been broken, that certain accounts are being systematically plundered and funds earmarked to support certain programs are going to other causes under the current budget proposal. Adams came up out of his seat when one voter suggested the general assembly is involved in deliberate theft and they ought to go home and allow the mob to run business. He also offered an alternate scenario: "Bring in four housewives with four children and a $30,000 per year income.They'll show you how to run the state," he said.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Grisly Testimony, Evidence Stun Victim's Family

Sobbing could be heard among spectators this morning when two Kosciusko County Jail inmates testified that Christoval Dimas described to them last week how he and another man knocked Crystal Gayle Homister unconscious before raping her, shooting her, beheading her and setting her on fire. Tears also flowed freely among more than a dozen of Homister's relatives Wednesday while slides of the crime scene and the skeletal remains were shown in court. Some of the loved ones clung to each other for comfort or consolation while viewing the graphic depictions of the burned and decomposed skeleton.Homister's mother sobbed softly before leaving the courtroom.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Tippy Valley Committee Recommends Alternative Ed At Burket Elementary

AKRON -ÊDr.Karen Boling, Tippecanoe Valley School Corp.superintendent, on behalf of the Alternative Education Program committee, will recommend to the school board on March 10 that the program be housed at Burket Elementary School. Burket students and staff will be moved to Mentone Elementary School under the plan, if approved. At a special meeting Thursday held at Valley's middle school, several dozen parents spoke out against the school being "ripped out" of the community. One parent said when it comes to discipline, "discipline starts at home.It's not the community's problem."The school board decided to have this alternative education program, but what did the community decide, he asked? The program will be for a small percentage of students and inconvenience a greater number.To him, he said, this makes no sense.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Lilly Funds Used In County's Fight Against Drug Abuse

With a freshly granted $286,228 from the Lilly Endowment, a group of county organizations are focusing attention and funding on various local drug-related programs. The Kosciusko Community Collaboration, comprised of numerous foundations, businesses and city and county departments, will be allocating funds to projects for the education, prevention, treatment and enforcement of substance abuse. "What I liked most about this project was the broad range of community interest in dealing with the drug problem," Warsaw Police Chief Steve Foster said."I saw a significance in what was being researched and what they focused their attention on." By the end of the month, the collaboration hopes to provide 200 locks for anhydrous ammonia storage tanks located throughout the county.The ammonia, an ingredient used in methamphetamine production, is purchased yearly by farmers and used twice on crops during the growth process.
Joe Kirkendall, Times-Union staff writer- | July 28, 2016

Woodburn Man Sentenced To Attend College

A Woodburn man who admitted taking a personal watercraft and trailer from Main Channel Marina in May 1998 must attend college or go to prison. Craig Rasawehr, 23, was sentenced March 3 in Kosciusko Superior Court I on a charge of theft, a Class D felony. Judge Duane Huffer deferred Rasawehr's sentence until 6 p.m.May 26.At that time, Rasawehr must report to serve his prison term - unless he has enrolled in and is attending a minimum of three credit hours at Indiana-Purdue University, Fort Wayne, or an equivalent institution of higher education.He then must maintain a minimum of three credit hours per session during the 1-1/2-year term of his sentence or he must report to serve his prison term. Rasawehr also was ordered to make restitution of $1,000 to Main Channel Marina and $4,549 to Monroe Guaranty.Also, he must pay a $100 fine, court costs and a $10 initial and $10 monthly probation user's fee.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Accident Victim's Condition Upgraded To 'Serious'

Charges are likely when police determine the identity of the driver of a vehicle involved in an accident in which an injured passenger was left behind. James Hale, 24, of Warsaw, suffered head and internal injuries in the Feb.25 accident on CR 500S, between CRs 400E and 500E.Hale was found unconscious in the back seat of the car and nobody else was in or around the vehicle.The car struck a pole. The accident, under investigation by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, occurred around 4:30 a.m.Feb.25 and was discovered when a nearby resident called police to report a possible prowler.Police believe the "prowler" was one or two other occupants of the car leaving the scene of the accident. At first, police didn't know whether Hale or someone else in the car was the driver, but officials now believe that Hale was not driving the car when the accident occurred.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Fisher Trial To Proceed

After the attorney for murder suspect Ralph Fisher attacked the quality of the probable cause affidavit and questioned a newspaper reporter as to the accuracy of a quote in a previously published story, Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Rex Reed denied all motions pending before him Monday afternoon. One of the witnesses expected to be called during the hearing instead had his attorney present a motion to quash the subpoena that would have brought him in to testify. Thomas Leatherman of Goshen, the attorney for Ralph Freddrick "Fred" Fisher, filed a motion in January for dismissal of the murder charge pending against his client, or that Fisher at least be released from custody pending trial because of an alleged violation of Criminal Rule 4, which guarantees a defendant's right to a speedy trial.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Tort Claim Against Wawasee Alleges Racism

SYRACUSE - Wawasee Community School Corporation has released details of a tort claim filed by a former student and her parent. The school corporation has denied the claim. The claim is against the school corporation, North Webster School, North Webster School Principal Sharon E.Sigler, Syracuse Elementary, and Mark Stock, Wawasee superintendent.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Teen Faces Charges In Vehicle Thefts

A Syracuse teen was preliminarily charged last week in Kosciusko County in connection with a reported three-car, three-state theft spree he allegedly conducted with a Wabash County teen. Kenton A.Secor, 17, of 619 E.North Shore Drive, Syracuse, was preliminarily charged March 13 with auto theft, theft from a residence and receiving stolen property.He was released to his parents' custody pending action in juvenile court. The charges stem from a March 12 complaint to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department of an abandoned car along Swallow Drive, Cromwell.Upon investigation of the abandoned car, police reportedly found West Virginia plates stowed under the seat of the Grand Prix. According to police reports, Secor allegedly confessed to going with the Wabash County teen - identified only as "Eric" in Kosciusko County reports - when an S-10 pickup was stolen in North Manchester.
BYGREG BROWN, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Woman's Body Found In Warsaw

Two fishermen looking for a spot to night fish Thursday discovered a woman's body in a pond north of Center Center in Warsaw. Police and fire personnel were already near the location responding to a 6:48 p.m.incident at Bob Evans Restaurant when the men made the discovery.Emergency crews then secured the scene around the unnamed pond owned by Superior Excavating. According to police, the woman's body was rolled up in a piece of carpet at the time it was found.Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine said foul play is suspected in the woman's death.Rovenstine said he did not want to speculate on the identity of the woman, but confirmed that a December missing person case remains open and has been actively investigated.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016
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