Training Requirement Dropped For Local Election Workers

Training sessions for Kosciusko County election employees will no longer be mandatory. The election board approved the drop of the mandatory requirement Friday.The board also approved dropping the reduction in pay for those employees who missed the training sessions. The motion came from a suggestion by Democratic Party Chairman Steve Haines. The board reasoned that most election workers had worked the polls many times in the past and didn't need the repeated training. The board also discussed the financial reports of local candidates.Board Secretary Marsha McSherry said some candidates haven't filed their reports yet.It was determined that a courtesy letter or call would be made to those who have yet to file. The Wawasee School Board also requested that their attorney, David Kates, be present election night at the polls.Kates does not represent any candidate so the board determined that they will appoint him as a watcher.

HB Buys Sun Metal

HB Performance Systems Inc., which was Hayes Brake until a management buyout less than a month ago, acquired Sun Metal Products Inc.of Warsaw. Financial details of the sale were not disclosed. Rhonda Kirkwood, vice president and general manager at HB Performance Systems, will manage the new acquisition, now named Sun Components, under the company's Hayes Bicycle Group division.Bob Piecuch, former owner of Sun Metal Products, will continue to operate the business and report to Kirkwood.

Ransbottom Landfill To Change Billing Format

Beginning May 1, Ransbottom Excavating and Landfill will change its billing format - customers will be charged by weight instead of by volume.The new cost will be $35 per ton. John J.Hartings, the new general manager of the landfill, who took over Feb.20, said that he is now "doing business the way it should be done." Previously, under former owner Dan Ransbottom, customers paid $6.70 per compacted square yard, a method of measurement that was, according to Hartings, not very accurate. "As of late, it's been a kind of a guessing game as to trusting your customers telling you what their yardage is on each vehicle that comes in," said Hartings. The new method of billing is "a surefire way" of reporting the appropriate weights and financial information, said Hartings. He said that some of the "high volume" customers who use the landfill every day will receive a lower rate, but Hartings declined to comment on the reduced rate.

BOW Approves New Investment Service And Phone System

A new interest-bearing account was adopted by the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety Friday, allowing for a change in investment services for city checking accounts. Lake City Bank will convert the city's current investment sweep service to an Indexed Super Now Account.These accounts will earn interest compounded daily at a rate of 2.81 percent.All transfer fees assigned to this type of financial adjustment will be waived by the bank. The new account began Wednesday and will be in effect for the next two years. The board also approved plans to incorporate a uniform phone system for the offices of the Mayor, Warsaw Fire Departments, Parks Department, Oakwood Cemetery and Aviation Board. "We look forward to the convenience of the new phone service for the fact that all city departments will be connected under one telephone system," Mayor Ernie Wiggins said.

Local increases kept to minimum

"Due to the budget cuts ,this was necessary," said Joann Walgamuth, dean of the Warsaw Ivy Tech campus, concerning tuition increases. But she added, "There will be no program cuts." About 70 to 75 percent of students attending the city campus receive financial aid. "Every other school in the state raised their tuition double digits," Walgamuth said."We've tried to keep ours low to meet the needs of the present and future students." While summer registration is underway, no money has been taken. Ivy Tech has more than 63,000 students, number two in the state in enrollment behind Indiana University. "We're a big player with a small budget.Enrollment here is up 36 percent over last spring," the dean said. The Warsaw campus is expected to move to the United Office Complex, the former Sprint building, in time for the summer term. Walgamuth said she expects another 20 percent increase in the fall.

Silver Lake Clerk Says No Money Was Ever Missing

SILVER LAKE - Silver Lake Town Clerk Angie Glass made a statement about a May 12 newspaper article at the end of the town council meeting Tuesday evening. "There is no money missing," Glass said."There has never been any money missing. "Our accounts were balanced on paper, but not on the computer.But the state can't take handwritten records." An article in the May 12 edition of the Times-Union, written by Teresa Smith, said, "More than $25,000 is missing from Silver Lakes coffers, according to a State Board of Accounts audit for 2004.The state's audit also found that financial records were inaccurate and incomplete; that one month's balances did not agree with the next month's balances; and that many receipts and disbursement records did not exist." Tuesday, Glass explained that computer problems were the main cause of the discrepancies in the reports.

NOTICE OF SUIT SUMMONS-MF-00085

Playing Politics

Editor, Times-Union:I am not interested in helping you sell newspapers, but every now and then when the facts are so misrepresented, someone has to take action.

Obamamaniacs

Editor, Times-Union:What are you naive, easily conned Obamaniacs thinking?

Midas Collecting Items For Troops

Rhonda Elliott wants to make sure troops are not forgotten this Christmas or any time of the year.

NOTICE OF SUIT - MF1019 - BOWERS

Two WCHS Students Recognized

Two Warsaw Community High School students recently were recognized for their accomplishments.

Jo Anne Disbro

Jo Anne Disbro, 76, Winona Lake, passed away at 10:20 p.m. Dec. 3, 2016, at Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne.  She was a resident of Kosciusko County for the past 47 years. She and her husband, Al, were the first houseparents for Riverwood Ranch.  She worked as an accountant for Herald Bookstore and was the controller at WRSW radio station for a number of years. She was chief financial officer for Multi-Township Emergency Medical Services, Warsaw, for over 10 years. 

TCU Awards Read to Grow program

The Teachers Credit Union Foundation recently awarded $2,000 to Read to Grow Children’s Book Club, a program of Kosciusko Literacy Services.

NOTICE OF SUIT - MF-00531 - KABALA

NOTICE OF SHERIFF SALE - MF-52 - HAMILTON

Verizon Offers Grants for Domestic Violence Programs

The Verizon Foundation is offering up to $100,000 in grants for Hoosier nonprofits that provide services to families whose lives have been upended by domestic violence. “Our goal is to break the cycle of domestic violence by lending financial support to outstanding organizations in Indiana that have a track record of success with public outreach, education, and providing relief and resources for families,” said T.J Fox, region president for Verizon Wireless.

Pie Fight To Raise Money For Cancer Care Fund

The Shaving Cream Pie Fight Against Cancer to raise funds for the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund has been planned for this month.

Election Rumors

Editor, Times-Union:Many comments are made during an election for local, state or national levels about candidates.

Grace College & Seminary Ranked Among The Most Efficient Midwest Colleges

WINONA LAKE – Grace College recently placed in the Regional Midwest Colleges category of a U.S. News and World Report list, “Weighing the efficiency of Highly Ranked Universities.”