Manchester College Offers 'Fast Forward'

NORTH MANCHESTER - Manchester College recently announced a new way to earn a college degree - Fast Forward.

Wastewater Plant On City Agenda

The Warsaw City Council will meet tomorrow in a meeting changed from the regular third Monday of the month. The proposed wastewater treatment plant is on the agenda and updates will be given by project engineers from Jones and Henry and financial consultants from H.R.Umbaugh and Associates when the council convenes at 7 p.m. Preliminary engineering plans have been forwarded by Jones and Henry to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for review. IDEM's study of the plans is not expected to be complete until December or January.The bidding process will begin then. An Umbaugh representative will also discuss an increase in sewage residential rates from $14.50 to $15.65 per month. The construction site is located in the northwestern part of the city limits, near the Tippecanoe River south of U.S.30, and already designated an economic development area or TIF district.

Local Red Cross Director Says National Fund Empty

As Hurricane Isabel continues to pound the East Coast, the American Red Cross is facing a hard time of its own. The American Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund is empty, according to American Red Cross Kosciusko County Chapter Executive Director Larry Peppel. The fund is an emergency reserve that enables the Red Cross to give immediate help to people affected by both widespread and smaller disasters that occur throughout the country every day.The fund is the primary funding source that enables disaster victims to get help immediately regardless of type of disaster, disaster location, the community's or individual's ability to financially support the relief services and the amount of donations that come from the public.

Triton Contracts For Feasibility Study With ISU

BOURBON - Triton School Corp.will be heading into a feasibility study starting this fall. The Triton school board voted unanimously Monday to contract the study with Indiana State University Department of Educational Leadership, Administration and Foundations professor Dr.Robert L.Boyd. The study will cost $9,500, Triton superintendent Ted Chittum said. Chittum expected the project's completion by spring. Boyd will study the corporation's community and student demographics, school facilities, educational programs and ability to finance capital improvements, the contract says. Boyd will analyze population trends, including projected student populations.He will report on the present conditions of the school facilities compared to building and educational standards.He also will look at the corporation's financial indebtedness, according to the contract.

K21 Gets Optimistic Report On Investments

Despite the past month being somewhat topsy-turvy on Wall Street, the K21 Foundation's equity accounts - those invested in stocks - are in sound shape. That assessment was confirmed by Heartland Financial Services, one of the three money management firms that handle the foundation's assets. In a conference call with finance committee members, Tom Maurath, of Heartland, said as of June 30, the foundation's $10-million portfolio managed by his firm had posted a $92,260 gain.However, the volatility in the stock market in July resulted in a loss, leaving a balance of $9.975 million going into August.

Manchester Board's Role Outlined By Superintendent

NORTH MANCHESTER - Five school board members at the Manchester Community School Board meeting Tuesday night were reminded of their function by Superintendent Dr.Diana Showalter. "I think you have a huge job," Showalter said. Showalter said the functions of the board are to make policy, evaluate the district, plan and set goals, oversee financial resources, deal with personnel issues, adopt curriculum and communicate. "One of the key things is we have to work together," Showalter said."We have to communicate." The key for all board members, administrators and faculty is to make the students a priority."If we maintain that thought," she said, "I think we can't go wrong." The board approved an increase in administrators' salaries.Showalter compared the current administrative salaries with those at other similar-sized schools in the area such as Rochester, Whitko and Wabash.

Waste District Hears Budget Report From Recently Hired Controller

Certified Public Accountant Kevin Ousley, recently selected financial controller for the Kosciusko County Solid Waste District Board, attended the meeting Wednesday and presented both an appropriations report for February through April and a current claims report. The May budget balance is projected to be $217,084.30.The claims were reported as $23,280.24. Director Sue Studebaker requested a credit card be obtained by the district for expenditures, which the board approved.Currently Studebaker charges her personal credit card for expenditures and is later reimbursed. A joint meeting between the board and Citizens' Advisory Committee was set for June 13 at the Creighton Brothers composting site, where Dale Custer, Superior Excavating, will demonstrate the windrow machine he is leasing from the board for three years. Studebaker reminded members that the $10,000 in-kind services Custer is expecting for his services haven't been appropriated.

Triton Schools Could Feel Brunt Of Lear Corp. Closing

BOURBON - Lear Corporation is closing in Bourbon and Triton School Corporation could lose a large chunk of tax money based on the company's leaving. Triton could lose $68,381 for the 2003-04 school year from the company's real estate and personal property tax assessment, said superintendent Ted Chittum at the Tuesday school board meeting. Triton is fighting cash flow problems from the state, too. "It is inevitable for us to borrow money for cash flow" by next August, Chittum said. He said the state, which is caught in its own financial muck, will hold a month's payment to the school corporation next year. Chittum said he wanted to know how many students in Triton's schools have at least one parent employed at Lear.The corporation's impact could result in a reduction of the student population. In another matter, the school board approved Triton's elementary and junior and senior high school school improvement plans.

United Way Announces Leadership For 2004 Campaign

The United Way of Kosciusko County recently announced that David Findlay has been appointed to serve as the campaign chairman of the 2004 United Way Campaign.In 2003, United Way raised over $1.4 million from individual and corporate contributors and provided funding for more than 40 programs in the areas of youth development, family and community wellness, self-sufficiency and emergency services. Findlay also serves on the United Way board of directors and the Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce board of directors and recently led the Warsaw Community School Corporation's Core 40 community initiative.He serves as executive vice president of administration and chief financial officer of Lake City Bank.

TOWN OF PIERCETON - TRASH PROPOSALS

Residents Assist Hurricane Victims

Four local residents are in Louisiana, assisting people who were evacuated from their homes before Hurricane Gustav hit.

Whitko OKs Grant Applications

SOUTH WHITLEY - The Whitko School Board of Trustees approved the submission of grant applications Monday.

Don't Understand

Editor, Times-Union:I know I'm getting much older because there are more things I simply don't understand.

Tax Caps Mean $300K Shortfall

The property tax caps will mean a loss of more than $300,000 for Warsaw Community School Corp. in 2010.

More Than 100 Attend Vigil For Adalin Stamper

Over a hundred people Saturday at Center Lake Park lit candles in honor of Adalin Stamper, 2, who was found murdered Nov. 11.

Freaky 5K Family Halloween Run, Walk To Raise Money For Cancer Care Fund

The Freaky 5K Family Halloween Run and Walk is in October to raise money for the Cancer Care Fund of Kosciusko County.

Capitalism

Editor, Times-Union:Too big to fail. I'm sure many of us are tired of hearing this phrase.

Local JA Retains Highest Reach In Nation Status

NORTH MANCHESTER - Across 25 counties in northern Indiana, there are 224,299 kindergarten through 12th-grade students - and Junior Achievement programs reached more than 96,000 of them during the 2009-10 school year, including 1,100 students in North Manchester.

Winona Election

Editor, Times-Union:Thanks to Silent No More for hosting the Winona Lake forum last Monday. Winona is fortunate to have so many good individuals from which to choose.

Status Quo

Editor, Times-Union:If someone claims that they are against the status quo – yet support a politician who maintains the status quo for those who agree with the politician, then that someone is a charlatan.