Stimmelators Sign Causes Concern

NORTH WEBSTER - The sign on the northeast corner of Ind.13 and Washington Street puts some people edgewise, and Helen Hoy counts herself among them. The sign sits on property at 103 N.Main St.and advertises a limousine service, Stimmelators Gentlemens Club Cruisers Limo Service, although in the evening the "Cruisers Limo Service" lettering is difficult to read. The sign currently advertises an event scheduled at the Stimmelators Gentlemens Club next door. Hoy approached the North Webster Town Council Wednesday asking that the off-premises sign be removed, citing Indiana Code requiring off-premises signs to be 250 feet from a grade road intersection. She said the sign does not reflect North Webster's reputation as a friendly town with clean values. Hoy said she was told by Dan Richard, director of the Area Plan Commission, to come to the town council with her concerns. She was advised the county has jurisdiction over signage.

City Seeks Funds To Assess Endicott Remediation

Pam Kennedy, Warsaw building inspector, requested approval from the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety on a VRP contract Friday. The Voluntary Remediation Program is for the former Endicott property at 765 W.Market St. "A few weeks ago, we sent in for a grant for approximately $30,000 for an environmental firm to go up and do blinds of soil and water on the Endicott property," Kennedy said. Kennedy also said they wrote something that nobody had ever done before. "We wrote that the city would finance the VRP program to show that we were going to try and put some work into this project and that we would spend up to $5,000 out of the unsafe building fund," Kennedy said.

Emergency Operation Course Helps Police Hone Driving Skills

For the past two weeks, Kosciusko County Sheriff's Deputy Jon Tyler and Warsaw Police Officer Doug Light have spent a lot of time planning. The pair teamed up to design the Emergency Vehicle Operation Course set up at Warsaw Municipal Airport this weekend to help officers from throughout the county brush up on their driving skills.Officers began driving the course Friday afternoon and will continue training today and Sunday. Tyler and Light drew the course on paper, then once they were satisfied with the plan, they set it up at the airport and tested it themselves.

Williams, 12, Sentenced To Juvenile Facility Until Age 18

Family members cried and hugged Chase Williams this morning before he was escorted out of the courtroom to be transported to a diagnostic center in Logansport.

Pence Makes Stop In Warsaw

Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Pence brought his “Big Red Truck Tour” to Warsaw Friday afternoon.

Syracuse Works On Industrial Park Issues

SYRACUSE - Some of the steps needed to keep the proposed industrial park in Syracuse on track were accomplished during Tuesday's town council meeting.

County Tightens Restrictions On Commercial Solar Farms

Based upon a recommendation from the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission, the county commissioners Tuesday approved a more restrictive ordinance amendment on commercial solar energy systems, also known as solar farms.

Meeting Oct. 24 On Passenger Rail Plan

Warsaw will host one of four meetings by the Northern Indiana Passenger Rail Association to discuss the next steps in securing funding for a Chicago-Fort Wayne-Columbus passenger rail line.

YES Calling For All Young Entrepreneurs

Lenke Flew Bombing Missions Over Germany

Editor's note: This is part of a series of interviews with World War II veterans.The articles continue until Saturday, the date of the local World War II Memorial Dedication and Recognition Day. Football fan George Lenke Jr.had a radio tuned to the Sunday battle between his beloved Bears and the Chicago Cardinals one fall day in 1941. The Cominskey Park play-by-play was interrupted with news of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.

Remember When 12.22.07

10 Years Ago December 22 1997 Warsaw resident Jamie Bowers was recently named Wabash College's outstanding offensive back for the past season. The Little Giants were 6-4 on the season and 4-2 in the ICAC. Bowers caught 31 passes for 433 yards receiving this year and a touchdown. He also rushed 11 times for 58 yards on the season. 25 Years Ago December 22 1982 Four local Boy Scouts received their Eagle Scout award. They are Troy and Chauncey Smith and Jim and Rick McCleary. 50 Years Ago December 22 1957 Two Warsaw High School seniors, Tom Van Osdol, class president, and Saundra Van Curen, were crowned King and Queen of Courtesy in the school auditorium. The coronation climaxed the celebration of Courtesy Week, sponsored annually by the local chapter of Future Homemakers of America. Tom is the son of Dr. and Mrs. Dean Van Osdol, and Saundra is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Van Curen. 75 Years Ago December 22 1932 A Ford coupe enroute from South Dakota to Pennsylvania, where the three occupants planned to spend Christmas with relatives, stopped here at the Foote Cafe. In addition to the three passengers, the coupe was laden with 45 dressed turkeys which the North Dakotans were taking to hungry relative in Pennsylvania. Some of the turkeys weighed as much as 18 pounds.

Skateboarders, Bicyclists Stop In Warsaw During Trip To New York City

Four friends from Chicago, who are making a documentary of their travels to New York City while skateboarding and bicycling, camped at Pike Lake Campground in Warsaw Thursday and Friday night.

Two Arsonists Sentenced

Sheila Kay Grevenstuk, 34, and Michael Grevenstuk, 34, were each sentenced Thursday in Kosciusko Superior Court to four years in prison for arson, a Class C felony.However, Mrs.Grevenstuk had two years of her sentence suspended for probation and Mr.Grevenstuk's whole term was suspended. Believing that Mrs.Grevenstuk was more culpable than her husband, Prosecutor David Kolbe asked the judge to consider sending her to prison if he felt that one of the parents should remain in the home with their four children. "I believe that (Mrs.Grevenstuk) is the brighter of the two," Kolbe said."She was more capable of planning and designing this thing." Judge Robert Burner did choose to imprison Mrs.Grevenstuk over her husband, but said he did so for medical reasons and not because he believed one was more guilty than the other.Mr.Grevenstuk takes six different prescription medications, has had open heart surgery and suffers from a back injury.

Water Well Law Changes On Tap

County commissioners heard from health department administrator Bob Weaver Tuesday regarding changes to the water well ordinance. Weaver said water wells are being installed where they should not be and he wants to ensure that the health department approves locations. "Sometimes a well can go anywhere in the back yard," he said."Other times it needs to go in a specific place." Changes to the County Private Water Well Ordinance No.88-12 would be amended to have well drillers receive approval from the health department before constructing a private well and places a fee of not more than $250 for the first violation and not more than $500 for the second violation. Weaver said the health department is encountering problems with some well drillers constructing wells regardless of whether or not a permit has been issued to the homeowner.

Together Again: Valley building trades grads reunite with teacher to complete project

SILVER LAKE -ÊAfter graduation, students and teachers may never cross paths again. Other times, their lives may become joined like the interlocking logs of a cabin. Such is the case of Tippecanoe Valley building trades teacher Ken Murphy and 19 of his former students. Saturday, beginning at 8 a.m., Murphy and his students from the last 20 years will work together to build a 20-foot by 24-foot building for Camp C.O.Mollenhour, Silver Lake.They plan to have it completed in one day. "It's going to be a kind of laboring, reunion day," Murphy, Camp C.O.Mollenhour president, said. He said the camp began rebuilding cabins last year, one per year."We're starting to update, upgrade the camp.Some of our cabins are in pretty bad shape," he said. For this year's cabin, Murphy decided to see if some of his former students would volunteer their time to build the cabin.He started making calls.Twenty of them accepted initially, though one had to back out later.

Webster Beer Tent Issue Coming To A Head

Just when you thought the tap was dry, the Mermaid Festival's Beer Tent has surged back to life. Denise Beno, former Warsaw parks activities director who is organizing the tent, said that since she was unable to obtain assistance from the local area police force, she was forced to ask the federal marshals to provide security for the beer tent. The beer tent was proposed by "Nightshift Inc.," doing business as "Top Drawer Events and Catering" and signed by Beno.Permission for the tent was denied at the local level by Jerry Craig, North Webster town marshal, for "security reasons." Now Beno said she "has all her ducks in a row" and is ready for a state hearing in Indianapolis at the excise office Tuesday at 2:30 p.m. Craig is planning a trip to Indianapolis to fight the beer tent. "I need this like I need a hole in the head, " said Craig. He is mainly concerned with the safety issues that arise with the location of the tent being close to a busy intersection.

KDI Eyes Dana Status

Dana Corp.in Syracuse was a topic of discussion when Kosciusko Development Inc.met in the Chamber of Commerce meeting room Wednesday. Dana employed 650 people at the Syracuse Spicer Axle Division plant and laid off 290 in December.The plant has been put up for sale.Officials of the company are citing economic reasons for the layoffs and pending sale, hoping to find a buyer who will maintain the employees and non-core businesses and sell the products back to Dana. The sale of the Dana facility is part of the Toledo, Ohio - based corporation's restructuring plans to consolidate or close 30 plants.Syracuse was one of only two plants designated to be sold in the Traction Technologies Group, previously known as the Axle Division. Board member Don Strouse, of Colbin Tool in Syracuse, said he hoped KDI was being aggressive in keeping the company here.

Commissioners Vote Not To Close Right Of Way

A petition by Randall and Mary Brashear to vacate the right of way in front of their property was denied Tuesday by the Kosciusko County Commissioners. Their petition was denied because the vacation would not allow adjacent property owners access to their own property, the commissioners said. The Brashears own lots 112, 113 and 60 in Bensart's Third Addition, Beaver Dam Lake.The right of way they sought to vacate is in front of lots 112 and 113. Lee Taylor, Area Plan Commission, said, "Our recommendation is to not vacate this because it is access some people still are using." Attorney David Kolbe, representing the Brashears, said, "It's a challenge to drive through there in the winter, in the spring."He said vehicles have to back out to get out and adjacent property owners have access to and from their property along Verna Road. "This easement in this section is not used as a road.It's mostly grass," Kolbe said.

Rememeber When 11.21.2009

10 Years Ago November 21 1999 The first individual national championship in the history of Grace College was won by sophomore cross country runner James Kennedy recently at the NCCAA National Championships held at Cedarville College, Ohio. 25 Years Ago November 21 1984 Chad Hopkins, a Warsaw Community High School football record holder in several scoring, rushing and kicking categories, was named to the United Press International all-state football team as a kicker. Hopkins, who holds records for the most field goals kicked in a career (13) and one season (six, in 1982 and this season) as well as the records for longest field goal (46 yards) and longest attempt (55), was selected as a first-team kicker, as well as honorable mention as a running back. 50 Years Ago November 21 1959 Mrs. Carl Burt, of Warsaw, Rev. and Mrs. L.E. Clayton, of Milford, and Mr. and Mrs. Royal Neff, of Claypool, are attending the four-day Hoosier Methodist United Nations Seminar in New York City. Rev. Summers Clark, former pastor of the Claypool church, is director. The seminar includes briefings at U.N. headquarters, addresses by leading diplomats and key churchmen and visits to points of interest. 75 Years Ago November 21 1934 Members of the archery club met recently at the city hall. During the evening, plans were made for an indoor shooting range, and as soon as arrangements have been completed, the club will enjoy a pot-luck supper.

Remember When 12.21.2012

10 Years Ago     History came alive recently as some Warsaw Community High School students got an education in the realities of war and appreciation of the men who have fought in war. As a Veterans Day project, David Hoffert’s world history students wrote letters of appreciation to recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Of the 140 living MOH recipients, the students wrote to about 90 men, and Hoffert said, 70 have written back so far. “The response has been incredible – they’re so grateful that somebody would notice.”25 Years Ago     Those winds that were so destructive earlier this week have taken their toll on the Christmas season. Officials at the First Christian Church have canceled this year’s live nativity scene planned for outside the church at the corner of Main and Lake streets in Warsaw. The barn structure that serves as the central focus of the exhibit was destroyed earlier this week.  50 Years Ago    Elkhart High School officials knew what they were doing when they invited the Mentone Bulldogs to compete with the “big schools” in this year’s holiday cage tournament. Mentone Principal John Frederick announced today that he has already sold 920 tickets – all but 80 of the 1,000 he asked for – and received – as Mentone’s quota. Mentone’s population? The 1960 census lists it at 813.75 Years Ago   Miss Delta Dean Doran of Kosciusko County was one of the five leading soloists in the presentation of Handel’s “Messiah” at the Manchester College auditorium recently. Doris Bowers, Mildred Sloane and Gus Chinworth, all of Warsaw, took an active part in the chorus. A large crowd listened to a masterful presentation of this great masterpiece. It was directed by Professors D.W. Boyer and   S.L. Flueckiger.