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Longtime LAA supporter, current director, O'Connell to resign

After 36 years of involvement with the Lakeland Art Association, Lila O'Connell is resigning from her position as the center's director and chairwoman of the ways and means committee. "I've been thinking about it for a while," said O'Connell Thursday.She said she goes by her gut feeling and her gut was telling her to step down. "I look around at a meeting or whatever and see the people who've come up in the ranks....They're doing very good things for the organization." In her resignation letter to the Association, O'Connell wrote: "It is such a joy to me to look around and see so many doing so much with our association.And to think that for (more than) 36 years I've been instrumental in encouraging you and all the others to get to this point. "Now I feel I can resign as director and chair(woman) of ways and means without too many qualms.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

'Code Yellow' Alert At High School Is False Alarm

A code yellow alert was initiated at Warsaw Community High School this morning, but it turned out to be a false alarm. "In this day and age, with these kind of activities, we investigate," said Principal Dr.Jennifer Brumfield. At 9:40 a.m.today, Brumfield said they were notified of two male subjects entering the high school when someone opened a locked door for them.Their vehicle was parked across the grassy knoll at the Central Administration office. The police department was contacted to check out the car and the license plate came back as being registered in Elkhart County.No student was found to be related to the person who the car was registered to. The two male subjects could not be identified on the security cameras and could not immediately be located in the school.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

CASA Fundraiser Attendance Grows

Participation continues to grow at the Taste of the Harvest fundraiser for Court Appointed Special Advocates.Approximately 250 people attended the annual event Friday at Center Lake Pavilion. Sally Mahnken, executive director of CASA of Kosciusko County, said, "We are very pleased with the response this year.We started with about 75 attendees.This year, we sold about 250 tickets and people were still calling Thursday and Friday." When asked how the event started, Mahnken said, "I had learned of a similar event with the wine-tasting theme that CASA in LaPorte County used as a fundraiser, and wondered if something similar would help us raise funds here.I mentioned the idea to Pat Likens, and the rest is history.Pat's interest and assistance were phenomenal; we couldn't have done it without her."Pat and her husband, Ed, continue to be an integral part of the event.Ed serves on CASA's board of directors.
M.J. RHODES, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Syracuse Cops Raid Suspected Meth Lab

SYRACUSE - Two Syracuse men were arrested Tuesday on drug-related charges. Jason S.Morrow, 28, of 304 E.Maple Grove St., Syracuse, and Charles R.Losee, 32, of 207 E.Bowser Road, Syracuse, are being held in the Elkhart County Jail, Goshen. Morrow is being charged by Goshen Police with possession of marijuana and possession of precursors to the manufacture of methamphetamines.Losee is being charged with possession of precursors to the manufacture of methamphetamines and possession of narcotic drugs/methamphetamines.No bond is set.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Eastburn Shares His Story At 'Help For The Holidays'

Born with no arms and no legs, Brett Eastburn, of North Liberty, also believes he was born with no handicaps.He believes a person is a success only if they choose to be and handicapped only if they allow themselves to be. Eastburn, 26, will be the featured speaker at the second annual "Help for the Holidays," to benefit those served by the Cardinal Center. Eastburn was born with a congenital birth defect known as Quadmembral Limbs Deficiency.As his self-esteem grew, his artificial limbs were put away.Besides using a wheelchair, he developed a unique way to be mobile using the strength of his own body. While in school, Eastburn played baseball, football and basketball.An accomplished swimmer, he became a member of the wrestling team in junior high.In high school, he wrestled on the varsity team.He placed fourth in 1988 in the national wrestling competition with the Amateur Athletic Union.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Educators Gather For 'Summit' In Warsaw

Indiana is making progress in the quality of public education, but much work remains to be done, attendees at the 11th annual Education Summit were told Thursday. Jeffery P.Zaring, administrator and chief of staff of Indiana Department of Education's State Board of Education, said Indiana's educational standards "consistently rank as the highest or among the highest in the nation." SAT scores are improving, he said, though he does not believe they're high enough yet. "SAT scores are important because higher scores on the SAT are directly related to completing the Core 40 curriculum," he said, though he said not enough students complete the Core 40 program in Indiana.
LAURIE HAHN Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

First Source Hosts Investment Seminar

WINONA LAKE - First Source Bank, Warsaw, held an investment seminar Friday at The Boat House, Winona Lake, for clients of the Personal Asset Management Group. "We have been very pleased with the response to the opening of our Warsaw office 20 months ago," Christopher Murphy, chairman and CEO of First Source Bank, said. Murphy announced Friday the formation of an advisory committee to assist First Source in providing personal asset management services in the Warsaw area.Dane and Mary Louise Miller, Rita Schobert and John and Maureen Hall were asked to serve on this advisory committee, which will meet quarterly and will review marketing ideas and investment products available and give feedback on services provided. Murphy said First Source was founded in 1863 in South Bend.
LAURA SLOOP, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

County Takes Care Of Business

• Inventory tax under scrutiny At the Dec.11 Kosciusko County council meeting, the council will hold a public meeting on eliminating the inventory tax. However, if the county eliminates that tax, the county may add an additional 0.16 percent rate to the Economic Development Income Tax. Thursday at the county council meeting, county council president Harold Jones said the council has discussed the elimination of the inventory tax for two years now. "It's not going to go away itself without some thought," Jones said. Sue Ann Mitchell, county auditor, said the first step in eliminating the inventory tax is looking at the reporting requirements for inventory.That has to be done by the end of the year.
David Slone, Times-Union- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Set To Evaluate Haworth

Dr.Robert Haworth has been on the job as Warsaw Schools' superintendent only six months, but his first evaluation is already due. Monday, Haworth offered the school board two options to prepare his evaluation.He said the board could prepare the evaluations and submit them to school board president Ron Yeiter and he could prepare a report, or each board member could give their evaluations to Haworth himself.He asked that the evaluations be completed by Dec.18. Evaluations of other Warsaw administrators will be conducted in the upcoming year. Dan Robinson, school board vice president, said he wanted to do it both ways.He said he wants evaluations to go to Yeiter for an overall report, but also to be given to Haworth so that he can see each evaluation.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

'Tis The Season

Charities in the Warsaw area are reporting requests up and donations down this year as they head into the holidays, their most demanding season. "This summer the financial and food contributions hit rock bottom," said Marty Courtney, director of Combined Community Services. Because of recent community efforts to collect canned goods, she said, the CCS pantry is full but financial donations are still down. One of the hardest hit is The Salvation Army, which is reassessing its collection efforts in an attempt to adjust to changing needs and trends. Ken Locke, community ministries director for The Salvation Army, said the organization is becoming more creative in accepting donations. "We're re-evaluating how we do things," he said."We're more willing to take perishable items now, or to encourage in-kind gifts." "We also get a lot of requests for medications - a lot of people are not on medical benefits and they have a problem with prescriptions," he said.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Fair Board Honors De Good, Elects New Members, Studies '02 Fair

Caylyne De Good was honored by the county fair board members Monday for winning the Indiana State Festivals Association Scholarship Pageant.She is this year's Kosciusko County Community Fair Queen. Thanking the board for its sponsorship, she said, "I look forward to attending fairs and festivals around the state and representing the county.It will be a great experience." She was presented with a cut glass candleholder in recognition of her state-level title, won Nov.9 in French Lick. The Kosciusko County 4-H & Community Fair Inc.'s annual meeting was held in the fairground's Home and Family Arts Building.Three board members were elected by associate members: Roy Bradbury, who retained his seat, Randy Shepherd and Trishell Marshall.They will serve five-year terms.Other candidates on the ballot were Paula Kaiser and Nathan Rhoades.Tom Groninger was nominated from the floor.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Gets Two New School Board Members

Two new Warsaw school board members will take office in January, while two others will continue on the board. Ron Yeiter, District 1, and Gene England, District 7, are the new members of the board.Cathy Folk, District 2, and Larry Chamberlain, District 5, are incumbents who were re-elected. Yeiter, who became a familiar face at board meetings over the past year, said he campaigned by meeting with PTOs and Lions Clubs and by going door-to-door in his district. He defeated George Klinger and Candace Townsend for the school board seat currently held by Brad Brail, who did not run for re-election. He said his priority is Warsaw Community Schools' financial status.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Whitko Passes Resolutions To Shore Up Finances

SOUTH WHITLEY - To keep the schools going financially, the Whitko Community School Corp.Board of School Trustees approved two resolutions Monday. The first resolution allows the school corporation to roll over their tax anticipation warrants at the end of the year if the school corporation doesn't receive all their tax dollars. The second resolution, which is approved annually, allows the school corporation to borrow money next year for cash flow purposes until the school corporation receives its tax draws. According to director of finance Dr.Phil Menzie, as of Oct.31, the school corporation, in the general fund, collected 28.10 percent of the local property tax; 99.76 percent of the 2003 local property tax; 49.76 percent of the 2004 financial institutions tax; and 60.02 percent of the license excise tax.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Syracuse Officials Host Open House For Information On Community Center

SYRACUSE -ÊSyracuse's Community Center is moving along. Wednesday, the park department and board held an open house at the town hall to give the community an informal presentation on how the center is progressing. Michael Hixenbaugh, Syracuse park superintendent, said, "The benefits of a community center are individual, community and economical." Individually, residents can improve their health and wellness and have alternatives to destructive behavior, Hixenbaugh said.For the community, the center will reduce alienation, enhance community spirit, encourage family togetherness, promote cultural diversity and heritage and possibly reduce crime. Economically, Hixenbaugh said, a center will attract businesses, promote a healthy and active work force, attract tourism and enhance property values.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Orthopedics Highlighted In Future State Museum

Warsaw's reputation as the 'Orthopedic Capital Of The World' is better known outside of Indiana, but that could likely end if a new state museum has anything to do with it. One of the permanent exhibits that will be featured in the proposed $90 million state museum in Indianapolis will highlight the history of industry in Indiana, including the emergence of orthopedics, which dates back to Warsaw in 1895. Two of the chief organizers of the future museum have direct ties to the city. Dale Ogden, curator of history with the Indiana State Museum, and Ron Newlin, interim director of the Indiana State Museum Society, grew up in Warsaw and visited the city Friday to promote the new exhibit. Ogden and Newlin met with orthopedic executives from Zimmer, DePuy and Biomet at the Ramada to promote the company's future donations to the museum. "This is such a great opportunity to showcase our community," said Brad Bishop, a representative of Zimmer.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Fall Property Taxes Can Be Paid Online

Fall property tax payments just got a little easier.Instead of mailing payments or dropping them off at a local bank or at the county treasurer's office, payments can be made on the Internet over a secure connection or by calling a toll-free number. Fall tax payments are due Nov.13. The Internet address is www.kosciuskotax.net and it is available Monday. The toll-free number is 800-809-5849.It will be operational Monday, too. "You will need your credit card, a billing address for that card and an e-mail address for a receipt," said Bill Maegerlein of CertifiedIT, a Bloomington-based company. Once at the site taxpayers can search by name, parcel number, duplicate numbers or by address for taxes due.When the next page appears the user clicks on his or her property, reviews taxes due and makes a payment with visa, masterCard, American Express, Discover credit cards or with a debit card.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Pike Lake Pointe Celebrates Grand Opening Tuesday

Pike Lake Pointe Apartments, sponsored by Cardinal Center Inc., celebrated their grand opening Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce "Business After Hours."Jane Greene, president of Cardinal Center, said, "We're proud of our facilities and we intend to be good neighbors.
M.J. RHODES, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Syracuse Officials Prepare For Upcoming Elections

SYRACUSE -ÊThree Syracuse town council seats are up for election, but the incumbents face no opposition. However, the clerk-treasurer position is contested. Republican Bill Hane, 66, is in his second year as the District Five councilman.Now retired, Hane previously was on the Millersburg council for four years.He is a 20-year resident of Syracuse. Hane said Wednesday he is in favor of a community center, in favor of the senior citizens having their own facilities and in favor of the Scout Cabin. Other important issues for Syracuse over the next couple of years, he said, are the completion of the Ind.13 improvement project and new water wells for Syracuse."Those are the two main issues," he said. Barbara Carwile, District Four, Republican, also said the Ind.13 project is important for Syracuse.The Ind.13 project in Syracuse runs from just north of the railroad tracks to Chicago Street.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Demos Gather For Annual 'Fame' Dinner

The movers and shakers of the Kosciusko County Democrats gathered Saturday evening at the Shrine Building to honor the newest inductees to their Hall of Fame. This year's honorees were long-time party activists Claud Stahl, Isabelle Smith, Jane and Bob Eherenman and Vernon and Marcella Meredith. Cindy Knepper, executive director of the Kosciusko County Boys and Girls Club, was presented with the Distinguished Hoosier Award, bestowed upon her by Gov.Frank O'Bannon. "We tried to get Cindy a Sagamore of the Wabash, but the governor said she wasn't old enough," said county party chairman Steve Haines."So we'll just have to try again in 20 or 30 years." Knepper said that without her staff, board of directors, friends and family, she wouldn't have received the honor.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Ruppel Touts Local Use Of State Funds

SIDNEY - The Sidney-Jackson Volunteer Fire Department will be able to buy a new fire truck next year after receiving a grant from the state. According to Rep.Bill Ruppel, R-North Manchester, the township is slated to receive $125,000 for a pumper tanker truck. "This pumper truck will be a wonderful benefit to this community," Ruppel said."I have served as a volunteer firefighter, and I know how important it is for the state to provide help in funding projects such as this." Ruppel also acknowledged the efforts of Jackson Township Trustee Donald Slater in securing the grants for the fire truck.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016
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