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Sheriff Rovenstine Serving On Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board

Kosciusko County Sheriff C.Aaron Rovenstine has added one more duty to his plate -Êmembership on the Indiana Law Enforcement Training Board. In September 2005, Governor Mitch Daniels appointed Rovenstine to the 17-member board that oversees police training as well as disciplinary matters at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Plainfield.The entire board, along with the advisory council, is selected by the governor. Rovenstine, who represents county sheriffs in counties with at least 50,000 population, will serve on the board until Dec.31, the end of his current term as Kosciusko County Sheriff. "I am honored to have been chosen for this board," Rovenstine said."It is an honor to be a part of it.A group of gifted and talented people comprise the board." Currently, one of the main duties of the board is to oversee training procedures for law enforcement officers throughout the state.This is the part of the job Rovenstine is looking forward to most.
TERESA SMITH Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Crooks Jury Hears Opening Statements

Prosecution and defense attorneys made their opening statements this morning in the trial of Kristina Crooks in Kosciusko Circuit Court. Their statements were in front of a jury of seven men and five women, which was chosen Monday after more than 5-1/2 hours of questioning.The jury pool consisted of 70 jurors, more than Kosciusko County prosecutor David Kolbe has ever called. Crooks is accused of reckless homicide in the Jan.24, 1997, death of her 11-month-old daughter, Lois Marie Ozenbaugh.Crooks is also accused of neglect of a dependent causing serious bodily injury resulting in death and neglect (prior to the child's death). Court documents show that Ozenbaugh died after vomiting and choking on her stomach contents.Cigarettes were found in the child's stomach during an autopsy, and toxicology reports revealed Valium in her bloodstream.
TIFFANY SHAW, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

WPD Adds 3 New Squad Cars To Fleet

Warsaw Police Department received permission Friday to purchase three 2004 Crown Victorias at a cost of $20,811 each, including equipment.The purchase through Rice Ford was approved by the Warsaw Board of Works. The board also: • Approved a taxicab permit application for Tye Lisenbee, doing business as ASAP Taxi, 222 W.Prairie St.Lisenbee operates one vehicle. • Approved a contract with Spectra Print for the production of the 2005 Warsaw Parks Activities Guide.The guide will be produced at no cost to the parks department if ad sales pay for its publication.The department also would receive a 7 percent commission for sales over and above the costs of printing and insert fees. • The WPD also received permission to continue the STOP and VOCA grants through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.The department also will apply for a "Cops Secure Our Schools" grant in the amount of $50,000.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Biomet Announces $9 Million Charge In Orthofix Case

Biomet Inc.announced Thursday it has recorded an additional pretax charge of $9 million and has restated its previously announced results of operations for the quarter that ended Nov.30, 1999, as a result of the final resolution of outstanding matters in the Orthofix litigation. Previously, Biomet reported a special charge of $55 million in its fiscal 1999 consolidated financial statements as a result of the June 30, 1999, decision by the U.S.Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.The decision eliminated all but $1 million of the punitive damage award but upheld the compensatory damages awarded to Orthofix by the trial court. The U.S.Supreme Court declined to review the Third Court's decision, leaving its damage award standing.The additional charge recorded in the second quarter reflects the final determination of the interest element of the judgment.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

WCS Dipping Into Cash Reserves

While some school systems in Indiana this year received less from the state than they expected, Warsaw Community Schools actually received more, the school board learned Monday. Warsaw schools received $90,000 more than anticipated, said business manager Rande Thorpe, but expenditures will still exceed revenue by $551,774.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Indiana Leads Nation In Mortgage Foreclosures

Indiana leads the nation in mortgage foreclosure and loan delinquency rates. The most recent data available, compiled by the Indiana Mortgage Banker's Association in 2002, shows Indiana's foreclosure rate is more than double the nation's. Nationwide, more than $8.9 trillion in mortgage loans are delinquent with a national foreclosure rate of 1.15 percent.In Indiana, foreclosures are twice the national average, with 2.38 percent of all mortgages foreclosed. Indiana has not historically been a state with high delinquency rates.According to a report prepared by the IMBA, throughout the 1990s, Indiana actually had a lower rate than the national average.Only in 2001 did Indiana begin to lead the nation in its foreclosure rate.
KRISTA PRIMROSE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Scouts Attend Warsaw City Council Meeting

It was like a jamboree in Warsaw council chambers Monday night as every public seat was filled with Boy Scouts, leaders and parents from Winona Lake Troop 715, headed by Dick McCleary. The Scouts earned their citizenship badges last night by attending the council meeting, McCleary explained. In the first order of business Mayor Ernie Wiggins named his appointments to various city boards.Councilmen Charlie Smith and Jerry Patterson accepted seats on the Warsaw Board of Works; councilmen Jeff Grose and Joe Thallemer will serve on the plan commission; Tom Heuer to the board of zoning appeals; Jay Rigdon to the aviation board; Bill Baldwin to the Parks Department Board; Bob Sandy to the cemetery board; and Dan Robinson to the Traffic Commission; and Axa Troncoso and Tom Lemon to the Warsaw Housing Authority.Mayoral appointments to the redevelopment commissioners remain the same: Neal Carlson, Jerry Kralis and Tammy Rockey.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Library Taking Part In Veterans History Project

Warsaw Community Public Library staff plans to participate in the Veterans History Project by conducting interview with area military veterans who served in overseas conflicts or with civilians who contributed to war efforts. According to a report given before the library board Monday by assistant librarian Joni Brookins, any veteran in the county is welcome to come in and reminisce. Sen.Richard Lugar's office is coordinating the recordings in Indiana, which will be preserved at the Library of Congress and in WCPL archives. Brookins said it may be possible to go to some veterans' homes if they cannot travel to the library.A committee regarding the project is to meet next week.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Milford, Hobbs Named In Suit

The town of Milford and town marshal David Hobbs have until Feb.20 to respond to a lawsuit accusing them of false imprisonment. The suit was filed by Ralph "Fred" Fisher as the result of his imprisonment on murder charges. In March 2002, a jury found Fisher not guilty of the Jan.15, 2001, murder of Kathy Vroman. Vroman's frozen body was found Jan.26, 2001, in a wooded area near Three Rivers, Mich.An autopsy showed she died of two gunshot wounds to the head. She allegedly was shot at Country Car Co., a Milford business owned by Jason Fisher, Ralph Fisher's son.At the time of the trial, police believed she was killed to hide a car-theft chain in which the younger Fisher and three others were allegedly involved.It also was reported that Vroman owed money to the elder Fisher. Police originally arrested Jason Fisher for the murder, but after nearly a year in jail, he testified that his father was the shooter, securing immunity for himself on the murder charge.
KRISTA PRIMROSE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Triton Proposes Building Program

BOURBON - More than 130 parents, students, teachers and other residents of the Triton school district attended a school board meeting Thursday to hear a proposal to upgrade the facilities at Triton Junior/Senior High School. The building was built in 1968 and school officials said updates are needed. The plan includes infrastructure upgrades with an estimated cost of $6,701,750; building additions costing $5,835,225; and renovations, $3,458,469; bringing the project total to $15,995,444. Triton schools superintendent Ted Chittum explained the process that was followed to develop the plan.From the summer of 2003 through November, an economic feasibility committee of six patrons from each township in the Triton district worked along-side the school board with engineers, architects and financial advisors giving input and gathering information for the project.
TIM ROBERTSON, Times-Union Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Skate Center Owner Asks City To Buy His Facility

Steve Haines joined the Warsaw Parks Department board Tuesday, following a swearing-in by Mayor Ernie Wiggins.Haines replaces Bob Richmond, who recently retired from the board. Joe Chester approached the board with information about East Lake Skate Center.Chester wrote the department last month advising the city the facility was for sale.He suggested it would make a good municipal asset. Chester said he is retiring and would like to see the rink remain as a skate center and banquet hall.He has operated the business since the 1970s and is asking $935,000 for the building, business and associated equipment and merchandise. Superintendent Jon Garber said the parks department simply does not have the money to buy the skate center. "If someone wanted to buy it for the city, that would be different," he said, "but the sale price exceeds our annual budget." The board reviewed three annual reports: financial, projects and programs and activities.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Syracuse Residents Give Views On Annexation

SYRACUSE - Syracuse has no formal plans for annexation at this time, town manager Jeff Noffsinger said at the Syracuse Town Council meeting Tuesday. And the residents of Fox Run, Country Cove and the surrounding area who were present at the meeting said they don't want to be annexed. Noffsinger said there is a proposed development near Fox Run and a public meeting was held on the matter previously.While the town has no plans of annexation, Noffsinger said, the town is working on a comprehensive plan that includes growth to the southwest of town. He explained the various types of annexation - voluntary versus forced - and the procedure that would be required for an annexation."The town hasn't taken any steps to do that at this point in time," said Noffsinger. There are provisions for appeal of the annexation should the town seek to annex an area.The town would not have to provide sewer and water to an annexed area immediately; they can delay it.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

County Seeks Federal Funds For Voting Machines

Originally, the cost for Kosciusko County to purchase new voting machines from MicroVote General Corp., Indianapolis, was $880,031. Seeking approval Thursday of three resolutions from the Kosciusko County Council to file for federal reimbursement to purchase new voting machines, county clerk Sharon Christner told the council they were able to get MicroVote to lower that cost to $755,819 to $772,819, depending on how much reimbursement the federal government provides.The cost will cover approximately 158 to 166 machines plus 55 Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant machines. The county council still had questions, but did approve the resolutions by a vote of 5 to 1, with Bob Sanders opposed.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Man, Woman Of The Year

Individuals and businesses were honored Wednesday at the annual banquet of the Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce. Judy Reneker, owner of Reneker's Sports Shop, was named Woman of the Year, and Bob Sanders, owner of Bodkin Abstract Co.Inc., was recognized as Man of the Year. Reneker was cited as the first woman leadership chairman of United Way in 38 years, raising $950,000.She also volunteers at the Boys' and Girls' Club, with the Mothers of Preschoolers Program at First Presbyterian Church, on the Winona Lake Redevelopment Commission and on the boards of Mason Health Care and Home Health Care/Hospice. "This is the most wonderful county, the most caring county that a person could live in," Reneker said when she accepted her award. Sanders was recognized for his work on the boards of Kosciusko Development Inc., the Warsaw Community Development Corp., the chamber and the Home Builders' Association.He also is a member of breakfast Optimists and Rotary.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Allebach To Run For Mayor Of Warsaw

Craig Allebach announced his intention yesterday to enter the Warsaw mayoral race, a position held by another member of the Republican Party, Ernie Wiggins. "I want to offer people a choice in leadership," Allebach said of his decision."There are things I'd like to see happen, but I'll rely on what people say they want." As a three-term member of Warsaw Community Schools board of trustees, serving as president the past five years; Winona Lake town coordinator; chief of Grace Campus' campus security; and a retired police officer, Allebach has a long history of working with the public.He cited two recent examples of how the public's input decided events: "When citizens said, 'Don't close Silver Lake Elementary School,' we didn't," he said of a WCS board decision last year. "And when they said, 'No sewers in South Town,' they didn't go in," he said referring to hearings before the Winona Lake town council.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Police Seek Help From Residents In Tracking Down Drug Dealers

Enough is enough. Police have long been tired of having to deal with drug dealers, but the general public may not think enough is being done to combat the drug problem. Well, the public is being enlisted to help the police in drawing the line and putting an end to drug dealing in their neighborhoods. In an attempt to reinvigorate the Kosciusko County Special Operations Team, Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine is promoting a program in which names, addresses and vehicle descriptions of people suspected of drug activity can be turned over to police.The information can be given anonymously, but those who do reveal their identity to authorities can have the security of confidentiality. "The public knows we've had some problems the last couple years," Rovenstine said of the drug task force.The unit was temporarily disbanded a couple years ago and is now back at full force, although Rovenstine would like to see additional manpower in the future.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Local Businesses Look To Internet For Growth

Every day the Internet grows by leaps and bounds, so it's no surprise that local businesses are posting sites to upscale their sales or make shopping easier for customers. Two area service providers are working hard to provide local businesses the services they need to use and maintain their web sites. "The services that we provide are very much geared toward business," said John Webster of KCOnline. KCOnline represents approximately 100 local businesses with Internet services that range from web sites to electronic mail only. More businesses are ready to take the plunge onto the 'net."Just in the last three or four months there have been another group of businesses that has said 'We need a presence on the Internet,'" Webster said.
ORA FREEMAN, Times-Union Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Leesburg Officials Unhappy With Plan

LEESBURG - The town facilities plan is nearly complete, but the Leesburg Town Council is not happy with the way things are turning out. Consultant Joe Tierney reviewed the status of the facilities plan with the council Monday, mentioning just a few loose ends that need to be tied up before the public hearing.But his request for an authorized signature for documents connected with the project brought a heated response from council president Bob Cleveland. "With one council member resigning and one opposed to the project, if Steve (Rodgers) doesn't sign the project comes to a halt," Cleveland said."I will not sign - I do not support it." The facilities plan is one of the steps needed to construct a proposed sewer treatment plant for the town. Council fears the high cost of the project would put too much of a burden on Leesburg residents.As it stands, residents will pay a $66 monthly sewer fee if the project is approved.
DEB McAULIFFE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Plank Makes Resignation 'Official' For City Council

Warsaw Mayor Jeff Plank officially notified the city council Monday of his intention to retire as mayor in March. The notice, read by council president Ernie Wiggins, was dated Jan.17 and ended with the statement: "It has been an honor to serve the people of the city of Warsaw." Plank publicly announced his decision Friday to take a job in the private sector.His written notice Monday was a formality. The council approved a contract with H.J.Umbaugh & Associates of Plymouth for a financial analysis of city sewer rates and fees.The analysis will help the city decide if sewer bills should be raised in anticipation of the city taking on new debt by extending sewer services to such areas as Shady Crest.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Local Volunteers Building Clinic In Guatemala

He's only been involved with Hands of Hope International for less than a year, but now Steve Petty is looking for a few good men to help build a medical clinic in Chiqua Dos, Guatemala.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016
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