Relevance Date

U.S. Rep. Roemer To Retire After Current Term

SOUTH BEND - U.S.Rep.Tim Roemer announced plans to retire today, although he will remain active in his final 24 months of office. The congressman, 44, said he will remain an active legislator while finishing his sixth term. U.S.representatives serve two-year terms and Roemer's ends January 2003. "It has been a great honor and privilege to represent Indiana's Third District in Congress," he said."With four young children at home (under the age of 7), however, it is time to put my family first and step back from public life. "I can't begin to express how grateful I am to the residents of this district for giving me the honor of serving in Congress." Roemer and his wife, Sally, maintain homes in the South Bend area and in Washington, D.C.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

WCHS Students Take Trip To France

Studying a foreign language recently became more than a classroom exercise for 15 Warsaw Community High School students. For 12 days, starting with Dec.26, the WCHS French students of teachers David Chastain and Janet Kirkpatrick visited Paris and stayed with host families in Vende, a small town in western France. According to two of the students, Stephanie Durbin, 17, and Ryan Brennan, 17, their brief immersion in the French language and culture was an experience they'll long treasure. "I learned more about another culture and about another type of people in this world.It more than ever solidified my belief in diversity," Durbin said."There's just a feeling when you're over there that just touches your heart, that's really loving and beautiful." The trip began with a three-day stop in Paris, where the students visited the traditional tourist haunts - the Louvre, Sacr Coeur, Notre Dame, Arc de Triomphe, Napoleon's Tomb and Versailles.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Former Trooper Waggoner Runs For Prosecutor

Charles R.Waggoner has announced he will join the race for Kosciusko County prosecutor. Waggoner, a Warsaw attorney and former Indiana State Police lieutenant, announced his candidacy Monday at a meeting in his home. "Experience in a police uniform has taught me how important it is for the entire law enforcement community to work as a team," Waggoner said in a press release."I believe the prosecutor of our county should be a part of the team.I believe that the police officers in our county must trust the prosecutor enough to want to work with the prosecutor.Law enforcement teamwork will result in a safer Kosciusko County." Waggoner also said his experience as a state trooper gave him not only head knowledge of the criminal justice system but heart knowledge. Waggoner's platform is based on his 20 years with the Indiana State Police and his belief in "cooperation" between law enforcement officers and the prosecutor.
TIFFANY SHAW, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Zoners Say Hunting Preserve Fits Ag Designation

The Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals ruled today that a hunting preserve on County Road 150S near Pierceton fits within the guidelines for agricultural use of land. The board said that by the time local regulations were decided and set in place, there would probably be regulations at the state level or through the Indiana Department of Natural Resources that would regulate hunting preserves. After hearing from lawyers on both sides as well as members of the community, the board agreed unanimously that the land fits within the required uses for those zoned for agricultural use. Remonstrators represented by attorney Stephen Snyder, of Syracuse, wanted the area zoned commercial because they believe the hunting preserve is an example of commercial recreation.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Milford Studies Fiscal Plan, Ordinance For Annexation

MILFORD -ÊWorking toward the eventual annexation of five parcels of property into the town of Milford, town attorney Jay Rigdon presented the council Monday with drafts of a fiscal plan and ordinance. While minor details need to be filled in on the fiscal plan, Rigdon said the fiscal plan and ordinance need to be prepared as the first steps of the annexation.The fiscal plan states what services the town currently offers to its residents, when the new residents in the annexation area will get the services and what expenses will be involved in providing those services. The fiscal plan will have to be adopted at the same time the ordinance for the annexation is presented.A hearing would then be held at least 60 days after the ordinance is presented.After the hearing, the council can give their final approval of the ordinance at least 30 days but no more than 60 days afterward. Remonstrators then would have 90 days, Rigdon said.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Milford Sewage Project Prompts Rate Hike

milford - Town officials are on the verge of adopting a proposal to revamp the sewage treatment facility within three years. The project would cost about $900,000 and a phased-in sewer rate increase might begin this year and would eventually double from the current level. Town council heard a recommendation Thursday from an engineer proposing the current lagoon system be expanded.The proposal would require adding about three or four more acres to the 10-acre tract where the town operates its lagoon system near CR 1250N. The minimum sewer rate for a residence is about $6 a month.Although the doubling of sewer rates within three years might be startling for some, other communities charge upward of three or four times as much, according to utility superintendent Dallas Winchester.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Tippy Valley Sees End To Construction

BURKET - Construction is winding down at Tippecanoe Valley High School. The building project at Tippecanoe Valley High School that began in 2004 is scheduled to be completed by Jan.31. The builders are putting the finishing touches on paint throughout the addition, finishing lights and curtains in the stage area, and completing three final rooms in the rebuilding project.Concrete work on the front of the building will be finished in the spring when the weather is more conducive to concrete work. Lights, however, continue to cause concerns for members of the school board.The light fixtures in some classrooms cause scalloped shadows in parts of the rooms, including the perimeter and on some white boards.The contractor says the scalloped shadows are a characteristic of the fixtures chosen.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Crooks Guilty On All Counts

"Lois got justice," Vicki Dittman said after Kristina Crooks was found guilty of all three counts of neglect and reckless homicide. Crooks, 20, was charged in the Jan.24, 1996, death of her 11-month-old daughter Lois Marie Ozenbaugh.The baby died after choking on her own vomit.An autopsy found six cigarette butts in the baby's stomach and Valium in her blood. When Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Rex Reed read the first guilty verdict, Crooks closed her eyes and began to cry.As he read the next two guilty verdicts, her head sank lower and her sobbing became louder.While the judge read his final words, Crooks continued to cry. She was released on her current bond and ordered to appear for sentencing on Feb.10 at 1:30 p.m. Crooks faces a maximum 20-year prison sentence for the three convictions of neglect, a Class D felony; neglect causing serious bodily injury, resulting in death, Class B felony; and reckless homicide, Class C felony.
TIFFANY SHAW, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Mentone Deputy Resigns

MENTONE - Frank Banghart, Mentone Police Department deputy, has resigned effective Jan.30 for personal reasons. Town marshal Jim Eads told the Mentone Town Council Monday that Banghart is not leaving because of last week's shooting.Banghart's decision was made prior to that incident. Mentone Town Marshal Jim Eads shot Danny L.Hale, 51, of Mentone, while responding to a call Wednesday night in Mentone. Hale reportedly was leaving the scene of a domestic disturbance when he refused to obey Eads' commands and then pointed a shotgun at the officer. Eads has been placed on administrative leave while the incident is investigated by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department.The information gathered in the investigation is expected to be forwarded to the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office for review by the end of this week. Hale was upgraded to fair condition over the weekend at Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Sheriff's Dept. Realigned

There's a new sheriff in town. With new sheriff William "Rocky" Goshert at the helm, some changes have been made in the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department as well. Those changes became official Monday as Goshert stepped into the office of sheriff.Goshert was sworn in Wednesday afternoon in the old courtroom on the third floor of the county courthouse. Former sheriff C.Aaron Rovenstine was appointed chief deputy, with the rank of captain. Lt.David Curtis and Lt.Steve Knispel both were assigned to the road patrol division of the department. Kosciusko County's new Administrative Sergeant and public information officer is Sgt.Chad Hill. Sgt.Floyd Knafel is the new work release center director, and Jim Springer was assigned to the transportation and civil process section of the sheriff's department.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Student Councils Trend More Toward Community Service

As Warsaw Community High School student council adviser Jim LeMasters arrives to his classroom Jan.14 a little before 7 a.m., council members are sitting outside his door, waiting for the meeting to begin. They filter in, some a little late due to a train on the tracks.Already, some of the students are discussing council issues among themselves, or the school day ahead. Some students are raring to go, eager to begin the meeting and the day.Others are still trying to wake up, shaking off the want of sleep. Roll call begins at 7:05 a.m. Minutes are read, no changes are made.The treasurer's report is given.Student body president Erika Wilson then asks for reports from the standing committees - Climate Control, Faculty Relations, Service, Student Recognition and Entertainment.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Syracuse Sets Community Center Groundbreaking

SYRACUSE - Excavation is set to begin March 5 for the new Syracuse Community Center, to be built adjacent to Lakeside Park. After reviewing plans for nearly an hour, the Syracuse Park Board approved final plans with minor revisions at its meeting Monday in Town Hall.Bids will be opened Feb.12, and a special board meeting to approve construction contracts is set for Feb.19. All systems are go if the additional $200,000 needed to complete the proposed construction budget can be raised.Although donations continue to flow in, a deficit looms. "We need $200,000 to reach our critical amount," parks director Mike Hixenbaugh told the board. The 16,350-square-foot multipurpose facility will have a full-size gymnasium, meeting rooms and a large room suitable for receptions and parties, as well as an area designed for use by seniors.It also will house the Syracuse-Turkey Creek Township Museum.
VIRGINIA NIZAMOFF SURSO, Times-Union Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

WCS Board Covers Wide Range Of Topics

During its three-hour session Monday, the Warsaw School Board touched on everything from change orders to English as a Second Language students. Wendy Wildman-Long, Warsaw's ESL director, said Warsaw Community Schools has 835 ESL students.In 1994, WCS had 30 ESL students.Of the 835 students, 94 percent speak Spanish.The remaining 6 percent encompass 21 other languages, including Khmer (1.2 percent), Russian (0.4 percent), Sango (0.4 percent), Tagalog (0.4 percent), Telugu (0.4 percent), French (0.4 percent) and Kannada (0.5 percent), among others. "Each year we grow by 100 new students," said Wildman-Long. The most ESL students are at the high school, 158.Other Warsaw Schools with more than 100 ESL students include Leesburg (126), Madison (111) and Harrison (110).The schools with the least amount of ESL students are Edgewood Middle School with 28 and Eisenhower Elementary with 29.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Silver Lake School May Stay Open After All

Silver Lake residents may be able to keep their elementary school open - but they may have to keep it as it is, with no major renovations. That was one of the suggestions the Warsaw school board will consider in the next two months as part of their proposed building project.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Advocates Offer Help To Victims Of Violence

Sometimes a kind word or a helping hand can make all the difference in the world. For Kosciusko County victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, that helping hand is most often extended by the members of the county's Domestic Violence Task Force who are known as victim's advocates. The advocates volunteer their time to be "on call" in three eight-hour shifts per day, said Joanna Beatson, the victim's advocate coordinator for the Victim Service Center. Currently, the VSC has approximately 10 to 12 advocates, but the ideal number, Beatson said, is 15 to 20. Advocates carry beepers furnished by the VSC and someone is available 24 hours per day, she said. Current volunteer advocates, all women, come from all walks of life and all age groups, Beatson said, and go through an intensive training process before they can assist victims.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

County Hopes To Learn More About TIF

Kosciusko County officials will push ahead in hopes of learning more about tax increment financing before an approaching deadline. The tax district, which has been established in recent years in Warsaw and Milford, is being sought by Maple Leaf Farms to pay for road improvements adjacent to the duck producer's plant near Milford. Maple Leaf, which began major expansion plans last year, hopes to capture some of the tax revenues from improvements completed last year.To do so, the tax district must be established by March 1. A sense of urgency arrived last night with snowy conditions when some members of county commissioners and county council met at the courthouse with representatives of Maple Leaf and Kosciusko Development Inc. Two attorneys who were to explain details of TIF to county officials were unable to attend the meeting because of poor road conditions after several inches of snow fell Monday afternoon.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Zimmer Shows Gains In Sales

Zimmer Holdings Inc.Monday reported net sales and earnings for the fourth quarter and year ending Dec.31. For the fourth quarter, the company reported net sales of $801 million and diluted earnings per share of $0.81 and $0.71 adjusted.Full year net sales were $2.98 billion and diluted earnings per share were $2.19 reported and $2.41 adjusted.The company's fourth quarter sales and diluted earnings per share results adjusted exceeded the high end of the company's guidance and First Call estimates of $783 million and $0.64 respectively.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Valley Looks At 'Peers Educating Peers' Program

MENTONE - Student liaison board member for Tippecanoe Valley School Corp., Gail Rathbun, junior student government member, presented a new program proposal to board members Monday. Rathbun's first meeting with the school board was Sept.11. The program Rathbun proposed is "Peers Educating Peers."She previously approached the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Local Advisory Committee of the TV School Corp.with the idea of instituting the "Peers Educating Peers" abstinence education program in grades six through eight at Tippecanoe Valley Middle School.The program would use peer mentors from TVHS. Rathbun gained support from the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Local Advisory Committee, with her next step occurring Monday.She presented the program, along with help from Brett Boggs, Akron elementary school principal and chairman of the Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Local Advisory Committee.
LAURA SLOOP, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Commissioners Help In Sewer Grant Request

Kosciusko County Commissioners once again agreed to cooperate in Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District's efforts to get grant money for improvements for Enchanted Hills. The subdivision, which includes about 200 homes, needs major improvements to its sewer system, and the costs, if paid by customers only, would result in sewer bills being hiked three or four times the current $15 monthly rate. Therefore, the district is pursuing state support through grant money from the Indiana Department of Commerce, said Dick Green, a Syracuse attorney representing the district. Green said they believe they have a better chance of receiving grant money than in the past. Deadline for application is Feb.7, and a public hearing on the matter is set for Feb.4.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Next Stage Of Greenway In The Works

Another stage of the Lake City Greenway project will soon begin after Warsaw's Board of Works approved an agreement Friday with the Indiana Department of Transportation to allow construction near the Chinworth Bridge. Mayor Ernie Wiggins publicly thanked the Kosciusko County Historical Society for their efforts in obtaining $20,000 in funds to be used for Greenway costs. "The Society has been a generous partner and has created some great opportunities for the Lake City Greenway project," Wiggins said."It's not just the city involved in this, many partners have worked together." Neal Carlson, president of the Society, said the project was a community venture good for many local organizations.Work on the Chinworth Bridge, which the society couldn't complete on its own, will improve an area listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Greenway Project first began in 1999 with a majority of its trails still awaiting approval for construction.
Joe Kirkendall, Times-Union staff writer- | July 28, 2016
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