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Milford Wastewater Bids Above Expectations

MILFORD - Bids for Milford's wastewater treatment plant came in higher than the engineering firm of Jones & Henry expected. Monday, Brian Houghton, of Jones & Henry, said there were five contractors who bid.The lowest bidder was Thieneman Construction at $2,012,000.The engineer's estimate for the project was $1.75 million. During the past three weeks since the bid opening, Houghton said, he's been talking to the contractors, subcontractors and suppliers to find out why all the bids were more than the engineer's estimate. The reasons, he said, were because there were four projects for the contractors to bid on at the same time and Milford's was the last and smallest.A couple of possible bidders didn't bid.At the last minute, there was some confusion about the project.And most of the equipment for the project was not competitively bidded on.The project contractors were able to get one price from one supplier.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Syracuse To Seek Focus Funds For Community Center

SYRACUSE -ÊOne step closer. Tuesday, at a public hearing, Syracuse Town Council voted to commence the application procedure for Community Focus Funds for the community center.The funds, if awarded, will go towards the senior citizens' portion of the building. The community center building will be a total of 25,000 square feet, with an approximate total cost of $2.3 million.Lakeland Youth Center would use approximately 48 percent of the total building. In other business, the council approved the application procedure for a change in health insurance from John Alden to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield.Chris Cotton, the town's insurance representative, said the change can save the town as much as $2,000 per month. Once it gets to the insurance underwriting, if the insurance will be more than their current provider, the council can decide not to change insurance.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

WCS Board Seeks To Be More Open, Accountable To Public

Making the board more open and accountable to the public appeared to be one of the goals of the Warsaw School Board at its meeting Monday. New member Dan Robinson, who served on the board for eight years previously, proposed allowing time for public input before the board votes on agenda items. Public input is allowed early in the monthly meeting and near the end.Additional time for members of the public to speak has traditionally been at the discretion of the board president. "It shouldn't be up to the board president, it should be board policy," Robinson said. "This is a board meeting, not a town hall," said board member Mark Minatel, who is leaving the board at the February meeting. "We have never refused people the chance to speak," said Cathy Folk, board member. President Ron Yeiter said he would make it a point to include public comment at meetings, and the board agreed to leave it at the president's discretion.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Resident Seeks Update On Deer Task Force

Warsaw resident Bill Dalton asked Warsaw's Common Council Tuesday for an update on the activities of the deer task force. Dalton expressed concerns that the construction of the new Bowen Center north of the hospital would destroy habitat already scarce for deer in the area. Members of the task force, which include Joe Thallemer, Bob Morrison and Jeff Grose, are scheduled to meet Monday to review various options suggested by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and other professional organizations. Thallemer responded to Dalton's inquiry by stating the task force is still in the process of collecting information and cooperating with the DNR to understand all possible solutions.
Joe Kirkendall, Times-Union staff writer- | July 28, 2016

WCDC Looks At Upcoming Events

More than 15 members of the Warsaw Community Development Corp.met Tuesday to discuss upcoming events and the current financial status of the organization. Jay Baumgartner, WCDC representative from the Bowen Center, analyzed net income for each organizational branch, and reported a large increase in funds collected from the Biblical Gardens in 2005 compared to previous years. Baumgartner called 2005 a "good year" financially but urged the organization to find ways of increasing revenues for WCDC operations. Heeding Baumgartner's advice, Director Carmen Lock said she was currently collecting dues from all businesses involved in WCDC, which would generate income for its operating account. Though membership was currently up, Lock said the finalized list of participants had yet to be determined for the year.
Joe Kirkendall, Times-Union staff writer- | July 28, 2016

Republican Chairman Won't Seek Re-Election

Kosciusko County Republican Party Chairman Mike Gavin said he will not seek re-election for the post. "I just want to do some other things," said Gavin Monday afternoon. Instead, Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine has agreed to seek the party chairmanship. Gavin has been his party's chairman for four years.He said he has accomplished all the things he wanted to see done, including establishing the Young Republicans, getting the party on sound financial footing, purchasing computer equipment and having the party's Web site at www.koscogop.com up and running. "I'm leaving it in good shape," Gavin said. He also has increased the number of Republicans in office in the county compared to when he became chairman.Gavin said he will stay involved in the party. The caucus to elect a new party chairman has yet to be called, but will be March 5.Gavin's term ends the same day.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Rovenstine To Seek 2nd Term As Sheriff

C.Aaron Rovenstine, 42, is seeking re-election to the office of Kosciusko County Sheriff. Elected to his first term in 1998, the 42-year-old Republican looked back on accomplishments of the last three years and forward to the future, which will include operating a new 325-bed county jail. "We've established a record of what I feel are very positive accomplishments and we're prepared to continue in that tradition," Rovenstine said. The word "we" appears often in his speech, and his list of triumphs are also those of the 70 full-time employees who serve the sheriff's department and jail system. He initiated the first disability policy for injured officers and worked with the Kosciusko County council to increase deputies' salaries by 17 percent. Through grant applications, computers will be installed in patrol cars. The addition of school resource officers at Wawasee and Tippecanoe Valley high schools he also sees as a positive improvement.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Miller, Light Honored By Warsaw Chamber

WRSW general manager Patrick Brown made the presentations. The yearly meeting allows the chamber to recognize industries, businesses and individuals for their contributions to the county, the country and, in some cases, the world. Norm and Dorothy Snyder, owners of The Party Shop, Warsaw, were presented the Dimensions of Excellence Business Award by Charlie Smith of Lake City Bank.Accompanying the Snyders were David Hamrick and Cornell Vlot. Kaleidoscope Interiors and Courthouse Coffee's surprised owners, Dave and Paula Bowman, were given the Entrepreneur Award by Shawn Patterson of Farmers State Bank. Cecil and Doris Paulus, North Webster, were given the Small Industry Award for their business, Paulus Plastics, by Dennis Beville of National City Bank. The Large Industry Award was accepted by Gary Young, vice president of finance of Da-Lite Screen, based in Warsaw.Andy Lewis of Key Bank presented the award.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Lake City Branches Out Into Larger Markets

Lake City Bank is spreading its wings beyond the small towns of north-central Indiana. The locally-owned Warsaw bank, which has been in a pronounced growth mode for more than two years, plans to open branch offices in outlying parts of Fort Wayne and South Bend in the coming months. The 126-year-old bank first moved beyond Kosciusko County in 1984, adding its 11th office in Roann.The bank now has 42 offices, including 16 added in the past two years. But the crowning accomplishment in the recent growth is likely the bank's new headquarters for its trust department and offices on Market Street in Warsaw.The bank already has three downtown locations used primarily for office space, but needed a fourth.They chose the old Kline's building across from the Times-Union and spent much of the last year renovating the 23,000-square-foot building that includes a large lower level.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

House Board OKs 2007 Rates

Fair market rent rates will increase by 5 percent beginning Sunday for Warsaw Housing Authority residents. The WHA Board of Commissioners approved the increased rates at its meeting Thursday night. The board voted at its Aug.28 meeting in support of the increase and a second vote was needed and approved during Thursday's meeting. The vote raised the fair-market rent rates from Housing of Urban Development's proposed 100 percent to 105 percent. The new rate will begin Sunday and be effective until Sept.30, 2007. "The increased rate will allow families to find housing more easily as the cost of utilities and sewer rates rises," said HOW Executive Director Pam Kennedy. Market rates for 2006 included $447 for a one-bedroom, $528 for a two-bedroom, $672 for a three-bedroom and $782 for a four-bedroom. The 2007 fair market rent and estimated utilities include $483 for a one-bedroom, $635 for a two-bedroom, $809 for a three-bedroom and $941 for a four-bedroom.
JENNIFER PERYAM, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Symphony Board Called 'Heart Of Orchestra'

WINONA LAKE - The newly renamed Symphony of the Lakes will debut Sunday with what Director Patrick Kavanaugh calls, "Something for everyone.It might have been called 'From Beethoven to the Beatles.'" In February, Rebecca Kubacki and Cathy Teghtmeyer brought together a group of potential board members to discuss the future of the Warsaw Symphony.
M.J. RHODES, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Police Urge School Bus Safety

You're running late, you have only seven minutes to make it to work, and it's just your luck to get behind a school bus on a busy country road. After the third stop, you can't stand it anymore, and the next time the coast is clear, even though the bus's stop arm is out, you zoom around the bus.After all, who's to know? School has been in session for a month now, and, according to Della Swain, transportation director for Warsaw Community Schools, improper passing of school buses is common. "It happens almost daily," she said. Usually cars pass buses in the left lane of the street or road.But recently one bus driver reported a car passing on the right side while students were leaving the bus. "Had the driver not been paying attention, a child would have stepped off the bus right into the path of that car," Swain said.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Reporter becomes part of story

Rappel down a four-story building? Me? Yeah, I did it Sunday when Dynamik Adventures came to town. And now I'd do it again in a heartbeat.It's exciting, fun and scary at first.But once you've done it a few times, it's not that big a deal.I rappelled down the building at 122 S.Buffalo St., Warsaw, about five or six times.I ascended it only one time as it is very tiring. I participated in the full class Eric Bishop and Brant Upchurch, partners of Dynamik Adventures, Lafayette, offered, along with Jason Slone (no relation), Mike Thurston, Staci Trolin and Phillip Swarts.Dynamik Adventures came to Warsaw after former Warsaw City Planner Jeff Noffsinger took one of their classes in Attica and thought it would be great to bring them to town.The building used is co-owned by Noffsinger.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Flood Insurance Costs Falling

Homeowners in parts of Kosciusko County with flood insurance can expect to see one, possibly two reductions in their premiums. As a result of work by the Kosciusko County Area Plan office, premiums for flood insurance will be reduced by 5 percent. And more work by the office could possibly result in a total 10 percent reduction. Assistant plan director Tanya Ford said the reduction comes after a series of steps, most of which are oriented toward helping landowners understand and cope with existing flood zone regulations. For example, information about flood maps is available at five area libraries.And the plan office is offering advice on building in flood plane zones.The office is also doing a better job of tracking elevation certificates required in flood plane zones, Ford said. The plan office prepared data that was forwarded to Insurance Services Inc., a private firm that makes recommendations to the federal flood insurance program.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Local Demos Honored With Hall Of Fame Awards

SYRACUSE - Hall of Fame awards were presented to Jo Dierkes of Sidney and Joe Banks of Warsaw during the Kosciusko County Democratic party's dinner and awards ceremony held at South Shore Golf Club Saturday. Dan and Mary Damron were named the H.Dale Tucker Democrats of the Year. Dennis Troop, the Democrat Party's Third District Chairman, was introduced by county chairman Steve Haines. Troop, from Whitley County, said there is new enthusiasm for this election, in which Social Security, prescription drugs and unemployment are issues. "When it comes to patriotism, the Republicans, they're the only ones who love America," he said."That just isn't so." He advised candidates to meet people confident that things are going well for Democrats this fall. Candidate for state treasurer, Day Smith, of Columbia City, said she learned the value of a dollar as a single mother living on a tiny budget.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

County Approves Bid For Bridge Replacement

To be fair to the bidders, the Kosciusko County Commissioners Tuesday approved the second lowest bid for the bridge 267 replacement project. The bridge is on the east side of Lake Wawasee near Enchanted Hills. The bids were opened by the commissioners at their last meeting.Bids included: Beer & Slabaugh, $246,681.50; Pioneer Associates, $272,471.69; and R.L.McCoy Inc., $259,598.40. Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson said the engineer's estimate for the project was $234,000. Though Beer & Slabaugh had the lowest bid, Ladson said, the company couldn't start the bridge replacement until mid-May.McCoy, the second lowest bidder, could start right away.A third option, Ladson offered, was for all the bids to be withdrawn and ask for new bids in the spring. "Can the bridge wait until spring?" Ladson said."I think it can."But, he said, it would be up to the commissioners, and there would be less traffic in the fall.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Danek To Stay In Warsaw, Create 140 New Jobs

It's official, and it's good news for the local economy. Sofamor Danek, the orthopedic firm with operations in Winona Lake, will stay in Kosciusko County. The Warsaw City Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding Tuesday that will enable the company to construct a new 150,000-square-foot facility on a 25-acre site at the intersection of CR 150W and U.S.30. The estimated cost of the new facility represents a $20.2 million investment and will result in 140 additional jobs, adding $4.273 million per year in additional payroll.The expansion brings the total number of employees to approximately 390 by the time the new facility is completed in spring 2003.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Winona Asked To Stop Painting Curbs Yellow

WINONA LAKE - Street department personnel have been painting curbs yellow on the island to reinforce no-parking areas. Resident and Winona Restoration manager Brent Wilcoxson questioned this practice this morning, asking the town council if there was a particular plan for painting and if the plan could be shared.He also wondered about the cost justification and where painting curbs yellow fits on the town's priority list. "There have been about two illegal parking occurrences per year.There are weeds growing in gutters, catch basins that need cleaned out and streets to be swept to keep the catch basins clear," Wilcoxson said."You know we don't have problems with parking." Public works superintendent Pete O'Connell said everything on the island, 10 feet from the center of curves, at intersections and at alleys has been painted because there are problems on the island streets.He said fire trucks couldn't get through if vehicles were parked along the island curves.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw HS Freshman Takes State Golf Title

FRANKLIN -ÊWarsaw freshman Emily Johnson reached into her bag and stepped out on the practice putting green to take a few swings at the Legends of Indiana Golf Course Saturday. Thing was, Johnson had finished her 18-hole second round at the girls golf state finals nearly an hour earlier. All Johnson's hard work paid off later Saturday afternoon when she was crowned the Indiana state champion with her two-day total score of 148.She finished the two-day match four strokes ahead of North Decatur's Angela Gauck's 152.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Sports Editor- | July 28, 2016

Barbee Residents Hear From State Health Dept. Director

Health department director Bob Weaver answered questions from area residents regarding septic systems Monday during a Barbee Lakes Conservancy District meeting. "The health department supports the construction of a sewer wherever it's feasible within zoning regulations," Weaver said when asked specifically for the county department's policy. Although exact figures about the area weren't provided, Weaver said the department issues 800 sewer permits per year.Half of the permits are for repairs; half are for new homes. "You do a good job at repairing failed systems," he said."This does not mean they are the appropriate size.You want it treated properly as it soaks away into the ground.It takes a large area and you don't have a lot of room on most lake lots.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016
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