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Milford Seeks Funds For Fence At Waubee

MILFORD - Instead of adding $15,000 to the Milford Park Department budget for a fence around Waubee Lake Park, the Milford town council decided Thursday to try to get the money elsewhere, if they decide to put up a fence. The park advisory board asked for the additional money for a fence to help raise money to maintain the park and for security reasons.Their 2002 budget, without the money for the fence, will be approximately $23,500. The council approved $2,590 for the purchase of six new tables for the park.For the five park advisory board members, a stipend totaling $2,500 for 2002 was approved. Clerk-treasurer Charlotte's Siegfried's salary was approved at $33,000, an increase of approximately $4,400.The council approved an increase of their own wages by $500 apiece. In anticipation of a not-yet-determined fire department purchase, $5,000 was added to the cumulative capital improvement fund.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Whitko Schools Hopeful About 2003 Budget

PIERCETON - Even with the state and national economy sagging, Whitko Community School Corp.'s 2003 budget should be fine, according to officials. Monday, at the school corporation's board of trustees 2003 budget review meeting, Superintendent Dr.William Worl said, "We believe with this budget, we're going to be OK.We'll just have to make good decisions." The proposed 2003 budget includes six funds, which are: general fund, $11,498,796; transportation fund, $788,139; capital projects fund, $1,289,525; bus replacement fund, $286,700; debt service fund, $1,797,177; preschool/special education fund, $27,225. The school board approved the proposed 2003 budget to be advertised as presented.The public hearing on the budget will be Aug.19 at the regular school board meeting, then it will be adopted Aug.29 at a special meeting.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Waste District Seeks Funds From Syracuse

SYRACUSE - Because the Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District board is requiring director Sue Studebaker to slash her budget by a third next year, Studebaker asked the Syracuse Town Council Tuesday for financial support. She said the county chose not to increase the tax levy for the district for "whatever reason" but now they see the need for more funding for the district.Even if they increase it next year for 2004, Studebaker said, they still won't receive those funds until the middle of 2004. That won't help the district in 2003. Because the district has to tighten its belt so much, one of its biggest expenses - the recycling center bins - will have to be cut.Six of the 12 may have to be eliminated.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw BZA Approves Variance For CCS Shelter

Combined Community Services received a use variance for transitional shelter in a C-3 zoned district Monday. Director of development Darlene Redinger appeared before the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals representing the charity. CCS plans to provide housing for homeless families in the former ExtendaCare Nursing Home, 2402 E.Center St., at the corner of Center and Argonne Road. The facility, owned by OHI (Indiana) Inc., was originally built for residential care. Redinger said homeless families would use the housing for a three- to six-month period and the program would not accept more than 45 adults and children at a time. She said extensive background checks would be conducted for each applicant: no active alcohol or drug users would be allowed.People seeking shelter from an abusive situation, people with a mental illness or people convicted or in the process of being investigated for any crime relating to sexual misconduct of children would not be accepted.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

County Wrestles With Unpredictable Funding

While Kosciusko County's expenses keep going up, its revenues keep dropping. And because of its financial situation, while the county will be able to continue to pay its employees next year, they may not get a raise. County auditor Sue Ann Mitchell said county employees did get a 2.5 percent raise this year, however, while employees in other counties did not. "The county just got to a point where the other counties were last year.We're not broke.We have the money to function," she said. Several large expenses have put the county into financial constraints.First, there's been a large increase in the county employees' health insurance - $600,000 more than last year.Secondly, the county received notice that it has to pay 5 percent toward each employee's Public Employees Retirement Fund instead of 4.25 percent. "That's another large increase," Mitchell said.The county employs almost 300 people.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

WCDC Wants To Move Into City Hall

John Elliott commented on his recent appearance before the Warsaw city council during the Warsaw Community Development Corp.meeting Thursday. He requested the annual $12,000 donation to the group and asked for office space in city hall. Currently the WCDC offices are housed in the Chamber of Commerce building and monthly rent is $500.Lease space from the city would be about half that amount. Elliott said it would aid in communication during implementation of the HyettPalma downtown action agenda, too. The members heard a report from executive director Carmen Lock regarding the City of Lakes Festival.Income generated included $4,250 from crafters, $1,400 from food vendors and more than $9,000 in donations, for a total of $15,050.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Solid Waste Board Considers Rebidding Services

A proposal to rebid recycling services for the Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District was tabled Tuesday during the board meeting. Jim Stafford of Stafford Waste Management requested the one-year option be exercised on his contract before a new contract is advertised. "There is still a one-year option with us and we can take glass if the money is correct," he said."We are a local company and every dime stays in this county." In January, three recycling stations in Warsaw and one each in Winona Lake, Etna Green and Claypool were removed due to budget cuts, leaving six stations active.Glass collection was ended at the beginning of the year, too. On Jan.13 the board signed a streamlined agreement with Stafford's Waste Management to continue operating the recycling stations and for materials handling at a cost of $107,004, a reduction from 2002's $151,200 contract.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

You'd Be Crazy To Miss 'Crazy For You'

To put on a high-energy show like George and Ira Gershwin's "Crazy For You," you need a cast that can meet and then exceed expectations. It's a play requiring a lot of singing - good singing.The play necessitates good acting, full of emotions, facial expressions and several different accents (Hungarian, New York, Western).And on top of that, "Crazy For You" has dancing, dancing and then more dancing. All of it can leave you breathless. Led by leads Mark Ledbetter and Lauren Robinson as Bobby Child and Polly Baker, respectively, the cast members of "Crazy For You," now at the Ramada Wagon Wheel Theatre through Aug.3, prove they can more than handle the task before them.You'll be impressed and wonder when the actors ever get time to just breathe.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Commissioners Approve Escrow, Funds Management Agreements

Bond funds management and escrow agent agreements with Fifth Third Bank for the Justice Building expansion project were approved by the Kosciusko County Commissioners Monday. Mike Miner, attorney for the commissioners, said, "The first one is basically, normally, an escrow agreement."He said he saw no downside to it."The other one, basically, what you're doing is entering an investment agreement with Fifth Third." Commissioner president Brad Jackson said an escrow agreement is an account where money is held; neither the county nor the Justice Building contractors, Weigand of Fort Wayne, can touch the fund until both sides meet their commitments.Jackson said it is not a situation that will cost the county money.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

PictureYes Draws Fans From Hours Away

Anyone who has been to a live PictureYes show knows why fans travel from as much as three hours away just to see them play.The band, made up of five twentysomething musicians, knows how to keep a crowd excited and coming back for more. "We have a good live show," said drummer Justin Escue."People like to come see us because we entertain them.We do what we can to make the show fun." With the current lineup of Aaron Corbett on lead vocals, Andy Flickinger (known to his friends as Flick) on lead guitar, Justin Sizemore on rhythm guitar, Brian Perla on bass guitar and Escue on drums, PictureYes is clicking on all cylinders. However, getting the lineup solidified didn't happen overnight.Corbett and Flickinger met in the fall of 1998, but they did not start making music together until nearly six months later.But when they finally got together, they started laying the groundwork for what would become PictureYes' first original songs.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Slabaugh Likes New Role As City Building Inspector

Todd Slabaugh didn't think he'd become the Warsaw building commissioner when he was hired as an inspector four months ago. When Art Heredia resigned this spring, however, Slabaugh nailed down the higher office and seems right at home. "I love it," he said of the job. Employed in the building industry most of his working life, Slabaugh's last job was with Schult Homes Corp., in Etna Green, as a quality control inspector.He spent six years as a private building inspector. "Here I thought my last job was the best job," he said of the position he took two months ago. The commissioner and Roger Long serve as building inspectors.He said the pair are making ends meet. As commissioner, he is responsible for inspecting new structures and improvement projects. Permits are required for improvements costing $1,500 or more, including material and labor.Inspectors may stop by during any phase of a project.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Webster Breaks Ground For New Subdivision

NORTH WEBSTER - Groundbreaking ceremonies were held Wednesday for the final phase of the Culver's Hill subdivision on the north side of North Webster. An additional 12 duplexes are under construction on the north side of the property and offer a hilltop view of the surrounding area. The new duplexes will be similar in style to the existing 20 units (10 buildings), completed in 1998.Some of the new homes will be available in October, with a final completion scheduled for March. Culver's Hill Senior Community on Panorama Drive is managed by the Housing Assistance Office Inc.in South Bend. The new units are available to senior citizens, age 55 and older, with no income restrictions. Applications are available at the North Webster Town Hall.A $300 refundable deposit is requested to assure placement and will be applied toward the security deposit at time of leasing.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

'New' Library Board Finishing Project

And as expansion of the existing library on Center Street nears completion, those new faces are smiling. Despite years of controversy and slow-developing plans, they are confident the public will be pleased with the future high-tech, 43,000-square-foot facility. "This will be a phenomenal center of community activity for learning and discovery," said board member Larry Chamberlin. Even though the board has seen four new members in the past two years (Chamberlin, Mark Morrison, David Feinstein and Ruth Jones), overseeing the $4.8 million project appears to be almost seamless in its transition. Much of the credit is directed to library director Ann Zydek, who sparked talk of expansion nearly a decade ago when her last name was Zoski. "She deserves an honorary hard hat.She's gone above and beyond the role of the typical library director," Chamberlin said.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

4-H Horse, Pony Club Is Year-Round Activity

Throughout the year, Kosciusko County 4-H Horse and Pony Club members and their families meet once a week at the county fairgrounds to perfect riding and halter skills, to bring horses together and to get them used to the grounds and stables. "It's open to the public, and people come here with their families and picnic baskets that night, just to see the horses," said Horse and Pony Club co-leader Charity Trump. "Only members and their parents ride those nights," said Randy Shepherd, the other half of the popular club's leadership.Shepherd also is a fair board member. The pair have headed the club for more than a decade, watching it grow from 34 members to more than 100 kids now. During these years, they've seen the quality of horses improve, added to the English style of riding and watched kids come and go through the program.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Times-Union Announces NIE Program

The Times-Union announces the beginning of a Newspaper In Education program in Kosciusko County. The program brings newspapers into local school classrooms at no charge. Basic literacy is a growing concern among educators in schools today. Previous NIE experience shows that students find the newspaper - a current and community-based learning tool - to be a welcome addition to their textbooks.Teachers are able to create lesson plans that deal with current events and hometown news. The program is funded through the financial good will of community businesses and individuals.We greatly appreciate our current sponsors, but help is still needed. For sponsorship information, or if you are interested in using the newspaper in your classroom, call Jeremy Westerfield at 267-3111, Ext.239.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

WCS Set To Advertise $46 Million 2002 Budget; 4% Above 2001

The budget process for Warsaw Community Schools began Monday, with the school board giving business manager Rande Thorpe permission to advertise the proposed $46.268 million budget. Thorpe described the six funds comprising the school corporation's budget.The general fund is the largest, 74 percent of the total, and includes teachers' salaries, benefits, school utilities and supplies.The general fund is budgeted at $33,948,691 for 2002, an increase of almost 4 percent over last year's budget of $32,649,824. The capital projects fund pays for building expenses and equipment fees and maintenance, and is budgeted at approximately $4,701,615 million, an increase of 31.29 percent over last year's $3,581,030 million. The debt service fund, Thorpe said, is similar to a house mortgage in that it is debt incurred in paying for school buildings.That amount is $5,177,613 for 2002, a decrease of 15 percent over 2001's $6,091,527.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Developers Renovating Odd Fellows Building

Echelon Development Group, founded by Alan Clingan and Jeff Noffsinger, hate to see a good thing go to waste. Since October 2003, renovations headed by the group have saved the old 132 year-old "Odd Fellows building," on the corner of Market and Buffalo streets, from potential demolition.Echelon now plans to create apartments and "unique rental spaces" on the second and third floors, while leasing the street level to local businesses The Shuttle Shop, Simple Setting and the Solis Company. "Our interest in the building was to save it from demolition," Noffsinger said."People were saying it was a dinosaur on the chopping block and that it had no useful life left.We know that's not true." Prior to 1849, the location was occupied by the Sons of Temperance, an English-based society that abstained from alcohol.The Odd Fellows, another social order with English origins, purchased the building in 1849 and used it for meetings and order gatherings.
Joe Kirkendall, Times-Union staff writer- | July 28, 2016

Truck Hits Parked Plane At Warsaw Airport

Luckily, a truck and an airplane were both on the ground Tuesday night when a collision occurred at Warsaw Municipal Airport. The unoccupied airplane was parked on the runway approach at the airport when it was struck by a United Parcel Service truck. The Warsaw Police Department estimated the damage to the plane at $25,000-$50,000, which the investigating officer said was a modest estimate of the damage. Mark R.Wegner, 42, of Sturgis, Mich., was the driver of the UPS truck.He told police he was driving around the north end of the parked airplanes at the airport and paying attention to driving his truck between two planes. Police reported Wegner was watching the rear of one plane and the wing of another when his truck struck the wing of the first plane.
TIFFANY SHAW Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Zimmer Holdings To List Stock On NYSE

Zimmer Holdings Inc.announced Monday that it has received the necessary clearances from the New York Stock Exchange and the Securities and Exchange Commission to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange. It is anticipated that the spin-off will be effective Aug.6 to record holders of Bristol-Myers Squibb common stock as of July 27. "We are very excited about the opportunity to operate Zimmer as an independent public company and to continue to strengthen Zimmer's position as a global leader in orthopedics.Zimmer's recent financial performance has been excellent, and we plan to continue to achieve strong sales growth in our current product categories and to pursue opportunities to leverage our brand and sales force in high-growth adjacent orthopedic product categories," said Ray Elliott, president and CEO of Zimmer Holdings Inc.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Garden Walk Planned At Nappanee

The Nappanee Home and Garden Clubs second flower walk is Saturday featuring six unique gardens to explore and enjoy. Cost for the event is $5.Children under 12 years old are free. The walk starts at the Depot Plaza on South Main Street.Tickets and maps of the gardens are available there.The gardens are open from 9 a.m.to 4 p.m. "Private Pleasures" Kim and Dave Jensen 308 N.Madison St.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016
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