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Warsawan Still Battling '91 Identity Theft

When Kim Umbaugh lost her purse while shopping at Amish Acres in Nappanee 14 years ago, she had no idea what she was in for. After the purse was stolen, Kim and her husband Randy, Warsaw, contacted credit card companies and their bank to report the theft. Little did they know that their ordeal was just beginning. The thief got ahold of Kim's driver's license and Social Security number and used her personal information to open a checking account at a bank in Bloomington.The person, who to the Umbaughs' knowledge was never caught, then went on a three-day spending spree and spent more than $3,000 at 40 locations in southern Indiana. Kim was unaware of the account until a detective from Bloomington contacted her about two months later.After speaking with Kim, the detective realized that Kim was a victim of identity theft. That was in 1991.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Milford Starts Bonding Process For New Wastewater Treatment Plant

MILFORD - With hopes of beginning the project as early as possible, the Milford Town Council began the bonding process Monday for the new wastewater treatment plant. Jerimi J.Ullom, of Barnes & Thornburg, presented the town council with two ordinances. The first ordinance restates the prior bond ordinance that was approved in June 2003.Since then, the scope of the project has changed, including the year of the bonding and the cost.It also sets a maximum parameter cost of $2.6 million for all costs. A public notice will be made of the town seeking bonds so financial corporations can bid on them. Ullom said they wanted the council to approve the bond ordinance Monday so the 20-day waiting period is over as soon as possible. Town attorney Jay Rigdon said of the cost that it's always easier to borrow more than the predicted cost will be than to go back and try to borrow more later. The first ordinance was approved.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

State's 211 System Serves 1,000 Kosciusko Countians

The year-old 211 telephone help line has expanded across the state from six centers serving 22 counties to eight centers serving 39 counties.This means more than half of the state's citizens can dial 211 for help with food, counseling, employment, health care, support groups, housing, shelter, legal aid, clothing and education. The Kosciusko County United Way is part of the First Call For Help/United Way of Allen County service center.Information was provided to more than 20,000 regional callers last year.The other centers received more than 115,000 calls in the last 12 months. The system for calling the easy-to-remember number is designed to help people make connections with agencies that can help them with particular needs.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

More Space Needed For Local Evidence

Mentone Town Marshal Tim Carpenter is looking for some room to grow. Carpenter, with the town for five years, has been seeking improved facilities for the growing police department for over two years.When you see his 8- by 10-foot office, it is easy to understand why. The Mentone Fire Board owns the building that houses MPD's office, the town council office and the EMS unit.There is just not enough space in the building for the growing offices. There is a standing two-door locker full of forms and evidence, two file cabinets rapidly filling with forms and paper work, and a desk with a computer and a table stacked with supplies.Educational material for working with area students is stacked underneath the corner table. MPD's evidence locker is filling up with seized evidence needed for pending cases.The locker is also used to store the department's cameras and paperwork (handgun licenses or warrants).
GREG BROWN, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

City Approves Revenue Bonds For Danek Project

Warsaw City Council Wednesday approved a special ordinance authorizing the issue of economic revenue bonds for Medtronic Sofamor Danek development. The bonds are set up over a 20-year period and are not to exceed $2.5 million. Danek's construction site is at the intersection of U.S.30 and CR 150W and the construction is estimated at $20 million. The project, already under construction, consists of an orthopedic hardware manufacturing and production facility. Randy Rompola, attorney from Baker & Daniels, confirmed with the council that the bonds are not an obligation of the city.Rompola said tax revenue generated by Sofamor Danek will pay off the bonds.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

School Safety Topic Of Community Meeting

Representatives of public and private schools, social service agencies, juvenile justice and law enforcement met Thursday to discuss a subject of concern to everyone - school safety. Hosted by Steven C.Foster, chief of Warsaw Police Department, the meeting was mostly organizational to decide how the committee members want to proceed. The proposed "Countywide Safe School Commission" is a response to a recent state law allowing counties to establish commissions that will study and make recommendations on improving school security. Indiana law also requires every Indiana school corporation to designate a school safety specialist, and those officers are included on the countywide commission. After Thursday's discussion, commission members seemed most interested in pursuing two lines of inquiry: the safety and security of school buildings and facilities, and preventing problems and crises through educational alternatives.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

County 'Shocked' By Number Of Jailers Required

"Shocking." That's the word the Kosciusko County council used Thursday to describe a report from the state jail inspector saying the county would need to hire 11 more jailers for the county jail by the time the new jail is completed. The inspector made his inspection in December and Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine recently received the report. Councilman Larry Teghtmeyer said that with the new jail, it "goes beyond my comprehension why we would need another 11 jailers." Rovenstine said the sheriff's department has always been understaffed and now with the tripling of the jail space, that's even more true. Council vice president Brad Tandy said the county may want to have an analysis done to see if 11 more jailers are really needed.Tom Anglin, councilman, disagreed, saying if they had an analysis done by one of the state-recommended professionals, other professionals would just agree.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Planners OK Plat For Husky Trail Subdivision

With continuous reminders of traffic concerns, the Warsaw Plan Commission approved a preliminary plat for Husky Trail subdivision Monday, the first step in incorporating 113 residential units along Husky Trail. Both commission officials and residents expressed concerns of increased activity along Husky Trail, which has both Harrison Elementary and multiple apartment complexes already existing in the area. Casey Erwin, senior project manager for the Husky Trail subdivision, said the company he represented, Harrison Lake Development, was well aware of traffic situations in the surrounding neighborhoods, and provided statistics from both traffic counts and trip generators to show how congestion would be affected. Warsaw's Traffic Commission recommended approval of the preliminary plat during a Jan.5 meeting where it estimated the site plan would incur 8-to-13 percent of all traffic on Husky Trail.
Joe Kirkendall, Times-Union staff writer- | July 28, 2016

Wiggins Vs. Silveus For Mayor?

Two men so far - Mac Silveus and Ernie Wiggins - are in contention for the Warsaw mayor's office when Jeff Plank leaves in March. As of this morning, Wiggins had already filed his application with Kosciusko County Auditor Charlene Knispel, who is the secretary of the county's Republican party. Silveus had not yet filed, but said he intends to. Plank announced Friday afternoon that he will leave in March to take a job in the private sector.His date of leaving will be either March 1 or March 14, he said, depending on how smoothly the transition goes with his successor. A Republican caucus that will choose Plank's replacement will meet Jan.30. Silveus said today that he's sorry Plank is leaving, but "I'm definitely interested in replacing Jeff." Both men said city priorities include building a second sewage treatment plant. Silveus said he thought a new city building is necessary, since the current building is almost outgrown.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Webster Awards Bid To Study Uses For Old Elementary School

NORTH WEBSTER - Only R.P.Murphy & Associates, Larwill, submitted a bid proposal to the North Webster Town Council Wednesday. The council awarded Murphy the bid. The firm will administer a planning grant from the Indiana Department of Commerce for the North Webster Elementary School.As part of the bid, MSKTD & Associates Inc., Fort Wayne, will do an engineering study of the property. Last month, Robert P.Murphy of R.P.Murphy told the town council the meeting to take proposals for the school would have to be readvertised and the bid opening would be Feb.14 due to incorrect advertising. Last year, the town applied for a grant to do a planning study from the Indiana Department of Commerce on the school building.The Wawasee School Corp.is building a new North Webster Elementary school in a different location. The town is exploring options for use of the existing elementary school once it is vacated.The planning grant is the first step in that process.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Triton Suspends Basketball Coach

BOURBON - The Triton School Board Monday unanimously voted to suspend Triton High School boys varsity basketball coach Mike McBride from his position for the remainder of this season. The decision was met by applause from a crowd of parents and basketball players gathered at Monday's standing-room-only meeting to call for McBride's removal, claiming he verbally abused and humiliated students on the basketball team during practices and at games.
TIM ROBERTSON, Times-Union Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Pierceton Closer To Cleanup Of Downtown Building

PIERCETON - Cleanup could begin on the Perry property in town, according to Tim Kelty of R.P.Murphy and Associates, Larwill, because a pending Department of Commerce grant is a pretty sure thing. Even if the grant were not practically guaranteed, removal of the hundreds of bricks which made up the building at the corner of First and Market streets and underground tanks could still proceed because the town has secured state brownfield funds for the project. Known as the Perry property, owned by Jim Perry of Whitley County, a building where a gas station once operated and where buried tanks are still in the ground, collapsed into a pile of rubble July 2, 1997.
TERESA CARRANO, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Inmate Count Questioned, payment Held

BY TERESA SMITH Times-Union Staff Writer It seems the state wants to receive money but doesn't want to pay its own bills. The county recently received an invoice for juvenile housing to the tune of more than $99,000 for the last quarter of 2005, county council members heard Thursday. Yet the State Department of Corrections is not recognizing adult inmates housed by the county and shorted the jail accounts by around $100,000 each of the last five years, according to County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell.The DOC owes $459,000. "We bill them, then get a letter back from the state saying they're not sure we have the prisoners," Mitchell said."We need to address this to the state.Maybe if we pointed it out to the right legislators something would be done." Councilwoman Charlene Knispel asked if there was a problem with documentation.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

City Hears Report On U.S. 30 Patrol Hours

Among the annual reports presented at the Warsaw city council meeting Monday night, and of particular interest to the members, was a report about patrol hours along U.S.30. The Warsaw-area stretch of the interstate highway is listed as the second most dangerous in Indiana, according to Indiana sheriffs' reports. Warsaw Police Department U.S.30 selective enforcement hours were detailed from May 11, 2000, through the end of the year. WPD Capt.Paul Schmitt attended the meeting and explained what the numbers meant when questioned by several councilmen. Councilman Bill Rhoades asked why the program began in May and why it was called "selective enforcement." Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins answered part of the question, saying that was probably the date he asked Chief Steven Foster to step up the patrolling. Schmitt said the 290.5 selective enforcement hours were in addition to regular duty time.Officers are signing up specifically to patrol the federal highway.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Adams Cuts Treasurer's Office Staff

To save Kosciusko County money, county treasurer Kent Adams reduced the staff in the treasurer's office from 6-1/2 full-time-equivalent positions to 4-1/2. "The office is moving along well now," said Adams Monday."We've got a good staff and we're working hard." Coming into the county treasurer's office, Adams said, he had 20 years of finance experience.At Goshen Schools from 1972-1985, he handled finances.From 1985 to 1988, he was at School City Mishawaka.In 1988, he ran for the Indiana General Assembly, won, and took a position at Warsaw Schools as the director of finance. By 1990, he had 31 years in public schools so he retired, taking a job in the private sector in finance at Dalton Corp.He worked there from 1990 to 2002.He also was a school building principal in 1963 and was a trooper with the Indiana State Police.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

City Expands Development Area, OKs $2.5 Million Bond

Warsaw City Council Thursday approved a 20-year, $2.5 million bond issue for Medtronic Sofamor Danek's $20 million construction project.The construction site is at U.S.30 and CR 150W. The council also passed a resolution annexing an 85-acre tract that includes Danek's 25-acre construction site.The tract was designated as an economic development area. The bond will be used to fund infrastructure improvments in the economic development area, including sewer, water, storm drains and road work. Property taxes generated by construction in the development area will be used to make payments on the bond. "The company's investment is really going to be the security behind the bond," attorney Richard Hill said at the council meeting.The site will be used for a new 150,000-square-foot Sofamor Danek building on 25 acres.
LAURA SLOOP, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Local Congressmen React To Speech

Culminating a day many called surreal, President William Jefferson Clinton declared the state of the Union to be "strong" in his seventh State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress Tuesday. The reactions of Congress, while generally supportive, split along party lines in terms of the strength of that support. "Once again, President Clinton has suggested federal government action to strengthen Social Security, to strengthen health care - including long-term care, to boost educational opportunities and law enforcement," said Indiana's senior Senator Richard Lugar."There will be strong bipartisan action to bring constructive progress in each of these areas." Lugar said much of the president's proposed agenda was not new, and he questioned how much support Clinton will be able to maintain, considering the impeachment trial now under way in the U.S.Senate.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Library Offers New Program

Young children and their parents have a new reading program to look forward to at Warsaw Community Public Library. The "1,000 Book Club: Read With Me" is meant to encourage parents to read to their preschoolers, from infants to kindergartners, library director Ann Zydek told the library board of directors Monday. The free program kicks off from 10 a.m.to 2 p.m.Saturday and Monday in Meeting Room AB at WCPL.Parents who register will get a book bag, a reading log and a packet of information that includes details about the program and tips for reading aloud to children. "We're learning more about the brain and how it develops," Zydek told the board."What we once did automatically (reading to children) is now proven scientifically." She said the interaction with an adult, seeing the printed words and hearing the words spoken aloud are critical to very young children's development and contribute to their later success in school.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Goodman Trio To Appear Saturday At Rodeheaver

Benny Goodman's clarinet helped define a whole style of music in the 1930s - swing. His recordings of popular songs and dance music still captivate today. "Swingin' the Benny Goodman Songbook," featuring clarinetist Allan Vache«, pianist Mark Shane and jazz vocalist Terry Blaine is the Lakeland Community Concert Association's first concert in 2006, the third of the 2005-2006 season. The concert is in Rodeheaver Auditorium, Winona Lake, Saturday at 7:30 p.m.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Grace College To Offer Series Of Lectures

WINONA LAKE - Beginning as early as the 1890s to as recently as the 1960s, Winona Lake was synonymous with platform presentations. Speakers such as Booker T.Washington, Helen Keller, Admiral Richard Byrd, William Jennings Bryan, Billy Graham, Wil Rogers and many more all used Winona Lake as a forum to communicate both ideas and ideals to their generations. Grace College will present the American Lyceum Lecture Series to provide a setting for a new generation of public speakers. "The idea behind this public lecture series is to provide high-quality speakers that would be attractive to our community," said Steve Grill, Grace College dean of community education.He said the lecture series is designed for the community as a way for Grace College to say thanks for everything the community has done for Grace. The first of the lecture series will be held Feb.23 at 7:30 p.m.in Westminster Hall.Open to the public, there is no admission charge.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016
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