Fulton County Has Funds For Business Owners

ROCHESTER - The Fulton Economic Development Corp.and the Fulton County Council is soliciting business proposals from public and private entities and citizens who would like to start or expand a business in Fulton County. Qualifying awards will not be lower than $25,000 and could be as high as $100,000. Fulton County has levied county economic development income taxes for years.Now that money is being used to stimulate the creation, innovation or transfer of businesses. "The primary purpose of this competition is twofold; first, to partially fund the start-up or expansion of business activities to improve the per-capita income of Fulton County; and second, to diversify Fulton County's economy by focusing investment in business research that will create industry clusters requiring high-skill, high-wage employees for the county," said Tom Tucker, FEDCO executive director. FEDCO will host a free business plan class Nov.29 from 8 a.m.to noon, 822 Main St., Rochester.

Medicare Workshop Planned At Winona

WINONA LAKE - To better educate the community on upcoming nationwide changes to Medicare coverage, the Kosciusko Community Hospital and Indiana Medicare Partners will present a free workshop Nov.10 from 9 a.m.to noon in the Winona Lake Senior Activity Center. The workshop will include a three-hour discussion on concentrated topics within the new Medicare system.If seating fills for the first session, a second session will be scheduled from 1 to 4 p.m.on the same day. Information presented during the event will focus around a new, voluntary prescription drug coverage through Medicare that becomes available Jan.1.All people under Medicare will be eligible for the new plan, which will cover both generic and brand name medications.

Plan Commission Approves Petitions

Christmas came early for petitioners at the Wednesday meeting of the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission. The commission approved all requests by petitioners. Dave Creighton's petition for preliminary plat approval for a residential development on 29.254 acres of ground was approved. His petition was a continuance from November for him to get certain requirements met.Since the last meeting, Creighton received approval from the drainage board for drains, as the commission required.The size of the cul-de-sacs also is now down to normal standards. Creighton did lose one lot from the original plat because of the changes made. The property is on the north side of CR 75N, west of CR 225E in Wayne Township. Michael Miller's petition for a preliminary plat approval for an Agricultural II subdivision on a 1.19-acre tract of ground was approved for recommendation.The property is on the south side of Ind.14 and 212.36 feet west of CR 600E in Jackson Township.

Warsaw Removes Hazardous Trees In Nye Park

Warsaw Park Department employees spent Earth Day Tuesday cutting down and removing two hazardous trees in Nye Park that will be replaced.

Be Open Minded

Editor, Times-Union:It has come to my attention that several parents and students are planning to protest the "Day of Silence" by observing the "Day of Truth."

Council Hears Assessor's Plan To Hire 10 New Employees

Kosciusko County Assessor Laurie Renier updated the county council Thursday on her plans to hire personnel for property assessments after township assessors' offices are eliminated July 1.

Biomet Seeks Abatement For Building Addition

Biomet employees Terry Martin and Tom Bauters and Warsaw attorney Rick Helm approached the Kosciusko County council with a tax abatement request Thursday. The company is planning a two-story building addition for a additional 60,000 square feet at its current manufacturing location on U.S.30. Building costs are about $5.5 million, according to Bauters, a CPA.He presented financial information while Martin gave specifics about the proposed expansion. The building should be completed in September 2003 and an additional 250 to 300 employees are expected to be added after five years. Over the next 10 years Plain Township will realize an additional $567,000 with the new addition.The company currently pays $534,000 in property and personal property taxes. The council approved the 10-year tax abatement, with councilman Larry Teghtmeyer saying there was no reason to deny the company this request.

Cabrera Plans For The Future

Carlos Cabrera's world changed Dec.5, 2004. Cabrera was involved in a serious car crash that rendered him quadriplegic.Cabrera, 26, is the father of three young children. The injury to his spinal cord, however, is considered incomplete and there is hope for movement in his limbs.Presently, Cabrera has some movement in his right leg and thumb and has gained enough strength to use a sliding board for transfers in and out of bed. Not letting the spinal injury steer the course of the life he wants, Cabrera plans to attend college this fall.Originally from Tippecanoe and a graduate of Triton High School, Cabrera goes through therapy four times a week at the Turnstone Center for Disabled Children and Adults, Fort Wayne.He is able to use a manual wheel chair for short distances and Vocational Rehabilitation will assist him this fall by providing him with a power wheelchair.

Whitko Honors Top Three Scholars

Davah Dial and Tammy Keirn are the valedictorian and salutatorian respectively of the class of 1997 of Whitko High School. Sarah Brenneman will be recognized as the student with the highest grade point average: she finished her course work in seven semesters with a grade point average of 12.293 on a 12-point scale.She plans to help her mother with child care. She is the daughter of Joseph and Rene Brenneman, Larwill. Because Brenneman attended school for only seven semesters, she is not eligible for the valedictorian award. Dial will graduate with a GPA of 12.085.She is the daughter of Diane Dial, South Whitley, and the late Richard Dial. Dial is a member of National Honor Society and the Whitko Academic Team.She was named a Hoosier Scholar and earned a Presidential Merit Scholarship.

Bolt Awarded Lilly Scholarship

The Kosciusko County Community Foundation announced Alyssa Bolt, a senior at Warsaw Community High School, as a 2006 Kosciusko County Lilly Endowment Community Scholar. The Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship provides tuition and a fee stipend for four years toward an undergraduate degree at any accredited college or university, public or private, in Indiana. The selection process used by the Community Foundation is "blind," meaning the selection committee does not have access to the names of applicants or their parents until after recipients have been chosen.Recipients are selected based on academics, school and work activities, community service, essay responses and letters of reference/recommendation. Alyssa is the daughter of Nancy Bolt and Calvin and Debbie Bolt.She plans to study history and English at Taylor University.She plans to eventually earn an advanced degree and to become an author and possibly a college professor.

Town's Greenway Named Heritage Trail

WINONA LAKE - Planning of the Lake City Greenway project continued Tuesday as the Winona Lake town council announced "Heritage Trail" will be the title of their section of the recreational trail. The council approved the name, which had been recommended by the Winona Lake Greenway Art Commission during a meeting Feb.6.Also approved were 11 sub-themes, which will be displayed in artwork throughout the Greenway. "Our thoughts are that the art we are requesting should represent these themes," Clerk-Treasurer Retha Hicks said."Ideally, we're looking for something to match with certain locations of the project." As well as artwork placement, the Greenway Art Commission also will decide where to place commemorative benches, which could be purchased through donations from the community.

Growth around town will be reviewed by APC, BZA

County Plan Director Dan Richard said his department has been working with Claypool and Silver Lake town boards with the intent of developing a land-use plan. The Wednesday announcement of the world's largest biofuel plant locating east of Ind.15, just south of Claypool, has begun discussions in many directions. When construction is complete, the soybean processing and biodiesel production facility will employ about 80 people. In the meantime, supporting industries may seek to locate in the area. "There may be some rezonings of property that result," Richard said."We need to be in a position to handle some of the other development that may occur and get ourselves ready, hopefully, for some spin-off development. "Gas stations, truck maintenance facilities, places to eat are examples of support businesses. "Just anticipating the construction crews' needs being closer to that area, the better.

Lilly Scholarship Winners Announced

Three area students will receive full four-year scholarships to the colleges of their choice as the Kosciusko County Community Foundation 2003 Lilly Endowment Community Scholars. Jonathan Dingeldein, from Wawasee High School; Erin Elliott, Warsaw Community High School; and Angela Wilcox, Triton High School, will receive full tuition and an $800 stipend for books and equipment. Dingledein was selected based on his academic achievements (he is ranked No.1 in his class), his strong work ethic, extracurricular and student leadership activities and community service contributions.The son of Mark and Rebecca Dingledein, Milford, he plans to major in chemistry at Taylor University.

Warsaw Planners Approve Vacation After Lengthy Debate

After an hour of deliberation between lawyers Monday, Terry Blue's vacation request was approved by the Warsaw Plan Commission. The vacation is for a public way along his Winona Lake shoreline. Lawyers for Blue and Steve and Connie Rufenbarger debated over a triangular area of land that lay in both neighboring properties after the proposed vacation.The board voted unanimously in favor of Blue's request, stating that the vacation would not adversely affect Rufenbarger's access to their property. Blue's request for vacation will now go before the Warsaw City Council June 20.

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING - KOSCIUSKO COUNTY AREA PLAN - KRAMMER

'First Fridays' Being Planned In Downtown Warsaw

Keith Reinholt wants to attract people to downtown Warsaw and highlight the city's businesses.

Ritter's Frozen Custard Plans National Parents Day

Ritter's Frozen Custard has planned a National Parents Day to recognize parents for the roles they have in their children's lives.

Plan Commission OKs Sidewalk Requirement Extension

Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission approved a 10-year extension on sidewalk requirements for the Kerns Crossing subdivision in Syracuse Wednesday.

City Approves Annexation Resolution for Possible YMCA Location

Warsaw City Council approved a resolution Monday for a written annexation fiscal plan for property being considered for a new YMCA.

Book, Website Eases Bride's Worries, Keeps It Local

Grace Whalen is the owner of Whalen Creative Group, which specializes in full-service wedding planning.