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Winona Redevelopment Panel Exercises Eminent Domain On Property At Park And Canal

WINONA LAKE - The property at 800 N.Park Ave., Winona Lake, has been condemned and secured through eminent domain procedures by the town's redevelopment commission. Owned by Ralph and Joellen Fitch, Larwill, the property has been used as an apartment building.Peoples Federal Savings Bank holds the mortgage. Standing on the northeast corner of an area commonly known as Winona Village, at the corner of Park Avenue and Canal Street, the two-story dwelling is surrounded by specialty shops to the south and west, a parking lot to the north and Hillside Park across the street to the east. The Fitch property was declared a blighted area Oct.4, 2000, by a redevelopment commission resolution.The Fitches have owned the property since 1992.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Food Pantry Established At American Legion

A food pantry has been established at American Legion Post 49, 301 N.Buffalo St., in Warsaw, for military families. Larry Peppel, executive director of Kosciusko County Chapter of the American Red Cross, said, "About a month ago it became difficult for the Red Cross to send shipments overseas to military personnel." The Department of Defense halted all "unsolicited" mailings to troops because of security reasons.Packages addressed to individuals are being delivered. The Red Cross is sponsoring the food pantry, and the Military Family Assistance Support Team will staff it and supervise distribution. Peppel said it is sometimes hard to make ends meet when the main breadwinner is called to active military duty. "Family members here are reluctant to receive help from charitable organizations," he said. The pantry is open for donation collection and pickup Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 1 to 6 p.m.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Safety Experts Give Tips To Avoid Serious Bicycling Injuries

It's spring, and bicycles and scooters are being pulled out of garages. But before parents let their children go riding, parents may want to teach their kids some bike and scooter safety. "The local Safe Kids chapter would like to bring awareness to the fact that warm weather is here and everyone needs to be more cautious.Children are outside playing and are excited about the weather changes," said Darlene Eherenman, Kosciusko County Safe Kids Chapter coordinator. Each year, more than 200 children age 14 and under are killed and nearly 350,000 are injured in bicycle-related incidents, according to the National Safe Kids Campaign.Head injuries from falls off bicycles are the leading cause of death in bicycle-related crashes.The majority of all bicycle fatalities occur in the summer months.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Man Sentenced In Cruelty To His Dog

A Warsaw man was sentenced to 14 days in prison and 300 hours of service at the animal shelter for cruelty to his dog. David W.Burgess, 34, of 3062 Old Road 30W, was sentenced to 180 days in prison, with 166 days suspended to probation, for allegedly locking his dog in a pet carrier and leaving it in a rented storage shed.Burgess reportedly said he put the dog in the shed because he didn't have a place to keep the dog. Burgess pleaded guilty Tuesday to the charge of cruelty to animals, a Class B misdemeanor. He also was ordered to serve 300 hours of community service at the Kosciusko County Animal Shelter, where his 1-1/2-year-old German shepherd, Kane, is still recovering.Custody of Kane was given to the animal shelter by the court. Burgess was ordered to pay a $100 fine and $125 in court costs, as well as the costs incurred by the shelter for caring for Kane.
TIFFANY SHAW, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Tower request denied

In the end, conjecture and opinions about GBC Media's request to install a 499-foot tall communications tower along their property at 1225 Country Club Drive came to nothing. It was the evidence presented by two real estate brokers regarding decreased property values that brought about a unanimous vote from the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals Monday denying the use variance. The media group intended to erect a new wireless communication facility 202 feet taller than the existing three towers on the 7.5-acre property.The company was asking for a use variance in the Residential-1 zoned neighborhood. R-1 districts are the most restrictive of the residential districts and includes the low-density single-family residential areas of the city and those open areas where similar residential development appears likely to occur, according to city ordinances.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Mayoral candidates discuss vision for Warsaw's future

WINONA LAKE - Candidates for mayor of Warsaw, incumbent Ernie Wiggins and Craig Allebach, wee asked to discuss their qualifications and previous experience, about the focus of their administration and plans for finishing the revitalization of downtown Warsaw at Tuesday's Young Republican Candidate Forum in Westminster Hall. Allebach came to the area as a Grace College student in 1974, served on the Warsaw police force for 20 years, is current Winona Lake town coordinator and is president of the Warsaw School Board. Wiggins, a 1967 Warsaw High School graduate, was elected to the city council in 1984 and was appointed mayor March 1, 1997.He was elected to the position in 2000. Allebach said as mayor he would provide leadership, accountability and responsibility, making the mayor's office accessible. His goals include a friendlier government, job and economic development and finding ways to foster corporate and city partnerships.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union- | July 28, 2016

Ransbottom Landfill To Change Billing Format

Beginning May 1, Ransbottom Excavating and Landfill will change its billing format - customers will be charged by weight instead of by volume.The new cost will be $35 per ton. John J.Hartings, the new general manager of the landfill, who took over Feb.20, said that he is now "doing business the way it should be done." Previously, under former owner Dan Ransbottom, customers paid $6.70 per compacted square yard, a method of measurement that was, according to Hartings, not very accurate. "As of late, it's been a kind of a guessing game as to trusting your customers telling you what their yardage is on each vehicle that comes in," said Hartings. The new method of billing is "a surefire way" of reporting the appropriate weights and financial information, said Hartings. He said that some of the "high volume" customers who use the landfill every day will receive a lower rate, but Hartings declined to comment on the reduced rate.
DOUGLAS SANBURN, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Manchester Cuts Teachers Sports, Coaches

NORTH MANCHESTER - Manchester Community Schools will lose a total of nine teachers as part of its cost-reduction plan, the board decided Tuesday.The school corporation also will make cuts in sports programs, coaching staff and extracurricular activities. Acting superintendent Kim Thurston described the plan as "a conservative plan designed to carry the school district through the worst-case financial picture...." Thurston stressed that if funding increases, teachers will be asked back in order of program priority. Permanent teacher cuts will come from the music, reading recovery and special education programs.One teacher will be cut from each program. Non-permanent teacher contracts will not be renewed based on order of seniority.Non-permanents teachers whose contracts will not be renewed are: Lisa Shisler, Anne Fetrow, Stephanie Baker, Anne Clark, Rebecca Cook and Mark Heiden.
KRISTA PRIMROSE, Times-Union Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Treasurer Says Property Tax Bills Will Be Provisional

Stephanie Esenwein, Kosciusko County treasurer, said county offices have worked hard trying to get property taxes under control. But because surrounding counties are behind, Kosciusko County again will have to send out provisional bills with a due date of June 18.Reconciliation bills will be sent out approximately Nov.10. Hopefully, this year, taxpayers will receive a more accurate figure on their provisional bills, but Esenwein said they won't be "true bills."The spring provisional bills will be billed at 45 percent of last year's tax bill. Kosciusko County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell said this year the county will be able to bill for mobile homes and personal property as part of the provisional bills where they were not able to last year. Later, Mitchell said certified property values have been finalized.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Library Lauds Sweatland

The Warsaw Community Library Board of Trustees said their official "good-bye and thank you" to longtime board member Don Sweatland Monday. The board presented Sweatland with a plaque commemorating his five years of service.He is the immediate past president and was influential in overseeing the library renovation completed last year. Sweatland joined the board in June 1994 and stepped down this February. In other business, the board approved a mission statement developed by the board's technology committee. A key goal of the mission statement is to provide the most up-to-date information and education technology to the library patrons and the community.Projects that are the focus of the current three-year plan are to develop and use the Internet, research and develop an effective distance learning capability at the library, and continue the upgrade of library computer hardware and software.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

MCS Cuts Costs

NORTH MANCHESTER -ÊManchester Community Schools approved the cost-cutting measures introduced at their March meeting at a school board meeting Monday. The plan intends to cut nearly a half-million dollars from the school's budget by reducing or eliminating teaching positions in all MCS buildings, cutting one administrative position and reducing the hours of or eliminating some classified staff. Contracts not renewed are: assistant football coaches Ryan Good, Jack Rupley, Dick Brown, Pat Powers and Steve Lambert. Contracts cancelled are: media specialists Barb Williams and Suzan Skaar; special education teacher at Manchester Junior High, Abby Sleeth; fourth-grade teacher at Manchester Elementary, Melissa Curless; kindergarten teacher at Manchester Elementary, Cheryl Anne Fetrow; second-grade teachers at Manchester Elementary, Janelle McLaughlin and Rebecca Cook; third-grade teacher at Manchester Elementary, Mark Heiden; fifth-grade teacher at Laketon, Michele Rose.
KRISTA PRIMROSE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Patrons, Staff Say Whitko Needs More Space

SOUTH WHITLEY - More space is what the public said is needed at Whitko High School at the first WHS improvement project community meeting Monday. Approximately 25-30 patrons were in attendance to give representatives of Barton Coe Vilamaa Architects & Engineers Inc., Fort Wayne, their input into the building improvement project.And the building, they said, should last another 30 to 40 years.It was built in 1972. The next two community meetings on the project are Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m.at the Central Office, Pierceton, and 8 to 9:30 a.m.Saturday at Whitko Middle School, Larwill. Kari T.Vilamaa, president of Barton Coe Vilamaa, said the school board is looking at upgrades to the high school.Changes are needed to the building because of changes in requirements and programs. "It's really a nuts-and-bolts kind of upgrade that everyone is looking at," said Vilamaa.He said they are not going to try to build the Taj Mahal.
DAVID SLONE. Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

4 Arrested After 3-Month Drug Probe

Four persons were arrested Wednesday after a three-month investigation by the Kosciusko County Drug Task Force. Those arrested included: David G.Nunez, 41, of 2846 S.Woodland Hills Drive, Warsaw, charged with dealing cocaine, $20,000 bond; Ruben Castro, 27, of 707 Kings Highway, Winona Lake, visiting a common nuisance, $250 bond; Amanda L.Ulrey, 31, of 918 E.Center St., Warsaw, maintaining a common nuisance, $2,000 bond; and Brent R.McKay, 25, of 1615 Miami Blvd., Kokomo, visiting a common nuisance. The investigation came as a result of tips from Kosciusko County citizens, according to a press release from the drug task force. Over the last couple of months, an undercover officer purchased several ounces of cocaine from Nunez.On Wednesday, an undercover officer again purchased cocaine from Nunez and then Drug Task Force officers made the arrests. Nunez is considered to be a large-scale narcotics dealer in Kosciusko County.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Syracuse Council Hears Support For Community Center

SYRACUSE - "Back in the 1920s a committee was formed to look into a community center.It only took 80 years.Now that we're almost there, are we going to sit around and quibble? I think you should act on this in a positive way," town historian Ron Sharp told the Syracuse Town Council at a public hearing Tuesday on the proposed community center during the regular council meeting. Council president Barb Carwile said, "I felt the town needs a community center since I moved here in 1943, but I am concerned about what will happen to property taxes." "I'm on a limited income living on Social Security, and frankly, if my taxes go up, I'll find a way to pay it," an unidentified woman told the council. Council member Bill Hane said he thought the lighthouse should be cut, and parks superintendent Michael Hixenbaugh said it was not included in the base bid.
VIRGINIA NIZAMOFF SURSO, Times-Union Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Log Home Travels From British Columbia To Kosciusko County

Krista and Bret Nicholson's "dream home" was an authentic log home.Their search for the perfect home eventually took them to British Columbia, to Markus DeHaas, a log handcrafter with Cascade Handcrafted Log Homes. The first step was custom designing the layout (they needed enough room for four children) and selecting red cedar logs native to B.C.To make sure they had the right kind and size of logs for the home, DeHaas actually assembled the home in B.C. After the home was initially built, it had to be disassembled and loaded onto a logging truck for the long trip to Indiana.The basement was prepared for the logs to arrive Monday.
!photo=N0412031.jpg- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Man Charged In Cruelty To Animal

A Warsaw man is charged with cruelty to an animal for allegedly locking his dog in a pet carrier and leaving it in a rented storage area. David W.Burgess, 34, of 3062 W.Old Road 30, Warsaw, is in Kosciusko County Jail on $5,000 bond. He was arrested Monday after a Warsaw police officer determined the dog belonged to Burgess, a former Etna Green police officer. A key-pad security system showed the last time anyone was in Burgess' shed was April 5. The owner of the storage areas called police Saturday after another renter complained of an odor and noise coming from a nearby storage shed. Cpl.Steve Brown of the Warsaw Police investigated.He and the owner could not contact Burgess who was renting the shed.The storage units have a rule against keeping animals in the sheds.
TIFFANY SHAW, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Syracuse Man Copes With Sudden Sightless Life

What would you do if you suddenly lost your sight? How would you feel? How would other people treat you? John Gillespie, 35, Syracuse, knows the answers to those questions.He recently went blind and his life is vastly different than it was just a few years ago. He was diagnosed with diabetes when he was 10 years old.In 1998, his sight was pretty much gone, and he had surgery on his right eye in 1999.But there's been no improvement and the right eye got even worse after the surgery, he said. He tries to be as independent as he can, but he said he's "not so able to take care of myself anymore."He can't get his needs met.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Winona Takes First Steps To Vacate LeMasters' Property

WINONA LAKE - There were no comments from the public following Mike Armey's presentation of the Jim and Lisa LeMasters' request to vacate a public right of way. Armey advised the town council the title work had not been completed so the request couldn't be finalized at Tuesday's public hearing. The LeMasters are asking for a vacation of lots 166 and 167 to the east of their property at 202 Esplanade St.to 10 feet of the channel seawall. The request stems from a lawsuit filed by the Winona Lake Lion's Club nearly two years ago.Armey said part of the settlement requires vacation of the property.As adjacent property owners, the LeMasters will acquire the land.They have paid surveying fees, Armey said, will bear the costs of removing the Lions' Club building and will pay property taxes.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Little Trial Ongoing

State's witnesses took the stand Tuesday in the aggravated battery trial against defendant Billy Little. Testifying were Bruce Smith and Billy Little's brother, Robert Little. Little is accused of shooting Bruce Smith, who suffered a single gunshot wound to the right chest and arm on June 4, 2002.The shooting took place inside the Good Times bar in the 200 block of South Buffalo Street, Warsaw. Smith, a part-time Good Times employee, was in the bar to help bartender Taylor Robertson with any heavy lifting.Smith testified Tuesday afternoon. Smith reiterated the events of June 4, 2002, from his perspective.He said he was sitting at the Good Times bar and remembered when the Little brothers came in, along with Ricky Daniels.Smith said he knew Daniels but did not know the Littles.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Pierceton Breaks Ground On Cub Discovery Center

PIERCETON - Pierceton Elementary teachers, staff and students held their dedication and groundbreaking for the school's new Cub Discovery Center Thursday. Michelle Ball, fourth-grade teacher and one of three teachers who helped write the grant application and develop the programs for the center, said, "We think this is a very special event." The Center will feature perennial flowers, an herb and vegetable garden, bushes and trees."It's going to have a lot of plants," Ball said. There also will be a goldfish pond, water plants and a fire pit area.There will be an amphitheater with benches and a covered gazebo with picnic tables.A small greenhouse will be attached to the school building. The entire perimeter of the Center will be more than 3,200 feet.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016
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