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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

Knispel, Whitaker Reiterate Their Views

Two candidates for sheriff used live television Thursday night to highlight their campaigns, while at least five others seeking the same office chose to avoid the camera's glare. Lt.Steve Knispel, and Detective Sgt.Sam Whitaker, both of the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, exchanged viewpoints for nearly an hour during a live televised forum on VSP-TV. Both candidates used their time to outline reasons for seeking the office and plans if they would be elected. Unlike a recent forum for the prosecutor's race, Thursday's forum remained upbeat and devoid of any negativity. Knispel and Whitaker said later they felt they performed well despite their unfamiliarity with the television medium. Both candidates reiterated their viewpoints and neither made any new proposals. Both candidates said more patrols are needed and the drug task force needs to be reinvigorated.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

U.S. Army Veteran Reed Facilitated Military Buildup

Editor's Note: Saturday marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, when the last Americans were evacuated from the occupied Asian capital.Interviews with six Vietnam War-era veterans will be published this week to commemorate the end of the conflict. By the time 1st Lt.Rex Reed arrived in Vietnam in 1965 to command a transportation company, the French had been routed a decade previously.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Knox Endorses Whitaker During Televised Forum

Kosciusko County's first televised political forum took a quick twist Thursday night when one of the candidates stepped up and endorsed another. Of the three candidates participating in VSP-TV's sheriff candidate forum, Wally Knox announced minutes before the live show that he would endorse Detective Sgt.Sam Whitaker. Knox made the announcement during opening statements in the forum and then stepped aside, leaving Whitaker and Lt.Steve Knispel to discuss issues. After the endorsement, Whitaker and Knox shook hands, but neither Knispel nor Whitaker commented on the endorsement during the forum. Knox said afterward he began rethinking his campaign three weeks ago and made the decision after meeting with Whitaker several times. In exchange for the endorsement, Whitaker said he would employ Knox within the department if elected.Exactly what the position might be has not been determined, both candidates said.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Carpenter Running For Commissioner's Seat

Christy Carpenter, Claypool, is a Kosciusko County Commissioner candidate for the southern district.She will appear on the Republican Party ballot along with incumbent Avis Gunter and Bob Conley during the May 2 primary election. Carpenter said she would bring youthfulness, common sense and a hard-working lifestyle to the office. New to the political arena, she said, "I can ask questions, listen well and am willing to do research. "I ask questions like 'How well does the program do? How does it help us?' I like to know what's going on and if I don't have the information, I'll ask questions." Carpenter is employed by Tippecanoe Valley School Corp.She is a bus driver with seven years experience.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Lakeland Art Association Celebrates 10th Anniversary With Exhibit

Lakeland Art Association is hosting a 10th anniversary art exhibit at 116 S.Buffalo St., Warsaw beginning May 28. The association obtained a gallery space in 1993 at 109 N.Lake St.on the west side of the courthouse.The group took over an unused county building and began presenting regular displays featuring local and regional artists. A grand opening for the Lakeland Art Center was held July 9 and 10, 1993, with Lila O'Connell serving as director. The LAA held their meetings in the building and sponsored workshops and classes for adults and children. In addition to regular exhibits the center offered showcase items for purchase.Each year members have mounted a juried spring show and sale and a member bazaar showcase and sale. The first Lakeland Art Center displayed the paintings of Betty Appenzeller. It was a sweet deal for the art group.Their only financial obligation were monthly utility bills.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Demo Sheriff Candidates Exchange Ideas

!photo=N0423982.JPG Photo by Dan Spalding, Times-Union (L to R) Sheriff's candidate Jeff Bronsing , moderator Jim Brooks and sheriff's candidate Ron Barley shake hands during last night's candidate forum at the Blue Lion Coffeehouse. PIERCETON - With the absence of one candidate, Wednesday's forum for Democratic sheriff's candidates in Kosciusko County became a two-man show, with much of the spotlight on Jeff Bronsing. Bronsing and Ron Barley provided a friendly discourse of the issues and ended the night with what appeared to be a sincere, friendly handshake. Missing was Glenn Canter, who told Democrat Party Chairman Steve Haines he was too busy to participate. The winner of the Democrat primary May 5 will face one of the five Republican candidates in the fall election. Barley and Bronsing answered questions posed by moderator Jim Brooks and then fielded a few from nearly 50 people packed inside the meeting room of Blue Lion Coffeehouse.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Judge Seeks Re-Election To Superior Court II

James Jarrette, 53, has been a judge most of his adult life. "It's what I do," he said."In college I studied political science and I was always interested in government, developed an appreciation for it.I was 31 years old when I became judge.It's what I am." Jarrette was appointed judge of the Kosciusko County Court by Gov.Otis Bowen in fall 1979 to replace Loren Collier, who resigned Aug.10, 1979. A native Hoosier graduating from Rochester High School in 1966, Jarrette was elected to the position in 1980. Jarrette has presided over Superior Court II since 1997.He is seeking re-election to this office on the Republican ticket.He has run unopposed since the 1984 election. This year deputy prosecuting attorney Mark Caruso also filed his candidacy for judge of Superior Court II on the Republican ticket.He is presently assigned to Superior Court III.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

County Hears Report On Need For 'Western Route'

Why does the county need a Western alternative route? Representatives of Warsaw, Kosciusko County and The Troyer Group presented information Tuesday that they gathered to answer just that question. The meeting was one step in the process the project has to go through before the Indiana Department of Transportation will accept the project, said Steve J.Benczik, senior civil engineer/project manager for The Troyer Group.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

City, Town Officials Meet, Discuss Waste District, Other Topics

City and town officials met Wednesday in the Kosciusko County Courthouse courtroom in an informal town council meeting. Town council members and clerks came together in the same fashion one year ago to hear a tax levy request from the solid waste district's director.Consequently, the increase was approved by Warsaw, all the county towns as well as the county council. The meeting, hosted by county auditor Sue Ann Mitchell, began with a discussion about the solid waste district again. Following a $50,400 cut to the district's budget Monday, director Sue Studebaker, called other solid waste managers and learned that the State Board of Local Government Finance allowed many of them to collect taxes at the higher rate requested in 2003, payable in 2004.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Threats Bring Cops To Tippy Valley

AKRON - Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department ran a safety security check Friday at Tippecanoe Valley High School after alleged threats to students by other students became known to officials this week. As students entered the school Friday, their bags and pockets were checked.Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine said the searches were no more intrusive than the kind of search one would encounter at a sporting event, but it was better to err on the side of safety in the matter. "The school's been very cooperative with us," said Rovenstine."It's appreciated what they have done.We're handling it the best we can." Officers were at TVHS throughout the school day and the school resource officer has been investigating the alleged threats for the past three days. "There was a lot of concern from the school and public," said Rovenstine, because the threats were made against certain students on specific dates.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Cervantes Sentenced

BY GREG BROWN, Times-Union Staff Writer The man who supplied the gun in last year's Leesburg shooting will serve the same term as the man who pulled the trigger. Adan Cervantes, 34, of 3699 N.CR 175E, Warsaw, was sentenced to 10 years, with two years suspended, for his part in the shooting of Ortie Manns, Leesburg.Cervantes was charged with assisting a criminal. Authorities feel his sentencing sends a message to the community about being present when a crime is committed, or even helping in the commission of crime. "It was a very important philosophical debate - to what extent is assistor of the crime culpable for the crime," Kosciusko County Prosecutor David Kolbe said. The court indicated that the culpability is as serious as committing the crime with their sentence of Cervantes, Kolbe said.
Accomplice in Leesburg shooting gets 10 years- | July 28, 2016

County Approves $19.3 Million Building Contract

For a base amount of $19.351 million, the Justice Building expansion construction contract was awarded Tuesday by the Kosciusko County Commissioners to Weigand Construction Co., Fort Wayne. Tom Thomas, of Schenkel Schultz, architects for the project, presented the recommendation to the commissioners. "We're very, very happy with the bids," Thomas said.He said they anticipated the bids would be over budget because of the materials that will be used and because of how busy construction companies are anticipated to be this year.However, the bids came in 10 percent under budget and Thomas said he was happy with the quality of the contractors who bid on the project. "It's probably the best we could ever expect," he said. Other bids, which were opened last week, included Hagerman Construction Corp., Fort Wayne, base amount of $19.61 million; James S.Jackson Co., Bluffton, base amount of $20.48 million; and Gibson Lewis LLC, Mishawaka, base amount of $20.6 million.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Anglin Fought At Battle Of The Bulge

***** Sgt.John Anglin, from Atwood, was a squad leader during World War II with the Cannon Company of the 311th Infantry Division. A veteran of the Hertgen Forest and the Battle of the Bulge, Anglin also fought for Allied control of the Schwammanauel Dam at Schmitt, Germany, and provided cover for the troops crossing the bridge at Remagen, one of the last great battles of the war. Anglin, 82, has a slim combat journal chronicling the 311th's service.Pictures of their travels, their members, their decorations and their dead are detailed. Pressing forward under the Timberwolf banner Jamais Trop Tard (Never Too Late), the Cannon Company fired 11,618 rounds of 105 mm M3 Howitzers during their campaign. Anglin, as squad leader, transferred coordinates from forward observers on the cannon and directed the other five members of the team.
Editor's Note: This is the next installment in a series of articles about local veterans of World War II. The series continues daily through Memorial Day.- | July 28, 2016

Senior Housing Coming To Mentone

MENTONE - "(The Chamber of Commerce) cannot think of anything better for this community than senior housing," said Mentone Chamber of Commerce representative Rita Price Simpson. Monday, the Mentone Town Council agreed, approving the go-ahead for a development team from Garden Court Inc.to set up proposals for grants to build apartments for senior citizen in Mentone. "This is a win-win situation for everyone," said Council Member Mark Hughes. "This project is no cost to us, and it is important to our town," said Jack Simpson, council member. The chamber of commerce decided to allot $10,000 to get the ball rolling in the project last week.The money will be put in escrow to cover expenses not covered by grants in the project.
JEN GIBSON. Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

LCA Seeks To Upgrade Facilities

Lakeland Christian Academy embarks on its first major fund raiser today in hopes of upgrading its facilities. The first step - a rather small one in its eventual plans - begins today with the start of a coupon book fund-raiser. Sales of the 4,000 books for $25 each would generate $100,000.Combined with savings and a handful of other donations, the school would then be in a position to purchase a nearby 40-acre tract that officials have eyed for some time. The booklet contains $1,400 in values through local stores.Printing costs were offset by Warsaw businessman Ray Monteith, meaning all of the proceeds from the sale will go toward the building fund. The booklets will be on sale at booths beginning today and continuing for the next four Saturdays at Owen's grocery stores, Marsh grocery store and Walmart.For more details, call 268-2884 and the book can be delivered.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Auditor Outlines County's Tax Dilemmas

If the state isn't causing Kosciusko County one problem, it's another. Thursday, at the special Kosciusko County council meeting, county auditor Sue Ann Mitchell gave the council the low-down on some of the county's tax situations. She said the state notified them regarding this year's budget that they are reducing the county general fund to $1.3 million.After Mitchell consulted with a couple of the county councilmen, she said, she was instructed to make changes to get the county general fund closer to $2 million.To do that, a cut of $200,000 was made to the cumulative reassessment, $400,000 to the cumulative bridge fund and $100,000 to the cumulative jail fund. The actual tax rate wound up being $0.1714, compared to last year's rate of $0.1609. After studying it, Mitchell said, she couldn't figure out what made the operating balance so different than previous years.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Tippy Valley Studies Need For More Space

AKRON -ÊDepending on which statistical method one uses, the number of students at Tippecanoe Valley High School in 2015 will range from 668 to 892. The growing student population is one reason the Tippecanoe Valley School Corp.has begun a feasibility study on the high school.Monday, the first community discussion was held in the high school auditorium.The purpose of Monday's meeting was to discuss enrollment projections and the assessment of the high school facility. TVSC Superintendent Dr.Karen Boling said the space at the high school has been looked at since the middle of last year.Initial findings were reported to the school board who then asked the feasibility study to be done and reported to the corporation and community.No official findings have been presented to the board yet and the meeting Monday was only part of the data gathering process.
DAVID SLONE Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Crash Drill: Officials hope re-enactment will make teens think

One person was pronounced "dead," one was airlifted from the scene and several others were taken to the hospital. Wreckage from three cars lay on the field as rescue personnel worked to free trapped passengers.Two teen-agers were "arrested" for drinking alcohol after escaping the crash with only minor "injuries." It may not have been a real accident, but emergency personnel reacted to the scene the same as they do in real life. The set-up crash was an object lesson to high school students from three Kosciusko County school districts to teach them the dangers of drinking and driving. Close to 1,700 juniors and seniors from Warsaw Community High School, Tippecanoe Valley High School and Wawasee High School attended the Prom Night Docu-Drama at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds Wednesday morning.
TIFFANY SHAW, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016
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