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Leesburg Hears Sewer Project Update

LEESBURG - The Leesburg Town Council discussed the sewer project further at its Monday meeting. Joseph Tierney, GRW Engineers Inc., provided a report on recent activities on the sewer project.Pump station sites have been cleared.Two quotes were received to look for artifacts on both sides of Ind.15 -Êone for $2,900 and one at $3,800.The board agreed to accept the quote for $2,900 from Archaeological Consults of the Midwest Inc. GRW is in the process of working on design plans, which will involve two people locating all wells and septic tanks and staking out grinder pump locations.These activities have not yet been scheduled, but notification to residents will be sent out before the work is started. Other future activities will involve working on a brochure of frequently asked questions and responses to provide consistent information when people inquire about the sewer project.Tierney said the big thing is to firm up locations.
M.J. RHODES, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Administrators React To Supreme Court Harassment Ruling

Thanks to a recent U.S.Supreme Court decision, schools now may be sued for student-on-student harassment. The ruling has made area schools more cautious, but most already have procedures in place for handling sexual harassment complaints. The Supreme Court's ruling was based on a case where a fifth-grade Georgia girl sued when her school district did nothing about her complaints of being sexually harassed by a boy. The Supreme Court said if harassment is severe and pervasive and the school district is found to be "deliberately indifferent," the school district can be sued for damages. Local schools' superintendents had varying opinions on what the ruling means for their schools. "My initial reaction would be that there's some sorting out we need to do.It's going to have the affect of us being more cautious than we have been," said Dr.Lee Harman, Warsaw Community School Corp.Superintendent.
DAVID SLONE and LAURIE HAHN, Times-Union Staff Writers- | July 28, 2016

Tippy Valley Looks At 2001 Budget

MENTONE -ÊPlanning a multimillion dollar budget can be a long, difficult task. Thursday, the Tippecanoe Valley School Corp.Board of Trustees held its first of many budget workshops to work on the 2000-01 capital projects fund budget. Assistant Superintendent Dan Kramer presented the board with preliminary information on the fund to give them "a picture as to where we're going on that." The current total assessed valuation for Kosciusko and Fulton counties for TVSC to base their budget on is $89,581,745.The current tax rate for the CPF fund is estimated at $0.61, Kosciusko County being $0.6136 and Fulton County being $0.5879.For next year, the CPF tax rate is estimated to be $0.77. The 2000 CPF is $819,275 and represents the total appropriation approved for 2000, which is generated from three sources: the corporation's cash balance, property taxes and other taxes.An estimated $542,303 will be generated from the 2000 CPF.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

County Courts Soy Processing Plant

The Louis Dreyfus Corp.is one of the world's oldest and largest merchandizers of grains and oilseeds. Monday the company held an informational meeting about its proposal to build a $100 million soybean processing plant southwest of Claypool. The plant is just phase one of a three-step process that could eventually develop into an agro-industrial park, including a biodiesel plant and ethanol plant. "You only see something like this happen once in your lifetime," said Don Zolman of Zolman Farms about the facility."The improvement in markets is going to be dramatic for all area producers.It's a great thing for the community, too. "I dont' think we can really quantify what's going to happen to that community over the next 10 to 15 years." Once the facility, if it's built in Kosciusko County, is operational, 60 to 100 high-quality jobs will be available.The employees are going to want to live near where they work.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Keyser Frustrated With State Budget Process

BOURBON - Council president Bill Keyser expressed frustration at the way he learned of limited funding budgeted to the town from the Build Indiana Fund to repair Center Street. Keyser told the council Tuesday that State Senator Kent Adams recently relayed word of the budget action through a town employee instead of talking directly to him."It drives me nuts to know that the State Legislature finds the restoration of the Billy Sunday Home more important than to provide the citizens of Bourbon funds so that basements don't flood at every rain and the pavements are made fit to drive on. "I'm not unappreciative of the efforts of Adams and Rep.Bill Ruppel but we'd love to have an explanation directly from them.I intend to send a letter to the men requesting that explanation," he said. The Billy Sunday Home in Winona Lake was budgeted for $500,000 for restoration.
MARILYN GOCHENOUR, Times-Union Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Schools Looks At Redistricting

Warsaw School Board at its 7 p.m.meeting tonight will tackle the issue of redistricting and building new schools. Several elementary schools in Warsaw Community Schools Corp.are at or near capacity: according to the latest enrollment figures, Harrison Elementary has 619 students, Eisenhower has 530 and Leesburg has 452. At April's school board meeting, consultant Jerome N.McKibben, Ph.D., of Gann-McKibben Demographic Consulting, recommended the board close Jefferson, Atwood, Claypool and Silver Lake elementaries and build two new school buildings - one in Claypool and one in Prairie Township.He based his recommendation on student populations in specific areas and on projected population and demographic trends.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Webster, YMCA Seek To Improve Communication

NORTH WEBSTER - YMCA Chief Executive Officer Steve Jungbauer sent out a letter to area newspapers recently regarding the Y's branch at the North Webster Community Center. The NWCC board of directors has taken issue with some of Jungbauer's statements in the letter.They addressed their concerns Monday during an interview. Based on the letter and other information the NWCC received from the Warsaw YMCA, board member Sherman Goldenberg said the two sides need to improve communications.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Syracuse officials say last week's Klan rally was handled well

SYRACUSE - The phrase KKK never came up during the meeting, but town officials spent a few minutes Monday patting each other on the back for the handling of last week's Klan rally. With less than a full day's warning, Syracuse Police Chief Bill Endler mapped out a strategy with Indiana State Police and was able to avoid any disorder Friday as nearly 200 heckling onlookers watched 16 robed members of the Ku Klux Klan march near Syracuse Elementary. Despite the lack of preparation time and an unexpectedly large number of anti-Klan protesters, police were able to keep the factions apart and still satisfy a horde of media, Endler said. Reporters from six television stations and various newspapers and radio stations were corralled behind a fence during the noon-time march and were then allowed to meet with Klan leaders afterward.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Beaman Home Gets Grant Money

The state legislature recently passed two bits of legislation, effective July 1, aimed at protecting victims of domestic violence from their tormenters. State Attorney General Steve Carter met with representatives of the Beaman Home Women's Shelter Thursday to discuss the laws and to present $15,800 to the 14-year-old shelter. The unrestricted grant comes from a multi-state law suit settlement with Nine West Co.for price fixing women's foot ware.Eighty percent of the $695,000 legal settlement was distributed to the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, of which the Beaman Home is a part. The YWCA of Indiana, the Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Big Sisters of Indiana also will receive funds. Beaman Home director Jeanie Campbell said the money will come in handy.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Thomas Spent 22 Months As Prisoner Of War

Editor's note: This is part of a series of interviews with World War II veterans.The articles will continue in each day's edition until Friday, one day before Saturday's World War II Memorial Dedication and Recognition Day, May 29. Of the 46 months (three years, 10 months and 12 days) Galen Thomas was a World War II Army soldier, nearly half that time - 22 months - was spent as a prisoner of war, a captive of the Germans. Weighing in at a respectable 195 pounds prior to his capture in North Africa, he was rescued with 132 pounds on his frame. A rifleman in Company L, 168th Combat Regiment, 34th Division, Thomas fought in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia against Germany's Afrika Korps, led by Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. Now 84, he remembers the 110- to 115-degree days spent in the desert. He was among the 2,007 Americans listed as missing in action during the February 1943 battles.He was 23 at the time.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Marine Pilot Served In South Pacific During WWII

Editor's note: This is part of a series of interviews with World War II veterans.The articles will continue in each day's edition until May 28, prior to the World War II Memorial Dedication and Recognition Day, May 29. "This is my favorite bird - the Corsair," said Walter Panchison, as he brought a model of the aircraft in for a smooth landing on top of his desk.The Marine flew the distinctive gull-winged, single-engine plane in the South Pacific during World War II. Panchison, originally from Pennsylvania, now lives at Hoffman Lake.He enlisted in the Corps as a private and retired 29 years, 11 months and one day later, in 1969, as a colonel.During those three decades he was a member of the smallest unit of the smallest branch of the military - a fighter pilot for the U.S.Marine Corps. After graduating from high school in 1937, Panchison enlisted in the Corps with the idea of attending Annapolis.By the time he applied at the academy, he was getting too old.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Youth For Christ Seeks To Expand Ministries

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." - Proverbs 22:6 For more than 50 years, Youth for Christ has committed to youth evangelism and biblical Christianity to see every young person around the world make a decision to be a follower of Jesus Christ and become part of a local church. Their ministry became a national effort when YFC leaders gathered in Winona Lake in 1944.A young preacher from Chicago, Billy Graham, was hired as the organization's first full-time worker.In 1945, YFC International was officially formed.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Water Testing, Y2K Discussed At Syracuse

SYRACUSE - Is the water safe to drink in Syracuse? How would you know? Thanks to the 1996 Safe Water Drinking Act, residents will begin receiving mailings notifying them of the quality of their water. Tom Miller, Severn Trent Environmental Services, gave a presentation to the Syracuse Town Council Tuesday on the Consumer Confidence Reports.Council President William Cutter received a package from Indiana Department of Environmental Management a couple of weeks ago explaining the reports also. "Any community water system that serves over 10 people and is recognized as a water system is required to do a report," said Miller. The report will include results from testing of organic, inorganic, lead, copper and other chemical testing.The first report is due Oct.19 and the annual report will be due April 19 every year beginning in 2000. Water testing has been conducted for years, but the new law makes testing results more accessible.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Mutual Federal Buys Local Bank Accounts

MUNCIE - MutualFirst Financial Inc., the holding company of Mutual Federal Savings Bank, announced Friday that Mutual Federal has entered into an agreement to purchase the deposits and certain loans owned by First Financial Bank and serviced by Community First Bank and Trust in Warsaw. "The acquisition of these deposits and loans enables us to increase our customer base in the Kosciusko County market," said Dave Heeter, chief executive officer of MutualFirst and Mutual Federal. Transfer of the ownership of these account relationships will take place following receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals.It is anticipated the transaction will be finalized by the end of August.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Toddler's Drowning Ruled Accidental

The investigation into the April 12 drowning death of a toddler is closed, with the official conclusion that the death was an accident. Brandon Lee Rouch, 23 months, was pronounced dead after being pulled from Lake Sharon, where he apparently fell after getting out of his home without his mother's knowledge.Angel R.Rouch told police that she was asleep in the residence and, when she awoke, found that a door was standing open and Brandon was not inside. According to a press release from the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, "interviews and inquiries have shown that the actions leading to, and mechanism of death were accidental." The press release also cautioned parents to be aware of how quickly a tragedy can occur around water and to encourage all parents to take steps necessary to prevent accidents around water as summer approaches.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

State Honors Akron School

AKRON -ÊFor the third consecutive year, the Akron Pride Council has been honored by a state education group. The Indiana Association of School Principals, Department of Student Activities, in conjunction with the Indiana Association of Student Councils, named Akron an IASC Honor Council. Today the Akron Pride Council joined other elementary honor councils from around the state for a celebration of outstanding leadership in Indiana at the IASC Elementary Honor Council Ceremony.The ceremony was at 10 a.m.at the Warren Performing Arts Center on the campus of Warren Central High School in eastern Indianapolis.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Mentone Discusses Flooding Problem

MENTONE - Before more development occurs in Mentone, the town council wants to address flooding concerns in the northern part of the town. Monday, James W.Emans of Emans Engineering, Bremen, presented the board with a proposal to find solutions to mitigate the flooding for $4,800.The board approved the contract for Emans to take the next step and research the problem. Emans said there are a couple of county tiles in the area of the flooding.Kosciusko County Dick Kemper told Emans the tile is open and there is no reason to believe it is obstructed.A small amount of rain in a small amount of time can cause flooding, Emans said. In his proposal, he included three ways to address the flooding, each having its own complications.The proposal also includes taking a look at the feasibility of the alternatives and then coming back to the board for discussion.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Tippy Valley Short Of Classroom Space, Expert Says

AKRON -ÊTippecanoe Valley High School is short seven to eight classrooms based on current core curriculum, said Gary Turner of R.W.Clinton Architects, at the second meeting for the high school feasibility study Monday. Currently, there are 18 core classrooms and 41 total classrooms.With 25 students per classroom, and each classroom being used at a rate of 75 percent, the number of core classrooms needed is approximately 24.1.Turner said the corporation should plan for at least that many for at least the next 15 years. The purpose of the second meeting was to discuss the specific education and space needs for the high school.Earlier this month, the first meeting was held to discuss the predicted student growth.The final meeting will be June 26 at 7 p.m.in the high school lecture room. Turner presented the small crowd at the meeting with a "needs list" that was gathered by surveying teachers and talking to administrators and others.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Milford OKs Bond Resolution For Waste Treatment Plant

MILFORD - Taking another step toward the water and sewer treatment plant improvement project, the Milford Town Council Monday adopted a resolution for the bonding of the project. Jerimi Ullom, of Barnes & Thornburg, Indianapolis, the financial consultant for the project, said the ordinance just provides for the maximum number of bonds at the maximum rate for a maximum number of terms.When the bonds for the project are closer to being sold, a more definitive ordinance will need to be approved. The estimated maximum cost for the project is $1.85 million; maximum number of bonds to be sold are 1.5 million; and the maximum interest rate is to be 6 percent. The ordinance, Ullom said, empowers the town council president and the town's clerk-treasurer to execute the bonds and deliver them to the purchaser when the time comes.It also authorizes bond anticipation notes.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Project Independence Clients Honored By CCS Directors

Brandy Holle is a lab technician at Parkview North in Fort Wayne; Terry Smith works at Kosciusko Community Hospital in insurance verification; Sarah Knight is a licensed practical nurse; and Angela Friend is a registered nurse who has her eye on becoming a nurse practitioner.Anita Mikel has secured an associates in business degree and is working toward a marketing degree. All five are Ivy Tech graduates. They juggled jobs, kids and classes for the last few years to reach their current goals. This balancing act was strengthened with support from Combined Community Service's Project Independence program. The young women, recognized for their accomplishments by CCS staff and board members Wednesday, praised the program and the help they received during trying times. "I thank God for Project Independence," Smith said."I'm probably CCS's veteran, I've gone to them since 1997.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016
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