‘The Give Back’ Looks To Instill Confidence In Warsaw Middle School Girls

Squires Tennis Team Downs Valley 5-0

NORTH MANCHESTER -ÊWhere Manchester's boys tennis team is now, Tippecanoe Valley plans to be next year. That is, the top team in the Three Rivers Conference.That is, sporting a solid lineup that not only beats poor teams but good ones, as well. But for now, Manchester still rules the TRC, and Thursday the Squires ruled Valley 5-0. Manchester improved to 9-2 overall and 2-0 in the TRC, while Valley dropped to 11-3 overall and 2-1 in the TRC.Manchester's two losses have come to No.13 Carroll (Allen) and 14-0 Bluffton. The two teams met Sept.11 in the TRC Tournament at Tippecanoe Valley; Manchester finished first with 19 points, and Valley took second with 15 points. Manchester may have won 5-0 Thursday, but to hear Manchester coach Eric Christiansen talk, the Squires were lucky to win.

Township Officials Meet To Discuss Fate Of North Webster School

NORTH WEBSTER - According to Indiana State Code (IC20-4-5-8) ownership of the North Webster Elementary School shall be offered as a gift for park and recreation purposes to the township that owned the property before the school was consolidated.In this case, Tippecanoe Township is first in line to either accept the property and buildings or the first to refuse. Township trustee Richard Mitchell and board of trustee members Bill Metcalf, president, Louis "Bud" Neibert and Dick Shock held a public meeting Tuesday night to discuss their options with members of the community. About 20 citizens attended the meeting. The new owners of the North Webster Elementary school buildings and grounds could very well become Tippecanoe Township, according to township trustee Mitchell, if that is the wish of the public. However, he cited the burden of maintenance and upkeep to the taxpayers.

Whitko Passes Resolutions To Shore Up Finances

SOUTH WHITLEY - To keep the schools going financially, the Whitko Community School Corp.Board of School Trustees approved two resolutions Monday. The first resolution allows the school corporation to roll over their tax anticipation warrants at the end of the year if the school corporation doesn't receive all their tax dollars. The second resolution, which is approved annually, allows the school corporation to borrow money next year for cash flow purposes until the school corporation receives its tax draws. According to director of finance Dr.Phil Menzie, as of Oct.31, the school corporation, in the general fund, collected 28.10 percent of the local property tax; 99.76 percent of the 2003 local property tax; 49.76 percent of the 2004 financial institutions tax; and 60.02 percent of the license excise tax.

Poe's 'Tortured Genius' Topic Of KLS Fundraiser

"The Tortured Genius of Edgar Allan Poe" was the topic presented by Dr.Elliot Engel Thursday at Kosciusko Literacy Services' annual fundraiser at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club. Rebecca Kubacki welcomed the group and thanked Cathy Teghtmeyer and Jan Monteith for their assistance as literacy leaders who planned the author dinner.Kubacki said, "Our fundraising efforts are on target - we've raised about $80,000 for literacy." Brenda Rigdon, executive director of KLS, thanked event sponsors Mr.and Mrs.Howard Levin and R.R.Donnelley, corporate donors and reading sponsors.She introduced the president of the KLS board, William Baldwin, who gave the invocation. The dinner featured Harvest Home chicken pie, made by members, family and friends of the Pierceton Presbyterian Church.

Webster Votes Against Alley Vacation Request

NORTH WEBSTER - The North Webster Town Council was met with a full house at Tuesday's meeting.

Controversial Roadside Stand Giving Food Away Saturday

PIERCETON -ÊPhil Tom calls it a finale to a difficult summer for his vegetable stand. But for Washington Township Trustee Rex Alley, Tom's plans to to set up his food stand north of Pierceton at the corner of Ind.13 and Old Road 30 one final time this summer at 9 a.m.Saturday could be the last straw. A week ago, Alley filed a lawsuit in Kosciusko Circuit Court to prevent Tom, an area farmer, from selling fresh food at the intersection.The lawsuit was the latest in growing tensions over the vegetable stand. But on Saturday, Tom said, he won't be selling the produce.Instead, he's going to give it away. The giveaway is a goodwill gesture to his customers.And, he said, he needs to unload the food - approximately a ton of potatoes and bags of squash, green beans and other fresh produce - before it begins to rot.

Kosciusko County Fair Starts Saturday

The monster trucks are coming, the bingo caller will shout, a blacksmith's forge will ring and new thrills on the midway are expected for the 2004 Kosciusko County 4-H and Community Fair Saturday through July 24. Dan Hampton, this year's fair board of directors president, said other changes are planned, too. "Wednesday is community day, and not-for-profit organizations can introduce themselves to the community with free booth or food stand space for the day. "It will be a mini-fair of local organizations and hopefully will go on for future years," said the four-year board member."For a lot of citizens, these organizations work behind the scenes and few of us know about all of them.Since this year's theme is Neighbors Helping Neighbors, we kind of thought community day fit in perfectly." This year, the merchant's tent is 340 feet long and has room for 88 spaces, which are almost sold out.

Valley Hears Report On Feasibility Study

MENTONE -ÊHaving concluded the feasibility study on Tippecanoe Valley High School, Gary Turner, of R.W.Clinton & Associates Inc., presented the school board with the final report Monday. R.W.Clinton & Associates began the study a couple months ago by looking at the enrollment projections for the school corporation.According to Turner, the corporation will have only modest growth.However, the high school and middle school are overcrowded.He said they anticipate the high school needs seven to eight new classes. Next, he said, they looked at the needs of the school as determined by the faculty, staff and administration.A physical survey of the building was made by the engineer.

Lion's Club Building Issue Returns To Winona Lake Town Council

WINONA LAKE - Jim LeMasters distributed copies of minutes from an October 1998 town council meeting to current town council members at Tuesday's meeting regarding the Lion's Club building. The three-year-old minutes show that the building was built on an unvacated right of way. LeMasters said the placement of the building should be considered before the organization proceeds with sprucing the place up. Lion's Club president Jim Reeve attended last month's meeting saying plans are to paint and landscape the facility.Reeve also discussed the parking availability.One side of the street has no parking signs and there is no parking lot on the property. LeMasters said the street is far too narrow for parking on both sides as emergency vehicles would not be able to get through. Town marshal Malcolm Gilbert said club members park on both sides of the street during Thursday evening meetings and his department is aware of it.

Wawasee Offers Alternatives To Suspension/Expulsion

NORTH WEBSTER - Despite all the school corporation's attempts, Wawasee students still are being suspended or expelled. Wawasee schools superintendent Dr.Mark Stock said the school corporation offers an alternative learning school, credit retrieval, GED program, behavioral plans, English as a Second Language, gifted and talented program, homebound instruction, allows for students to retake classes, remedial programs and many other programs.Still, students are having problems. But with a new program - the Alternative to Suspension/Expulsion Program - Wawasee assistant superintendent Russ Mikel and Wendy Hite, Wawasee special education services supervisor, hope to keep students in school. Mikel said when students are expelled, they treat it like a vacation and parents don't know what to do with their children.He then presented the board with statistical information.

Syracuse Recognizes National Day Of Prayer

SYRACUSE - The First Annual Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce Prayer Breakfast was held Thursday at Oakwood Inn.The Syracuse-Wawasee Ministerial Association collaborated with the chamber to sponsor the event, which was planned to recognize the National Day of Prayer. The master of ceremonies was Dr.Daniel Haifley, pastor of Grace Bible Baptist Church, Syracuse.Others participating in the program were: Syracuse Police Chief Tom Perzanowski; Randy Webb, Christian Motorcycle Association; Dr.Richard Brungardt, president of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce; Dr.Lorne McCune, president of the Syracuse-Wawasee Ministerial Association; the Rev.Harlan Steffan; and Dr.Mark Stock, superintendent of Wawasee Schools.

Fire Chief Reflects On 6-Year Tenure

In 2001, a series of tornadoes ripped through Kosciusko County, tearing apart buildings and causing minor injuries to as many as 50 people. The chaotic weather forced cars off of local highways, damaged boats on multiple lakes and collapsed trees and power lines throughout the county. At the time, Matt Warren had been Warsaw's Fire Chief for just over a year and suddenly found himself in charge of helping the storm victims. "When I took this job, they always told me 'you'll never see a tornado come through here.' "Well," Warren said, rolling his eyes."Talk about overwhelming." But the fire department held together, cleaning up the damage at Da-Lite Screen Co.

Witnesses Explain Duncan's Role In Robbery, Shooting

Jurors in an attempted murder trial heard testimony from three live witnesses and saw the videotaped deposition of another witness Tuesday afternoon. Criss Duncan, 45, of Shipshewana is facing attempted murder charges for allegedly shooting at Milford Town Marshal David Hobbs after robbing the National City Bank Leesburg Branch May 27, 2003. In the longest testimony of the day, jurors watched the taped deposition of Ralph Berkey, Duncan's alleged accomplice.Berkey testified against Duncan as part of a plea bargain with the state and federal courts.Berkey and Duncan were tried and sentenced in federal court in the case for armed robbery .

Kosciusko County Spared Worst Part Of Arctic Blast

Kosciusko County residents should consider themselves fortunate to have missed the brunt of the late winter storm that struck much of the Midwest. Road crews are working overtime to clear streets and highways.There have been no serious injuries reported due to vehicle acciddents, although many vehicles slid off roadways.Power outages are few in the county while crews are hard at work farther west in Indiana. The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, Warsaw Police Department and Syracuse Police Department have reported numerous accidents, but no one has been seriously injured.Property damage, including utility poles and fences, has been minimal. "Our county got off extremely lucky," Gary Hurd, director of operations for REMC, said.REMC had two meter points out last night due to NIPSCO problems.

Valley Board Looks At Discipline

AKRON - Patrons attending Tippecanoe Valley School Board meetings agree that a discipline problem exists at Tippecanoe Valley Middle School.What they don't agree on is whether the problem is a lack of discipline or discipline bordering on abuse. Last month, a number of parents made allegations that their children were suffering abuse at the hands of the TVMS staff.This month, several parents complained that there is no discipline.One mother commented that a group of students and their parents are ruling the school. "I guess I fear for my kids," she said."They beg me to take them out of the school system....The students cuss at the staff and principal and at other students.Kids are shoved into lockers....The meaner you are, the more popular.

Western Route Proposal Presented

More than 120 people packed the Justice Building meeting room Thursday to hear The Troyer Group's preference for the Western Alternative Route. On June 29, The Troyer Group will make their recommendation to the Kosciusko County commissioners. The route The Troyer Group will propose, according to project manager Steve Benczik, begins at the intersection of Ind.15 and CR 300S.It then follows the northeast side of the overhead electric transmission line northwest to approximately CR 100S.The proposed route then heads north parallel to CR 350W, crosses U.S.30 at the abandoned rest stop and then briefly runs along CR 300W.It turns east along CR 400N and reconnects to Ind.15. The estimated cost for that portion of the Western Alternative Route is $28 million.

Pierceton Town Council Reiterates Skate Park Offer

PIERCETON - At Monday's town council meeting, people were given an update regarding the skate park project.

Public Should Be More Involved

There is a fairly important event scheduled for May 21 at 7 p.m. in the Warsaw School Corp. administration building.

Commissioners Put Brakes On Equipment Purchase

County commissioners stalled a plan Tuesday by the county assessor and county computer expert to invest in more equipment and software.