World/Nation Briefs 9.20.2012

Controversy around Romney fundraising remarks shines light on power of viral videosNEW YORK (AP) — After this, politicians everywhere should surely get the message. Mitt Romney’s secretly recorded remarks at a Florida fundraiser — and the uproar that has followed — reinforce a key reality of the digital media era: the power of viral video to disrupt and potentially alter a high-stakes political contest.

Planners Send Alley Vacation Request To City

Warsaw Plan Commission Monday night approved sending a favorable recommendation for an alley vacation request to the Warsaw City Council.

Traffic Panel Consulted On Proposed Subdivision

With the anticipation of future development along CR 100E, the Warsaw Traffic Commission met with D.A.Brown Project Manager Casey Erwin Thursday to determine whether the commission will recommend a proposed subdivision north of Harrison Elementary. During a Dec.12 meeting, Plan Commission officials urged the Traffic Commission to conduct a detailed evaluation to specify requirements for the Husky Trail Subdivision if construction is approved. The location for the site consists of 30 acres, which Erwin said will contain 113 residential lots for single-family homes. Using a traffic count generator, Erwin estimated an 8 to 13 percent increase in traffic for the surrounding area.

County, Landowner Allow Sweet Corn Charlie To Stay In Business In Syracuse

SYRACUSE - Sweet Corn Charlie will be at its Syracuse location to the end of its season after all. "Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission, along with Parker Engineer Seals, have consented to grant us an extension to do business in our current location until Sept.15," said Tami Mohler, co-owner of Sweet Corn Charlie, Wednesday afternoon. "We're glad about (the extension).We're just trying to work with everybody and follow the rules."She said they've been happy with Parker Engineer Seal Division being their landlord as the company has been "good to us," she said. The business is behind England's Restaurant in Syracuse on a vacant lot owned by Parker Engineer Seal Division.Sweet Corn Charlie's season ends Sept.15 and began June 10.

REMC To Build New Headquarters

New headquarters for the Kosciusko REMC were discussed in Warsaw city council chambers Monday, as Larry Easterday stepped forward in favor of annexation of 26.18 acres east of CR 250E and north of U.S.30. Easterday, REMC's marketing and member relations director, was the only member of the public to speak for or against the proposal. He said the current facility, at 523 S.Buffalo St., is land-locked.The utility also has land at the southernmost end of Detroit Street, where trucks and equipment are stored. "The REMC has been part of the Warsaw community for more than 60 years.We want another piece of property and want to stay in the city," Easterday said of the request. The annexation indicates the company will request industrial-2 zoning for the ground, currently zoned agricultural by the county. Teresa Ho, assistant city planner, said the next reading of the ordinance will be at the council's Oct.20 meeting and a fiscal plan will be presented at that time.

Pierceton Approves Youth Center

PIERCETON - The Pierceton town council echoed the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission's approval of the First Baptist Church's plan to develop the old train depot into a youth center. The APC approved rezoning the Market Street property from Industrial 2 to Commercial.The county board is a recommending board to town councils on issues of rezoning. The church plans to move its programs for youth into the remodeled building first, then open it up to the youth in town as a community resource. The board approved placement of a stop sign on Walnut Street at the intersection with Third Street, as requested by Jerry A.Kreger, an Elm Street resident.The sign will be erected pending an amendment to the town's sign ordinance.

Leesburg Sewer Project Proceeding On Schedule

LEESBURG - The Leesburg Town Council met Monday for its regular monthly meeting. Joe Tierney, GRW Engineers, provided an update on sewer project activities, which are proceeding on schedule.He and members of the town council responded to several questions posed by residents and business owners attending the meeting. Questions address during the meeting included: • "Should estimated costs be broken down for specific locations in Leesburg and for other, more specific items?" Rick Stookey, Leesburg town council president asked, adding, "We're all in this together."Plans are to include all locations in the town.

No Layoffs Seen At Warsaw

No staff layoffs are expected at Warsaw schools because of state funding cuts, the Warsaw school board was told Monday. Those cuts also may mean a delay in any building programs the school board has planned. Rande Thorpe, business manager for Warsaw Community Schools, said the state told school corporations that distributions will be $115 million less than expected. "To Warsaw, that means $946,000," he said. But instead of eliminating staffing and teaching positions, Thorpe said, WCS will make cuts in categoried funds, such as summer school and the gifted and talented program. And where new projects are concerned - projects such as the new Atwood elementary school and the football stadium and auditorium at Warsaw Community High School - Thorpe said, "We believe it's prudent to keep those things on hold" until it's clear what funding is coming from the state.

12 Vie For Royalty At County Fair

There are seven 4-H Queen candidates and five 4-H King candidates this year.The court will be named during the Kosciusko County Fashion Revue July 15 at 7 p.m.in Wawasee High School auditorium. Candidates, who participate on a voluntary basis, are eligible based on the number of points they have in 4-H, and must be in their eighth, ninth or 10th year of participation. The court is selected from the top 10 male and top 10 female point earners.Points are accumulated through project completion, serving as a club officer and community service for the club, among other things. This year's king candidates are: • Scot Goon, 18, Warsaw, is the son of Jon and Tina Goon.The 10-year 4-H member belongs to the Atwood Neverquitters and is a 2004 graduate of Warsaw Community High School.He plans to attend the University of Northwestern Ohio.

Winona Resident Again Airs Greenway Concerns

WINONA LAKE - Winona Lake resident Jan Nelson, during the Winona Lake Town Council meeting Tuesday, again requested seeing the original design plans for the town's Greenway bike trail.

Warsaw Library Front Entrance Renovations Begin

Front entrance renovations to the Warsaw Community Public Library began Monday morning after being postponed a week.

KREMC Announces 2010-11 Scholarship Winners

Kosciusko REMC President and CEO Steve Rhodes announced the winners of the 2010 KREMC Scholarship Program.

Area Plan Commission Recommends Rezoning Former Church

The Syracuse Town Council will now decide whether a former church can be turned into a commercial location.

PVD Coatings to Create 70 Jobs

Winona PVD Coatings, LLC, a provider of bright finish coatings to the automotive wheel industry, announced plans recently to expand its operations here, creating up to 70 new jobs by 2012.

Meijer Asked To Present Road-Improvements Plan

Kosciusko County residents and visitors may have another option in Warsaw to shop for food, clothing and household items.

Health Care

Editor, Times-Union:I am opposed to a national health insurance for all citizens, a so-called one-payer system.

APC To Meet With Attorney Regarding Nature's Fuel

The Area Plan Commission decided to meet with attorney Mike Reed again regarding Nature's Fuel in Atwood during its monthly meeting Wednesday afternoon.

NIPSCO: Survey Reveals 49.3M Americans Plan To Dig Without Contacting 811 First

Rich America

Editor, Times-Union: For all of you in the middle and working classes, you may already realize that many in the wealthy class are involved in a plan to bankrupt this country. Most of this plan involves their refusal to pay their fair share of taxes, which has caused the national debt to skyrocket. So many people seem to be willing to sell out the future of others for generations just so they can have lower taxes for the present.

County Set To Fund Road Work With New Gas Tax Revenues

Kosciusko County is gearing up for plans to use additional tax revenues for road work from the recently increased state gas tax.