Relevance Date

U.S. Senator's Regional Director Hears Local Constituents' Concerns

It was a busy two hours. Eight people sought assistance corresponding with federal agencies Tuesday morning, and Sen.Evan Bayh's regional director, Mark Meissner, took notes, gathered papers and assured citizens they'd hear from the office soon. Meissner, set up in the former courtroom of the Kosciusko County courthouse, talked to citizens about Social Security, income taxes, the Veterans Administration and a U.S.visa issue. There were no set appointments and the materials gathered will be presented to case workers in Bayh's Indianapolis office. "Most calls and letters go to Washington, D.C., and Indianapolis," Meissner said."A letter from the senator to an executive director usually speeds up response time." Meissner schedules office hours in 20 counties representing Bayh and is on the road most of the time. He works out of the senator's Fort Wayne office pretty much by himself.An intern works in the office two mornings per week.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Two Rescued As Woman Wakes To Smoke, Flames

Andrea Long doesn't know what caused her to wake up Monday morning. But she is thankful it did. Andrea was sleeping on a couch in her home around 9 a.m.Monday when she awoke to see flames in the corner of the living room in her house at 942 E.Garfield Street, Warsaw. "I would like to know what woke me up," Andrea said this morning as she stood in front of the charred shell of the home she shared with her 2-year-old daughter Patsy Allen, her boyfriend Kip Allen and Kip's brother Kyle Allen.Andrea, Patsy and Kyle were in the home when the blaze started."The smoke alarm did not go off." Andrea said smoke detectors in the house were in working order but they did not sound. "The smoke alarm worked the day before," said Kip, who explained smoke from something in the oven set off the smoke alarm Sunday. When Long woke up, she said her first instinct was to try to put out the fire, but the flames were moving quickly.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Silver Lake Cable TV Service To Improve

SILVER LAKE - Residents will soon have more channels on their cable television service. A representative of Marcus Cable told the Silver Lake Town Council Tuesday that a new local channel, on which the town can announce meetings and events, is being added, as is the Prevue Channel, which lists programming on all channels. Also, the following channels will be added to the broadcast basic: ESPN2, Nickelodeon, Lifetime, The Learning Channel, TNT and American Movie Classics.New premium channels now available are HBO2 and HBO Family. In other business, the council signed a contract with Stafford's Solid Waste Inc.of Warsaw for trash collection for 1997. The change in servers takes effect March 1 and collection will now be on Thursdays.There will be a six-bag limit per household per week.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Whitko Teacher Defies The Odds

NORTH WEBSTER - Defying all odds, David Jessie is back to work as a special education teacher with the Whitko Community School Corp.less than six months after being "skinned like a deer." Those are the words Jessie uses to describe what doctors did to save his life after he was infected with a rare form of gangrene.The flesh-eating infection presented itself a day after Jessie underwent a common orthoscopic knee surgery Sept.12. Jessie's wife, Charlotte, took him to Goshen General Hospital, but his leg - from his toes to halfway up his back - had already turned black because of the infection.He was transferred to a Fort Wayne hospital, where doctors began removing his skin to stop the spread of the infection.Mrs.Jessie was at first told her husband would either lose his leg or die.He did neither, but he and his family have suffered emotionally and financially.
RUTH ANNE LIPKA, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Saturday's Children's Concert The Last For Grace Orchestra

WINONA LAKE - The last measure of the Grace Community Orchestra will be heard Saturday, when the group presents its final children's concert. The GCO will evolve into the Warsaw Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr.Patrick Kavanaugh, this fall. GCO conductor Ardis Faber said the transition from a community to a symphony orchestra allows the group to grow and increase in stature in the community.As it always has, the newly named orchestra will include students, community and professional musicians.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Witnesses Testify In Robbery Trial

After hearing eyewitness accounts of a 2003 robbery Monday, the 12-person jury in the Richard Mitchell trial heard testimony from law enforcement Tuesday. Mitchell, 45, of Fort Wayne, is accused of robbing Stimmelators Gentlemen's Club at gunpoint Aug.12, 2003. Tuesday, the prosecution called 11 witnesses to the stand before resting its case.The defense then called two witnesses to the stand. Deputies with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, Syracuse and North Webster police officers and representatives from the Indiana State Police laboratories in Indianapolis and Bremen took the stand before the defense called its first witness.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Red Cross Recognizes Volunteers

The Kosciusko County Chapter of the American Red Cross held the annual meeting and banquet Thursday to recognize volunteer award winners.Tim Ziebarth, outgoing chairman of the board, was the master of ceremonies. Following dinner, a video reviewed activities in 2004, and Ed Rock, Kosciusko County emergency management director, thanked the Red Cross for their responsiveness throughout the year. During the brief business meeting, 2004 financial statistics were presented, and officers for 2005 were elected as follows: Jill Debatty, chairman; Kevin Weaver, vice chairman; Mike Suhany, secretary; and Burton Ramsey, treasurer.Other board members include Ziebarth, Ann Sweet, W.Wayne Walston, David Colquitt, Dean Lasseter, M.D., Layne Warren, Todd Sautter and Gretchen Moore.
M.J. RHODES, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Sheriff Candidates Discuss The Issues

Nearly 70 people packed Warsaw City Hall Tuesday night and heard a squeaky clean discussion of issues by candidates running for sheriff of Kosciusko County. Six of the eight candidates participated in an issue-oriented evening so polite that most candidates applauded each other after every address. Those at the forum included Republicans Steve Knispel, Aaron Rovenstine, Walter Knox, Mike Hobbs and Sam Whitaker.Also attending was Democrat Ron Barley.Two candidates - Democrats Jeff Bronsing and Glenn Canter - skipped the event. The event was sponsored by the local Taxpayers Action Network and included time-limited introductions and seven questions posed to all the candidates. Knox supplied the only spark of excitement when he suggested the county's role in the drug task force was nonexistent. "There is no task force.It's defunct," Knox said.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Robbery Trial Starts For Mitchell

After a 12-person jury was seated Monday morning in Kosciusko Circuit Court, testimony began in the armed robbery trial of Richard A.Mitchell. Mitchell, 45, of Fort Wayne, is accused of robbing Stimmelators Gentlemen's Club, North Webster, with a gun Aug.12, 2003. The jury heard testimony from five witnesses and heard the deposition of another witness Monday.All but one of Monday afternoon's witnesses were present in the bar at the time it was robbed.Each of the witnesses in the establishment at the time of the incident related similar accounts of the robbery to the jury. Each witness described the robber as tall and heavy set, wearing a tan fisherman's hat, glasses and a T-shirt.Photos of the hold-up show the robber had a tattoo on his forearm. When asked if the robber was in the courtroom, each witness identified defendant Richard Mitchell as the culprit.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Syracuse Submits Water Plans To State

SYRACUSE - Syracuse's water distribution project is moving ahead and plans have been submitted to the state, town officials reported Tuesday. Clint Houseworth, public works superintendent, reported the building specifications and drawing were submitted to Indiana Department of Emergency Management.The town expects a response within 45 days. "We're now in the waiting game of waiting for a response before we can take the next step," Houseworth said. The next step, Town Manager Jeff Noffsinger said, is securing a construction permit and advertising for bids. In the meantime, Houseworth asked the board to approve Dixon Engineering to inspect the new water tower involved in the project.According to Houseworth, water town engineering is very specialized and there are few firms that do it.Dixon Engineering was approved and will be paid $9,625 for the tower inspection.
KRISTA ZARTMAN, Times-Union Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Triton Students Show Conflict Resolution Skills

BOURBON - Four Triton students presented the school board with a role play last night dramatizing their newly acquired peer mediation skills. Students David Gabhart, Brittany Cook, Zak Chittum and Hannah Bessinger are four of Triton's 28 Junior-Senior High students who underwent conflict resolution and peer mediation training late last month. Education for Conflict Resolution, Indiana's leading interpersonal and organizational training center, provided the students with an intensive two-day training session, where they learned a step-by-step process and participated in realistic role-plays. According to ECR, peer mediation provides students with a "guided process for peaceful conflict resolution."Students often are more willing to discuss their problems with peers.Mediation, rather than letting problems build up, gives students a peaceful route to resolution.
KRISTA PRIMROSE, Times-Union Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Woman's Body Found In Warsaw

Two fishermen looking for a spot to night fish Thursday discovered a woman's body in a pond north of Center Center in Warsaw. Police and fire personnel were already near the location responding to a 6:48 p.m.incident at Bob Evans Restaurant when the men made the discovery.Emergency crews then secured the scene around the unnamed pond owned by Superior Excavating. According to police, the woman's body was rolled up in a piece of carpet at the time it was found.Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine said foul play is suspected in the woman's death.Rovenstine said he did not want to speculate on the identity of the woman, but confirmed that a December missing person case remains open and has been actively investigated.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

WCDC Questions Financial Liability Of Comstock House

What began as a project to preserve a historic building and create a source of revenue has turned into a financial burden for the Warsaw Community Development Corp. Eight years after purchasing the Comstock House, a building now used to house low-incomes residents, the WCDC is questioning whether it should hold onto the property. Bruce Woodward represented the 130-year-old building during Tuesday's WCDC meeting and reported the current status of the Comstock House, both structurally and financially. "We're getting the rents up, but it's a slow process," Woodward said."What I'm working to do is get expenses down." Problems resulting from mildew and lead-based paint have forced the WCDC to continually fund efforts to rehabilitate the 7,000-square-foot building.
Joe Kirkendall, Times-Union staff writer- | July 28, 2016

State Seeks To Close Syracuse Home Health Agency

Steps are being taken by the Indiana State Department of Health to shut down a Syracuse home health agency allegedly operating without a license. The state agency is seeking an injunction in Kosciusko Circuit Court against Forte Residential, North Huntington Street, Syracuse, and the action is being pursued "to prevent the irreparable injury to the defendant's clients whose health and lives are threatened by the fact that they are receiving home health services from untrained, unlicensed individuals," according to court documents. "It is our contention that the facility is operating as a home health agency, and it isn't one," said Margaret Joseph, public information officer for the ISDH.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Wawasee Considers Building Needs

SYRACUSE - A demographic study is the first step in upgrading buildings in the Wawasee school system. Upon superintendent Mark Stock's recommendation, the school board Tuesday approved hiring two consultants to conduct the study.The last demographic study was done in 1990. Stock said the study would provide information on birth rates, housing starts, past enrollment, enrollment projections, a facility analysis, a financial analysis, and a study of year-round education.This information will help the board determine what improvements are necessary and whether to consider a building project. Stock said a new law requires the study of year-round education; he doesn't believe the corporation will have to go this route."Our problem is not overcrowding, but updating," he said. The study will cost $11,000.
DEB McAULIFFE , Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Parking Fines May Rise In Warsaw

The Traffic Commission's recommendation to increase parking fines and "level" the space rental in city-leased parking lots was discussed again by the Warsaw city council Monday. At the March 8 meeting, traffic commissioner Kip Shuter, representing the commissioners, recommended the board increase the parking fines from $10 for the first violation and subsequent violations to $20.Currently, the fees are $5 for the first violation and $10 for subsequent violations. Parking along the curbs downtown is free for two hours, between 10 a.m.and 8 p.m., on several streets and in the city lot between Buffalo and Indiana streets, north of Jefferson Street. "We'd like to get people into a lot, rather than get three tickets a month," Shuter said two weeks ago."There are a lot of people who just move their cars every two hours." Monday, councilman Bob Morrison said he has changed his mind about the subject.He originally opposed the increase.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Rotorcraft Crash Unites Victim, Emergency Personnel

The sun was shining.There was little wind.Silas F.Smith, 43, Cedar Lake, was with his children at the Mentone Rotorcraft Convention Fly-in.He and James Bodie, Aiken, S.C., decided to go up in Smith's gyroplane to take advantage of the great day. But the great day didn't last forever as tragedy struck the two men. Smith's gyroplane started to drop.Smith could feel something wrong with the aircraft as the craft fell closer and closer to the ground.They tried everything but to no avail. "We were trying to save it all the way down," Smith said. Nothing they did prevented the ultimate crash.Smith said they waited about 10 minutes, injured on the ground, before help arrived.Both men survived. Fast forward to March 20, 1999. Smith returned to Mentone Saturday to reunite with the men and women who saved his life less than a year before.One of those people he reunited with was First Responder Lori Miller.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Historic Lumber Company Closing After 90 Years

A historical piece of Warsaw came to an end Saturday.Miner Lumber Co., 731 W.Jefferson St., officially closed down after approximately 90 years of service. William Miner opened the business around 1910.Under his ownership, the business flourished. Around 1915, Miner Lumber Co.was named the largest employer in Kosciusko County. Approximately five years later, William sold it to his four sons: Ray, Russ (Bus), Deke and Albert Miner. "In 1956, lightning struck the lumber company and completely destroyed it, burned it down," William's grandson and Ray's son Bill Miner said."One year later it was completely restored.They made a beautiful recovery and rebuilt the entire business." Bill reminisced about childhood memories in the lumberyard. "Growing up as a kid, I was down there all the time," he said. Bill recalled helping out at the lumberyard and carrying sawdust for his dad and uncles.
LAURA SLOOP, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Mentone Trustee To Require Work For Assistance Program Recipients

MENTONE - Anyone seeking assistance from the Harrison Township trustee may soon have to work for it. Jim Moyer, Harrison Township trustee, said one of his duties is to administer the township assistance program.As part of the program, he can require recipients to work for the benefits.He said he wants any resident of Harrison Township who requests the assistance to work some of it off.It has been done elsewhere. After speaking with street superintendent Darrel Miller, Moyer said they agreed it was a reasonable idea.The workers would have to be supervised.He asked if the town council was interested in allowing the township to implement the idea.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Miner Gives Opinion On Barking Dog Ordinance

A group of Kosciusko County residents, led by Herschel Rainwater, have complained to the county commissioners for more than a year about the need for a nuisance ordinance. Their biggest nuisance, they said, is barking dogs. Kosciusko County Commissioners have not taken any action and have not said publically if they will or will not.Tuesday, the commissioners' attorney, Michael L.Miner, presented to the commissioners remedies presently available to citizens as protection against barking dogs and other similar nuisances. In his memorandum, Miner said several statutes in Indiana provide some measure of protection. Indiana Code 15-5-9-13 provides that it is an infraction for an owner to allow his or her dog to stray beyond their premises.Indiana Code 15-5-12-3 provides misdemeanor penalties if a dog bites or attacks another person.Two other Indiana codes provide requirements for importing wild animals and require a permit to possess a wild animal.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016
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