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Mentone Furthers Permit Fees, Fines for Construction

MENTONE - Fees and fines for building permits were hammered out Monday night by the Mentone Town Council. Town attorney Larry Beeson will draft two applications, as well as the ordinance establishing the fees and fines, and present them at the board's April meeting.One application will be for new construction, the other for other construction such as swimming pools or fences. Suggested fees for permits included a minimum of $25, with permits for new homes at $100.A flat fee will be imposed regardless of a shed's size.A demolition fee and permit also will be established, among others.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Winona Changes System Of Collecting Seat Belt Violation Fees

WINONA LAKE - Seat belt violation fees will be paid at the Winona Lake town hall and will go into the town's general fund instead of through the county judicial system, due to a resolution approved by the town council Tuesday. Town marshal Malcolm Gilbert said passenger restraint violations are usually $25 but can be as high as $1,000, and have traditionally gone to the Superior Court.Other towns are passing such legislation, too, according to Gilbert. So far Winona Lake is the first town in the county to have such a law. Todd Samuelson, CPA for H.R.Umbaugh and Associates, Plymouth, gave a lengthy presentation regarding the town's wastewater treatment finances prior to the board signing an agreement with Warsaw as the city prepares to construct another wastewater treatment facility. The Umbaugh firm was asked to conduct a financial review and rate study.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Wawasee Board Looks At New School Plans

SYRACUSE -ÊFloor plans don't always make it easy to picture a building as three dimensional. Tuesday, Wawasee school board members didn't need to imagine what the new North Webster Elementary School will look like in 3-D as the architects presented 3-D images of the school. Gary Watkins, of Barton-Coe-Vilamaa Architects & Engineers Inc., Fort Wayne, presented the board with floor plans and 3-D images of the building.Included were the mechanical plans of the building. Entry to the building would be on the east side.The media center is centrally located, with the gym and cafeteria on the west end. If the building is locked down, Watkins said, the front door is the only entry and anyone who enters the building will have to pass by the administration window.This, he said, will provide better security for the school. The gym includes two full basketball courts, cross-court. The classroom sizes vary from 925 square feet to 1,100 square feet.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Schmitt Sworn In As Winona Town Marshal

WINONA LAKE - Paul Schmitt, a former 29-year member of the Warsaw Police Department, is now Winona Lake town marshal. Schmitt was sworn in this morning during Winona's town council meeting, where members fixed Schmitt's salary and introduced him to the Winona Lake Police Department. Schmitt replaces Malcolm Gilbert, who announced in January he intended to step down from town marshal to assume the role of deputy marshal. "I look forward to the challenge of Winona Lake," Schmitt said."I'll be working to provide courteous, prompt and efficient services to the town's residents." Beginning salary for Schmitt is $1,730 bi-weekly, with bonuses awarded for each year of service for the first 15 years. Schmitt is a lifelong Warsaw resident, and worked for the WPD in positions ranging from dispatcher to captain of the department.He is currently a security specialist for NoBi Corp., Warsaw.
Joe Kirkendall, Times-Union staff writer- | July 28, 2016

Candlelight Vigil Planned To Remember Abuse Victims

Last year, 41 children died in Indiana from abuse or neglect, according to information provided by the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Kosciusko County. Thirty of those deaths were classified as abuse and 11 as neglect.Of the abuse deaths, 37 percent were children one year or younger.Eighty percent of the abuse deaths were six years and younger, while 100 percent of the neglect deaths were six and under. More than three-quarters of the abuse perpetrators were men, while more than two-thirds of neglect perpetrators were women.Approximately 63 percent of abuse perpetrators and 64 percent of neglect perpetrators were the natural parents. There were 174 cases of substantiated child abuse in Kosciusko County alone, and an additional 110 cases of unsubstantiated cases. In order to remember those children, the Second Annual Candlelight Vigil will be held April 14 at 5:30 p.m.on the Kosciusko County courthouse steps.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Local Congressmen React To Bombing

As the NATO bombs started falling on Serbia, the Congressional delegation of Kosciusko County was lining up in support of the U.S.airmen involved in the assault. "We have arrived at a point where there are really no good options to resolve the situation in Kosovo.No one wants to place the men and women of our armed forces in harm's way.At the same time, we cannot stand idly by and watch genocide take place," said Sen.Evan Bayh (D)."Nor can we stand idly by and watch a dictator destabilize a part of Europe from which previous conflicts have led to world war." Bayh also called for partisan wrangling over the nation's policy in the Balkans to cease while American warplanes are involved in the air raids. "This is not a time for second-guessing the Administration.Now that our troops are engaged in an armed conflict, our nation must be supportive of their mission, help them accomplish that mission as quickly as possible and get them out of harm's way," he said.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

KDI Asked To Develop Plans For Economic Development

Kosciusko Development Inc.president Roger Moynahan talked about taking the organization "on the road" during the board of directors meeting Wednesday. "With Joy (McCarthy-Sessing) and Max Courtney, we're boldly asking for funds.We've visited the county council, the city council and the Rotary Club," he said, "and we're trying to get out to the other communities." Board member and county councilman Bob Sanders asked if a "game plan" had been prepared. "We need to know what you're going to do instead of showing us charts.We want to see what you want and how you're going to do it," he said. McCarthy-Sessing said she thought it was more important to make the presentation, to go out with the dream.She commented that, compared to other counties, other counties "think we're a joke" when it comes to economic development. Moynahan said McCarthy-Sessing has spent a lot of time working with a company proposing a soybean refinery that will produce diesel fuel.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

City Council OKs Tax Abatement For Winona PVD

A business that focuses on chrome replacement technology now will have a facility for office and manufacturing space. The Warsaw City Council approved a confirming resolution request for a 10-year tax abatement on real estate designated lot one within the West Hill Industrial Complex at its meeting Tuesday. The abatement will allow a new 52,000-square-foot facility to be constructed to serve as office and manufacturing space for Winona PVD. The council also approved a resolution allowing the area to be designated as an Economic Revitalization Area which will allow the applicant and future applicants to apply for tax abatements on real and personal property. The industrial subdivision was annexed after the 1997 ERA resolution, requiring the city to declare the area as an ERA. The council also approved a tax abatement on $3 million of personal property for manufacturing equipment the company will purchase during the expansion of the facilities.
JENNIFER PERYAM, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Mentone Chamber Seeks 'Egg' Tower Donations

Rita Price, president of the Mentone Chamber of Commerce, is collecting egg money. At a Tuesday night meeting Price and the Mentone chamber decided to be the collection point for private funds for the proposed egg-shaped water tower. "We've got a lot of people who want to donate money to this," said Price."There is tremendous financial support behind this." Price said the chamber is waiting to announce its financial goal until substantial donors reveal their donations to the fund drive.The egg could cost $25,000-$50,000 more than a plain tower. "We have the opportunity to do something to set (Mentone) apart and it's not going to cost taxpayers anything," said Price. She refused to name any potential donors, and said she believes the largest potential donor may never wish to reveal his identity. Price said the chamber would collect donations for the egg from private donors and then pay the difference between a standard tank and the novelty.
GREG BROWN, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Local Residents Give Views On Clinton Scandal

Some are embarrassed, others are saddened, but nobody's surprised about President Clinton's newest sex scandal. While some people interviewed Thursday by the Times-Union said they were saddened, many said Clinton's alleged affair with a White House intern fits a pattern that's continually come to light in the past five years. Most of the 10 people interviewed think the allegations - if proven true - will not lead to the president's downfall. Gwen Jackson, who was at Warsaw Community Public Library learning about home schooling, said she was most bothered by allegations that Clinton may have attempted to coerce the intern from telling the truth.The latest incident was the last straw, she said.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Gets Grant To Clean Up Gatke Property

Warsaw has been awarded $300,000 for underground storage tank removal, waste removal, lead paint abatement, asbestos removal, demolition and road construction of the former Gatke Corp.property at 2321 E.Winona Ave. Mayor Ernie Wiggins, city planner Jeff Noffsinger and assistant planner Kristy Mehlberg met with Lt.Gov.Joe Kernan in Indianapolis Wednesday during the award presentation. Warsaw is one of three Indiana communities to benefit from a brownfield pilot program developed by the Indiana Department of Commerce's Community Development Division. Tell City and Michigan City also were notified of their awards yesterday. Funded through the federal Community Development Block Grant, the program is designed to assist in a community's redevelopment and site preparation efforts. Built in 1906, the power plant served the Winona Interurban Railway and the town of Winona Lake until 1915, when the railway filed for bankruptcy.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Cold, Cold, Cold!

And Associated Press Reports The season's biggest blast of arctic weather canceled all area high school basketball games Friday night and continued to make driving difficult on many of Kosciusko County's area roads. Blowing and drifting snow made driving difficult Friday night.However, police responded to few if any serious accidents. Road conditions remained poor. "They're all blowing and drifting," said a dispatcher for Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department."We've had several people hit snow drifts and get stuck, but we've only had one or two actually accidents. The dispatcher said county snow crews quit plowing at sundown Friday and were expected to begin again about 5:30 a.m.today. An additional inch or two of snow that fell Friday - on top of the estimated five inches that accumulated Thursday - was swept around by winds that peaked at 40 mph.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

'Shockwave Cafe' Offers Unique View Of Internet

WaveOne, a Warsaw Internet Service provider, is offering a unique experience for people looking for a new kind of computer encounter. The Shockwave Cafe provides users the chance to play computer games against each other on an incredibly fast network rather than playing against the computer itself.It also provides a fast way to surf the 'net. "This is a dream I've had for over two years.The biggest thing with the Shockwave Cafe is Internet games.You can play, say, Warcraft 2, against your computer, but it's better to do it against eight of your friends," said Phil Lewis of WaveOne.
ORA FREEMAN, Times-Union Correspondent- | July 28, 2016

Police Urge Caution During Internet Deals

Because Warsaw Police Department continues to receive reports that citizens are trying to cash checks obtained from Internet agreements from third parties, WPD warns citizens to be cautious. The Warsaw Police Department reminds citizens that any type of checks received through discussion or agreements in this manner, including postal money orders, cashier's checks and business checks, may appear valid or realistic, but are probably fraudulent. Any person who tries to cash these checks may be furthering a crime of fraud, and at the very least, may be victimized by obtaining monies from these checks by following the instructions to send, mail or wire money to the third party, and eventually finding the checks to be fraudulent.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Chamber Honors Community Leaders

Lake City Bank walked away Wednesday from Warsaw's 85th annual Chamber of Commerce banquet with the majority of honors, for its business and for its employees. Jean Northenor, senior vice president of LCB, was the recipient of the Chamber's first Athena Award, which recognizes community leaders who help women reach their full potential. Northenor was honored for her advocacy of women in leadership positions in the community, for encouraging women in the political arena and for her support of the advancement of professional women. Lake City Bank received the general business award, in recognition of more than 125 years of financial service to the Kosciusko County community and beyond. The bank also was noted for its active involvement in the communities it serves and for encouraging its employees to participate in community service.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Goal Met

United Way met its campaign goal of $1,431,143, an amount illustrated by the organization's board of directors. Pictured above, (L to R) are: Grant McGuire, Lori Morel, Jeff Thornburgh, Mike Kissane, Sally Bailey, Clare Baumgardt, Becky White, Karen Dady, Dean Zentz and John Warren. A breakfast celebration was held in Center Lake pavilion in Warsaw this morning to mark the occasion. Of the 66 United Way campaigns conducted in Indiana for 2002-03, only nine met their financial goals. Photo by Teresa Smith, Times-Union
David [email protected] | July 28, 2016

Plank, Tandy Honored By WHA

Warsaw Mayor Jeff Plank was honored for his contributions to the city's housing needs at Monday's Warsaw Housing Authority meeting. Plank, who is retiring in March after 13 years as mayor, has made several appointments to the board while being a strong supporter of the WHA. "In any organization the tone is set by the administration," said Vickie Provine, executive director of the WHA."His heart for the people and his desire to provide programs has enabled others to provide programs," she said. "Why so many of our projects were successful in helping housing needs in the city of Warsaw is because Jeff Plank was instrumental in encouraging us and helping us find the source of funds that we needed," Provine said. Provine said Plank was instrumental in helping secure the support of the city council on many WHA programs: • In the past nine years the WHA has received three funding increments.
GREG BROWN, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

KDI Shows Loss During 2002

Jim Tinkey gave the Kosciusko Development Inc.executive board members continued bad news Wednesday as he presented the 2002 year- end financial statement.He presented a budget worksheet showing the organization's financial situation in the red, with a $14,710 loss. The downward trend began two years ago with a deficit of $2,147.31. Projected expenses in the $85,910 budget this year include two big-ticket items: $28,560 for administration fees and/or overhead and $41,000 in salaries and benefits.Other items, including training and development, legal expenses, advertising and other miscellaneous entries, show a total cost of $16,300. The group's support and revenue includes up to $35,000 as a match to donations from the county.Donations from companies and municipalities may exceed $35,000 and are given as $42,000 for last year.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Whitko School Board Hears About Bowen Center Program

PIERCETON - Tim Nussbaum of the Bowen Center presented statistics from the student and employee assistance program to Whitko school board members Monday. Whitko was the first school district to sign up for the program offering students two "free" counseling sessions, and employees, their spouses and their dependents four "free" counseling sessions each over the course of a year. Costs for counseling is paid with grant funds. The district has offered the service since 2000 for employees and since 2001 for students. Since 2001, 442 students have used the Bowen Center's services.An average of 8 percent have continued with sessions. The students are referred by parents, the court system, physicians or by the school staff. In 2005, referrals from the courts and physicians increased, and the Bowen Center counseled more boys. Children ages 14-18 made up the greatest percentage of Bowen Center clients in the program.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Polling Places To Change For Primary

All county polling places will be handicapped accessible, according to County Clerk Sharon Christner. She advised county commissioners Tuesday that the places for residents in 29 precincts have changed. A legal advertisement will soon be published in the Times-Union newspaper and changes will be made to information on the county government Web site, www.kcgov.com Voters will encounter new ballot machines in the May 2 primary election.The electronic equipment replaces the punch card system of voting. Commissioner Avis Gunter asked about training poll workers.Christner said she will conduct an initial seminar and MicroVote representatives will provide training on the equipment.Gunter said attendance at the meetings was mandatory or the workers won't get paid.Christner said the election board hadn't decided the question of payment yet.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016
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