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CVB Commission Questions $165,000 In Reserve Funds

Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission members heard that more than $164,000 was being held by the Convention and Visitors Bureau Inc., an amount accumulated over the last three years. The restructured commission met Tuesday for the second time this year with members Jan Carter, John Elliott, Fay Medlock, Jon Sroufe, Joy McCarthy-Sessing and Deb Wiggins present.Wiggins is the commission's president. During the meeting, the commission's contract with the CVB and the CVB's budget were discussed at length. The commission is charged with promoting and encouraging conventions, visitors and tourism within the county.Expenditures of the 5 percent hotel room tax (of the 5 percent room tax, the hotels keep 1 percent for administration) may include but are not limited to costs for advertising, promotional activities, trade shows, special events and recreation.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Some County Residents Still Without Power

More than 62,000 northern Indiana homes and businesses remained without power Friday evening, a day after an ice storm toppled trees and power lines, and many faced the prospect of a cold, dark weekend. North Indiana Public Service Co.crews continued to make progress in restoring electricity to customers who were affected by Wednesday night's storm and a second round of ice damage Thursday afternoon. Heavy accumulations of ice downed power lines and damaged trees, which caused extensive damage to a widespread area across NIPSCO's service industry. As of 8 a.m.Friday, in areas surrounding Plymouth, Goshen, Warsaw and Angola, about 11,500 customers were without power.
STAFF REPORT and Associated Press reports- | July 28, 2016

Manchester Looks For Ways To Trim School Budget

NORTH MANCHESTER - A proposed budget without a funding increase for state school corporations in financial straits could result in staffing and program cuts, Manchester Community Schools Acting Superintendent Kim Thurston said Tuesday. The corporation is considering a cut in certified staff and support staff.Other district-wide expenses, such as materials and supplies, overtime pay, field trips and extracurricular activity programs, could be minimized. "A flat-line budget is actually an increase in expenditures with no additional revenue to address the automatic increases the school district will experience," he said. Costs will be rising, though.Automatic increases include incremental pay raises for teachers and premium renewals for health and property insurances. The superintendent told the school board utility costs are expected to make "more than a modest jump" in the next two years.Cinergy is requesting a 16 percent increase, he said.
Matthew Weigelt, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

County To Buy New Software For Voter Registration

Kosciusko County's voter registration software no longer meets the state's requirements. Tuesday, the Kosciusko County Commissioners unanimously approved county systems administrator Bob Momeyer's request to purchase new voter registration software from NTS, Niagara Falls, N.Y., for the basic cost of $64,242. Momeyer said the state made changes in the law that make the county's software out of date. Commissioner Avis Gunter told County Clerk Sharon Christner and Momeyer she appreciated all the work they put into finding the "best solution for our problem." After the meeting, Momeyer said the software will help maintain the database of all registered voters in the county. Christner said the clerk's office will eventually have to communicate with the state on a weekly or even daily basis and the new software will be capable of doing that.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Winona Hears About Possible Greenway Delay

WINONA LAKE - The greenway project may be delayed another six months, according to information town coordinator Craig Allebach supplied to the town council Tuesday. Allebach said he, councilman Jerry Clevenger, Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins and greenway committeeman Jeff Noffsinger visited with Indiana Department of Transportation officials Thursday. "They said the funding was there, but we will have to reapply for the grant," Allebach said."So will Warsaw.Awards will be announced in July. "It's funny, though, because we signed and executed a contract for $760,000 to begin the project that INDOT sent us." The town also has a letter from INDOT officials indicating that funding for construction would be $648,000 and that the figure of $550,000 also was approved. "I think there's a lot of confusion.Their filing system seems to consist of moving around cardboard boxes that are stacked from the floor to the ceiling," Allebach said.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

KDI Board Looks At Projects For 2000

The Kosciusko Development Inc.board of directors welcomed new members Wednesday in their annual meeting. The board officially accepted Jim Tinkey from Mutual Federal Savings Bank and David Delp from the town of Winona Lake as new members of the board. "That's official, then," chairman Randy Vutech said."Both David and Jim are new members." The nominating committee for KDI also proposed the following officers for 2000: Julie VanDeWater for chairman of the board, Randy Vutech for vice chairman, Jim Tinkey for treasurer and Brad Bishop for secretary.The nominating committee further proposed Julie VanDeWater, Randy Vutech, Jim Tinkey, Brad Bishop and Joy McCarthy-Sessing as members of the KDI executive committee.All nominations were approved.
LAURA SLOOP, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Figures Prominently In Business Survey

Several area businesses and business people were recognized in December's Fort Wayne Business Journal's "Year in Review" as being among the the largest and best in northeast Indiana. Kosciusko Community Hospital was recognized in multiple categories: No.5 in largest hospitals, based on the number of full-time employees in the 2005 American Hospital Association Guide; No.5 in total births; and fifth in latest expansion, with the June groundbreaking for The Beyer Building, a 19,600-square-foot addition that will house KCH satellite facilities and Northern Lakes Internal Medicine. In largest construction projects, based on cost, KCH was recognized for completion of the 24,800-square-foot Emergency Care Center at $8 million.Manchester College's $16.8 million Science Center was one of the largest construction projects in northeast Indiana.Of the 11 projects highlighted, the only other project outside the Fort Wayne area was the new Parkview Noble Hospital in Kendallville.
M.J. RHODES, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

WHA Board Reorganizes, Lauds Ruggier-Milton For Service

It was out with the old and in with the new at Monday's Warsaw Housing Authority Board of Commissioners meeting. Sherri Ruggier-Milton was presented with a plaque in honor of her years of service to the board.Ruggier-Milton served from 1994 through 2001. "I've enjoyed it," she said."It's with mixed emotions that I leave the board." WHA board president Bob Kline passed along thanks on behalf of the entire board for Ruggier-Milton's service."We really appreciate what she's done," he said. Also leaving the board is Axa Troncoso, who did not attend the meeting. New to the board are Pat Ellis and Jennifer Mitchell.The other members of the board are Kline, Dennis Cultice, Tom Lemon, Joel Curry and Brian Grantz.Bill Rhoades is the Warsaw City Council representative to the board and does not have voting rights.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Retired Navy Officer Becomes St. Anne's 1st Woman Priest

The seventh woman to earn Naval Aviator wings in March 1976 also was the first woman aviator to assume command of an Atlantic Fleet carrier aviation squadron.She is the first woman naval aviator to command a Naval Air Station - NAS Key West. Prior to her retirement in October 2001, Capt.Linda Hutton served in the Pentagon on the staff of the Chief of Naval Operations. During her 27-year naval career, she accumulated nearly 400 day and night carrier landings and more than 4,500 flight hours.She holds a bachelor's degree from Florida State University and a master's degree in government and national security studies from Georgetown University (1982), and has been awarded two Legions of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, a Joint Service Commendation Medal and a Meritorious Outstanding Service Volunteer Medal.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Grace Planning New Student Recreation Center

WINONA LAKE - Grace College and Seminary is in the final stage of devising a three-part plan to raise $2.1 million to renovate the Danek building and make a new student recreation center. According to John Boal, chief advancement officer, 70 percent of Grace students participate in intramural sports activities. Lancer Gymnasium opens for practices at 5:30 a.m.and shuts its doors after 11 p.m. "In the fall we have college women's volleyball and the men's and women's basketball teams practicing along with all the intramural sports," Boal said."In the spring, it's baseball and track practice, too.So the need for us is huge." In December 1999, Grace purchased the 81,000-square-foot Danek building adjacent to campus through a $750,000 gift from Robert and Frances Gordon. The Gordons live in Grace Village and Boal described them as "just friends of Grace." The rec center will be named after the couple.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Pierceton Seeks Funds For Housing Rehabilitation

PIERCETON - The sound of hammers and saws may soon be ringing throughout the town replacing roofs and windows and shoring up sagging porches if funds being sought by the town are awarded by state and local agencies. Jerry Kreger, president of the town council, heard from Catharine Walker, director of Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, Thursday and, while no decisions were made, the groundwork was laid for owner-occupied housing rehabilitation grant applications. Council members Terry Hill and Ron Hall were absent. To secure a $200,000 grant from the Indiana Housing Financing Authority, Walker explained, a 10-percent match of $20,000 must be made. An application for the Kosciusko County Foundation grant is written and will be forwarded to the foundation if approved by a full quorum of council members.KCF announces awards April 1 and Oct.1.The town has about $2,000 set aside for the project.
TERESA CARRANO, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Milford TIF Plans Gaining Ground

Plans for a TIF district near Milford gained momentum Thursday with the blessing of Kosciusko County Council. A third presentation in less than two weeks appears to have molded support for a proposal presented by Maple Leaf Farms for road improvements near its plant on county roads 200E and 900N. Although the plan is the first heard by Kosciusko County officials, tax increment finance districts already exist in three incorporated areas within the county - Warsaw, Milford, Pierceton - and another is planned in Winona Lake. According to information supplied by Rich Hill, a consultant with Baker and Daniels, TIF's popularity is as strong locally as any other part of the state. Forty to 50 communities in Indiana have established the economic financial development tool, he said.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Freshmen Hold Food Drive

Times-Union Staff Writer Holidays aren't the only time of the year when food is needed to help the less fortunate. It's needed year-round. At Combined Community Services, director of development Darlene Redinger said, the "food pantry is always, always in need of restocking," because with every food drive, there are always people coming in with needs to be met. And to help fill that need, the Warsaw Community High School freshman student council will sponsor its annual canned food drive Feb.10-21. According to freshman student council member Adam Wishart, the council wants to collect at least 8,000 cans from WCHS students.An additional challenge, according to Danielle Snyder, freshman student council, is to have the community collect and at least match what the school raises.She said they want to get the community more involved in the project, so they're trying to get the word out as much as possible.
!photo=0208032.JPG- | July 28, 2016

Manchester Nursing Home Plans Improvements

NORTH MANCHESTER - Plans are in the works for improvements and additions at Peabody Retirement Home, North Manchester. The retirement home recently purchased 92 acres west of its campus, extending to Beckley Street.They also recently purchased four homes along Ninth Street. The retirement community will undergo remodeling, some rebuilding and construction of new buildings in the future.Plans at this point are tentative and a time frame is not yet available. Dereck Frederickson, Engineering Resources, Fort Wayne, represented Peabody Home at Monday's North Manchester Plan Commission meeting.He presented a preliminary plat for their main campus as a planned unit development. Frederickson said the proposal includes adding sidewalks along Ninth and Beckley streets to accommodate pedestrians and adding an underground detention system to absorb stormwater.
LAURA SLOOP, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

How is the health of Quorum Health?

With the sale of Kosciusko Community Hospital officially closed, local investors and patrons have a growing interest in the health of Quorum Health Group Inc. Quorum, the company that purchased KCH, is based in Brentwood, Tenn.One of the largest health care corporations in the country, Quorum operates Lutheran and St.Joseph hospitals in Fort Wayne.Nationwide, Quorum owns 21 hospitals and manages 241 others. In 1998, the company faced two legal actions. According to a November filing by Quorum with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S.Justice Department launched an investigation into Quorum's alleged violations of Medicare law. The Justice Department investigation, initiated in May, is concerned with the preparation of cost reports for Medicare and other government payment programs between 1984 and 1997.The allegations are that Quorum overstated Medicare costs during the years under investigation.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

'Red Light' Bill Before State Lawmakers Again

Known as the red light camera bill, SB3 has been prepared by State Sen.Kent Adams (R-Warsaw) for a hearing before the Transportation and Homeland Security committee tomorrow. This is the third year Adams has sponsored the legislation, which allows local communities to institute their own ordinances regarding automated traffic law enforcement systems installation at designated intersections. To date, Sen.Tom Wyss (R-Fort Wayne), chairman of the Transportation and Homeland Security committee, has been added as co-author along with Sen.Charles "Bud" Meeks (R-Leo). Indiana lists 157 deaths attributed to red light running from 1992 through 1998, an average of 26 per year.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Attorney General Offers Opinion On Red Light Bill

Of the 1,500 bits of legislation proposed at the Statehouse each session, the state's attorney general, Steve Carter, offers his testimony on just a handful. Tuesday morning, he stood before the State Senate's Transportation and Homeland Security Committee hearing and backed Sen.Kent Adam's Sentate Bill 3 - legislation authorizing local (city and town) governments to use automated traffic enforcement devices or red light cameras. "The bill is a clear example of 'home rule,'" Carter said yesterday afternoon during a stopover visit at Warsaw Municipal Airport."The people that drive the roads know the traffic conditions the best.Local government should have a voice where safety is a concern." Carter was joined by Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins, Warsaw Police Department Lt.Bret Richardson and Ann Sweet, a local red light camera advocate.They had just returned to the city after testifying before the committee.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

New Banking Regs Test Bounds Of Privacy

If the federal regulatory agencies have their way, bank tellers will be brought into the nation's war on drugs. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., The Federal Reserve, the Comptroller of the United States and the Manager of the Currency have all signed off on a proposed national regulation that would require banks to monitor their customers' transactions and report any suspicious activity to bank regulatory agencies. According to Steve Katsanos, press liaison for the FDIC, the proposed "Know Your Customer" regulation would require banks to establish policies and procedures to obtain information on banking habits. "The rule is supposed to aid in the effort to combat illegal drug trade," Katsanos said. As proposed, the regulation will require banks to determine the identity of their customers, their sources of funds and what their normal and expected transactions are, and a system to monitor customer activity for transactions inconsistent with those expectations.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Mentone Reconsiders Request For Abatement, Still Votes No

MENTONE - Two issues the Mentone Town Council made decisions on previously, the board revisited Monday. First, by a vote of 2 to 1, the council voted to deny Roy Swartz's request for a tax abatement for duplexes he plans to build at the corner of North Morgan and High streets, and not to allow any abatements for residential areas in the town limits.Councilman Tim Croy made the motion, with Mark Hughes seconding it.Jack Simpson voted against the motion. On Dec.6, Swartz made his initial request for an abatement.At that meeting, the council approved the abatement for five years on the condition that the abatement was legally possible. On Dec.27, Hughes said Swartz "does not qualify" for a tax abatement under state law and under the town's ordinances.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

KCH Sale Finalized, Nets $63 Million

Kosciusko Community Hospital is officially a for-profit hospital with the completion of the sale to Quorum Health Group Inc. In a statement released Monday by KCH, the net proceeds from the sale will total at least $63 million.Those funds will be placed in the control of a newly created Kosciusko 21st Century Foundation (K21 Foundation). According to a statement, the foundation was formed to "promote, improve and enhance the quality of life for the residents of Kosciusko County."The funds generated through the investment of the sale proceeds will be used for grants to support new and existing community programs that address those quality-of-life issues. Under the terms of the sale, Quorum will allow the KCH board of directors to maintain a majority of local citizens and the board will be responsible for the quality of care given by the hospital.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016
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