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Residents Warned Of Gerber Scam

Northeast Indiana residents should be wary of offers concerning a class action suit against the Gerber baby food company, a representative of the Indiana State Attorney General warns. Area residents have reported receiving offers to be part of a class action settlement - if they would only send in a copy of their child's birth certificate and social security number. A private class action suit was filed against three baby food makers for price fixing, according to Rich Schneider, a representative of the Indiana State Attorney General.But filing for the small awards, less than $45, ended Jan.31 and the suit did not include Indiana residents. All sorts of rumors have sprung up about the settlement, he said.He also said that at no time during that settlement were consumers asked to give a birth certificate or social security number.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Stalking Creates New Class Of Victims

We've all read about crazed fans stalking celebrities and either being arrested by police or taken care of by the celebrities' bodyguards. But most people don't realize that the majority of stalking victims are not public figures or celebrities. "People think they're immune to it because they're not a celebrity," said Becky Moreno, victim advocate for Warsaw. "They blow things off because they're not recognizing the signs." In reality, more than 1 million women are stalked each year, and approximately three-fourths of women who are murdered were stalked before the homicide. The most difficult aspect of stalking, Moreno said, is that no one ever knows what sets off the stalker. Sometimes it's someone the victim knows.Sometimes it's a total stranger she smiled at or made eye contact with in a class or store.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Buyer Says GOP Forced Budget, Other Issues

Republicans should hold their heads high and be proud of what their party has accomplished. That was the message Rep.Steve Buyer (R-Dist.5) gave the county GOP at their annual Lincoln Day dinner Thursday. Citing the leadership the Republican party has provided since retaking control of the U.S.Congress in 1995, Buyer said Republican ideals of small, more efficient, less intrusive government were put into practice and resulted in the current budget surplus. "While the president may want to try and take responsibility for the current fiscal surplus, it was we Republicans who held his feet to the fire - even forcing a government shutdown to get sound budgetary practices in place," he said.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

S. Whitley Bank Suspects At Large

SOUTH WHITLEY - Two armed men robbed Star Financial Bank this morning in South Whitley. The two suspects were described as white males in their 20s wearing masks. The Whitley County Sheriff's Department received the call at 9:36 a.m.and said the suspects were headed south on Whitley CR 950W in a white car. No other details were available at press time.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Planners Discuss Ind. 15

Adam Fischer, of Thompson Thrift Management, was before the Warsaw Plan Commission Monday to request a replat of the Nye-Brandt property, where the Kohl's store stands, along Ind.15. The commission approved both the preliminary and final plat, allowing a lot line within the property to be moved to the north.Fischer said the replat was to better organize construction plans. The commission also addressed the road conditions of Ind.15, a thoroughfare experiencing increased traffic congestion because of commercial development. City Planner Jeremy Skinner said he contacted the Indiana Department of Transportation regarding a street light at the intersection with CR 300N, but was denied its construction under current conditions. INDOT will address the issue again in two years, but Skinner said the department will re-evaluate the street if traffic continues to increase as it has in recent years.
Joe Kirkendall, Times-Union staff writer- | July 28, 2016

Defense Dept. Says Don't Send Packages To Troops

Local organizations, youth clubs and families of servicemen and -women have been collecting, packing and sending care packages to friends and relatives stationed in Iraq.But are the troops getting the packages? According to the mother of a local soldier, they are not.She said she was told the packages are being held in Kuwait for distribution after the war. So how can people show their support for the troops? In several ways, says the Department of Defense.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Auditor Says Tax Bills Will Be Delayed

It's official. Tax bills in Kosciusko County will be delayed for 2004, Kosciusko County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell announced Thursday at the Kosciusko County Council meeting. Property tax bills in Kosciusko will not be due on May 10, the traditional due date for property tax in Indiana.The delay is due because of the 2003 tax billing delay. Part of the delay, she said Thursday, was because of the many tax appeals. Mitchell said she received the assessed values for 2003 payable 2004 from the county assessor in mid March.The auditor's office posted the exemptions, verified the duplicate homestead credits and established Tax Increment Financing information before forwarding the certified assessed values to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.These figures must be submitted to the Department of Local Government Finance for tax rates to be set.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Webster P.O. Specs Available

NORTH WEBSTER - Bid specification packets are available for the proposed new post office in North Webster. Anyone interested in bidding on the project is encouraged to pick up a packet and review the specifications. The packets are available at the post office. Town Council President Jon Sroufe Tuesday night said a few prospective bidders already have picked up packets. The postal service has determined that the existing building and site are not suitable for remodeling and expansion. In other business, the council: • Heard from utilities superintendent Dennis Reafsnyder that leaf cleanup will begin Monday and will run though the end of the month. • Approved $795 for a new spectrophotomer for testing water samples at the wastewater treatment plant.The testing is necessary for the plant to remain in compliance and the current spectrophotomer is failing.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Chamber Highlights 2 Businesses At Awareness Luncheon

The Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce highlighted two area businesses Thursday at its biannual Business Awareness Luncheon. The focus of the spring gathering was longtime Warsaw-based Hand Industries and the other was a newcomer to the Warsaw area, Herman & Goetz Inc.and its H&G Services. According to Christine Mills of H&G, the building services firm has been providing contractual service in Michiana since 1968 and have recently opened a satellite office in Warsaw.
DAVID A. BEALL, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Library Studies Internet Filtering Issue

To filter or not to filter isn't really the question. The Warsaw Community Public Library board of trustees is aware that Congress will withhold funding if a filtering system is not installed on public computers with Internet access available for minors to use. The question is which filtering system to use because no system has been officially recommended. Currently, the library has specific guidelines for the use of its 35 public computers.Staff members glance around the computer room to make sure unacceptable sites are not accessed. "That works well for us," said Joni Brookings, assistant library director.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Foundations Looks At Education Priorities

More than 40 educators and area residents gathered Thursday at the Kosciusko County Foundation offices to share ideas on educational priorities for the county. In the third of three "town hall" meetings, participants decided that "identifying and servicing the needs of at-risk students" was the No.1 priority.Second was "increasing career and technical skills training and opportunities," and the third priority was "involving parent and child interaction that supports education." The last two major concerns in the top five discussed were "providing literacy remediation for all ages" and "increasing cultural awareness and harmony, and providing cross-cultural training." The session was led by Greg Griffin, a consultant with Thomas P.Miller and Associates who also led the other two sessions.The purpose of the meetings was to solicit ideas to be used in applying for a CAPE - Community Alliances to Promote Education - Grant through The Lilly Endowment Inc.
Laurie Hahn, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Local Artisan Restores Antique Clock Faces

CHAPMAN LAKE - The steady stream of packages make most days just like Christmas morning. With great anticipation the recipient carefully unwraps the contents to view the tenderly packaged damaged or faded goods. Elaine Kokenge restores or recreates 18th-century clock faces, gears and tablets. The Ball State University graduate never knows what will arrive in the post, except that it will be a precious, antique clock piece needing repainting, repolishing or reproducing. Her work in timepieces began 11 years ago, when a clock repairing friend asked her if she would restore a clock face or two.He worked on the clock shell and mechanics.For two years he gave her a couple of projects a month and urged her to advertise in a trade magazine. Since then the work has steadily arrived at Elaine's Studio. Potential clients send in parts of their clocks - the faces, gears or tablets - with specific instructions about the work they want done.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Waste District Finances At Low Ebb

The financial situation at the Kosciusko County Solid Waste District is looking down -- again, according to district controller and county auditor Sue Ann Mitchell, board of directors members learned Tuesday. The district found itself at the same low bottom line last year. Although the financial picture is becoming clearer, the April 9 financial report shows $14,061 as an ending balance, with no tax draw until the end of June.The district takes in about $12,830 per month, mainly in the form of tipping fees. Board of directors president Ron Truex is unwilling to charge a per-residence user fee or raise the tax levy until all the accounts are clear. Sue Studebaker, SWD director, expressed concern about how to fund the district next year.She said fees per-household work very well in other counties. Truex suggested instituting user fees - charges for items brought to the KC Depot to be recycled.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Souder Sees Links Between Narcotics, Immigration, Trade

WINONA LAKE - The American Lyceum Lecture Series opened Friday night with everyone singing "God Bless America." The song took guest speaker U.S.Rep.Mark Souder back to Sept.11, 2001, when he was joined by others on the Capitol steps who sang the same patriotic song in honor of the people killed by the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center Towers in New York and at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. "That day changed our world," Souder said."President Bush and conservative senators not known as internationalists suddenly became just that." Souder was first elected to Congress in 1994 after working for U.S.Senator Dan Coats (R-Ind.) for 10 years during Coats' tenure in the House and Senate.He is Chairman of the Government Reform Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources. His topic, presented in Westminster Hall, was American Foreign Policy and It's Effect on Kosciusko County.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

County Looks At Unified EMS Proposal

Kosciusko County officials have agreed to study problems facing local EMS providers. The move came after a recommendation by Warsaw-Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce urging the county to establish a commission to study a variety of problems plaguing emergency medical services. Of the eight EMS services in Kosciusko County, only two - Multi-Township EMS and North Webster EMS - are staffed 24 hours a day and have paramedics.The others, including Syracuse, which operates out of its fire department, rely on volunteers. The chamber has been studying concerns voiced by EMS providers for two years.Its recommendation came from the governmental issues committee headed by Michael Gavin and Jean Northenor. Among the problems highlighted in the chamber report: • A lack of paramedics and a disparity of services available throughout the county. • A lack of cooperation and duplication of services between the EMS services. • Financial constraints.
Dan Spalding, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Old Webster School Desks Find New Homes In Romania

NORTH WEBSTER - The school-full of student desks in the old elementary school have found a new home a continent away in Vurpar, Transylvania, Romania. Lions Club member Chuck Hapner introduced Jim Sack and Simon Dragan to town council members Wednesday. Sack, of Fort Wayne, and Dragan, of South Whitley, formerly of Romania, operate the Vurpar Project, an organization designed to bring the Eastern European country into modern times. Hapner said local Lions traveled to Romania bringing eyeglasses, and found no medical facilities for the people. Sacks and Dragan want any equipment not being used by the town in the community center. "Anything they can get in Romania will help," he said. After 50 years under a communist government, Sack said, Romanian citizens aren't sure how to move forward in a democracy after being told what to do for so long. Dragan buys equipment and ships it back to his former country.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Silver Lakes Mulls Uses For Old School

SILVER LAKE - After 75 minutes of discussion and "brainstorming" Saturday, three main ideas for Silver Lake Elementary School were generated at the design charette. The approximate 20 members of the public present and six Indiana architects then divided into three groups to formulate designs for those ideas.The three possibilities for the school including turning Silver Lake Elementary into a residential center, a community center or a commercial center. The Northern Indiana Chapter of the American Institute of Architects, in conjunction with Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, held the all-day design charette to come up with ideas for the school building.The American Institute of Architects is a professional organization of architects.The Northern Chapter does at least one community project a year.Local architect Mary Ellen Rudisel-Jordan, president-elect of the Northern Chapter, knew of the closed Silver Lake school and took it to the Chapter for consideration.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Solid Waste Board Discusses County Cleanup

Kosciusko County residents will take part in Litter Clean-Up Days April 21-22, an event organizers hope will clean up county roadways and better represent local communities. During the Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District meeting Tuesday, members of the board of directors agreed they would accept donations for the event and pass them along to proper collaborators.The project is still in development, and currently is acquiring signs and safety vests for all that participate. "This is a project we've been needing to do, and things are going well so far," Executive Director Sue Studebaker said."People are already beginning to pick up bags. "I hope that the cities and towns can all work together over this weekend and really get things accomplished." Materials for litter collection will be available at the County Recycling Depot on South Union Street.For more information, call 574-372-3087.
Joe Kirkendall, Times-Union staff writer- | July 28, 2016

Wiggins says service is key to good govt.

Ernest B.Wiggins, 1555 Meadow Lane, Warsaw, is the current mayor of Warsaw.He is being challenged by opponent Craig Allebach. Wiggins, and his wife, Deborah, have two children, Christopher, 21, and Elizabeth, 19.He is a partner at Ramsey and Wiggins Inc.CPA. Born July 9, 1949, Wiggins' memberships include past president and past treasurer, Northern Indiana Mayor's Roundtable; Indiana Association of Cities and Towns; Indiana Association of Cities and Towns executive committee, legislative committee and chairman of the audit committee; Homeland Security and Emergency Management Team; Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management Board; Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce; Warsaw Community Development Corp.board member; and Warsaw Rotary Club, past treasurer. Wiggins also is a Republican Convention delegate; a former member of Kosciusko County Tax Review Board; former City Council president; and a former member of the Aviation Board and Plan Commission.
Compiled By Teresa Smith, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

World War II Veteran's Great-Nephew Pursues, Secures 9 Military Medals

There was no fooling around Saturday as the Foster clan gathered for lunch at the American Table Restaurant. World War II and Korean War Army veteran Steven Paege, of Warsaw, was presented with nine military medals he earned more than 60 years ago.Paege's great-nephew, Jason Foster, a Purdue University student, pursued the medals for the man he calls "grandpa." Foster contacted Congressman Mark Souder about receiving the medals.Souder's assistant, Allison McSherry, from the Winona Lake office, followed up with the requests.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016
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