Syracuse Seeks Railway Quiet Zone

The Syracuse town council has researched establishing a "quiet zone," meaning train engineers don't blow their horns except in an emergency, for more than five years. While the town adopted an ordinance in 2000 to establish this policy, railroad procedures are dictated by federal policy. Cassie Cowan, president of the Syracuse town council, approached county commissioners Tuesday about the town's request for the quiet zone. Railroad engineers sound a horn at all times of the day, she said, beginning just outside town limits and continuing through Syracuse's eight railroad intersections. Because the crossing are "mostly up to date," with caution lights and signal gates, Syracuse may be eligible as a quiet zone with upgrades.Cowan asked that the commissioners' co-sign a petition to the Federal Railroad Administration to establish the quiet zone.

County Demo Chairman Steve Haines Resigns

After six years of serving as chairman of the Kosciusko County Democratic Central Committee, Steve Haines resigned Wednesday. "It takes someone with some innovative ideas to move the party along," said H.Dale Tucker, former Warsaw mayor and former Democratic county chairman."As you know, we're a minority in this county.Steve has done a great job in attacking that problem." Haines is leaving the post because of various personal reasons.He said he will not disappear from party activities but will continue to be active and will support the person who replaces him. "I'm not going to walk away.I'm going to stay active," he said."I may run again (sometime) for another position." A party caucus will be held May 10 at 7 p.m.at the Warsaw Community Public Library to select a new chairman.The meeting is open to the public but only the 50 precinct committee and 30 vice committee members can vote. "We would like to see everyone at the caucus," said Tucker.

Study Ordered

Staff Report A study of calling patterns between Claypool and Warsaw was ordered by a state agency Wednesday to determine if nontoll service is justified. GTE North, which operates the Claypool exchange, and United Telephone, which operates the Warsaw exchange, have been ordered by the Indiana Regulatory Commission to conduct the study. For extended area service to be approved, the study must show that three or more calls are made to Warsaw by each Claypool customer account per month and that at least 50 percent of Claypool customers make three or more calls to Warsaw. If extended service is approved, customers in the two exchanges would be able to make and receive calls without paying long distance charges. A surcharge would be added to customers' bills in place of the toll charges, but the surcharge would be eliminated after five years. Approval involves a four-step process: • A petition with the requisite signatures. • A successful call usage study.

Warsaw Man Continues Work In Africa

Orphans, AIDS, clean water, enterprise and mass communication. They're the big issues Integrated Community Development International is taking on in Africa, specifically Central African Republic, initially.And Kosciusko County businesses and residents slowly are getting on board to help ICDI accomplish the big tasks before it. Jim Hocking is ICDI director and founder.Born in Warsaw in 1954, Hocking moved to Africa with his parents when he was 15 months old.He grew up in Africa, coming back to Warsaw in 1973 after completing his last two years of high school in California.He graduated from Grace College.He married his wife, Faye, in 1976 and they went to Africa for a year, coming back so Hocking could attend Grace Seminary.

Two Alleys Vacated For Syracuse CVS

SYRACUSE - Another step toward development of a new CVS store was taken by the town council Tuesday evening. The council voted 4-0, with Paul Stoelting abstaining, to vacate a couple of alleys. The new store will be at the corner of Huntington and Chicago streets. The alleys vacated are south of Pittsburgh Street south to Chicago Street, and east of Huntington Street to Walnut Street. Attorney Steve Snyder, representing CVS, told the council the alleys didn't access any property other than that owned by CVS. He also noted CVS would absorb the cost of moving utilities, if necessary. The council heard a presentation from Mike Todd of Accu-Med. Accu-Med is an ambulance billing service.Currently, the town does its own ambulance billing and is collecting at a rate between 80 and 92 percent. Councilwoman Cassie Cowan asked Todd if his company could improve the rate of collection.

Hawkins Publishes Photo Book

WINONA LAKE - Square in shape, 13- by 13-inches, "The Ancient Shape of Man" offers 85 black and white large-format photographs by John Eric Hawkins and poetry by IPFW professor Shari Messenger and student Nate Benyousky. There's a sensuousness to the book, from the intimate portraits of nature to the free- form poetry to the paper making up the pages. Hawkins travels coast-to-coast in search of images.He captures everything from closeups of crystalline ice forms to seemingly endless vistas.

Education Still A Popular Degree Despite Cutbacks In Indiana Schools

Despite more and more Indiana public schools laying off teachers every year, new college students are still flocking to enroll in teacher education programs.Recent figures show that education is still the No.3 preferred major for enrolling first-year college students.But what happens to these elementary and secondary education majors after graduation? At Manchester College, Dr.Lindan Hill, director of the teacher education department and a retired superintendent of Howard County Eastern Schools, said the education department is seeing some decrease in teachers placed in jobs. "When finances are good, Manchester College will place nearly 100 percent of the teacher candidates," Hill said."In bad times, you see those numbers drop.To 75, sometimes 50 percent. "When schools reduce, the effect is immediate," Hill said, referring to teacher placement rates.

Webster Senior Housing Plans Moving Along

NORTH WEBSTER - Verification of income and other qualifications are complete on the 25 applicants interested in living at the yet unbuilt senior citizen housing complex at North Webster. Bids for infrastructure and housing construction will be accepted at the May meeting of the North Webster Town Council. Prior to that, at 4 p.m.on April 30, Jim Oleksak of Indiana Housing Finance Authority, South Bend, will meet with prospective tenants to review housing plans and determine whether one- or two-bedroom units are desired.Oleksak said he will also find out how serious the applicants are by asking when each will be ready to move in and accepting security deposits for the units. While planners were leaning toward bidding the project for manufactured homes only, a notice that the prevailing wage is lower than expected is allowing for it to be bid for stick-built and manufactured homes.

W's Legacy

I wonder how history will judge W.Maybe it will be like some of those other presidents who, despite not being popular or seemingly doing a crappy job, are judged favorably after the passage of time.

Syracuse Moves Toward Industrial Park Development

SYRACUSE - Syracuse Town Council moved another step toward the town's goal of developing an industrial park.

Optimism High At Whitko

SOUTH WHITLEY - As long as Whitko boys basketball coach Rob Irwin can keep his guys healthy, he believes he's got a pretty good team this year.

Lugar Hosts County Students At Symposium For Tomorrow's Leaders

INDIANAPOLIS - More than 400 high school juniors and 121 accompanying adults attended the 32nd annual Richard G. Lugar Symposium for Tomorrow's Leaders Dec. 13 on the campus of the University of Indianapolis.

Lallie Marie Spradlin

Lallie Marie Spradlin, 84, Warsaw, died at 11:35 a.m. Jan. 13, 2009, at Four Oaks Nursing Home, Jonesboro, Tenn. She had been visiting her daughter in nearby Telford, Tenn., when she became ill.

Wawasee Students Excel In Financial Literacy

SYRACUSE - During the fall trimester at Wawasee High School, juniors and seniors in Trish Miller's personal finance course participated in the U.S. Department of the Treasury's fall 2008 National Financial Literacy Challenge, an initiative recommended by the President's Advisory Council on Financial Literacy.

Triton Hosts Financial Aid Night

BOURBON - Triton High School will host a financial aid night Jan. 12 at 7 p.m. in the high school library.

Tigers Season Ends In OT Thriller

FORT WAYNE - The Fort Wayne Snider Semistate final went the way any good soccer match should - tightly contested.

Recession

Editor, Times-Union:Imagine, the government finally admits we're in a recession.

Recession

Editor, Times-Union:Imagine, the government finally admits we're in a recession.

Chapman Sewer

Editor, Times-Union:I attended the meeting in December put on by the Chapman Lakes Environmental Watch regarding the creation of a sewer district around Chapman Lake.

NOTICE OF SHERIFF SALE - MF-00829 - WALLS