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There's Plenty Of Misleading To Go Around

The war in Iraq isn't very popular these days. So, of course, the politicians are all about blaming W and demanding timetables for troop withdrawal and saying the whole thing was a big mistake. Things were very different right before we went to war.That's when the war thing was popular. All the politicians were waving flags and pledging their support. Well, not all of them.But the vast majority of them, anyway. I will be the first to admit the American people were misled about Iraq. We were misled about weapons of mass destruction.We were misled about Saddam's connection - or lack of connection - to 9/11. In fact, I admitted that back on Aug.27 in this very column: (I used to give W the benefit of the doubt. I thought he got bad intelligence.After all, the whole world - Germany, Russia, France, everybody - thought Saddam had WMD.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Tigers Find Enough Offense To Edge Concord

DUNLAP - A piece of paper with statistics on it didn't give Warsaw's boys basketball team a win over Northern Lakes Conference rival Concord Friday, but it did tell Tiger mentor Al Rhodes just how, in this case how bad, his team was playing after two quarters. Rhodes said he gets stats on a piece of paper at halftime that tells him how many points per possession his team is averaging.Last night Warsaw trailed 19-15 at halftime.Rhodes said he didn't remember if this was the lowest halftime score he's seen, but Warsaw's .43 points per posession was a low. "In my opinion, with the absence of Steve (Siebenmorgen), everyone tried too hard," said Rhodes. Siebenmorgen, who suffered his second concussion this season, watched the game from the bench for the second consecutive game.Rhodes said he will be evaluated on Tuesday.
DALE HUBLER, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Obama - Who Is He, What Has He Done?

Barack Hussein Obama Jr., the Democrat U.S.Senator from Chicago, has become a rock star in his party. After the holidays and consultations with his family, he will let us know if he will run for president in 2008. Most pundits think he will. According to the U.S.Senate Historical Office, he's the fifth black senator in U.S.history and the only black now serving in the U.S.Senate. He delivered the keynote address at the 2004 Democratic National Convention.At the time he was still serving in the Illinois State Senate.He was elected to the U.S.Senate in November 2004. According to his 1995 memoirs, "Dreams from My Father," he was born Aug.4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii, to Barack Hussein Obama Sr.of Nyangoma-Kogelo, Siaya District, Kenya, and Ann Dunham, of Wichita, Kan. His parents met at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where his father was enrolled as a foreign student. When he was 2, his parents divorced and his father returned to Kenya.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Warsaw Girls Lose On Senior Night

For a group that seen it's share of ups and downs, Thursday night's game against Northern Lakes Conference foe Elkhart Memorial served as a fitting snapshot. Six Warsaw seniors ended their regular season careers on the Tiger Den floor in a 47-46 loss to the Crimson Chargers. Jennifer Scherer, one of the six seniors, put Warsaw up 46-45 after she nailed two free throws with 20.6 seconds left in regulation. Memorial answered right back as Abby Kinder retrieved an offensive rebound of a missed Alyssa Pittman three-pointer and banked home a layup to give her team a 47-46 lead with 6.5 seconds left to play. After a dangerous inbound that saw Amy Abbit launch a half-court pass into the arms of Kate Denlinger, Warsaw took it's fourth timeout of the quarter.
DANIEL RIORDAN, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Chasing Autographs Often Turns Fruitless

PITTSBURGH - It is four hours before Sunday's baseball game at Three Rivers Stadium between the Houston Astros and Pittsburgh Pirates. The fans here this early before the first pitch are few - less than 20 - but you find them lined up on a sidewalk behind a fence.They carry backpacks and hold things like baseballs, albums and bats. They are the autograph seekers, the ones who have turned the profession into an art and a science.They are the ones who call each other by name because they are together at the park so much. The talk this day is of one Big Unit, one 6-foot-10 stringy-haired, craggly-faced left-hander named Randy Johnson.Johnson was traded to the Astros at 11:54 p.m.Friday, six minutes before the trading deadline, and his flight to Pittsburgh arrived Saturday evening.Sunday afternoon he will make his first start for the Astros. A few of the greener autograph seekers talk about Johnson signing their cards and baseballs. Little do they know.
Jeff Holsinger, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Shall We Mine For Some Data?

Let's discuss data mining, shall we? For a long time I have been having conversations with friends and associates about the absence of terror attacks on U.S.soil. I wonder why there hasn't been a single - even minor - terrorist event since 9/11.Don't get me wrong, here.I am thankful, ecstatic, thrilled that there hasn't been. But I also realize that this is a pretty big and difficult country to defend and there are plenty of extremists who truly hate America and would like nothing more than to blow something up over here. In short, I don't think the lack of terror is from a lack of desire on the part of the extremists. I think most of the credit goes to the U.S.government. And while, as I said earlier, I am thrilled at the success, I wonder just how they are going about it. Well, I think a lot of it has to do with what they like to call data mining in Washington these days.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Carroll Wins Rematch, Ends Warsaw Girls Season In Sectionals

COLUMBIA CITY - The smallest girl on the court, 5-foot-3 Carroll senior Abby Noll played the biggest role in downing fifth-ranked Warsaw Friday in the semifinal round of the Columbia City 4A Sectional. With Warsaw leading 21-20 at the half, Noll ignited the Chargers with a barrage of second-half three-pointers, leading Carroll to a 66-57 victory over the Tigers. Noll, who finished the evening 7 of 12 from the field overall, shot 4 of 5 from the arc in the second half, including a deep three with 2:08 remaining that gave the Chargers a 53-47 lead. "Noll's three that put them back up by six in the fourth was a big play," Wienhorst said."She's a very good basketball player.To go 5 of 9 (from the arc) at any level is remarkable, nonetheless to do it from where she was shooting from.Her toes weren't on the line, they were three or four feet back." Noll finished the game with 25 points, eight rebounds, five assists and two steals.
DALE HUBLER, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Just Not Sold On A War In Kosovo

I am glad to see the Kosovo engagement winding down. But since the beginning I have wondered why we were involved.It is difficult for me to see the national interest. I am not a big fan of war to begin with, but when we do have to get involved in such matters, I like to think there is a really good reason. Several conflicts the United States has been involved in seem not to meet that standard. I could see, for example, the need to get involved when Saddam Hussein took over Kuwait.He probably wouldn't have stopped there. He probably would have kept going until he had control of most of the Middle East.That wouldn't be a good thing.It would not be in our national interest for Saddam to control the vast majority of the world's oil production. Now, I know the politicians told us that attacking Saddam wasn't about oil.It was about returning autonomy to the sovereign nation of Kuwait.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

The News From Iraq Isn't All Bad

Before the war in Iraq started, I suggested that W shouldn't go to war without the support of the U.N. When he decided to go to war without U.N.support, I wasn't really all that enthusiastic about it, but I supported the decision and the troops. Since then, I have been critical from time to time of some of W's policy, including spending, and what appears to be hawkish foreign policy. Media reports in general seem to be quite negative when it comes to the war in Iraq. I realize that when something blows up in Iraq, it is news.There is no question about that. But there are positive things going on in Iraq, too, and I think those stories are being underreported by the mainstream media. To that end, what follows is a message allegedly sent by Lt.Col.Scott Seitz, a commander in Iraq, to his troops.He was attempting to show his troops that they should be proud of what they have accomplished in Iraq.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

Tiger Golfers Win State Championship

FRANKLIN - Richmond looked the part.Warsaw played the part. The Tigers, down three strokes after the first day of play at the Indiana boys state golf championships, overcame the deficit to the Red Devils and Leo to win their first golf title in school history with a score of 37-over par 613 at the Legends of Indiana Golf Course Wednesday. Warsaw teed off with Richmond and Leo in the final pairing of the day, a day that was dominated by wind gusts as high as 40 miles per hour. The Red Devils, all dressed in red shirts and black shorts with bleached-blonde hair and Oakley sunglasses hanging from their ears on the back of their heads, looked like the cream of the golf crop. Warsaw, dressed like hit men with black shirts and black shorts, played like the cream of the golf crop.
DANIEL RIORDAN, Times-Union Sports Writer- | July 28, 2016

Impeachment Has Precedent

The impeachment process is starting to get interesting. And, as it unravels, it keeps changing. After the House passed articles of impeachment - which lots of people said would never happen in the first place - there was talk of how there would never be a trial. All the CNN and network TV talking heads and their paid experts were telling us that there would be some sort of deal for censure and the Senate would simply forego all this trial nonsense. Then they told us, well, there will be a couple days for each side to present its case.After that there would be a vote.If two-thirds of the senators didn't vote to have a trial, then they'd would move to vote on censure. Then they told us, well, there might be a trial after all, but it won't be much of a trial.It will only take a week or so and there won't be any witnesses. Next they said, well, it looks like there will be a trial after all and maybe a couple witnesses might be called, but not Monica Lewinsky.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

It's An Issue Of Character

Well, now we know W's teeth were in Alabama. This week, in response to Democrat criticism that W didn't fulfill his Air National Guard obligation in Alabama in 1972 or 1973, the White House trotted out some dental records. These records prove that W was, in fact, in the dental clinic at the Air National Guard base in Alabama where he was supposed to be serving. Of course, the Democrats say that doesn't prove anything.It doesn't prove he served. That, I suppose, is true.It doesn't prove he served.But I mean, really.If you were AWOL from the Air National Guard, would you go to the air base to have your teeth cleaned? Earlier, the White House ponied up W's pay stubs and a letter that said W fulfilled his duty and was honorably discharged.
GARY GERARD, Times-Union Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

We Live In A Culture Of Violence

If ever you needed evidence that we live in a culture of violence, you have to look no further than an elementary school in Mount Morris Township, Mich., south of Flint. That's where 6-year-old Kayla Rolland died after being shot in the neck by a 6-year-old classmate. The classmate, a boy, brought a loaded .32-caliber semi-automatic pistol to school after getting into a playground scuffle with the girl the day before. He fired one shot while children from his class were waiting in line.He then walked into a bathroom and tossed the gun into a trash can. The shooter told police it was an accident. At age 6. It is inconceivable to me that a 6-year-old would be capable of something like that. I remember my kids at age 6.They were concerned about candy, toys and recess. But murder? Granted, this 6-year-old in Michigan is an extreme exception.The vast majority of 6-year-olds are scared to death of guns and wouldn't know how to operate one.
Gary Gerard, Managing Editor- | July 28, 2016

What Does Hillary Have Up Her Sleeve?

The more I listen to Hillary Clinton, the more she reminds me of Mohammed Saeed al-Sahaf.
Gary [email protected] | July 28, 2016

Sheriff Makes Case For More Officers

From his first year as county sheriff, since being elected in 1998, to last year, Kosciusko County Sheriff Aaron Rovenstine has seen the number of calls for service to his department increase by more than 18 percent. But the department has added only two new merit officers (sworn officers with arrest powers) during that same period, and at least eight jail officers. As for the number of jail officers, Rovenstine said Monday, "I think it's adequate.I think the Indiana State Jail Inspector, ...the number he gave to me was 25 and I think we have 22 assigned to that.We have two assigned to courthouse security.So we are a little short of what they recommended, but I think we are adequate." It's the merit officers where the county needs more staff - more officers on road patrol and on the drug task force, and more detectives, Rovenstine said.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Hearing Produces NIPSCO Details For IURC To Investigate

GOSHEN - What might have been thought to be a personal gripe session, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission hearing on Northern Indiana Public Service Co.'s annual gas cost review actually was a formal, legal proceeding, attended by approximately 50 consumers. Legitimate, detailed points were presented to the IURC and the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor representatives. From 5:30 to 6 p.m., Anthony Swinger, public information officer with the OUCC, provided an overview of the responsibilities of the OUCC and IURC and explained the procedures to be followed during the legal hearing that started at 6 p.m.The OUCC represents the interests of utility consumers in all IURC matters.The IURC is the regulatory body whose responsibility is to balance consumer and utility interests from a neutral standpoint.
M.J. RHODES, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

U.S. Army Veteran Reed Facilitated Military Buildup

Editor's Note: Saturday marks the 30th anniversary of the fall of Saigon, when the last Americans were evacuated from the occupied Asian capital.Interviews with six Vietnam War-era veterans will be published this week to commemorate the end of the conflict. By the time 1st Lt.Rex Reed arrived in Vietnam in 1965 to command a transportation company, the French had been routed a decade previously.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Frantz Led Platoon Into Saipan

The 4th Marines hit the Japanese stronghold of Saipan the morning of June 15, 1944.Hitting the beach under heavy artillery, the 4th was escorted by an Army amphibian tank battalion. One platoon was led by Don Frantz, now 87, who makes his home on Harrison Street in Warsaw. "I was the senior first lieutenant at the time and I had the honor of going in first.That is as hot as it gets," Frantz said of the start of a 24-day battle that left 4,200 U.S.soldiers dead and 12,000 wounded.The Japanese were ready for the invasion, fighting viciously to hold their long-established strategic position on the 14-mile-long, five-mile-wide island.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Wawasee Girls Survive Scare

SYRACUSE - Saturday's high school girls basketball game between Wawasee and Fort Wayne Canterbury probably should have been as close as it was, but it was still a bit of a shock.
Anthony [email protected] | July 28, 2016

Annual Event Goes 'Back To the Days'

America's history came alive over the weekend as the 18th annual Back to the Days of Kosciuszko set up at the Kosciusko County fairgrounds.
David [email protected] | July 28, 2016
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