Old Tractors A Family Affair For McDonalds

All Logan McDonald wanted for Christmas was money. He had big plans for it, too.Plans that didn't include games, or toys or candy.This 14-year-old wanted a tractor to restore. And not just any tractor either, but a Co-Op model, like his grandfather's. His grandfather, Jack McDonald of Silver Lake, has his father's 1951 Co-Op with all original parts. Jack's Co-Op belonged to his father, Sampson McDonald.His father lived down by Lapel in Hamilton County.The tractor was used at the 1951 Indiana State Fair to ferry people around on wagons.It was sold as a demonstrator model at the Noblesville Farm Bureau Co-Op following the state fair. Jack's '51 sits beside Logan's '48 at the Kosciusko County 4-H and Community Fair.It is this year's American Heritage Grand Champion exhibit. Logan planned to restore an antique tractor a couple of years ago.He began asking for money instead of presents for his birthday and other holidays, according to his mother, Marilyn.

Syracuse Chamber Head Hopes To Boost Local Business

SYRACUSE - From bungee-jump instructor to executive director of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce is quite a leap, but Steven Hite made it. Early last month, with passage of the chamber budget, his position became full time.Prior to beginning work with the chamber in October, he and his wife, Cara, owned a frame shop in Elkhart, where they live.They have one son, Nathan, who soon will be 2 years old. So how does he plan to enhance business in Syracuse? By bringing seminars to town that will help businesses learn and grow."The Power of Creative Thinking" will be offered May 15 to "hopefully break the negative mold by use of creative thinking," he said. Future seminars will teach Roberts Rules of Order, OSHA guidelines and "Outrageous Customer Service," as well as entrepreneurial skills. "These seminars will help keep our business community updated," he said, adding that there will be a fee for attending most of them.

City Scales Down Whimet Tax Abatement Request

Although Whimet Inc.representatives asked for a 10-year abatement on both personal property and real estate, Warsaw city council members stuck with their guidelines Monday. Whimet has purchased the property formerly owned by Sun Metal and plans to retain that company's 35 employees in addition to adding eight others.Whimet also plans to add an heavy-coating anodizing manufacturing process.Murvel Whitehead, president of the company, estimated personal property improvements at $500,000 and $300,000 on real property. However, city ordinance calls for a six-year abatement limit on real property and a 10-year abatement on personal property, which was approved. Warsaw police department patrolman Brad Kellar gave a demonstration of an automatic electronic defibrillator.He said 19 of 36 WPD members were certified in the use of the equipment.

City OKs Senior House Development

Warsaw city councilmen went straight to the heart of a market values study presented by Rolling Hills Homeowners' Association Monday and voted 5-to-1 to approve a senior housing project as presented by Housing Opportunities of Warsaw. Copies of the 52-page study, conducted by Good Valuation Inc.of Auburn, were given to the members at the start of the meeting. In October, HOW advised Rolling Hills property owners of its option on 4.3 acres west of North Detroit Street, south of Gilliam Drive. HOW plans to construct a nine-building site with 19 units - eight duplexes (of 720 square feet each) and one triplex - with carports.It will house low- to moderate-income seniors, ages 55 and older. A public meeting was held in Center Lake Pavilion in November. On Feb.9, the Warsaw Plan Commission heard the proposal and forwarded the item to the council, making no recommendation regarding the development.Commissioners expressed concern about property values at that time.

LYC Withdraws From Community Center Project

SYRACUSE - Plans for a proposed community center at Lakeside Park were thrown a curve Monday when Lakeland Youth Center board of directors president Sherman Goldenberg announced the not-for-profit organization has decided not to participate in the project. Goldenberg advised park board members Bill Wight, Lynn Allegret, Jerry Riffle and Nancy Duehmig of the LYC board's decision Monday night during a rescheduled park board meeting. "I'm sorry," Goldenberg said."We've had a growing concern about support for the project and this was certainly expressed within our own board." Goldenberg said 15 of 21 board members were present Sunday to vote on whether to continue with the community center and all 15 voted to withdraw. "It's time we started the wheels turning on our own project," he said.Goldenberg indicated the center of LYC operations would remain in Syracuse, either expanding at the current facility or moving to a new location.

Warsaw Hears Report On Elementary Building Projects

As the elementary school building projects progress, the Warsaw School Board gets updates from the architectural firm of Kovert Hawkins.

IDEM-Phase II Wellhead Protection Plan Indiana American Water

GREEN ACRES NOTICE

Winona Lake Hires New Deputy Marshal

WINONA LAKE - Winona Lake Town Council approved hiring a deputy marshal during Tuesday morning’s council meeting. The council approved hiring John C. Leeper beginning July 10.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY AREA PLAN - PARKVIEW HEALTH

Area Plan Hardy

Dollar General Ribbon Cutting, Grand Opening Set In Bourbon

It has been less than a year since the Bourbon Town Council unanimously voted in support of extending services to allow a new business to come to the community.

Area Plan Walls

Area Plan Wesleyan

Leesburg Considers Golf Cart Ordinance Change

Zoning Change Opposed By Residents Of Oakland Hills

Eight residents and the Town of North Webster filed remonstrance letters with the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission to block a proposed zoning change in the Oakland Hills subdivision south of the town.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT

City Council Kills Golf Cart Ordinance

Public feedback on Warsaw’s proposed golf cart ordinance has apparently killed the plan.

Warsaw Public Works Traffic Signals

Committee Hears Comments On Vote Center Proposal