Whitko FFA Hosts Winter Wonderland Christmas Auction

LARWILL – The Whitko FFA chapter thanks business sponsors and the community for making their annual Winter Wonderland Christmas Auction a successful event, according to a provided news release.

Richard ‘Rich’ Robert Paczkowski

Teens Nabbed In Attempted Auto Theft

Two Warsaw teens are in custody following an attempted auto theft Sunday night in which the car owner refused to give up her car. Warsaw police report that Barbara Jean Bacon McKinley, West Street, Winona Lake, left her car running at 2501 Glad Street.She heard someone trying to take her car and confronted them.When the car stalled while backing out of the driveway, McKinley jumped onto the hood. The teens allegedly drove north on Husky Trail while McKinley rode on the car's hood clinging to the windshield wipers.They stopped the car at Harrison Elementary School, Glad Street, Warsaw. The teens fled to the Glad Street Group Home, where they were arrested by police. Nicole Dawn Walsson, 16, Fremont, was charged with criminal recklessness and auto theft, while Jamie Carolyn Eihler, 14, Andrews, was charged with auto theft. McKinley was uninjured except for a scrape on her nose.

Pepper Spray Used On Pierceton Suspect

Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department deputies had to resort to pepper spray to subdue a Pierceton man who was destroying the inside of a squad car Thursday night. Steven M.Wolfe, 23, 209 S.Maple St., was stopped by a deputy last night for driving left of center.Wolfe was arrested and placed in the squad car. Once in the car, Wolfe began kicking the window frame of the passenger side of the car and bent it.He then turned and began to kick the interior of the rear driver's side door, breaking off the lock. KCSD officers verbally requested he stop and warned Wolfe prior to using the spray. Officers removed Wolfe from the car and transported him back to Kosciusko County Jail in a vehicle with an interior cage. Wolfe is charged with driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to chemical testing, leaving the scene of an accident, criminal mischief, and driving while suspended following the incident.

Woman Assaulted In Armed Robbery At Levi Lee Home

A woman who is confined to a wheelchair was injured Wednesday by two armed men who broke into her home. Bonnie L.Scott, West Levi Lee Road, Warsaw, was found by a friend at 12:24 a.m.Thursday.She was lying on the kitchen floor with a laceration between her eyes. She refused medical treatment. Scott told the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department that at approximately 6:30 p.m.Wednesday she was in her wheelchair at her kitchen table when two men broke through her back door and threw her on the floor.She said they pushed a gun into her neck, hit her in the face, choked her and tried to smother her with blankets. She was found by Bert Goble, Winona Lake, who regularly checks on her.Scott and Goble said a handgun, cash and jewelry were stolen but were unsure what else was missing. The incident remains under investigation by the Sheriff's Department.

American Table Fire Blamed On Aprons, Rags

Spontaneous combustion of aprons and rags in a utility room was the cause for the fire that damaged the American Table Restaurant Monday morning. Warsaw Fire Department Inspector Michael Wilson said Wednesday that about a week's worth of aprons and rags, some of which contained grease, were in a basket in the utility room on the back side of the restaurant.That source, where the terry cloth and cotton fibers are believed to have spontaneously combusted, was determined as the origin of the fire. Wilson said that the fire spread up the wall and was found by employees within five minutes of starting.An attempt was made to put the fire out, but it started to get out of control and the fire department was summoned.Wilson said that the fire was extinguished within eight minutes of arrival by WFD crews and the rest of the time was spent airing out the building and looking for hot spots.Winona Lake Fire Department assisted at the scene.

Thief Takes Cash Drawer At Silver Inn

SILVER LAKE -ÊPolice are looking for a man who broke into the Silver Inn and stole the drawer from a cash register early Wednesday morning. The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department was called to the Silver Inn around 4 a.m.Wednesday for a business alarm. The back door to the tavern was forced open, and the drawer from the cash register, along with an unspecified amount of money, was removed. Video from the security system showed a man dressed in blue jeans and a dark gray hooded sweatshirt enter the bar area.The man, who was about 6 feet tall with a medium build, had the hood of the sweatshirt pulled up to obstruct his face. The owner of the bar was unable to identify the man in the video and was unable to offer suspects in the crime. The investigation of the burglary continues. Anyone with information about the crime should contact the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department at 574-267-5667.

'Make-A-Wish' Request Not Valid

Area businesses should disregard a letter circulating through Kosciusko County regarding the Children's Make-A-Wish Foundation. The letter tells of a 7-year-old boy suffering from terminal cancer who wishes to be included in the Guinness Book of World Records for the most business cards collected.It asks the businessperson to send the boy a card, care of Make-A-Wish, and to send letters to at least 10 others asking them to do the same. Dr.Marilyn Whitney, who received one of the letters, says the request is an urban legend that is at least 15 years old.The spelling of the boy's name has changed over the years, Whitney said, and the boy has, in fact, recovered from his illness. The legend is also circulating on the Internet. She also said those who have unknowingly participated by sending letters should trace the letter back as far as they can to undo the damage it created.

Responsible?

Editor, Times-Union:I am writing in response to all the talk about Seth Allen's arrest.

Accident Victim Identified

NAPPANEE -ÊA Wabash County woman was identified as the victim of Tuesday's one-vehicle fatal crash on Ind.19. Krystal Steele, 22, of Roann, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident near 9834 N.Ind.19, Nappanee, where her SUV rolled over. Around 7:33 a.m.Tuesday, Steele was driving on Ind.19 when, for an unknown reason, she left the eastern edge of the road.Steele then overcorrected, went back on the road and left the western edge of the road where the 1998 Jeep Cherokee overturned in a cornfield. Steele, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the SUV during the crash.Steele was the only person in the vehicle. The accident remains under investigation by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department. The Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department was assisted at the scene by the Nappanee EMS, Nappanee Police Department, Nappanee Fire Department and the Kosciusko County Coroner's Office.

Teen Escapes Injury When Car Is Hit By Train

SIDNEY - A North Manchester teen escaped injury Thursday afternoon when the car she was driving collided with a train. Dawn M.Bishop, 16, of East Third Street, was northbound on CR 400E about 3:10 p.m.when the accident occurred near Sidney.Bishop told police that she didn't see the train on the north track at the crossing because of another train stopped on the south track. She started across the tracks when her car collided with the lead engine of the eastbound train.The conductor of the Norfolk & Southern Railroad train, Jason Hutson of Fort Wayne, told a Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department deputy that he could see between the cars of the stopped train that Bishop's car was approaching the crossing.When he looked back, Hutson said, he saw car parts flying everywhere. Damage to Bishop's car was estimated at $2,500 to $5,000.

Police Seeking Suspect Who Held Up Syracuse Gas Station Monday

SYRACUSE - An unknown man fled a Syracuse gas station with less than $100 Monday night after allegedly telling a clerk he was armed. The suspect is described as a white male in his early 20s with dark brown spiked hair and wearing glasses, khaki shorts, a plaid shirt and sandals. The man reportedly entered McClure's gas station in the 300 block of South Huntington Street (Ind.13) shortly before 11 p.m.and told the female attendant to give him all the money.He allegedly told the woman that he had a gun in his back pocket, but he did not display the weapon. The man then fled the area in an unknown vehicle. Officers from Milford and North Webster police departments and the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department assisted the Syracuse Police Department in an unsuccessful attempt to locate the suspect. Anyone with information about this robbery is asked to call the Syracuse Police Department at 457-3366.

Syracuse Man In Serious Condition After Accident

GOSHEN - A Syracuse man is in serious condition after a Thursday evening auto accident near Goshen. Phillip I.Day, 34, of CR 52, Syracuse, was not wearing a seat belt and was ejected from his vehicle in the 4:52 p.m.accident on Elkhart CR 38, 2-1/2 miles west of Goshen.Day suffered back and internal injuries and was airlifted to Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne. According to an Indiana State Police report, Day was eastbound on CR 38 and was stopped waiting to turn left into a private residence when his vehicle was rear-ended by a vehicle driven by Jason R.Stoller, 18, of South Bend.Stoller was not injured in the accident. According to an Indiana State Police report, use of a seat belt could have reduced the severity of Day's injuries. Charges are pending in connection with the accident, police said. Assisting at the scene were personnel from Elkhart County Sheriff's Department and Goshen Emergency Medical Service.

Town Takes Steps Toward Fireworks Safety

SYRACUSE - The Syracuse fireworks will be done differently this year after a minor explosion at last year's Fourth of July celebration sent debris into the nearby crowd, injuring some of the spectators. Larry Hunter, Syracuse fire chief, said the fireworks would be launched from two barges floating on Lake Wawasee, similar to how the Wawasee "Big Bang Boom" fireworks display has been done in the past. "In this respect, we feel that it will be easier to make a good perimeter to keep people back from it to where we should not have any problem," said Hunter, "We feel that it should be a lot safer." There will also be a new company setting off the fireworks this year. Melrose Pyrotechnics has taken over the fireworks display for not only Syracuse but for Lake Wawasee's and Warsaw's displays as well. The fireworks will begin at dusk on July 5.

Warsaw Fire Department Changes Policy On Accident Response

Warsaw's Fire Department will automatically respond to all personal injury accidents in Wayne Township, according to the direction of the Warsaw Board of Works Friday. Fire Chief Ken Shepherd told the board that the department now responds to all personal injury accidents in Warsaw.Their reaction to accidents in Wayne Township outside of city limits is at the discretion of the county dispatcher. "We feel we can do a much, much better job and possibly save a life by setting us up on first response," Shepherd said. He said sometimes when they are called later, traffic jams and other obstructions can delay their response time even further. "It will not jeopardize the service that we have in the community and the city," Shepherd said. The board unanimously approved Shepherd's first response request, and Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins asked Shepherd to report back in two months on the township responses.

Wabash Man Burned By Molten Aluminum

PIERCETON - A Wabash man is in serious condition at a Fort Wayne hospital after an industrial accident early Tuesday morning at Pierceton that burned 24 percent of his body. Ronald H.Spicer, 33, suffered third-degree burns to his face, neck, jaw, arms and legs when he was spattered with molten aluminum while working at Contech - SPX in the Arnolt Industrial Park.Emergency personnel were summoned to the scene at 2:57 a.m. He was airlifted from the scene to the St.Joseph Region Burn Center. According to Pierceton Town Marshal George Alexander, Spicer was cleaning a furnace and draining molten aluminum into a pan when the substance came in contact with moisture.An explosion resulted from the mixture and Spicer was covered by the hot liquid. Another man working across from Spicer suffered a silver-dollar size third-degree burn to his back. Martye Sexton, 36, of Fort Wayne, was treated at Kosciusko Community Hospital and released.

Community Service Projects Completed

Men sentenced to serve community service recently completed several projects in the city of Warsaw. One painted the beams of the carport at the Warsaw Police station as well as the trim around the windows and doors of City Hall. Another will paint the back wall of the police station.The guardrails at the station were painted silver earlier this spring, and the parking lot sealed with black top. Cpl.Steve Brown, code enforcer for Warsaw Police, said many of the men sentenced to community service were convicted of alcohol-related crimes for the first time.The average time each man is sentenced to do community service is 20-40 hours, Brown said. "I don't give them a job I wouldn't do myself," Brown said."I tell them what I want done and they do it."He said the workers he was assigned were good workers for the city.

Accomplice Guilty In Leesburg Shooting

The man who supplied the gun in last summer's Leesburg shooting is awaiting sentencing in Kosciusko County Jail. Adan Cervantes, Leesburg, was convicted last week, Kosciusko County Prosecutor David Kolbe said this morning.Cervantes allegedly supplied the gun to Hugo Brito Delgado in the shooting at the Keg Tavern. Cervantes is guilty of Class B felony charges of aiding, inducing and causing aggravated battery and assisting a criminal.He could be sentenced to 20 years at a hearing in late April, Kolbe said. Delgado shot Keg co-owner Ortie Manns three times - twice in the chest and once in the hip.Delgado allegedly returned with Cervantes, Hugo Brito and Marcello Brito to the tavern after being kicked out. Manns told the four men to leave after a fight over a game of pool, but they came back 30 minutes later.Manns was shot at the entrance of the bar.

Two Injured When Pickup Truck Rolls

PIERCETON - Two North Manchester residents were injured this morning when the pickup they were traveling in overturned. Tammy L.Logan, 32, of 12600 Ind.13S, Lot 23, North Manchester, complained of pain to her entire body.Ralph D.Biederman, 41, same address, complained of back pain. Both were transported to Kosciusko Community Hospital.Logan was then airlifted by Samaritan to Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, according to the KCSD report.However, a spokeswoman at Parkview would neither confirm nor deny Logan had been airlifted to the hospital until such time as Logan was admitted to the hospital, if she was in fact airlifted there. According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department report, Logan was not restrained and was ejected from the pickup. Logan told police she was traveling north on Ind.13 at 55 miles per hour when the pickup hit a patch of snow.She lost control of the vehicle and it rolled over.

Boat Accident Leads to Arrest

SYRACUSE - A man was arrested Saturday night and charged with operating a watercraft while intoxicated. An Indiana conservation officer reported a boat collision in the Lake Wawasee channel near the Frog Tavern at 11:39 p.m.Saturday. James T.Wine Jr., 31, of 2019 Reid Miller Ave., Syracuse, is charged with operating a watercraft while intoxicated and failure to comply.He is being held in Kosciusko County Jail on $848.50 bond. Wine told officers that he was backing up his boat when it struck another watercraft. A conservation officer reported that when Wine talked to officers, he allegedly had a strong odor of alcohol and slurred speech.A search of Wine's driving record reportedly showed the outstanding warrant for failure to comply. Wine allegedly told police he had been drinking and officers reported they found alcohol in the boat. The damage to the other boat, owned by Robert J.Powell, was estimated at $200-$500.