Beer Reflects On 12 Years Of Governing

As usual, Maurie Beer came to the commissioner's meeting last Monday dressed impeccably. The elder Kosciusko County leader wore a pin-striped shirt with a floral tie tucked underneath a green suit jacket that appeared tailor made. The color green carried an ironic coincidence last Monday as Beer attended his last meeting as a Kosciusko County commissioner. After an estimated 300 meetings, Beer's perspective of county government has matured since his first session 12 years ago. "Back then, I was pretty green," Beer said during a break in the commissioner's meeting, adding that he knew little about zoning issues when the topic came up at his first meeting. But Beer caught on, and became known for sticking up for the common man. That was best illustrated this year when a Milford company announced plans for a major expansion of its plant and coincided it with requests to widen nearby roads.

Alcohol Commission Renews Oakwood Inn License

Kosciusko County Alcoholic Beverage Commission approved a license renewal for Oakwood Inn Thursday.

Atwood Lions Plan Fish Fry, Benefit Fundraiser

ATWOOD – Atwood Lions Club is planning its fish fry this month and will add a benefit fundraiser for Ryan Owens and his family.

Kralis Bros. Foods To Close; May Reopen

MENTONE - Kralis Bros.Foods will close Friday, leaving 115 workers without jobs, but there is the potential for good news, too. Valley Fresh Inc., Turlock, Calif., which owns the Mentone plant, is negotiating to sell Kralis Bros.Foods to an undisclosed company.If that occurs, the plant could reopen. "Hopefully," said plant manager Mike Parker, "we resume operations next week sometime.That's the goal." "We always hate to lose any of our longtime industries in the county," said Joy McCarthy-Sessing, Warsaw-Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce director.The loss will have an impact on workers and the community, she said.

Bruce Clark

SYRACUSE – Bruce Clark, 56, died April 18, 2015, in Tyler, Texas, of a cardiac arrest after being hospitalized for treatment of complications of long-standing diabetes.

Indiana Military Veterans Hall Of Fame Calls For 2023 Class Nominations

History Lovers Rally To ‘Save The Tree’ Saturday

History teachers and lovers of history turned out for Saturday’s rally to save the centuries-old Sycamore tree at the corner of Colfax and Sheridan streets in Warsaw.

Winona Approves Planned Unit Status For Village

Winona Lake - The Village at Winona will become a planned unit development to allow completed structural improvements to be recorded. The Winona Town Council approved the planned unit development for the Village with a plat change to allow for curb extensions along Terrace Drive at the Winona Town Council's meeting Wednesday. The planned unit development will include rededicating Terrace Drive and a section of Park Avenue from 9th Street to Kings Highway. The plan also will include recording downtown Winona Lake structural building improvements including structure improvements to the Boathouse Restaurant, hotel and parking areas in the town. Brent Wilcoxson, managing director for the Village, presented design plans for the planned unit development at the council's Dec.12 meeting.

Kosciusko Area Plan Commission OKs Day Care Zoning Ordinance Amendments

Souder, Goodlatte Discuss Trade, Agriculture, Economy

U.S.House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and U.S.Rep.Mark Souder were in Kosciusko County Friday to discuss agriculture, the economy and international trade. Souder, who was in Warsaw for a fund-raiser at Bistro A Lago, said he believes the economy has been struggling because of the events of Sept.11, 2001, combined with the Enron scandal and the pressures of oil demands on the economy. But, he said, the basic signs of improvement are there, such as an unemployment rate that is starting to fall.The tax cuts now being distributed also will give the economy a boost, he said, adding that the change in the economy won't be fast and furious, but will be steady. Parts of northeast Indiana, Souder said, could be further behind than other areas of the country, but that's because of Indiana's own problems that need to be addressed.

Public Input Sought On Justice Bldg. Plan

Want to give input on the Justice Building expansion project? The 9 a.m.June 8 meeting of the Kosciusko County Commissioners is the time and date set for a public hearing on the project. Tuesday, the commissioners set the public hearing and passed the resolution offering to pay Focus Inc.of Valparaiso $2.2 million for Lake City Inn which will become home to the work release program.Commissioner Brad Jackson asked that the building be inspected by an engineer before the county offers the contract to Focus Inc. Also passed was a resolution specifying that the money earned on bonds sold for the Justice Building expansion will be used to pay the county general fund back for money used on construction material costs.

Planners Give Favorable Nod For Meijer Rezoning

Warsaw Plan Commission voted unanimously Monday to send a favorable recommendation to Warsaw City Council to rezone property to allow for a proposed Meijer store.

Grants sought for Ride+Walk Trail

Whitko Makes 28-Point Rally

SOUTH WHITLEY - For three quarters, it looked as if the Whitko Wildcats were headed for their third loss in as many games to start the season.Then Zach Henson and the rest of the Wildcats woke up. Trailing by 28 points midway through the third period and by 16 heading into the fourth, Whitko capped off a furious comeback with a Henson jumper with three seconds to play to defeat the Northfield Norsemen, 68-66, Friday. For 20 minutes, Whitko was beaten everywhere.They had 17 turnovers, shot 40 percent from the field, and were outrebounded 20-13 through the first two and a half periods.Consequently, it trailed 52-24.Over the final 12 minutes, Whitko outscored the Norsemen 44-14 with just two turnovers and shot 54 percent from the floor.

Squires A Work In Progress

NORTH MANCHESTER - Gary Goshert said he isn't as concerned with wins and losses this season.

Whether In Life Or Sports, Don't Let Fear Be A Thief

I have this song in my head right now, and most of the time that's a BAD thing, but not this time.

Appointments Made To County Boards

Kosciusko County Commissioners Ron Truex and Avis Gunter met Tuesday to appoint new members to county boards for 2006. Cynthia J.Thornburg was reinstated to the Turkey Creek Township Library Board, and Richard Shipley and Gerald "Jake" Bitner will remain on the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals.John Elliott and Jan Carter also were reappointed to the Kosciusko County Recreation and Visitors Commission. The commissioners selected County Surveyor Dick Kemper over Kelly Easterday for a position on the county's Area Plan Commission, with Truex saying "the expertise of the surveyor was critical" in the decision-making process.Gunter also was named to serve on the commission. In other issues, Plan Commission Director Dan Richard presented a request from Vasilios Batalis for the rezoning of land to industrial 2 in Wayne Township.

Whitko Jr./Sr. High School To Have In-Person Graduation Ceremony

Warsaw, Winona Lake Get $50K Grant for Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan

Warsaw and Winona Lake have qualified to receive a $50,000 grant from the Indiana Department of Health to develop a bicycle and pedestrian master plan.

Local Football Games Will Go On Tonight With Special Observances Tonight

In the wake of Tuesday's tragic events, local athletic directors have been faced with decisions they never thought they would have to make. The decision to cancel athletic competitions Tuesday was pretty much a given, but then the athletic directors were faced with the decision of when to resume the regular sports schedule and whether to play football games tonight. "It was a very difficult decision," said Wawasee athletic director Mary Hurley."We decided to have practice Tuesday with no strings attached.If the players wanted to be home with their families, if the players parents wanted them home, they were free to go.It was their decision to be there.Many of the coaches tied in the events of the day at practice, and we have recognized the tragedy at each of our sporting events since.