Improving Efficiency And Effectiveness In A Few Steps

Clutch Hitting Wins Game Two For Lancers

Grace College’s baseball team won game two of Friday’s doubleheader after some extra-inning heroics. They split on the road against conference foe Mount Vernon Nazarene. Game two was tied 6-6 entering the 10th inning with neither team able to take control. Two walks in the top of the inning for Grace set the stage for Mitchell Enyart with two outs. He came through with a single to left field which scored the go-ahead run. Cameron Maxwell had a pinch-hit opportunity following the single, and he seized the moment, hitting his first collegiate home run leading the Lancers (13-22-1, 5-13 Crossroads League) to a 10-6 victory.

FMSC Warsaw MobilePack Returns This Week

North Webster Town Council Hears Storm Drain Study

NORTH WEBSTER – North Webster Town Council heard about storm drains polluting Webster Lake at its meeting Tuesday.

Beware Of The Various Risks Posed To Your Financial Portfolio

While many investors tend to think of fixed income investments as less risky than stock investments, fixed income investments face a variety of other risks as well.

The Penalty Box: This Week Is Weird For Sports

Simon and Garfunkel wrote a song and recorded their hit titled “The Sound of Silence” 60 years ago.

Syracuse Town Council Introduces TIF Bond For Rabbit Ridge Development

SYRACUSE - The Syracuse Town Council introduced a tax increment finance bond for Rabbit Ridge Development during its regular meeting Tuesday.

Manchester Town Employees to Receive Raises

NORTH MANCHESTER -ÊNorth Manchester's town employees will be reimbursed the annual 3 percent raise that was put on hold due to financial concerns, North Manchester Town Council President Don Rinearson said Thursday. An uncertain financial forecast stayed the employees' raises until the year's end.The council now has a clearer read on the state of the finances. The town needed at least $40,000 to cover the pay increases, Rinearson said.With departments' savings and other unencumbered money, the town now has $80,000 left over, he said. Department heads kept their spending down.Throughout the year, no special fund appropriations were needed, Rinearson said. He called the surprise amount a "highlight of the year." Employees will receive the money in a special check due Monday, clerk-treasurer Nancy Reed said. Most employees will get more than $200.Several department heads will receive more than $1,000, according to records.

Residents Speak Against Menard's Rezoning

Patterson Road area residents and other interested parties spoke against a controversial rezoning petition at the Warsaw Plan Commission Tuesday. Held in the courthouse in the old Superior Courtroom to accommodate a large audience, the planners ended up in a 3-3 vote, forwarding no recommendation to the city council.(See accompanying article.) Menard's, a hardware chain, is asking that about 21 acres of a residential-1 zone be rezoned commercial-3.Much of the property from U.S.30 northeast to Harrison Elementary School is already commercial. The remonstrators cited increased traffic, possible well water contamination and unfair competition as reasons for the planners to deny the petition. Jim Maze, owner of Warsaw Ace Hardware, gave the planners a petition against the rezoning. He said the presence of the hardware chain would have an adverse effect on small businesses and siphon dollars out of the community.Instead of increasing jobs, jobs would be lost.

Election To Dissolve Barbee Lakes Conservancy District Scheduled Dec. 10

The future of the Barbee Lakes Conservancy District will be decided by a freeholders' election Dec.10. The only question on the ballot will be whether or not to dissolve the district with voters marking "yes" or "no," board members decided Wednesday during a special meeting.The election will be in the Barbee Conservation Building with hours from 9 a.m.to 9 p.m. The election came about because the board received a petition to disolve the district in October.That petition has been certified by the county's circuit court. Dissolution is possible because no sewer construction plans have been established for six years.However the board recently gave a subdivision contractor more than $70,000 to install an 8-inch sewer pipe from CR 500N to North Webster.The line is large enough to carry Barbee Lakes-area sewage for treatment, too.

'Hangtime' Motocross Park Opens At Akron

AKRON - Nov.1 was the opening of the Hangtime Motocross Park east of Akron. Larry and Joyce Read of Pierceton have spent the past 16 years managing and promoting motocross tracks in North Webster, Wabash and Rochester and arena cross tracks in several states including Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, California and Texas. The Reads finally decided to own a track of their own and Akron seemed to be the perfect place.The Reads purchased land that was perfect for the site with rolling hills, natural terrain and lake. Mrs.Read said that the sport is family-oriented with participants ranging in age from 4 to 60.A day at the races usually lasts six hours including practice sessions, and the number of riders attending races ranges from 100-250 bikers. She said the dust is controlled by the application of water and the government requires noise controls on the engines of the bikes.

Silver Lake Hears Report On Iron Removal Unit

SILVER LAKE - Donald Morrison, Ecologistics Limited's senior environmental engineer, West Lafayette, examined Silver Lake's iron removal unit and presented the findings Tuesday to the town council. The unit, which removes iron from water, is expected to last 30 years, said Morrison.Silver Lake's unit lasted 34 years.Now the tank is leaking. "I couldn't recommend repairing the tank.I think it's throwing good money to bad - well, I think you've got to replace it," said Morrison. Ecologistics Limited offered a $180,000 bid for a 450-gallon tank and its installation.At the council's request, Morrison offered a bid from another company for $170,000. Morrison recommended a new 450-gallon tank instead of replacing the current 150-gallon tank.Silver Lake's water consumption has increased by 5 percent annually.Morrison forecasted an increase in iron removal because of the water usage.A bigger filter will be needed in about eight or nine years, he said.

Library Taking Part In Veterans History Project

Warsaw Community Public Library staff plans to participate in the Veterans History Project by conducting interview with area military veterans who served in overseas conflicts or with civilians who contributed to war efforts. According to a report given before the library board Monday by assistant librarian Joni Brookins, any veteran in the county is welcome to come in and reminisce. Sen.Richard Lugar's office is coordinating the recordings in Indiana, which will be preserved at the Library of Congress and in WCPL archives. Brookins said it may be possible to go to some veterans' homes if they cannot travel to the library.A committee regarding the project is to meet next week.

Baldwin Joins City Park Board

Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins attended Tuesday's park board meeting, introducing Bill Baldwin as a new member.Baldwin replaces Don Clemens. Election of officers retained Toby Sumpter as president and John Sadler as vice president. The members approved a contract with The Plantarium to maintain the 30 satellite garden beds in Central Park.The contract amount, not to exceed $10,000, covers hourly wages and plant material. The 2000 year-end report was reviewed.Completed projects included: exterior painting and installation of new guttering at the Center Lake pavilion; enlargement of the Center Lake lifeguard room; and enlargement of the Central Park south performance stage area, which added portable wings.

County Budget Decisions Delayed

Kosciusko County Council on Tuesday delayed making some major decisions on next year's budget. Council met briefly Tuesday and approved a budget they know is likely $1 million over the frozen levy and agreed to meet again on Sept.15 to hash out a solution. Council president James Tranter said council could do little because they lacked updated data following last week's expansive budget sessions. Figures weren't available because of the short time since final cuts were made Thursday night due in part to the Labor Day holiday.Those preparing the figures also have to make adjustments for a new salary program that could establish a form of merit pay in the future, Tranter said. The plan calls for employees to receive a 2 percent salary hike and another 1 percent would be left at the discretion of the department heads.The proposal was made by Tranter as a compromise for some departments who were seeking to establish longevity pay for their workers.

Warsaw Possible Stop On Passenger Rail Line

Warsaw has been identified as a possible stop on a proposed high-speed passenger rail centered in Chicago. Assistant city planner Kristy Mehlberg presented an outline of the proposal during Tuesday's city council meeting. The Indiana Department of Transportation is studying a rail network that would significantly reduce travel time to the Windy City. Many companies headquartered in Chicago have divisions in Warsaw, Fort Wayne, Cleveland and Toledo. A public hearing is set for Aug.2 in the Allen County Public Library from 5 to 7 p.m. The Indiana network is proposed to run from Chicago and connect through Indianapolis to Cincinnati and Louisville using former Amtrak rails. It also would run along northern Indiana to Toledo and Cleveland. Travel time from Fort Wayne to Chicago would take about two hours.

Biomet Seeks 10-Year Tax Abatement

Biomet will ask the Kosciusko County Council for a 10-year tax abatement at the council's Sept.6 meeting. Thursday, attorney Richard Helm, representing Biomet, asked for the council to pass a declaratory resolution so Biomet can present their reasons for the abatement request at the Sept.6 meeting.The resolution is the first step in the process for Biomet to get a tax abatement. Helm said Biomet plans to build a $5.5 million building that will house new machinery and equipment valued at $4 million."We're asking for tax abatement on both," he said. Biomet officials estimate 250 to 300 new jobs will be created.The county will receive approximately $240,000 in taxes annually from the jobs and more than $550,000 in property taxes "over and above" the tax abatement, Helm said. More information regarding the abatement request, Helm said, will be presented at the Sept.6 meeting. Councilman John Kinsey made a motion to accept the declaratory resolution.

City Approves Incentive Plan To Keep Danek In Warsaw

In a special joint meeting of the City Council and the Warsaw Redevelopment Commission Thursday, a plan to keep Sofamor-Danek in the area was put into motion. "The purpose of this meeting is to talk about an incentive package for orthopedic hardware manufacturer Medtronics-Sofamor Danek," said Jeff Noffsinger, city planner."The company is looking to locate a new manufacturing facility either here or in Memphis, Tenn., or Minneapolis, Minn." The incentive package involves the city annexing 427.59 acres north of U.S.30 and east of CR 150W under the I-2 Light Industrial zoning classification and adding the property to the Northern Economic Development Area. Richard Hill, attorney with the South Bend law firm Baker & Daniels and legal consultant to the city, said a binding agreement between the city and Sofamor Danek would also be a part of the package.

Grace Orchestra Planning Tribute To John Philip Sousa

WINONA LAKE - The Grace Community Orchestra has something special planned Saturday for the annual children's concert. The guest conductor is John Philip Sousa. Actually, conductor Keith Brion will portray Sousa, from the March King's elaborately embroidered jacket down to the white gloves and a replica of Sousa's baton. "'Sousa At The Symphony' includes typical Sousa-type programming," said Profesor Ardis Faber of Grace College."Geared toward children, it will be nice and lively.Concert-goers don't want to miss this one." Although known for his invigorating military march compositions, Sousa revitalized music appreciation in the United States. At the time he became conductor of the Marine band in 1880, the only symphony orchestra then existing was the Boston Symphony. During his career, Sousa introduced millions of Americans to the "new" music of Wagner, Verdi, Strauss, Respighi and Tschaikovsky.

Tippecanoe Valley School Board Chooses Architectural Firm

MENTONE - A $10-million project came down to a 1.5-percent difference. Tippecanoe Valley school board Monday voted for architectural firm Moake Park Group, Fort Wayne, to design renovation plans for Tippecanoe Valley High School.Board president Tom Weaver gave the lone "nay" vote. The board also bargained with Pat Portteus, the regional manager of The Skillman Corp., a project administration construction management company.The board settled on a $30,000-per-month payment schedule for the duration of the proposed 18-month project.Portteus did not accept the offer.He opted to confer with his business partner first. Board members tried to shave several hundred dollars from Skillman's inflation-driven price increase.The increases keep well-qualified employees with the firm, Portteus said.The board cited that the economy is flat. "My corn and beans have gone down the past several years," board member Hal D.Hoffman said.