Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
WINONA LAKE - When Ronald Manahan drove under the railroad tracks on Argonne Road and got his first glimpse of Winona Lake, he wondered what the heck he was getting himself into.
It was January 1967 and he was about to embark on an association with Grace College, beginning as a student at the seminary, that lasted more than 30 years.
Since 1994 he has been the Grace College and Seminary president.
He raised his family here.
Appreciation for his dedication to the campus, and the lake town supporting it, was exemplified in his receipt of the 2000 Bill Reneker Memorial Community Service Award Tuesday.
Selected by the town council and presented by Bill's widow, Judy Reneker, Manahan became the seventh recipient of the honor.
The award is given in memory of the late Bill Reneker, who served on the town council and was its president when he died in 1994. The award honors the recipient for community service.
"Since he became president in 1994 the number of buildings on the Grace campus has almost doubled and enrollment has increased significantly," Judy Reneker said of the 2000 nominee.
"Dr. Manahan has built a bridge between the school and the communities of Warsaw and Winona Lake by serving on the board of directors of the Red Cross, the Committee to Commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Lakeland Christian Academy. He encourages his staff to serve in the community, also.
"Bill knew Dr. Manahan and had the highest respect for him as a person and a community leader."
Manahan offered the prayer before the Appreciation Dinner in Westminster Hall.
Despite his first frozen glance at the town, he said, he has "found it to be a warm place not only in the summer but throughout the community.
"It's a great place to raise children, and even though neither one of them live near us, they consider Winona Lake home."
In addition to the award ceremony, Craig Allebach, town coordinator, and Jerry Clevenger, town councilman, outlined "the top 10" goals of the town council.
Those goals include the continuation of CR 250E road reconstruction; infrastructure on Chestnut Street and a water main on Fourth Street.
Allebach said the council continues to look for ways to generate income after the loss of $157,000 in tax revenue when Sofamor Danek relocated.
Development of the Winona Lake Web site, www.winonalake.net, will continue with official forms and ordinances to be found there. Currently, transcriptions of town council meetings, plan commission meetings and public hearings are available. Construction schedules can be found there, too.
Clevenger said several meetings have been held with the city of Warsaw regarding sewer capacity and rates. The councilman said the establishment of a municipal rate has been discussed with the town.
He advised those in attendance that no decision has been made regarding sanitary sewer installation in Southtown and other residential areas.
It was noted a total of $262,000 has been received in state and local grants to renovate the community building.
Clevenger said the partnership with the Winona Restoration Group and Grace College would continue to strengthen.
Past Reneker Award winners are: Lee Jenkins, 1999; Dane A. Miller, 1998; Lisa LeMasters, 1997; Dr. Stephen J. Peoples, 1996; R. Quentin Rupe, 1995, and Brent Wilcoxson, 1994.
