County Commissioners heard about a new program for veterans at Magical Meadows this morning, and about the 100th anniversary of 4-H in Indiana. Tammy Stackhouse, Meadows founder, said the Warriors Mount Up program begins today to offer veterans the same sort of therapy riding and caring for horses that other adults and children with special needs have enjoyed. She said she remembers her own uncle coming back from Vietnam with what is now understood as post-traumatic stress disorder, and noted the movement of a horse can provide the same balance and coordination benefits as traditional physical therapy. “It’s not just a pony ride,” she remarked. Commissioners also heard from county 4-H leaders and members about the kids’ experiences in everything from animals and scrapbooking to robots and rocket design. Mindy Wise, youth development educator, said there are over 700 kids and 200 adult volunteers involved in 4-H in the county. She said they’re beginning to focus more on science, technology, engineering and math subjects, and to reach out to nontraditional members. “Our traditional programs are great, the fair is awesome, but we do so much more,” she said. Also this morning, commissioners: • Reaffirmed the vacation of a strip of land at the east shore of Little Tippecanoe Lake, first approved in 2002 but not recorded because it was subject to the approval – never given – of an heir of a landowner. • OK’d the rezoning from agricultural to residential of four-tenths of an acre at Ind. 13 and Backwater Road, at the request of owners Terry and Margaret Likens. • Approved the installation of stop signs at the intersection of CRs 400N and 500W, which Highway Superintendent Scott Tilden recommended because of business growth and increased traffic in the area. Commissioner Ron Truex said they considered conducting a traffic study first, but remarked that “instead of waiting to count accidents, we’d rather prevent them.” • Gave salaried employee status to several positions at the county jail, including dispatchers, work release and cooks, since their schedules as hourly often resulted in inconsistent paychecks from week to week. • Approved Cardinal Service’s claim to the Indiana Department of Transportation, showing 12,307 Kosciusko Area Bus Service rides and $108,036 in costs between July and September.
