Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
A contingent of Kosciusko Couunty residents headed to Atlanta, Ga., yesterday to promote the county to be designated an All-America City.
Cities, counties and regions can receive the distinction, termed the nation's most prestigious civic award.
Christanne Howe, Angela Ritchey and Stephanie Noffsinger accepted the task of filling out a lengthy award application when the women attended the 2000 Kosciusko Leadership Academy. Each KLA attendee chooses a detailed project, termed a "white paper." Participants can work individually or as a group.
As part of the application process, the three women had to describe the community, some of the challenges it faces and what the community is doing to meet those challenges.
One of the biggest issues, they discovered in their research, was access to health care and prescription drugs.
Another issue they singled out in the application was cultural harmony. In their research they discovered that approximately 5 percent of Kosciusko County's population is Hispanic and 92.9 percent is white, according to U.S. 2000 Census figures.
One organization addressing the issue of cultural harmony is Sus Amigos. An entirely volunteer effort, Sus Amigos brings together those interested in bridging the gaps between the English and Spanish-speaking members of Kosciusko County, created by language barriers and cultural distinctions. Part of the application asks about services for youth, and the women highlighted the Kosciusko Community YMCA and its youth programming.
The last part of the application asks about their community, and they wrote about Kosciusko County's good economy, lakes, festivals and towns.
The Kosciusko County application was chosen as one of 30, from a field of 93, to make a presentation before a jury of 12 in Atlanta.
Jeff Noffsinger, Stephanie's husband, also is traveling to Atlanta as Warsaw Mayor Ernie Wiggins' representative.
As delegates they will give a three-minute presentation to the jury about the county.
The only other group attending from Indiana is from Muncie.
On Saturday the top 10 communities will be named.
The All-America City Award is sponsored by the National Civic League and The Allstate Corp.
