Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Earth Day '99 will be observed April 17 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Central Park Pavilion, Warsaw.
Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District Director Marsha Eikenberry said Tuesday the theme for Earth Day '99 will be "One People ... One Planet."
Invitations have been sent for various organizations to set up booths. Eikenberry said she is asking them to provide hands-on activities for children.
One new exhibitor will be the Environmental Club from Warsaw Community High School, she told the KCSWMD board. The group hopes to provide an "Environmental Promise Tree," where children can sign leaves already cut out and paste them onto the tree.
Allied Waste Industries, owners of the Packerton landfill, will display an operating landfill model.
KCSWMD also will display a recycling contest called "The most creative or useful thing you can make from a milk jug." The contest will be broken into five different age groups: kindergarten through grade two, grades three to five, grades six through eight, grades nine through 12 and adults.
Winners in the first three age groups will win a skating party at Eastlake Skating Center. High school winners will receive gift certificates from North Pointe Cinema. Adult winners will receive a bird feeder.
Volunteers are needed, Eikenberry said.
In other news, a grant for curbside recycling containers in Winona Lake was approved by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management.
KCSWMD requested a grant for a 50 percent cash match. IDEM approved a grant for 75 percent, which means KCSWMD will pay only 25 percent of the cost. The containers have been ordered along with refrigerator magnets. Eikenberry said they should be delivered in the next couple of weeks.
A program brochure was mailed to each resident in early February.
Winona Lake residents can leave out only two recycle bins per week. Pickup will be twice a week. Half the residents' recyclable goods will be picked up on one day and the other half another day.
"It's covered in tax dollars unless they leave out more than two cans and then they have to buy a sticker for $1," Eikenberry said.
Eikenberry said a bill passed by the Indiana House would allow districts to prosecute illegal dumping and recover costs. The measure, proposed by state Rep. Dave Wolkins, Winona Lake, is considered a victory by solid waste management districts across the state, she said.
"I guess this is the first year the solid waste districts are having a favorable year down there," Eikenberry said.
She said she sent pictures of Kosciusko County illegal dumpers to the state by request. Eikenberry said she did not know if Wolkins knew that pictures from his own district had been sent to help the measure pass the house.
