Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MILFORD -ÊThe Milford Town Council approved a $1,200 donation to Drug Abuse Resistance Education Monday after the sheriff's department requested help in funding the program.
According to town marshal Dave Hobbs, DARE operates from grant money, and this year the grant was cut significantly. To graduate a student from DARE, Hobbs said, it costs more than $30. This year DARE expects to spend $2,400 at Milford School.
Council member Robert Cockburn, who is a former fifth grade teacher, said he encouraged the council to do whatever is necessary to help the DARE program. Hobbs agreed.
"The DARE program is a very good one," Hobbs said. "Good for kids and good for the adults too."
The council voted to fund half the expected cost for its community.
In other community news, fire chief Todd Haines, expressed his thanks for ice rescue equipment the department received in 2004 through a K21 foundation grant, saying it came in handy over the weekend.
According to Haines, two boys riding bicycles on Waubee Lake were rescued Saturday.
"I feel pretty fortunate that we were able to receive this grant to get the equipment," Haines said. He also said he hopes no department needs to use the gear and reminded that because of the warmer than normal temperatures, "the ice is not there."
In other business, the town council
• Responded to complaints about the appearance of Lippert Components. Council reported that the company is improving its facility.
"They've made some progress and they've got more to go," council member Doug Ruch said. "They're aware of it."
Lippert Components is involved with the Federal Emergency Management Agency's effort to ship trailers to New Orleans and currently is staffing more than three times their expected number. According to Winchester, the company "had growing pains."
• Approved two ordinances. Ordinance 2006-2 prohibits parking in areas along Old 15, between CR 1300N and Syracuse Street. The town has had problems with tractor-trailers parking there overnight.
Ordinance 2006-3 is a minor change to the abandoned vehicle ordinance. It brings the town's definition of a vehicle and its abandonment into alignment with the state's.
