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The parents of Catlyn Gosnell, the 11-year-old Winona Lake girl killed in an automobile accident in July 2002, are suing the Indiana Department of Transportation for unspecified damages.
According to published reports, Art and Sharon Gosnell filed the suit in Allen Superior Court this week and allege that the state acted negligently in caring for the "dangerous" intersection.
Gosnell was one of 11 children injured when the church van collided with a tractor-trailer at the intersection of Ind. 101 and U.S. 24 near Fort Wayne. The children were on their way to participate in a missions project.
The van was driven by youth pastor Scott Smiley, 31, Warsaw. Smiley stopped at the intersection, reports say, but, thinking it was a four-way stop, proceeded through the intersection and was struck by the tractor-trailer.
The suit reportedly alleges that the intersection has a history of being unsafe and is in bad condition, and that the state knew this. It also cites multiple fatal crashes at the site and alleges the state failed to take "reasonable care."
Ivy Tech's Walgamuth Announces Retirement
Staff Report
SOUTH BEND - Joann Walgamuth, executive dean of Ivy Tech State College's Warsaw campus, has announced her retirement from the college at the end of this month.
A reception honoring Walgamuth will be held Feb. 19 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the campus, 3755 Lake City Highway. The public is invited.
Walgamuth has served as executive dean since July 1, 2000. She joined the college in 1997 as a full-time business instructor.
Her tenure has been marked by an expansion of Ivy Tech's presence in the Warsaw community and record enrollment growth.
Under her leadership, the campus moved from Lakeview Middle School to its current location on U.S. 30 in fall 2002, added science education and patient care laboratories with funding from the Kosicusko 21st Century Foundation, and launched a new program to prepare certified nursing assistants.
At the 10-day mark this spring, full- and part-time enrollment on the Warsaw campus stood at 661 students, the highest spring semester enrollment in the campus' history. Since fall 2000, the number of classes for which students are enrolled has grown over 21 percent.
"It has been a joy to work with Joann," said Virginia Calvin, chancellor of Ivy Tech State College's North Central Region.
"Warsaw has been very fortunate to have such a dedicated, caring and hard-working individual to advocate for the higher education needs of its citizens," Calvin said.
Walgamuth has been active in many business and community organizations, including the board of directors of Kosciusko Development Inc., five Chamber of Commerce committees, Kosciusko Literacy Services, Rotary, Mobile Meals and the March of Dimes.
Last spring the Warsaw/Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce recognized her achievements with its Athena Award, given annually to an individual who personifies the highest level of professional excellence in business and community activities, and who assists women in developing leadership potential, community service involvement and exemplary business standing.
Walgamuth plans to relocate to Galveston, Texas, where she will teach part-time at the college level and continue her volunteer activities.
