10 Years Ago The American Car & Foundry Co.-made tank on the northwest corner of the Kosciusko County courthouse was given a new coat of paint. Instead of tan and gray, the World War II-era M3 Stuart light tank was first sandblasted then painted a regulation green by Jason Waddle and a couple of jail trusties. Waddle donated his time and the American Legion Post #49 donated the paint. Unit markings, emblems and registration numbers will be added later. Whitko Community School Corp. Superintendent Dr. Jeff Hendrix welcomed Parrish Kruger as the new Whitko High School principal. Joe Wilkey of World Compassion Network, Warsaw, and Mike Metzger of Metzger & Sons Trucking Co., delivered supplies to hurricane victims in Florida. 25 Years Ago United Telephone of Indiana and United Telephone of Ohio will merge administrative offices. Employees of UTI, headquartered in Warsaw for 54 years, will move to Mansfield, Ohio, where UTO is based, to continue administering the Indiana system. Both companies are part of United Telecom, providing service to 19 states. The Whitko Community School Board decided to proceed with plans to construct a consolidated middle school. Warsaw Police Cpl. Bob Long is training his new partner, Jimmy, the department’s first police dog. “He’s the best partner I could ask for,” he said. 50 Years Ago Pierceton Lions Club decided to help trustee Claude Stahl clean and rake the old Firestone Cemetery of its undergrowth. Howard Menzie was instrumental in locating the cemetery in the Ridinger Lake area. There are 24 to 30 graves enclosed with a wrought iron fence. Some of the early settlers in the county are buried here, the oldest being Christian Smith, 94, who died Nov. 28, 1890. Samuel Firestone was a Mason according to the headstone. Helping are Tom Keener, Delbert Caudill, Richard Mitchell, Robert Snyder, Gary O’Dell and Nick Hoot, president. A number of cemeteries in the county have been cleaned and stones placed in correct positions by the township trustees. Mabel Snyder has been hired as a full-time reading specialist in the Whitko Schools. She received her master’s degree from Saint Francis College, Fort Wayne, in 1964. 75 Years Ago For the benefit of persons posting letters for outgoing mail in the vicinity of the Times office, the Warsaw Post Office has placed a U.S. Mail letter drop-box at the southwest corner of the building, mounted in the south wall. Mail carriers will pick up mail there four times daily, except Sunday. Mailman “Pinkey” McClellan makes most of the pickups at this new mailbox. Western Union has installed its summer station in the administration building, Winona Lake. Geraldine Eby will receive and send messages from her office. She is also in charge of the new PBX phone system. Billy Wilson, 10, son of Mr. and Mrs. Everett Wilson, 1003 E. Center St., is among the 50 youngsters awaiting the start of the Soap Box Derby July 12. He is driving car No. 30 for the Canteen Restaurant. He goes to East Ward School.
