Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SILVER LAKE - In July, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission assigned new area codes for two of three regions in northern Indiana.
Silver Lake was split from Kosciusko County into a 260 area code. Warsaw will change to 574 area code.
Sliver Lake marshal Craig Hollopeter said Monday Akron, Claypool and Burket would become long distance calls, although North Manchester would have the 260 area code.
Mandatory implementation of the new area codes begins in summer 2002.
Hollopeter offered an Associated Press article focusing on Ligonier and Cromwell in Noble County who started a letter-writing campaign to retain the towns' area code. The article said, as a result of the campaign, the regulatory commission was willing to reconsider the split.
"We need to hear from the people in town," said Brenda Wadkins, president of the council. Hollopeter agreed.
Silver Lake Town Council is asking the citizens to offer their opinion. Call the clerk's office at 352-2120 or the marshal's office at 352-3333.
In other business, the council:
• Decided to purchase a gazebo for $4,050. Although, instead of rushing installation, the council decided to store the gazebo through the winter.
Plans remain to landscape and place the gazebo on the old Marathon station lot. Landscape companies have offered bids but the start is threatened by cold weather.
After the purchase, the council said about $2,000 would be left in budget's parks account. If the money is not spent by January, it will lose its appropriation. It will not be spendable until it is given a specific purpose.
• Received a handout from Hollopeter about handling Anthrax and other biological threats. He said a few people asked him about the threat. The advice was from the Health Alert Network.
Anyone unsure of a letter should contact law enforcement immediately, said Hollopeter.
• Said Halloween's trick or treating is 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 31. The firemen will give out smoke detectors at the fire station.
• Heard from Phil Shalley, town superintendent, that fall's leaf pick up begins today and continues on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Pick up will go "pretty much as we need to," said Shalley.
Last year, he said specific times for beginning and ending pick up didn't work. When the pick up schedule was completed, green leaves were still on the trees, said Shalley.
The Silver Lake Town Council is president Brenda Wadkins, Gale Owens, Donna McCune and clerk-treasurer Teresa Howell.
