Warsaw Officer Honored; City Looks At Street Upgrades

Warsaw Police Cpl. Steve Rockey received a "purple heart" from Warsaw Chief of Police Steve Foster Monday night, for sustaining injuries while on active duty.

Also honored were Robert and Matthew Carver, father and son, who were presented Citizens Appreciation Awards for their assistance during the Nov. 11, 2000, incident when Rockey received multiple injuries.

According to police reports, Rockey responded to a call about a suspicious vehicle in the Arthur Street area and that a man was reportedly pushed from the car.

Rockey approached the vehicle driven by Krystal Lanae Milburn, 15, of 403-1/2 S. Union St., Warsaw.

While Rockey was attempting to shut off the car's ignition, Milburn backed up at a high rate of speed.

Ptl. Scott Whitaker wrote in his report that he saw the vehicle moving backward with Rockey dragged by the car. The driver's door was still open and Rockey was holding on between the door and the interior of the car.

Whitaker said Rockey was dragged until being thrown from the door when the car stopped quickly. Rockey struck the north curb on Arthur Street, just a few feet from Ellsworth Street.

He received three fractured ribs and broken bones in his left leg.

The Carvers rendered first aid after the incident.

Rockey, Foster said, is back on duty and is "doing well."

Ron Bonar of Bonar Group presented preliminary plans for extensive rerouting of Parker Street in two troublesome areas of the thoroughfare.

The "Y" intersection off U.S. 30 where Dubois Drive and Parker Street meet and where Parker "T's" at Center Street have been identified as congested areas.

Bonar said Parker Street could be rerouted to the west beginning north of Walter Way and vacated north of Brookview Drive. The street would end across from Provident Drive, where a four-way stop intersection could be established.

At the southern end of Parker Street plans are to cut across the Med-Park Center property, 2501 E. Center St., beginning at Main Street, rerouting the street southeast toward Argonne Road. A stoplight could be installed at Jefferson Street and Argonne Road due to the amount of commercial traffic encountered there.

Federal funding of $1.9 million is available for the project. The funds were awarded to Warsaw from federal highway accounts, the city's share of the 18-cent gas tax. Indiana received $560 million of the levy.

A total construction cost including right of way acquisitions, various studies, reports and engineering designs comes to $2.8 million.

Local monies amount to $892,400 and will pay for 20 percent of construction costs and all of the nonconstruction costs.

Bonar presented the projects to the council for information only; no commitment from the council was forthcoming.

A preliminary construction schedule shows the rerouting could begin as early as 2003.

Warsaw City Council members are Joe Thallemer, Jeff Grose, Charlie Smith, Trish Brown, Jerry Patterson, Bill Rhoades and George Clemens.

The council meets the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the city council chambers.