WARSAW — Among the agenda items on a shorter than normal agenda for the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals was a petition by James Plummer, who lives on CR 1200N, east of Woodland Acres Drive in Turkey Creek Township. The petition was considered by the BZA during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, Nov. 10, in Warsaw.

MILFORD – Milford’s Town Council missed President Bob Cockburn at the Monday, Nov. 9, meeting. Cockburn, whose wife was in the hospital, may have been able to break a deadlock between members Dan Cochran and Doug Ruch. At issue was the best way to implement a raise in the town’s water rate. The council unanimously …read more.

WARSAW — The November meeting of the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Board has been cancelled, due to lack of business.

LEESBURG — Leesburg Town Council took a moment to examine adjustments to town ordinances suggested by Umbaugh, municipal planners during the Monday, Nov. 9, meeting of the board. As council members looked to set new, clearer precedents for the future, some discussion occurred over what could be hot topics to come, chiefly that of election …read more.

Syracuse Park Board is working on a five-year master plan. During the board’s regular monthly meeting Monday, Nov. 9, Chad Jonsson, park director, presented a possible projects list derived from the survey. Jonsson said the survey shows the park department has things it needs to do. Some of the ideas were possible uses for the …read more.

LEESBURG — Setting precedents for the future was the main theme of Monday, Nov. 9, Leesburg Town Council meeting.  The council implemented a new sewer rate adjustment guideline, adopted salary ordinances for town officials and reviewed code codification suggestions from Umbaugh, municipal planners. The council first addressed old business with Roberta “Bobby” Anderson, owner of …read more.

By LINDSAY JANCEK Communications Director MISHAWAKA — Congresswoman Jackie Walorski reminded constituents that a member of her staff will hold office hours to assist constituents with casework and official business. The Rochester district office, 709 Main St., Rochester, is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.  Constituents can stop by or call (574) 223-4373 …read more.

The Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board Monday evening, Nov. 9, unanimously approved a 2016 fire territory salary resolution. The resolution provides the following full-time salaries plus longevity benefits: fire chief, $57,130; deputy chief, $51,730; firefighter/paramedic, $46,330; firefighter/EMT advanced, $44,805; firefighter/EMT basic and probationary/paramedic, $43,485; firefighter, probationary/up to EMT advanced, $40,177. EMS and shift captains are …read more.

The Turkey Creek Township Fire Board Monday evening, Nov. 9, appropriated $36,546.27 for the purchase of physical fitness equipment to be installed in Fire Station 1 in Syracuse. The funds will come from the new equipment line item of the department’s 2015 operations budget. “This physical fitness equipment will help us assure our employees remain …read more.

ELKHART COUNTY — Goshen Police located Kali around 7:45 p.m. Monday, Nov. 9, after receiving a tip from a member of the public. Kali was located in an apartment in Goshen, staying with a friend.

PIERCETON — Pierceton Town Council broke the town election tie last night, Monday, Nov. 9, during it’s regular monthly meeting, for the last town council seat. The result — Armando “Mandy” Espinoza will retain his seat on the council.

NORTH WEBSTER — A free children’s Christmas party, parade and town tree lighting is being sponsored by the North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, and all area children are invited.

INDIANAPOLIS — Today, Monday, Nov. 9, the campaign of U.S. Senate candidate Eric Holcomb announced that it has secured the minimum threshold of voter petition signatures in each of Indiana’s nine congressional districts to quality for ballot access in the May 2016 primary. The Holcomb campaign is the first to reach this important milestone.

WARSAW — Workout Anytime Warsaw is supporting Lift For The 22, an organization created to help prevent veteran suicide due to PTSD. On average, 22 veterans commit suicide every day. By providing free gym memberships and creating a supportive a social environment where veterans can workout together, Workout Anytime hopes to stop the veteran suicide epidemic.

NORTH WEBSTER — For each question thrown at the board, members attempted to provide explanation or answers, but were consistently interrupted. Bob Sanders recommended closing the meeting as public comments turned to attacking personal characteristics about the board members, such as posture or affluence.

NORTH WEBSTER — Board member Bob Sanders brought an important point the board in reference to customers who may be on limited incomes and unable to work because of retirement or disability to add additional income. “We can’t do that to our people,” stated Sanders, noting some public members are fearful of losing their homes because of the increased expense of sewer bills.

WARSAW — All Things New, a local non-profit agency formed to help women struggling with substance abuse, announced its public launch of a campaign to raise operating funds and capital funds for the purchase of the Riverwood Ranch property off Old Road 30 just west of Warsaw.

SYRACUSE — About eight people attended the quiet zone meeting held Thursday, Nov. 5, at the Syracuse Community Center to plan its next moves. Resident George Marlow led the meeting. The committee formalized its mission statement, vision statement and values. “This will be the message we’ll pass out to the community in the coming months,” …read more.

CHICAGO — Indiana Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann and Glenda Ritz, superintendent of public instruction, testified today before the Higher Learning Commission, a regional accreditation organization. Their testimony expressed concerns about proposed guidelines for teachers of dual credit classes in Indiana’s high schools. These concerns were also expressed in the attached letter to HLC co-signed by the Lt. Governor, the superintendent, Teresa Lubbers, commissioner of higher education and Sarah O’Brien, vice-chair of the state board of education. Dual credit classes taken in high school earn college credits for those students.

DEA Acting Administrator Chuck Rosenberg announced today, Wednesday, Nov. 4, results from the 2015 National Drug Threat Assessment, which finds that drug overdose deaths are the leading cause of injury death in the United States, ahead of motor vehicle deaths and firearms. In 2013, more than 46,000 people in the United States died from drug overdose …read more.

INDIANAPOLIS — Beginning this week, Indiana criminal justice providers can begin referring eligible felony criminal offenders with mental illness or substance addiction issues to designated treatment agencies in lieu of simply ordering them to be jailed or imprisoned as part of the state’s newly launched “Recovery Works” program. Recovery Works is a new program of the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s Division of Mental Health and Addiction.

WARSAW — Real estate directional signs, such as a home for sale sign, have become a problem in recent months in Kosciusko County. During its regular monthly meeting Wednesday afternoon, Nov. 4, in Warsaw, the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission continued a discussion starting last month about whether or not the ordinance governing real estate directional signs needs to be revised.

(From left) First-time voter Tony Boyer, 18, attended today’s election with mother Monica Boyer. The two were helped by Jack Voklers, Roxanne Coffelt and Carol Volckers.(Not pictured) Laura Lockridge and Jerold Nelson also assisted the two by explaining the polling process. WARSAW — Polls are currently in place for Kosciusko County elections and the turnout …read more.

SYRACUSE — After an unusually high number of accidents at the intersection of US 6 and CR 29, north of Syracuse, INDOT researched possible methods of alleviation including a roundabout and a four-way stop to replace the current two-way stop. The group settled on an overpass that has come in at an estimated $2.3 million cost.

WARSAW — A shoreline restoration project at Lucerne Park, Pike Lake, was tabled Monday morning during the Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety.

INDIANA — The Indiana Department of Transportation asks Hoosier motorists to report signal timings and school-zone flashers that did not change over automatically with daylight saving time on Sunday, Nov. 1. In addition, motorists may report overhead lighting outages above interstates, U.S. highways and state routes to INDOT’s district offices around the state. Flashers that …read more.

SILVER LAKE — The Kosciusko County community is changing the way many local residents see, and feel, winter weather. Whether beautiful or tragic, the snowfall in Warsaw, Winona Lake, Silver Lake and other local communities can cause more problems than just traffic delays.

LOUISVILLE — Agriculture Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden today announced a commitment by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to prioritize $5.6 billion over the next two years within USDA programs and services that serve new and beginning farmers and ranchers. Deputy Secretary Harden also announced a new, tailored web tool designed to connect burgeoning farm entrepreneurs with programs and resources available to help them get started.

CLAYPOOL — As elections approach, five candidates are competing for three seats on the Claypool Town Council. There are also two candidates running for clerk-treasurer.

INDIANAPOLIS — Attorney General Zoeller announced a grant program, funded by a recent pharmaceutical settlement reached between the Indiana Attorney General’s Office and Amgen for deceptive drug promotion. The new grant will fund a surge in naloxone distribution, with the goal of ensuring all first responders are equipped with the life-saving treatment.

CHICAGO – Daylight Saving Time ends and we set our clocks back an hour Sunday, Nov. 1. Take advantage of extra sleep, then take a few simple steps to make your home more disaster-resilient:

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — The countdown has begun for city/town elections. Polls will open at 6 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, and close at 6 p.m. in the city of Warsaw and towns of Claypool, Mentone, Pierceton and Silver Lake. All five communities will have races for council seats. Claypool will also have a race for clerk-treasurer.

PIERCETON — As elections approach, four candidates are competing for three seats on the Pierceton town council.

By SHELLY HECKERT Director, Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District WARSAW — It accumulates in cabinets, garages and in the basements of our homes. We hold onto old cans of it just in case. “It” is paint and most homes have lots of it: flat, semi-gloss, stains in all sorts of finishes and hues. There it sits because many …read more.

You don’t have to look very far to find new construction projects in the lakes area. Several local companies are in various stages of major expansion undertakings.

MILFORD — Strolling along Main Street in Milford’s downtown business district, one can still whiff an ugly reminder of the Oct. 8 early morning fire that scuttled one business and closed two others to smoke and water damage.

SYRACUSE — New Hope Pet Rescue is hosting an indoor garage sale until 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, and again from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. The indoor garage sale is being held at the Syracuse Eagles building located at 12889 N. Kern Road.

A former Biomet sales representative is currently seeking $10 million dollars against his former employer after he alleges he was wrongfully terminated. Michael Swiss, currently a resident of Pennsylvania, states he was a high performing sales representative with the company until he approached a supervisor about alleged kickback payments being offered to practitioners. Swiss alleges …read more.

WARSAW — InkFreeNews.com continues to prove itself as Kosciusko County’s news leader. It has now reached over 43,000 total page likes.

WARSAW — This weekend, the City of Warsaw Utilities will be working with Wessler Engineering to perform smoke testing on select portions of the sanitary sewers in the Warsaw area. The evaluation is part of a study to identify sources of non-sanitary flow.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Members of the Republican Party met tonight to elect a new chairman to serve District 2 in the Kosciusko County Council. The position was previously held by Jim Moyer, who resigned to pursue a position as assistant surveyor with the Kosciusko County Surveyor’s office last month. After three counts of the ballot, …read more.

NORTHWEST INDIANA — The Indiana State Police and The Indiana Department of Transportation wrapped up their “Move Over, Slow Down, It’s the Law” campaign last week and officers issued hundreds of tickets during the week-long blitz aimed at improving safety on Indiana’s roadways. Indiana State Police officers were looking for drivers who failed to yield …read more.

It was a productive night for the Syracuse Town Council Tuesday, Oct. 20. Their accomplishments included approving wages for the new police chief and parks superintendent, swearing in two-year reservist Kyle Denton as a police officer, approving the purchase of a new ambulance and adopting the 2016 operating budget. The $3,398,351 budget allots slightly less …read more.

NORTH WEBSTER — Jerry Juillerat, 116 EMS W30A-1 Lane, approached the North Webster Town Council at its regular meeting Tuesday evening, Oct. 20, about the problems he and his wife Nancy have been having with their sewer system.

SYRACUSE — It’s becoming more than something discussed in a meeting or architectural drawings. One can drive by on Kern Road just south of the Eagles building and see the beginning stages of a new school being built.

CROMWELL — Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District met for its regular monthly meeting Monday night, Oct. 19. The board was one member short, as President Rex Heil alerted the board to the resignation of member James Evans.

SYRACUSE — The Wawasee community is welcoming back a familiar face after a three-year hiatus. Kim Slocum made the decision to join the company he left just a few years ago, and the Rinker family is welcoming him back with open arms.

SYRACUSE — Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee met Monday evening, Oct. 19, and Executive Director Megan McClellan gave updates on the Conklin Bay and the Eli Lilly Road trail projects. Both trails are moving forward.

WARSAW — John Sampson, president/chief executive officer of the Northeast Indiana Regional Partnership, presented an update on the quest to become one of two regional initiatives to receive a $42 million grand from the Indiana Economic Development Commission. His presentation was made during the Warsaw Common Council meeting Monday evening, Oct. 19.

NORTH WEBSTER — The North Webster Lioness Club is accepting vendors for its Christmas bazaar, set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, in North Webster. Those interested can call Kassie Klinefelter at (574) 527-3710 for vendor information.

The average American spends about 20 years in retirement. The median retirement account balance across all U.S. households is $2,500. I don’t know about you, but $2,500 won’t be nearly enough to fund all I want to do in retirement.

SYRACUSE — The Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation’s first Falltastic event was held Saturday, Oct. 17, and again today, Sunday, Oct. 18, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Levinson-LaBrosse Education Center, 11586 N. SR 13, Syracuse.

NORTHERN INDIANA — Social Security has provided critical financial help to people of all ages for the last 80 years, and despite our age, we’re far from retiring. As the Social Security program celebrates its historic birthday this August, we’re reflecting on our diverse history, our current strengths, and ways we can continue to improve our services to you.

SYRACUSE — The regular meeting of the Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals was Thursday evening, Oct. 15. Two businesses, Pizza Hut and McDonald’s, were granted exceptions for drive-thru lanes.

INDIANA — INDOT Commissioner Brandye Hendrickson, the deputy commissioners and district deputy commissioners have invited INDOT employees to join them in wearing pink for the day for $1 to support breast cancer awareness. Field staff, highway techs and mechanics who wish to participate will be provided with pink arm bands to show support, along with their high visibility clothing.

FORT WAYNE – Indiana Department of Transportation crews began preparing for the winter months with pre-winter inspections this week. By the end of October, INDOT inspectors will have travelled to each of the Fort Wayne District’s 14 units to perform the annual inspection of snow and ice equipment

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Task Force, co-chaired by Attorney General Greg Zoeller, and the Indianapolis Colts are urging Hoosier teens to rally against prescription drug abuse by participating in the second-annual Pledge Challenge.

WARSAW — A learning curve is usually the norm with new state traffic laws. Not everyone is immediately aware of the laws and what their specifics are.

INDIANA — Over the last seven months, I traveled to each of Indiana’s 92 counties, visiting the county auditors and their staff to discuss State and local transparency — where we are and where we need to be.

NORTH WEBSTER — Wawasee Community Schools, along with Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department and North Webster Police have continued to follow the story of Deklan Hawthorne, a 6-year-old boy whose father reported his son was assaulted on an unsupervised school bus.

SYRACUSE — At the Syracuse Parks and Recreation Board meeting Monday evening Oct. 12, the board discussed a number of potential items for the department’s five-year master plan.

WARSAW — A caucus to fill the vacancy of Charles Smith on Warsaw Common Council, 2nd District, will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, in the Warsaw City Council Chambers, Warsaw, City Hall.

SYRACUSE — Plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Oakwood Resorts have paid a $25,000 bond required by Circuit Court Judge Mike Reed.

SYRACUSE — During the regular monthly meeting of the Wawasee school board Tuesday, Oct. 13, in Syracuse, the board also considered the following agenda items:

SYRACUSE — Proposed changes to high school diploma requirements are pending before the state board of education. During the regular monthly meeting of the school board for the Wawasee Community School Corp. Tuesday evening, Oct. 13, in Syracuse, the board heard a report from Joy Goshert, director of instruction and curriculum.

NORTH WEBSTER — Elections of board members highlighted the general meeting of the North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce Monday, Oct. 12, at American Legion Post 253.

WARSAW — Matt Tracy’s two petitions were among several considered by the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, Oct. 13, in Warsaw.

WARSAW — Carole Shelby’s petition for a variance to split a lot creating an undersized tract of ground was among the several agenda items considered by the Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, Oct. 13, in Warsaw.

SYRACUSE — A Syracuse home’s attached garage is in shambles following a late night explosion. The residence is located at the intersection of Palm Drive and Harkless Drive. On Monday, October 12, at approximately 11:30 p.m. the Syracuse Police Department was alerted to a possible fire/explosion at 901 S. Harkless Drive in Syracuse.

SYRACUSE — With its 2016 budget obligations out of the way, the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board Monday evening, Oct. 12, turned its attention to some final 2015 matters.

MILFORD — Kosciusko County Emergency Medical Services representative Scott Sigerfoos was on hand at Milford’s Town Council meeting Monday evening, Oct. 12, to address concerns about slow response times.

SYRACUSE — Fire Chief Mickey Scott told the Turkey Creek Fire Board Monday evening, Oct. 12, he ordered the chassis for the department’s new ambulance.

PIERCETON — A short Pierceton Town Council meeting took place at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, at the Pierceton Fire Department. During the meeting, a garbage disposal bid was brought before the council, and the golf cart ordinance was passed.

LEESBURG — On Monday, Oct. 12, Leesburg Town Council met to discuss the possibility of setting a new precedence in how to deal with unoccupied commercial businesses in terms of their water bills. Roberta “Bobbi” Anderson visited the board to discuss a commercial property she owns on SR 15, the former Farmer’s Market restaurant. According …read more.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Governor Mike Pence recently made appointments to various boards and commissions. One local man was included in the aforementioned appointments.  William E. Kovach, Kosciusko County, was recommended by Jackie Dowd to be reappointed to the Regional Works Council. Kovach was reappointed to Region 2 to serve a two-year term through Sept. 30, 2017. …read more.

MILFORD — The early morning fire on Thursday, Oct. 8, downtown Milford, has closed one business and temporarily closed another.

INDIANAPOLIS — In light of the recent tragedy in Oregon and the continuing safety threat across the country, Governor Mike Pence has directed that an additional $3.5 million be added to the Secured School Safety Grant Program, increasing the funding available for the current year to more than $9 million.

WARSAW — On Aug. 25, Kosciusko County Commissioners adopted the revised flood insurance rate maps, flood insurance study and flood control ordinance, all of which became effective Sept. 30.

MISHAWAKA — Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (IN-02) reminded constituents that a member of her staff will be holding office hours to assist constituents with casework and official business. Area dates, locations and times are:

WARSAW — The Great Central U.S. ShakeOut is set for 10:15 a.m. Thursday, Oct.15, and the Indiana Department of Homeland Security encourages all Hoosiers to register and participate in this opportunity to practice earthquake safety. Indiana is exposed to a threat of earthquakes along the New Madrid Seismic Zone, 180 miles southwest of Evansville, and …read more.

By AMY ERLANDSON Associate, Osborn Barr INDIANA — To the naked eye, the soybeans Kevin Wilson is harvesting this fall look like any other soybeans grown in Indiana. But, this Walton farmer knows his soybeans are on the cutting edge of innovation. They’re different because they meet end-customer needs. His soybeans are high oleic soybeans. Like …read more.

By MIKE MOLNAR Manager, Lake Michigan Coastal Program, DNR Division of Nature Preserves INDIANA — Viewing a newly designed website provides a virtual looks at what only divers used to be able to access. The website, part of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website, features the J.D. Marshall, the Muskegon, Car Ferry Number Two …read more.

WARSAW — Kosciusko County Redevelopment Commission approved two tax increment financing funds at its Thursday, Oct. 8, meeting.

SYRACUSE — If you walked in on a regular monthly meeting of the local organization, Women of Today, you may think you had interrupted a social gathering of friends. The women are quite literally “of today,” in their progressive ideas and approach to community service.

MISHAWAKA — Rep. Jackie Walorski, member of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement after the Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act earlier today:

SYRACUSE — Sleigh bells may still be off in the distance for some, but the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce has already secured a sleigh in preparation for Holiday Magic, occurring Nov. 21. During its regular board meeting Wednesday, Oct. 7, late-fall and winter events were the main focus.

WARSAW – With no plats or rezonings to consider, the agenda was light for the regular monthly meeting of the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission Wednesday afternoon, Oct. 7, in Warsaw.

UNITED STATES — President Barack Obama issued a proclamation late last week for all flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims in the shooting at Umpqua Community College, Roseburg, Ore., on Oct. 1. Nine people were killed, more than 20 injured. Flags are to be flown at half-staff until sunset today, …read more.

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson reminds Hoosiers that Monday, Oct. 5, is the deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 3 General Election. She is also making a special plea to the families of military and overseas voters to connect their loved ones with an absentee ballot request. Hoosiers can begin voting …read more.

NORTH WEBSTER — North Webster Community Center relies on donations to keep the doors open year round. The North Webster Community Center Heart of the Community Charity Auction and Raffle was held Saturday, Oct. 3 to benefit the community center. As usual, a large crowd filled the gymnasium in the community center. Approximately 1,500 people …read more.

MILFORD — A Norfolk Southern train made a grand exit out of Milford Friday afternoon, Oct. 2, when it went crashing through a downed tree. The tree was approximately 25-30 feet in length and about 2 feet around and had fallen on the tracks behind The Papers Inc. building located on First Street.

DONALDSON – Ancilla’s Board of Trustees voted Monday, Sept. 28, to build a second residence hall.

INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Pence has directed state agencies to act on all three initial recommendations provided by the governor’s task force on Drug Enforcement, Treatment and Prevention. At the first task force meeting in September, a list of action items were discussed and accepted for recommendation to the governor. Today, the governor took the following actions: …read more.

NORTH WEBSTER — It was no gentle start to the Thursday evening, Oct. 1, monthly meeting of Lakeland Regional Sewer District’s board in the North Webster Community Center, as the meeting kicked off with three bill pay requests of substantial amounts.

GOSHEN — In a Sept. 29 meeting, the Goshen School Board finally agreed on a retirement date for the Redskin mascot. On Jan. 1 the mascot and logo will be retired from the Goshen school community.

SYRACUSE — A hastily convened 11th-hour special meeting of the Turkey Creek fire board Wednesday morning, Sept. 30, will save local taxpayers $17,564.

INDIANA — As the federal government prepares to close the books on its fiscal year Sept. 30, the Indiana Department of Transportation announces it has invested all $897,920,888.32 in federal highway funds available to Indiana. Funds not assigned to projects by the end of September each year are sent back to Washington D.C., and shared among all U.S. states and territories.

NORTH WEBSTER — Laurel Mitchell was a spirited young girl, part of many community organizations even at such a young age. She was just 17 years old when an unknown killer raped and murdered her, dumping her body in the Elkhart River in Noble County.

MENTONE — Kosciusko County took part in another DUI checkpoint during the weekend of Friday, Sept. 25, through Sunday, Sept. 27. With at least one officer from nearly every police department in the county, the checkpoint ran from 10 p.m. Friday to 2 a.m. Sunday and ended in two arrests.

GARY — The Gary Police Department is investigating the disappearance of an adult from Gary, Ind., and a regional silver alert has been issued.