Archive - News Article
February 9th, 2011
COLUMBIA CITY — A continuously thriving business in South Whitley got a monetary pat on the back from both the Whitley County Board of Commissioners and the Whitley County Council this week.
At Tuesday’s meeting of the council, Alan Tió, president of the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation appeared before the panel to introduce Zach Kessie of Fire Barriers, a fire-stopping company based in South Whitley.
The company’s appearance before the board was on behalf of a second low-interest loan utilizing CEDIT (County Economic Development Income Tax) funds.
February 7th
CHURUBUSCO — A two-car collision on U.S. 33 near CR 650 East Saturday left six injured and a baby unharmed.
Authorities arrived at approximately 4:30 p.m. Saturday to the scene with five people trapped in their cars and one unconscious.
Four people were transported from the scene with incapacitating injuries, according to police reports.
According to Sergeant Mike Engle of the Whitley County Sheriff’s Department, a Chevrolet Trailblazer was eastbound on U.S. 33 and lost control due to poor road conditions.
FORT WAYNE — Steel Dynamics, Inc. will host U.S. Commerce Department Deputy Assistant Secretary Ro Khanna today at the company’s corporate office in Fort Wayne.
The company’s Structural and Rail Division is located in Whitley County east of Columbia City.
Khanna will be on hand at the corporate headquarters to present the Department of Commerce Export Achievement Certificate to SDI Chairman and CEO Keith Busse.
The award is to be presented in recognition of the company’s growth of its export sales.
INDIANAPOLIS — Current Indiana law requires county councils to approve the wording of local ballot referendums before residents can vote for or against raising property taxes to increase school operating budgets.
State Sen. Jim Banks (R-Columbia City) said this state law often forces local elected officials — who may personally oppose the referendum — to appear on-record in support of property tax increases.
Banks, a former Whitley County Council member, said he plans to change that.
COLUMBIA CITY — Additional charges have been filed against a couple arrested for alleged drug offenses earlier this year.
Janel M. Creech, 36, and Travis A. Wonderly, 21 were charged Jan. 7 with manufacturing methamphetamine and other drug-related offenses in connection with a Jan. 3 incident that resulted in the death of Creech’s 5-month-old baby girl.
On Friday, Whitley County Prosecutor Matt Rentschler filed an additional charge of neglect of a dependent resulting in death against both suspects. The charge is a Class A felony.
February 4th
By
BECKY HAND and RUTH STANLEY
During a Level 1 snow emergency, most of the population is asked to stay home. The few who keep us informed and safe during the situation, or who work to open the roads again, often work very long hours.
Cathy Broxon-Ball, director of the Emergency Management Administration/Department of Homeland Security was at her post from 7 a.m. Tuesday until 11 a.m. Thursday, sleeping on a portable military cot in her office, all to help keep residents of Whitley County safe and aware of conditions.
COLUMBIA CITY — The Fort Wayne man and former state excise officer accused of staging the break-in of an Indiana State Excise Police evidence room in Columbia City is scheduled for a pre-trial conference Feb. 15, according to the Whitley County Prosecutor’s Office.
Aaron M. Bishop, 34, was arrested Nov. 24 and charged with theft and official misconduct in connection with the Aug. 4 break-in.
Bishop has been free on $8,000 bond since shortly after his arrest.
COLUMBIA CITY — The head of Whitley County’s public transportation system will seek money from the Whitley County Council next week.
Jackie Hake, executive director of Whitley County Transit is asking for her organization’s annual allotment of money from the County Economic Development Income Tax — an infusion of $20,000 as part of a local match with the Indiana Department of Transportation.
“These funds have gone a long way to support this growing program as we are starting our fifth year of public transportation,” said Hake in a letter to council president Kim Wheeler.
COLUMBIA CITY — The Columbia City Board of Works and Safety approved on Friday a work shutdown by Bowen Engineering Corporation on the city’s Equal-ization Basin and Interceptor Sewer Project which was originally slated to be completed May 1.
The shutdown is primarily due to frigid temperatures.
But the recent discovery of contaminated soil at one of the locations and the subsequent delays caused by Indiana Department of Environmental Management intervention also plays a factor.
COLUMBIA CITY — The 2011 budget for Whitley County’s chapter of Drug-Free Indiana will find its way in front of the Whitley County Council Tuesday.
The program’s coordinator, Nancy Prickett, presented the proposed budget to the Whitley County Board of Commissioners Jan. 18.
“The funds available for distribution in 2011 are $45,000 said Prickett in a letter submitted to the commissioners and made available for the council’s Tuesday meeting.
Prickett announced the money would be distributed for prevention/education, treatment, justice and administrative costs.
