Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 125, Number 2, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 16 January 2002 — Page 2

Page 2

Nappanee Advance News Wednesday, January 16,

Local man faces charges in district court

By Stacey Creasy cnhi News Service A Nappanee man was scheduled to make his first appearance in U.S. District Court in South Bend Monday, January 14, to answer to a variety of drug charges. Federal investigators claim Brent Mishler, 24, was part of a drug ring where cocaine and methamphetamine were sent to northern Indiana where it was sold to drug dealers in the area. Mishler has been charged with one count of distributing a controlled substance and a single

Mayor..

Central School and the Coppes building must be a top community priority. Communities that successfully reinvent their downtowns find that having the right attitude is essential. Invariably communities having successful downtown efforts are those that have a “can do and will do” attitude. Nappanee is fortunate that those two churches have turned into many churches, and those churches provide a support network for our community like not other. Our library continues to grow and prosper and has established itself as the heart of our downtown. Hats off to Linda Yoder, the library board, volunteers and dedicated staff for a job well done in carrying out their visions for a better and well equipped library for our citizens. Our schools continue to bring us much pride, under the leadership of Joe Sabo. WaNee is positioning itself as a leader for educational standards not only in Elkhart County but the entire state as recently acknowledged by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. We will continue to look to Kim Ingle as she continues to guide our spending, tax rate and investments. This may be the year we lock away the “Nipsco golden egg” by investing in the Elkhart Community Foundation. N 1 Possibly the only true way to protect this money for the future. Generally the government has trouble trying to budget, but never has any trouble juggling the budget once in place. Well, in Nappanee we always have a budget, but when justified still find ways to juggle it. Kim has and continues to be considered one of the best Clerk-Treasurers in the State of Indiana and we thank her for her dedication and that of her staff. This year as mandated by statute we will draw new Council Districts. Every ten years following the census cities are charged with this duty. Last year our Congressional and State Districts were redrawn. We lost, through redistricting, a real professional and friend in Congressman Tim Roemer. While we will miss Tim’s assistance, we look forward to the assistance of new Congressman Mark Souder.

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count of conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance. He was arrested in December following a lengthy investigation. Five California residents were also arrested as part of the drug operation. Court documents show Daniel Soto of Modesto, California, was also expected to appear in U.S. District Court Monday. Also arrested were Brandie Soto, Modesto; Tracey Samuels of Antioch and Julio and Marco Valdez, both of

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Statewide Dick Mangus and Bill Friend are our State Representatives and Marv Reigsecker continues to be our State Senator. We must be more involved in our state government if we expect to be successful in more home rule legislation not to mention more return of our tax dollars. We must insist on more highway dollars and a fair and equitable distribution of Build Indiana funds. We must support Lt. Governor Joe Keman and leaders of both parties to solve our property tax woes. Nappanee and all of northern Indiana needs to have and maintain a strong voice in Indianapolis. As I have stated before, our volunteers and employees are what really makes our city special. The dedication of our employees under the direction of some of the most dedicated Department Heads anywhere is what allows our citizens the quality of life they are accustomed to. In 2001 we lost some of our most dedicated volunteers and community supporters. The loss of Jim Clouse after a long illness leaves a real void on our Redevelopment Commission, Plan Commission, Chamber and Zoning Boards. Jim’s longtime dedication to the betterment of Nappanee will be greatly missed. The losses of long time Commuaity Business leaders Jane Wagner and Raymond Martin will also affect our community. We sometimes forget the sacrifices it takes for family businesses to be successful in today’s economy. Their Christian leadership and friendly faces will be greatly missed in our community. Also the passing of Virginia Coppes Bloomfield and Merriel Callander, both longtime community supporters will also be missed. Tonight we thank two volunteers who are retiring. Sharon Smock and Don Miller, who together have over 50 years of experience and dedication to our city. We thank them and wish them the very best in retirement. We have added some new faces, 9 individuals will begin service this year on various Boards and Commission for the first time. We wish them the very best as they begin their respective appointments.

Watsonville. The California suspects face manufacturing and distributing charges. Court information states the California suspects allegedly produced the street drug methamphetamine and allegedly sent it to Mishler, who then sold it to drug dealers in northern Indiana. Some of the suspects also allegedly sent cocaine to Mishler. The alleged drug traffic took place between May and August, 2001. Investigators claim they monitored the path of the drugs

For the coming year, I hope my message is clear. We will be progressive, we will honor and meet the challenge of new mandates, we will listen to our citizens, we will work to take advantage of all County, State and Federal programs that will benefit our community, but most important, as I have stated every year, we will continue to listen and direct our community, to challenge our leaders to be progressive at a price we can afford, to provide leadership we can be proud of and to allow us a community which we can be proud to call home. In closing I will leave you with this, the good old days weren’t quite as good as everyone remembers, but paraphrasing, someone once said “that is to say we will never glory in any of our achievements or use them as an excuse for relaxation. “In effect we must forget all that has been done and remember only what remains to be done. There is no room for a person who desires to rest on his laurals.” So in 2002 we will look outside of the traditional goals of departments and utilities to such topics as Coppes buildings, downtown enhancement, the trail, the golf course, skate board park, south side emergency services, more senior housing, CentraPSChopL more interaction wijtn our tfoulh and schools, more. demands) and cooperation! with our-police and drug task forces, jhpre interaction with our churches and neighnsriiood watcfr groups, more support for our cities and Walnut Street, LincohvStre&WAmoco building, BradariXPot, State Road 19, County Road" 17, US 31 corridor, continued partnership with our chamber as well as total cooperation and teamwork of all city departments. It is tonight that we salute this great Country, State and City and all that serve to protect our freedoms. I Thank our citizens who allow me to serve them, I thank my family for their untiring support of my political adventures. I pledge to you my full time dedication and leadership for another year. May God Bless America and God Bless Nappanee — OUR GREATEST DAYS ARE JUST AHEAD.

to northern Indiana, as well as the money that was sent back to California. Mishler and his fellow defendants were all indicted last year by a federal grand jury. That action led to their arrest warrants in December.

City develops plans for i combined sewer systems^

The City of Nappanee is currently in the process of developing long-term control plans for their combined sewer systems. The plans will develop strategies for minimizing occasional sewage overflow impacts to local streams and rivers. What are combined sewers? Combined sewer systems are sewers that are designed to collect rainwater runoff, domestic sewage, and industrial wastewater in the same pipe. Under dry conditions, the entire sewer contents are transported to the local Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The sewage is treated in accordance with State regulations, and discharged to the river. However, during some rain events, the capacity of the sewer pipes or the WWTP is exceeded. The systems is designed to overflow and discharge excess wastewater directly to nearby streams and rivers. The resulting overflows contain levels of bacteria, and possibly, other contaminants that exceed the State’s water quality standards. According to the U.S. EPA, the Nappanee community is not alone. They estimate that approximately 1,100 municipalities nationwide have combined sewers serving over 43 million Americans. Indiana has 107 other municipalities that join the Nappanee community in having combined sewer overflow discharges. According to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), these 108 combined sewer overflow systems have a total of 900 different discharg©“points on various streams and rivers throughout the State of Indiana. The EPA, in both its 1992 inat/onal Water Quality Inventory and its Report to noted the pollution from these wet weather discharges cited by many states as the leading cause of water quality impairment. The EPA concluded its report with the statement that wet weather discharges are “one of the largest threats remaining to water quality, aquatic life, and human health that exist today.” There is good news, however, for local citizens that value protecting water quality. The U.S. EPA and the IDEM are both involved in working alongside municipalities to address long-term strategies on minimizing, or possibly eliminating combined sewer overflow impacts to waterways.

Marco Valdez, Samuels and Brandie Soto have already appeared in court. They have trial dates scheduled to begin in March. Julio Valdez is battling extradition and has not appeared in court.

Addressing overflows from combined sewer systems started several years ago under the U.S. EPA’s Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Control Policy, a national framework for control for discharges through the State’s wastewater permitting program. This control policy allows communities the flexibility of phased implementation of CSO controls to accommodate a community’s financial capability. The first phase of this program addressed the development of a CSO Operational Plan, which outlines nine minimum “technology-based” control strategies. These initial nine control strategies are measures that can reduce the prevalence and impacts of CSO discharges through minimal capital expenditures. The City of Nappanee has been proactive, and already written this first phase operational plan, and implemented the nine minimal controls. The City is currently in the process of addressing the second phase of the CSO program. This second phase

Court Reports a i

The following cases have been handled through the Nappanee City Court. David Widmoyer is the judge. Brandon Beehler, charged with failure to use seat belt, paid total fine and costs of $25.00. Juan Echevarria, charged with failure to use seat belt, paid total fine and costs of $25.00. Paul Knowlton, charged with speeding, paid total fine and costs of $92.50. Zachary Anderson, charged

BMV office closed

The Bureau of Motor Vehicles will close all license branches and administrative offices Saturday, January 19 through Monday, January 21 in observance of Martin Luther

Tax forms available * at Nappanee Library j

The Nappanee Public Library now has 2001 federal and state tax forms. Taxpayer information publications and access to online forms are also available. In addition, Indiana resident IT-40 individual income tax booklets are now

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In Mishler’s case, if he is ; convicted on all counts, he could receive more than years in federal prison and/of<s SIO,OOO fine. In federal prison; persons do not receive time off for good behavior.

required that the City develop a written Long Term Control Plan (LTCP). £ The LTCP addresses long*-; term alternative and solutions"; for protecting water resources.Developing the LTCP is a comprehensive process, incorporating many factors of the City’s combined sewer systerjj? The LTCP will include sp£; cific mapping of the combined sewer system, identifying existing uses of rivers aiis streams, addressing sensitiyji areas, developing compute models, developing and evaltC; ating control alternatives frotff technical and economical standpoint, and developing implementation priorities anq schedules. Throughout this planning v and development process, t%> general public will be to participate in public meetings and discussions. If you; would like additional information on the CSO LTCP pro-! gram, contact the City offices,! or log-on to IDEM’s CSO| information website atj http://www.in.gov/idem/water/' facmag/wwet/csoindex.html. !

with failure to use seat belt,! paid total fine and costs of) $25.00. John Uzubell, charged with' speeding, paid total fine and! costs of $122.50. *4 Lawrence Dahms, charged; with false informing, paid tot®* fine and costs of $254.50. £3 Jana Moreland, charged! with speeding, paid total fine* and costs of $109.50. Orlando Vallej%«*chargecli with driving while license pended-prior, paid total fine and costs of SIOO.OO.

King, Jr. Day. , License branch and admi istrative offices will reoprtj Tuesday, January 22 for notj mal business hours. .... 1

available on audio for the sight impaired, and Indiana package IN-X is now on CD-Rom. ! As for these materials at th£ reference desk or call (219 J) 773-7919 for more informaition. i i