Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 132, Number 2, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 8 January 2009 — Page 3

Court Reports Dec. 18 •Steven D. Houser, 50, Elkhart, speeding, $140.50 •Lori A. Laffoon (Batta), 47, Elknart, OWI, operating with a blood alcohol content of .15 gram or higher, open container, $660.50 * •Kevin R. Martin, 39, Nappanee, operating while intoxicated, $359.50 Dec. 23 •Bobby J. Ragsdale, 21, Goshen, battery, $464 Dec. 29 •Steven A. Dobrzvkowski, 36, Plymouth, speeding, $135.50 •George L. Marsh, 54, Nappanee, driving while license suspended (infraction), $115.50 •Jose J. Perez-Rodriguez, 44, Nappanee, no operator s license, $119.50 •Mark J. Treuchet, 46, Nappanee, no operator’s license, $126 Dec. 30 •Matthew D. Powell, 20, Nappanee, seat belt violation, $25 Bderltaus

Thursday, Jan. 8 9 a.m.: Walking 10 a.m.: Chair exercise 11:30 a.m.: REAL Services 1 p.m.: Euchre Friday, Jan. 9 9 a.m.: Walking 11:30 a.m.: REAL Services Volunteer day: Quilt, cut stamps or just visit 12:30 p.m.: 3 & 13 game Monday, Jan. 12 9 a.m.: Quilting 9 a.m.: Walking 11:30 a.m.: REAL Services 1 p.m.: Pinochle Tuesday, Jan. 13 9 a.m.: Walking 10 a.m.: Chair exercises 1 p.m.: Euchre Wednesday, Jan. 14 9 a.m.: Walking 11:30 a.m.: REAL Services 1:30 p.m.: Bingo, bring two gifts worth $1 each Wakarusa library 2009 board meetings WAKARUSA The Wakarusa-Olive, Harrison Township Public Library board of trustees will meet in 2009 according to the following schedule: Jan. 9, Feb. 13, March 13, April 17, May 8, June 12, no July meeting, Aug. 14, Sept. 11, Oct. 9, Nov. 13, Dec. 11. All meetings are at 7:45 a.m. at the library, 124 N. Elkhart St., Wakarusa. CLOSED continued from front page Local radio stations participating in "We Are Closed Today" include WZOC 94.3 FM, WRSW 100.1 FM, WNSN 101.5 FM, WAWC 103.5 FM, WFRN 104.7 FM, WSBT 960 AM and WTRC 1340 AM. Lpcal TV stations participating include WNDU-TV Channel 16 and WSBT-TV Channel 22. Parents can tune in to any of these stations for up-to-the-minute information on altered school schedules. A note from Wa-Nee Community Schools notes that WSJV-TV Fox 28 has opted not to participate in "We Are Closed Today," and will no longer carry weather-related school announcements for Wa-Nee. Those wishing to learn more about "We Are Closed Today" can visit www.weareclosedtoday.com or contact Graham Pearson of Northern Indiana Educational Services Center at [email protected] or call 1-866-254-5322.

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CITY, confinuod from fronf page "We must insist on local control wherever possible," Thompson said. "We must accept changes when 'best practices' mean better service at a lesser cost." Thompson spoke out against changes in the clerk-treasur-er's offices, consolidation of library districts and reorganization of 911 emergency centers. "If systems in some counties are broken then yes, something must be done," he said, "but if the local system works and taxpayers are not upset by the service or cost to operate them then they should be left alone." Thompson was for establishing a single-person elected county executive and expressed interest in certain county council reforms that would call for the county council to act in a similar manner to the city council. At a national level, the mayor's address referred to corporate bailouts and "The Big Three." He pointed out the historic election of America's first African American president, Barack Obama, who traveled through Nappanee last spring during the primary elections. Thompson voiced his hopes for America's new President. "Our new president will be challenged like no other in recent memory to lead us out of war while assuring us that our borders and country are safe from attack," Thompson said. "President Obama must pull our country together, push politics aside and lead us to a better future." Thompson also paid tribute to Sergeant James P. Snyder and Staff Sergeant Travis Hunsberger, who lost their lives within a month of each other while serving overseas. The closing paragraphs of Thompson's address read like a call to action to elected officials, city employees and taxpayers alike in the face of economic adversity’: "... Maybe through all of our unemployment we can find ways to employ even more individuals in ways we never thought of to rebuild Nappanee. We will look to housing grants, sidewalk repair and other ways to help ourselves ... We must continue to provide our workers with the equipment and funds to maintain our basic needs. Job descriptions may change but our dedication to our citizens cannot change. From code enforcement to Elder Haus to the fire house we must find ways to change and continue into the future. "We must remember in toughest of economic times we have much to be thankful for. We must continue to make Nappanee a fun place to live and work. We must and will continue to work with all of our faith based groups as our churches and our beliefs are what carry us in these toughest of times and guide us in our direction at all times." Thompson went on to applaud the work of entities like the Boys & Girls Club, the Elder Haus, the parks department and committees that sponsor events like Miracles at Main and Market, Apple Festival, Fourth of July events and other activities for which Nappanee is known. "Our goal is to make our Nappanee and all of its partners

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ADVANCE NEWS PHOTO/MANDY MCFARLAND A firefighter cuts away at one wall with an ax while another stands ready with a fire hose. BLAZE, continued from front page

rounded by friends and neighbors who were there for support. Smith, still in shock, declined to comment on the event. A touching scene unfolded as friends and neighbors approached Smith and, through tears, offered her places to stay. Nappanee and Bremen firefighters worked for about an

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Advance News • Thursday, January 8, 2009

a continued great place to live, attend schools and churches of our choice and to live together in a place we can be proud to call home - Nappanee," Thompson said in conclusion. Other business Resolutions The council also conducted some beginning-of-the-year business-as-usual, including the passing of several resolutions. The first resolution authorizes city Clerk-Treasurer Kim Ingle to borrow and transfer funds as needed in 2009. This, Ingle explained, from time to time it is necessary to borrow funds from one to another, such as from the utility to the city. This is due to the timeliness of tax distribution, she said. The second resolution authorized Ingle to invest monies for 2009, while the third authorized Ingle to invest monies in the Sale of Utility fund and to transfer the interest to the General Fund. The final resolution sets mileage reimbursement for travel at 40-1 / 2 cents. Thompson said that this is just under the state allowance, while Ingle said the federal rate has gone 55 cents. "We've been at 40-1/2 cents for number of years now," Ingle said. According to Ingle, she and the mayor are pretty much the only city officials who take advantage of this reimbursement. Legal advertising The council designated the Advance News and the Warsaw Times-Union as qualified publications for legal advertising. While Thompson expressed some frustration on the part of the city or department heads with weekly deadlines, he also expressed willingness to continue working with both publications. Reports Under reports of city officers, EMS Director Jim Sumpter expressed satisfaction with the new ambulance. He reported that, to-date, Nappanee has eight full-time paramedics and two volunteers. In addition, there is one advanced paramedic, with the rest being basic EMTs. They work in shifts that include 24 hours on and 48 hours off. During the weekday, there are four medics on and two volunteers. Fire chief Tom Anglin reported that numbers were down for the year at 142, down from 192 the year before, with the average being around 150 fire calls. Elder Haus Director Connie Fink reported continued attendance at the senior center despite the icy weather that marked much of December. However, the center did have a weather-related dosing, she said, and seniors were asked to stay in out of the icy conditions.

hour before the blaze was under control. The house was a total loss. At print time, the cause of the fire was still under investigation. Smith, who lived in the house with her teenage son, was not home when the fire broke out. No injuries were reported.

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