The Mail-Journal, Volume 27, Number 7, Milford, Kosciusko County, 30 March 1988 — Page 1

Milford 658-4111 & Syracuse 457-3666

VOLUME 27

State-federal funding sought — Syracuse Park Board eyes $500,000 five-year plan

IBy GLEN LONG Staff Writer Syracuse Park Board members recently were presented recommendations for their five-year master plan by Leßoy Troyer and Associates of Mishawaka. Pat Brown reviewed the recommendations and said that in the five-year period of 1989 through 1993 there could be an expenditure of $500,000 for capital im-

Judge Duffin makes decision: Next step up to Dr. Kenneth Webster

IBy DEB PATTERSON + Staff Writer The ball was tossed back into Dr. Kenneth Webster’s court recently as Judge Gene B. Duffin ruled on his summary judgment. “Court having heretofore taken under advisement plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment and after reviewing the affidavit and memorandum of law heretofore filed, the court now finds that there are contested issues of fact and the court now denies the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment.” Those are the latest words of Elkhart Circuit Court Judge Duffin in the case of Dr. Kenneth E. Webster vs Wawasee

■■■■■PLmflMl HUH JW H ji (ISOS mmm. bBJb * > iiiil ii 111 sh Hi SB ™ : jaBBI: wf is l m dpHyL ■ r .... -1 . J 9 jfSil f f ? Jrh A BUSY GIRL SCOUTS AT NEW LIBRARY — Helping put library-books away at the new North Webster/Tippecanoe Township Library after school on March 29 were members of Girl Scout Troop 174. In front from the left are Leisa Church and Sara Hines. In back from the left are Patti Biesemeyer, Jill Atwood and Tricia Preston. (Photo by Glen Long)

North WebsterJJbrary movinq to new quarters

I By GLEN LONG Staff Writer This is moving week for the North Webster/Tippecanoe Township Library. The North Webster scout troops came to the fore to assist with the move of thousands of books to the new library in the west end of the new township building across the street. On Tuesday, March 29, members of Girl Scout Troop 174 and Brownie Troop 97 rolled up their sleeves to box, carry and unpack library books. The move will continue on Thursday, March 31, with North Webster Cub

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provements, land acquisitions, hiring additional park personnel and initiating new programs at Syracuse parks. Capital improvements mentioned include construction of a seawall and pier at Ward Park, remodelling the refreshment stand and restrooms at Lakeside Park and determining which new surface should be placed on the parking lot at Lakeside Park. The master plan also includes studying the BV 2 acres of land

Community School Corporation. He issued the ruling on the summary judgment motion Tuesday, March 22. Steve Snyder, Syracuse, attorney for the plaintiff, stated the next step will be up to Dr. Webster, however he has recommended a motion be filed for a pre-trial conference and a trial date set. “There are factual issues contested, but the judge has not said which ones.” " If a court trial is set, Snyder noted there would not be much more to present than what already has been presented and heard in the hearing for a temporary restraining order and motion for summary judgment. A motion for a pre-trial conference could be set within the next 30-60

I Scouts helping supply the manpower. Other townspeople who assisted with the move included library board members, “Friends of the Library’’ members, library patrons and some energetic high school boys. Members of the town’s Boy Scout Troop were slated to help on Monday, however, their project had to be cancelled because of the spring rains which hit the area on that date. Librarian Colleen Coy, who is assisted by Cindy Despot praised the efforts of all her helpers, young or adult. “This move is a big job and could not have been done without all these willing helpers.”

Consolidation of THE MILFORD MAIL (Est. 1888) and THE SYRACUSE-WAWASEE JOURNAL (Est. 1907)

behind Calvary Church for possible expansion and improvement as a park facility. Another item considered is the acquisition of a .30-acre tract for ball diamonds, tennis courts, fitness trails and other features mentioned as desirable in the master plan questionnaires returned by Syracuse and Turkey Creek Township residents. The park board will now send this rough draft of the five-year

days if Dr. Webster chooses to continue. Judge Duffin heard closing oral arguments on the summary judgment motion on August 26, 1987. The facts had been presented in a preliminary hearing a year previous with affidavits being presented. The lawsuit between Dr. Webster and the school corporation began on September 18, 1986, when a special meeting of the school board was called to consider the credentials of Dr. Webster, who was school superintendent at the time. Remarks were heard from parties involved and the matter tabled and continued to September 26. At this meeting, Dr. Webster’s contract was voided by a board vote of 4-0. The reasoning was his

The small building on the corner of Washington and Blaine streets which used to house the library belongs to the North Webster Lions Club and will now be used for their Mermaid Festival headquarters. iS See related photo on page 2. Hours at the new library will be Tuesday, 10 a.m. to noon, 1 to 4 p.m. and 7to 9 p.m.; Wednesday, 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 1 to 6 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon. The library will not be open on Sunday and Monday.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30,1988

plan to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for review. Alan Kitson, park board president, said that after the final copy of the plan is sent to the DNR by the June 1 deadline, Syracuse will be eligible for state and federal matching funds. Kitson pointed out that the final five-year plan filed with the state will become, in the eyes of the state DNR, the plan which will be followed.

superintendent’s license had expired on July 21,1986. Snyder had asked the board to hold off its decision at the September 18 meeting until the October 2 meeting of the state licensing board. At that meeting, Dr. Webster’s license was extended, retroactive to August 1, 1986, and valid through June 31, 1987. Once the license was extended, Dr. Webster filed suit to have his contract honored by the Jjoard. The first hearing date was Tuesday, Oct. 7, in Kosciusko Circuit Court, but a motion for a change of venue by Robert Reed, school attorney, was granted. The hearing was then moved to Elkhart Circuit Court and heard on Friday, Oct. 17,1986. Easter egg hunt in North Webster The North Webster Lions Club will sponsor an Easter egg hunt for all elementary age children on Saturday morning, April 2, beginning at 9 a.m. This event will be held on the school ball field. Kiwanions to sponsor Easter egg hunt The Milford Kiwanis Club will sponsor an Easter egg hunt on Saturday, April 2, at 10 a.m. on the grounds at the elementary/junior high school. Children from kindergarten and younger are eligible. No more than six eggs per child will be permitted and prizes will be awarded for the number and color of eggs. This year, parents will not be allowed to hunt with their children. For the younger ones, a Kiwanian will help. /■I 7AWAAT Easter Egg Hunt at Syracuse Park Saturday, April 2 There will be an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 2, at l p.m. at the Syracuse Part for children ages 0-12. The event is sponsored by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post Number 1342, Syracuse. . wmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

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A LOOK INSIDE — Shown are plans for a day care center projected to extend from the northeast end of the Lakeland Loving Care Center, Fourth Street, in Milford. A request to rezone the area is scheduled to go before the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission

Perry announces plans for day care center in Milford

I By MARK HUFFMAN Staff Writer Affording area residents the convenience of a day care center for their children while giving nursing home residents the opportunity to form relationships with those of a younger age, John Perry hopes to combine the two entities by next fall. The owner of Lakeland Loving Care Center Inc., Fourth Street, Milford, has plans to add 5,300 square feet to the northeast end of the current structure. While the nursing home will use 1,000 square feet of that space for an administrative office, records room, and conference room, the bulk of the space will be used as a day care center. The center will include a combination class room-recreation area, kitchen/pantry, community room (also to be utilized by the nursing home), restrooms, isolation room, and various offices. A fully fenced playground would also be added. “It’s (day care center) something the town really needs, we don’t have one now and I’m sure many parents would like to have someplace to take their children while they’re at work,” Perry says, noting that the center would accommodate 60 children. The Milford businessman also hopes to start a latchkey program — with supervision provided for those children needing a place to go from the time they leave school until the time their parents get home. “This would help those people who have children coming home from school at 3 p.m. while they work until 5 p.m.,” he says. Seven or eight employees would be added to the current staff, with five teachers, a day care director, administrative assistant, and kitchen personnel being hired. “The janitorial, maintenance, housekeeping, and food preparation will ali come out of the nursing home,” Perry states. The nursing home has been a part of the Milford community since September, 1980, with 60 residents residing there. “We have no plans, currently, of adding onto the residents’ rooms,” Perry confirms.

John Call and Ray Yates of Medlock-Call Architect in Syracuse are currently designing plans for the day care addition, while Perry hopes to secure a building permit this spring. Plans for rezoning the area for residential use are scheduled to go before the Kosciusko County

u I* 'Mmk; M ■ lif I-* fi£r M ■ w *v >¥ : I i jjlMßweMg^Bp^Jl REVIEW PLANS — Lakeland Loving Care Center owner John Perry and Supervisor Diane Shenefield look over plans for a day care center to be built onto the nursing home’s current structure. Perry hopes to carry through with his plans and have a day care center for 60 children by next fall. On July 1 — State to take over the Syracuse License Branch

Members of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles Commission took another step forward in their task to convert Indiana’s license branch system, with the announcement of the final branches to undergo the transition from private to state operation. Syracuse and Warsaw license branches are among the 77 branches left to transfer to commission jurisdiction on July 1. Syracuse branch personnel noted that they wouldn’t know how the changes are going to effect them until after July 1. “The core of any successful transformation is personnel,”

next Wednesday, April 6. The center will allow children to interact with senior citizens living at the nursing home.

Area Plan Commission next Wednesday, April 6. The APC will then review the rezoning and make a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners, who will act upon that recommendation. Perry will also be required to go before the Board of Zoning Appeals to obtain a special exception to build a day

said Charles E. Layton, Bureau of Motor Vehicles commissioner and chairman of the commission. “We have begun accepting applications for staff and management positions for all branches converting July 1. We want a team that is excited about the monumental changes occurring.” Jean Northenor, one of four commissioners of motor vehicles in the state, noted v “The change probably won’t affect the Syracuse and Warsaw branches that much. In most every case, if there were those employees who chose to stay, and they had good

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care center on the site, should the rezoning be approved. “We’ve had a conference with Chore-Time Equipment (located near the nursing home) and they seem enthusiastic about the idea. We’re working together and hopefully everything is going to jell together soon,” Perry concludes.

records, they were retained.” The transfer of operation of the license branches from private control to state jurisdiction was called for by Governor Robert Orr during the 1986 General Assembly. Through the legislation, 10 “pilot” branches became operational under the commission Jan. 1,1987, with the remaining offices to convert by July 1. “The measure has removed license branches from political control to state control,” Northenor said, adding, “There were some branches in the state where they had filthy buildings, people (Continued on page 2)