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Covering Milford, Syracuse & North Webster, Indiana
Wednesday, March 23, 2022
High Honors
One Nation Under God
See Page 6 www.the-papers.com
P litics Helser, Sandy vie for auditor nomination %\ 5$< %$/2*+ 6WDII :ULWHU
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Republicans Rhonda J. Helser and Chasity Sandy will compete in the May 3 primary election for the office of Kosciusko County Auditor. The winner will be placed on the ballot for the general election Tuesday, Nov. 8. The Mail-Journal asked each candidate to provide a brief bio and answer three questions about serving in the auditor’s office. Here are their answers: Bios: Helser: “I am a mother, wife and proven conservative. In our free time, my husband and I compete in cowboy action shooting through the Single Action Shooting Society. We enjoy camping and time spent with grandchildren. I am an active member of our wonderful community. Sandy: I was born and raised in Kosciusko County. I grew up on a farm where we raised livestock. I married my husband, Matthew, and we raised two daughters in this beautiful county. We enjoy being outside, camping, hiking and being with family. I could never re-
ally see myself anywhere else other than here. I love the smaller communities and all the hidden gems our county has to offer. I rely on my faith to guide me.” What education, work, and life experiences do you have that qualify you to run for auditor? Helser: “I believe actions speak louder than words and over the years I have acted as a precinct committeewoman, an active member of the Kosciusko County Republican Women’s Club and county party and as your elected Kosciusko County Treasurer. In fact, early in my career I showed the same dedication when I worked in the treasurer and auditor’s office. Beyond the extensive proven experience I have serving our community, I was chosen to be the Kosciusko County Republican Woman of the Year in 2021. My life experiences and work history qualify me to be your Republican nominee for Kosciusko County Auditor.” Sandy: “I graduated from WCHS in 1990. I started in the auditor’s office in 1994 working with Pat Brown as a counter deputy. Through my 28 Continued on page 2
Pence and Wright square off in recorder’s race %\ 5$< %$/2*+ 6WDII :ULWHU Republicans Teena Pence and Deborah A. “Deb’” Wright will compete in the May 3 primary election for the office of Kosciusko County Recorder. The winner will be placed on the ballot for the general election Tuesday, Nov. 8. The Mail-Journal asked each candidate to provide a brief bio and answer three questions about serving in the recorder’s office. Here are their answers: Bios: Pence: “I was born in Warsaw, 7:2 758&.6 ,1 21( ³ 0LOIRUG 9ROXQWHHU )LUH 'HSDUWPHQW·V QHZ SXPSHU WUXFN LV QRZ LQ VHUYLFH DFFRUGLQJ WR &KLHI 9LUJLO 6KDUS VKRZQ DW OHIW graduated from Tippecanoe Valley 7KH URXJKO\ YHKLFOH DFWXDOO\ UHSODFHV WZR WUXFNV WKH 9DQ %XUHQ 7RZQVKLS SXPSHU WUXFN DQG WKH 7RZQ RI 0LOIRUG·V UHVFXH WUXFN ´2QH VLGH LV High School and have lived most IRU ÀUH DQG WKH RWKHU VLGH LV IRU UHVFXH µ VDLG 6KDUS ZKLOH 6WHYH )DUEHU FHQWHU DQG %ULDQ +DLQHV H[DPLQHG WKH ÀUH VLGH 7KH WUXFN FDQ DOVR FDUU\ XS of my life in Kosciusko County. I WR JDOORQV RI ZDWHU 3KRWR E\ 'DYLG +D]OHGLQH have two adult children, a granddaughter and a second grandchild expected in May. I have shared almost 20 years with the love of my life, who also has two adult children trations of how the joints are fail- stalled the boardwalk did so ac- the longer the committee waits to and a granddaughter. He and I are %\ .(,7+ .1(33 ing, especially where the boards cording to the plans, the design authorize the repairs. 6WDII :ULWHU are attached to the 4x4 vertical was flawed, which has led to the LoCoco offered an alternative issues. He noted the problems are design construction, which he A majority of the meeting time posts. A former construction business worsening every day the board- said would be much better suited The severe weather siren in during Monday evening’s monthly gathering of the Syracuse-Wa- owner by trade, LoCoco explained walk is exposed to the elements for the boardwalk and would be Milford will be activated at 10:15 a.m. Monday, March 28, by the wasee Trails Committee focused although the company that in- and repairs will become costlier Continued on page 2 Kosciusko County Central Dison the worsening condition of patch Center. The test is to enparts of the boardwalk at Conklin sure the sirens are operational. Bay. An issue occurred Tuesday, Russ LoCoco spoke at length lion, however the majority of the dedicated to construction, INDOT about the faltering of the hand- %\ .(,7+ .1(33 cost will be covered. will also be financially participatrails along the walk. He provided 6WDII :ULWHU She added the town will contining in design, engineering, and detailed photographs and illusIndiana Department of Trans- ue searching for additional funds right of way acquisition compoportation announced last Friday or will have to pay the difference. nents of these projects. INDOT dedicates approximately $162 million in federal transpor- Additionally, she noted the grant tation funding is being awarded request is an estimate, so there is 25% of its federal highway funds to 50 cities, towns and counties in hope the actual costs come in lower. to supporting local projects each “There are a lot of possibilities year. Metropolitan Planning Orgarural portions of Indiana. The funding will help these communities to for donations and local grants still nizations distribute those funds to invest in local road and bridge im- to check into,” Gall said. “Since cities, towns and counties within the construction would be in fiscal the state’s larger urbanized areas provements and sidewalk projects. Included is $978,400 in funding year 2027, I feel we have a decent while INDOT distributes funds presented to the Town of Milford amount of time to figure out the de- outside MPO areas. Communities and $1,658,960 given to Kosciusko tails. Once I have more detailed in- must contribute at least 20% in loformation on the award, which will cal matching funds and meet other County for fiscal year 2027. According to Milford Clerk-Trea- be in the next 30 days, I should be federal requirements to receive federal funding. surer Tricia Gall, Milford will use able to get started.” For this latest round of funding, A list of all communities receivits portion of the money to build a walking/biking trail from the town rural communities will design, de- ing funds can be found online by www.in.gov/indot/doingto Waubee Lake Park. Gall added velop and purchase land for proj- visiting the project is not fully funded, as ects that would be bid during the business-with-indot/local-publicthe grant request was for $1.4 mil- fiscal year beginning July 2027. agency-programs/notice-of-fundlion and the total project $1.7 mil- While the funds awarded now are ing-availability-nofa/.
Trails committee learns of damaged Conklin Bay boardwalk
beyond proud of each of them for the families they have created and for their many accomplishments.” Wright: “I was born and raised in the Warsaw/Winona Lake area. My parents are Bob and Carolyn Wulliman and my sister is Diane Wulliman. My husband, Andy Wright, is from the Pierceton area and works for the City of Warsaw. I also have a stepdaughter, Raygan.” What education, work, and life experiences do you have that qualify you to run for auditor? Pence: “I have worked for the county since 2009, first as an appeals specialist in the assessor’s office and currently as a financial deputy in the auditor’s office. With over 20 years of combined experience in various aspects of records management, including tax appeals, grant management, meeting minutes, title research and legal as well as medical records mainContinued on page 2
Severe weather sirens activation
Milford plans to build walking trail
March 15, when the dispatch center attempted to set off sirens in Milford and Warsaw. Other towns that had their sirens activated March 15 are being asked not to activate their sirens at that time.
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