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Covering Milford, Syracuse & North Webster, Indiana
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
FFA Soils Teams Go To State Page 9
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Wawasee Marching Warrior Pride brings home third place finish at state %\ /$85(1 =(8*1(5 6WDII :ULWHU The Wawasee Marching Warrior Pride finished out its season
with a third place finish in the Scholastic Class B State Championship held Saturday, Oct. 14, in Indianapolis. Tony Pawlicki, band director,
noted the only band the Marching Warrior Pride saw in both regular and state competition was Bluffton. The remaining 12 Continued on page 5
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Supermileage team 11th in the world %\ '(% 3$77(5621 (GLWRU ,Q &KLHI Wawasee’s Supermileage team returned home with a
police and fire escort Saturday afternoon, Oct. 14, after a week in Bangalore, India. The team participated in the Shell-Eco Marathon, a world supermile-
age competition between a few high schools, but mostly colleges, universities and tech schools. Out of 400 cars, Wawasee finContinued on page 5
61 Accidents, 2 Fatalities In 20 Years At SR 15 And CR 900N 7H[W DQG 3KRWRV %\ '(% 3$77(5621 (GLWRU ,Q &KLHI Editor’s Note: Word was received late Tuesday afternoon, Oct. 17, INDOT is conducting a traffic study at the intersection of SR 15 and CR 900 N. The study is ongoing and could take several weeks to ensure a thorough evaluation has been completed. Stop light. Flashing lights. Blinking stop signs. Any of these could
help prevent accidents at the intersection of SR 15 and CR 900N south of Milford. That intersection is all too familiar to Milford Fire Department, EMS personnel, Milford Police, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s officers and Indiana State Police. Even to those of us in the media. To those who live or have lived at the intersection, it has been a nightmare. Currently there is a stop sign for east and westbound traffic on CR 900N, with turn lanes for north and southbound traffic on SR 15.
Those traveling east on CR 900N have had 7.5 miles to travel on a flat, smooth-surfaced road before needing to stop at SR 15. Those traveling eastbound on CR 900N are alerted to a stop ahead, yet under certain conditions, the flashing stop sign at Old SR 15 and CR 900N can be seen and be disorienting. During the Oct. 10 meeting, county commissioners approved a letter to be sent to the Indiana Department of Transportation as well as local state elected officials, ask-
Council approves economic development plan for new housing An economic development plan for Rabbit Ridge, owned by Dr. Larry Allen, was approved by the Syracuse Town Council during its regular meeting Tuesday night, Oct. 17. The 9.10 acre property, located in the area of the Goshen Physicians medical complex, 1033 N. Indiana Ave., will eventually house 22 duplexes or 44 units designed for senior housing with a community building, infrastructure and other amenities. The duplexes will be built in two phases. Local attorney Steven Snyder, representing Allen, told the coun-
cil the anticipated cost of the project is $12 million. To pay for the development, 80% of the funds from the tax increment finance district for the area will be made available to the developer as the project moves forward. In order for Allen to fund the project, bonds or promissory notes would need to be obtained. These would be used as collateral to finance the project with TIF funds paying back the bonds or notes. Council Member Larry Siegel raised concerns, stating he spoke to Dennis Otten at Bose, McKin-
ney and Evans, an Indianapolis based law firm that has assisted the town in the past. According to Siegel, Otten stated only bonds are payable through any tax increment generated by projects when completed. Snyder explained the town is not issuing general revenue bonds and would not be responsible for paying them back. The developer would be responsible for paying the bonds. Snyder explained the bonds will generate income and ultimately will be no different than Continued on page 3
New internet provider coming to North Webster %\ .(,7+ .1(33 6WDII :ULWHU During Tuesday evening’s regular meeting of the North Webster Town Council, Gene Crusie, founder of Surf Internet, made a brief presentation to introduce himself to the council and the community. Crusie’s Elkhart-based company is in the process of entering the North Webster market, offering high-speed fiber internet
service to many of the town’s residents. Crusie explained that Surf Internet currently holds the contract with Whitko Community Schools, including Pierceton Elementary School, which creates the inroad to Kosciusko County. He said that the cost for service will range from $35 to $85 per month, depending on the speed desired. Letters to the areas the service will be available will be sent ap-
proximately two weeks before it is available. Crusie estimated the service will be ready in approximately one month. In department reports, Inframark Utilities Manager Mike Noe informed the council leaf pickup in the community has begun. In the police report, Det. Sgt. Dave May informed the council the department is accepting applications for a new officer. In the parks report, Leeann Continued on page 2
2017 — Seven crashes, three injuries 2018 — Seven crashes, two injuries 2019 — Eight crashes, eight injuries and one fatality 2020 — Four crashes, one injury 2021 — Six crashes, nine injuries 2022 — Nine crashes, five injuries 2023 — Five crashes, three injuries, one fatality.
Reviewing crash reports available to the media through the sheriff’s department, 56 crashes were found from Jan. 1, 2013 to Oct. 7, 2023, either at SR 15 and CR 900N or within a half mile south or north of the intersection. These crashes resulted in 38 people injured, three killed and 103 vehicles. Seven of those crashes involved commercial vehicles. The damages to vehicles and property totals an estimate of Continued on page 2
Railroad crossing construction to close SR 13 The Indiana Department of Transportation announces the closure of SR 13 in Syracuse for railroad crossing construction. Starting on or after Oct. 22, crews will be rebuilding the crossing between Railroad Avenue and Medusa Street. Work is expected to last until Nov. 6. All work is weatherdependent and schedules are
nge subject to change. During the closure, drivers should use the approved detour of US 6, US 33, SR 5 and US 30, or seek an alternate route. INDOT encourages drivers to consider worker safety by slowing down, using extra caution and driving distraction-free when travelling in and around all work zones.
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ing for improvements at that intersection. Brad Jackson, president of the county commissioners, stated the county put up flashing stop signs at Old SR 15 and CR 900N to reduce collisions there, which has helped. “Logic says to take care of it to put up a flashing light or stop light. You would have both (at SR 15 and Old SR 15). That is why we wrote the letter. You could do the exact same thing (at SR 15 that was done at Old SR 15). It’s inexpensive and it would save lives.” There have been 61 accidents at SR 15 and CR 900N since 2013 according to the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute’s research. These crashes resulted in 36 injuries and two fatalities. These numbers are based on reports filed using the ARIES. ARIES compiles crash reports from all agencies: State Police, county and town. Their research found that 28% of the accidents were due to failure to yield the right of way, 11% due to unsafe backing, 10% due to disregarding the stop sign and 10% were from running off the road. A breakdown by year shows: 2013 — Four crashes, four injuries, one fatality 2014 — Three crashes, no injuries or fatalities 2015 — Four crashes, four injuries 2016 — Four crashes
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