Kosciusko County Commissioners signed their support this morning to a drive to have U.S. 30 recognized as an “orthopedic corridor.”
George Robertson, president of the Kosciusko County Economic Development Corp., said Kosciusko, Allen and Whitley counties are joining in the effort to gain the designation, which he said would move the region to the top of a lot of lists for federal funding. He said Orthoworx in Kosciusko is the main driver of the attempt, with Whitley supplying its own grant writer and IPFW in Allen contributing research.
The recognition would make the region one of 12 designated “manufacturing communities” in the country, part of a national competition led by the Department of Commerce. Eleven federal agencies will make $1.3 billion available to support strategies developed by the manufacturing communities.
Robertson said if Kosciusko doesn’t act fast, there are other regions like Memphis and Cleveland that would like the designation as an “orthopedic corridor.”
Also this morning, commissioners signed a proclamation marking April 21 Kiwanis Club Day in honor of the international club’s 100th anniversary.
Renea Salyer, Warsaw club president, and Joni Truex, club secretary, requested the proclamation and set the date as that of the local club’s founding in 1921. Warsaw Kiwanis currently has 86 members and Salyer said she hopes to see that increased to 100.
They noted a few of the club’s recent accomplishments, including raising money for Riley Hospital for Children, supporting student scholarships and contributing to the Eliminate Project, which fights neonatal tetanus. Members have also personally contributed to adaptive bicycle programs, to build bicycles for children with special needs.
And commissioners signed a letter of understanding with the Indiana Department of Transportation on an unofficial detour route during deck work on a bridge on Ind. 19 over Ridenour Ditch, about a third of a mile north of U.S. 30. The unofficial detour goes along CR 450N in Kosciusko County and two roads in Marshall County.
He estimated the INDOT project might be completed by the end of September.
The veteran of the month for April was George Plew, a 92-year-old retired teacher who joined the Army during the Second World War after graduating from Pierceton High School. He worked as a supply quartermaster first in England then in France, and was guarding German prisoners at the time the end of the war was announced.
He said he was getting ready to ship out to Japan when the atomic bombs were dropped.
“We didn’t understand what that was, we just knew it meant the war was over,” Plew said.
(Story By The Times Union)
