There’s more than books at your library

Pictured above, Cassey Jorgenson (far left) and her sister Brandy (far right) look through seeds available at the library’s seed swap. Pictured with the girls are: (l to r) Daryl Schrock, Treva Paris and Darlene Hauger.

Ground Hog day 2009 was the library’s first seed swap.  We are fighting the winter blues & thinking and planning for spring.  We are looking ahead and will have our second plant swap on Monday May 17th. From 5-7.  Bring your plants & swap for varieties you do not have.

We are planning to expand the butterfly garden in front of the library this year.  We are asking patrons to help with all the aspects of this project from helping to prepare the ground, donating plants, pulling weeds and general garden task.  Call the library if you are interested in helping with this project.  We will start work in April and May.

Above Jordan Bohlmann and Allison Russell discover the new children’s computer available at the library.

The June kickoff party for summer reading program is scheduled for Tuesday, June 8th at 12:30.  Contest, boat building and games are planned to introduce the summer reading theme “Make a Splash – Read!”  Children of all ages are invited to participate.

Summer reading programs start the day after school ends for everyone.  Children from all ages 2 – 12 will participate in the “Make a Splash – Read” program.  Teens and adults will be involved with “Water Your Mind-Read!” theme.  The program runs from June through most of July.

Attention all Bristol residents.  The Bristol Public Library is offering you the opportunity to make Valentine’s Day cards for all of the vets in our local area.  Come to the Bristol Library anytime between now and February 10.  Make or bring in a Valentine thanking the veterans and offer your support.  Bristol Homecoming Queen Emily Congdon made her Valentine on January 28.  Families could make this an occasion to discuss soldiers and their sacrifices on behalf of our country.  Groups are welcome to bring in or make Valentine’s cards.  These Valentine’s cards will be taken to the Vet Clinic in Goshen on February 11, to be distributed.

The Elkhart County Historical Museum invites local authors, artists, and fine crafters to take part in our 8th Annual Authors and Artists Bazaar to be held on Sunday, March 14th from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The event is designed for the public to meet local authors, artists and fine crafters as they demonstrate and sell their latest works.  Also featured are museum tours, a genealogical society open house, and refreshments.

Mediums considered for entry includes, but is not limited to, painting (oil, acrylics, watercolor), jewelry, drawing, photography, glass, sculpture (wood, metal, clay), fine crafts and books (historical, fiction, nonfiction, poetry).  Please note, only original handmade work of the entrant will be considered.  No unlimited production work (books accepted), commercial exhibits, or kits or any kind will be accepted.  This event is a showcase for art, writing, and fine crafts.

Applications are available online at http://www.elkhartcountyparks.org/properties_locations/rush_memorial_center.htm or by calling 574-848-4322. Space is limited so please apply early.  The deadline for registering is Saturday, February 27th.

For more information, please contact Rebecca Oestreich at 574-848-4322 or Rebecca@elkhartcountyparks.org.

Bristol Church of the Nazarene will host another Free Haircut day. Saturday, February 13, 2010 from 2 to 4 pm.
Those who are unemployed, under-employed, or just struggling financially, and their immediate family members can receive a hair cut free of charge. We will again have licensed hair designers available. We only ask that you arrive with freshly shampooed hair.

Contact Carla O’Connell for more information
carla.oconnell@gmail.com.

We have added a Senior Queen category to our pageant this year.  This is for any Bristol Lady 60 years old and older.  Entry fee is $25.00, and the deadline is March 15.   We would really like to crown a Senior Queen this year, so encourage any women you know to participate!

Princess entries are due February 13.   Entry fee is $25.00.  This is for girls from 5 to 12 years old.

Miss Bristol TEEN entries are due March 10.  Entry fee is $40.00, and girls must have a sponsor, and be 13 to 17 years old.

Miss Bristol Homecoming QUEEN entries are due May 8.  Entry fee is $50.00 and girls must have a sponsor.  Ages are 18 through 25 years old.

You must be a registered candidate to participate in any of the pageant events.

The Pageant will be sponsoring a dog walk in JUNE.  We will be looking for vendors and donations for this event.  Watch for future events with our queen candidates.  Contact Andrea Badke for additional information.

House Bill No. 1073, titled “Termination of residential leases,” passed the Indiana House of representatives on third reading by a vote of 92-2 on February 2. The bill, as amended, will now be taken up by a Senate committee, where it will be sponsored by Carlin Yoder of Middlebury. Marshal Michael Swallow of the Bristol Police Department supported the legislation in its original form.

The original bill was sponsored by Craig Fry of Mishawaka at the urging of Greg and Deborah Kiska, who live in his district. The Kiskas are the parents of Sheena Kiska, who was murdered in her River Shores apartment in Bristol in March 2008. She had tried to break her lease after her apartment was robbed in February 2008, but was told that she would have to pay a penalty of three months’ rent to do so.

The Kiskas have been on a crusade to pass “Sheena’s Law” ever since their daughter’s death, gathering thousands of names on a petition supporting the legislation. The bill as originally proposed by Rep. Fry would have allowed apartment dwellers to terminate their leases without penalty if they presented “an official copy of a police report” filed after being “the victim of certain crimes.”

HB 1073 became embroiled in controversy on January 25, when a major amendment narrowly passed on a 49-46 vote. The amendment directs a victimized tenant to go to court to “file a petition for an emergency possessory order” seeking termination of his or her lease. After an “emergency hearing,” the amendment states, “the court shall issue an emergency order” allowing the rental agreement to be terminated.

Craig Fry opposed the amendment because it would, in his opinion, make it more difficult, more time-consuming, and more costly for a frightened tenant to escape an allegedly unsafe environment.

Marshal Swallow, whose department investigated Sheena’s murder, agrees with Fry. He feels that a person who has already been victimized should not have additional obstacles and costs placed in front of them. Swallow and others communicated their concerns to lawmakers when it appeared that the controversial amendment might derail passage of the entire bill.

On February 2 Rep. Fry added his original draft of “Sheena’s Law” to HB 1240, titled “Various insurance matters,” since this was viewed as a “must pass” bill. It was passed by the House on an 80-18 vote. It was then that the amended HB 1073 was passed, in effect sending the legislation to the Senate in two forms, one with the original wording and one in its amended version.

Wes Culver, representative for the Bristol area, voted for HB 1073 in the committee which reported out the original bill, stating that he is in favor of allowing tenants to escape from dangerous situations without penalty. He also voted in favor of HB 1240, to which the original wording was attached. He feels that there is now a good chance of final passage by the full legislature.

Many programs and activities available locally
See what’s in store for you and your family in this issue!

At left, Homecoming Queen Emily Congdon (center) Ellen Anderson (left) and Anna Chupp, assemble Valentine’s for veterans. (Photo by Jacob Shaffer)

“When Talk Is Cheap”

Bristol is about 1,800 miles from Haiti, as the crow flies. It’s an island, but as British poet and clergyman John Donne wrote in the early 1600’s, “No man is an island.” Haitians are our neighbors.

Just think how 3,000 Americans dying in the World Trade Center rocked us emotionally. Estimating 150,000 Haitians dead from the tragedy a few weeks ago, the earthquake cost approximately 50 times more people’s lives than 9/11.

Haiti is tiny. According to the CIA’s World Factbook online (www.cia.gov), the island’s total population is a little more than New York City. A similar proportion dead in the United States would be almost 5.1 million.

We struggle to wrap our minds around something this catastrophic. In a way that insulates us from the immediate shock of it. We can’t even find words to describe its impact. That’s inevitable, but we’re also vocabulary-challenged because we’ve carelessly thrown around some words to the point that they’ve become impotent when we really need them. In the interest of gaining perspective, I give you four:

Horrible: What is horror in real life? Here’s a suggestion: a mother helplessly listening to the dwindling cries of her five children trapped in the rubble and finally losing them all. Saying traffic over Six-Span is horrible, which I’m guilty of, reduces us to the “oh, darn, I broke a nail” level of superficiality.

Terrible: Same thing. What is terror in real life? What it must have felt like when buildings began to fall, whether in Haiti or New York City. My cold might make me cranky, but it’s not terrible.

Awesome: Awe has deep respect, even reverence to it. We can be in awe of God, of the Grand Canyon, of a newborn baby, of the power released when the plates of the earth shift.  The Colts returning to the Super Bowl is not in the same league.

Compassion: Literally, compassion means to suffer with. Are we suffering with Haitians, or even local neighbors in need, or do we talk about compassion as lip service? Texting a $10 donation is not sacrificial to most people. This thought makes me squirm.

Here’s to perspective. Here’s to compassion.

Carol Willis is a freelance writer and editor. She specializes in written communications for businesses and nonprofits and other editorial projects. Carol also is the development director at Church Community Services.

Pictured above are Bristol Elementary School’s Spelling Bowl Team participants. From l to r, front row: Nicole King, Spell Bowl Coach, Nicole Mishler, Tyler Smith, Adrianna Cain, Hailey Hamilton, Jenna Williams, and Julian Acosta. Back row: Glen Hartl, Casey Tingstrom, Raleigh Ball, Raven Duncan, Heather Ferggison, Eric Chavrria, and Olivia Wagner.

On November 19, Bristol Elementary School took its first ever Spell Bowl Team to competition.  The team was comprised of 12 students in grades 4-6.  The team received a third place finish.  Each team member received a medal.  The members of the team received their Spell Bowl awards (courtesy of Purdue University) at the Bristol Elementary All School Awards.

Manchester College recently announced the names of students qualifying to make their Dean’s List.

Alison Baker, a senior elementary education with mile interventions major, is a graduate of Northridge High School.

Lauren Houser, a senior elementary education with mild interventions major, is a graduate of Northridge High School.

Andrew Williams, a senior athletic training major, is a graduate of Northridge High School.

To receive this honor, student must complete at least 12 hours with a GPA of 3.5 or above for the semester. Manchester College offers more than 55 areas of study to 1,223 students from 21 states and 20 countries. For more about the College, visit www.manchester.edu.

HMMI owners, Derek Hochstetler (right) and his parents Merlin and Elsie stand at the deli inside their store located at Six Span Bridge in Elkhart. The Hochstetlers enjoy working together to provide unique, quality meats and other food items to their customers. (Photo by Laurie Eads)

Hickory Meats & More, Inc. (HMMI) is a new business with some products unique to this area, at prices lower than one would expect. It is located at 54595 CR 17, Elkhart, which is near Six-Span Bridge, in the building which formerly housed Alley Oops Restaurant. The phone number is 584-3750.

The owners of HMMI are Derek Hochstetler and his parents, Merlin and Elsie Hochstetler. Their interesting website (hickorymeats.com) tells the story of the older Hochstetlers’ butcher shop in North Dakota, of Merlin’s recipes for smoked jerky and sausage, and of their migration to Indiana. The website also offers online purchasing of many of their products.

The word “hickory” in the business name comes from the fact that the owners use hickory chips in their three smokers, where they smoke many of their most popular meat products. (The firm has no relationship to the Hickory Farms chain stores.)

Since coming to Elkhart, Merlin has developed a new recipe for Polish sausage, which has already become a favorite at the store. During the recent holiday season, Derek relates, their hickory-smoked turkeys “flew out” so fast that they ran out several times.

The butcher case at Hickory Meats offers a wide array of steaks, roasts, hamburger, other fresh meat products, and even double-smoked bacon. The frozen food case contains buffalo meat, lamb, ducks, beef, and pork. Smoked salmon is a recent popular addition.

Much of the floor space at HMMI is devoted to what Derek calls “bulk foods.” This term refers to items that are purchased in large containers, and then repackaged in plastic bags for resale at affordable prices. Included here are many kinds of spices, soup mixes, instant puddings, coffee, cappuccino mixes, and baking products.
The baking section contains various kinds of flour and sugar, baking mixes, and baking ingredients. Derek says that the pizza dough is one of the most popular items in this section.

Hours at Hickory Meats & More are 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. The Hochstetlers invite you to stop in and sample their tasty and, in many cases, unusual products.

Mark Linton, President of Linton’s Enchanted Gardens, announced the purchase of the White Daisy, a popular floral shop located in downtown Bristol. Jenny Welch, owner and operator of the White Daisy said “I have loved the experience owning and operating my own business has provided, and the smiles that brightens not only the recipients’ day, but the person sending them as well.” Mrs. Welch cited the needs of running a one-person small business as the major factor in the decision to sell, and the commitment to quality by Linton’s as her choice of successor.

Even in the middle of a snowy winter, Linton’s Enchanted Gardens, 315 CR 17, Elkhart, offers a comfortable shopping experience at its large Floral and Interior Décor  Shoppe. Diana Ellison, the store’s manager and head designer, and Andrew Skipper, the interior designer, have artfully displayed a wide variety of collectibles and other unique products.

Pictured above at left, Mark Linton and Jenny Welch stand in front of the former White Daisy Floral Shop in Bristol. Above, Diana Ellison, manager of Linton’s floral and gift shop, stands at a display case inside the expanded shop. Linton’s also offers customers a “Flower of the Month Club” annual membership for $30. Members receive a special floral selection each month of the year. (Photo by Laurie Eads)

The Floral and Interior Décor Shoppe handles many well-known brand names, such as Vera Bradley handbags, Byer’s Choice Christmas figurines, Yankee and Woodwick candles, Time Works clocks, and Crabtree & Evelyn. Also on display are indoor fountains, home accent furniture, wind chimes, indoor and outdoor statuary, jewelry, and much more.

Mark Linton, president of the firm, notes that the shop is the only florist that offers floral deliveries seven days a week throughout the area. It is also able to facilitate deliveries world-wide through FTD and Teleflora wire services. Business hours at Linton’s are 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Saturday seminars, lasting one hour, are offered free from January to May, covering topics such as flower arranging, interior décor, and gardening tips. Seating is available for up to 80 participants. Consult Linton’s comprehensive website at lintons.com for more information on the seminars, as well as all its other services.
During the spring and summer seasons, Linton’s garden center features a huge assortment of plants, and includes a popular petting zoo. A large nursery is located on CR 14, east of CR 17, where many crews are engaged in providing landscaping and lawn care to residential and commercial customers. During its peak season Linton’s employs up to 130 “team members” in its various enterprises.

From May to September Linton’s will participate for its third year in the “very popular” Quilt Garden Tour sponsored by the Elkhart County Convention and Visitors Bureau. In the past two years, Mark notes, about 200 tour buses have stopped at Linton’s as part of the summer event.

Since the White Daisy in Bristol closed its doors, Mrs. Welch is helping her former customers make an orderly transition to Linton’s. They and everyone else will find a warm welcome when they visit Linton’s Enchanted Gardens. For more information call 293-9699.

Subway employees Melissa Black and Thomas Hornblower accepted the Bristol Town Beautification award for the newly opened store in Bristol. (Photo by Laurie Eads)

The Bristol Town Council recently chose the newly opened Subway restaurant as the winner of the Bristol Pirate Beautification Award.

Matt Hanover, store owner,  recently opened the restaurant in the newly renovated building on Vistula street (SR 120) in downtown Bristol that formerly housed the CVS drug store.
Subway was chosen for the improvements made both to the inside and outside of the building.

The Bristol Town Council and Bristol Bugle Newspaper have joined forces to present Bristol’s Monthly Beautification Award along with the presentation of the much coveted “pirate” mascot.  Businesses, owners of private residences, and organizations are eligible.

The Bristol Town Council will receive nominations from Bristol citizens and businesses for properties or organizations that have made Bristol more beautiful. At each monthly public meeting, the council will announce a winner from among those nominations. Nominations may be submitted by mail to Laurie Eads, Bristol Bugle News, P.O. Box 414, Bristol, IN 46507, by calling 848-1404, or emailing at Bristolnews@aol.com. Any nominations received after the deadline for one month will automatically be considered for the following month’s award.

Bob and Tess White stand beside the sign located in front of their building easily seen on Vistula Street (SR 120) in downtown Bristol. (Photo by Laurie Eads)

Tess and Bob White, owners of T & B White’s Groom and Board at 310 E. Vistula Street in Bristol, continue to stress their individual attention to each pet and its owner in the business they both enjoy.

Tess and Bob are pleased to be called a “Mom and Pop” operation, where personal service is a priority and treasured pets are known by name. Prices remain today where they have been since 2005. All payment is by cash or check; neither credit cards nor debit cards are accepted.

The Whites’ recently constructed building provides a separate area for cats, in which each cat has its own room, not just a cage. This aspect of their business has grown to the point that they were filled to capacity over the Christmas holidays.

Whites provide all supplies needed by the cats (except food), including water bowl, litter box and litter, and a blanket. To avoid dietary problems, owners must provide food for all cats and dogs. Minor medications are “no problem,” says Tess, inviting cat owners to inquire about this service.

Tess and Bob continue to board dogs in their 26 state-of-the-art kennels, each of which has access to a covered outdoor area. The kennel floors are heated in the winter, while air conditioning provides comfort in warm weather. Air filtration, piped-in classical music, and daily back rubs are standard treatment for the Whites’ pampered canine guests.

The Whites are impressed that, even in a sluggish local economy, many owners continue to provide good care for their pets. Tess and Bob invite any member of the public to drop in for a free tour of their facilities between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Bob and three other groomers handle 15 to 30 dogs each day Tuesday through Saturday. One of the staff members grooms all the cats, numbering about 75 in total. Reservations for grooming can be made by calling 848-4043. Pets can be dropped off for this service between 6:45 and 8:00 a.m.

Reservations are also required for boarding a pet with Tess and Bob, and the owner must be able to provide written proof that all annual shots are up to date, including bordatella (kennel cough). Written documents and instructions can be FAXed to the Whites at 848-1571.

Hours for dropping off and picking up boarding pets are 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 9:00 a.m. to noon on Saturday. Pick-up only is offered on Sunday from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m.

Tess and Bob are available by phone (848-4043) from 6:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. seven days a week. In spite of the daily demands on their time and attention, Tess and Bob continue to enjoy their constant contact with animals. Tess never tires of saying that “we are still having fun after all these years in business.”

Kristin Van Zandt, photographer

Tyson is such a handsome boy! He’s been at the shelter most of his short life. He’s 7 months old, loves to play with toys and has a GREAT personality! Come meet him today!

Kristin Van Zandt, photographer

Kilo is one of 7
Border Collie mix puppies at the
shelter! They are about one month old and all look different but all are adorable and need good homes!

Humane Society of Elkhart County, 54687 CR 19, Bristol, IN
848-4225 Adoption hours: Monday-Saturday: 11A.M.– 5P.M. www.elkharthumanesociety.org

Greetings Bristol!

This month will be the first in a 3-part series to address ADD/ADHD, which represents Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. The numbers of children and adults with this condition are rising steadily. This month I will explain what it is and how it is currently treated. In March, I plan to address the use of over-the-counter medications in patients with ADD/ADHD. Finally, in April, I hope some of you will pitch in with some success stories in an effort to help your neighbors. I’m more than happy to keep them anonymous, and I believe if anyone is willing to share a tip or knowledge in 1-3 short sentences it could be of great benefit.

There are 3 different categories of ADD/ADHD; inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, and combined types. Adults typically have inattentive ADD, while children most often exhibit the other two. Common symptoms of hyperactive-impulsive type include squirming/fidgeting, excessive running or climbing, difficulty playing, excessive talking, and blurting answers before listening to the whole question. Symptoms of the inattentive type are a lack of attention to detail, difficulty sustaining attention, not listening, chronically misplacing things, and being easily distracted or forgetful. Lest the doctor’s offices be flooded with patients after this article is published, let me add that there must be 6 or more symptoms present which persist for at least 6 month in at least 2 different settings (example, school and home). Also, they must not be caused by any other mental disorders, like dementia or bipolar disorder.

Treatment for this condition can include support groups, individual education plans, and medication. Many people are aware that stimulants, like amphetamine, are the mainstay of treatment for ADD/ADHD, however patients can also use antidepressants and medications which control blood pressure to help the stimulants work better than they do alone. Names of stimulants you may be familiar with are Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse, Dexedrine, Concerta, and Focalin. They all work to direct the brain down the channels it needs to focus on the task at hand. Stimulants account for treating 80% of all cases of ADD/ADHD but should not be used in patients with heart defects. The nonstimulants (Strattera), and antidepressants (Wellbutrin) work to help control some of the other issues by stimulating release of dopamine and norepinephrine.

My best advice if you think someone you care about may suffer from ADD/ADHD is to document their symptoms over 6-12 months, including date and time of the symptom and if there seems to be anything that triggers the response. Document how long it lasts and show the diary to the doctor. He or she can take it from there and run the necessary tests for a diagnosis. The sooner there is a treatment plan, the sooner a person can start to succeed!

Okay, I received some complaints because I didn’t have a joke in the last issue, so here it is!

Patient: “Doctor, are you sure I’m suffering from pneumonia? I heard once about a doctor treating someone with pneumonia and finally he died of typhus.”
Doctor: “Don’t worry, it won’t happen to me. If I treat someone with pneumonia, he will die of pneumonia.”

Katrina, Pharmacist
Mor for Less/Bristol Pharmacy 848-0660

As of the first week in February 2010, there are mixed signals coming out of Indianapolis regarding proposed bills aimed at eliminating township boards and township trustees.

In the House, HB 1249 proposed that “all township governments are abolished on January 1, 2013, and all township functions are transferred to the county.” This bill did not make it out of committee.

In the Senate, SB 0240 specified “that in each county after December 31, 2012: (1) the county fiscal body is the fiscal body and legislative body of each township in the county.”

This bill was passed in the Senate by a 29-19 vote, and will now be taken up by a House committee.

In an effort at compromise, those supporting townships in the House introduced HB 1181. It calls for a public question to be placed on each general election ballot in November 2010, giving the voters an opportunity to vote in favor of retaining a township trustee and a township board. If the referendum is not approved, the township duties would be transferred to the county on January 1, 2012. This bill was passed in the House by a vote of 54-44, and will now be taken up by a Senate committee.

Since the two bills that passed, one in each chamber, are contradictory, it is not at all clear what, if anything, will emerge this year in the form of new legislation. However, even if no final action is taken by the full legislature, neither side in this struggle feels that this matter is permanently settled. Similar bills were brought up and defeated last year, and will likely be proposed again in a future legislative session, partly because the underlying issues and problems remain.

The push to eliminate township government started several years ago when Governor Mitch Daniels appointed the Indiana Commission on Local Government Reform (ICLGR), chaired by a former governor, Joseph Kernan, and the chief justice of the Indiana Supreme Court, Randall Shepard. The ICLGR issued its report on December 11, 2007, which was titled Streamlining Local Government: We’ve got to stop governing like this.
In a cover letter to the report, Kernan and Shepard stated: “The services presently performed by township personnel should be transferred to the county governments.” Their arguments were financial and practical. They stated that Indiana’s multi-layered system “is more expensive than it needs to be,” and that “overlapping layers” of inefficiency called for “a leaner, more effective government.”

The report included 27 recommendations affecting counties, cities, townships, libraries, schools, and more. If enacted, the recommendations would reduce the number of local government units from 3,086 to 1,931 and the number of elected officials from 11,012 to as few as 5,171.

Recommendation #9 in the ICLGR report reads as follows: “Transfer the responsibility for administering the duties of township government for assessment, poor relief, fire protection, emergency management services (EMS), cemeteries and any other remaining responsibilities to the county executive. Establish a countywide poor relief levy.”

In its comments on this recommendation, the report stated that the 1,008 township governments in Indiana “result in a structure that is simply too complex,” and that Indiana’s current “three complete levels of general-purpose government” means that it has “one more layer than in most of the rest of the country.” It goes on to state that “No other state has a universal layer of township government.”

The Indiana Chamber of Commerce is one of the leading groups that are pushing for the adoption of the recommendations of the ICLGR. The organization argues that a more stable and predictable business climate will exist in a state with lower taxes, less expensive government, and a less complicated system within which to operate.

Those opposing the elimination of township governments are concerned about losing local control of matters that are best handled by people closest to the problems being addressed. They argue that any cost savings will be offset by the disadvantages of dealing with county and state officials who do not have first-hand knowledge of local situations, which may be quite different from one township to another.

The Bristol Town Council has unanimously voted its support of retaining the township system, noting that rural areas face far different problems than those encountered in urban settings. Rep. Wes Culver, whose district includes the Bristol area, voted in favor of HB 1181, which would allow residents of Washington Township, for example, to vote to keep their township board and township trustee, if they so desired.

In response to concerned inquiries by patrons of the Bristol post office, Rep. Mark Souder has sent a letter to the inspector general of the U.S. Postal Service. The entire letter, dated January 15, 2010, can be viewed online at bristolbugle.com. Vital information for the letter was provided by Cory Martin, Souder’s regional director at his Goshen office, who had attended the December meeting of the Bristol Town Council.

In the letter Souder noted that he had “been contacted by multiple towns” asking about the consolidation of rural carrier routes and what these changes “might mean in the long term.” Shipshewana and Winona Lake are two of those towns, like Bristol, that are concerned that consolidation might be “a first step toward the eventual closing” of their post offices.

Rep. Souder then posed several questions to the inspector general, reflecting some of the specific concerns on the minds of Bristol residents. “First, is there a list of post offices in Indiana that are currently going through the consolidation process?” He went on to ask if those offices on the list are all in leased buildings, and if those in leased facilities are more likely to be selected for future closings.

The congressman then made reference to news reports that postal route consolidations would save up to $1.5 million “in the 465 ZIP code area.” He then wrote: “I would like to see a specific (his emphasis) breakdown of where those cost savings will be realized.”

Finally, Souder stated: “I assume there was a report, based on a study that set the criteria used to determine which post offices would be affected by a carrier consolidation. Can a copy of the report be sent to my Goshen District Office?”

As of February 3, no reply had been received to Souder’s January 15 letter. Cory Martin has confirmed that the USPS is in receipt of the letter. Souder’s office will follow up with a phone call on Monday, February 8, to determine when a reply might be expected. As soon as the inspector general responds to Souder’s inquiries, his letter will be posted on the website noted above.

A public hearing will be scheduled some time in March 2010 to inform citizens about a proposed new fire protection territory that would include the town of Bristol, Washington Township, and part of York Township.

This is the same geographic area covered by the current Bristol Fire Department (BFD), which now, as an independent nonprofit corporation, contracts with the three jurisdictions for fire and ambulance services. The new proposal would make some changes in the way taxes are levied and revenue is raised for the fire department.

Tax issues related to the proposed change are overseen by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF). The DLGF recognizes two methods of organizing fire departments for taxing purposes, namely, as Fire Protection Districts and as Fire Protection Territories (FPT).

While the two methods are similar, one difference is that the former (district) can be initiated by a petition of two percent of the landowners affected, while the latter (territory) can only be initiated by the political entities involved.

The FPT must meet the requirements of Indiana Code 36-8-19, one of which is that one of the participating governmental units must be designated as the “provider unit.” The provider unit is responsible for providing fire protection services, for establishing a FPT fund, and for preparing an annual budget.

The issue of the “provider unit” is still under discussion regarding the proposed Bristol area fire protection territory. Fay Kemp, chief of the BFD, would like to see Washington Township be named the “provider unit,” while some representatives of Bristol would like to see the town perform that function. Interested citizens might want to attend the February 18 meeting of the Bristol Town Council, where this matter will be discussed.
Kemp favors the change to a territory, because it will foster a needed increase in revenue for the BFD, and because it will make budgeting easier for future fire protection needs.

Bill Wuthrich, Bristol town manager, is neutral on the subject of the “provider unit,” but supports the move to a fire protection territory, because it will remove the cost from the town budget and spread the tax burden evenly among those receiving fire protection.

All parties agree that taxes may go up slightly, perhaps only temporarily, for property owners. This is one of the subjects that will be presented and discussed at the public hearing in March. Residents are urged to watch for a notice of that meeting.

UPDATE: Due to the expected larger audience, the town board meeting for Feb. 18 will be held at the Bristol Library at 7 PM.

At the January 21 meeting of the Bristol Town Council (BTC) town manager Bill Wuthrich reported that Bristol’s water supply was recently rated number two in quality for the state of Indiana by the Alliance of Indiana Rural Water (AIRW). Residents of Bristol, Wuthrich noted, should feel justly proud of this recognition.

The AIRW (website: www.inh2o.org) is an association of 650 Indiana water and wastewater systems and related professionals. It is a member of the National Rural Water Association (NRWA), the nation’s largest utility association, with more than 26,290 members.

Marshal Michael Swallow reported that in 2009 the Bristol Police Department saw an increase in total calls for service, but a decrease in the number of vehicle accidents and criminal cases. At his request, the BTC approved the purchase of a new Tahoe for $26,000.

Swallow introduced Lindsey Biller, 18, of Nappanee as the winner of the Russ Hohman Scholarship, which was established to assist students pursuing a career in law enforcement. Lindsey plans to study forensic science at Trine University in Angola, Indiana.

At the request of the Humane Society of Elkhart County, the BTC agreed to attempt to increase its financial support in 2010 for this agency, which has experienced a large increase in the number of animals dropped off at its site on CR 19.

Lynette Johnson was appointed by the BTC to fill the vacancy on the Bristol Park Board.

Glenn Duncan reported that the Elkhart County Plan Commission voted against the request of the BTC to change the zoning of the former Bristolpipe property from manufacturing to a business designation. This is only an advisory opinion, since the town council has the final authority in this matter. A public hearing on this matter will take place at the February 18 meeting of the BTC, at which time a decision can be made.

The current members of the Bristol economic redevelopment commission were approved for another term, and the current officers were reappointed.

The next meeting of the Bristol Town Council will be on Thursday, February 18, at 7:00 p.m. at the town hall.

UPDATE: Due to the expected larger audience, the town board meeting for Feb. 18 will be held at the Bristol Library at 7 PM.

January criminal cases were down a little from previous years.  Still a major crime is Identity Theft and credit card fraud.  We warn everyone to be a watchful of credit and debit card accounts.  Report any suspicious activity immediately to your financial institution and to law enforcement.  When using cards, be cautious that people around you cannot see your personal identification numbers.  Cell phones with cameras are a favorite way criminal obtain your information.  We thank the community for its cooperation in reporting suspicious activities.  Calls for service greatly increased this past month.  We remind people that should you be traveling and away from home, please stop in the police department and fill out a house check form.

Signs have been ordered for the new golf cart ordinance.

The cold, snow and ice have raised vehicle crashes this month.  The deer on roadway are another problem.  They have been extremely active and being on or crossing roadways.  They are being seen even during the daylight hours.  Selective enforcement is still in effect by all police agencies throughout Elkhart County.  Please remember to always wear safety restraints properly and to drive defensively.

Please visit out website at http://bristolpolice.org for additional information.

Officers Garner and Mosher along with two Bristol firefighters will be attending Arson Investigation training.  This training will be a two days per week for the next 2 ½ months.  We would like to thank Sheriff Mike Books for sponsoring this training countywide.  This type of effort can only enhance investigation.  To solve arsons, it takes the joint efforts of fire and police who both have different but important duties.

All officers were recertified on Chemical Mace in January.

February training will be vehicle crash investigation measurements and photographs.

We continue to attend monthly meetings with law enforcement and prosecutors office.

January 19th I attended a school improvement meeting at Bristol Elementary.  The staff and teachers are doing a fantastic job.  In February there will be a reading aloud activity.  They will be looking for volunteers.  Anyone interested should contact Mrs. Jenette, principal of Bristol Elementary at 848-7421.

Lindsey Biller is receiving the Russ Hohman Scholarship.  Lindsey will be studying in the criminal justice field.

Bristol Police Department
Activity summary for
January 2010

Calls for Service: 519

Traffic Enforcement-
Traffic citations– 33
Traffic warnings– 128
Prop. damage accidents– 6

Junk & Abandoned Vehicles-
Tagged– 0
Fixed or removed- 0
Impound- 0

Criminal Enforcement-
Cases Taken– 22
Cases Closed By Arrest– 5

Hours worked-
Full time officers: 730.5
Reserve Officers: 179
SE Patrol: 25
Trainees: 0
Civilians: 160

Garden News
with Advanced Master Gardener
Steve Kruse

What a winter we have had! The groundhog has seen his shadow and spring seems like it will never get here. While there isn’t much we can do outside to our lawns or gardens, we can be preparing ourselves for the spring rush. The catalogs have arrived, and some home improvement and garden shows are fast approaching.

The garden catalogs are a great way to spend time thinking of planting our gardens and much warmer weather. The catalogs can give us ideas of new or different flowers and vegetables. I like to look at the catalogs and find plants similar to the ones I have grown in the past but with stronger growing habits. For instance, I like to grow lots of tomatoes. Tomatoes are susceptible to several fungal diseases. I am looking for a tomato plant that will be more resistant to the disease while still having the great taste of a fresh tomato. I will look for disease resistant tomato plants and just experiment with different seeds. The same can be done with flowers as well. I also like to look for different or exotic flowers or vegetables as well. Everyone likes to have a flower or vegetable that is different from all their friends and neighbors. Take a closer look at your garden catalogs and stop by the garden center. The seeds for 2010 have arrived and they are just waiting for you to take them home.

Home and garden shows are incredible.  I love walking around the shows. The new items will be on display so you can see and touch them before purchasing them. The shows will have many, many items to see. Many shows will have nationally known speakers and they are always entertaining and informative. Be sure to visit a home and garden show this year.

While this winter has been difficult for us (the humans) consider the local wildlife. They are out in the elements 24 hours a day. Most of the natural food sources have been consumed. Please consider feeding the wildlife in your area. A bag of corn or bird seed isn’t that expensive and the wildlife could use a little help!
If the winter blues have you down, get up and go to your local garden center. You will see an early glimpse of spring. The garden seeds and newly arrived spring products will prove that spring is truly just around the corner!

ELKHART- On Wednesday, January 27, 2010, officers of the Elkhart County I.C.E. Unit developed information indicating that a major marijuana distribution center was operating at 59811 CR 7, Elkhart. This residence is located directly across CR 7 from the maintenance entrance to the Elkhart County Corrections Complex.
The information was investigated and developed and a search warrant application was filed with the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office.

At approximately 4:25 p.m., the search warrant was served at the CR 7 residence.

Officers seized 45 pounds of high-grade Mexican Marijuana, with estimated potential street value of $31,500. Officers also seized ten (10) grams of cocaine (estimated street value of $1,000) and $17,000 in cash. The Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office Asset Forfeiture Unit has filed the necessary paperwork to seize the cash, as well as the residence on CR 7. If the residence is forfeited, it will be sold at auction with the proceeds distributed to area law enforcement agencies through the asset sharing program of the Prosecutor’s office.

Officers arrested Melvin Hines, age 54, of that address. He has been formally charged with two counts of Dealing in Cocaine in Excess of 30 grams, both Class A Felonies, and Dealing in Marijuana in excess of 10 pounds, a Class C Felony. Hines’ bond has been set at $250,000.

Hines faces up to 110 years in prison on these charges.