TUESDAY

DECEMBER 11, 2007 OUR 118TH YEAR, NO. 345 50 CENTS

IUs darling, Concords 1990 nemesis

Sports, B1
Nappanee

LaCasa takes over Roosevelt project

Local, A3

Red rules this fashion season

Life, D1
Its going to be a very busy time this winter as we get things going.
Dick Moore

Call opens doors

Many benefits to disaster edict

NAPPANEE A disaster declaration from the federal government, if made, would allow Nappanee tornado victims to tap into grant funding of nearly $30,000 per household. It also would potentially entitle those who suffered to crisis counseling, unemployment benefits and legal services, said Elizabeth Childs, spokeswoman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency. We try to fill in the gaps when there are urgent needs, she said. FEMA already rejected the first request by state officials to deem Elkhart, Kosciusko and Marshall counties disaster areas, which would have paved the way for the benefits. And it remains to be seen if the agency will approve an appeal, submitted to the feds Friday by Gov. Mitch Daniels. We obviously hope the appeal is successful because we want to see the victims in the Nappanee area get relief for the things theyve gone through, said John Erickson, spokesman for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. In Daniels appeal, he offered a stark take on recovery efforts in Nappanee, alluding to the tough time charitable organizations are having addressing tornado victims needs and the extensive damage caused by the twister. The Oct. 18 tornado, which impacted parts of Marshall and Kosciusko counties while hitting

BY TIM VANDENACK Truth Staff

Man, the ice cometh

Todays forecast: Sleet and freezing rain, changing to rain later. High: 35 Closings: Check etruth.com for up-to-date school closings

Richard Dick Moore 07/31/06 canidate for Elkhart

Elkhart

Moore getting a read on city

Mayors office starts transition
BY BRIDGET LEVITZ Truth Staff

Please see NAPPANEE/A6

License letter alarms

Playing it safe: Brandy Mathews (left) and Emily Elrod tread carefully Monday morning along Franklin Street in Elkhart on their way to work.
Truth Photo By Fred Flury; photos below left by Fred Flury and The Associated Press

BMVs move wont affect legal residents

Ice tips
For more tips from local experts go to Page A6

Slick coating upsets everyones routine

BY BRIDGET LEVITZ Truth Staff
When morning alarms sound the next few days, sleepy residents may be more likely to hear a disc jockey ticking off a list of delays and closings than a cheerful tune bidding them good morning. An icy mix of winter weather has covered Elkhart County roads this week, causing schools to close and drivers to take it a little slower on slippery morning commutes. Goshen Street Commissioner Barb LaDow called the weekend conditions dangerous. It was very icy and slippery, LaDow said. The temperature held at a spot that when the rain hit, it turned to ice. Elkhart, Goshen and the county all had crews out since freezing rain began to fall Saturday evening. Roads were clear across the county by Monday afternoon, but street crews were readying for slick weather yet to come. A winter storm watch remains in effect for Elkhart County through late tonight, and a National Weather Ser-

Closings
Courtyard Healthcare Center, Goshen, lunch and learn series at 12:30 p.m. today is canceled. Three Rivers Community Players potluck is rescheduled to 6 p.m. Dec. 17. Auditions for M*A*S*H tentatively scheduled for 7 p.m. today. Call (269) 273-1121 for update.
vice forecast of up to a quarter inch of ice accumulation has local street departments gearing up for another busy run. We are planning crews for whenever it hits again, LaDow said. Well send half the employees out in the initial onset of the weather and see what the storm brings. LaDow and Elkhart Street Commissioner Marty Morgan said they would readily take heavy snow over freezing rain. Crews can fight the ice, but rain falling and freezing on the pavement can wash materials dropped on the roads

BY JODI MAGALLANES Truth Staff

In November, the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles sent letters to license holders whose information in the BMV database did not match federal records. That has some recent immigrants in the area very concerned. Some are coming to ask if they have to answer them, said Mara Sanchez-Schirch, immigration counselor at LaCasa of Goshen. They are told yes. For legal residents, the problem should end there. But Schirch anticipates that for undocumented immigrants, the situation will become problematic. If accurate proof of identity, Social Security number and residency cannot be provided to the BMV, the persons drivers license will be revoked on Jan. 31. Capt. Tom Love of the Elkhart Police Department can see that having an effect on the community. We definitely could see a

Start early on shoveling sidewalks. Do it again throughout the day as necessary.

Truth Photo By Fred

Please see LICENSE/A2

Remove ice from windshields before turning on the wipers.

away forcing crews to drop more salt and sand on roadways, Morgan said. Both cities and county street crews follow similar clearing methods focus on main roads first and then move on to the less-traveled side streets. Goshen sends crews of five people out at a time to maintain primary routes by dumping a mixture of salt and sand. Once the storm clears, crews focus on clearing all the city streets. Depending on the severity of the ice or snowfall, crews work four-, eight- or 12hour shifts. Crews have about 250 lane-miles of road to clear in Elkhart. Employees typically work 12-hour shifts, but the start of those shifts vary with the forecast. On Monday, Morgans day shift left around 3 p.m. after coming in between 2 and 3 a.m. to start dropping Elkharts mix of salt, sand and beet juice on the streets. The sand provides traction for about 15 to 20 minutes, giving the salt time to start

ELKHART Mayor-elect Dick Moore has a lot of reading to do between now and Jan. 1. Mayor Dave Miller and his department heads handed over boxes filled to the brim with information about the workings of city government to Moore on Monday part of the transition process in place between the outgoing and incoming administrations. Teams for both men met at City Hall to discuss details of ongoing projects, critical issues and financial matters. Documents detailing those city matters were given to Moore and his newly appointed staff members during a closed-door meeting. This is not a hostile takeover, Miller said. We are cooperating because we both love Elkhart. I willingly hand the city over. When I made the choice not run again, I knew I would be doing that. Miller did not seek re-election for 2008, opening the mayors seat to a newcomer. Moore, the former fire chief and street commissioner, was elected by a hefty margin in November, beating Republican City Councilman Jim Pettit and independent Oscar Gibson. Moore called Mondays transition meeting enlightening and said hell spend the next few weeks digesting the information shared. Its going to be a very busy time this winter as we get things going, he said. Miller extended an invitation to Moore and his new staff to call or stop by any city department with questions between now and Jan. 1. Hes also told the mayor-elect that hell be there to help any way he can in the new year. I cant imagine not having a question for Mayor Miller after the first of the year, Moore said. Included in the transition documents were copies of the citys original budget and its current budget so Moore can see where the citys gone over eight years, said Miller. Knowing Moore wants to reshape the citys management structure, Miller also included a copy of the structure in place when Miller took office in 2000

Please see MOORE/A6

Please see ICE/A6

Watch Robert Borrellis video report on Elkharts mayoral transition.

Index
Annie, Abby . . . . . . . D3 Business . . . . . . . . . . C6 Classified . . . . . . C1-C3 Comics . . . . . . . . . . . C4 Movies . . . . . . . . . . . D5 Obituaries. . . . . . . . . A5 Stocks. . . . . . . . . . . . C5 Television . . . . . . . . . D6

In the know five things to talk about today

1.

High today, 35; weather, A6

President Bush, Congress are dickering over home heating assistance. News, C6

2.

Three Goshen firefighters were hurt fighting a late Sunday evening blaze. Local, A2

3.

Elkhart Fire Chief Dick Snell hangs it up after almost 32 years of service. Local, A3

4.

Brian Bechtel has Goshen off to its best boys Truth basketball start Photo By in 20 years. Mark A. Sports, B1

5.

Dear Abbys readers respond to womans online affair ending marriage. Life, D3