NORTH WEBSTER — Wawasee Community Schools student Angel Hochstetler was selected as the 2024 Indiana DARE essay award winner.

[caption id="attachment_101822" align="alignright" width="280"] A close-up look at Angel's plaque. Photo provided.[/caption]

Hochstetler was a fifth-grade student at North Webster Elementary School and graduated from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program in May. Her essay was submitted for nomination by DARE officer Doug Light. Members of the DARE Indiana training board reviewed essays from all over the state of Indiana and selected Hochstetler to be this year’s award recipient, according to a news release from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office.

Light and Hochstetler’s family traveled to the Indiana State House in Indianapolis for DARE Indiana’s annual awards breakfast. Hochstetler received her award and also got to take a tour of the State House and sit at the governor’s desk

“I’m extremely proud of Angel and all her hard work as a DARE student. Picking a DARE essay winner is not an easy task. There were so many wonderful essays written by the DARE students at North Webster Elementary School but there was just something extra special about Angel’s that stood out to me," Light said. "It’s an honor and privilege to teach the DARE program at North Webster Elementary School. Thank you to Principal Lee Snider and the fifth-grade teachers for allowing me to make a difference in the life a child.”

“Angel’s achievement is a testament to her dedication and the incredible effort she put into her DARE essay. It is so encouraging and exciting to have one of our students recognized at the state level for their hard work and creativity. We are immensely proud of Angel and grateful to officer Light for his commitment to the DARE program at North Webster Elementary. Angel is a great example of a student who seeks to reach her highest potential and positively impact her community,” said North Webster Elementary School Principal Lee Snider.

Dan Gause, NWES fifth-grade teacher, added, “Angel is a wonderful example of what happens when students take what they learn and use it to create something meaningful. Her essay captured the heart of what the DARE program is all about, and we couldn’t be prouder of her. Seeing her celebrated at the State House is a moment of pride for our entire school. We’re so happy for Angel and her family.”

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WARSAW — Several people were injured Tuesday in a six-vehicle accident on SR 15 south of Southwood Drive Tuesday afternoon.

The cause of the crash, which occurred at about 1:58 p.m., was still under investigation as of about 2:55 p.m., Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Sgt. Doug Light said.

“It’s kind of a chain reaction accident,” he said.

One semi-tractor trailer full of corn was overturned. There also was one passenger car, two pickup trucks and two SUVs involved. 

“At this time, one patient has been flown. One has been ground transported to Fort Wayne, and that’s really the extent of the injuries,” Light said, noting those were the injuries that he knew of at the time.

No further details on those involved were available.

With the semi overturned and blocking both lanes of traffic, as well as the other vehicles on the road, Light expected the investigation and cleanup of the scene to take a while. Indiana 15 was reopened around 6:30 p.m.

Tyce Rooney, the driver of the 2003 Peterbilt semi-tractor trailer, said he was hauling grain to North Manchester.

“The white Lincoln went into oncoming traffic and hit the red Ford, and the red Ford went toward me and I hit them,” he recalled.

The collision caused the semi to tip over. He said he didn’t know how the other three vehicles got involved in the pileup.

Rooney was shaken up and suffered a possible concussion.

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WARSAW — Jim Smith admits he used to be old school when it came to incarceration, but that was before the Kosciusko County Sheriff embraced a new program and made 300 tablets available to inmates.

The tablets have replaced much of the paperwork involving inmates in the jail as well as the traditional form of visitation, which fell by the wayside when the pandemic struck. 

The tablets have also replaced he traditional form of mail which had been one of the biggest paths into the jail for contraband.

Smith and the jail staff, who oversee about 275 inmates have seen a rapid change since the tablets were distributed three weeks ago.

The devices, to a great degree, are now keeping inmates more occupied.

Jail staff say they noticed a quick improvement in behavior after the arrival.

"Based on my observations and the communications I've had with the jail staff, it's obvious that things have changed back there. It's a lot more quiet," Smith said.

The tablet program is an arrangement through Securus and is being financed without public tax dollars.

The program also offers hundreds of books with a variety of subjects ranging from religion to substance abuse education. Access to some of those features include a fee, he said.

The program also allows all inmates an online visitation once a week with a loved one free off charge — a significant change from the past when inmates had to pay fees.

Additional fees still come with a fee.

Smith said he had not realized the burden indigent inmates had faced previously and sought to make a change with the new arrangement.

He said he's optimistic that the impact will continue.

"The novelty, it may for some, run run out a little bit, but one thing's not going to change — they all like that contact with the outside world, whether it be messaging or visits," Smith said.

Inmates who are expected to bond out quickly and those with behavioral issues are not provided with tablets.

Smith and two of his top lieutenants — Chief Deputy Chris McKeand and Public Information Officer Doug light — discussed the tablet program and other issues as part of this week’s In The Know, the public affairs show which can be heard Friday, Saturday and Sunday on 107.3 as well as Willie 103.6.

Other subjects touched on during the interview included Smith's first year in office and the recent decision to hire four additional dispatchers.

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