February 2011
Phone: 260-463-4901 • Fax 888-439-6528 • The Hometown Treasure
Page 6
Shipshewana Town News
by Sheryl Kelly, Town Manager — February 2011
The Winter Weather is upon us. A friendly reminder
to residents that the town has an ordinance that
requires snow and ice to be removed from the sidewalk
in front of each house and commercial building by
6:00 p.m. in the evening of each day. If you have an
elderly neighbor or snowbird on your street, and, you
are able, please consider giving them a helping hand
with snow removal.
Should a severe winter weather event occur, a
“Snow Emergency” will be in effect for the Town of
Shipshewana, whenever the National Weather Service
issues a Winter Storm Warning for Lagrange County.
The following streets have parking restrictions posted
on them during the Winter Storm Warning. “No
Parking” times are from 12:01 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. to allow
the Street Department to clear the roadway. Violators
may have their vehicles towed at the Owners expense,
if they remain on the street during the posted “No
Parking” hours: Middlebury Street from State Street to
Talmadge Street; State Street from Middlebury Street
to Sulky Downs; Talmadge Street from Middlebury
Street to Main Street.
The downtown streets of Main, Morton, and
Harrison are also requested but not posted as “No
Parking” streets. These are mostly commercial areas
with only one exception on Harrison Street. Your
assistance and continued cooperation during a “Snow
Emergency” is sincerely appreciated.
Our first Utility billing on the new system should
have reached everyone by now. The new Utility Bill
definitely has a different look that we hope is easier
to read and understand. If you would like a receipt
when paying your Utility Bill at the Town Hall (during
business hours), please bring the top portion of your
bill with you and we will stamp it paid for you. When
making your payment by mail, please remember to
submit your stub to assure that your account is credited
appropriately. For your convenience, our drop box is
available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The drop box
is located inside the first set of double doors to the
Town Hall. If you have any questions concerning your
Utility Bill, please do not hesitate to give us a call at
260-768-4743 or stop by the office Monday through
Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
The Shipshewana Police Department would like to
remind all merchants to secure their stores, and vehicles
when no one is present and the stores are closed. One
of the trends most commonly associated with poor
economic times is a rise in criminal activity associated
with thefts and burglaries. The police department will
have officers patrolling and conducting business checks
for criminal activity. Officers
may contact merchants
throughout the day or night
with questions relative to
their business’s security, if a
risk is detected. These officers
are there to assist you and your
business in any way.
A misconception of a business
check is that it is purely associated with the checking of
the doors of a business. The actual business check is a
combination of elements that officers use to investigate
for criminal activity afoot. Everything from checking
doors, checking windows, questioning of suspicious
persons and vehicles, and a complete walk around of
a business is involved in a complete “business check”.
Business checks must be conducted sporadically
since criminal activity happens at all times of the day and
night. This gives the police department the advantage
of surprise when attempting to secure and police the
many local businesses. If the police department would
only conduct business checks at a specific time every day,
the cr