Front-Page News

Folks, I've already expressed my love for the Warsaw area, but reading the Times-Union this week has given me the feeling that I live in Hicksville. Take yesterday's front-page...

This picture was shown only because it supposedly (or supposably, whichever you prefer) looks like a dog. This was deemed worthy of the front-page. And right next to it was the account of a guy who got into an altercation with his son-in-law and began to shoot at the tires on his son-in-law's vehicle. This was also found on the front-page of the paper.

And if you go back a few more days, you'll find the news that a man was found sitting naked in some pine trees. I think this was included on a later page, though.

So what have we learned this week? If you want to get on the front-page of the newspaper, find oddly shaped produce or shoot at a car. But if you expose yourself indecently while hanging around some foliage, you won't make the cut.

A Reason for Warsaw

Earlier this week a classmate of mine asked me about Warsaw. He wanted to know what it offered in terms of entertainment and activities that South Bend doesn't have. Even though I can say that I love Warsaw (and also Winona Lake), I have to admit that he took me off guard. I didn't know what to say. After pausing, I said something about music in the summer at Winona Lake, the many lakes our county has, etc. He then asked if Warsaw and Winona Lake are comparable in size to South Bend and Fort Wayne. This I found funny. He's not from the area, let alone the country, so I can't blame him for not knowing that the answer is obvious to pretty much everyone else.

This encounter brought a verse to mind: "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15).

Neighborhood Drama

Yesterday evening my neighborhood had a meeting concerning a bit of a hot topic. Both my parents went... with differing views. Mom tried to get Dad to promise that he either wouldn't go or open his mouth, but she didn't succeed. When they came home after its finish, I asked, "So you both came back alive?"

The Con of Spring

Winter left us weeks ago, letting spring have its way with the previously barren landscape. Grass has been colored green, leaves have been coaxed back onto branches and flowers have blossomed once again. I do love and appreciate the change of seasons, but, being me, I have to find at least one drawback to every good thing.

On winter nights before going to bed, I like to glance out of my window and see the smoke steadily streaming from Daltons into the deep blue sky. But now that the tree branches in my neighborhood are no longer bare, they block my view of Dalton's smoke stack. I can still make out the smoke, but without the smoke stack, the picture seems incomplete.

Pass the Pink Stuff!

Roller coasters, swirly rides, and the like have never been my thing. My stomach and sense of balance are less than accepting of these strange experiences. Even so, I thought I could handle swinging at Pike Lake the other evening. Nope. I know I used to like swinging as a child, but apparently I'm getting too sensitive for even this simple activity. For hours afterward my stomach was nauseated and my head felt funny. Just another proof that I'm weird.

Grocery Shopping

A week ago Sunday I went to the grocery store. If that's all that happened, I wouldn't have much of a story. But as I parked and walked inside, I noticed something: one of the few cars in the parking lot looked familiar... too familiar. After grabbing a cart I immediately started scanning for someone, and I found him. Ken was just inside the entrance glancing at a magazine. Of course I had to spout some unintelligible mess about us being there at the same time.

And so the two of us proceeded down the cereal aisle, the coffee/tea aisle, the frozen food aisle, etc. Each of us studied the other's picks, questioning when surprised by a choice. For instance, when we passed the boxes and boxes of tea, Ken wondered why I hardly glanced at them. I explained that I tend to buy a bunch of tea at the same time and store it at the house, taking a few out each time I run out of my current selection. Since I still had several unopened boxes at home, I didn't need to buy anymore just yet.

After gathering all of our items, we checked out... self-checkout style. Arriving at the same time gave us a chance to race each other. (I was racing him, but I don't think he cared.) Even though I had several more items than Ken, I still won by a few seconds. He claimed his slow time was greatly affected by the fact that some of his lighter items were not recognized as being "placed in the bag." Excuses, excuses.

What might this occurrence prove? That Warsaw is a small town? That Ken and I think alike? Or did this prove nothing?

Zimmer Announces Expansion Into Ireland

This is the article my eyes fell upon when looking over the paper yesterday evening. I found it interesting....


Zimmer Announces Expansion Into Ireland
Staff Report

Zimmer Inc. soon will expand to Ireland.

According to information from the company, Zimmer Inc. will expand its manufacturing facilities to a 100,000-square-foot location in Shannon, Ireland."

We are delighted to be adding a new Ireland facility to our global network," said Zimmer President and CEO David Dvorak.

"We are constantly assessing our worldwide operations and logistics network to maximize efficiency and customer service, and this project is a result of that process. We are grateful for the cooperation and encouragement of the national and local officials in Shannon and look forward to establishing a facility that utilizes the tremendous skills and expertise of the workforce to produce high-technology medical devices."

The company considered several locations, including existing sites and other worldwide locations, before deciding on Shannon. Zimmer Inc. expects to invest $70 to $75 million in the Shannon plant in the next two years.

Manufacturing at the Shannon facility is projected to begin late this year. To begin, the plant will employ 25 to 50 people, which will expand to about 250 employees in five years.

The facility will make knee replacement implants at start-up, and other product could be added in the future. Shannon Development and Irish Development Agency officials gave Zimmer Inc. tax rate adjustments, training grants and incentives to locate in Ireland. Actual amount of the grants, tax adjustments and incentives were not released."

Zimmer's decision to establish Shannon Free Zone adds significantly to Ireland's profile as a leading location for medical device companies in Europe," said Michael Martin, minister for enterprise, trade and employment in Ireland. "This investment is welcome news for Shannon and was secured by Shannon Development with the assistance of IDA Ireland. Zimmer can be confident of finding highly skilled professionals and infrastructure of international standards in this part of the country. More and more companies are discovering the benefits of locating in regional centers throughout Ireland."

Shannon Development's Chief Executive Kevin Thompstone said, "This is a tremendous boost for Shannon; it is one of the largest projects to locate at the Shannon Free Zone in recent years. We are delighted that Zimmer have chosen Shannon. The Zimmer decision is the result of Shannon Development and IDA Ireland working to secure this project for Shannon. One of the key economic benefits of a project of this scale is the employment opportunities it presents for Irish graduates and professionals at all levels."

In the past several years, Zimmer Inc. has added approximately 600 new jobs by expanding its Warsaw manufacturing, research and development and distribution facilities. Zimmer currently employs about 2,400 people in Warsaw.

Going Downhill

In the last few weeks I've been seeing cops hanging out within a block of my place of work. Previously I hardly ever saw them unless they were on their way to somewhere. Hmmm.... Maybe my neighborhood's going downhill. You know how dangerous Warsaw can get.