From left, are Claypool Town Marshal Ben Sanders and Council Member Gene Warner. InkFreeNews photo by Liz Shepherd.

By Liz Shepherd
InkFreeNews

CLAYPOOL — Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County will soon build two homes in Claypool.

Ben Logan, Habitat for Humanity’s executive director, attended a Dec. 20 Claypool Council meeting to inform the community that construction will begin in March.

The homes will be built on land donated to Habitat by the town in 2019, after Claypool officials received the property via donation.

According to Habitat’s website, the future homeowners are Courtney Dickson and Tracy Campbell.

Dickson and her daughter, Chloe, are eager to move from cramped living conditions. They currently live with relatives who reside more than 30 minutes away from where they work and go to school. Campbell and her son, Kane, are looking forward to new living quarters, as their home has fallen into major disrepair.

Those interested in donating, volunteering, or learning more about Habitat for Humanity can visit its website.

“We’re very excited to be building in this community,” said Logan.

Residents were also reminded to bring in their trash cans and not park in certain areas due to an incoming winter storm expected to begin Thursday, Dec. 22, and continue into Saturday, Dec. 24.

Town Marshal Ben Sanders reminded residents to not park on Main Street or the inner loop of Noah, Lindsay and Rebecca Streets from 4-6 a.m.

Town Employee Danny Warner asked for the community’s patience during the storm in terms of plowing work.

In other business, council approved the town applying for a Go Forward! grant through the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. The grant initiative was created to support the objectives, goals and projects outlined in Forward Kosciusko County’s strategic plans for towns. Council President Benny Stage Jr. suggested the town use the grant for a new emergency tornado siren.

Council also:

• Learned the Claypool Police Department responded to 180 calls for service in November, with reserve officers working 150 hours.
• Learned about a vacancy on the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission following Mandy Espinoza’s resignation from the Pierceton Town Council. Council Member Liz Heiman expressed an interest in serving on the commission.
• Heard from Live Well Kosciusko President and CEO Lisa Harman about the K-County First Initiative, which focuses on recognizing first responders by offering a discount card redeemable at participating organizations.
• Approved annual agreements with the Kosciusko Economic Development Corp. and Baker Tilly.
• Considered the possibility of looking into a new recycling option for the town following the recent closure of the county’s outdoor sites.

The council’s next meeting is at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, at the Claypool Lions Club building.