From Left: Captain David K. Miller, officer Jamie Hochstetler and civilian Brandi Condict. Not pictured: Officer D. Shayne Miller.

Three Goshen Police Department officers and a civilian received recognition for their heroic acts during the Goshen Board of Works meeting Monday, October 29.

Captain David K. Miller, officer D. Shayne Miller and Goshen resident Brandi Condict were the recipients of Life Saving awards, while officer Jamie Hochstetler received a meritorious award for their heroic involvement in three separate incidents that occurred over the last two months.

On August 18, Goshen paramedics were sent to the 2500 block of Tulip Blvd regarding a man who was lying in the street. His condition was described as unconscious and not breathing. Officers from the Goshen Police Department arrived to assist. Captain David K. Miller, who was off duty at that time, also arrived to assist. Captain Miller arrived on the scene and observed a woman applying chest compressions to the man on the street. Captain Miller relieved the woman from her CPR duties at her request. Several minutes into his application of chest compressions Captain Miller detected a pulse. Goshen Paramedics arrived a short time later. Goshen Medics recognized the efforts of Captain David K. Miller as having saved the life of the patient.

On September 18, Officer Jamie Hochstetler responded to a call for service of a suicidal man who had walked out of the hospital. Officer Hochstetler located the man who was holding a knife to his own throat. The man stated he wanted to kill himself. Officer Hochstetler built a rapport with the man but the man was unwilling to remove the knife from his throat. Additional officers arrived to provide protection from any deadly attack, which allowed Officer Hochstetler the opportunity to deploy his Taser striking the man in the torso. The subject fell into a yard, dropped the knife and was quickly handcuffed. Officer Hostetler’s assessment and response of the situation prevented the man from causing himself or another person serious bodily harm and or death.

October 10, Officer Shayne Miller responded to the 400 Block W. Pike Street regarding a man who was unconscious and not breathing. Officer Miller arrived and detected no pulse on the man. Brandi Condict, who was already on scene, and Officer Miller began chest compressions on the man, during which the man’s pulse returned and he began breathing. The man was transported to the hospital and was released days later. It was discovered he had a blood clot in his heart, which was broken up as a result of the chest compressions. The CPR administered by Officer Shayne Miller and Brandi Condict saved the man’s life.

The last day you can reserve a brush trailer in 2018 is Oct. 26. The trailer can be reserved for the removal of large amounts of brush.  If a homeowner is trimming his own bushes or trees, they can schedule a trailer to be dropped off to put their brush in.  This program is for the homeowner only and not to be used by private landscaping or tree-trimming professionals. This program is free of charge as long as there is only brush placed in the trailer.  Trash such as landscape timbers, lumber, old fencing and such is not allowed and if found in the brush trailer, the homeowner will be charged for a Dial-A-Trailer.

The trailer is usually dropped off in the afternoon between the hours of 2 pm and 3:30 pm and picked up the next day shortly after 7 am if one has scheduled to receive it on a weekday; if you have it scheduled for a weekend, it will be dropped off Friday afternoon and picked up early Monday morning.

Update: This post has been updated to reflect a change in date for the railroad crossing closure. 

The railroad crossing will be closed by Norfolk Southern on the Main Street tracks, north of Pike Street, beginning November 5, for about one week. The track closure will allow the railroad crew to rebuild the crossing.

Goshen’s Hay Park on Plymouth Avenue will soon be home to the city’s first fully inclusive playground with the help of a $50,000 matching grant from the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority.

If the Parks & Recreation Department can raise $50,000 by December 11 on crowd-funding platform Patronicity, the IHCDA will match the amount through its CreatINg Places program. To learn more about the project and to donate, go to patronicity.com/goshenplayground.

“This project is near and dear to our hearts,” Parks & Recreation Department Superintendent Tanya Heyde said. “It has been our mission to create safe, accessible spaces for everyone in this community. This project will ensure we have a place where children of all abilities and their families can come together and learn from each other.”

For residents of all ages with mobility or developmental challenges and other disabilities, the playground will feature ramps, wider sidewalks and special equipment that will give them access to any part of the playground, including the highest points.

While all Goshen playgrounds meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, the new inclusive playground will add elements that encourage engagement among everyone on the space.

Planning began with a committee made up of residents and City staff, who identified and listed the needs and resources to build it. Designs have been created and Hay Park, 1414 W. Plymouth Ave., was identified as the best location for the new playground.

“When I took office in 2016 I immediately knew I wanted the City to design and build a fully inclusive Park,” Mayor Jeremy Stutsman said. “I am grateful to have a great Parks staff, supportive donors and an amazing community design committee. This is only happening because we are all working together. This will be a great addition to Goshen.”

Funding also has been partially provided by the Kerry Finningan Rupright Foundation and the Community Foundation of Elkhart County.

Stay up to date on the Parks & Recreation Department’s campaign by visiting patronicity.com/goshenplayground, goshenindiana.org, or following the department on Facebook or Twitter.

A contractor for the City will be milling and paving various streets throughout Goshen as part of the 2018 Paving project. Curb ramp removal and replacement has already begun.

This week (week of October 22), milling and paving will occur at:

• Egbert Road from Main Street (SR 15) to Violett Road.
• Emerson Street from Purl Street to Plymouth Avenue.
• Douglas Street from Main to Third streets
• Purl Street from Main to Third streets

Roads will remain open with restrictions while workers are doing the milling and paving. On-street parking will be restricted during these times.