The City of Goshen has issued a Request for Proposals for the purchase of a Combination Sewer Jetter, Rodder Truck.  The complete Request for Proposals packet may be obtained from the City of Goshen’s website at https://goshenindiana.org/bidding-opportunities.  The City shall not be responsible for documents obtained from any other source.

            Proposals shall be submitted in accordance with the Submission Instructions found within the Request for Proposals packet.  All other instructions, terms, directions and specifications therein shall apply accordingly.

            Sealed proposals must be received by the Goshen Legal Department, Attention: Brandy Toms at 204 E. Jefferson Street, Goshen, IN 46528, no later than 4:00 p.m. (local time) on December 9, 2024.  The proposals will be opened on the due date.  Proposals received by the City after the deadline described will not be accepted or considered. 

When Todd Eby saw a Facebook post from a friend flying relief supplies into North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, he immediately took action. His involvement started with a single flight, but it quickly grew into a full-scale relief effort, with Eby flying supplies to disaster-stricken areas.

Eby reached out to Grant Baker, and together they coordinated their first flight into North Carolina. After witnessing the devastation firsthand, they realized the enormity of the crisis and decided to keep going. Their initial mission expanded into a full day of flying eight legs, delivering critical supplies to areas in desperate need.

“We saw civilian efforts and grassroots organizations working tirelessly to provide relief,” he said. “That really motivated us to continue.”

Eby joined a fleet of small planes and private helicopters, all delivering resources to hard-to-reach communities. The devastation was overwhelming — clothing stuck 30 feet up in trees, houses destroyed, and livestock swept away.

Determined to ensure the supplies reached the right hands, Eby found a trusted contact on the ground to oversee distribution. He continued flying missions as part of a larger volunteer effort. Initially working with a civilian group, which later changed its name, Eby continues to verify the exact details.

Meanwhile, the Goshen community rallied behind Eby’s efforts. Locals showed up with cash donations and supplies, eager to contribute. Remarkably, the operation ran without support from major organizations, relying solely on volunteers driven by a shared desire to help.

As the situation in North Carolina evolved, Eby adapted. When a request for insulin came in, he quickly coordinated with a doctor and sourced a large supply, ensuring the life-saving medicine reached those who needed it.

“At times, it felt like I was running a black market,” Eby joked of the fast-paced, informal nature of their operations. “But we did whatever it took to get people what they needed as quickly as possible.”

Though floodwaters receded, the damage remained widespread. Eby saw firsthand the long-term impact on communities still grappling with the destruction.

Eby stays in touch with some of the people he helped and continues to find ways to support them. He takes pride in his role during the relief efforts, showing how community-driven efforts can make a powerful difference in times of crisis.

“It was exhausting,” he said of the experience, “but incredibly rewarding.”

Goshen Fire Chief Dan Sink has been named Indiana Fire Chief of the Year by the Indiana Fire Chiefs Association at the Indiana Emergency Response Conference Awards on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Noblesville, Ind. The awards recognize exceptional achievements by public safety professionals in Indiana. 

“I am both honored and humbled to receive the award for Fire Chief of the Year,” said Chief Dan Sink. “What makes this so very special is that the nomination comes from the peers you work with in fire service. I am further honored to represent the Goshen Fire Department and the City of Goshen.”

Sink, who has served the Goshen Fire Department for more than 40 years, became chief in September 2005 after stints as assistant chief and EMS chief. 

“Chief Sink’s leadership and dedication have profoundly impacted the safety of Goshen,” Mayor Gina Leichty said. “He is truly deserving of this recognition.” 

During Sink’s tenure, the department assumed responsibility for the Elkhart Township Fire Department, initiated plans for a new fire station, and launched the Goshen Fire Academy, which recently graduated its first class. 

This past August, the GFD, along with the city, partnered with Goshen Community Schools to create the first Fire and EMS Pathway Program to enable students from Goshen High School to complete fire and EMS training and earn necessary certifications through Ivy Tech to fulfill all requisite skills required to be hired as a firefighter or an EMT. 

“We always look for opportunities to serve the Goshen community beyond our daily emergency response, and being able to provide education to Goshen students has been a dream of ours,” Sink said of the program.  

Sink plans to retire in November. He will be succeeded by current GFD Assistant Chief Anthony Powell. 

The City of Goshen Community Relations Commission will host its third annual Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration at the Goshen Theater on Monday, Oct. 14, at 6 p.m.

Doors open at 6 p.m., and the program will begin at 6:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

This year’s event will feature a presentation by Doug Peconge, ARPA Project Manager and citizen of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, along with drum and dance performances featuring dancers from the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and the Ribbon Town Singers. Peconge will discuss the Miami Tribe’s journey to regain land in Fort Wayne.

Featured Presenters:

Doug Peconge
Peconge, a citizen of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, has worked with the tribe’s Cultural Resources Office since 2015. He currently oversees a 45-acre property in Fort Wayne, known as peehkihkayonki (The Beautiful Place), focusing on food, health, wellness, and cultural preservation.

Ribbon Town Singers
Founded in 2003, the Ribbon Town Singers are led by John Topash Warren (Potawatomi) of South Bend, Ind. The group is named after “Zēnba-Odanek,” the Potawatomi term for South Bend, where Potawatomi people once traded furs. The group will showcase both traditional and contemporary dance styles.
For more information, visit pokagonband-nsn.gov/our-culture.

 The City of Goshen Board of Public Works and Safety is soliciting sealed offers for the purchase of a 2025 or newer 15-passenger van. 

Specifications and Contract Documents may be obtained from: 

Offers shall be submitted in accordance with the Instructions to Bidders and all contractual terms and conditions that are included in the Specification Documents. In addition to price, offers will be evaluated based on whether the Bidder is responsible, and if the Bidder’s offer is responsive. 

Specifications and Contract Documents may be obtained from the City of Goshen’s website at https://goshenindiana.org/bidding-opportunities. The City shall not be responsible for documents obtained from any other source. 

Sealed offers may be mailed or otherwise delivered to the Goshen Board of Public Works and Safety, c/o Clerk-Treasurer’s Office, 202 South Fifth Street, Goshen, Indiana 46528, provided the proposal is received by 3:45 p.m. on October 31, 2024. After 3:45 p.m. and up until 4:00 p.m. on October 31, 2024, a bidder may personally deliver a sealed proposal to the Goshen Board of Public Works and Safety in the City Court Room/Council Chambers at the Goshen Police & Court Building, 111 East Jefferson Street, Goshen, Indiana. All proposals timely received will be publicly opened and read aloud by the Goshen Board of Public Works and Safety at the 4:00 p.m. meeting on October 31, 2024. Any proposal received after the applicable deadline will be returned. 

The City of Goshen Board of Public Works and Safety reserves the right to reject any and all offers, delete any portions thereof, to waive any informalities or irregularities in any bid received, and to award a contract, consistent with Indiana law, to the lowest responsible and responsive Bidder. Award of contract is contingent on the availability of funds.