There is good news for Kosciusko Area Bus Service passengers, Kosciusko County Commissioners heard this morning. Federal funding that had been cut in recent years will be reinstated to KABS.

In 2001, Medicaid cut 10 percent from KABS operating budget. “It’s been reinstated,” said Kevin Planck, KABS general manager. A 4 percent cut by the federal government two years ago has been reinstated, thanks to the Sequester being lifted.

“We cut two routes,” said Planck. “I’m hoping to replace two buses that have over 100,000 miles on each of them. I would like to bring back half a route or one of the routes back into service.”

Planck said he would like to reinstate county routes first. He did not give a time frame for the re-established routes, nor a location of one of the routes.

KABS will receive an operational grant from the Indiana Department of Transportation and, for the first time in three years, a capital grant.

If KABS receives $10,000, a one-time increase request, from the county and $10,000 from the city of Warsaw, KABS will receive $40,000 from the federal government.

He also gave the board KABS second quarter claims, totaling $11,579.

Philip Lincoln Porter was named August’s Veteran of the Month at Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting on Tuesday. A World War II veteran, Porter was in the Third Army and served with Gen. George S. Patton when Porter was a military policeman. (Photo by Phoebe Muthart)

In other news, Philip Lincoln Porter of Warsaw was chosen August’s Veteran of the Month. A World War II veteran, Porter enlisted in the Army in 1944 and served in the Third U.S. Army in France for 10 months and helped protect and guard Gen. George S. Patton when Porter was a military policeman.

Porter received two medals, one being the World War II Victory Medal and he is a member of the American Legion Honor Guard.

Commissioners are president Ron Truex, Brad Jackson and Bob Conley. The next meeting will be at 9 a.m. Aug. 27, at the county courthouse in Warsaw.