Ashlea Covers the Winona Town Council

Congratulations to Ashlea, who was the first to turn in her board coverage article. She attended and covered the Winona Lake Town Council meeting Tuesday night, at which the council rejected the fire territory proposal. Here is a little of Ashlea's article, followed by the Times-Union coverage, so you can compare leads and structure:

Winona Lake Town Council Rejects Fire Territory

By Ashlea

The Winona Lake Town Council voted against joining the fire territory with Warsaw and Wayne Township when it met on Tuesday, February 10, 2009. “After much consideration, we could find no benefits in joining the fire territory,” said Fire Chief Mitch Titius.

Although the Town Council voted against joining the fire territory, the Winona Lake Fire Department would still participate in mutual aid agreements with Warsaw and other fire departments. This means other fire departments would still provide assistance to Winona Lake residents, and the Winona Lake Fire Department would still assist in fires outside its territory.

“I’m very pleased with the process,” said Town Council member Sue Gooding. “No one jumped to conclusions.”

Here's how the Times-Union reported the same meeting:

Winona Won't Join Proposed Fire Territory

Jennifer Peryam
Times-Union Staff Writer

WINONA LAKE - Winona Lake Town Council Tuesday voted unanimously not to join a proposed fire territory with Warsaw and Wayne Township.

A public hearing for the proposed territory was previously held Feb. 2 at city hall.

Warsaw and Wayne Township will decide at their meetings Tuesday whether to form the proposed fire territory.

"We did not want to go into this and just make kind of an emotional knee-jerk reaction about whether we should or shouldn't participate in the fire territory," said James Lancaster, Winona Lake Town Council vice president and fire territory liaison.

He said the town for the past three months considered the financial and fire service protection elements and the long-term viability of maintaining the Winona Lake Volunteer Fire Department.

Sue Gooding, Winona Lake town council member, said she has been happy with the council's process in considering entering into the proposed fire territory.

"I feel we all had a good opportunity to examine the different components of the fire territory before we came to a conclusion," Gooding said.