City of Goshen, Indiana

The City of Goshen Fire Department has joined forces with Goshen Community Schools to bring a new fire training program to local students. The program is designed for high school students aspiring to become firefighters or EMTs. The curriculum is intentionally slower-paced than traditional firefighter training, emphasizing detailed aspects such as detection, safety techniques, and communication standards. The aim is for all participants to be fully prepared for immediate readiness upon completion. This partnership between the Chandler Education Center and Goshen High School is a brand new, first of its kind. Principal Cathy DeMeyer, welcomed it. She said it would give unique opportunities for the students to serve their local communities. “I might need help and the person who answers the call is one of my students. There was just something about that that was intriguing and special,” DeMeyer said. Students can receive Ivy Tech credits as well and if they earn enough, can graduate with an associates by the time they hit high school graduation. “To be immediately employable in our fire and EMS service across the state of Indiana. Of course we’d love them to stay in Goshen, but it offers them that probability anywhere in the state of Indiana,”says Dan Sink, Goshen Fire Chief about his excitement for the students to have options when they graduate. Gearing up the next generation Travis Peak, Division Chief of Education, is eager to get started. “Lucky, blessed, excited. Super excited to just get the school year going,” Peak shared smiling. We're looking forward to kicking off the new program in just two short weeks!

Yesterday, the City of Goshen unveiled its brand new Crisis Response Vehicle for our Behavioral Health Response Coordinator, Officer Jim Ballard! This special vehicle was created and designed to reduce trauma for individuals in crisis. Officer Ballard will utilize this vehicle as he responds to mental health crisis calls, substance use disorders, and homelessness. Many thanks to Goshen Health, Label Logic, inc., and Borden Waste-Away for their generous donations, which covered the purchase and equipment for the vehicle.

What a night! Thank you to all our employees for an incredible picnic! Goshen Fire and Police unveiled a new emergency crisis response vehicle. The US Golden Knights Parachute Team honored Mayor Gina Leichty and Chief Danny Sink to conclude a great evening! We also want to give special praise to our staff that helped with parking and crowd control! We couldn’t do it without you! More photos from the picnic to come. ??

On Monday, Mayor Gina thanked this year's Youth Advisors for their service and swore in the incoming group of Youth Advisors. A huge thank you and good luck to Antonio Perez, Sara Lozano, Jessica Velazquez Valdes, Frida Luna Gallegos, Skye Steury, and Jennifer Olvera-Morgado (not pictured)! And welcome to Team Goshen, Kimberly Cazabel Gonzalez, Tageeya Galeb, Adamaris Cortes, Magdalena Bridger-Ulloa, Savira Singh, Brayden Wiese, Peter Moser, and Katherine Orellana Pineda (not pictured). We're excited to have you on board and to hear all your great ideas! The future is bright, Goshen! ??

We're throwing it back to a couple of Thursdays ago, because we haven't gotten a chance to say congratulations to numerous individuals who were sworn into office at the May 9th Board of Works meeting! First off, congratulations to Officer Seth Bayes on the promotion to Patrol Officer from Probationary Patrol Officer. And congratulations to all of our newly sworn-in firefighters, Allison Eagan, Matthew Borton, Derick Schmucker, Johnathan Lehman, and Travis Snethen. Congrats to all, and thank you for keeping our community safe!

It’s official! Yesterday was the last day for our Water and Sewer Superintendent, Kent Holdren, before retiring. During last week’s council meeting, Mayor Leichty took time to thank Kent for his 34 years of service to the city. Kent’s leadership and dedication throughout the last 34 years have left an indelible impact on the City of Goshen. Kent, thank you for your service, and we wish you all the best in your retirement!

Thanks to all who attended the Community Relations Commission’s International Women’s Day Luncheon on Friday! Special thanks to all our event sponsors, Community Foundation of Elkhart County, Interra Credit Union, Green Oaks of Goshen, Abonmarche, Clothes Mentor Goshen, Goshen Chamber of Commerce, The Goshen News, and Yoder Ainlay Ulmer & Buckingham, LLP. And special thank you to our incredible speakers Yolo Lopez DeMarco, Susan Al-Abbas, Lindsey Monge, Sandra McMasters and Mindy Moorehead, for being such an inspiration!

Congratulations to WellNow Urgent Care on their ribbon cutting and grand opening! Access to healthcare is vital in fostering healthier and more resilient communities. Thanks, WellNow, for your investment in Goshen!

It was a packed house at last Thursday's Board of Works meeting to celebrate several individuals being sworn into various offices and promoted! Congrats to our new Shade Tree Board members Emma Conrad, Natasha Kauffman, Pippen Roth, and Kyle Strain; Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention Scott Thomas; Chief Inspector of Fire Inspections John Evans; Chief Inspector of Public Safety Education Travis Peak; Fire Lieutenant Lucas Mason; Fire Sergeant Jeremy Krezel; and Patrol Officer David Stump! We are grateful for each of these individuals and their dedication to serving the City of Goshen! Not pictured: Fire Captain Lyle Wingard.

The City of Goshen is excited to cooperate with Goshen Community Schools to provide more learning opportunities for our students!