WARSAW — Kosciusko County has chosen a company to go ahead with Justice Building repairs.

The County Commissioners on Tuesday chose between five bids and selected Structural Waterproofing and Restoration of Memphis, Tenn., which plans to do the work for $698,000. 

That's significantly less than two other bids, which sought to do the work for $1.7 million, but County Commissioner Cary Groninger acknowledged the difference, saying they did an extensive look into the company its its proposal.

Other companies and their bids included: Buckeye Construction & Restoration Ltd., Waterford, Ohio, $1,799,708; Hagerman Construction, Fort Wayne, $1,100,900; Wells Masonry Restoration Inc., New Palestine, $1,792,908; Structural Waterproofing and Restoration LLC, Memphis, Tenn., $698,000; and Berglund Construction Co., Chesterton, $1,150,000.

The renovations are needed after several limestone slabs collapsed late last summer in front of one of the Justice Building entrances on the east side.

Some of the work will entail firming up structural weaknesses in older parts of the building that were discovered after the initial damage. 

Groninger recapped the extent of the upcoming work.

“Repairs, not only of the facade where the facade failed, but the replacement of panels, additional anchors, a bunch of tuck pointing and re-grouting of the limestone panel – so pretty extensive project,” Groninger said.

Groninger was also asked about the timeline. 

“Hopefully, it will be done by the end of the year,” he said.

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WARSAW — Despite temperatures pushing near-90 degrees on Tuesday, the Kosciusko County Community Fair enjoyed a strong turnout with an overflow crowd attending the Xtreme Monster Madness show.

Fair-goers continued to stream into the main entrance and the grandstand at around 8:30 p.m. and the parking lot on both sides of the entrance appeared to be nearly full.

With the opening of midway rides on Tuesday, it also represented the first big night for beer and wine sales operated by the fair board. 

County fairs in Indiana are now allowed to sell beer and wine under state law, and the local fair board jumped at the chance to begin operating its own sales.

[caption id="attachment_133498" align="alignright" width="450"] Beer sales at a trailer located near the grandstand entrance were strong before and during the monster truck show. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

Kosciusko County appears to be the only county fair in the area that has opted to offer alcohol sales this summer since the law took effect July 1.

Five dollar beverages were sold from a trailer in a somewhat discreetly operated spot near the grandstand entrance. Beer taps were on the back side of a trailer and positioned to be out of sight.

Visitors to the fair can now take beverages onto the midway and into the grandstand, but nightly sales don't begin until 6 p.m. 

Fair Board Treasurer Sheal Dirck said sales were slow on Monday, but much stronger on Tuesday.

The fair board has sold beer previously at other events on the fairgrounds, and Dirck said that helped them prepare for the new opportunity. 

“This is nothing new for us. We do this for other events, so it's just new for being on the Midway," Dirck said.

News Now Warsaw talked with several fair-goers who stood in line for a beer and were pleased with the change — especially on a warm night.

Christine England, of Warsaw, grabbed a beer before heading to the monster truck show.

She saw the new policy as a pleasant surprise.

“Look at that — does that say all beer five dollars?' I said, referring to a sign on the beer trailer.

"Hot diggity damn, we're having a beer tonight!” England said.

Dirck said they made the change without adding staff or security beyond what already existed.

He said he was not aware of any complaints or problems and predicted sales will remain strong Wednesday night for the second of two monster truck shows.

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WARSAW — Some communities across the state are considering whether to increase its  wheel tax to help offset decreased tax revenues heading into the budget season for next year.

Indianapolis has already approved plans for a wheel tax hike and city councils in Elkhart and Greenwood are considering it.

News Now Warsaw reached out to Kosciusko County Council President Tony Ciriello  who said they will be assessing the situation in the next few weeks.

The county wheel tax already exists.

County officials met last week for an update with their financial consultant.

"We could at any time increase that. Currently, it's at $40,” Ciriello said. “The maximum we can go up to is $80 so we're gonna have a wheel tax meeting before next council meeting just to make sure everything's good.”

Another option available to the county is adjusting the local income tax often known as LIT. 

“That's not required to go into law until 2029 so there could be changes coming in the legislature that changes that date — changes the structure of it — so we don't know on that,” Ciriello said.

“But there really will be no action taken on the LIT tax until 2028 to go in effect in 2029,” he said.

The next Kosciusko County Council meeting is 6 p.m. Aug. 13.

The post Kosciusko County assessing the need for wheel tax adjustment appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

By David Slone
Times-Union

INDIANAPOLIS —Indiana Gov. Mike Braun on Monday awarded READI 2.0 Arts & Culture grants to 49 projects across all of Indiana's 15 regions.

These awards are expected to generate $369.6 million in investment in the state’s arts and culture economy, enhancing Indiana’s quality of place while accelerating tourism, talent retention and attraction, and continued economic and job growth, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

Among the recipients is the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, which was awarded $1.4 million toward its transformative capital improvement and programming expansion project at its historic campus to improve theater and conservatory facilities and expand arts education through full implementation of the Artist-in-Residence and Broadway 360 pilot programs and the addition of a vocal instruction track.

It also will allow for the return of the Wagon Wheel Concert Series, according to information provided. The total project expense is $2.66 million.

“As a state, we’re powering our communities forward by investing in the vision and strategies of Indiana’s regions,” said Braun. “Indiana’s art and culture sector already contributes $10.1 billion annually to the state’s economy. These investments in our creative assets and workforce will transform Hoosier neighborhoods and communities while boosting tourism and commerce, creating new jobs and career pathways, and fueling Indiana’s economy for years to come.”

Indiana’s READI (Regional Acceleration and Development Initiative) is a $1.25 billion program investing in community-led projects that improve quality of life, quality of place and quality of opportunity, the release states. The READI 2.0 Arts & Culture Initiative, supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., allocates $65 million to the state’s creative economy – a first-of-its-kind, statewide initiative to advance regional creative transformation by investing in public art, cultural amenities and the creative economy.

As part of the initiative, Indiana’s 15 regions developed strategic arts and culture plans, identifying assets and opportunities to invest in arts and culture that support their overall economic and community impact. Nearly 320 project proposals were submitted, representing $1.4 billion in potential arts and culture investments.

Applications were reviewed by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC), along with an international team of industry experts, to identify projects that have the greatest opportunity to positively impact Hoosiers and the region’s economies.

READI 2.0 Arts & Culture funding will be leveraged to revitalize historic landmarks, pavilions and entertainment venues; bring museum exhibits, galleries and learning spaces to life; create public art, displays and sculptures; and support initiatives focused on building Indiana's creative workforce and economy by investing in artists and entrepreneurs, the release states.

“READI continues to bring Indiana communities together like never before, collaborating and creating paths toward regional growth and prosperity,” said Secretary of Commerce Chuck Goodrich. “These arts and culture projects will transform Indiana’s creative economy, creating new community assets, destinations and programming to support the industry statewide while increasing the vibrancy of Hoosier regions.”

“Arts and culture are a key part of the civic infrastructure of a community, whether it’s a small town, big city or region,” said Miah Michaelsen, executive director of the Indiana Arts Commission. “A vibrant arts and culture environment retains and attracts talent and employers, diversifies local economies, and celebrates local heritage and traditions. These stories that are happening because of this groundbreaking READI investment will transform quality of place in our regions and establish Indiana as a leading destination for arts and culture.”

The Wagon Wheel is in the Northeast District. Project highlights for the Northeast. The region will create a new permanent 3D projection mapping system in downtown Bluffton; elevate the arts through PBS Fort Wayne’s Arts (260) storytelling and educational programming; and invest in the future of the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts in Warsaw, revitalizing the campus and expanding programming. Selected projects also focus on building the region’s creative workforce through the Pearl Arts Creative Talent Academy Program in Fort Wayne, the Canal Street Artist Collective in Wabash, and the University of Saint Francis’ music technology collaborative, the release states.

A full list of selected projects is available here.

Braun will honor grant recipients at a celebration next week, on Wednesday, July 22, in Indianapolis. More information on READI and the READI 2.0 Arts & Culture Initiative is available at IndianaREADI.com.

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By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Community Fair moves into high gear today in several ways.

The 4-H barns will once again be buzzing with activities, a grizzly bear encounter opens Tuesday and rides on the midway will kick off at 2 p.m.

It's also the first of two nights of Xtreme Monster Madness, which has become the fair’s marquee event in terms of popularity.

The monster truck shows, which have been organized by Warsaw area resident Darrell Hicks for the past 10 years, always promise a big crowd in the grandstand.

Hicks talked about how the show has evolved Monday during a promotional event highlighting two of the monster trucks at Monteith Tire in Warsaw.

“This has grown over the years, starting out with four trucks back ten years ago. So now, (tonight) and Wednesday, we've got nine trucks coming. We've got a 'ride truck' there, you can take rides in,” Hicks said.

"It's exploded out into a major show," he added.

Cost of the truck show is included with fair admission, which has added to the popularity.

Some monster truck shows elsewhere charge upward of $25 for tickets on top of fair admission.

Hicks said he appreciates all the help the fair board provides to support the truck show, and offered a glimpse into what fans can expect Tuesday and Wednesday.

“We've got some surprises coming up the next couple of nights. Some of the jumps are going to be a little different than what you've seen in the past. But, again, we've got some top-notch drivers that aren't afraid. If they see one driver do something, they're going to try to outdo the other one,” Hicks said.

Pit parties on Tuesday and Wednesday start at 6 p.m. and the shows on begin at 7.

[caption id="attachment_133464" align="aligncenter" width="962"] A specialized monster truck that seats 11 will be available during the pit party Tuesday and Wednesday for rides for a $15 fee. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

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WARSAW — Warsaw Community Public Library appears to have dodged a bullet recently when it was closed for a day last week.

The problem involved an electrical shortage with a chiller that keeps the server room cool.

Library Board President Chris Merrill explained to the board Monday what happened over the long Fourth of July weekend.

Staff leqarnd about it when they came into work the following Monday. 

"It was over 80 degrees (inside) and the server room was over 92. Generally, as best practice you want to make sure and shut off your server hardware once it hits 90 degrees or higher to protect the equipment because it is very expensive," Merrill said Monday.

Unfortunately, a computer that sends out alerts on such mechanical issues did not work, he said.

“It's what manages the lights, the sprinkler system, the HVAC, every piece of it is managed by this computer that's very old and it has a habit of seizing up and we haven't replaced it because it's a half a million dollars to replace ... by itself. That's just the computer.  So we have not done that yet. We were counting on the bond to do that so we're going to have to make other plans, Merrill said.

Merrill said the situation would have been worse if the HVAC system had failed. That would have involved closing of the library for at least two weeks.

On Monday, the library board outlined new priorities including upgrades to the cooling system in the server room. Another priority is replacing the dry sprinkler system but that cost is expected to be hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Merrill said the board has had a priority list in recent years, but updated it to focus on short-term needs after a $17 million bond request by the library was rejected by Warsaw City Council in a 4-3 vote on May 18 after a five-hour meeting.

He said the board will rely on money from its rainy day fund for part of the most immediate repairs.

The board can't seek another bond for two years and has turned to relying on fund raising efforts.

A newly established fund has received about $72,000, including a single $50,000 contribution.

Board members expressed gratitude for the strong start to the campaign effort and encouraged the public to learn more about how they can assist.

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News Release

NORTH WEBSTER — A heat advisory is in effect beginning at noon Tuesday until 8 p.m for northern Indiana, southern Michigan and northwest Ohio.

Heat index values are expected to be around 100 on Tueseday with a high temperature near 93.

The National Weather Service reminds the public that hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses.

Wednesday’s high temperature is expected to be 94.

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WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Election Board is seeking public feedback regarding the possible closure of the following vote center locations:

• Amazing Grace Community Church, 202 W. Arthur St., Sidney (to remain open during small town election)
• Heritage Park Building, 338 S. Walnut St., Etna Green (to remain open during small town election)
• Winona Lake Senior Center, 1590 Park Avenue., Winona Lake

The election board will hold a meeting to amend the current vote center plan and comments will be accepted prior to or at the meeting, which is open to the public, on Aug. 24, at 11 a.m.

Written comments may be submitted by mail to: Kosciusko County Election Board at 121 N. Lake St. Warsaw, IN 46580.

Comments may also be submitted by email to: mboggs@kosciusko.in.gov.

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Indiana K-12 schools must meet new standards before seeking approval to implement a four-day school week.

The model, once favored by rural schools due to a shortage of bus drivers, is spreading nationwide to urban and suburban districts seeking to recruit teachers and students by extending the school day, so students and staff can take Fridays off.

Schools can apply for a flexibility waiver through the Indiana Department of Education to move to a four-day school week.

Now, schools must earn an “A” grade through the state’s A-F accountability model to be considered for a four-day school week waiver.

That’s one of four minimum requirements outlined in House Enrolled Act 1266, which took effect July 1.

The Indiana Department of Education recently issued guidance to schools about the new criteria ahead of the coming school year.

Schools must also offer transportation for students who choose to attend a school operating on a five-day schedule, meet the state’s $45,000-a-year minimum teacher salary threshold, and offer enrichment and remediation at no cost to parents the day school is not in session.

The State Board of Education must then grant approval before a school can transition to a four-day week.

Vinton Elementary pilots four-day week

Vinton Elementary School is entering its third and final year piloting a four-day school week.

The Lafayette-area school, with an enrollment of 408, is the sole school in Indiana operating on a four-day schedule through the state Department of Education’s flexibility waiver for innovation.

School starts at 8 a.m. Monday through Thursday, with dismissal delayed until 3:45 p.m. — a necessity to meet the required 54,000 minutes of instruction each year, which the school accomplishes in a mere 151 days compared to the typical 180 days.

Students attend class on Fridays only when a holiday falls on a Monday, so they don’t miss two days in one week.

The National Conference of State Legislatures estimates 850 school districts operate on a four-day schedule, saving their budgets an average of 0.4% to 2.5% a year.

Principal Cindy Preston is impressed by the results she’s seen thus far: Student disicplinary referrals are down from 495 before the pilot started to 293 referrals last school year.

Staff absences declined from 656 to 398 a year.

Eighty-nine percent of third graders passed their spring assessments last year, up from 73% when the school still operated five days a week.

And a clear majority of parents and staff report they are satisfied with the four-day schedule, Preston said.

Yet she looks at the new criteria and wonders whether Vinton will qualify for another waiver once the pilot expires.

The school already meets two of the four minimum standards for teacher salaries and transportation.

Students are provided free busing to other elementary schools within the Lafayette School Corporation if parents wish to keep them on a five-day schedule.

The YMCA offers on-site daycare at Vinton on Fridays, but few students participate.

Preston said she is exploring options to provide free onsite enrichment and remedial programming on Fridays to qualify for another waiver, but an “A” rating will be more difficult to achieve.

“We’re a high-poverty school,” she said. “We’re about 80-85% poverty, so hitting that mark is very hard. This will be my 15th year as principal here, and we’ve never reached that.”

A spokesperson for the Indiana Department of Education said waiver applications will formally open to other districts following the release of A-F grades later this school year.

The department prioritizes applications “that clearly center on student needs and include thoughtful engagement with families and school staff about the potential impacts,” said Courtney Bearsch, chief communications officer for the department.

Moving forward

Preston said she’s hopeful lawmakers will either grandfather Vinton in or revise the standards so the school can continue its four-day routine, even if it doesn’t receive an “A” rating this year.

The school applied for its initial flexibility waiver to make the district more attractive to families in neighboring districts.

While enrollment declined the first year, Preston said it rebounded the following year. Twenty-six percent of those new students transferred from a neighboring district, she said.

Initial staff concerns subsided as the year progressed, and the school no longer witnessed an influx of parents removing their child from school early for weekend trips, Preston said.

Teachers had time for deeper, uninterrupted instruction. The 90-minute reading block became 120 minutes, she said.

“Even though we’re squeezing five days (into four), teachers feel like they really do have a lot more wiggle room to do more hands-on, deeper dives into instruction instead of just hitting the surface.”

The post Indiana sets standards for districts to consider four-day school week waivers appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Community fair formally kicks off Sunday with its annual parade starting at 2 p.m. on the west side of Warsaw.

The parade will head east on Center Street to Bronson Street where it wool head into the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds.

The parade line up starts at 12:30 pm

The fair issued a statement that it “welcomes the entire community for a week filled with fun, entertainment, and memorable moments.”

This year’s fair theme is  “Stars & Stripes and Carnival Nights.”

The fair board earlier this month confirmed they plan to sell been and wine during fair week. 

Aside from a link to a South Bend TV station story on its Facebook page, the board has not posted any policies and details about specific hours or where the beverages would be sold.

Check out the fair's Facebook page here.

According to the fair page website:

• Hours: Gates open at 5 p.m. Monday and at 9 a.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday.
• Admission: Ages 9 and Under, Free; $8.00 for adults and $3 for seniors. A weekly pass is $40
• POP Wristbands (available at Kiosk) are  $32.00

Carnival rides in the midway begin Tuesday.

Also, officials announced its tiger display has been replaced with a grizzly bear encounter.

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