By Leslie Bonilla Muniz
Indiana Capital Chronicle

The post NIPSCO seeks $38M from customers for first 3 months of forced coal plant run appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Community Foundation has welcomed three new professionals to its growing team as the organization continues to expand its impact throughout the community.

Joining the Community Foundation are Elisa Wise, Program Assistant; Heather Reichenbach, Vice President of Community Engagement; and Jadelynn Calvert, Donor Services Coordinator.

These additions come during a period of significant growth for the Community Foundation, a news release said.

In recent years, the organization has experienced substantial increases in the number of charitable funds it manages, the donors it serves, and the grants and scholarships it administers each year.

As community needs continue to evolve and philanthropy grows across Kosciusko County, these new team members will help strengthen the Foundation's ability to serve donors, nonprofits, students, and the community for years to come.

"We are thrilled to welcome Elisa, Heather, and Jadelynn to the Community Foundation team," said Stephanie Overbey, Chief Executive Officer. "Each brings exceptional talent, experience, and a genuine passion for serving others. Their unique strengths will enhance our ability to build meaningful relationships, provide outstanding service to our donors and fundholders, and expand the impact we make together throughout Kosciusko County. We are confident they will be tremendous assets to our organization and our community."

Elisa will support the Foundation's grantmaking and scholarship programs, helping ensure
efficient administration and excellent service for applicants, volunteers, and community partners.

Heather will lead community engagement efforts, strengthening relationships with donors,
nonprofits, and community partners while advancing the Foundation’s strategic initiatives that improve quality of life throughout Kosciusko County.

Jadelynn will provide donor services and administrative support, helping create a seamless and meaningful experience for the Foundation's growing number of donors and fundholders.

To learn more about the Kosciusko County Community Foundation, its staff, and the many ways it serves the community, visit kcfoundation.org.

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ROCHESTER — The Fulton County Sheriff's Office and Coroner's Office are investigating the death of a Claypool man near a bridge in Rochester. 

According to police, officers following up on a welfare check discovered the body of a man near a public access along the Tippecanoe River. 

The man was identified as 35-year-old Brian Gamble of Claypool. 

The cause and manner of death remain under investigation.

No other details were immediately available.

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WARSAW — This year's remembrance of the 9/11 terror attacks in Kosciusko County will be bigger than in past years.

The 9/11 Memorial Remembrance Committee, supported by the ML Community Impact Alliance, invites the public to join in a special 25th Anniversary 9/11 Memorial Parade and Community Memorial Service on Friday, Sept. 1.

The events will honor those who lost their lives, recognize the heroes who answered the call, and inspire a new generation to carry forward the unity and resilience that emerged in the days that followed.

[caption id="attachment_134454" align="alignright" width="222"] Mark Eaton[/caption]

The evening’s keynote speaker will be Mark Eaton, Executive Director of the EatonLeadership Foundation. For more than four decades, Eaton has dedicated his career to leadership development, executive coaching, mentoring, and nonprofit service. Through the Foundation, he develops leaders of character, integrity, and purpose while strengthening individuals, organizations and communities around the nation.

His message will focus on leadership, hope, service, and the enduring strength of the American people. Eaton also manages multi-award-winning artist Susie McEntire.

The evening will begin with the 9/11 Memorial Parade stepping off at 6:30 p.m. from Boggs Industrial Park and traveling along Center Street to Indiana Street before concluding at Central Park in downtown Warsaw. Participants should begin lining up at 5:30 p.m., with parade registration information available soon on the Kosciusko County Freedom Fest Facebook page.

As our nation commemorates America 250 and the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this memorial reminds us that America’s story is defined not only by its founding but also by the moments that have tested our resolve.

The attacks of Sept. 11 forever changed our nation, yet they also revealed the courage, compassion, unity, and patriotism that continue to define the American spirit. As we celebrate 250 years of freedom, remembering the sacrifices and lessons of September 11 helps preserve an important chapter of America’s story for future generations.

Firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel, dispatchers, veterans, active-duty military personnel, Gold Star families, civic organizations, businesses, churches, schools, youth organizations, and community members are encouraged to participate or attend as we remember the nearly 3,000 innocent victims of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and honor the courage and sacrifice of those who answered the call.

Immediately following the parade, a brief community memorial service will begin at approximately 7:15 p.m. at Central Park.

Designed to be meaningful and respectful, the program will provide an opportunity for reflection without an extended outdoor ceremony. It is intended as a community observance—not a worship service—and welcomes people of all backgrounds.

The memorial service will feature the Presentation of the Colors, patriotic music, a moment of silence, community participation, and Mark Eaton’s keynote address.

Before and after the memorial service, everyone is invited to America’s Picnic at Central Park, where complimentary hot dogs will be served. Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and enjoy fellowship with friends and neighbors as we honor the memory of Sept.  11 while celebrating the freedoms and values that unite our nation.

America has always been strongest when its citizens care for one another. Together, let us restore the patriotic spirit of Sept. 12, 2001, by serving our neighbors and building stronger communities for future generations.

This September 12, we invite our community to renew that spirit by making it a Day of Service. Mow a neighbor’s lawn, deliver groceries, visit a veteran, or simply stop by for a conversation with someone who could use a friend. Small acts of kindness strengthen our communities and remind us of what unites us.

The event is free and open to the public. Donations to help support the memorial ceremony and America’s Picnic are welcome. For more information, parade registration, or support, please contact info@kcfreedomfest.org.

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WARSAW — Prison is not a fate one wishes on anyone, but it can be a turning point in a person’s life, as it was for Mary Howard.

On Wednesday, she graduated from Reentry Court in Kosciusko County Superior Court I Judge Karin McGrath’s courtroom, with family, friends, community leaders and others present.

“Mary, I am so excited to be celebrating with you today,” McGrath told her. “Mary came to Reentry Court from the Department Of Correction back in November. She hit the ground running and she has not looked back.”

McGrath said those who work with people in recovery are taught all the time “you never know when a person’s time, when they are ready, to actually turn their life around, when they are ready for change. Ready to stop the vicious cycle of addiction, ready to live their life to the fullest - sober, productive, healthy, happy. Honestly, the number of criminal convictions, the length of time one is in addiction doesn’t always much matter. What matters is when a person is ready to make those changes for themselves. Ready to do the hard work to break that cycle, and this was obviously Mary’s time.’

She said she believes Howard began to decide she wanted to change while in prison.

Via teleconferencing, Kristina Compton, Indiana Department of Correction case manager for Howard, surprised Howard and told her, “I first would like to start off by saying congratulations. I’m so proud of you! Your hard work and dedication to yourself is definitely paying off. It was a complete honor to be here today. As a case worker, we don’t always get to see the end results of individuals, so seeing this side of things is just awesome.”

[caption id="attachment_134443" align="alignright" width="400"] Retired Circuit Court Judge Mike Reed speaks at Mary Howard’s graduation from Reentry Court Wednesday. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union[/caption]

Compton recalled there were many tears shed in her office after they accomplished one task after another.

“You faced each step without hesitation and focused on making the changes you need for yourself. You did this for you, and that is a large contributing factor to your continued success. While incarcerated with the DOC, you were able to obtain your GED, complete your Win Soft Skills through Ivy Tech and the 100-Day Mentor Program,” Compton told Howard.

“... The day you received your packet from Kosciusko County, you were so excited about their program and how it would benefit your future.”

journey Howard’s had up until this moment has helped Howard build a solid foundation for her future, Compton said.

“I’m so proud of you for your accomplishment. Please continue to focus on yourself, and like we always say, don’t let the hard days win and you’ve got this. I’m so proud of you,” Compton concluded.

Retired Circuit Court Judge Mike Reed was the judge who sentenced Howard to prison a number of years ago.

It’s been a while since Reed had seen Howard, but when McGrath told Reed a few weeks ago about Howard’s progress and asked him to come speak at her graduation, Reed said he couldn’t be more pleased to do so.

“I think it’s fair to say, Mary, that anybody who needed to go to prison, it was you. And, as Judge McGrath has said, no one takes joy in that, but I think it’s a true statement,” Reed said. “But I went through the staffing today, I read your reports, I looked at what you have done in Reentry Court and I think it’s also fair to say that nobody has done a better job of taking advantage of the opportunities that they have while in prison. And, man, that’s amazing. That’s totally amazing.”

He said he believes the character of a person is shown by what they can achieve through hardships and overcoming adversities, and Howard’s done that. Reed told Howard he was super proud of her and her accomplishments since she was incarcerated and moved on.

Mother & Daughter
McGrath said the tragic reality of addiction is that it just doesn’t destroy the person who is addicted, but every part of the individual.

“It also affects their family. It affects their friends, neighborhoods. It affects entire communities,” McGrath said. “As for families, addiction affects them, of course, countless ways. Sometimes multiple members of the same family face the same struggles and they find themselves (grappling with) addiction as well.”

Howard’s family is not unusual in that way. McGrath said Howard struggled with her addiction right along with her husband, daughter and others.

“But I am so thrilled to tell you today that not only is Mary in recovery, her husband is in recovery, her daughter is in recovery, and I’m really thrilled to have her daughter, Shanelle (Byrer), here today with us and celebrating her mom’s accomplishments,” McGrath said.
Byrer said, in part, “Standing here today is something I never imagined I’d have the privilege of doing. Today isn’t just about talking about your graduation ... today is celebrating the incredible woman that you became and the journey that it took to get here. I want you to know how proud of you I am, how proud we all are.”

She said the road wasn’t easy, as there were days filled with pain, disappointment, uncertainty and sacrifice. “But instead of letting those define you, you’ve let them change you. You chose to grow, you chose to fight, you chose to become the woman that is standing here today.”

With a graduation, people often see the graduation, certificate and accomplishment, Byrer continued.

“But I see much more than that. I see the tears no one else saw. I see the nights you wanted to give up, but didn’t. I see the strength it took to face your past, accept the responsibility and rebuild your life ...,” Byrer said. “The Reentry program gave you the tools, the guidance and the support you needed, and, believe it or not, even prison became a part of your transformation. Neither of those things define who you are, but they become stepping stones that helped shape the amazing woman you’ve become.”

Byrer told Howard she became the mother she needed, and she became the daughter who gets to admire her mother instead of worrying about her.

“That’s a gift no one can ever take from us. Today when I look at you, I don’t see your mistakes, I don’t see your past. I see your fire, I see your compassion and I see your kindness. I see the way you generally care about people, and I see your strength, your honesty and your determination to never go back to the world you left behind,” Byrer said.

She said they’ve become stronger, and Howard’s accomplishments go far beyond graduation. “Your story is proof that our worst chapters don’t have to be our final chapters,” Byrer stated, thanking Howard for being her mom, never giving up, choosing recovery, choosing herself and showing that it’s never too late to change one’s life.
Byrer concluded her speech by telling Howard she loved her more than words can express and she was proud to be able to call her Mom.

A Team & A Community
Reentry Court Coordinator Stephanie Long said she personally didn’t know Howard before she applied for the program, but she really struggled, when they met virtually, to believe that Howard was the same person she had read about.

“A life of substance abuse, drug dealing, lying, cheating, stealing. The person who sat in front of me at that time was someone who had used her time in prison to learn and grow and transform her entire life to become a person she was proud of,” Long said. “As she puts it, she completely broke herself down to nothing and rebuilt her life with the new tools and coping skills that she was learning in RWI. She was ready to reintroduce herself to the court, to the community and to her family.”

In the nine months Long spent working with Howard, she learned a lot about her. “But the thing that stands out to me the most about Mary is her unwavering ability to remember where she came from. Mary’s never tried to forget her past. 

She reminds herself where she’s been so she can continue to be proud of where she is now and where she wants to go,” Long said.

She said she believes Howard is an outstanding example of what rehabilitation looks like and how anything is possible if you really want it bad enough and are willing to put the work in for it.

Kosciusko County Commissioner Sue Ann Mitchell told Howard that as she came in, she realized who Howard was and saw all the people gathered around her. “I could see that caring and that warmth in your family and your friends, and that support that you’re going to have,” she said.

Mitchell told Howard it was a new day and fresh start for her.

“For all of you, you have to remember God’s grace will always be greater than your past and that God is not done with your story,” she said. “... May you continue to enjoy and prosper, remembering all the hard work that you invested to get to where you are, so that you have the opportunity to rewrite that story and I know that you will make it a best seller.”

On behalf of the community, Mitchell welcomed Howard back to Kosciusko County as the valuable member of the community that she’s become.

After receiving her certificate and graduation coin from McGrath, Howard said, “I owe a lot to Judge Reed. Thank you. He saved my life. He sentenced me. I was upset at first, but then when I got to DOC, I learned acceptance.”

She not only did the RWI program, but decided to go “above and beyond” to show Reed more than what he asked for out of her.

“I’m just thankful because, if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be who I am today and I’m proud of who I am, with my family. The team here is amazing,” Howard said.

She said Godsey was amazing and didn’t judge her, but helped her get through what she needed to get through.

“... And I’m very thankful that I’m welcomed back into the community as a changed person. But it all boils down to the thanks of Judge Reed saving my life, because I wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for him, and I thank him from the bottom of my heart. I owe him a lot,” Howard stated, adding thanks to everyone who helped and supported her along the way.

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MENTONE —  A familiar face in the community, LaDonna Thompson, who worked for WRSW Radio for 47 years, has passed away at the age of 75.

Thompson, of rural Burket, died on Monday, Aug. 3, at Paddock Springs Health Campus in Warsaw. 

She was born in Peru in 1950 and was a 1968 graduate of Wabash High School.

She joined WRSW in 1979 and became office manager just a few years later.

“She loved her job. She was dedicated to it, and she was very efficient at everything she did,” remembered Rita Price, an on-air personality with WRSW, who said LaDonna helped her as the radio station transitioned into the use of computers. 

Worried about adapting to the new technology, Price confided to LaDonna that she might have to quit. 

LaDonna scoffed at that idea, Price said.

“She really ran me down the road, but she made me cheat sheets for every process of everything that had to be done on computer,” Price said, adding that the gesture helped ensure her long career would continue.

Tony Richards, owner and president of Kensington Digital Media, which owns WRSW, said LaDonna exuded dedication to the radio station. 

“She was our rock for so many years. She was the steady presence through any storm and always dedicated to those around her.  A true servant leader. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her,” Richards said.

In addition to her career at the radio station, she also worked as a clerk for Metzger Auctions.

In 1999, she married Billy Thompson, who died in 2023. 

Survivors include a son, two grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Following her request, no services will be held. A private interment will take place in the Palestine Cemetery, Palestine.

You can see her full obituary and comments here.

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By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — The Warsaw Traffic Commission appears to have come up with a way to greatly increase traffic flow for motorists passing through the Detroit, Pope, and Prairie Street intersections.

The board has struggled for years to come up with a solution, and on Wednesday threw their support behind a plan that relies on two right-turn only configurations.

The changes, along with some other road improvements, will be done next summer and is expected to cost about $300,000.

 Dustin Dillon, the city's director of Public Works, said the new plan "Hits almost every one of the concerns ... that we've had in the area and at a very cost-effective price," he said.

The changes would result in the following:

Traffic coming east on Prairie (around the corner) will be right turn only on to Pope Street. Motorists headed west on Pope Street will be right turn only heading north to Winona. Those driving south from Winona Avenue (on Detroit Street) will still be permitted to go east on to South Pope or continue on south on South Detroit to Prairie, Dillon said.

The traffic commission looked at numerous options, before turning to a consultant.

“We've looked at all-way stop signs, we've looked at traffic signals, we've looked at the roundabout. This was the simplest, most cost-effective that fit into and with the normal road maintenance that we're going to perform anyway.

Construction of one or two roundabouts as a long-term solution remains an option for the future, but Dillon said that would be years away and would face financial hurdles. 

A long-term plan suggested roundabouts be constructed at Pope and Detroit streets and another at Pope and McClellan streets.

"There's going to have to be a lot more development, a lot more economic triggers ... to get to that point,” he said.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump is urging Republican Senators to pass a measure making Daylight Saving Time permanent nationwide.

The bipartisan bill passed the House in July, but faces hurdles in the Senate, where members from both parties have pushed back against ending the semi-annual need to change your clocks.

[caption id="attachment_134395" align="alignright" width="176"] Donald Trump[/caption]

In a post on social media, Trump said people are “sick and tired of having to change their clocks twice a year,” adding that it's foolish, inconvenient, and in some cases very costly.

Indiana's 2nd District Congressman Rudy Yakym and the 3rd District Congressman Marlon Stutzman both support the measure.

If the changes are made, parts of Indiana would see the latest sunrise shortly after 9 a.m., and the earliest sunset would happen at about 6.20 p.m.

Daylight saving time is that period between spring and fall when clocks in most parts of the United States are set one hour ahead of standard time. States could opt out if their respective legislatures act to do so before the bill’s enactment. The Senate would also have to pass the bill before it could be signed into law, but it’s unclear if it will do so.

Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., said Americans are ready to “ditch the switch,” saying that changing the clock twice a year creates unnecessary disruption. More important, he said, it would give families more daylight time in the evening to spend outdoors and support local businesses.

“In my home state of Florida, where tourism is a cornerstone of our economy, having more predictable daylight hours is a practical improvement that benefits workers, businesses and visitors alike,” Bilirakis said.

One of the most fierce critics of the move, GOP Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, has said making daylight saving time permanent would “push winter sunrises to an absurdly late hour, depriving Americans of morning sunshine that’s essential for our safety and well-being.”

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WARSAW — The city of Warsaw has announced that Dubois Drive will be micro-surfaced beginning Thursday, Aug. 6.

During this work, motorists should expect temporary road closures and delays.

Anyone needing to access businesses along Provident Drive (medical complex) is encouraged to use Springhill Road off of US 30 to minimize delays.

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Roger Grossman
News Now Warsaw

As we begin to transition from summer to back-to-school, I want to spend some time talking about an aspect of sports that no one talks about or teaches anymore.

Today, we’re going to discuss the concepts of winning and losing.

To be more specific, I’m not interested in explaining how you win and why you don’t. I want to help parents, coaches and players with how to handle success and how to deal with failing.

Unfortunately, we hear of more and more instances of family members, coaches and players behaving badly at sporting events.

And in 2026, we don’t just hear stories about these things, we can see them with our own eyes. We can do this because every game in every park and every gym is recorded by someone in attendance.

What happened, what was said, what the response was—all of it—is captured and posted on some social media site like YouTube for people like me to view and digest.

A big part of this is because we, collectively, have lost perspective on what these leagues are supposed to be about. And, as often is the case with the downfall of things, money is at the core of the problem.

Youth sports is big business, and those who profit from it are not interested in losing money. And families spend a lot of money to tap into what these teams promise, which is the road to scholarships and greatness.

Families spend thousands of dollars to put their kids on these teams, and they understandably look at it as an investment in their child’s future.

So when an umpire misses a call or when a referee has to make a block/charge call in a close game, the tension naturally rises.

When that moment seems to make a difference in the result of the game, people lose their cool.

And what used to be just yelling and screaming has gone much farther. It’s now getting physical.

Coaches are pushing umpires. Parents and grandparents run onto the basketball court and knock down officials who never see them coming.

Let’s remember the first and most important role of athletics in life and society—to teach us life lessons that will benefit us into adulthood.

At the head of the list of those lessons should be that the whole point of what they are doing is having fun while they are doing it.

The subpoints to that are learning the fundamentals of the sport and learning to be part of a team.

No matter what the skills you are trying to master, taking shortcuts never works.

And there aren’t too many people in life who will live out their days in complete solitude. Sports team show us how to build relationships. They teach us to sacrifice our own objectives for the good of the collective group. They put our lives into perspective.

Well…they are supposed to, anyway.

Too often, on too many levels, those noble goals of sports have been trampled on in the name of winning above all else.

“What’s the big deal?” you ask.

Well, because winning is not the only outcome possible in a sporting event, or in life.

We don’t teach kids how to lose with grace and class because we don’t want them to consider “losing” as an option.

Our collective ego is often disguised as a “quest for excellence”. People whose actions offend us will almost certainly defend themselves by saying “I’m just trying to make them into winners.”

Let me introduce an idea to you that I think is a better what to get kids to where you want to get them.

I think you will get a lot farther by teaching kids the fundamentals of the sport and then couple that with the joy of competition.

I’d like to see more youth league coaches and parents focus on the thrill and fun that comes from competing and the quest to get better than the outcome of the games.

When that happens, it diffuses a lot of the tension from the scenarios we painted earlier. The ump may miss a call or the ref may miss a travel, but when you have the right mindset before it happens, it doesn’t matter.

I most certainly am not suggesting that sports don’t matter, nor am I trying to draw you into the “everyone should get a trophy” camp.

But things are not going to go perfectly in people’s lives.

They are going to get laid off.

Their spouse or kids are going to get seriously ill.

They are going to have a conflict with a neighbor.

We are not teaching kids what to do when that happens.

The message they are getting from too many of their leaders is that their response includes rage and blame.

That will not benefit them when they get older and helping them grow up to become solid adults should be everyone’s objective.

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