WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Community Foundation recently awarded 15 local organizations and agencies with Community Fund grants. In total, $148,918.00 was awarded.

Community Fund grants are awarded based on a competitive grant application process.

Nonprofit organizations serving Kosciusko County are eligible to apply in one of seven areas of interest that include education, health, recreation, arts & culture, civic projects, the environment, and human services.

Congratulations to the following organizations:

• Cardinal Services - $10,000 for integrated health and crisis response services, made
possible by the Leon and Belva Horn Community Fund, Jerry and Norma Ferguson Community Fund, Miles D. and Maxine I. Igo Community Fund, The Thomas J. LeHew
Endowment Fund, and The George and Patricia Lenke Community Fund.

• Chautauqua Wawasee - $10,000 for life-enriching programs, made possible by the
Jerry and Norma Ferguson Community Fund.

• City-County Athletic Complex - $6,900 for softball equipment, made possible by the
Dekko Enhancement Fund.

• Fellowship Missions - $10,000 for emergency shelter, housing, and support services,
made possible by the Greg Sasso Memorial Fund, Kosciusko County Addiction &
Recovery Fund, John S. Frederich Endowment Fund, and Kralis Community Funds.

• Grace College & Seminary - $10,000 for the 2026 Festival of Music, made possible by
the Miksell Endowment Fund for MasterWorks.

• Presby Preschool - $8,000 for the tutoring program and nature classroom, made
possible by the Bright Start Early Learning Fund, John G. and Florell Hand Community
Fund, and the Edward R. and Patricia L. Likens Fund.

• Science Central - $7,500 for science education and outreach programs, made possible
by the Dekko Enhancement Fund.

• Sidney-Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Department - $18,318 for battery-operated
spreaders, made possible by the Kosciusko Civil Services Fund.

• Sleep in Heavenly Peace - $4,000 for beds for low-income children, made possible by
the Dekko Enhancement Fund.

• The Center for Whitley County Youth - $7,500 for after school mentorship for Whitko
students, made possible by the Dekko Enhancement Fund.

• Town of Mentone - $20,000 for Mentzer Park Phase 2 improvements, made possible by
the Blackburn and McFadden Fund, Byron C. Doran and JoAnn Doran Charitable Endowment, Carl N. Wendel Fund, and Kralis Community Funds.

• Town of Pierceton - $20,000 for Brower Park Community Pavilion and restrooms, made
possible by the Archie and Betty Ferguson Community Endowment and Community
Funds.

• Warsaw Girls Rugby Foundation - $1,700 for equipment upgrades, made possible by
the Dekko Enhancement Fund.

• Winona Lake Parks Department - $10,000 for emergency preparedness and weather
safety technology, made possible by the Kosciusko Civil Services Fund.

• Youth & the Outdoors United - $5,000 for brand and marketing development, made
possible by the Dekko Enhancement Fund.

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Staff Report

WARSAW — The Times-Union reports three people have declared their candidacy for the vacancy on the Etna Green Town Council. 

Those include Sean Collins, Rick Price, and Rod Thomas. 

The vacancy opened after longtime board member Keith Claassen resigned on June 5, effective immediately, due to health and personal issues.

Collins works as a general supervisor at Universal Bearings in Bremen and said he'd like the opportunity to serve.

Price is a former youth minister who's now retired, and said he thinks the town needs to address aging infrastructure.

Thomas is retired from the Warsaw Police Department and said he believes the water plant could be a major issue down the road.

The deadline to file for the GOP caucus is June 27, and Kosciusko County Republican Chair Mike Reagan is expected to fill the position on June 30.

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Details of the deal, which would potentially allow desperately needed oil and natural gas to reach the global market through the critical waterway, were not immediately released. Iran signaled implementation would not start until the signing, which key mediator Pakistan said would take place Friday in Switzerland.

But the memorandum of understanding over the war already faced hurdles. Israel’s continued hostilities with the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah in Lebanon, where Israel bombed Beirut’s southern suburbs Sunday, nearly derailed the negotiations. Israel joined the U.S. in launching the war on Feb. 28.

Meanwhile, the deal gives just 60 days to resolve what to do about Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium and its atomic program. That took years to resolve in Tehran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from that accord in his first term, setting the stage for the tensions that culminated in the war.

“Congratulations to all!” Trump wrote on social media as he celebrated his 80th birthday Sunday with a UFC cage match fight at the White House.

He added, “I hereby fully authorize the toll free opening of the Strait of Hormuz, and, simultaneously herewith, authorize the immediate removal of the United States Naval blockade,” which was imposed in retaliation for Iran’s grip on the crucial waterway.

He soon hedged, however, saying the strait wouldn’t open until Friday’s signing.

Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, confirmed the agreement on state television but said Iran would not start implementing it until it was signed Friday. He said the deal followed talks with Qatar, another mediator.

Israel, which has insisted it be allowed a freehand to pursue Hezbollah as it occupies southern Lebanon and has extended its military operations into areas its forces haven’t been in a quarter century, did not immediately comment. Israel joined the U.S. in launching the war on Feb. 28.

Benchmark Brent crude oil fell more than $4 a barrel on the news as Asian stock markets rallied.

He added that mediators this week will facilitate meetings to “lay the foundation for the technical talks.”

Broader negotiations on outstanding issues like Iran’s nuclear program would continue over the next 60 days, two senior Pakistani officials said earlier Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly. If the sides fail to reach a resolution within that time, the timeline could be extended.

Iranian state television cited the secretariat of the Supreme National Security Council saying the war on all fronts “will end immediately and permanently beginning tonight” — but that the U.S. blockade “will be terminated immediately and in full.”

Qatari mediators later left Tehran following 17 hours of negotiations, said an official briefed on the developments who spoke on condition of anonymity due to sensitivity of the talks. Separate preparatory meetings with each side will take place in Doha this week, the official said.

It was not clear who from Iran would sign the deal on Friday. U.S. Vice President JD Vance told Fox News the White House was still figuring out who would attend: “I certainly plan to be there, but it’s possible the president himself could be there.”

But concern among Republicans in the U.S. could already be seen. They included U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who described Vance as “the architect of the deal.”

“I am somewhat concerned that Iran’s view of the agreement seems different than what the American negotiating team is claiming,” Graham wrote online.

U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said Congress would exercise oversight on any accord with Iran.

“We have seen time and again: War cannot change the Iranian regime,” he said.

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WARSAW — A large milling machine will arrive on Monday to begin scheduled street milling operations on three streets in Warsaw, the city announced.

The following streets are scheduled for milling:

• Hand Avenue
• Wilson Street
• Morton Street (from Prairie Street to Winona Avenue)

The primary impact will be on Hand Avenue, which will be closed during milling operations due to the width restrictions of the bridge.

During milling operations on Wilson Street and Morton Street, residents will continue to have access to their homes and properties.

Milling involves the removal of old pavement before new asphalt is installed.

Motorists are encouraged to use caution, allow extra travel time, and be mindful of work crews and equipment in the area.

A news release said the City appreciates residents’ patience and cooperation as these improvements are completed. Updates will be provided as needed throughout the project.

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NORTH WEBSTER — The National Weather Service has documented and recapped five tornadoes that tore through parts of northern Indiana Thursday night, including ones in Bristol, Wabash and Plymouth.

No deaths were reported, but the recap says three people sustained injuries.

All of the tornadoes were rated between EF0 and EF2.

Most of the damage occurred shortly after 10 p.m. and was part of a strong line of storms that passed through the northern part of the state.

Below is a recap of the fire tornadoes:

• An EF1 touched down in Wabash, with an estimated peak wind speed of 110 mph. Areas near Glendale Drive, McKibben Street, and Barkley Drive sustained some damage to homes, and a fifth-wheel camper was tipped over. Further to the northeast, near West Waterworks Road, an outbuilding was destroyed when a south-facing door appeared to have blown in, causing the walls to collapse. Two injuries were reported at the home. Nearby, a manufactured home was shifted several feet off its foundation.
• An EF2 tornado touched down in Bristol with an estimated wind speed of 115 mph. The tornado passed through open fields before reaching Hyde Park Drive and Stanford Drive, where additional trees were uprooted. A residential garage on Hyde Park Drive was destroyed, and one injury was reported.
• An EF1 touched down in Plymouth and had an estimated peak wind speed of 90 mph. It spun up south of 8A on King Road, damaging multiple trees and a barn.
• An EF1 tornado touched down near Adamsboro, which is east of Logansport in Cass County. It had an estimated peak wind of 90 mph. Drone footage provided by Cass County Emergency Management confirmed an EF1 tornado touched down across northeast Cass County. Damage included the destruction of a 40-foot pole barn on County Road 375N.
• In Balbec, east of Marion, an EF0 was documented with an estimated peak wind of  80 mph. A barn and house sustained damage.

The National Weather Service also confirmed an EF3 tornado in Kouts in Porter County and Wanatah in Porter County, but had not yet completed a preliminary investigation.

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MILFORD — A groundbreaking ceremony to mark the start of construction for a manufacturing facility expansion at Chore-Time's Milford manufacturing and office headquarters was held June 10.

Chore-Time is adding 79,000 square feet of manufacturing space.

“This expansion is a direct result of continued growth and increased demand across our
markets — and the strength of our distributor partnerships.” according to Tina Streit, Vice
President and General Manager of Chore-Time.

“Plans include a dedicated shipping space for the layer building, staging space for the
broiler side, and additional manufacturing space. Groundbreaking took place in April, with
the goal of occupancy in early 2027. With this additional space, we will be better able to
reduce lead times and significantly improve our logistics.”

The addition joins the Chore-Time office and manufacturing facility that dates to the early years of the nearly 75-year-old company. The new facility is expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2027. The project is funded in part by a 10-year tax abatement granted by the Milford Town Council, the Milford Redevelopment Commission, and with the support of the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation.

“This is a company that believes in Milford. This is a meaningful investment in manufacturing capacity, efficiency and long-term growth here in Milford.” said Peggy Simmons, Chief Executive Officer for the Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation.

R. Yoder is the general contractor for the project. “This groundbreaking represents more than the start of construction; it reflects the power of collaboration and what can be achieved when a dedicated team comes together around a common goal. We are grateful for the trust of CTB and it is an honor to play a role in delivering a manufacturing facility that will support innovation, strengthen the local economy, and create lasting opportunities for years to come.” said Kevin Yoder, Vice President of Sales.

Chore-Time (www.choretime.com) continues its tradition established in 1952 of leadership in the design, manufacture and marketing of equipment for poultry and egg production.

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WARSAW — It took a few extra months to do so, but the Kosciusko County Council has signed off on a request by the Syracuse-Turkey Creek Public Library for a $7.3 million bond needed to construct a new library.

On Thursday night, Council reaffirmed its vote on January 8, allowing the library to move forward with construction plans.

Concerns over the legitimacy of the January 8 vote arose over whether the proposal had been properly advertised. 

Concerns remained even this week, but County Attorney Ed Ormsby reported Thursday night that the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance was now satisfied with the library's December newspaper notice.

Council could have reconsidered its original vote, but at least two councilmen said that would look too political. 

“I mean, obviously, I voted against the last time, and my question to this whole thing has been: Was it … legal? And since it was, you know, I choose to accept that,” said councilman Joe Irwin.

Councilman William Stockdale offered his thoughts.

“I've looked at this from every angle, read statutes, talked with other attorneys, and the library did what they needed to do legally,” Stockdale said. “There's no valid legal reason ... to overturn the January 8th resolution.” 

“The vote to reaffirm was 6-1, with Dave Wokins opposing.

Councilmember Kimberly Cates made the motion Thursday to approve, and that was seconded by Kathy Groninger.

The January 8 vote supporting the resolution's passage, 4-3, with opposition from Wolkins, Irwin, and Rachel Rhodes.

The January vote did not generate any opposition at that hearing.

Thursday's vote was the second in three weeks by elected officials involving a major request to approve a bond for a library project.

The Warsaw City Council voted down a $17 million bond for major renovations to the Warsaw Community Public Library on May 18.

The Warsaw library vote faced opposition from some city council members and members of the public over concerns about uncertainty over future tax bills and a belief that property owners have already seen significant hikes in their tax bills as a result of property tax reform by the state lawmakers.

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WARSAW — The National Weather Service reports several tornadoes caused damage across parts of northern and central Illinois and northwest Indiana on Thursday afternoon and evening.

Some of these tornadoes were strong, with notable damage reported in and near  Merrillville and Hebron.

Storm trackers in Illinois posted this video overnight.

There were also reports of tornadoes in or around Kosciusko County, but it was unclear if those touched down or caused damage.

Parts of northern Indiana sustained flooding, damaged roofs,and other damage, according to WNDU.

Storms north and northwest of Kosciusko County resulted in significant power outages overnight, and Kosciusko County was not immune. 

As of earlier this morning, NIPSCO reported that 2,500 customers in Syracuse and 1,900 in North Webster were without power.

Further west, South Shore Lines suspended service beyond East Chicago, citing damage to the tracks, wires, and poles.

Service in that area remained down early this morning, complicating rush-hour plans.

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WARSAW — Downtown Warsaw’s Sip N Shop returns on Friday, June 12,  from 5-7 p.m.

The event by Main Street Warsaw is an opportunity to enjoy an evening of local shopping, sipping, and socializing. Bring your friends, stroll through downtown listening to live street musicians while enjoying complimentary wine and cheese served at local retail shops.

The night doesn’t end with shopping. Be sure to satisfy your hunger by indulging yourselves at downtown restaurants featuring American, Latin, Indian and Italian cuisines.

This month’s retail shops participating in the event are The Cove, Glam Boutique, Finley and Company, Lake Art Association, Male Fashions, and Nicodemus Cards and Games.  Featured musicians include Ben Essick, Evan Hensbee and Chase Caldwell.

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Indiana animal health officials have imposed new restrictions on livestock, poultry and pet movements from parts of the Southwest following the recent detection of New World screwworm in the United States, as states across the country work to prevent the destructive parasite from gaining a foothold beyond currently affected areas.

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health announced that animals entering Indiana from federally designated New World screwworm-infested zones — currently parts of Texas and New Mexico — will be subject to enhanced inspection, treatment and certification requirements.

The measures come after the U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed cases of the pest in the United States, raising concerns among livestock producers and animal health officials about the potential for the parasite to spread through animal movements, exhibitions and travel.

Although New World screwworm has not been detected in Indiana, state officials warned that the insect could be inadvertently transported by animals or people traveling from affected regions.

“The latest findings have triggered movement restrictions for animals traveling to Indiana from NWS-infested areas,” the agency said in an advisory issued Monday.

Under the new requirements, livestock and companion animals originating from an infested zone must be inspected by a USDA-accredited veterinarian within five days before shipment and accompanied by a certificate of veterinary inspection. Animals also must receive approved treatments designed to prevent the spread of screwworm before entering Indiana.

Additional documentation approved by both the state of origin and Indiana animal health officials will be required before shipment.

The restrictions apply broadly to cattle, horses, sheep, goats, swine, poultry, dogs and cats, although Indiana has carved out exemptions for certain poultry shipments, indoor-housed small mammals and some commercial swine operations operating under approved health plans.

The Indiana State Board of Animal Health said it has been coordinating for more than a year with the Indiana Department of Health and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources on response plans should the parasite move closer to the Midwest.

New World screwworm, despite its name, is not a worm but the larval stage of a fly. Adult female flies lay eggs in open wounds or natural body openings of warm-blooded animals. Once hatched, the larvae burrow into living tissue, feeding on flesh and causing wounds to expand and deepen. Untreated infestations can lead to severe injury and death.

Livestock producers are particularly concerned because the pest can affect cattle, sheep, goats, horses, swine and other animals. Pets and wildlife are also susceptible, and in rare cases humans can become infested.

The United States eradicated New World screwworm in 1966 through an extensive sterile fly release program, one of the most successful insect control campaigns ever undertaken. Federal and Mexican animal health authorities continue to use that strategy today, releasing sterile male flies to disrupt reproduction and suppress populations.

USDA recently expanded sterile fly production efforts in Texas as part of its response to the current outbreak.

Indiana officials are urging animal owners to closely monitor livestock, poultry and pets for signs of infestation, particularly after travel or participation in exhibitions.

Warning signs include unusual flies or maggots around wounds, ears, noses or other body openings; wounds that continue to enlarge or drain; foul odors associated with infected tissue; and animals exhibiting signs of irritation or discomfort.

The adult New World screwworm fly can be identified by its metallic blue-green body, orange eyes and three dark stripes running down its back.

State officials are asking veterinarians, livestock producers and pet owners to immediately report suspicious cases.

“Inspect, report and protect” is the message Indiana officials are emphasizing as they seek to keep the parasite from reaching the state’s farms and animal populations.

Additional information and reporting resources are available through the Indiana State Board of Animal Health at: www.in.gov/boah/.

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