WARSAW — The ML Community Impact Alliance (MLCIA) and the Freedom Fest Committee have announced country music artist Darryl Worley will headline the Freedom Fest Concert on Saturday, June 6, at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds in Warsaw.

Joining Worley for a night of live music are special guests Jason Michael Carroll —performing with his full band — and country artist Keenie Word, according to a news release from the Community Impact Alliance, a non-profit established last year.

This concert is a centerpiece of Freedom Fest, a multi-day celebration honoring America’s 250th birthday.

Known for his patriotic anthem “Have You Forgotten?” and songs like “I Miss My Friend” and “Awful, Beautiful Life,” Worley brings a blend of country music and storytelling that captures the spirit of this historic milestone, the news release said.

“We are incredibly excited to bring Darryl Worley to Freedom Fest as our headliner,” organizers said in the release. “His music, especially his tribute to our nation and veterans, aligns perfectly with the mission of this celebration. Adding Jason Michael Carroll and Keenie makes this a can’t-miss night of country music for our community and beyond.”

Tickets are on sale online through Eventbrite.

Grandstand general admission tickets are $10, and track general admission tickets are $20.
For those looking for a premium concert experience, standing room at the front of the stage and limited up-close seating options will also be available, offering fans an up-close-and-personal connection to the performance.

To enhance safety, improve sightlines, and create the best possible concert experience for everyone, outside chairs and coolers will not be permitted inside the concert area.

Freedom Fest will take place June 5–7, featuring a full lineup of family-friendly activities including live entertainment, historical reenactments, a parade, car show, 5K run, veterans recognition and more.

Camping is available for the weekend at the fairgrounds. For reservations, call the fair office at 574-269-1823.

For all other questions, email info@kcfreedomfest.org.

Tickets and additional event details are also available at www.kcfreedomfest.org.
Freedom Fest is organized by the ML Community Impact Alliance (MLCIA), a nonprofit dedicated to enhancing quality of life through community collaboration, events and initiatives that bring people together, the release states.

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WARSAW — Warsaw Mayor Jeff Grose and City Planner Justin Taylor recently offered insights into several issues, including the upcoming repair to two railroad crossings, a new downtown parking policy, and a long-term idea of an overpass along US 30 over Parker Street.

Parking policy

The City of Warsaw's downtown parking policy is still being implemented and retains free parking for the first two hours. The biggest change is the option to use a parking app if you want to stay longer than 2 hours. 

The goal is to free up more parking in front of downtown storefronts.

Another step in that effort involves setting aside parts of two parking lots specifically for downtown employees. 

One of the lots is on Indiana Street and another on Jefferson Street.

Taylor says those parking spaces will be free for now.

He said they began allocating spaces this week to downtown merchants for their employees

“We have about 125 spaces that are going to be dedicated for downtown business employees, and we're going to try to allocate those across the board this year.

Taylor said the reaction has been good.

Since being introduced a few weeks ago, parking patrols have issued over 115 warnings for on-street parking. 

“We know people are getting the message of the change, and we just want to make sure everybody understands what they can do and what they can't do with the new system,” Taylor said.

Taylor and Grose talked with News Now Warsaw this week for In The Know, the public affairs show that airs this weekend.

Grose reiterated that the new apps aren't necessary if you're staying for less than two hours.

“You can park downtown like I've done since I was a little boy,” Grose said. “You can park downtown for two hours free, doing nothing with your phone (or) nothing with a kiosk. Nothing. And that's the same as it's always been.”

Officials plan to review the policy after about a year.

Grose explains RR crossing upgrade plan

Grose also discussed a new agreement with Norfolk Southern to accelerate some local railroad crossing projects. He recently announced plans to improve railroad crossings on Winona Avenue and Market Street later this year. 

One thing that's different with these updates is that Warsaw is following suit with other cities that have agreed to provide financial support for the projects. 

The city plans to provide more than $300,000 for the work.

“We really believe those two intersections — it has to be tried — we have to do it, as we serve the residents of this community, those that live in our jurisdiction, and the thousands that are coming in each and every day," Grose said.

He said the city held multiple meetings with Norfolk Southern to work out an agreement.

No exact date for the work has been announced.

“We are hoping by the end of the year, so late summer, fall, and we'll do the best we can," Grose said.

“My number one goal is to make sure they're on the calendar … and then we'll deal with that locally for the short time. Usually it's a week or two, a couple of weeks," he said.

US 30 overpass over Parker Street

Grose also acknowledged efforts by two state lawmakers — State Sen. Ryan Mishler and State Rep. Craig Snow — for their proposal to construct an overpass along US 30 over Parker Street, as well as an interchange at Springhill Road and the highway further to the west.

The proposal has been shared with the Indiana Department of Transportation, but no action has been taken.

It would be part of the long-range plan to reconstruct all of US 30 across Indiana, which has been studied for nearly ten years and would take decades to construct.

The Warsaw proposal is similar to one in Whitley County, which is moving forward with financial support from some local industry.

“The problem for us will be: How do we get private investment … to look our direction, and then our ability as a public institution, to come up with your tax dollars to spend them wisely to encourage the federal and state government to look in our direction,” Grose said.

*  *  * 

In The Know can be heard at the following times:

News Now Warsaw (99.7 FM and 1480 AM):

Saturdays at 7 a.m. 

Sundays at 7 a.m. & 2 p.m.

WRSW (107.3):

Sundays at 6 a.m.

Willie (103.5 FM):

Sundays at 6 a.m.

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WARSAW — Beef-A-Roo will open its second restaurant in Warsaw today.

District Manager Kolton Lynas said they’ll start off with a soft opening today at 2401 E. Center St., which comes after the Midwest chain first opened a store in Warsaw at  408 N. Detroit St., about 11 months ago.

Beef-A-Roo has now renovated and opened four restaurants in north central Indiana, formerly owned by Penguin Point. The other two are in Auburn and North Manchester.

Lynas said they also hope to open a store in Logansport, possibly by the end of the year, in what had been known as Mr. Happy Burger.

The fast food business offers a variety of sandwiches, salads, side dishes and drinks.

The Center Street store will begin with 32 employees, he said.

Regular hours are 10 a.m. to midnight.

The chain, based in Illinois, now has 19 stores.

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WARSAW — A Syracuse woman was killed and a Milford man was injured in a two-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon.

According to a news release from the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, the accident occurred near the residence of 2701 E. CR 700N east of CR 200  at 2:54 p.m. on CR 700N.

Emergency personnel arrived on scene and found a Nissan Altima, driven by Ranee Tom, 49, Syracuse, and a Ford F150, driven by Scott Smith, 74, Milford.

Preliminary investigation determined the Nissan Altima was westbound on CR 700N and crossed the center line, hitting the Ford F150.

Tom was pronounced dead at the scene by the Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office.

Smith was flown from the scene by Lutheran Air to a hospital for treatment of his injuries.

The crash remains under investigation by the Kosciusko County FACT.

The KCSO was assisted at the scene by the Kosciusko County 911 Dispatch Center, Plain Township Fire Department, Lutheran EMS, Lutheran Air, Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office and Crouse Wrecker Service.

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WARSAW — The ongoing photo exhibit featuring artwork from photographer Al Disbro has put a spotlight on the importance of local historic photos and led to hosting what might be called a photo scan-a-thon.

Kosciusko County Historical Society Director Teresa Jones said Disbro has shared a plethora of images of local happenings that span decades, and she realized that many others in the community likely have some old, unique photos they would also be willing to have their photos scanned.

[caption id="attachment_130887" align="alignright" width="300"] Al Disbro is seen at a 2018 Republican event in Warsaw with his camera. Some of his photos are the basis for an exhibit at the Kosciusko County Historical Society museum in Warsaw through the end of 2026. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

Jones said they wanted to capitalize on the interest around the upcoming America 250 celebration and encourage the preservation of more local history that can be helpful to others a hundred years from now.

“I think people kind of forget when they're cleaning out old closets or cleaning up mom's house ... that we are very much interested in those old pictures," she said.

They're looking for images that capture landmarks, old schools, politics, local leaders, and historical events.

They're also looking for details and photos about family trees and local genealogy.

Photo Scan Day will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Historical Society at 121 N. Indiana Street in Warsaw.

She said it would help if people provided information about the photos when they bring them.

"History is all about stories, and so when we get the story behind the photos behind the documents, it helps us in our research," she said.

She said they'll have four scanners and volunteers ready to help on Saturday.

During the event, museum staff and volunteers will carefully digitize each photograph while owners wait, ensuring that all original items are promptly returned.

Residents are encouraged to contribute, if possible, to preserve local history.

Disbro, who retired from Lake City Bank years ago, has documented a wide variety of community and political events around Warsaw for decades.

Disbro's photos will be on display until the end of the year. 

“Our Al Disbro exhibit has been so popular," Jones said. "We did ‘Storytime with Al’ last week (and) filled the room to capacity. We're actually contemplating doing another one.

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By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — The Warsaw Traffic Commission on Wednesday recommended to the City Council the passage of an e-bike ordinance that would set policy in several ways.

As the popularity of e-bikes continues, some of the new models can travel as fast as 50 mph, said City Planner Justin Taylor.

The proposal was developed by the Ride+Walk Advisory Committee and would limit e-bikes from traveling any faster than 35 mph on streets and 15 miles per hour on trails, according to a story from the Times-Union.

The bicycle industry is seeing robus sales of e-bikes across the country.

E-bikes accounted for approximately 30% of total U.S. bicycle revenue in 2024, generating roughly $1.63 billion, according to Ebikes International.

Taylor said the new policy is needed for safety reasons.

The estimated number of e-bike injuries in the U.S. jumped from 1,600 in 2018 to over 23,000 in 2022, according to the American College of Surgeons 

The proposal would also prohibit e-bikes from traveling on sidewalks in the downtown business district.

Fines would start at $25 for the first offense and $150 for the third offense.

City Council is expected to review the proposal over the next few weeks before voting.

You can watch the discussion from Wednesday's meeting at the beginning of this link provided by the city.

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Gov. Mike Braun not only extended the suspension of the sales tax on gasoline another 30 days Wednesday — he paused the state gas tax, as well.

The latter is 36 cents per gallon, meaning Hoosier motorists will save 59.3 cents a gallon for the next month.

The 30-day tax suspensions, combined, are expected to cost state coffers $104 million and local units $52 million. Braun’s initial 30-day suspension of the 7% sales tax on gasoline came at a separate $50 million revenue cost.

“Making life more affordable for Hoosiers will always be my top priority,” Braun said Wednesday. “Suspending both the gas tax and excise tax gives Hoosiers meaningful relief for the next month.”

The current 30-day sales tax suspension was set to end May 8.

Braun said the energy emergency will give Hoosiers a 12.4% discount on the average price of gasoline in Indiana.

When Braun took action in April, the average cost for a gallon of gas in Indiana was $4.14, according to AAA. That price has now risen to $4.76.

Braun also announced Wednesday that he will increase the mileage reimbursement rate for state employees who utilize their own vehicles for work-related travel. Details on that increase will be shared once confirmed by the governor’s office.

This story will be updated.

* * *

The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.

You can read the original version of the story here.

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WARSAW — The ML Community Impact Alliance (MLCIA) and The Freedom Fest Committee has announced that Super Seal of Warsaw will be performing seal coating work on the main entrance of the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds on Monday, May 11 (weather permitting).

This project is part of ongoing improvements and preparations for Freedom Fest 2026, celebrating America’s 250th birthday.

These enhancements are designed to improve safety, accessibility, and the overall experience for the large number of visitors expected for Freedom Fest and throughout the year for various events.

Important Access Information:

• The main fairgrounds entrance will be temporarily closed during this work.
• Visitors should use the west fairgrounds entrance.
• From there, proceed through the campground area and up the hill to access the fair office.

We appreciate the public’s patience and cooperation as we continue making improvements that will benefit the entire community for years to come.

For additional information about Freedom Fest, visit kcfreedomfest.org or contact us at info@kcfreedomfest.org.

Freedom Fest is a county-wide celebration honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States, featuring live music, historical reenactments, family activities, and community events designed to bring people together in celebration of our nation’s heritage.

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WINONA LAKE — The Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams is eager to welcome Joel Petrie to the team.

In his new role of research technician, he will be responsible for collecting data, guiding college interns, and maintaining stream sensors placed around Kosciusko County.

"During his internship at the Lilly Center as an environmental studies student, Joel
honed his fieldwork abilities and grew a deeper understanding of data collection," said Dr. Nate Bosch, Creighton Brothers endowed director of the Lilly Center.

"His passion for aquatic research is evident in the quality work he’s done, and we’re excited to see how much more he’ll contribute to the Lilly Center in this new role," Bosch said.

Petrie attended Grace College for three years where he received his bachelor’s in science
with a focus on environmental studies. While at Grace, he also balanced his time as a Lilly Center intern, working on the field research team and eventually becoming the team lead.

As an intern, Petrie practiced ethical data collection and showed excellent supervising skills that will serve him well in his new position.

“I'm excited to have Joel step into the research technician role,” said Matt Burlingame,
assistant director of research at the Lilly Center.

“Joel has been a leader on the field team since he started, and he quickly became a knowledgeable and reliable part of the crew. His experience in the field, familiarity with our stream sensor network, and work ethic make him a perfect fit for the research team.”

By collecting weekly water samples and monitoring lakes and streams, the Lilly Center
ensures that Kosciusko County’s lakes and streams are clean, healthy, and safe for generations to come.

The Lilly Center is committed to gathering essential, high-quality data on Kosciusko
County waterways to help protect our natural resources and keep community members
safe on the water.

Beginning in May, the center will publish weekly microcystin toxin reports that residents can sign up to receive, so they can recreate safely on their lake.

Join the email list for microcystin toxin notifications or learn more about how the Lilly
Center is making Kosciusko County’s lakes and streams clean, healthy, safe, and beautiful by clicking here.

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