ALBION — Black Pine Animal Sanctuary in Albion is seeking financial support after storms on Sunday night damaged parts of its campus.

Severe weather caused damage in Noble County and other areas Sunday night that was part of a spate of storms in recent days.

Black Pine currently houses about 78 animals on its property. None were injured or escaped.

The worst damage involved an animal sanctuary that's home to a wolf dog named Minko.

Rebuilding Minko's habitat will likely cost thousands of dollars, even with insurance, said Black Pine Development Director Julie Josey.

Much like an old car, the habitats on the property have depreciated in value over time, she said.

“We are not going to expect that we are going to get anything close to what we need for today's safety and security standards,” she said. “We are going to need to upgrade greatly from what was originally there.”

Downed trees also damaged walkways and other areas of the property, she said.

[caption id="attachment_134648" align="alignright" width="325"] Photo of Minko provided.[/caption]

Minko is eight years old and was rescued from a roadside zoo in Michigan six years ago, she said.

“All of the animals here are captive, displaced exotic animals, so all of them have stories that are kind of traumatic to begin with," Josey said.

“This wolf dog has already been through a lot of trauma, has already lost his partner this year, and then was found terrified in a tunnel because this tree came down,” she said.

Michigan law prevents people from keeping wolf dogs. Minko and other wolf dogs were removed because some in the pack (not Minko) became aggressive with humans.

Indiana law permits possessing wolf dogs, but experts say crossbreeding wolves and dogs might sound fun since they're cute while still young, but many struggle with being domesticated.

She said 12 trees need to be removed and is hoping tree service companies will step up and help.

“If they're willing to donate any of their time or talent to help us get some of these other trees down so that we don't end up in the same situation again, we would be incredibly grateful,” she said.

Black Pine is the only multi-species accredited sanctuary in the Midwest, she said.

To donate, click here.

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PORTAGE — A house explosion in Portage killed one person after severe storms swept through the area early Tuesday afternoon.

People who live in the Portage neighborhood say the explosion was so powerful, it felt like the house lifted off the ground. The blast sent debris flying and damaged nearby homes.

One person who lives nearby says someone from the family was away at the time, possibly preventing an even worse outcome.

Firefighters remained on the scene for much of Tuesday, working to determine what caused the explosion.

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WARSAW — Severe weather that passed through Kosciusko County shortly after 1 p.m. Tuesday was part of a much larger storm system that cut power to more than half a million people in the Chicago area and northwestern Indiana. 

Northwest Indiana was especially hard hit.

A maximum wind gust of 99 mph was recorded at Gary, and all flights were temporarily stopped at Chicago's two major airports.

Two tornadoes on the south side of Chicago were also reported by the National Weather Service.

Locally, the National Weather Service says two  to five inches of rain fell across much of the area, with isolated pockets of more than six inches.

A flood watch remains in effect today for Kosciusko County and areas generally south of U.S. 30.

Additional heavy rains are possible later this morning and again this afternoon.

Rainfall rates could be 1 to 2 inches per hour, and that could lead to additional flooding, especially in areas that received heavy rain on Tuesday.

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Editor's Note: The following is the result of an email conversation with Superior Court 1 Judge Karin McGrath after the latest Indiana prison inmate from Kosciusko County graduated from the county's reentry program.

McGrath started the program in early 2025. Mary Howard celebrated her graduation from the program last week.

The following are Judge McGrath's answers to questions posed by News Now Warsaw. Very minor edits were made.

* * *

Please recap what the program does.

The Reentry Court serves adults who are currently incarcerated and preparing to reintegrate into our community, and who are assessed as moderate- and high-risk, as well as high-need, using validated risk assessment tools such as the Indiana Risk Assessment System.  Upon release from incarceration, Reentry Court provides structure, accountability, and resources to participants with the goal of reducing recidivism and fostering relapse prevention goals.  

The Program is certified by the Indiana Supreme Court Office of Court Services, and subscribes to data-driven best practices of problem-solving courts. The program serves individuals whose criminal history is substantially linked to substance use disorder, particularly opioid addiction, as well as any co-occurring mental health diagnoses, and who demonstrate both the need for intensive support and the willingness to engage in the program.

What was your favorite aspect about today’s graduate?

My favorite thing about Mary is her enthusiastic willingness to change her life.  She has been so intentional during her Reentry Court participation, and has shared her process with great insight and honesty.  She has openly shared her struggles along the way but has not wavered from her commitment to change. She literally lights up the room with her newfound peace and joy.

[caption id="attachment_134613" align="alignright" width="343"] Mary Howard (L) receives a hug from retired Circuit Court Judge Mike Reed, who sentenced her to prison several years ago. She credits the judge for saving her life. Photo provided.[/caption]

Are you seeing any consistent themes with these graduates?

One consistent theme I see with graduates is the enormous gratitude they have for the opportunity to learn new life skills, the opportunity to receive the treatment they so desperately need, and the chance to prove to themselves, their family, and the community that they can change.  They recognize our community has more resources for those struggling with addiction than ever before, and they are grateful for that.  I consistently see graduates acknowledge how good it feels to be able to look at themselves in the mirror and actually LIKE who they see, and how amazing it is to feel proud of what they’ve accomplished.  

I also consistently see them place a high value on the work they’ve done rebuilding family relationships and gaining productive and lawful employment. A number of graduates have commented on the unexpected but amazing feeling of walking or driving down the road and not having a care in the world when a police car pulls up—they aren’t afraid of them, because they aren’t doing anything wrong. In fact, several have commented they welcome interactions with law enforcement now.

What kind of success rate are you seeing with the graduates?

If you're inquiring about recidivism, we have not had a single graduate charged with a new criminal offense. Beyond that simple statistic, our team is most proud of their success exemplified by fact that our graduates are employed, they pay their child support if ordered, and many of them give back to the community in multiple ways, from continuing involvement with recovery programs, donating time to speak at recovery events, lending assistance to others, and even a graduate who is now a full-time Peer Recovery Coach. 

How common is this kind of court program?

Problem-solving courts are incredibly common across the state. When I looked at the directory of certified programs today, there are 141 listed, including 51 Adult Drug Courts and 11 Reentry Courts. Other types include Veterans Court, Mental Health Court, OWI Court, and Family Recovery Court.

How long is the program?

Participants are generally in the program from 9-12 months, though the program itself is greatly focused on an individualized approach to each person. Some people spend more time than others in a particular phase of the program as they work to address their unique needs.

Is there strong interest to participate?

There is a tremendous interest in the program, and it is not at all uncommon for us to receive multiple applications each week, both from people in our own jail as well as those at various IDOC locations. There are obvious limits to the number of participants we can take because of personnel and resource limitations, but we consider each and every application thoughtfully.

Any changes to the program in the future?

There are no major changes planned at this time, but we are always looking for ways to improve.  In fact, many of us just returned from an intensive problem-solving court conference in Tennessee, along with over 7,000 other people from across the country also working in problem-solving courts.  We are always learning new things about the recovery process and always considering new data on best practices as well.  

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WARSAW — Kosciusko County is on the verge of its biggest bump in job growth in a long time with the arrival of Slate Auto at a revamped facility on Old Road 30 and Autocam Medical’s 100,000-square-foot production site currently under construction a mile away along US 30.

[caption id="attachment_134506" align="alignright" width="350"] Part of Slate Auto's parking lot, pictured last week, is already often crowded as it ramps up toward employing 1,900 workers later this year. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

Slate Auto is expected to begin production of its electric pickup trucks later this year at its facility in the old RR Donnelley parking and a large number of vehicles from employees and contractors can already be seen every day as it plans to eventually employ upward of 1,900 workers.

Combined, those two numbers represent a 5.2% increase in the Kosciusko County workforce, based on US Census statistics.

Officials with Warsaw and the county have been working to address the need for more housing for years, but is seeing some results, with the opening of two new apartment complexes in Warsaw anticipated this year, and with construction of several other subdivisions across parts of the county.

But more plans are in the works.

Peggy Simmons, the executive director of KEDCO, acknowledged that they want to see more of the new and future workers find homes nearby rather than commuting from other nearby counties.

She said they've been working on a housing plan for two years.

"We're going to be making some announcements pretty soon," Simmons told News Now Warsaw last week. "The team at KEDCO has been working with Club 720 and Mission Build from Fort Wayne to bring attainable housing here."

Simmons, in an interview for the public affairs show, In the Know, also commented on a recent story by News Now Warsaw about the increased fuel sales at the Warsaw Municipal Airport in the past year. Much of that is attributed to flight traffic involving Slate and Autocam, according to the airport manager.

Simmons said she thinks that kind of increase, if sustained, could boost the airport in the future.

“We are hoping that the increase in usage and sales in fuel will spur the airport to grow. We know that if we want to land larger jets, we need a longer runway. So hopefully, we're starting to make the case that the numbers speak for themselves and that there is room for growth,” Simmons said.

Plans for lengthening the airport's east-west runway have been discussed for years but is still not a top priority.

Other long-term changes, such as a still-unresolved solution to CR 100E, have become an immediate concern.

A tunnel or another solution to that road issue is needed before runway expansion can be considered.

Simmons said KEDCO’s annual banquet is Sept. 9 at Oakwood in Syracuse and the featured speaker will be Polywood CEO Brady Maller. Representatives of Slate and Autocam are also expected to address the gathering.

Simmons joined OrthoWorx CEO Ryan Christner for last week's public affairs show on Kensington Digital Media radio stations.

Christner highlighted current work undertaken by OrthoWorx. You can see that story here.

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WARSAW — A flood watch is in effect until 8 p.m. Tuesday for nearly all of northern Indiana.

Pockets of heavy rainfall have impacted portions of the area over the past few days and additional rain is forecasted for the afternoon and evening, the National Weather Service said.

Rainfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour are possible.

Those living in flood-prone areas should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.

The post More heavy rain expected today; Flood watch stretches across northern half of state appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — The Warsaw Police Department and the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office have announced plans for the next Citizens Police Academy. 

The upcoming academy represents the 26th session and is open to all Kosciusko County residents and offers a firsthand experience of law enforcement operations.

The Academy will meet weekly on Wednesdays beginning September 16th and will conclude on November 18.

The application deadline is Sept. 2, and you can apply here.

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PLYMOUTH — An Argos man died Monday after becoming trapped inside a grain bin at a family farm near Argos.

First responders were dispatched to the farm on Maple Road shortly after 4 p.m.

The man was identified as Jonathon Hayn of Argos.

Hayn had been working inside the grain bin when it appears he became overcome by smoke after the grain began burning. 

Family members and workers attempted to remove Hayn from the bin, and firefighters eventually managed to do so.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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From texts to town halls, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration is rolling out a variety of tools to prepare Hoosiers on the Healthy Indiana Plan for new work requirements.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2027, Indiana will implement work requirements for new applicants and existing Medicaid members eligible under HIP, which provides healthcare coverage for the state’s Medicaid expansion population.

Those adults generally will have to complete and report at least 80 hours per month of work, job training, education, community service or another qualifying activity to remain covered. The state will review compliance at least every six months.

The state will look back at the previous three months of activity to determine eligibility. That means anyone applying starting Jan. 1 will have to meet the requirements going back to October. Current members will have to prove compliance on a rolling basis when their renewal date comes up.

The changes will not apply to everyone on Medicaid. Children, pregnant women, older adults, people enrolled in Medicare and many people with disabilities or caregiving responsibilities are among those expected to be exempt. A parent caring for a child age 13 or younger, for example, would not have to meet the requirement, while a child enrolled in Medicaid would never be expected to report work.

To help raise awareness of the new work requirements, starting July 21, the state will periodically text HIP members general information about the new requirements. The text message will be sent from the phone number 43816and will not contain or ask about case information or have an impact on an individual’s HIP benefits or application.

The agency has also created a screening tool for HIP members check to see if they would but subject to or exempt from the work requirements. To use the tool, individuals will be asked to provide information on:

• If an exemption applies to them
• Health-related questions
• Work activities
• Income

Once the information is entered, they will be able to review and submit their answers to see if they would be required to meet HIP Work Requirements. The information is entered anonymously and is not stored or shared. Responses are used only to generate an individual’s screening results and are not accessible after the session ends.

• August 17 – Ivy Tech Elkhart
  • Community Center 3 and 5 – 22531 County Road 18, Goshen, IN 46528
  • Time: 6  to 7:30 p.m. ET
• September 1 – Ivy Tech Fort Wayne
  • Auditorium – 3800 N Anthony Blvd. Ft. Wayne, IN 46805
  • Time: 6 to 7:30 p.m. ET

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