By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — Kosciusko County's Veteran Service Officer Darryl McDowell announced some good news for veterans — as well as some advice.

McDowell recapped new legislation passed into law known as the Veteran Property Tax Reform, which will provide Indiana veterans with some relief on property taxes beginning in 2027.

The legislation restructures the property tax for veterans.

The changes rely on four categories, depending on one's level of disability and other factors

The biggest change involves those who are 100 percent disabled and their widows, who will be exempt from paying any property taxes on their home.

“They will benefit more than any of the other veteran disability tax cuts. This has never (happened) before in the state of Indiana,” McDowell said during a presentation to the county commissioners on Tuesday.

“It is 100 percent property tax-free,” he said.

It also eliminates the assessed value, which penalized a lot of veterans because there was a catch — If you owned a home more than $240,000, you were not able to take advantage of this, particularly our peace-time veterans, McDowell said.

Paperwork is not yet available, but veterans will likely be able to begin signing up after July 1 and must do so by Dec. 30 to qualify.

“Veterans must know, there is no grandfather clause, there is no rollover. If they don’t register for this, they are not gonna get any cut from the taxes,” McDowell warned.

He said he's working with the county auditor's office to help with paperwork and will announce more details when registration nears.

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WARSAW — The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has confirmed that Warsaw is being strongly considered for a new Community-Based Outpatient Clinic that would serve north central Indiana.

A spokesperson for the VA responded to a series of questions from News Now Warsaw Tuesday after the subject came up Monday night at a zoning meeting involving Parkview Health’s plan to construct an office complex and a 14,000 square foot surgical center on CR 200N in Warsaw.

At Monday's zoning meeting, Michael Hoffman, an attorney representing Parkview, briefly referenced that the VA was considering a clinic that would be part of the overall construction plan.

Parkview’s zoning request was approved and construction on the surgical center is expected to begin within months, but plans for a VA clinic — if ever approved — are likely years away.

Alex Sharpe, Public Affairs Officer for the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System in Fort Wayne confirmed the VA’s interest, but stressed that nothing has been decided.

The VA responded to a series of questions Tuesday, but very few details were made available. 

They did provide some insights, though.

As part of the VA’s Northern Indiana Health Care System's efforts to provide care closer to Veterans,“we have identified adding a clinic in the Warsaw area will help to fill a geographical void between the Jackie Walorski Clinic in Mishawaka, the Hoosier Clinic in Peru and our two main campuses in Marion and Fort Wayne.”

The VA also added that they are currently “in the pre-solicitation phase for a 15,000 square foot lease for a Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in or around Warsaw, Indiana, in alignment with the VA’s intent of providing care closer to our Veterans.”

Kosciusko County’s veteran’s service officer, Darryl McDowell, said Tuesday he had heard the talk of plans by the VA to consider Warsaw. He stressed that the VA’s interest is still far from being finalized and would likely be years away from becoming a reality because of the lengthy approval process.

Nonetheless, he's enthused about the opportunities such a move would provide for local veterans.

"I look at it as a very positive (thing)," McDowell said. "Right now, transportation is a big challenge for getting veterans to appointments that are VA related."

Part of the problem is that transportations services for veterans are often limited to appointments within the county, McDowell said.

He said Kosciusko County ranks 24th among Indiana's 92 counties with the number of veterans identified as residents.

News Now Warsaw was told by a business entity early this year that the VA had been looking at two other sites in Warsaw, but the government agency did not respond to questions at the time.

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WARSAW — Ten veterans were honored Tuesday with quilts during Threads of Valor.

The veterans honored were Harley Carney, William Cook, Larry Essig, John E. Hurd, Alisa Leek, Terry Leek, Donald Ridenour, Eldon Sauer, Richard A. Wells and Rex Wert Sr.

Liberty Sewing Circle member Marsha Huffman said this was the 16th time for the event.

In fall 2015, two local ladies started meeting at Warsaw’s VFW to make quilts for veterans in Kosciusko County in nursing homes and homeless shelters in Warsaw, Huffman said. A special request was made to the Liberty Sewing Circle to make a large quilt for a veteran in a nursing home to celebrate his 90th birthday. The Circle’s vision grew with that by making standard-sized quilts for nominated veterans in Kosciusko County.

She said the group needed a time and place to meet. It was worked out the Circle could meet on Saturdays at the Senior Center.

The quilts are given as a token gift of appreciation to local veterans and to thank them for their service and sacrifices.

Huffman said there have been some nominated veterans “decline for various reasons.”

Darryl McDowell, Kosciusko County veteran service officer, said as Veterans Day passed, “we continue to be reminded of the remarkable resilience that defines our Kosciusko County veterans. Last weekend, we were called to express our gratitude to those brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country with unwavering determination.”

He also let everyone know of the nationwide Veterans Crisis Line that transitioned to a new number, 988, and then press 1. The crisis line offers easier access to immediate support “and can get a veteran connected with long-term resources,” he said, as service can come with battle scars, both inside and out.

Mayor Joe Thallemer recognized the Liberty Sewing Circle and McDowell, as well as thanking Kosciusko County Senior Services Executive Director David Neff for his inspiration, vision and leadership at KCSS.

“I’ll bet everyone in this room has their own thoughts on how these beautiful handmade quilts relate to the courage and sacrifice of our service men and women. While certainly not profound, I would like to humbly share my impression of this beautiful ceremony,” Thallemer said.

“As our veterans went off to unknown corners of the world to defend our freedoms, many endured the unspeakable conditions of war and conflict. Halfway around the world, they were away from their families, their community and their homes.

“Quite simply, the patriotic comfort and warmth the quilts provide represents a thank-you and a welcome back to the warmth and friendliness of your home community that you fought so bravely for! We must never stop honoring our veterans. It is their courage and sacrifice that not only ensures our rights and liberties remain intact, but defines who we are as a nation.

“By bestowing these quilts on you today, fashioned by the loving hands of the Liberty Sewing Circle as a community, we honor and thank you for your service to our country, but also your lifelong service to our community!”

Carney served in the Navy during Vietnam. He was in combat serval times. He was a radio man and lead petty officer. He was on several different ships assisting radio receiver sites.
Cook was drafted in the Army from 1965-67, serving in Vietnam. He served as an infantry rifleman and radio man.

Essig served in the Air Force.
Hurd served in the Army from 1954-57 in Korea, not in a combat zone. He intercepted military and diplomatic radio traffic. His unit was the Army security unity. He had a top security clearance and was not allowed in combat areas.

Alisa Leek served in the Marines from 1982-86. She was not in combat and stationed in Japan.

Terry Leek served in the Marines, receiving the rank of a staff sergeant. He served as a drill instructor.

Ridenour served in the Navy from 1954-1958 during the Korean War.

Sauer served in the Army, earning the rank of corporal, from 1951-53. He served in Korea and was stationed in Seoul.

Wells served in the Army, an E-4, from 1967-1969 in the Vietnam War.

Wert served in the Army, an E-4, from 1972-75.

In addition to the 10 veterans being honored, Leesburg Elementary students wrote thank-you cards to veterans and all veterans in attendance at Tuesday’s event received one.

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WARSAW — Representatives of American Legion Post #49 honored a vital supporter of local veterans on Saturday at the annual Veterans Day ceremony.

During its ceremony remembering Armistice Day — now known as Veterans Day — The post awarded its Order of the Kosciuszko Award (for exceptional service to God Country and others) to Darryl McDowell, who serves as Kosciusko County’s Veterans Service Officer.

Veteran Ken Locke made the announcement, noting that McDowell is not one to call attention to himself.

McDowell was a member of the U.S. Army for 30 years. He worked as a combat engineer and retired as a colonel, according to Locke.

While McDowell was a sure bet to be at the event, Locke made sure of his participation by asking him to serve as the main speaker.

McDowell thanked organizers for the tribute and then delivered his speech, which he said he chose to be more positive than somber.

He compared the 9/11 remembrance to the importance of Armistice Day, which marks the agreement to end the fighting of the First World War (and a prelude to peace negotiations), which began at 11 a.m. on Nov. 11, 1918.

"It’s the day the guns went silent in World War I on the western front in 1918 … it’s also a joyous and happiness of folks realizing that their loved ones may be returning to them in a short amount of time and that there would be no more blood loss,” McDowell said.

Organizers stood quiet for a moment of silence at 11 a.m. and the Honor Guard rang a bell  to honor and remember all veterans.

Also honored were members of the Warsaw Community High School ROTC cadets — Jayden Cunningham, Talia Kelley, Nate Anderson and Samuel King.

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WARSAW — Veteran Service Officer Darryl McDowell is shifting to full-time employment for Kosciusko County.

McDowell was hired by the county in September 2021 as a part-time veteran service officer.

McDowell asked the council to adjust the position because there is much more work to be  done.

The council unanimously approved the salary ordinance adjustment needed to make the change.

McDowell will begin working full-time on Monday.

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WARSAW -- Jerry Hogan, the first graduate of Warsaw Community High School to receive an appointment to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, was honored Tuesday as the veteran of the month by the Kosciusko County Commissioners.

The retired Marine served in Japan and the Philippines, among other locations, and participated in the evacuation of Saigon, South Vietnam. He currently works with a group that serves as a liaison between the National Guard, Reserve servicemembers and civilian employees. You can find a full story about Tuesday's honor in the Times-Union Tuesday night.

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