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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WARSAW — One of Etna Green's longest-serving town council members has resigned.

Keith Claassen stepped down on Friday, and Kosciusko County Republican Party Chair Mike Ragan said the resignation was effective immediately.

Claassen told The Times-Union he's dealing with medical issues complicated by personal challenges, in part after having one of his legs amputated.

He had served on the board for 20 years before being reappointed in 2024.

He said circumstances right now don't allow him to do justice to the job.

The vacancy would normally be filled by a GOP caucus, but since fewer than two people would be available to participate in the caucus, the appointment will be made by Ragan.

Applications are being accepted, and a final decision is expected on June 30.

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Here are Trick or Treat events in Kosciusko County planned for the holiday.

Atwood
Trick-or-treat in Atwood will be 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Atwood Fire Department and Atwood Otterbein Church.

Bourbon
Trunk-or-treat set-up for cars will be 2 to 3 p.m. today at Triton Jr./Sr. High School. From 3-4 p.m., it will be for kids with disabilities, and from 4-5 p.m. will be for all kids. They ask for no scary costumes or flashing lights.
Trick-or-treating will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31.

Burket
Trick-or-treat hours will be 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31.

Claypool
Claypool’s trick-or-treat hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
A trunk-or-treat event also will be held along Main Street from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

Leesburg
Trick-or-treat times are 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31.

Milford
Trick-or-treat times are from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Mentone
Trick-or-treat hours are 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31. The costume-judging contest will be at 7:30 p.m. at Mentone Elementary School.

North Manchester
Trick-or-treat hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Nappanee
Nappanee Public Library will be hosting a trick-or-treat bag decorating the entire month of October.
Trick-or-treating will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30.
American Legion Trunk-or-Treat will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30.
The Boys and Girls Club will have activities from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30.
Nappanee Parks and Recreation Cute & Creepy Costume Contest will be at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30.

North Webster
North Webster’s trick-or-treating is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

Pierceton
Pierceton’s trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

Sidney
Sidney’s trick-or-treat hours are 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31.

Silver Lake
Trick-or-treat hours are set for 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

South Whitley
Townwide trick-or-treat will be 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Syracuse
Syracuse’s trick-or-treat hours are 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Warsaw
Warsaw’s trick-or-treat times are 5:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Winona Lake
Winona Lake’s trick-or-treat times are 5:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
Grace College will host its 35th annual FunFest on Friday, Oct. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Gordon Health and Wellness Center, 100 Publishers Drive

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ETNA GREEN — Organizers of the Mizpah Shrine Club's Turkey Shoot recently got some major support.

The 25th annual Turkey Shoot will be held at Beeson’s Gun Range in Etna Green, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Two Bear Arms recently donated a Charles Daley .410 shotgun and McHatton Sadler Funeral Chapel donated a Henry Golden Boy .22 Magnum Rifle and a Diamond Back .22 Mag/.22LR.

This event supports The Mizpah’s Shrine Temple mission of supporting the philanthropic commitment to the Shrine Hospitals and their care of the crippled and
burned children.

Children under 12 may shoot a .410 to win a .410 for free.

Both .22s are raffle guns and tickets may be purchased for $5 each or 3 tickets for $10.

Participants may shoot for turkeys, Maple Leaf Farms Duck, meat packages, cash and other prizes with shells provided.

In addition, a large silent auction will be held. Food will be available. Please join all
of the thousands of local sportsmen who have realized “No one stands so tall as when they stoop to help a child.”

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WARSAW -- Three companies — Maple Leaf Farms, McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel and
Reinholt’s Town Square Furniture — were recently recognized for over 20 years of support
to the Kosciusko County Shrine Club’s Annual Turkey Shoot.

The Annual Shoot has been happening for more than 25 years and supports the Club’s and Mizpah Shrine Temple’s philanthropic mission to benefit the Shrine Children’s Hospitals.

The Annual Shoot is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 13 and 14
from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Beeson’s Gun Club, 8994 W. CR 25 S. Etna Green.

The public is encouraged to attend. For more information, call 574-551-3770 or 574-265-5748.

Locally, over $200,000 has been raised by the participation of local sportsmen, businesses and contributors. As always, as the donors and participants realize “No one stands so tall as when they stoop to help a child.”

Shriners Hospitals for Children includes 22 hospitals in North America dedicated to treating children with orthopedic problems and burn injuries.

There are 18 orthopedic hospitals, three burn hospitals and one hospital that provides orthopedic, burn care and spinal cord injury care.

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ETNA GREEN — If a public mural is supposed to reflect a sense of community, Justin Vining has been feeling it.

[caption id="attachment_114429" align="alignright" width="330"] Artist Justin Vining, holding one of his two daughters, addresses the crowd Saturday, celebrating a mural he completed last week for the town of Etna Green. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

Vining, who grew up in the quiet town of Etna Green before moving to Indianapolis some 20 years ago, was unsure how he would be received after being commissioned to paint a mural in his favorite small town.

Vining became momentarily emotional in his short address on Saturday to the crowd before the ribbon cutting after completing the project last week.

"I wondered if I would be received as an outsider," Vining said, momentarily choking up."

"Being gone for so long, you don't know," he added.

But those concerns were washed away last week as he began work on the south side wall of the Etna Green Post Office, when he was repeatedly offered food and drink and words of support from onlookers.

Reaction to his artwork on Saturday was like icing on a cake.

"This week, I felt the love. The love of this town. I barely had to bring any food ..." he said. "I had somebody with me for nearly every paintbrush stroke of the mural.

More than 50 people — roughly one tenth of the town’s population — celebrated the new mural Saturday morning with a ribbon cutting.

The 44-year-old Vining first lived on Huffman Lake, but his family moved to a family-owned farm north of Etna Green when he was ten.

“Looking back, it’s just so quint and charming and the pace is a little bit slower, which is great,” he said before Saturday’s ceremony.

After college, he worked as a teacher before going to law school in Valparaiso, where he sold hundreds of paintings. Months after joining a law firm, though, he quit and decided to focus on painting. 

He eventually teamed with his brother, Nathan (still an attorney), and the two refurbished a building on Indy’s east side that now houses Nathan’s law office and Justin's art gallery.

The mural combines two scenes: a passenger and cargo train and a view of Walnut Street, which were based on photos supplied to him by town leaders.

He said he wanted the mural to reflect the town's history.

“The train, before my time, was incredibly important to the history of Etna Green. It’s what helped build the town,” Vining said. “I’ve heard stories this week of architectural parts from older buildings being brought here on train.”

Vining said he’s thankful for all the support he received and is satisfied with the final results.

“In some ways, it’s so much bigger than me,” Vining said. “It’s cool.”

The mural is one of a handful initiated under Kosciusko County’s Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP) that began more than three years ago and assists communities with projects they choose to focus on.

HELP operates under the direction of Amy Roe, who Vinning described as “tough and relentless” in her desire “to get things done.”

Suzie Light, a longtime supporter of public art, lobbied to have Vining take on the work.

"When you're a hometown guy, you're always a hometown guy," Light said. "Justin, thank you for saying 'yeah,' and Amy, thanks for being persistent."

In addition to the mural, Roe and those behind HELP  celebrated in recent weeks the completion of a sidewalk project in Pierceton and, installation of hundreds of water meters in Milford. More projects are in the works, including one in Mentone.

Kosciusko  County Commissioner Cary Groninger, who led the charge in bringing HELP to the county, said the plan is an effort to support towns in improvements they want.

Etna Green now has two murals.

"Kosciusko County is blessed to have 14 small communities in the county and I think each community has its own flavor," Groninger said. "I just really think it's cool that Etna Green has continued on with their murals. This is just an opportunity to have a distinct difference in each community."

Town Council President Heath Roberts said it's nice to have a second mural to help draw people to the town.

He said the town is also working on constructing a trail that leads to Heritage Park. That project, he said, is through the K21 Health Foundation.

Two other phases aimed at improving the park are also in the works.

[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="114435,114432,114431"]

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Staff Report

It's a big week for The Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP) Kosciusko.

The organization that aims to support communities throughout Kosciusko County will host celebrations today in Milford and Saturday in Etna Green.

Milford

HELP will host a ribbon cutting today at 4 p.m. at the Milford Town Hall (121 South Main St.) and celebrate a new water metering system for residents and businesses.

The Town of Milford owns and operates its water department, providing service to all residents and businesses. The previous water metering system had reached the end of its serviceable life, with increasing component failures and repair delays.

“This may not be the most exciting or eye-catching project, but having the right infrastructure in place to support the growing needs of our residents and businesses is incredibly important,” said Milford Town Council President Doug Ruch.

The need for this project was identified by a volunteer committee of local community members participating in the HELP program. And the project was supported and funded in part by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA).

“Replacing all residential and commercial meters will help the Town bill responsibly for actual water usage, improve the quality of data required for water loss audits, support the identification and repair of system leaks, and significantly reduce water loss,” said Ruch.

Meter replacement began Dec. 17, 2024, and concluded in the past week.

“We’re pleased to see this project move forward,” said Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Amy Roe, “It was a team effort, and it’s a vital infrastructure improvement supporting the Town’s growth and long-term sustainability.”

Etna Green

The Town of Etna Green invites the community to a special ribbon-cutting for the
unveiling of a public mural, titled "Welcome to Etna Green" on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The mural is on the south side of the post office at 107 N. Walnut St.

The event will feature remarks from the artist, local leaders, and community partners. Doughnuts and juice will be provided along with a kid-friendly activity.

The mural painting will begin after the 4th of July Holiday.

Created by artist Justin Vining, an Etna Green-born artist whose creative journey—from a farm in Etna Green to law school and ultimately full-time artistry—combines regional storytelling with live-event painting and
community leadership.

His work bridges traditional plein-air techniques with modern entrepreneurial savvy, earning him local and national recognition. Vining operates an art gallery in Indianapolis and you can learn more by clicking here.

“Welcome to Etna Green” features two historical scenes of Etna Green captured in the form of two old-style postcards featuring the words “Welcome to Etna Green” in the middle, and i designed for visitors to take pictures.

It will be painted on panels located on the south side of the Etna Green Post Office.

“This project allows the community of Etna Green to extend its art assets and grow its town
center, and will be cross-promoted through communications with the Engage Kosciusko
Passports, which currently includes thirty-two public art locations in Kosciusko County. It will also be added to the Art All Things Art Map as well as the Art Spaces brochure managed by the Kosciusko County Convention & Visitors Bureau,” said KCVB Director Cori Humes.

“We are excited to unveil this fun new mural, which is more than just art — it’s a testament to our community’s resilience, creativity, and rich history,” said Suzy Klinefelter, Etna Green Town Board Member and project lead.

Amy A. Roe, Kosciusko County Community Coordinator, stated, “The Town of Etna Green has demonstrated remarkable grit and adaptability, rising above every challenge to bring this project to fruition. It’s been a true honor to walk alongside this resilient community and work together— with the support of generous donors and dedicated partners—to turn this vision into reality."

This project and celebration were made possible through the support of the Town of Etna Green, HELP Kosciusko, Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation, and Visitor Commission
(KCCRVC), Kosciusko County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (KCCVB), “All Things Art”
managed by Kosciusko Development Land Trust (KDLT), The Stichter Family Charitable Fund, a donor-advised fund through Kosciusko County Community Foundation (KCCF), Silveus Insurance Group, mural artist Justin Vining, Strebig Construction, Alderfer Bergen & Co., Family Express, and the gracious property owners at 107 N. Walnut St.

For more updates on HELP Kosciusko, visit https://www.kosciusko.in.gov  and follow HELP Kosciusko on Facebook @HELPKosciusko.

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ETNA GREEN — Etna Green’s new clerk treasurer, Barbara Waggoner, has resigned less than six weeks after being appointed.

Waggone rsubmitted her resignation on Monday – after being appointed by a GOP caucus to fill an opening left by a pevious clerk-treasurer who accused town council members of making disparaging comments about her dead husband.

GOP Chairman Mike Ragan told the Times Union that Wagoner had quit a week ago, but withdrew her resignation a few hours later. Her resignation on Monday was immediate.

She was appointed on May 22 and began work on June 1.

Ragan told News Now Warsaw that she did not like the job, but did not elaborate.

The GOP will now seek another replacement and will host a caucus on July 15.

Deadline to file paperwork is July 12.

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