By David Slone
Times-Union

INDIANAPOLIS —Indiana Gov. Mike Braun on Monday awarded READI 2.0 Arts & Culture grants to 49 projects across all of Indiana's 15 regions.

These awards are expected to generate $369.6 million in investment in the state’s arts and culture economy, enhancing Indiana’s quality of place while accelerating tourism, talent retention and attraction, and continued economic and job growth, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

Among the recipients is the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts, which was awarded $1.4 million toward its transformative capital improvement and programming expansion project at its historic campus to improve theater and conservatory facilities and expand arts education through full implementation of the Artist-in-Residence and Broadway 360 pilot programs and the addition of a vocal instruction track.

It also will allow for the return of the Wagon Wheel Concert Series, according to information provided. The total project expense is $2.66 million.

“As a state, we’re powering our communities forward by investing in the vision and strategies of Indiana’s regions,” said Braun. “Indiana’s art and culture sector already contributes $10.1 billion annually to the state’s economy. These investments in our creative assets and workforce will transform Hoosier neighborhoods and communities while boosting tourism and commerce, creating new jobs and career pathways, and fueling Indiana’s economy for years to come.”

Indiana’s READI (Regional Acceleration and Development Initiative) is a $1.25 billion program investing in community-led projects that improve quality of life, quality of place and quality of opportunity, the release states. The READI 2.0 Arts & Culture Initiative, supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., allocates $65 million to the state’s creative economy – a first-of-its-kind, statewide initiative to advance regional creative transformation by investing in public art, cultural amenities and the creative economy.

As part of the initiative, Indiana’s 15 regions developed strategic arts and culture plans, identifying assets and opportunities to invest in arts and culture that support their overall economic and community impact. Nearly 320 project proposals were submitted, representing $1.4 billion in potential arts and culture investments.

Applications were reviewed by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) and the Indiana Arts Commission (IAC), along with an international team of industry experts, to identify projects that have the greatest opportunity to positively impact Hoosiers and the region’s economies.

READI 2.0 Arts & Culture funding will be leveraged to revitalize historic landmarks, pavilions and entertainment venues; bring museum exhibits, galleries and learning spaces to life; create public art, displays and sculptures; and support initiatives focused on building Indiana's creative workforce and economy by investing in artists and entrepreneurs, the release states.

“READI continues to bring Indiana communities together like never before, collaborating and creating paths toward regional growth and prosperity,” said Secretary of Commerce Chuck Goodrich. “These arts and culture projects will transform Indiana’s creative economy, creating new community assets, destinations and programming to support the industry statewide while increasing the vibrancy of Hoosier regions.”

“Arts and culture are a key part of the civic infrastructure of a community, whether it’s a small town, big city or region,” said Miah Michaelsen, executive director of the Indiana Arts Commission. “A vibrant arts and culture environment retains and attracts talent and employers, diversifies local economies, and celebrates local heritage and traditions. These stories that are happening because of this groundbreaking READI investment will transform quality of place in our regions and establish Indiana as a leading destination for arts and culture.”

The Wagon Wheel is in the Northeast District. Project highlights for the Northeast. The region will create a new permanent 3D projection mapping system in downtown Bluffton; elevate the arts through PBS Fort Wayne’s Arts (260) storytelling and educational programming; and invest in the future of the Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts in Warsaw, revitalizing the campus and expanding programming. Selected projects also focus on building the region’s creative workforce through the Pearl Arts Creative Talent Academy Program in Fort Wayne, the Canal Street Artist Collective in Wabash, and the University of Saint Francis’ music technology collaborative, the release states.

A full list of selected projects is available here.

Braun will honor grant recipients at a celebration next week, on Wednesday, July 22, in Indianapolis. More information on READI and the READI 2.0 Arts & Culture Initiative is available at IndianaREADI.com.

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WARSAW — Slate Auto has announced the starting price of its future electric pickup truck that will be manufactured in Warsaw.

The company announced the price this morning on its Facebook page, saying the starting price point is $24,950. 

The company is also starting to take pre-orders beginning today, and has included a link you can find here.

The company also said that pricing excludes taxes, title, license, registration, governmental fees, destination charges, documentation fees, and any optional equipment. 

State and local incentives may also be available.

The $24,950 figure meets the goal established last year when plans were first announced.

Production is expected to begin late this year, with deliveries quickly following.

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WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office is alerting the public to a recent scam involving fraudulent requests for inmate bond payments.

At no time will an employee of the Sheriff’s Office contact individuals by phone to request money for bonding an inmate out of the Kosciusko County Jail.

All bond payments must be completed in person using the kiosk located in the vestibule of the Sheriff’s Office at 221 W. Main St., Warsaw.

No cash transactions or phone-based payments will be accepted by correctional staff under any circumstances.

If you receive a phone call requesting payment for an inmate bond, please hang up immediately and contact dispatch at 574-267-5667.

Residents are reminded to never provide any personal, financial, or banking information over the phone.

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WARSAW — The community gathered in a spirit of generosity and hope on Sunday, Oct. 12, at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club for the 5th Annual Power of Pink Champagne Brunch, benefiting the Kosciusko County Cancer Care Fund.

The annual fundraiser supports local patients undergoing cancer treatment, helping to ease
the financial burden that often accompanies care. This year’s event featured the ever-popular designer purse auction, with 17 purses up for bid. The auction was skillfully led by
Master of Ceremonies Scott Wiley who kept the energy high and the audience engaged
throughout the morning.

Adding a touch of glamour and fun, two Wawasee High School athletes and one Warsaw
High School athlete modeled the purses as they were auctioned. Their enthusiasm brought
smiles and helped spark some friendly competition among bidders. One purse even inspired
an exciting bidding war, ultimately selling for an incredible $4,000.

“The generosity we witnessed today was just amazing,” said Event Chair Julee Rauch. “The
outpouring of support means so much, and the success of this event will help so many people in our community who are facing one of life’s toughest battles.”

The Power of Pink Brunch continues to grow each year, bringing together friends, families,
and community members united by compassion and a shared commitment to making a
difference. With another successful event in the books, the Kosciusko County Cancer Care
Fund is poised to continue providing critical assistance to those who need it most.

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LAKE STATION — A truck driver died Monday afternoon in a crash on I-80/94 near Lake Station.

The crash happened around 4 p.m., one mile east of the I-65 interchange, where a gravel truck struck the median wall, according to a news release from Indiana State Polic.

Preliminary reports indicate that the truck was traveling eastbound in the right lane when, for unknown reasons, the truck drove to the left directly into the median wall and an overhead signpost.

This catastrophic impact resulted in the vehicle being engulfed in flames, trapping the driver inside the cab, and the trailer going over the median wall and into the westbound lanes.

The driver, who was not yet identified,j died at the scene.

The impact of the crash resulted in gravel being thrown across all lanes of the westbound interstate.

The Lake Station Fire Department responded to the scene and put out the fire.

IDEM (Indiana Department of Emergency Management) was also contacted due to burning oil that had drained into the sewer system of the interstate. As of 7:00 p.m. Monday, the eastbound and westbound lanes were all restricted, with traffic able to pass the scene on the right shoulder in both directions.

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WARSAW — In what is being called a tremendous milestone, Parkview Health and Orthopaedics NorthEast (ONE) on Wednesday celebrated the completion of a surgical center on CR 200N in Warsaw.

Officials gathered in front of the Parkview ONE Surgery Center for a ribbon-cutting on Wednesday in a new medical campus on CR 200N.

Chris Johnson, president of Ortho Northeast, said joint replacement will be the focus of the building's three surgical centers.

"It will be a full spectrum of orthopedic care. From joint replacement, spine surgery, sports surgery, hand surgery, foot surgery — all orthopedics that can be done in the outpatient center," Johnson said after Wednesday's ribbon cutting.

[caption id="attachment_120853" align="alignright" width="420"] A view of the interior of the Parkview ONE Surgery Center in Warsaw. Photo provided.[/caption]

Some speakers at the ceremony referred to Warsaw's label as the orthopedic capital, and Johnson said the community deserves the best orthopedic care.

ONE has been providing care for Warsaw for over 25 years, 

The newest construction is part of an ongoing trend in health care to open surgical centers for procedures that would traditionally happen in hospitals.

Dr. Alan McGee, president of Parkview Health Orthopaedics, said the surgery center will provide access of world-class orthopedic care closer to home.

Other components of the campus are Parkview Physicians Group family medicine office, which has already opened, and OrthoNortheast offices, which is expected to open in the near future..

All combined, the new campus is expected to employ about 100 people, officials said.

The first procedure at the surgical center is set for early  November.

The latest construction is also part of a continued expansion into the Warsaw market by Parkview.

Less than two years ago, Parkview Health completed an expansion at Parkview Kociusko Hospital.

[caption id="attachment_120865" align="aligncenter" width="713"] A view of Wednesday's ceremony at the Parkview ONE Surgery Center in Warsaw. Photo by Engineering Resources Inc., Fort Wayne.[/caption]

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By Jackie Gorski
Times-Union

WARSAW — A Warsaw man was arrested after allegedly taking a picture of someone undressing at a local store where he worked and having child pornography images on his phone.

Rockland Alan Coleman, 21, of 3762 W. Old 30, #700, Warsaw, is charged with possession of child pornography, a level 5 felony; and voyeurism, a class A misdemeanor. He was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail on Tuesday on a $5,250 preliminary bond.

[caption id="attachment_115098" align="alignright" width="228"] Rockland Coleman[/caption]

According to the probable cause affidavit, on June 16 Kosciusko County Central Dispatch advised law enforcement a male employee at an area business, later identified as Coleman, was allegedly recording a female changing clothes in a fitting room.

A Warsaw Police officer responded to the scene and spoke to the victim. The victim said they were trying on bathing suits in the fitting room, looked down and saw a phone underneath the wall that separates the fitting room stalls. The victim saw their body on the phone screen, screamed and saw Coleman exit the stall beside them with his phone in his hand.

The officer spoke with a witness who said they were in a fitting room, heard the victim scream and saw Coleman exit the fitting room stall next to the victim.

The officer spoke with Coleman, who said he was clearing clothes from the fitting room stalls and was removing a pair of pants in a stall. Coleman said the victim “saw motion, assumed it was a phone and started screaming.” Coleman said he removed his phone from his pocket when he exited the stall to text his girlfriend about what happened. The officer seized Coleman’s phone.

On June 17, a search warrant was obtained to complete a forensic download on Coleman’s phone. On June 25, a WPD detective transported the phone to the St. Joseph County Cyber Crimes Unit to conduct the forensic download.

On July 2, the St. Joseph County Cyber Crimes Unit told the detective that during the forensic download of Coleman’s phone, child sexual abuse material was located. The detective said to stop analyzing the phone at that time.

On July 9, the detective obtained a search warrant that expanded the scope of the search on Coleman’s phone to include the offense of child pornography. The St. Joseph County Cyber Crimes Unit completed the forensic download on Coleman’s phone.

On July 17, the detective reviewed the forensic download report for Coleman’s phone and saw that 264 files (195 images and 69 videos) were associated with child sexual abuse material. The 264 files included images of prepubescent children that appeared in age from 7 to 12 in sexual poses or engaged in sexual acts.

On July 22, the detective read Coleman his Miranda rights and Coleman agreed to talk to law enforcement. Coleman admitted on June 16 that he used his phone to take a photo from under the changing room partition. Coleman said his intention was to see the victim in their underwear or lingerie, but he only saw the victim’s leg. Coleman said he deleted the image after the victim screamed.

The detective asked Coleman about the nude images of minors on his phone. Coleman shook his head in the affirmative. Coleman said he was curious and first found images through a social media platform where he clicked a link and was diverted to an app. Coleman said there were images he previewed for free but to see more images, he’d have to pay for them. Coleman said he never purchased images.

Coleman said he didn’t know the link would redirect him to child pornography. He said he viewed the images out of curiosity. He agreed 264 files of child sexual abuse material located on his phone was consistent with the number of files he viewed.

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Warsaw's girls basketball team won the Frankfort 4A Semi-state Saturday by beating McCutcheon in the semifinals and then knocking off #1 and previously unbeaten Hamilton Southeastern in the championship.

Warsaw 66, McCutcheon 48

Warsaw jumped out to a 19-0 first quarter lead on the way to their 25th win of the season.

Joslyn Bricker scored 15 points in that quarter to help Warsaw take a 22-5 lead that they never relinquished. She finished with a career-high 35 points, her second game with over 30 points in this year's tournament.

Brooke Zartman added 11.

Warsaw 67, Hamilton Southeastern 61

Warsaw punched their ticket to the state championship game by beating the Royals in the semi-state final.

Warsaw led for most of the first two quarters, but a strong third quarter by HSE put the Lady Tigers down 47-41 heading into the fourth.

Brooke Winchester's two free throws lifted Warsaw to a one-point lead at 56-55, and the Lady Tigers led the rest of the way.

With Bricker and Winchester out with fouls, Zartman took over in the game's final minute. She made 8 of 9 free throws to put the game in the bank.

The Lady Tigers finished 24-25 from the free throw line for the game.

Zartman finished with 25 points, and Winchester scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Bricker scored 18--giving her 53 points for the day.

Warsaw will play Lawrence North for the 4A State championship on Saturday at 8:15 p.m. and Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

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MISHAWAKA — Mishawaka police are investigating a shooting that left one person dead in a residence just a block or so from where the Warsaw girl's basketball team was playing.

The shooting happened on Indiana Street apparently during the high school basketball game.

At some point, possibly after the game, police established a lockdown at the school.

The Warsaw team and local media remained inside the gym until police said it was Ok to leave the building

The shooting was reported around 8:45 p.m.

No other details about the incident were immediately available.

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WARSAW — Warsaw will be one of four locations spotlighted by WNDU-TV this morning as they support the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program.

Willie 103.5's Chris Cage wrapped up a week-long toy collection Friday night at the Meijer store in Warsaw and will drop in for some of the fun Saturday with WNDU's event at the Martin's in Warsaw.

The event runs from 7 a.m. to 10  p.m.

Toys collected at Saturday's event will be distributed in Kosciusko and Marshall counties, according to Cage.

This marks WNDU's 30th year,  and the South Bend TV station estimates they have helped the Marines collect more than 549,000 toys for children in Michiana

Many fire stations will participate in Saturday's event. Overall, though, supporters dropping off toys are asked to remain in their vehicles while volunteers help collect the gifts.

WNDU will be in four locations Saturday:

• Warsaw Martin’s (1150 Husky Trail)
• WNDU-TV Studios (54516 State Road 933, South Bend)
• Grand Design CR 17 (5200 Hoffman Street, Elkhart)
• Stevensville Martin’s (5637 Cleveland Avenue)

Which kind of toys are best? Any new, unwrapped toy will be appreciated. Keep in mind, that toys for younger children and older children are often in high demand, so please consider these types of toys as you make your toy selections.

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