PIERCETON — Leaders in Pierceton gathered on Sunday afternoon to celebrate a handful of new amenities at the Pierceton Washington Township Community Park.

[caption id="attachment_136581" align="alignright" width="233"] Taylor See, with 440 Dirt, raises the US flag on a new flagpole at Pierceton Washington Township Community Park during a ceremony on Sunday. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

Improvements include new pickleball courts, a resurfaced tennis court, and a nine-hole disc golf course.

The 17-acre park is located behind Pierceton Elementary. 

Park Board President Carla Quintero thanked those involved in the multi-project endeavor and said the pickleball courts have already proven to be popular.

"I'm out here normally every Sunday, and the pickleballers, when they found out we were doing a ribbon cutting, they were like — 'Oh, our hidden secret is going to end up going away,'" Quintero said after Sunday's ceremony.

The event included a ribbon cutting and the raising of a flag on a new flagpole installed by 440 Dirt Co.

Financial support came from K21 Health Foundation, the Kosciusko County Community Foundation and a private donation.

"The Thomas Kubacki donation of $5,000, a private donation, kind of got it started to get pickleball courts, and then we applied for the grants with K21 and Kosciusko County Community Foundation," said Town Council President Glenn Hall.

In a short address, Quintero extended her deepest gratitude to K21 and Kubacki.

Keaton Cornell initiated the disc golf course as part of his Eagle Scout project.

Quintero said about 20 people, including a large number of firemen, turned out to help spruce up the park recently, planting flowers and adding mulch and flowers in several areas.

"Pierceton shows up for stuff," Quintero said. "When you put something out that, hey, we need help doing something, it never fails. People will show up for it."

Quintero said more improvements to the park are in the works. Those include plans for repainting parts of the playground and upgrading the nearby amphitheater.

[caption id="attachment_136585" align="aligncenter" width="700"] Park Board President Carla Quintero spoke briefly at Sunday's event. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

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WARSAW — Other than doing some acrobatics on a trampoline as a kid, Ben Rice was never serious about dancing until given a chance to perform in Dancing with the Stars for Charity.

And he took full advantage of the opportunity.

With support from his partner, Hayley Horlick, two student choreographers, Lexi Reece and Kenna Miller as well as some sidework at home, Rice led their team, Totally Rad to victory Saturday night in front of nearly 900 people at the Warsaw High School Performing Arts Center as he and Horlick took the the top prize against seven other teams, scoring 59 of 60 points from judges in the fourth annual charity event.

Rice and Horlick, dressed in red workout attire, finished the show with an energized performance and finished it by throwing fake cash in the direction of three judges amid wild applause from the audience.

"It's been five months of really hard work that I wasn't expecting," Rice said. "But the choreographers took it very seriously, and they're so talented,"Rice said while standing with his wife and kids on stage afterward.

He gave plenty of credit to the choreographers.

"The program here at the school, I wasn't familiar with it, and now that I am, it's beyond belief the amount of work the girls put into it," he said.

Their first dance included a musical medley, and they finished  with the song, "24K Magic."

"I don't know if it was the song or if it was just the energy," Rice said. "That's what we tried to bring the entire time was a bunch of energy."

Each team was working to benefit a charity, and Rice — a former "Big" with Big Brothers Big Sisters years ago — was happy to assist the BBBSS of Northeast Indiana.

Each charity shared in the night's receipts from ticket sales, and BBBS received an additional $500 thanks to a donation from H&R Block of Warsaw.

Rice called the opportunity to help BBBS a "full circle" moment.

In addition to critiques from three judges, performances were also calculated based on only votes from the audience as well as a secret judge, which was a new twist this year.

Totally Rad now qualifies to return next year in a contest pitting them against other previous champs of Dancing with the Stars for Charity.

Finishing second was Felonious Fosses (benefiting Bowling Against Bullying), which was led by Shaun Mudd and Kelly Bradley. Chorographers were Chloe Kim and Scarlett Walters.

Finishing third was Vintage Vibes, led by Glenn Hall and Courtney Walters and choreographer Dakota Gardner.

Also new this year was the ‘Above and Beyond Award’ to a student choreographer, in honor of Lee Anne Stewart, a longtime dance instructor who died earlier this year.

Laicey Snyder was this year’s recipient of the award.

Dancing with the Stars for Charity was sponsored by 107.3 WRSW, Willie 103.5, Warsaw Performing Arts Center.

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WARSAW — The countdown is on.

Dancing with the Stars for Charity returns this Saturday, March 28 at 7 p.m., and organizers say this is the community’s final opportunity to secure tickets for one of the year’s most meaningful and entertaining events.

Ticket prices vary based on location in the theater, but start at just $10 for students. 100% of all ticket income goes directly to the eight charities represented by this year’s teams. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Warsaw PAC Box Office at (574) 371-5040 or by purchasing online at WarsawSchools.org/PAC.

Eight teams will take the stage after nearly 5 months of preparation, each representing a local charity and working to deliver unforgettable performances.

Producer and Host Kris Lake says the event represents the very best of the community.

“This night is about courage, compassion, and connection,” Lake said. “These dancers have committed themselves to something bigger than themselves. By attending, the audience becomes part of that story and helps make a real difference.”

The event has become a beloved tradition, drawing families, supporters, and community members together for a night of celebration and giving. Tickets to last year’s event nearly sold out.

“We started this event in 2018. It took a couple of years off and then returned two years ago. We are now in our 4th season, and we have raised nearly $75,000 for local organizations that serve Kosciusko County,” Lake said. “If we sell out this year, our community will help us cross the $100,000 threshold, and that would be absolutely amazing.”

This year’s cast features eight members from the community, including Glenn Hall, Kristi Jackson Hull, Nate Koehlinger, Bryan Kunz, Jason Miller, Shaun Mudd, Ben Rice, and Keith Sampson.

The cast also features eight staff members from Warsaw Community Schools, including Brenna Blazek, Kelly Bradley, Hayley Horlick, Macy Miller, Elliott Mozingo, Laysa Nocelotl, Leah Reinholt, and Courtney Walters.

Dance Instructor Bri Stewart says the emotional impact of the evening is undeniable.

“There’s nothing quite like this event,” Stewart said. “You see the nerves, the excitement, and ultimately the joy. It’s a reminder of what’s possible when people come together for a purpose.”

Most importantly, 100% of ticket proceeds will be split evenly among the participating charities.

“Every single seat helps change lives,” Lake added. “That’s what makes this event so extraordinary.”

Organizers encourage the public to purchase soon before the event sells out. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door, based on availability.

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News Release

WARSAW — The dance floor will shine once again as Dancing with the Stars for Charity returns for its fourth annual event at the Warsaw Performing Arts Center on Saturday, March 28.

The show begins at 7 p.m., and tickets are on sale now at WarsawSchools.org/PAC.

This beloved community tradition pairs local participants together to compete in choreographed dance routines, all while raising money for nonprofit organizations making a difference across Kosciusko County. Best of all, 100% of all ticket proceeds will be split evenly among the participating charities, ensuring every seat sold directly supports these important causes.

“This event continues to grow each year, and it’s become one of our favorite nights at the PAC,” said Kris Lake, Director of the Warsaw Performing Arts Center.

“To see our community come together, support local charities, and cheer on these brave dancers is truly special. Every ticket sold makes a real impact, and we’re so proud to host this incredible event for the fourth year in a row,” he said.

This year’s cast features eight dynamic teams ready to take the stage:

• Laysa Nocelotl & Bryan Kunz – Heartline Pregnancy Center
• Hayley Horlick & Ben Rice – Big Brothers Big Sisters
• Courtney Walters & Glenn Hall – Legacy of Blessings Adoption Foundation
• Kelly Bradley & Shaun Mudd – Bowling Against Bullying
• Macy Miller & Keith Sampson – Lost Sparrows
• Brenna Blazek & Nate Koehlinger – Pavilion Help Center
• Elliott Mozingo & Kristi Hull – Baker Youth Club
• Leah Reinholt & Jason Miller – Sleep in Heavenly Peace

Each pair will perform two show-stopping routines while championing their chosen charity. Audience members can expect high-energy performances, themed music, creative costumes, and a friendly, competitive atmosphere all in support of organizations that serve families, youth, and individuals throughout the community.

Audience members will have the chance to vote for their favorite team during the show, with trophies awarded to the top three team finishers.

Charities represented this year include Heartline Pregnancy Center, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Legacy of Blessings Adoption Foundation, Bowling Against Bullying, Lost Sparrows, Pavilion Help Center, Baker Youth Club, and Sleep in Heavenly Peace.

“This is more than just a dance competition,” Lake added. “It’s a celebration of generosity and community spirit. Knowing that every dollar from ticket sales goes directly back into these nonprofits makes the night even more meaningful.”

The event is sponsored by Kensington Digital Media, 107.3 WRSW, and Willie 103.5.

Since its debut, Dancing with the Stars for Charity has become a staple community event, combining entertainment with purpose. Organizers invite the public to come out, cheer on their favorite teams, and help raise funds for these deserving organizations.

Tickets are available now at WarsawSchools.org/PAC. Don’t miss this inspiring evening of dance, generosity, and community pride.

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PIERCETON - It was standing-room only Thursday at the Pierceton Community Room as a sizeable number of Republican voters turned out for the Pierceton town convention.

With no other party putting up any candidates this year, there won’t be a town election in Pierceton on Nov. 7 and the candidates selected by the voters Thursday will take office Jan. 1.

Incumbent Myra Mast will serve another four-year term as the town clerk-treasurer. Matt Brubaker will return to the town council, and he will be joined by newcomers Glenn Hall and Steven Eric Trump. Hall and Trump will replace Democrat Janet Castle and Republican Tom Barker on the council as Castle and Barker chose not to seek re-election.

Of the 654 people eligible to vote in Thursday’s town convention, 78 voted in the clerk-treasurer’s race and 79 voted for the town board, or approximately 12%.

“This is the biggest convention we’ve had here for a while,” town convention chair Georgia Tenney said at the start of the event.

Mast received 48 votes, with challenger Jerry Kreger receiving 30 in the clerk-treasurer’s race.

For the three council seats, Gordon Baker received one vote; Chauncey Smith, 19; Hall, 75; Trump, 72; Greg Chism, 30; and Brubaker, 36. Tenney announced at the onset of the convention that while Baker’s name was still on the ballot, he had chosen to withdraw from the election.

The clerk-treasurer race took place first, with each candidate given up to five minutes to tell voters why they should be elected.

In her comments, Mast talked about the changes she made since first being elected in 2019 to make her office more cost-effective and efficient. She discussed how she made the clerk-treasurer’s office open during lunch hour to be more customer-friendly, grants for the town and how all of Pierceton’s town employees and elected officials work together.

“I enjoy working as a team, and I believe that if we can all work together, pulling our talents, we are sure to build a better Pierceton,” Mast stated.

After Mast was announced as the clerk-treasurer winner, the five candidates for the three council seats spoke about why the voters should choose them.

Hall, a resident of Pierceton for almost 36 years, said he and his wife built a home in Pierceton, raised their children here and built a church in the community.

“There’s a family-oriented hometown feel about Pierceton that I want to promote and continue,” he said.
Hall said he wanted to be on the council to be more involved in his community.

“I think it’s time for just some fresh leadership, open minds and maybe some new ideas,” he said. “Every town competes for grant dollars and tax dollars, and I want to support initiatives that will keep our tax base as low and manageable as possible while also supporting those businesses and initiatives that will help our town grow and be viable in the future.”

He talked about the desperate need in the town for child care and housing and he wants Pierceton to be part of the solution while still maintaining its family-friendly atmosphere.
“We need to clean up some properties in town to make it an even more beautiful town,” Hall said.

The council needs to support the town’s departments, including police and fire, so that “we have the kind of safe, responsible community that people love to come to and live in,” Hall said.

Trump said he’s lived in Pierceton with his wife and children for 24 years. He attended elementary and middle school in Pierceton and graduated from Whitko High School in 1990.

“The Trump family has lived in this community for almost 200 years and shown a continued devotion of service to the Pierceton community,” he said.

Trump talked about his coaching experience and his service on the Whitko School Board.

“I want to see everyone in our community thrive and I will do all I can to participate in activities that promote the town and the people of the town, whether it be through civic, religious or community organizations,” he said.

Trump pledged to help foster the continued growth of Pierceton.

“I want Pierceton to be a community where businesses, restaurants and retail stores want to do business,” he said. “I will always strive to make decisions to keep the tax base as low as possible to the benefit of the citizens and businesses of our town.”

Pierceton being a great town, he said he would do what he can to make it more aesthetically pleasing to visitors and residents alike.

In his comments, Brubaker said he’s lived here his whole life. In 2000, he met his wife, told her he was a firefighter and she’d have to move to Pierceton and she agreed with him.
He’s served on the youth league board of directors, been on the fire department for 25 years and helped with Pierceton Days.

“I’ve been on the council for eight years. This town is the best town in the world. We have such a wonderful community and family atmosphere,” he said.

Brubaker said he feels they have made some progress in the last eight years and he wants to see the projects that are developing to their end.

“I also feel that there are many new projects that need to be implemented. I’ve been helping work with the Chamber of Commerce to switch them to a Main Street organization. With that change will come more opportunities for grants and money from the state and the federal government,” he said.

He’s excited that the town is getting the utility study completed so the underground utilities can eventually be fixed.

“I would love to see the town grow, so I want to work with KEDCO on hopefully getting some land purchased and getting new homes built. I’m also working with KEDCO on finding new industry projects and try to encourage them to build here for new jobs,” Brubaker said.

He refuted the idea that Pierceton was a dying community.

“We are alive. We’re strong and you have my promise, if elected, I will give you 120%. This is my hometown that I love,” Brubaker said.

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