By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — Union Station Lofts, transformed from the old Gatke property, is starting to fill up with its first tenants.

In just a matter of weeks, the apartments are now more than 45 percent occupied, according to Shelby Bowen, who is a partner of Bowen Capital, the developer.

[caption id="attachment_133108" align="alignright" width="400"] Union Station Lofts are at 501 S. McKinley St., in Warsaw. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

The 80 units include a view of Winona Lake from the fourth floor and a variety of amenities, including numerous large gathering spaces.

Rents range from about $1,200 for an efficiency to more than $2,000 for a two-bedroom unit. 

Floor plans are spacious, and the modern designs are highlighted with plenty of natural light from the many windows.

Union Station is the latest apartment project supported by the city as it works to meet the demand for housing amid a growing industrial base. 

Bowen said they're already starting to benefit from the arrival of Slate Auto, which plans to hire 2,000 people by the end of the year for its new electric pickup truck manufacturing facility on the west side of Warsaw.

Bowen was asked if Slate has become a factor.

“Slate's had an impact, they sure have,” Bowen said.

“We've had both people who have already been hired by Slate, and we've got prospects who have been interviewed and essentially are saying, ‘Hey, if I get the job, I want to rent a unit here.' ”

“I would say that's becoming even more frequent as each week goes by.

Community leaders gathered for a ribbon-cutting Thursday afternoon.

Several people touted the development's accomplishments before the ribbon-cutting.

Peggy Simmons, CEO of Kosciusko County Economic Development, talked about how economic development efforts come together.

“Every successful community eventually learns the same lesson. If you want jobs, you need talent. If you want talent, you need housing. And if you want a thriving future, you must be willing to invest before the need becomes a crisis, and that's exactly what's happened here,” Simon said.

Former mayor Joe Thallemer made the addition of new housing a top priority during his administration.

“Housing is number one,” Thallemer told those who gathered for the ribbon cutting. 

The attraction of a quality workforce doesn't happen without housing, and the city has supported a variety of housing projects, Thallemer said.

“We're talking beautiful market-rate housing like this, single-family homes, senior housing, affordable housing. We've all worked very hard to meet the needs of our community. This is a crown jewel,” Thallemer said. 

“This building speaks for itself – hearing that it's 45 percent leased up at this point tells everyone here that this was the right thing to do,” Thallemer said.

The grand opening is another milestone for the city in its efforts to revitalize two abandoned properties.

Along with Gatke, the other is the old Arnolt property to the east on Durbinn Street, which opened two years ago after being developed into a 60-unit development known as the 2525 Apartments.

Jeremy Skinner, Director of Community and Economic Development for the city, was asked about those two long-term goals.

“Both had their own environmental issues, worked through both of them, whether it was Gatke or Arnolt. And then the end goal is to do the same thing with the Warsaw Chemical Properties. So that's kind of the next step for us,” Skinner said.

Bowen also said they are close to announcing the name of a restaurant and brewery that will occupy commercial space in the development.

Below are News Now Warsaw photos by Dan Spalding of the event.

[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="133104,133103,133105"]

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WARSAW — What might be viewed by some as a million-dollar gamble by the city of Warsaw to revive the old Marsh property began to show promise last week as two purchase agreements started to take shape.

The city bought the land at the corner of South Buffalo and Winona Avenue several years ago in hopes of finding a grocery store or at least reversing what had become a deteriorating property.

Efforts to attract a grocery store of some kind did not materialize, and some on social media questioned the city's investment.

Last week, the city redevelopment commission reviewed contracts that will set the stage for the sale of the old Marsh building to an unnamed buyer for $1 million.

[caption id="attachment_120787" align="alignright" width="300"] Website photo from the Scooter’s Coffee website.[/caption]

At the same time, another contract is being prepared to sell the southeast corner of the parking lot to a company that plans to construct a Scooter’s Coffee drive-through shop near the corner of South Buffalo and Prairie streets. That sale price will be $225,000.

The transaction would provide a break-even situation for the city and result in coming months in a revitalized commercial area.

Jeremy Skinner, the city’s director of community and economic development, who is leading the discussions for the city in the sale, was asked if he was pleased with the new developments, which drew a chuckle: "Yes, absolutely!"

"It's been a challenge, but at the end of the day, hopefully, this will be a good spot for some retail shopping on that south side," Skinner said.

Contracts could be expected to be finalized in the next few weeks.

While the buyer of the main property has not been identified, many suspect the property will be turned into a large antique mall. The building also includes two adjoining storefronts on the north end that could be leased.

Skinner said he believes renovations to the main building probably won't be ready for nearly a year.

Major work, he said, will include the heating and cooling system. The roof, the floor, and the parking lot, plus aesthetic improvements to the interior.

“Without a doubt, it will be a substantial investment on their end,” Skinner said.

The city acquired the property less than three years ago during Mayor Joe Thallemer's tenure.

Thallmer now sits on the city redevelopment commission, which is overseeing the transaction.

“We all know how difficult retail has been, and the fact that there’s folks willing to step forward, and that this Redevelopment Commission is willing to work with them, it’s fantastic,” Thallemer said. 

“We’re basically getting back what we paid for the property at the end of the day. I feel good with where we are. Would it have been great to have a Safeway grocery store in there? Sure, but retail doesn’t seem to work like that anymore.”

Mayor Jeff Grose reflected on efforts to revive the property.

The city had worked to find a grocery store for the property, but with no luck.

"For well over a year, we spent a lot of dollars seeking a retail like that, and we were just unable to get it," Grose said. "So you pivot, move in a different direction, and wish for the good."

"At the same time, I wanna tell you that I appreciate our side of the net, trying to figure something out for the good of that building," Grose added.

The drive-thru coffee business will be yet another company specializing in coffee near the downtown.

Scooter's Coffee has stores in Mishawaka, Nappanee, Kendallville and Wabash.

Skinner said officials with the coffee shop are eager to begin construction.

The post Warsaw officials sound upbeat about $1 million gamble on Marsh property appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Eighty-six new apartments in downtown Warsaw should be ready by the time Slate Auto revs up its new electric pickup production a year from now just west of Warsaw.

That little fact was aired at Tuesday’s groundbreaking for Millworks, which will offer market-rate apartments where the Owens Supermarket once stood.

The $21 million project will feature numerous amenities, including a rooftop deck, bike storage and pet-friendly facilities.    

There will be a courtyard in the middle, angled parking around the entire development, and a restaurant on the southeast corne of the lot.

The proposal faced numerous delays, and AP Development President Jon Anderson sounded eager to see construction commence.

He spoke at Tuesday's groundbreaking as a nearby construction crew began some initial work.

"I apologize for the noise, but that's why we're here. This project will go fast now ... Once we go vertical, it will go fast, and you will see it go up quickly. We plan to be open by this time next year if not sooner," Anderson said.

When complete, the apartment complex will make the downtown feel a little bigger, says Jeremy Skinner, the city's director of community and economic development.

"Our intent was to create housing opportunities, create density, and to support our downtown. This project does those three things," Skinner said.

Expanding housing options has been a top issue that took root under former mayor Joe Thallemer and into the Jeff Grose administration, as Slate and another orthopedic manufacturer, AutoCam, announced expansion plans earlier this year.

Millworks is one of two apartment projects currently under construction. The other is Union Lofts on Jefferson near Argonne Road and Winona Avenue.

[caption id="attachment_119964" align="alignright" width="220"] Peggy Friday[/caption]

Millworks will arrive at a good time as the community works to provide housing to a fast-growing workforce.

"Slate Auto will be opening at the end of 2026 for full production, so we really want those folks to live here and be engaged ... spend those dollars here in our community rather than leave the county," said Peggy Friday, the CEO of Kosciusko County Economic Development Corp.

Anderson was complimentary of the city's support, saying officials stood out mightily against other communities the company has worked with in the past.

Likewise, city officials said they found a good partner in AP Development for the project.

Funding came from several sources, including Indiana's Regional Development Authority (for $3 million) and money from the city of Warsaw.

Mayor Jeff Grose, whose family shopped at the Owen's store decades ago, thanked various people for their support in the project but said much of the credit goes to Skinner and former Mayor Joe Thallemer.

Thallemer also attended the ceremony and reflected on the lengthy efforts behind redeveloping the property.

"The moment it became available, that was the whole thought — that it would expand our urban core ... we had a great opportunity to get it done," Thallemer said.

Thallemer also tipped his hat to Rob and Nancy Gast, who owned a beloved bike shop behind the grocery store for many years.

"They owned a nice hunk of that property and they were very excited about the project and were willing to sell the old Tarkio Road bicycle shop," Thallmer added.

[caption id="attachment_119952" align="aligncenter" width="770"] An architectural rendering of the future Millworks apartments. Artwork provided.[/caption]

The post Future apartments will help expand downtown Warsaw’s footprint appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — There is likely nobody more pleased to see a new chapter unfold at the old Gatke property in Warsaw than Jeremy Skinner.

The large rusted industrial blighted tract on McKinley Street sat empty for decades and became a haven for small crime and homelessness, but that is now a distant memory as construction has begun for the Union Station Lofts.

[caption id="attachment_109985" align="alignright" width="420"] City officials sounded upbeat Thursday at the groundbreaking for the future Union Station Lofts. From left are Jeremy Skinner, director of community & economic development for the city, Warsaw Mayor Jeff Grose, City Council President Jack Wilhite, and former Mayor Joe Thallemer. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

The development will feature 80 apartments and significant commercial space.

For Skinner, the city's director of economic and community development, it was a puzzle he’s tried to solve over the course of nearly two decades.

Skinner admitted it's been hanging over his head "for a long time."

"It feels good to finally get it going," Skinner said Thursday.

"We've had a lot of different ideas thrown at us over the years. Some not great ideas, some good ideas, without good financial backing and an ability to bring it to fruition," Skinner said.

"To be able to sit down with Shelby (Bowen) three or four years ago and hammer this project out and get to where we are today, it's been a long and rewarding project," Skinner said.

Bowen is the founder and partner with Rebar Development of Fishers, which has constructed large-scale residential developments across parts of Indiana and Ohio.

The Warsaw project stands out for certain reasons that made it more complicated.

"I'll tell you what was extraordinary," Bowen said. "This site was probably the most difficult in terms of overcoming environmental history that went along with what was here with Gatke over the years ... It took a long time and a lot of obstacles, but we were committed from the beginning."

Skinner and Bowen were among a large group that celebrated the start of construction of the future Union Station Lofts Thursday with a groundbreaking that included Mayor Jeff Grose, former mayor Joe Thallemer, KEDCO's Executive Director Peggy Friday and many other dignitaries.

[caption id="attachment_109991" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Architectural rendering of Union Station Lofts provided by Rebar Development.[/caption]

Several people spoke ahead of the groundbreaking about the $19 million investment that officials believe will spur development of the larger McKinley Street Ride-Walk corridor.

"The transformation of the former Gatke site into Union Station Lofts represents a major milestone for our community," said Mayor Grose.

"This development brings much-needed housing and vibrant commercial space while activating a key corridor that connects our neighborhoods and downtown. We’re proud to partner on this meaningful project that reflects Warsaw’s commitment to thoughtful growth and revitalization," he said.

"Union Station Lofts is exactly the kind of investment that strengthens our community fabric," said Friday. "By reimagining this historic industrial site, we’re creating a destination that will serve residents, small businesses, and entrepreneurs alike. It’s a powerful step forward for both our local economy and quality of place."

The development includes 80 class-A apartment homes with one- and two-bedroom floor plans and three commercial studios totaling 3,306 square feet.

The Union Station Lofts will have elevated amenities that include a rooftop terrace, work-from-home lounge, resident cafe, state-of-the-art fitness center, bike storage, pet spa, and incredible views of Winona Lake.

The commercial space is expected to include a mix of retail, office, or restaurant space.

Union Station Lofts is a public-private partnership that includes a $4 million redevelopment tax credit from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and Northeast Indiana Regional Development Authority.

Additionally, through the Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative (OIRI), housed by OrthoWorx, the project will receive an additional $1.4 million in funding.

Construction should be complete in about 14 months, Bowen said.

The name of the lofts has been revised several times, but settled on the current name a few months ago.

The post Decades of efforts finally result in new future at old Gatke site appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Two officials connected to the US 30 project said Wednesday that after final recommendations on how intersections are pared down along the future limited-access highway, the next decisions will come down to money.

[caption id="attachment_101950" align="alignright" width="360"] Warsaw Mayor Jeff Grose (L) shares a thought with former mayor Joe Thallemer during Wednesday's meeting about US 30. Thallemer is the president of the Indiana US 30 Coalition. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

The Propel US 30 team hosted a public meeting Wednesday night at Lincoln Elementary in which people had a chance to see an up-close look at more than a dozen segments along the highway that included clusters of existing intersections.

Drawings and flyover videos of the many of the segments highlighted at the meeting are also available at propelus30.com.

Pubic opinion will be accepted on the intersections until Dec. 13.

A final design will be released early next year.

After that, Propel will send the recommendations to INDOT for consideration.

Propel Study Manager Rusty Holt said the state could potentially pick some of the most problematic intersections as it works to prioritize construction plans. That would work in the favor of Warsaw and Kosciusko County where some of the most deadly intersections across the entire stretch of US 30 are found.

Holt said money will be an issue once the Indiana Department of Transportation identifies certain projects.

"It may be that the highest need is Warsaw and so they need to address some issues inside of Warsaw and connect the dots later," Holt said.

INDOT has already given initial priority to a series of intersections west of Fort Wayne and east of Columbia City including two intersections near Steel Dynamics, which publically called on the state to take action earlier this year.

Steel Dynamics has also confirmed their willingness to commit an undisclosed amount of money to support the reconstruction of two intersections that will have a combined cost of upward of $70 million.

Holt was asked if that westward pattern of construction could continue into Kosciusko County.

"If it's one intersection or two intersections that are causing a lot of issues, maybe they would just look to fix those first," he said.

Former Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said funding will become a main issue if the projects move forward, but adds that many lawmakers across northeast Indiana are strong supporters of revamping US 30.

[caption id="attachment_101951" align="aligncenter" width="900"] A view of the crowd at Lincoln Elementary Wednesday night for the US 30 meeting. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_101952" align="aligncenter" width="920"] Charts at the meeting displayed specific options for each intersection. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_101953" align="aligncenter" width="905"] An array of options are available for each intersection. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

The post Worst intersections could be prioritized, Propel US 30 official says appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

COLUMBIA CITY — In its biggest announcement to date concerning US 30, the Indiana Department of Transportation expressed full support on Wednesday for the construction of an interchange and overpass near Steel Dynamics in Whitley County.

Officials also said those two projects and improvements at two other nearby intersections will transform several miles of US 30 into a limited-access highway that many officials want to see happen all the way to Valparaiso.

[caption id="attachment_101674" align="alignright" width="360"] Steel Dynamics President and COO Barry Schneider smiles while talking with Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb after the state announced plans for an interchange and overpass near the company's plant outside of Columbia City. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

The announcement was made by Gov. Eric Holcomb at the SDI headquarters overlooking the highway and comes months after executives from the Columbia City firm and Zimmer Biomet in Warsaw publicly implored state leadership to move more quickly in improving safety conditions along the corridor.

INDOT Commissioner Mike Smith and Holcomb confirmed Steel Dynamics has agreed to help finance the two new projects.

"I think SDI fully understands they have a huge investment here in this geography and so they're willing partner to help us get there on project costs," Smith said.

"We couldn't be more appreciative," Holcomb added.

Steel Dynamics President and COO Barry Schneider told News Now Warsaw they’re committed to providing an unspecified amount of money toward the projects.

"We believe in putting skin in the game," Schneider said. "Right from the beginning, everybody's been clear that when we have "asks," we want to make sure the community appreciates what's happening and that everybody is involved — financially supporting projects like this is important."

The newest effort involves the construction of an interchange at CR 600E and an overpass at CR 700E. Already in the loop are plans for interchanges at Kroemer and Flaugh Roads and at Butt Road in Allen County, further to the east.

The combination of those improvements, Smith said, will create a limited access highway from CR 600E to I-69.

Holcomb attributed Indiana's ranking as the No. 1 advanced manufacturing state in America (per capita) to what's happening in northeast Indiana.

He said an estimated 745 million tons of freight pass through Indiana roads each year.

He commended state lawmakers for the pro-growth tax environment, and the continuity of that leadership has brought forward to cultivate an economy "that is so attractive and really creates this flywheel effect where progress attracts progress."

Former Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer, who serves as the president of Indiana's US 30 Coalition, was part of a large delegation representing Warsaw, Kosciusko County and Winona Lake that attended the gathering

Thallemer also spoke and pointed out that the original construction of US 30 some 52 years ago helped propel development in many of the communities but that congestion over the past 20 years has become problematic.

"An unsafe roadway degrades the reliability of travel — a point that business industry and industry business partners consistently remind us of," he said.

"Projects of this magnitude are complex, expensive, controversial and require patience, but bold leadership advances vision to create momentum for change," Thallemer said in thanking Holcomb for "navigating those complexities."

Also among those attending was Warsaw City Council President Jack Wilhite who said he thinks the large group from Kosciusko County at the meeting wants to see similar progress in their jurisdiction.

Intersections in Kosciusko County have some of the large number of serious traffic accident among all counties across the entire stretch of US 30.

"We're just showing our support for making sure something gets done," Wilhite said.

Wilhite said he thinks the announcement serves as an exclamation mark for Holbomb's support of the US 30 coalition as he prepares to step down as governor at the end of December.

The post Two projects on US 30 near Steel Dynamics gain state support appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — The Warsaw Public Arts Commission will unveil its latest installation on Friday afternoon at Central Park.

The newest piece of public art in Warsaw — a sculpture titled Reflection by Gail Christofferson of Bowling Green Ohio — will be unveiled at 4 p.m. Friday on the west side of Central Park. Public comments will start at 4:30 p.m.

[caption id="attachment_97394" align="alignright" width="320"] Ohio artist Gail Christofferson, left, helps two participants add glass this summer at Third Friday to a community art project that will be unveiled Friday at Central Park in Warsaw. Photo provided.[/caption]

Pieces of the sculpture came together this summer at a series of events in which the public was invited to add colorful, small slabs of glass to one of several mosaic panels, which will be part of a 10-foot by 10-foot sculpture big enough for adults to walk under.

Public participation came from people at Cardinal Center, Wagon Wheel and Third Friday, among others.

Suzie Light, one of two original members of the arts commission which was established nearly ten years ago under former Mayor Joe Thallemer, describes the new sculpture as one of a kind.

"This is going to be iconic," Light said.

Christofferson was chosen from some 20 artists who sought to carry out a sense of "creative convergence."

“What we were looking for was an artist who would understand we needed the community to be part of the making of the art,” Light said.

She thinks people will be able to connect with the artwork.

"To be able to look up and say, 'Hey, I was a part of that. This was part of my artwork in the community,' "Light Said.

Christofferson and two colleagues on Wednesday were busy assembling the sculpture, which will include a bench underneath for visitors to sit on.

Reflections will be the second art installation that plays off sunlight, with the other being "Radiance," a sculpture installed several years ago just a few hundred yards away on the shores of Center Lake at the end of North Buffalo Street.

Light said two more projects are in the works. Those include a mural that could be unveiled later this year and another that could come to fruition in 2025.

Light and Paulette Davis, another original member of the arts commission, talked about public art this week for In The Know, the public affairs show you can hear Friday, Saturday and Sunday on Kensington Digital Media radio stations.

In The Know can be heard at the following times:

News Now Warsaw (99.7 FM and 1480 AM):

Fridays at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Saturdays at 7 a.m. 

Sundays at 7 a.m. & 2 p.m.

WRSW (107.3):

Sundays at 6 a.m.

Willie (103.5 FM):

Sundays at 6 a.m.

The post New Central Park sculpture assembled (in part) by community appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Warsaw's new mayor, considered by many to be consummately prepared, having 24 years of city council experience in his back pocket, isn't taking anything for granted.

In fact, Jeff Grose is taking a deep dive into further understanding the inner workings of city government by having top-down meetings with each department head.

Grose tells New Now Warsaw that he’s met with about two thirds of the department heads with some lasting for two hours each.

To say he’s absorbing a lot of information might be an understatement.

"I'm learning so much ... I'll still say I'm a green horn," Grose said.

He said the conversations have been a two-way street and that it's important to understand their perspectives while also imparting his outlook.

"It doesn't mean we're all going to agree. It doesn't mean we're all on the good ship Lollipop, but I think it's very important ... (that) there's trust," he said.

One thing that works to his advantage are the longtime relations he’s built with many of the department leaders.

"I'm in very familiar and comfortable surroundings with very good people," he said. "You wanna talk about helping me get through the day, it has been a great help. It's given me confidence."

The 57-year-old mayor sat down on Tuesday for his first of regular broadcast interviews for In The Know, the public affairs show that airs each weekend on Kensington Digital Media that also comes in the form of a podcast.

After meeting with all department heads, Grose said he'll take it another step by meeting with employees.

In his conversation with News Now Warsaw, Grose also talked about his top priorities outlined when he took office in January.

One of those is earning citizen trust and encouraging civic engagement.

Having good lines of communication are especially important given the current hyper-partisan political climate that exists and seems to often impart expressions of dislike with many forms of government.

He said he would rather talk directly with people who have concerns with city government, but thinks it should start at the appropriate level such as taking a concern about potholes (hypothetically) to the street department.

He also said he's not a fan of social media for such conversations, because that style of short interactions can often be taken out of context.

He said he'd rather talk with people face-to-face or on the phone.

Another priority is strengthening intergovernmental relations with Kosciusko County and Winona Lake.

He's already begun attending Kosciusko County Council and commissioners meetings and said he wants to do that same with Winona Lake Town Council.

He was at Thursday's county council meeting even though he didn't speak or have an issue he was there to support.

His presence carries on a tradition by former mayor Joe Thallamer and Grose tells News Now Warsaw that he wants to expand that to Winona Lake Town Council.

Grose said the idea of better communications was pitched to him by State Rep. Craig Snow.

"Everybody knows — Captain Obvious will tell you — that what we do is going to have an impact on the county. What we do is going to have an impact on Winona Lake and visa versa," he said.

Working with the county will benefit city residents, he said.

"If the county is doing business, I want to be as close as I can to it so I'm listening for those 15,000 people who are part of the county," he said.

Grose said he wants to see himself and other city department heads work more closely with other government leaders.

The post New Warsaw mayor ‘still learning,’ seeks to broaden connections appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW – Sworn in Friday as the new mayor of Warsaw, Jeff Grose focused a short speech on the importance of communication and the role of limited government.

Dressed in a suit and tie, the 56-year-old Grose was sworn in by Kosciusko Circuit Court judge Michael Reed in front of a large crowd in the city council chambers Friday afternoon.

The former hoops star who led Warsaw Community High School to a state championship and was named Indiana’s Mr. Basketball 39 years ago, takes over a fast-growing city with the support of an all-Republican elected group of leaders.

Grose, along with all other elected city officials, including new city councilman Juergen Voss, were sworn in before outgoing mayor Joe Thallamer introduced the new mayor who then addressed assembled guests.

Grose began by saying he's had a "truly blessed life" and thanked "the good Lord," his wife, his father, his children and his late mother who he referenced several times about her oft-heard reminders to keep it short.

Most of all, Grose said it was an honor and a privilege to continue to serve the community.

He also tipped his hat to Steve Hollar, a lifelong friend and former teammate who was part of the state championship, and attended Friday's ceremony.

Hollar served as chairman of Grose's mayoral campaign."His belief (and) trust in me, on a variety of fronts, it's priceless," Grose said.

The ongoing sense of commaradirie between Grose and Thallamer and elected officials was  apparent after the swearing-in ceremony. During a photo session afterward, Thallemer was asked to join them for a group shot.

On more than one occasion, Grose has referred to Thallemer as "a friend in the arena."

"Joe and I, for 24 years, have served this community, and he's been a great mentor and a great friend. We've been blessed to have him," Grose said.

In a 12-minute speech, Grose said his administration would focus on providing solid basic services while remembering the importance of communication.

He first talked about his call to service — literally — in a phone call from former mayor Jeff Plank about 25 years ago.

“I think it’s time to be a member of the Warsaw Plan Commission," Grose recalled Plank saying. "Our first meeting’s next Monday night at 7 p.m. I’ll see you there.”

“Mayor Plank didn’t ask me, he told me, 'Jeff, time to practice what you preach in that classroom each and every day.' He used to visit my classroom and lecture my students: Get involved, give back, go your community. Be a good neighbor and participate in a positive and productive manner in local affairs,” Grose recalled.

In Friday's speech, Grose said he wants “to stay true” to the country’s founding principle of limited government.

“Adhering to this principle means that If and when government does come into play, it better be good government, good government,” Grose said.

He addressed the importance of basic public services, whether it involves helping somebody at the cemetery or with a building permit or trash service.

He also mentioned the role of providing ongoing Infrastructure improvements via the public works department and the need for "exceptional public safety" services from police.

“Our local government must continue to oversee these desired services for our taxpayers in an efficient and cost effective manner,” he said.

“This will be our primary focus each and every day that we come into this building and serve the community,” he added.

He talked about the importance of “constant communication, positive participation and transparency” and said turning to Facebook to get a point across isn’t always productive or efficient.

“In this very polarized society that we live in, please don’t hesitate to contact me,” Grose said. “Please don’t hesitate to contact the council. These are good people.”

“It’s a two-way street,” he said. “We must expect this for government to work for our entire community.”

An unofficial motto for the next four years, he said, could easily be, 'Neighbors serving neighbors while cultivating community.”

“Remember we’re your neighbors as we try to serve you and we want to address your problems and we want you to come to us and we’re going to do the best we can — and it all starts with my office,” he said.

Grose and Voss officially take office on Monday.

[gallery columns="1" size="full" ids="87657,87626,87633,87653,87630,87654,87624,87629,87628,87627,87625"]

The post Grose says administration’s focus will be on providing good services, communication appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — As 2023 comes to an end, News Now Warsaw is looking back at some of the biggest, most impactful stories. Here are ten issues that stood out, not necessarily in order of importance.

• LSC Communications closes, hundreds lose jobs

LSC Communications, formerly known as RR Donnelly and Sons, closed its operations in Warsaw, leaving more than 500 people without jobs. The move comes after decades of decline in the catalog printing business.

• Downtown business changes

Downtown Warsaw saw lots of changes — likely the most in recent memory in terms of new stores, renovations, relocations and expansions. It also included the opening of Atelier, an art gallery on Center Street. More changes are expected in 2024. 

• Orthopedic growth

It was a big year in local orthopedic news. A Singapore-based company, Mentore Media, opened a new facility in the Warsaw Technology Park while Paragon finished expansion plans and was then abruptly sold. Two much smaller firms with an eye on expanding announced plans to take up shop in a shared space provided by KEDCO.

• OrthoWorx money

In an unprecedented move in Kosciusko County, the state legislature announced it would provide $30 million to OrthoWorx for the purpose of coming up with projects that would boost job attraction and retention in the local orthopedic sector

• [caption id="attachment_87615" align="alignright" width="290"] The first phase of residential work on the David Mattews development on North Buffalo Street can be seen in the background, but constructtion materials sit unused in the foreground where work was halted unexpectedly in 2023. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

  Buffalo Street development 

Developer David Matthews LLC reneged on long-held plans to construct a series of upscale homes and a multi-use building on the shores of Center Lake in Warsaw. As a result, he lost out on a large but uknown amount of money from the state. A new plan, in which he would finish some of the residential, remains in doubt, based on the lack of activity.

• Changes in city hall leadership

Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer announced plans to retire after three terms in office and longtime city councilman Jeff Grose, whose name rose to prominence decades ago as Indiana's  Mr. Basketball was unopposed in his run for mayor. Juegen Voss is the only other newly elected official.

• Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer

After months of animosity from Winona Lake Town Council members, Clerk-Treasurer Laurie Renier resigned in October and blasted town officials over how she was treated and claimed town finances were a mess before she arrived two years earlier when she replaced the late Kent Adams. Two other employees resigned. A long-awaited audit by the Indiana Board of Accounts is expected to be released in 2024.

• Blight be gone

Mayor Joe Thallemer’s administration was able to take major steps to eliminate the two biggested blighted properties in the city — Gatke and the Arnolt building. Apartments will soon open on the old Arnolt property and demolition is close to happening on the old Gatke property where a multi-use building project has been proposed. The city also announced redevelopment plans for the old Owens grocery store and lined up a company charged with finding a new use for the old Marsh grocery store.

• Parks – city and county

It was a memorable year for parks. The city of Warsaw constructed a new parks office, renovated the old Center Lake Pavilion with the support of Zimmer Biomet and established a recreational trail along Center lake with funding from a private family. At the same time, Kosciusko County established a parks system that will initiallly focus on development of bike trails.

• Hospitals expanding

Two hospitals in Warsaw continue to evolve. Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital, formerly known as Kosciusko Community Hospital, began major renovations to its facility, including a revamped entrance and surgical centers. Meanwhile, Parkview Warsaw has changed its name to Parkview Kosciusko Hospital (PKH) and has more than doubled its square footage, adding inpatient care, surgery and specialty care, and oncology services via an extension of the Parkview Packnett Family Cancer Institute. LKH renovations are still underway. Patients can begin using new parts of PKH in early January.

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