WARSAW — A plan to transform the 100 block of North Buffalo Street into a festival street is one of three projects that could soon be part of a large grant application being sought by city leaders.

An open house late Wednesday afternoon showcased three designs for the festival street, which would raise the street elevation and eliminate curbs on both sides of Buffalo Street across from the Kosciusko County Courthouse.

Such a design would create a large pedestrian-friendly area that would accommodate additional outdoor seating and a space for large festivals.

All three options would reduce the amount of parking by a handful of spaces, but that did not result in concern by affected businesses, in part, because of separate plans by the city and county to construct a nearby parking garage.

The designs presented by Anderson Bohlander were very similar but varied in the way on-street parking was included.

One design included a performance stage on the southeast corner of the courthouse square.

One idea would incorporate gates at the end of the block that can be lowered to close off the street for festivals.

The designs also included street lighting options, additional trees and banners.

Nate Callithen, who lives in downtown and is a member of Ride Walk Kosciusko County, was one of about 15 people to attend the 5 p.m. meeting after Main Street Warsaw hosted several sessions earlier in the day with stakeholders.

"I really like the idea of a festival street. Pedestrianizing downtown is really important to drive the growth of downtown, not just from a liveliness, cultural perspective, but economically," Callithen said.

He said he thinks it will spur more development and lead to more foot traffic.

"I think it's a good first step," he said.

The open house was the latest in a series of events used to gauge community input.

Proposals for the cultural arts district were unveiled last fall, and the festival street is viewed as the most popular, said Main Street Warsaw's Downtown Development Director Terry Sweeney.

Sweeney said they’re working to quickly submit a state grant request in hopes of tapping into some of the $65 million made available through the state's READI 2.0 program, which is supported with money from Lilly Endowment for arts and cultural development.

Plans for a park with interactive artwork were also unveiled Wednesday and would be near the east-west railroad tracks on South Buffalo Street, but some people at the open house questioned the location and the need.

The application could also include plans for a multi-use art space in the old First Christian Church across the street from the county Justice Building, which is owned by the county and is in need of significant repairs.

Sweeney said if they are awarded grant money for the festival street, it would be combined with money from the city, the private sector, and philanthropic sources.

The presentation did not include cost estimates.

The deadline for the grant application is April 15.

The money would not require a matching grant and is open to all communities across the state, Sweeney said.

Officials hope to find out this summer if they will receive funding.

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WARSAW — Sign-up is underway for youths seeking to compete in the Warsaw Optimist Club Oratorical Contest.

This year’s topic is: “The Moment I Realized I Belonged, My Definition of Community.”

The contest is open to youth under the age of 19 as of October 1 who are not enrolled as a degree-seeking student of a post-secondary institution. There is no minimum age.

To enter, click on the Application link.

The contest will be held Sunday, March 29, at the  Kosciusko County Courthouse at 1 p.m.

First conducted in 1928, this is the second most popular Optimist International Program.

Nearly 2,000 clubs participate in this program each year. The winners at the Club level receive medallions and a cash prize and zone winners receive a plaque. Districts have the opportunity to provide a first-place scholarship of $2,500, a second-place scholarship of $1,500, and a third-place scholarship of $1,000.

The Optimist Oratorical Contest gives youngsters the chance to speak to the world. More than $150,000 in college scholarships funded by the Optimist International Foundation is awarded annually from this program.

Anyone with questions can contact: Letrecia Nichols at 574.265-5632 or at lnichols@joes-  kids.org, or Jeff Owens at 574.527.1387 or contest@jeffowens.net.

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WARSAW — Updates to traffic lights at the intersection northwest of the Kosciusko County Courthouse will begin Tuesday and continue for about two months.

The work involves traffic signal modernization at the intersection of Lake and Main streets, according to a news release from the city of Warsaw.

The project is expected to last through the end of July.  Expect minor delays when traveling through the area.

The work is expected to mirror the improvements that have been completed in recent years at other nearby intersections.

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WARSAW — Two weeks ago, the theme, "Hands off," was the battle cry for a nationwide protest that included a rally in Warsaw.

Now, there is another protest in the works, this one focusing specifically on federal budget cuts.

On Saturday, a "Stop The Cuts" rally is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m. at the Kosciusko County Courthouse in Warsaw that will coincide with other protests planned across the country.

Organizers are registering participants at organize.us.

Organizers claim Republicans in Congress are planning to cut Medicaid, SNAP, and other vital programs to fund massive tax cuts for billionaires.

Protests across the country could extend beyond Saturday to coincide with the time that Congress is on its April recess.

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WARSAW — Dozens of pinwheels will be “planted” in downtown Warsaw to raise awareness of child abuse at noon Friday on the south lawn of the Kosciusko County Courthouse.

The public is invited to attend as area organizations join together in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Following brief remarks, those assembled will march around the courthouse square and “plant” pinwheels in the lawn to raise awareness and promote solutions that address the causes of child abuse.

Representing the joyful childhood all children deserve, the pinwheel was introduced in 2008 as a national symbol for child abuse prevention. It also represents efforts to change the way the nation thinks about prevention by focusing on community activities and public policies that prioritize the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

Speakers will include: Dr. Rob Ryan, Bowen Center president and CEO; Erin Rowland Jones, CASA of Kosciusko County executive director; Judge Karin McGrath, Kosciusko Superior Court I; Brad Voelz, Kosciusko County prosecutor; Mayor Jeff R. Grose, Warsaw; and Tracy Horrell, Warsaw Community Schools assistant superintendent of secondary education.

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WARSAW — Due to weather, Main Street Warsaw has decided to hold off on the lighting of the new Christmas tree and other holiday activities outside the Kosciusko County Courthouse originally planned for tonight.

Instead there will be a full slate of activities planned for downtown Warsaw on Friday Dec. 15. 

Activities will include free horse-drawn carriage rides, a Christmas market, a twinkle light parade, the Warsaw a Santa Christmas house hosted by the Breakfast Optimist Club, local singers singing Christmas carols, food and even an appearance by Suzie McEntire, who will be in town or her annual Christmas light the following night.

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Two presentations to adopt the final Strategic Investment Plan will take place on:

• April 11 at 9 a.m. at the County Commissioners meeting

• April 13 at 6 p.m. at the County Council meeting

Both meetings will take place at the Kosciusko County Courthouse in the former courtroom on the third floor at 100 W. Center St., Warsaw.

"These meetings will complete the final planning phase of the program before funds can be released. Then we’ll move forward with determining funding sources for the projects," said Kosciusko County Community Coordinator Amy Roe. "We’re getting even closer to executing projects which will leave a lasting legacy for our small communities and for Kosciusko County all because community members gave their time to be a part of this process."

To recap the program thus far, Kosciusko County was one of three communities selected in 2021 by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) to participate in the first cohort of the HELP program. HELP assists and equips rural communities with developing Strategic Investment Plans, resulting in a legacy project for each community focused on at least one of four community development pathways including advancing e-connectivity, enhancing quality of place, promoting community wellness and strengthening local economies.

With a special focus on rural communities, the towns of Etna Green, Mentone, Milford and Pierceton chose to participate with the county in the HELP program, the release said.

The first phase of the program included community members submitting project ideas in a number of ways including hands-on community engagement activities and surveys. Nearly 350 responses were collected from communities throughout the county.

Respondents representing each community prioritized:

• Etna Green: 43% of respondents said Enhancing the quality of place is most important to them.

• Mentone: 56% of respondents said Enhancing the quality of place is most important to them.

• Milford: 46% of respondents said Enhancing the quality of place and promoting community wellness are most important to them.

• Pierceton: 71% of respondents said enhancing the quality of place is most important to them.

• County (which included other non-HELP communities): 37% of respondents said promoting community wellness is most important to them, and 36% said enhancing the quality of place is most important.

After several project review phases by community committees, local units of government and the local Core Advisory Team, comprised of town clerks, countywide leaders and local funding agencies, proposed capstone legacy projects were earmarked in each community.

All members of the community are invited and encouraged to attend the upcoming meetings as the final Strategic Investment Plan is adopted.

For updates on HELP Kosciusko visit www.kcgov.com and follow HELP Kosciusko on Facebook @HELPKosciusko.

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WARSAW -- The snowy start to Sunday will not lead to much more accumulation.

Snow is expected to end by mid-day, according to Meteorologist Matt Rudkin.

The high will be in the mid-30s and the overnight low will be in the upper 20s.

Monday will be partly sunny with a  high of 34.

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