NORTH WEBSTER — Tippecanoe Township and the town of North Webster are making progress in efforts to expand the number of tornado sirens in the area.

A few weeks ago, the township put out a plea asking property owners if they would allow sirens to be placed on their utility poles.

"Yeah, I've had a couple of property owners reach out to me and we've got a couple of sites identified already," said Chris Francis, the Tippecanoe Township trustee.

Francis said that the area has been a bit of a dead zone in terms of siren coverage and that officials committed to improve coverage when the fire territory was established a few years ago.

Two sirens and a backup already exist, but Francis said they want to expand to areas outside of the town.

"I'd like to start west. Ideally, are most populated areas we would hit first. So the Tippy Lake area and then also the Barbee chain," Francis said.

The fire territory has budgeted money for the sirens over the next few years but has come up against some big expenditures including the purchase of an ambulance, he said.

Cooperation from landowners doesn't obligate them to any costs.

"If we could do one a year, that would be great, if we do two, that would be good, but we're looking at about $30,000 per siren and pole plus and then of course there's a utility bill every month on top of that," he said.

To get involved, check out the township's Facebook page here.

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Winona Lake kicks off the fireworks season early this year on Saturday night.

The following is a list of Fourth of July-related activities assembled by The Times-Union.

Warsaw And Winona Lake
The Symphony of the Lakes concert "Salute to America" will be at the Miller Sunset Pavilion at 8 p.m. Saturday. Fireworks begin at 10 p.m. An official musical soundtrack, choreographed to the fireworks display, can be heard just after 10 p.m. on 107.3 WRSW.

Akron
From 7 to 10 a.m. July 4, the fireman breakfast, sponsored by the Henry Township Volunteer Fire Department, will be at the fire station. At 9 a.m., the flag-raising will be conducted by the American Legion Honor Guard at the fire station.
The Firecracker 5k event will be at Akron Elementary School July 4. Registration is 7 to 7:45 a.m. The 5k walk starts at 8 a.m. The 1-mile fun run starts at 8:15 a.m. and the 5k run starts at 8:30 a.m.
A parade starts at Rochester/Mishawaka Street at 11 a.m. Line-up begins at 9 a.m.
At Pike Memorial Park on July 4, a three-on-three basketball tournament will be at 9 a.m. A co-ed volleyball tournament is at 9 a.m.
From noon to 10 p.m., food and retail vendors and free kid inflatables will be available. From 1 to 3 p.m., there will be a petting zoo and pig races. From 1 to 4 p.m. is the Jim Bucher Memorial Car show. From 5 to 9 a.m. is free laser tag and free inflatable axe throwing. From 7 to 9 p.m., kids games are available. From 7 to 10 p.m., the band Gunslinger will perform.
Fireworks will be at Pike Memorial Park at 10 p.m. July 4.

Chapman Lake
The eighth annual 4th of July parade is July 5 at 7 p.m. The theme for 2024 is “Movies at the Lake.” Decorate your golf cart, UTV, ATV, trailer and yourself in a movie theme. Participants, arrive at the CLCA Clubhouse at 6 p.m. for registration, lineup and judging. Judging begins at 6:15 p.m. and awards will be announced at 6:45 p.m.
The 2024 Independence Day celebration will conclude with spectacular fireworks July 6 at dusk, approximately at 10 p.m. A rain date is scheduled for July 7.

Etna Green
The town of Etna Green will be celebrating Independence Day on July 4 with a parade through town and a festival and fireworks at Heritage Park.
Parade lineup will start at the fire station at 10 a.m. and the parade steps off at 11 a.m. through downtown.
At 11:30 a.m., a corn hole tournament, games, food, vendors and other activities get underway at Heritage Park.
Fireworks will be at the park at 10 p.m.

Lake Tippecanoe
On July 6, the Lake Tippecanoe Flotilla will hit the water. A free event, this year's theme is “All Things Indiana.”
Some float ideas can be the Colts, Pacers, Indy 500 and Brick Yard or a favorite college just to name a few. Launching from the Patona Bay Snack Shop, lakefront, at 1 p.m., spectators can watch the flotilla from shore (Tippy Dance Hall) or by boat.
The flotilla will take approximately one hour before returning to the snack shop where cash prizes are awarded. Registration is on July 6 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Patona Bay Snack Shop. For details, restrictions and rules, go to ltpo.org.
On July 6, fireworks on Tippecanoe Lake will begin at 10:30 p.m. This production is free and will be staged and launched from barges situated at the north end of Lake Tippecanoe. A possible spectator location is the Tippe Dance Hall, but be aware parking is limited.

Lake Wawasee
The Wawasee Property Owners Association (WPOA) will have their the annual Independence Day Fireworks Show on July 6 at 10:15 p.m.

North Manchester
North Manchester’s fireworks will be July 4, with a rain date of July 6, at Manchester Junior-Senior High School.
The North Manchester Civic Band will be on hand to warm the crowd up.
Parking is available at MJSHS lot and along Warvel Park.

Nappanee
A parade will be held starting at 11 a.m. July 4. It will start at Nappanee Elementary School, go west on Centennial Street to Ind. 19, south on Ind. 19 to Lincoln Street and west on Lincoln Street to City Hall.
Fireworks will be launched from the Sledding Hill July 4 after sunset at Thompson Drive.

North Webster
The Webster Lake Conservation Association organizes and contracts for the annual Fourth of July Fireworks show, which will be at 10 p.m. July 6 over Webster Lake. The rain date is July 13.

Syracuse Lake
Fireworks will be over Syracuse Lake July 4 at dusk.

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WARSAW -- Tickets are on sale now for The Watershed Foundation's fifth annual dance at the historic Tippy Dance Hall on Lake Tippecanoe.

Set for Saturday, June 24, the "Dance at Tippy" will include a dinner catered by the Owl's Nest, as well as dancing and music provided by Indianapolis-based Woomblies Rock Orchestra.

"We are excited this year to have even more room for dancing and a band that's certain to get everyone moving and grooving," said The Watershed Foundation executive director Lyn Crighton.

"Ticket sales are already brisk," Crighton said.

By mid-day, May 1, almost half of the tickets were already sold.

Tickets for the one-of-a-kind event, which include dinner and entertainment, are $100 per person and a VIP table for 10 can be reserved for $1250. All proceeds for this nonprofit fundraiser help protect and improve water quality in area lakes, rivers, and streams.

Marquee sponsors include Barbee Lakes Property Owners, Coldwell Banker – Deb Paton-Showley Group, Edward Jones – Ryan Drake, Fire & Ice HVAC, Lakeland Pier & Lift, Lake Tippecanoe Property Owners, Main Channel Marina, ProWake Watersports, and Smokercraft. Food, music, and event sponsors include Beyond Landscaping, Patona Bay Marina, Rabb Water, SOLitude Lake Management, Warsaw Party Rental, and Wawasee Boat Company.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://watershedfoundation.org/dance2023/ or call (574) 834-3242.

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