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WARSAW — Warsaw area shoppers have been clamoring for years to see a grocery store open up on the south side of the city, and it's now about to happen, but on a smaller scale. 

Owens Fresh Meat Market, which opened in Leesburg two years ago, is adding a second store on the south side of Warsaw just north of Warsaw Community High School.

The store will be on Fisher Avenue near Kincaid Street in a building that used to be home to Kendall Electric. 

Co-owner Christy Owens said they've been looking for a spot in Warsaw and had considered using part of the Old Marsh property before finding a spot further to the south.

She said the future operations won't have a butcher on staff, but will be similar to the store in Leesburg.

"I know we'll have a fresh meat counter in there, probably a deli, a grocery section ... like everybody wants," Owens said.

"Pretty close to what we have here up in Leesburg, it'll just be on a smaller scale," she said.

She said they could open for business "hopefully" in June.

The closing of the Marsh grocery store (nine years ago) and the Owen's Grocery store (no relation to the Leesburg store owners) in 2919 left a clear void for residents on the west and south sides of the city.

City leaders worked for years to attract a grocery store to the Marsh property at the corner of Winona Avenue and South Buffalo Street, for years with no luck because of the property's deteriorating condition.

At the same time, the company that owned the old Owen's property (Krogers) prevented other grocery stores from acquiring the land, which will soon be home to a new apartment complex.

Filling that void, Owens said, is part of the reason for expanding.

Kristy Owens said they were interested in using part of the Marsh property, which had been owned by the city of Warsaw before it was sold to a company that is redeveloping the building into a large antique mall, which is expected to open posskbly by the end of the year.

Ultimately, they learned of the Fisher Avenue opportunity, she said.

News of the expansion plans was announced earlier this week in a video posted by the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, which you can see here. The video attracted hundreds of positive comments and reactions.

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LEESBURG — Live Well Kosciusko is partnering with Francine’s Friends to bring breast cancer screenings directly to the Leesburg community.

The mobile unit will be located at Owens Fresh Meat Market (6287 SR 15, Leesburg) on Monday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

This event is part of Live Well Kosciusko’s commitment to reducing barriers to care and
ensuring every woman in Kosciusko County has access to early detection services.

Women ages 40 and older who have not had a mammogram in the past year are eligible for screening. Insurance will be billed when available, and assistance is offered to help ensure cost is not a barrier. To secure a preferred time, appointments are recommended, but walk-ins will be accommodated when possible.

“This event helps women have access to early detection services,” said Jessica Camarena of
Live Well Kosciusko. “If cost or access has been a barrier, we want you to know support is
available.”

Francine’s Friends Mobile Mammography is a program of Parkview Health. For more
information, click here.

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WARSAW — Live Well Kosciusko is partnering with Parkview’s Ronald McDonald Care Mobile to bring pediatric care directly to our local communities and families — just like the group's mobile mammography program, but instead, focused on children’s health.

The Care Mobile is a pediatric doctor’s office on wheels, staffed by Parkview Physicians Group – Pediatrics. It travels to neighborhoods across our area to provide well-child visits, sick visits, immunizations, screenings, and more.

Services are available for children 0–18 years old, and no‑charge care is offered for families without insurance, helping remove barriers to quality health care.

In a news release, Live Well Kosciusko said they're grateful to Parkview Health and Ronald McDonald House Charities for making this mobile care possible, as well as K21 Health Foundation and Health First Kosciusko for their support.

Here is the schedule:

• March 3 at Baker Youth Club, 1401 E. Smith St., Warsaw
• March 10 at Leesburg Lions, 114 W. School St., Leesburg
• March 16, Baker Youth Club, 1401 E. Smith St., Warsaw
• March 25, Warsaw Community Public Library, 310 E. Main St., Warsaw

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LEESBURG - An infant found to have fentanyl in its system led to the arrest of two Leesburg residents.

Icy Mae Nine, 21, and Jacob Lee Watkins, 20, both of 14 EMS B6A Lane, Leesburg, are each facing charges of possession of a narcotic drug, a level 6 felony; unlawful possession of a syringe, a level 6 felony; maintaining a common nuisance - controlled substance, a level 6 felony; and possession of paraphernalia, introducing a controlled substance into the body, a misdemeanor.

Wakins and Nine were arrested but were released on bond.

On Oct. 20 at 5:44 p.m., Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department officer Logan Pitts responded to an unresponsive 9-month-old girl at 14 EMS B6A Lane. Upon arrival, Pitts identified the child, who was conscious and breathing, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Later, at 6:42 p.m., Pitts was told by North Webster EMS they believed the infant had overdosed on fentanyl, a narcotic drug. They also advised that while the girl was in their care, they had to use Narcan on her twice. Narcan is a drug used to counteract the effects of a narcotic drug.

Pitts spoke to a woman, who said she took the infant and another child to 14 EMS B6A for a birthday party. She said the homeowner, Jason Myers, had retrieved some colored pens from Jessica Myers’ bedroom for the children to use. The woman said she then saw that the 9-month-old had been given one of the pens and immediately went to take it away. After taking away the pen, she saw the girl become extremely tired and appeared to have labored breathing consistent with an overdose she had witnessed in the past, the affidavit states. The woman said she called 911 and they began CPR on the infant.

The infant was taken to the hospital, where she tested positive for fentanyl.

Pitts told North Webster Police Department to go to the residence on EMS B6A and secure it. Pitts also contacted the Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS). Officers arrived at the residence and heard people running around inside the home and believed they may be destroying evidence, the affidavit states, and officers entered to secure it.

Officers found Watkins and Nine in a bedroom and detained them to preserve evidence. Pitts also contacted NET 43 officer Tony Schmucker.

Schmucker spoke with officers who said they had observed the homeowners, Jason and Jessica Myers, entering and exiting the home several times and leaving. Officers found that when Jason and Jessica found that officers were going back to their residence, they contacted Watkins and Nine and told them not to answer the door and to hide, according to the affidavit.

Schmucker obtained a search warrant for the Myers, Watkins and Nine residence and the two vehicles in the driveway.

Schmucker served the search warrant and found a list of drug-related items in the living room, in the Myers’ bedroom, in the bedroom where Watkins and Nine were found and in the bathroom. Among those items were 25 to 30 syringes, all used, many uncapped, several uncapped on the floor in the bedroom where Watkins and Nine were found. There were 15 to 20 syringes, many of which were used, in the Myers’ bedroom.

After the home was searched, DCS arrived and took custody of two other children.
Schmucker searched Watkins’ phone and found evidence of drug conversations between him and Jessica Myers and him and Jason Myers.

Pitts spoke with one of the children, who said that she slept in the Myers’ bedroom, where the syringes and spoons that tested positive for fentanyl were found.

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Here are Trick or Treat events in Kosciusko County planned for the holiday.

Atwood
Trick-or-treat in Atwood will be 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Atwood Fire Department and Atwood Otterbein Church.

Bourbon
Trunk-or-treat set-up for cars will be 2 to 3 p.m. today at Triton Jr./Sr. High School. From 3-4 p.m., it will be for kids with disabilities, and from 4-5 p.m. will be for all kids. They ask for no scary costumes or flashing lights.
Trick-or-treating will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31.

Burket
Trick-or-treat hours will be 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31.

Claypool
Claypool’s trick-or-treat hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
A trunk-or-treat event also will be held along Main Street from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

Leesburg
Trick-or-treat times are 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31.

Milford
Trick-or-treat times are from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Mentone
Trick-or-treat hours are 5:30 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31. The costume-judging contest will be at 7:30 p.m. at Mentone Elementary School.

North Manchester
Trick-or-treat hours are 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Nappanee
Nappanee Public Library will be hosting a trick-or-treat bag decorating the entire month of October.
Trick-or-treating will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30.
American Legion Trunk-or-Treat will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30.
The Boys and Girls Club will have activities from 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30.
Nappanee Parks and Recreation Cute & Creepy Costume Contest will be at 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30.

North Webster
North Webster’s trick-or-treating is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

Pierceton
Pierceton’s trick-or-treating hours are 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 31.

Sidney
Sidney’s trick-or-treat hours are 5 to 7 p.m. Oct. 31.

Silver Lake
Trick-or-treat hours are set for 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

South Whitley
Townwide trick-or-treat will be 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Syracuse
Syracuse’s trick-or-treat hours are 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Warsaw
Warsaw’s trick-or-treat times are 5:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

Winona Lake
Winona Lake’s trick-or-treat times are 5:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31.
Grace College will host its 35th annual FunFest on Friday, Oct. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Gordon Health and Wellness Center, 100 Publishers Drive

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WARSAW — The following is a list of towns and organizations that have scheduled Memorial Day events this weekend.

Etna Green
At noon Sunday, there will be the annual reading of roll call of veterans. The veteran either had to live in Etna Green or be buried in the Etna Green cemetery.

Leesburg
The community will have a Memorial Day parade and service at 10:30 a.m. Monday.

There will be a flag-raising and opening ceremony before the parade at Town Hall.

The parade will proceed from Town Hall south on Pearl Street, then west on Prairie Street to the Leesburg Cemetery. The memorial service will follow the parade.

All veterans willing to ride in the parade should be at the Town Hall by 10:15 a.m., and all other participants should be in place by 10:15 a.m..

In case of rain, the memorial service will be held inside the Leesburg Lions building at 10:30 a.m.

For more information, call Craig Charlton at 574-527-0721, Sue Charlton at 574-453-0033 or Christina Archer at 574-453-4961.

Mentone
There will be a Memorial Day service at 2 p.m. Sunday at the cemetery.

North Manchester
American Legion Post 286 will hold a Memorial Day 2025 service at Holderman Park on Monday.

The ceremony will start at 9:45 a.m. with “America the Beautiful,” and then the Post 286 commander will open the ceremony at 10 a.m. After the national anthem and pledge are recited, Pastor J.P. Freeman will give the invocation.

Following the color guard march, the band playing the “Star-Spangled Banner” and Flanders Field recited by Gee Gee Tharp, honors to service members will take place at 10:20 a.m. Rex Tharp will then sing “America the Beautiful,” and then he will give the guest speech.

Raising and lowering of the flag as color guard fires and taps is played will be at 10:55 a.m., followed by the presentation of awards at 11 a.m.

The ceremony will wrap up with the reciting of names of fallen veterans at 11:05 a.m., benediction by Freeman, color guard retires off field and the commander closes the ceremony at 11:25 a.m.

North Webster
At 6:15 p.m. on Sunday, there will be a military service at the town park. A brief service with live trumpet music and remarks will take place, followed by a ceremonial salute from the North Webster American Legion Post 253 Honor Guard.

At 6:30 p.m., listen for Taps Across the Water. At 7:05 p.m., there will be a trumpet concert at the park.

The American Legion’s honor guard will hold Memorial Day ceremonies at 8 a.m. at Oswego Cemetery; 8:30 a.m. at Thorn Cemetery; 9 a.m. at Salem Cemetery; 9:30 a.m. at Oak Grove Cemetery; 10 a.m. at Mock Cemetery; and 10:30 a.m. at Post 253.

The parade will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday  with a ceremony in North Webster Cemetery at 11:15 a.m.

Silver Lake
A Memorial Day ceremony will be hosted by the Silver Lake Lions Club at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The event will take place at Lakeview Cemetery in Silver Lake.

Syracuse
At 8:10 p.m. on Sunday, there will be a trumpet ensemble concert at Oakwood Gazebo. It is presented by Chautauqua-Wawasee and American Legion Post #223.

At 9 p.m., there will be a moment of silence

At 9:09 p.m., listen for Taps Across the Water.

Warsaw
There will be a Memorial Day service at Oakwood Cemetery on Monday.

Music will start at 10:30 a.m., and the service will start at 11 a.m.

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WARSAW — The debate over whether to rezone 550 acres from agriculture to Industrial 3 that would have opened the door for a data center near Leesburg was rejected by the Kosciusko County Commissioners by a 3-0 vote on Tuesday morning.

[caption id="attachment_108766" align="alignright" width="279"] A few of the many opponents at Tuesday's meeting wore anti-data center caps. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

The commissioners were given a unanimous recommendation against the rezoning from the area plan commission and heard more than an hour of debate Tuesday on the matter, for those and against.

The debate pitted whether to allow a massive data center that could generate upward of $30 million in tax revenue for the county against the desire by many residents to preserve the agricultural environment and way of life.

Many of those opposed to the plan said they were not opposed to the concept of a data center but were strongly opposed to the location, while the attorney for Prologis, Steve Snyder said the land northwest of Leesburg was the ideal location because of its proximity to a NIPSCO substation that connected three massive transmission lines.

He also discounted the idea offered by some that Prologis should find a new location and run electrical lines to it. He argued it would be expensive and incredibly time-consuming.

Snyder also pointed out that even if the rezoning was approved, the plan would still need approval for an exception by the county board of zoning appeals, which would review performance standards.

Attorney Jack Birch, representing those opposed to the rezoning, told the commissioners that the 8-0 Recommendation by the plan commission stood out as one of the most important considerations.

Two of the three commissioners, Cary Groninger and Sue Ann Mitchell, said they spent a lot of time researching the issue. They also said that otherwise they normally support economic development and business plans.

The location and public opinion seemed to carry a lot of weight.

"The rezoning of property should be denied because it's not a reasonable and prudent location for this type of development," Mitchell said.

"This unique, challenging project and the limitations and problems associated with the current proposed location have not been overcome by the petitioner. In light of these considerations, I concur with my fellow commissioners," Groninger said.

Bob Conley echoed the words of Valparaiso's mayor, where a similar plan was considered.

"Our citizens have spoken. Our area plan department has spoken, and now our county commissioners are speaking," he said.

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WARSAW — Plans for a data center near Leesburg faced a wall of opposition Wednesday in a rezoning hearing that lasted nearly two and half hours in Warsaw.

A bid to rezone 550 acres that could open the door for the petitioner, Prologis, to construct ten buildings as part of a hyper-scale data center, failed to gain any clear support from the area plan commission’s eight attending members who voted unanimously to recommend against rezoning the farmland to Indutrial 3.

Opponents, led by a group called Keep Leesburg Rural, assailed the plan as an assault on agriculture and argued it was a classic example of spot zoning.

Attorney, Steve Snyder, representing Prologis, compared the current plan to the one that esablished the Louis Dryfes bio fuel plant in Claypool years ago because of the availability of nearby trasporttion.

The land for the data center, Snyder said, is ideal because of the nearby convergence of three massive electric transmission lines needed to run the data center.

[caption id="attachment_107767" align="alignright" width="320"] Peggy Friday, executive director of Kosciusko County Economic Development Corporation, talked about the importance of thoroughly understanding the issues involved in the data center proposal and listed a few benefits she envisions. At the bottom was a fact sheet provided by Prologis. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

Snyder said the project would ramp up over ten years and bring with it 300 high-paying jobs.

He said the jobs and especially the tax revenues would provide hundreds of millions of dollars in tax benefits.

He predicted that over a 10-year span, tax revenues would generate about $335 million from the data center. He compared that to $311,000 in property taxes that would be derived from the existing farm ground over the same 10-year period.

More than 100 people attended the meeting and overwhelmed the few who spoke in favor of the plan.

Those against cited distrust over the plan and the technology, with some contending the company could eventually falter if the emerging technology somehow becomes obsolete, thereby leaving behind a vast parking lot and buildings that would permanently decimate a large swath of prime farm ground.

They also expressed fear that the data center would need much more water for cooling it computers than portrayed by Snyder.

Kassi Rowland compared the zoning process to the TV show, survivors and was adamant in her opposition.

"Spot zoning I3 in the middle of prime farmland is just wrong. It's reckless. It ignores the vision our county laid out for responsible development. It opens the door for more industrial sprawl that will slowly chip away at our agricultural foundation that supports our county and future generations," Rowland said.

Many complained about the how the development would ruin the rural environment for many surrounding families and some pointed to the apparent hum or noise that would emmenate from the ten buildings.

One man spoke against all of the emerging technology, saying he believes it is a threat to humanity.

One of the few to speak on behalf of the plan was Peggy Friday, executive director of Kosciusko County Economic Development Corporation, which takes a leadership role in the county's economic development efforts.

Friday said she believes county officials are looking at the issue closely “to make sure they’re asking the right questions and fully understanding both the economic and community impact.”

She also talked about the benefits such a technology and financial benefits would provide.

She did not outwardly endorse the rezoning, but acknowledged, “This potential investment could significantly enhance our schools, roads and infrastructure, public safety services and other essential community resources.”

Plan Commission President Lee Harman summed up a sense of distrust over the suggested financial windfall and said he worked about the negative impact it would have.

"This phrase that keeps rattling around in my head is that 'All that glitters is not gold,' " Harman said.

"There's a price to be paid — one way or the other on this," he said, saying he was worried about those who would be most affected by it.

Ultimately, concern for nearby residents was a big factor.

"What about the other areas around it?" Harman said. "That concerns me and I think it opens a Pandora's box that I'm not comfortable with at all."

The recommendation now goes to the county commissioners who have final say on the request.

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