WARSAW — Construction of a new skate park on Market Street in Warsaw has begun. 

Warsaw Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer said a sub-base is already in place and a mound of dirt needed to support part of the concrete bowl design is visible from the road. 

“As you go by, you can see on the south, you can see the four-foot wall that's … starting to take shape so we're excited about it,” Plummer said.

“The signage has been ordered and we're just excited for opening day, he added.

Construction on the west end of Richardson-Dubois Park is expected to cost about $465,000 and the addition of a parking lot, lights, cameras and other amenities will bring the total to about $550,000. 

Work should be complete by the end of September, ensuring that skaters will be able to try it out before the end of the year.

The future park will replace an existing one in Boggs Industrial Park on the city's west side.

The city has been seeking to move the park to a more central location for several years.

The existing park opened upward of 30 years ago.

On a related note, Plummer said the park's grand opening (no date yet) will include the unveiling of a sign honoring Liz Frazier, who is the namesake of the girls softball field previously located on that spot.

The post Skate park construction in Warsaw could be complete by end of September appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Warsaw Mayor Jeff Grose and City Planner Justin Taylor recently offered insights into several issues, including the upcoming repair to two railroad crossings, a new downtown parking policy, and a long-term idea of an overpass along US 30 over Parker Street.

Parking policy

The City of Warsaw's downtown parking policy is still being implemented and retains free parking for the first two hours. The biggest change is the option to use a parking app if you want to stay longer than 2 hours. 

The goal is to free up more parking in front of downtown storefronts.

Another step in that effort involves setting aside parts of two parking lots specifically for downtown employees. 

One of the lots is on Indiana Street and another on Jefferson Street.

Taylor says those parking spaces will be free for now.

He said they began allocating spaces this week to downtown merchants for their employees

“We have about 125 spaces that are going to be dedicated for downtown business employees, and we're going to try to allocate those across the board this year.

Taylor said the reaction has been good.

Since being introduced a few weeks ago, parking patrols have issued over 115 warnings for on-street parking. 

“We know people are getting the message of the change, and we just want to make sure everybody understands what they can do and what they can't do with the new system,” Taylor said.

Taylor and Grose talked with News Now Warsaw this week for In The Know, the public affairs show that airs this weekend.

Grose reiterated that the new apps aren't necessary if you're staying for less than two hours.

“You can park downtown like I've done since I was a little boy,” Grose said. “You can park downtown for two hours free, doing nothing with your phone (or) nothing with a kiosk. Nothing. And that's the same as it's always been.”

Officials plan to review the policy after about a year.

Grose explains RR crossing upgrade plan

Grose also discussed a new agreement with Norfolk Southern to accelerate some local railroad crossing projects. He recently announced plans to improve railroad crossings on Winona Avenue and Market Street later this year. 

One thing that's different with these updates is that Warsaw is following suit with other cities that have agreed to provide financial support for the projects. 

The city plans to provide more than $300,000 for the work.

“We really believe those two intersections — it has to be tried — we have to do it, as we serve the residents of this community, those that live in our jurisdiction, and the thousands that are coming in each and every day," Grose said.

He said the city held multiple meetings with Norfolk Southern to work out an agreement.

No exact date for the work has been announced.

“We are hoping by the end of the year, so late summer, fall, and we'll do the best we can," Grose said.

“My number one goal is to make sure they're on the calendar … and then we'll deal with that locally for the short time. Usually it's a week or two, a couple of weeks," he said.

US 30 overpass over Parker Street

Grose also acknowledged efforts by two state lawmakers — State Sen. Ryan Mishler and State Rep. Craig Snow — for their proposal to construct an overpass along US 30 over Parker Street, as well as an interchange at Springhill Road and the highway further to the west.

The proposal has been shared with the Indiana Department of Transportation, but no action has been taken.

It would be part of the long-range plan to reconstruct all of US 30 across Indiana, which has been studied for nearly ten years and would take decades to construct.

The Warsaw proposal is similar to one in Whitley County, which is moving forward with financial support from some local industry.

“The problem for us will be: How do we get private investment … to look our direction, and then our ability as a public institution, to come up with your tax dollars to spend them wisely to encourage the federal and state government to look in our direction,” Grose said.

*  *  * 

In The Know can be heard at the following times:

News Now Warsaw (99.7 FM and 1480 AM):

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 City of Warsaw opening up more parking for downtown merchants, employees appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — New stores continue to open in downtown Warsaw.

The latest is Downtown Candy and Soda Shoppe at 112 W. Market St., which will offer a wide variety of candies, ice cream and soda — and opened its doors just hours ahead of tonight's Third Friday.

The new business began greeting customers at 2 p.m.

Downtown Candy and Soda Shoppe is owned by Sheila and Ernie Strickland and will be managed eventually by her son, Jaiden Nesmith.  

Sheila said they had been looking for a store for nearly a year and are expected about the opportunities.

"We are really excited. I believe downtown Warwaw has welcomed us beyond belief," Strickland said.

The storefront includes a wide bank of windows that will include a standup bar looking out over Market Street.

"I always wanted to open a candy store — kind of like a Hansel and Gretel candy shop," she said. "Jaiden wanted the bright colors like the Wily Wonka Candyland style, and the building was not set up for my vision, but it was set up for Jaiden's."

Many of the store’s candies will be seasonal and much of the treats will be individually wrapped.

The store will offer 12 flavors of ice cream, a selection of Blondie’s Cookies as well as  Mocktail sodas.

Current store hours are 2 to  p.m.

[caption id="attachment_98803" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Here is a view of the business before promotional wraps covering the storefront windows were removed earlier today. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

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WARSAW — The Warsaw Salutes You Military Banners recognition program is accepting applications for the seventh cycle of banners, which will be displayed in November for Veterans Day.

Applications and payments of $65 are due no later than Oct. 1. People can go to the Warsaw Salutes You Facebook page to request an application, as well as see previous banners, said Megan Stone, who is continuing the program after her daughter, Elizabeth, went to college.

Elizabeth started the program as a Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy project in 2020 during her junior year at Warsaw Community High School to honor her brother, U.S. Navy Lt. Nate Stone, who was serving on the USS California.

The banners will be installed by Veterans Day, said Miechi Petro, Elizabeth’s KYLA mentor.

Stone said 25 banners will be featured along East Market Street for a year. The banners will be returned back to the families afterward.

To qualify, honorees must be former or current residents of the greater Warsaw area and must be serving or have served in the United States Navy, Army, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard or National Guard.

The banners will display the service person’s photograph, full name and branch of the military.

So far, 125 veterans have been honored, Stone said. Previous honorees include Civil War Gen. Reuben Williams and Mark Skibowski, who retired as a captain from the Air Force.

They include those who have served in World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the Persian Gulf War and the Global War on Terrorism.

The program continues to be well received, Petro said.

Stone said she and Petro feel they have an invested interest in the program as military moms and because of the sense of building community and there are patriots within the Warsaw community.

The post Applictions for military banner program due by Oct. 1 appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — A new locally-owned, family-style pizza place is on the verge of opening in downtown Warsaw.

RockSteady Pizza Parlour intends to be open within a week or two in the space formerly occupied by Rua — and prior to that — the old Brennan pharmacy.

One of the co-owners, Joel Squires, tells News Now Warsaw that the business will specialize in pizza, sandwiches, soft-serve ice cream.

They hope the atmosphere strikes a nostalgic feel that entices a family feel.

The restaurant will feature an arcade room with pinball games, too, in what was previously known as the Brennan Room.

Customers can expect to find a variety of New York style artisan pizzas, he said.

"We just hope this is a really fun spot that people really want to latch on to and hang out and just be part of our journey," Squires said.

He also said they plan to open early enough to catch the coffee crowd.

"We'll open in the morning with a few quick grab breakfast sandwiches. Just a couple options. Nothing major. We're not looking to be a brunch spot," Squires said.

Squires will be joined by longtime friend, Alex Stults, in running the operation. Jason Brown, who owns and operates One Ten Craft Meatery — just a block away — is also part of the ownership group.

All three of the owners have extensive experience as chefs with local eateries.

The restaurant will also eventually serve alcohol but it won’t have a bar per se, Squires said.

The plan for a new restaurant has been in the works for nearly a year and came together in July, he said.

Rua opened in 2016, offered an eclectic menu, but closed after the pandemic settled in.

"Rua was definitely a very loved restaurant, you know, and we're just excited to take over the space, and hopefully, we continue that tradition of a great restaurant here," he said.

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WARSAW -- Road improvement season arrives in Warsaw Wednesday night on the stretch of Market Street that passes through the downtown.

That project, which continues Thursday night, is the first of many over the next four weeks.

Road improvements to Market Street from Columbia Street to Detroit Street will involve the closure of that area from 9 p.m. The road will reopen by 7 a.m. each day to allow for downtown traffic flow.

Below is a chronological list of other scheduled road improvements.

May 31 (tentative)
Shawnee Dr., CR 225E to Tecumseh Dr.
Heather Ct., Highlander Dr to cul‐de‐sac
Lark Lane, Chickadee Ln to cul‐de‐sac
LaVista Dr. Dogwood Dr to cul‐de‐sac
Short Ridge Dr. Dogwood Dr to SR 15

June 1 (tentative)
Tecumseh Dr. Pontiac Dr to cul‐de‐sac
Highlander Dr. Park Ridge Dr to Chickadee
Dogwood Dr. SR 15 to end

June 2 (tentative)
Mockingbird Ln Chickadee to cul‐de‐sac
Chickadee Ln Mockingbird to Falcon Dr.
Kelly Dr. Country Club Dr to Island View
East View Ln Island View Dr to cul‐de‐sac
Lilac Ln Brubaker St to Ross Ave.
Widaman St Brubaker to Oldfather
Simmons St Both sides of Park Ave.
Country Club Dr. South Country Club Rd to C C Dr.

June 5 (tentative)
Island View Dr. Shady Ln to Shady Lane
Lakeshore Dr. Country Club Dr to end
Country Club Terrace C C Dr. E to C C Dr.
Brubaker St Oldfather to Ross Ave.

June 6 (tentative)
Shady Ln C C Rd to C C Dr.
Oldfather St Both sides of Park Ave.
Alward St Both sides of Park Ave.
Ellsworth St Alward to Hitzler
Hitzler St Both sides of Park Ave.
Brubaker St Hitzler to Weber St.
Weber St Park Ave to end

June 7 (tentative)
Country Club Dr. C C Rd to C C Dr.
Country Club Dr. E C C Dr to end

June 8 (tentative)
Shawnee Dr. CR 225E to Tecumseh Dr.
Heather Ct Highlander Dr to cul‐de‐sac
Lark Ln Chickadee Ln to cul‐de‐sac
LaVista Dr. Dogwood Dr to cul‐de‐sac
Short Ridge Dr. Dogwood Dr to SR 15

June 9 (tentative)
Tecumseh Dr. Pontiac Dr to cul‐de‐sac
Highlander Dr. Park Ridge Dr to Chickadee
Dogwood Dr. SR 15 to end

June 12 (tentative)
Mockingbird Ln Chickadee to cul‐de‐sac
Chickadee Ln Mockingbird to Falcon Dr.
Kelly Dr. Country Club Dr to Island View
East View Ln Island View Dr to cul‐de‐sac
Lilac Ln Brubaker St to Ross Ave.
Widaman St Brubaker to Oldfather
Simmons St Both sides of Park Ave.
Country Club Dr. South Country Club Rd to C C Dr E.

June 13 (tentative)
Island View Dr. Shady Ln to Shady Lane
Lakeshore Dr. Country Club Dr to end
Country Club Terrace C C Dr E to C C Dr E.
Brubaker St Oldfather to Ross Ave.

June 14 (tentative)
Shady Lane C Rd to C C Dr E.
Oldfather St Both sides of Park Ave.
Alward St Both sides of Park Ave.
Ellsworth St Alward to Hitzler
Hitzler St Both sides of Park Ave.
Brubaker St Hitzler to Weber St.
Weber St Park Ave to end.
Day 14 (PINK) – Tentative June 15
Country Club Dr C C Rd to C C Dr E.
Country Club Dr E C C Dr to end

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Warsaw Police Captain Kip Shuter tells News Now Warsaw the closure will be during daytime hours as crew work to demolish part of the old Little Crow Foods building. Shuter says emergency vehicles will have access to the road during the closure.

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