WARSAW — Warsaw Community Public Library Director Heather Barron is leaving her position for a new job. 

Her resignation is effective Friday.

Barron's departure comes less than two weeks after the Warsaw City Council voted not to approve a $17 million bond needed for library renovations.

Barron tells News Now Warsaw that she accepted the job and informed the library board of her resignation before the council vote. 

She said she chose not to announce the decision before the vote to maintain focus on the proposal.

Barron joined the library less than three years ago and spent a significant share of her time working on developing a renovation plan amid ongoing mechanical problems.

Taxpayer opposition to the bond issue was fueled by concerns about rising property tax bills and uncertainty over ongoing efforts to reform the state's property tax policies by state lawmakers.

The library looked into building new or relocating, but eventually settled on a renovation plan.

An earlier renovation plan would have relied on about $22 million, but that was scaled back.

In a statement to News Now Warsaw, she said she was “incredibly grateful” for patrons, supporters, and staff and wished the library and the community all the best. 

She declined to discuss the circumstances further and also chose not to discuss her new job.

She said she and staff and board members had been focused in recent days on working on future plans following the council's vote.

The post Warsaw Library Director Heather Barron leaving for new job appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Lenny Krebs has informed the Warsaw Athletic Department that he is stepping down as head coach of the Lady Tiger basketball program.

Krebs finished his ninth season in Warsaw in February with a final record of 162-58.
He led the Lady Tigers to the 2025 4A state championship game after knocking off #1 and previously unbeaten Hamilton Southeastern in the Frankfort Semi-State championship game.

Krebs also led Warsaw to the last five Northern Lakes Conference championships and a current 36-game NLC win streak.

Krebs informed the graduating seniors and returning players on Wednesday morning.

“I am not leaving to coach anywhere else,” Krebs told the team. “I am not leaving to coach or teach anywhere else. I have poured out my life and my heart for you and this program for nine years, and I can’t do that anymore. You need someone to lead you who can devote the time required to give you what you need.”

During his time at Warsaw, the Lady Tigers never won fewer than 14 games (2023-24) and won 50 games in the last two seasons (26 in 2024-25 and 24 in 2025-26).

He finishes second in wins at WCHS with 162 (Will Wienhorst 316 from 1987-2004) and total games coached with 220 (Wienhorst 409).

He coached three Indiana All-Stars during his tenure, including Brooke Winchester last season and Brooke Zartman and Joslyn Bricker,  who will represent the Hoosier state this summer. The search for the seventh head coach in Lady Tiger history will begin immediately.

Assistant coach Josh Fitzgerald will be handling the day-to-day operations of the team until a new coach is put in place.

The post Warsaw girls basketball coach Lenny Krebs resigns after nine seasons appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — DeLynn Geiger, who was elected to the Kosciusko County Council in November 2024 as an at-large member, resigned after Thursday’s council meeting, effective Friday.

Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee Chairman Mike Ragan announced Geiger’s resignation, saying Geiger handed him and County Clerk Melissa Boggs his resignation letter.

Details on a caucus to replace Geiger are being planned, potentially in early January, and will be announced as they become available. Three years remain on Geiger’s term.

According to the letter to Ragan from Geiger, Geiger wrote, “Although we have properties in both counties, my wife Lori’s employment and my son Graham’s growing involvement in the classic car community in Auburn lead us to spend more time at our farm in DeKalb County. Our family’s participation in car shows, ACD Automobile Museum events and other out-of-state tours has become a significant part of our lives, and I want to be present for these important family moments. This decision comes after careful consideration and is simply influenced by the increased challenge to dedicate the necessary time and attention required in Kosciusko County to serve in this capacity.”

His letter states he is grateful for the opportunity to serve on the council and appreciates the support he received from family and the community.

“I will do everything I can to ensure a smooth transition and am happy to assist in any way during this period,” Geiger’s letter concludes.

The post Geiger resigns from Kosciuko County Council appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

ETNA GREEN — Etna Green’s new clerk treasurer, Barbara Waggoner, has resigned less than six weeks after being appointed.

Waggone rsubmitted her resignation on Monday – after being appointed by a GOP caucus to fill an opening left by a pevious clerk-treasurer who accused town council members of making disparaging comments about her dead husband.

GOP Chairman Mike Ragan told the Times Union that Wagoner had quit a week ago, but withdrew her resignation a few hours later. Her resignation on Monday was immediate.

She was appointed on May 22 and began work on June 1.

Ragan told News Now Warsaw that she did not like the job, but did not elaborate.

The GOP will now seek another replacement and will host a caucus on July 15.

Deadline to file paperwork is July 12.

The post Newly appointed Etna Green clerk-treasurer resigns appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Combined Community Services Executive Director Randy Polston announced Thursday he was resigning as the organization’s executive director at the end of this year.

After five years at the helm of CCS, Polston will be focusing on family and continuing his service to the community as a member of the Warsaw Community School Board. Polston filed earlier this year to run for a fourth and final four-year term on the board. He faces Emerson Poort in the general election.

In a phone interview Thursday, Polston said he graduated from Warsaw Community High School in 1973 and from Spring Arbor College in Spring Arbor, Mich., in 1977.

Feeling God called him to return to Warsaw, his first job with Warsaw Community Schools was at McKinley Elementary School, teaching fifth grade and “coaching everything.” He then moved to Lincoln Elementary where he taught fourth grade.

After nine years of being an elementary school teacher, Polston said he felt called to get into administration. He earned his master’s degree in administration and was hired as the principal at Claypool Elementary for five years. After WCS built Harrison and Eisenhower elementaries, Polston was selected to open Harrison as its principal with Chris Gensinger at Eisenhower.

In 2011, Polston retired from WCS but Grace College offered him a job to build a new academic program. For eight years, starting with the 2011-12 school year, he was at Grace.
He then decided to run for the Warsaw School Board.

Polston was told someone was needed for the executive director position at CCS and he was asked to apply. After consultation with family, and prayer with God, Polston put his name in the hat and was selected as CCS’s executive director. He began after Labor Day in 2019.

During his tenure at CCS, Polston oversaw significant change and positive development at CCS, expanding its programs and deepening its impact on the community, according to a news release Polston provided. Under his leadership, CCS has strengthened its ability to support those in need, ensuring that essential services reach the most vulnerable members of the community, the release states.

"I am incredibly proud of what we've accomplished together over the last five years," said Polston. "CCS is in a strong position to continue servicing our community, thanks to our dedicated staff, committed leadership and the support of our community partners. I have full confidence that the organization will continue to thrive and make a difference in the lives of many."

During his five years as executive director, Polston said in a telephone interview, CCS continued to do as much as possible to raise funds to impact lives. The first thing he did as executive director was to reach out to churches, pastors and agencies to establish and re-establish relationships in the community. He scheduled meetings and talked to church congregations.

Polston said he talked to K21 Health Foundation President and CEO Rich Haddad to get set up to write grants.

Over a period of time, Polston said they got grants for a new security system, HVAC and roofing. County American Rescue Plan Act funds also were made available to CCS. Polston secured a grant for a refrigerated vehicle to transport frozen foods.

“The building is our biggest asset. We’re trying to keep it in the best as possible,” he said.
The last five years has been a “perfect storm” for CCS, Polston said.

The United Way did a shift in its funding in the county so CCS lost that support.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, CCS was able to get federal and state resource money so CCS made it through that with 11 employees, including Polston.

Then inflation hit and donations began to dry up. Unfortunately, CCS had to cut the number of employees it has down to 4.5, he said, but they’re still providing services like the self-sufficiency program and the food pantry.

“We work hard as a team to impact as many lives as possible,” Polston stated.
About four to five months ago, more than 700 people came into the CCS food pantry. There were over 800 in July.

CCS certainly does have challenges ahead, Polston acknowledged, as times are tough locally, statewide and nationally. Nonprofits are all reaching out for the same dollars.
But, Polston said, the CCS team is “second to none.”

Polston said as he continues to serve as executive director through the end of the year, he will work closely with the CCS team to ensure a smooth transition.

"I want to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who has supported CCS and me personally throughout my time here," Polston said. "As I move into this next chapter, I look forward to spending more time with my family and continuing to serve our community through my work on the Warsaw Community School Board."

CCS will begin the process of identifying a successor to lead the organization into its next phase of service. Further announcements will be made as the transition progresses, the release states.

The post Polston to step down at CCS at the end of year appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — First-term Kosciusko County Auditor Rhonda Helser's resignation was announced on Monday, citing “personal reasons” in an interview with the Times-Union.

“It’s nothing major. I just decided it’s my time,” she told the Times-Union.

A Republican caucus has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Aug. 15 in the old courtroom of the Kosciusko County Courthouse.

The position is open to anyone residing in Kosciusko County who is a Republican in good standing.

Declarations of candidacy are available at the office of Kosciusko County Clerk of the Circuit Court and should be filed with Kosciusko County Republican Chair Mike Ragan. The deadline to file is Aug. 12.

Helser’s career with the county has spanned 20 years, with much of that in the treasurer’s office.

She was elected county auditor in 2022 and assumed the office in January 2023. 

Helser's resignation is effective Aug. 31.

The post Helser stepping down as Kosciusko County auditor appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Lakesha Green has announced her departure as executive director of Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts.

In a news release, Green said she had "mixed emotions," about her decision to resign and called her three years on the job as "one of the most fulfilling experiences of my career."

The decision, she said, comes after careful consideration and reflection.

"During my tenure, I have had the honor of working with an extraordinary team and dedicated partners who share a deep commitment. I am immensely proud of the progress we have made and confident that the organization is well-positioned to continue its important work. The board of directors and I will work  closely to ensure a smooth transition, and I have full faith in the leadership team and staff to carry forward the mission with the same passion and dedication," Green said in the news release.

"I am grateful for the support and trust that the board, staff, volunteers, and community have shown me over the years. It has been a privilege to lead Wagon Wheel and I look forward to seeing the incredible impact it will continue to have in the future," she said.

The post Green resigns as executive director at Wagon Wheel appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

LARWILL — Tim Pivarnik is out as the superintendent at Whitko Community Schools.
At a special session Wednesday lasting less than 3 minutes, the Whitko School Board unanimously accepted Pivarnik’s resignation, effective immediately.

The board also approved the appointment of Director of Special Services Kari Walmer as lead administrator until such time an interim superintendent is found. Board President Annette Arnold said they hope to find an interim superintendent within the next week or so.
With no further discussion on Pivarnik’s resignation, the board adjourned the meeting.

In a statement provided after the special session, Arnold said, “We appreciate the positive programs and projects initiated during Mr. Pivarnik’s time at Whitko.”

It did not cite a reason for Pivarnik’s resignation.

According to a June 2, 2021, Times-Union article, he has an education specialist degree from Indiana Wesleyan University and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in secondary education from Indiana University Northwest.

He was assistant superintendent of the Diocese of Gary, Merrillville, from 2017 to 2020; American School president – principal in Lansing, Ill., from 2015 to 2017; Gary Middle College principal, Gary, from 2012 to 2015; Calumet High School principal, Gary, from 2009 to 2012; assistant principal at Griffith Junior Senior High School, Griffith, from 2006 to 2008; and an economics and government teacher at Portage High School, Portage, from 1998 to 2006.

The superintendent’s contract approved back in 2021 was effective from July 1 to June 30, 2024, according to the Times-Union article.

The post Whitko Superintendent Tim Pivarnik resigns unexpectedly appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WINONA LAKE — As expected, Heather James was appointed as the new Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer Tuesday night by a Republican Caucus to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Laurie Renier.

James, who beat Renier in the May Primary and was set to take office in January, will now have the chance to begin rebuilding the office.

She said she's been gearing up to take over for months and knows there is plenty work to be done

"It is a big challenge. I don't think anyone can deny that," Thomas said. "I think this opportunity — especially what we've done here in the recent past — we've identified some problems and an opportunity to correct them and move forward and and make sure we're doing everything as we should."

She said one of her first priorities will be to begin filling two vacancies by deputies who quit their jobs along with Renier earlier this month.

The clerk’s office remans in the middle of a audit by the Indiana State Board of Accounts. Town council contends Renier did a poor job and Renier claims the office was a mess before she arrived in 2021.

James said she believes it could very well take several months to right the ship.

As a result of taking the job, James had to resign her seat on council, and Republicans will now work to fill that vacancy.

A caucus to fill that seat is now scheduled for Nov. 6.

The post James assumes office after WL caucus appointment appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Plans have been finalized for a Republican caucus needed to replace Winona Lake Clerk-Treasurer Laurie Renier who resigned Tuesday after nearly ten months o contentious relations with town council.

The caucus will take place at 6 p.m. Oct. 24 in the Winona Lake Town Hall Council Chambers.

Declarations of candidacy are available at the office of Kosciusko County Clerk of the Circuit Court, 121 N. Lake St., Warsaw, and must be filed with GOP chairman Mike Ragan by Oct. 21.

Renier was one of three town employees who resigned Monday.

Renier lost to Heather James in the May primary. James will assume office in January and could very well seek to fill the vacancy through the caucus.

The post GOP caucus for WL clerk-treasurer set for Oct. 24 appeared first on News Now Warsaw.