WARAW — The Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce is pleased to welcome Bob Jackson as Member Relations Manager. Jackson's first day was Tuesday.

Jackson is a Warsaw native who grew up west of town at Hoffman Lake. He’s a graduate of Warsaw Community High School and attended Grace College, where he studied communications and met his wife, Katie, of 32 years.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Bob to the team! He brings a wealth of experience in so many areas, he’s built meaningful relationships here, and he has a true passion for making our community a better place,” said Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Rob Parker.

Throughout his professional journey, Jackson owned and operated The Katering Kitchen catering business for 25 years, worked in the insurance industry for a decade, served as Chief Development Officer for the Indiana Family Institute, and worked at Grace College, where he continues to serve as an adjunct instructor in the business department.

With deep roots in Kosciusko County, Jackson is a natural fit to step into the role and serve the community he loves and knows well.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve in this role and give back to the community in a new way,” Jackson said. “This community has given me so much, and I look forward to using the skills I’ve been blessed with to help promote and connect our local business community.”

Jackson and his wife enjoy spending time with their children and four grandchildren, with a fifth on the way.

He also enjoys staying active outdoors, whether that’s walking, hiking, or golfing. Music is also a big part of Jackson’s life — he serves on the worship team at church and sings with a Southern gospel quartet, traveling and performing around the state.

When asked about his many interests and experiences, Jackson shared this advice: “Be a lifelong learner and stay open to new opportunities, experiences, and ways to grow.”

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WARSAW — It appears the Kosciusko County Farmers and Artisans Market will likely remain in downtown Warsaw.

Two of the organizers said they felt blindsided recently when a plan to renew the annual street closing for the summer-long program was delayed after some city officials expressed an interest in looking at whether it should be relocated out of the downtown because of the inconvenience of street closings.

Within a matter of days, two petitions, including one online, were organized to underscore the market’s popularity.

At the same time, Main Street Warsaw and the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce reached out to 34 merchants in downtown Warsaw to gauge their thoughts on whether the market should remain on Center Street in front of the Kosciusko County Courthouse.

Parker said 34 stakeholders said they support the market remaining on Center Street, and one opposed, including part of Buffalo Street as part of the overall closure.

Parker said he does not support closing Buffalo during the ongoing construction along Indiana Avenue, which is part of a major exterior renovation by Lake City Bank that’s expected to continue into the summer.

Talk of the annual plan to approve the closure of streets for the market was tabled earlier this month after some questions arose about whether merchants see the market as a plus on Saturday mornings despite the street closings.

Parker said the survey provides convincing evidence that the market should stay in the downtown.

Parker said Main Street Warsaw and the chamber have always supported the market in its existing location.

"We believe very strongly, have always believed, that it's beneficial to have that happen in the downtown on Saturday mornings because it draws people to the downtown," Parker said.

"We're going to work hard to make sure it moves forward and not delay it any further," he said.

But he cautions that the survey focused on Center Street and not Buffalo Street, which he said needs to remain open in light of part of Indiana Avenue being closed due to a Lake City Bank construction project.

Lisa Hawley and Josh Fox, the market’s co-directors, talkd with News Now Warsaw shortly after Parker shared his findings and were cautiously optimistic, despite some lingering anger over how the issue surfaced.

"It's great, but I don't think it's over. I think the city council will come after the market after this year to be moved," Hawley said.

"It sounds good if it truly is," Fox said. "I guess time will tell. My gut says there might be a hidden agenda in there. I don't know.

The city board of works will address the issue at its meeting on March 6.

The board of works often welcomes input from the city council and the chamber on a range of issues.

A specific relocation plan has not been proposed, but some, over the years, have suggested Central Park would be a good option.

The market used to operate at the Kosiusko County Fairgrounds but moved to downtown about 13 years ago.

Despite having competition from a similar market in Winona Lake, the Warsaw market has continued to do well and saw traffic increase last year.

In fact, more vendors began using Buffalo Street (between Market and Center streets) last year, and it was further bolstered by Krista Brown, the owner of Maggie's Coffee and Treats, who helped organize a "cars and coffee" promotion that attracted classic car owners to downtown.

Parker said he thinks some city council members wanted to pause it to evaluate whether there was a better option.

He said he believes opinions from his survey provide a "solid footing" for elected officials to make informed decisions rather than “knee-jerk decisions” based on a few opinions.

Negative opinions often stand out, he said, because most people who like something are less inclined to be vocal about it.

Brown said she thinks the Main Street survey sends a strong message.

"People in the community want the market to stay where it is, and they're happy with it," Brown said.

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WARSAW — A 32-year-old elder law attorney, Will Stockdale, was selected by a GOP caucus to fill an at-large Kosciusko County seat Tuesday night.

Stockdale topped Kyle Tom in the final round of voting in a contest that started with a field of six.

[caption id="attachment_126846" align="alignright" width="420"] The six candidates huddled together during the votes. From left, Will Stockdale, Travis Trump, Thaddeus Du Bois, Chris Bammerlin, Rob Parker, and Kyle Tom. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

Stockdale said he entered the caucus with a bit of confidence after talking with many precinct committee members, including some who had urged him to file for the seat.

He said they outlined what they expected.

"They wanted somebody who is hard working, diligent, somebody who puts the work in, doesn't come to meetings unprepared, always comes to meetings, and I'm looking forward to working hard for the betterment of this county," Stockdale said after the vote.

He used part of his three minutes to talk about priorities and also his assessment of looming budget constraints as a result of property tax reforms.

"It was all from the heart. I had notes prepared. I didn't look at them once," he said. "That three minutes (allowed under rules) is faster than you would ever believe."

He introduced himself as a Christian, a US Army veteran, and a lifelong "Kosciusko County conservative."

His top priorities, he said, would involve supporting the basic tenants of county government — public safety, infrastructure and other statutorily mandated functions. But he also said he would support county employees so they don’t have to work night shifts, second jobs, and moonlight "to make ends meet."

On top of that, he also said he wants to leave some room for investing in the long-term financial security of the county.

Other candidates were Travis Trump, Rob Parker, Chris Bammerlin, and Thaddeus Du Bois.

The winner had to collect a majority of the votes from the 59 voting participants, and that was eventually achieved after the thinning of the field by removing the lowest vote-getter in each of the following four ballots.

Stockdale was the first to file and said that underscored his desire for the job.

He sounded eager to get to work, which begins Thursday when the county council convenes for its regular monthly meeting.

"Obviously, there is going to be a learning curve, but I'm looking forward to putting in the work necessary to be a great county councilman," he said.

The post Stockdale wins Kosciusko County Council seat over five challengers appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Two community leaders expressed confidence this week that Warsaw's new downtown parking policy will benefit both store owners and motorists.

After years of considering some kind of change — and following months of revisions — Warsaw City Council gave final approval last week to a plan that retains the traditional two-hour free parking but encourages motorists who work in the downtown to rely more on other parking options.

A vote to approve was unanimous, and the plan drew very little opposition from the public.

The new policy relies on technology to track parked vehicles and introduces a new $25 fine for those whose vehicles go beyond the two-hour free period.

Motorists parking in front of downtown stores will be asked to use a kiosk or app if they plan for their vehicle to remain parked after two hours and would pay a $1 per hour plus $2 for the first two hours.

A fine could be assessed for anyone parked for two hours who does not continue the service with the app or kiosk.

More frequent turnover of parking spots in front of local stores is the main goal.

"They are going to be far more efficient, and I just think the experience for people, merchants, and visitors is going to be a lot better," said Mayor Jeff Grose, who joined Kociusko Chamber of Commerce CEO Rob Parker for this week's In The Know, a public affairs show that airs this weekend.

The city will soon begin promoting the change with insights about the app and the kiosk.

A probationary period will begin this spring, and the new policy will be fully enacted this summer.

"I love the idea that everybody can continue to have the two-hour free parking, and I love it when government is more efficient," Parker said.

The city will encourage daytime workers in the downtown to rely more on available parking lots that can be rented.

At the same time, the city is working on plans with Kociusko County officials to construct a parking garage.

Both Grose and Parker are big proponents of the proposed parking garage.

"This is a linchpin to some of the great projects we're projecting to happen in the downtown," Parker said. "Without that parking garage, it makes it difficult."

*  *  * 

In The Know can be heard at the following times:

News Now Warsaw (99.7 FM and 1480 AM):

Fridays at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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.

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WARSAW  — In a move that's likely never been seen locally, a North Webster man has thrown his hat into the ring for two seats on the Kosciusko County Council.

Thaddeus Du Bois on Monday filed paperwork entering his name into two contests.

First, he registered to run for the at-large seat briefly held by John Barrett who resigned over a conflict of interest issue.

Du Bois is now the fifth candidate running for the seat. The caucus will happen on Tuesday night when precinct committee members from across the county meet to hear the candidates speak before voting.

Moments later, Du Bois filed paperwork to run in the Republican primary in May for the 1st District seat currently held by Kimberly Cates.

Dubois said he views the 1st District seat as a backup option if he loses next week's caucus.

He said he was motivated to run in order to eventually change state law involving regional sewer district board representation. He's upset that the Tippecannoe Chapman Sewer District is demanding that he tap into the system.

The sewer board, he said, "Sent me a letter, said I must do this or else, and I didn't want to "must do this or else.' I have a septic, and it works just fine, and I don't want to, and I thought I could just say no thanks, but that's not possible. You can't do that."

He said he and others briefly looked into whether the sewer district could be dissolved — similarly to what recently happened in Marshall County — but has since determined that's not possible and that he's now inclined to sell his home and find a new home for his family of six.

Du Bois also said he's considering a future run against incumbent Republican David Abbott, who represents State House District 18.

“I want to get that law changed, I want to take down the sewer board. It’s not right what they’re doing to people,” he said.

The 52-year-old said a handful of advisers came up with the idea of running for both seats.

Dubois said he prides himself on thinking outside the box.

“That was one of the strategies that was brought up, and everybody loved it and like, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s genius,’ so we went for it,” Du Bois said late Monday afternoon.

Kosciusko County GOP Chairman Mike Ragan, who announced the double bid to the media, was asked about a scenario in which one person simultaneously runs for two seats on the same board.

“While it’s not necessarily troublesome, it is highly unusual,” Ragan said.

Other caucus candidates are Will Stockdale, Kyle Tom, Rob Parker, and Travis Trump. The caucus will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, in the county courthouse.

The deadline to file for the May primary is noon Friday.

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WARSAW — Rob Parker, who has led the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce for ten years, has joined the race for Kosciusko County Council’s at-large seat.

Parker released a statement on Friday, citing a desire to serve the community and help guide the county’s future with "thoughtful, principled leadership.

He’s the third candidate to file for the GOP caucus, which became vacant after the resignation of John Barrett. The other candidates are Will Stockdale and Kyle Tom.

The county-wide caucus is scheduled for 6 p.m., Feb. 10 at the Kosiusko County Courthouse.

Parker brings significant community and organizational leadership experience, including leadership at the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce and service on multiple nonprofit and civic boards. Through this work, he has collaborated with business leaders, community stakeholders, and elected officials on issues impacting economic development, quality of place, and long-term community sustainability.

A lifelong resident of Kosciusko County, Parker is a graduate of Warsaw High School. He and his wife, Renee, have been married for 30+ years and are the parents of two married children. Parker says his deep roots in the community give him a strong appreciation for the county’s history, values, and potential.

“I believe democracy is best served when citizens are willing to step forward, be elected, and share in the responsibility of self-government,” Parker said. “Local government matters, and I want to be part of ensuring decisions are made with the long-term best interests of Kosciusko County in mind.”

Parker says his focus will be on responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars, fiscal accountability, and sound decision-making that supports families, businesses, and future growthacross the county.

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WARSAW — Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce President Rob Parker said he believes establishing a cultural arts district is key to continued growth in downtown Warsaw.

The proposal, outlined a week ago by Main Street Warsaw, includes numerous proposals of varying size and costs, and is aimed at bringing more people to the downtown and boosting the quality of life in ways to boost economic development.

Main Street Warsaw hopes to tap into money through the state and be funded by Lilly to help finance some of the projects, some of which could be announced over the coming months.

The emphasis on public art is geared toward feeding off the concept of a "creative economy."

“We believe very strongly in the creative arts economy, whether that’s musicians or artists or graphic designers or even restaurateurs, or chefs — they’re very creative — and they come up with things that help our economy grow. We want those in our downtown. We need art in our downtown. It really reflects the heart of the community,” Parker said earlier this week for a taping of In The Know, the public affairs show you can hear this weekend on Kensington Digital Media radio stations.

He’s especially keen on plans to create a festival street — possibly on North Buffalo near the proposed parking garage and the edge of Center Lake.

The idea is to revamp a portion of the street into a flat surface without curbs to allow for seating, pedestrians, and festival activities. It would become a home to festival activities in the downtown instead of having to close off parts of Center and Buffalo streets for each festival event.

“This would enable us to have a street that is dedicated to foot traffic and events, and that’s what I’m super excited about,” Parker said.

The plan is being driven by Terry Sweeney, director of downtown development for Main Street Warsaw, which relied on recommendations based on community input collected earlier this year by a consultant, Designing Local.

Parker also talked about his ten years at the helm of the Chamber and its recent community award from the state chamber that salutes the entire county for strong collaborative leadership, economic diversification, and focus on enhancing quality of life.

*  *  * 

In The Know can be heard at the following times:

News Now Warsaw (99.7 FM and 1480 AM):

Fridays at 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

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 Chamber CEO Rob Parker says cultural arts district key to growth appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — In less than eight weeks, two companies have announced plans to construct manufacturing operations in Warsaw that will create a combined 2,000 new jobs in the community.

[caption id="attachment_113482" align="alignright" width="370"] New construction is underway at the Greenbriar subdivision near the Waraw airport. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

While that’s eye-popping news, it will also add to the existing pressure to provide more housing, which has been an acute problem for years.

But this is not a new issue, and various segments of the community have already been addressing the need for more housing way before Slate and Autocam came calling.

Several housing developments are currently underway, including Greenbriar, which is adjacent to the Warsaw Municipal Airport and another in Milford as well as other sporadic projects.

There’s also Union Station Lofts at the old Gatke property in Warsaw, where a crane is helping to construct four floors of apartments and commercial space.

At the same time, the city of Warsaw is working on two long-term projects encompassing residential Tax Increment Finance districts.

Countywide, Kosciusko Economic Development Corp. is working with seven communities to identify available land for housing, said KEDCo’s Executive Director, Peggy Friday.

And earier this year, Habitat for Humanity of Kosciusko County has launched a large housing coaalition with the Kosciusko County Foundation to encourage more residential growth.

Friday said she’s not worried about accommodating a growing workforce because local efforts are already gearing up.

KEDCo's focus on housing has become a priority.

“We’re focused on strategic growth. Thoughtful, planned approach to economic development and community development,” she said. 

She also expressed confidence in the decision-making and research by Waraw's two future companies.

"Slate Auto, Autocam — they’ve done their homework. They would never have come here if they didn’t think the workforce was here,” Friday said, adding, “We’ve got a close proximity to other communities.”

While everyone agrees more affordable housing is needed, Rob Parker, president and CEO with the Kociusko Chamber of Commerce, said he’s optimistic as he sees an abundance of activity.

“I look at it as a positive. There’s a lot of things happening in our community. There’s projects that are starting right now, if you've been to the Union Station Lofts, which is the old Gatke building,” Parker said. 

“Personally, when I see cranes in our community, that’s such a cool thing. That is so cool. When was the last time we had a crane building something in our community?” he said.

Slate Auto and Autocam have said they both plan to rely on high-skilled, well-paying jobs.

Autocam executive John Kennedy said the fact that the average salary for his future workers in Warsaw is $70,000 is a big factor.

Slate Auto has said that average salaries for future job in the future for Warsaw will be in the same neighborhood.

“We hope that a decent income allows our associates to find comfortable housing in the Warsaw area,” Kennedy said.

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WARSAW — The Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce was named the 2025 Indiana Chamber of the Year by the Indiana Chamber Executives Association (ICEA) during its annual conference held in early June in Muncie.

ICEA is an organization representing chamber professionals from across the state of Indiana. This top honor is awarded to one chamber each year for exceptional organizational leadership, programming, member engagement, and community impact.

This is the second time the Kosciusko Chamber has been named as the Indiana Chamber of the Year, previously receiving the award in 2023.

Throughout the year, the Kosciusko Chamber has demonstrated outstanding leadership and
achieved remarkable milestones. The organization has celebrated several years of record
membership growth and an excellent retention rate.

The Kosciusko Chamber continues to target solving problems within the community through several new projects and initiatives. The Chamber hosted over 125 events in the past year and reached more than 3.6 million people through their fun social media posts spotlighting local businesses.

“We are humbled and grateful to receive this recognition,” said Rob Parker, President and CEO of the Kosciusko Chamber. “This award reflects the dedication of our entire team, our members, and our community partners who work every day to make Kosciusko County a vibrant place to live and do business. We also want to congratulate the outstanding Chambers across the state who were finalists alongside us, you are doing amazing work for your communities, and we are proud to be in your company.”

In addition to the Chamber of the Year distinction, the Kosciusko Chamber was also awarded five ICEA Innovative Excellence Awards for new and impactful projects launched over the past year. These awards reflect the Chamber’s commitment to identifying real needs in the community and delivering creative, actionable solutions with measurable results.

To learn more about the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, visit their website at kchamber.com or follow them on social media.

The post Kosciusko Chamber named (again!) top chamber in Indiana appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — The Kosciusko Community YMCA has announced that a major lobby renovation at the Parkview Warsaw YMCA will begin this summer.

The project will bring to life a vibrant new Play Café — an updated space that will feature a full-service coffee shop, private rentable workspaces, inviting seating areas, and a creative play area designed for young children.

Construction is set to begin this summer and completion is anticipated by the end of
the year.

The remodel is made possible through a unique community collaboration that includes
support from LaunchPad, the early learning coalition of the Kosciusko Chamber of
Commerce, and funding from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation through the
Lilly Endowment.  Additional support came from the city of Warsaw’s ARPA (American
Rescue Plan Act) fund.

“This project directly supports working families in our community,” said YMCA CEO Jim
Swanson. “By creating a space where parents can work, relax, or meet while their
children are safely cared for in a stimulating environment, we’re addressing a real
need — especially for remote workers.”

New features in the lobby will include:

• A full-service coffee shop and café
• Comfortable seating areas for socializing or relaxing
• Private rentable workspaces for remote work, study, or meetings

The play area for children ages 0-3 years will feature:

• Individual and small group play spaces
• Open-ended play that promotes creativity, independence, and exploration
• Featuring clean and safe age-appropriate play spaces for young children
• Open-ended play that promotes exploration, sensory play and cognitive development
• Trained play coaches to ensure a positive and enjoyable experience for young children

The Play Café will serve families with children ages 0–3, offering short-term supervised
care while caregivers remain on-site. Whether attending a virtual meeting, making work
calls, or simply enjoying a cup of coffee, parents will have peace of mind knowing their children are nearby in a safe and enriching space.

Unlike the YMCA’s traditional Child Watch offered to those with family memberships, the Play Café will provide more structured play and early learning opportunities designed to support creativity, exploration, and development.

This innovative remodel repurposes existing lobby space, including the area formerly
occupied by Parkview Health services, to create an amenity that serves YMCA
members and non-members alike.

Modest fees will apply for workspace and childcare access, with flexible hourly or hours-based options.

“This is more than a renovation; it’s a reinvestment in families,” said Rob Parker,
President & CEO of the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce. “We’re thrilled to see ARPA
funds put to work in a way that supports both early learning and the modern needs of
working parents.”

For more information about the project or upcoming membership updates, click here or contact the YMCA Welcome Center at (574) 269-9622.

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