WARSAW — It’s been another successful coat drive for Kosciusko County, organized by Kerrlin Motor Co.

The collection of coats concluded last week, with 1,295 coats and jackets being collected.

The winter wear will now be professionally washed before being taken to Combined Community Services and made available in the annual winter coat distribution.

Kerlin issued a statement thanking everyone for their support behind “a very successful and appreciated project."

The post Nearly 1,300 coats collected for Kerlin Coat Drive benefiting Kosciusko County families appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

Staff Report

SILVER LAKE — The town of Silver Lake has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the Community Amenities Program (CAP) to help bring its long-envisioned community center to life.

The $2.85 million project has now secured critical funding, including $750,000 from a recently announced Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), reflecting both state and local confidence in the town’s vision.

Launched as part of the Orthopedic Industry Retention Initiative (OIRI), the Community Amenities Program invests in projects that strengthen quality of life across Kosciusko County, according to a provided news release. By creating spaces where residents can gather, connect and thrive, CAP leverages state funding to amplify local ideas and community support.

The Silver Lake Community Center Project will provide a long-awaited hub for residents and businesses, featuring a gymnasium, multipurpose room, kitchenette, computer lab, exercise room and office space. Designed to serve citizens both inside and outside the town limits, the center will host programs and services that foster relationships, encourage community involvement and support the physical and mental well-being of individuals across all ages and economic backgrounds.

For Silver Lake, this will be the first facility of its kind, bringing together resources, services, and events under one roof.

“The town of Silver Lake and committee members are deeply grateful to receive this grant,” said Tonya Conley, clerk-treasurer for the town of Silver Lake. “The funding will allow us to serve our citizens better and will create a lasting positive change for our community. The grant is more than funding, it is an opportunity to bring resources, services, and events to those who use it, enriching lives. Small communities are unable to do this alone without help from grantors who give us the opportunities to benefit our citizens and grow our community. OrthoWorx, through the OIRI funds, is helping us to provide more here in Silver Lake.”

The project has received an outpouring of support from local residents, businesses and Kosciusko County leaders who see the community center as a transformative addition for Silver Lake, the release states.

“We’re excited to support the town of Silver Lake as they bring their vision of a community center to life,” said Ryan Christner, CEO of OrthoWorx. “Their thoughtful planning and bold ambition make this a perfect launch project for the Community Amenities Program in Kosciusko County. This initiative is all about turning big dreams into real places where people can connect, grow, and build lives within our community. Silver Lake’s new gathering space checks every box, and we couldn’t be happier for the community. When we invest in each other, great things happen, and this is just the beginning.”

With nearly half of the project’s funding now secured, the town is moving closer to construction. The Silver Lake community center will serve as a central gathering place for local events, services and resources, providing lasting impact for generations to come.
The CAP is a countywide initiative designed to enhance quality of life across Kosciusko County by investing in shared spaces and projects that strengthen community connection. Backed by a portion of the OIRI’s $30 million commitment from the state of Indiana, CAP helps bring bold community visions to life by combining local, state and philanthropic resources.

The program is guided by the CAP Committee, a group of community leaders who evaluate proposals and award grants based on their potential to make lasting, countywide impact. Administration of these grants is provided in partnership with the K21 Health Foundation, ensuring that each investment is managed with transparency, accountability and a focus on long-term community benefit.

The post Silver Lake awarded $500,000 CAP grant for future community center appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

SILVER LAKE — Less than 30 dealerships in the Detroit region won the Ford President’s Award for 2024.

For the fifth consecutive year, and eighth overall, Kerlin Motor Company in Silver Lake was one of them.

The President’s Award is presented to top-performing Ford dealerships that exhibit quality business practices and Ford’s core principles.

Philip “PJ” Schnepp, sales business development specialist for the Detroit region for Ford Motor Company, said the President’s Award is very special for Ford, “but this is the only award at Ford that I think it takes each and every one at the dealership to earn. As we give you this award, it’s actually earned by you guys and your customers and how you treat them. So with your community service, with what you guys do in the service lane and selling cars for your customers, tying all together is how you win this award five times in a row.”

Schnepp said Kerlin was one of 29 dealerships in the region and one of 329 nationwide to receive the award for 2024.

Kerlin co-owner Rick Kerlin thanked all the team members at Kerlin.

“It truly is a team effort. It takes everybody and it’s an everyday job,” Kerlin said.

Co-owner Valerie Warner said she wanted to make sure everyone is proud of the part they played in getting the award, and “it is earned. It’s not just drawn out of a hat. And it means so much to Rick and I that we have a team that we can trust to take care of the customers the way they should be, the way they have been for 98 years. So that’s most important to me that you guys appreciate what you do and your own personal part of this puzzle.”

Kerlin thinks everyone at the dealership is really dedicated to their jobs and want to do a good job and take care of their customers and “that’s what it’s all about. It’s strictly a customer award based on customer feedback and I think we have a good mentality at the dealership that we need to take care of the customers that come through the door.” Kerlin said the employees are compassionate and care about their customers.

“Our customers are not just customers,” Kerlin said, noting they’re friends, neighbors and repeat customers.

Warner also said she thinks Kerlin employees put themselves in the customer’s shoes and do what’s right.

The post Kerlin celebrates fifth consecutive President’s Award from Ford appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

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.

The post Memorial Day events on tap for the weekend appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — The National Weather Service confirmed a small tornado caused some damage southwest of Akron Wednesday night. 

The EF0 tornado caused damage near CR N 25W, south of Pleasant Hill Road where an outbuilding in a wooded area was flipped. The tornado reached its peak intensity at the intersection of Meridian and Pleasant Hill Road with winds reaching about 85 MPH, said Lonnie Fisher, a meteorologist with the weather service office in North Webster

The storm began shortly after 8:30 p.m.

An older barn nearby also sustained extensive damage.

The storm, Fisher said, "Continued to southeast of Akron and from that point forward we did not have any more damage as the storm kind of continued across Silver Lake and east of Piercton," said Fisher.

Elements of the storm gathered quickly and then weakened before the weather service could issue a warning, Fisher said.

"The storm had already weakened and so at that point, issuing a tornado warning probably would not have helped that much," Fisher said.

Moments earlier, the storm appeared to gather strength near an airport in Logansport, but Fisher said NWS employees reviewing damage did not categorize it as a tornado.

The post NWS confirms small tornado near Akron Wednesday night appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Emergency management officials realized after some recent storms that not all of the tornado sirens in Kosciusko County are functioning properly.

Kosciusko County’s director of emergency management, Kip Shuter, describes the issue as a glitch that can be easily fixed but will require many of the sirens to be tested.

"Our communications company has identified an issue that we want to take care of and get it corrected as soon as possible," Shuter said Wednesday.

Testing will begin next week.

The plan is to start in the southern part of the county on Monday with test in  Silver Lake, Claypool, Pierceton and some of Warsaw.

On Tuesday, testing continues with sirens in  Warsaw, Atwood, Clunette, Leesburg and Milford. 

Syracuse sirens and any others that need retesting will be addressed on Wednesday.

Additional days may be necessary and the schedule may be modified if needed, depending on weather and unforeseen circumstances, according to a news release issued Wednesday.

This project will involve 22 of 28 sirens controlled by the 911 Dispatch Center, Shuter said.

The post 22 tornado sirens need updating; tests planned next week appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — The first of three meetings this week hosted by the Kosciusko County Parks Board was held Tuesday at Warsaw Community Public Library.

A series of large maps at the library highlighted existing trails in Kosciusko County and park board officials were available to talk with visitors about what they'd like to see develop in the future.

The meetings on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are a chance for the public to provide ideas as the board works to develop trails and connections to existing trails as well as plans for blueways, which are waterways such as rivers and creeks that could be enhanced for kayaks and canoes.

Parks Board President Rob Bishop said the meetings represent a great chance to help lay the foundation for long-term plans.

"It's vitally important that citizens come in and help us, tell us, where trails should be, where greenways should be, where blueways should be," Bishop said. "This is not the parks board's trail. This is the communities's trails."

The park was established less than two years ago and has spent much of its time on its first project, a future trail that connects with the historic Chinworth Bridge and heads west.

At the same time, the board is assembling a master plan.

"Do we build out to Pierceton, do we build to Silver Lake or Claypool? ... All that needs to be part of the plan. We need the residents to tell us what they want," Bishop said.

The board will host meetings on Wednesday at the Syracuse Community Center and on Thursday at the  Silver Lake Lions Club on North Harrison Street.

The start time for both meetings is 5:30 p.m.

The post County parks board meetings offer chance to provide input appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County's Parks Board will host three meetings this week seeking input from the public on local evolving plans.

The board is in the process of identifying details and specifics for the various components of the master plan, including pathway connections between the communities in Kosciusko County and adjacent county trails and waterway systems.

Each of the 90-minute meetings starts at 5:30 p.m. 

Those are set for:

• Tuesday at the Warsaw Community Public Library.
• Wednesday at the  Syracuse Community Center.
• Thursday at the  Silver Lake Lions Club on North Harrison St.

To learn more, check out the website: forwardkosciusko.com.

The post Three meetings will look at connecting trails, blueways in Kosciusko County appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

The post House southeast of Silver Lake destroyed by fire appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

Those include Silver Lake, Etna Township in Kosciusko County and Fulton in Fulton County.

Other regional recipients include Kewanna and Winamac.

The money is part of $17.7 million made available last year by Gov. Eric Holcomb and the Indiana office of Homeland Security.

Out of these money, $10 million in new Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been issued to volunteer fire departments across the state. 

That appropriation represents the first-ever funding allocated by the Indiana General Assembly for firefighter training and equipment.

The post Three local fire departments receiving money for equipment appeared first on News Now Warsaw.