WARSAW — A 26-year-old Warsaw man was seriously injured Monday morning when he was struck by a pickup truck while working alongside the road on West Center Street near the Little League fields.

The accident happened shortly before 9 a.m.

A preliminary investigation indicates James Deckler, 63, of  Edwardsburg, Mich., was traveling west on Center Street when his Ford F250 left the north side of the road and struck Alan Stephens, who was working alongside the road. 

Stephens was airlifted from the scene to a Fort Wayne hospital and was in serious condition.

The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office Fatal Team was requested to assist with the reconstruction.

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WARSA — Members of Tri Kappa Alpha Lambda Chapter have much to celebrate as they conclude another year dedicated to service, philanthropy, and community impact.

Tri Kappa’s mission is to promote Charity, Culture, and Education throughout our community and across the state of Indiana. Through hands-on service, financial contributions, and partnerships with local nonprofit organizations, members have worked to address food insecurity, support vulnerable populations, promote educational success, and strengthen the well-being of children and families.

Charity Service Highlights

This year, Tri Kappa members made a meaningful impact through numerous service projects, including:

• Partnering with Habitat for Humanity Women Build program
• Preparing and serving a taco meal for families participating in the Strengthening Families program, offering nourishment and encouragement.
• Preparing and serving meals at the local soup kitchen, helping care for community members facing food insecurity.
• Donating a Yeti cooler package for fundraising events benefiting the Center for Literacy and Learning, CASA, and Baker Youth Club, helping support their missions.
• Providing pillows to the Beaman Home, offering comfort to survivors of domestic violence during times of crisis.
• Assembling and donating food bags to Head Start families, helping alleviate food insecurity during the Christmas holiday break.
• Filling and donating stockings with essential toiletries to Combined Community Services, providing practical assistance to individuals and families in need.
• Contributing financially to Fellowship Missions, supporting services for individuals experiencing homelessness.
• Preparing and distributing treat bags to 75 students served by the Center for Literacy and Learning, encouraging them as they prepared for the IREAD assessment.
• Volunteering for Riley Radio Days by answering phones and supporting fundraising efforts for the KC Riley Kids Fund, which benefits children receiving medical care.
• Donating snacks and a monetary gift to Agaitas to help provide meals for youth attending Pop-Up Camps that serve underserved communities. Members will continue their support by volunteering and serving a meal at the camps this summer.

Supporting Arts and Culture

In support of its mission to enhance culture in the community, Tri Kappa provided financial support to:

• Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts
• Winona Lake Art Fair
• Community Arts Program
• Lakeland Art Association
• Lake Area Community Band
• Red Bird Art Studio - Cardinal Services
• Wagon Wheel Junior program
• Symphony of the Lakes

Supporting Education

Through fundraising efforts, including the annual Christmas greenery sale, spring flower sale, and Tri Kappa Bingo—the chapter’s largest community fundraiser—members raised funds to support local charities and educational initiatives. Thanks to the generosity of numerous local business sponsors and community supporters, Tri Kappa awarded more than $19,000 in scholarships to 18 area students.

2026 Tri Kappa Scholarship Recipients

Warsaw Community High School

• Luke Smith — Alpha Lambda Scholarship recipient for the applicant achieving the highest cumulative GPA
• Ella Jerrett
• Reese Finley — also Centennial Scholarship recipient
• Eve Demopoulos
• MacKenzie Campbell

Wawasee High School

• Sophia Smith
• Zach Kryder
• Emerson Krull — Georgianna Easterday Scholarship recipient

Lakeland Christian Academy

• Samantha Bloomfield

Tippecanoe Valley High School

• Wesley Parker
• Anna Sterk

Current College Students

• Lucy Ray — Valparaiso University
• Kaylan Miller — Indiana Wesleyan University, Georgianna Easterday Scholarship recipient
• Katelyn Brown — Purdue University Fort Wayne
• Molly Kissling — Butler University, Georgianna Easterday Scholarship recipient
• Elijah Wright — Grace College
• Colton Martin — Cedarville University
• Zoe Bergen — Indiana University

Tri Kappa also celebrated the conclusion of its year by hosting its final meeting, during which three recent high school graduates were initiated into the organization as Legacy Members.

Congratulations to Mary Fuller, Adella Mae Huffer, and Reese Finley. Tri Kappa is proud to welcome these young women into the sisterhood and wishes them continued success in their future endeavors.

The post Tri Kappa celebrates a year of purpose, service, and giving appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Downtown Warsaw’s Sip N Shop returns on Friday, June 12,  from 5-7 p.m.

The event by Main Street Warsaw is an opportunity to enjoy an evening of local shopping, sipping, and socializing. Bring your friends, stroll through downtown listening to live street musicians while enjoying complimentary wine and cheese served at local retail shops.

The night doesn’t end with shopping. Be sure to satisfy your hunger by indulging yourselves at downtown restaurants featuring American, Latin, Indian and Italian cuisines.

This month’s retail shops participating in the event are The Cove, Glam Boutique, Finley and Company, Lake Art Association, Male Fashions, and Nicodemus Cards and Games.  Featured musicians include Ben Essick, Evan Hensbee and Chase Caldwell.

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WARSAW — Another heat advisory has been issued for Northern Indiana, as temperatures once again climb to near 90 degrees.

As a result, Fellowship Missions in Warsaw opened its cooling center on Wednesday and is expected to do so again on Thursday with the return of more heat and humidity. 

The cooling station on East Winona Avenue will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Anyone with questions can call the Fellowship Missions front desk at 574-268-9555.

Today’s heat is expected to set the stage tonight for thunderstorms and windy conditions. 

The National Weather Service forecast predicts a cool-down with a high near 79 on Friday.

The post Heat advisory issued for Thursday across much of northern Indiana appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARSAW — Kosciusko County's Freedom Fest persevered after heavy rains led to the cancellation of a Friday night concert and a Saturday morning parade in Warsaw, all aimed at commemorating America's 250th birthday.

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WARSAW — A private access road that connects Dubois Drive and Parker Street in Warsaw could be closed permanently as soon as next week.

The road snakes through property owned by Alick's Home Medical and has become a popular shortcut for motorists.

Public Works Director Dustin Dillon said the road was never meant for public travel and that the amount of traffic represents a huge safety risk for those using the Alick's parking area.

Dillon updated the city's Traffic Commission on the issue on Wednesday and said no trespassing signs could be installed soon. Other steps are also being considered.

The post Private drive off Parker Street in Warsaw near Alick’s to be closed appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

News Release

WARSAW — The Kosciusko Senior Expo & Outreach event, supported by the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, will take place on Tuesday, June 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Warsaw Community Church, located at 1855 S. County Farm Road in Warsaw.

The Senior Expo connects senior citizens and caregivers with local resources,
services, and activities supporting health, independence, and well-being.

Nearly 60 exhibitors will participate, including the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, which will provide a prescription drug drop-off for safe disposal from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Attendees may take part in giveaways, informational breakout sessions featuring community resources, and a “tech corner” where seniors can bring device questions and receive limited tech assistance from local business, The Lab.

This FREE community event offers both helpful information and opportunities for connection.

Free boxed lunches from Miller’s Senior Living Community will be available for the first 150
attendees.

Special thanks to Gold Event Sponsors: 1st Source Bank, Advocate Financial, Guidepost
Insurance, Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital, Mason Health Care and Rehabilitation Center,
McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapels, Miller’s Senior Living Community, Paddock Springs, and
Warsaw Community Church.

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WARSAW — A motorcyclist died in a crash early Friday morning just south of Warsaw.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputies and emergency personnel responded Friday
morning, at 5:14 a.m., to a two-vehicle accident on State Road 15 south of Short Ridge Dr.

Emergency personnel arrived on scene and located a Buick Regal driven by Haciel Juarez-Gutierrez and an Indian Roadmaster motorcycle driven by Randy Schmucker, 64, Warsaw, involved in a head-on collision.

Preliminary investigation determined the Buick was southbound on State Road 15 and crossed the center line, striking the motorcycle, which was northbound on State Road 15.

Schmucker was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Kosciusko County Coroner, Tyler Huffer, from injuries sustained in the crash.

Haciel Juarez-Gutierrez, 19, Warsaw, was not injured in the crash.

The Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office was assisted at the scene by the Kosciusko County
County 911 Dispatch Center, Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory, Warsaw Police Department, Winona Lake Police Department, Lutheran EMS, Kosciusko County Coroner’s Office, and Reichert & Knepp Wrecker Service.

The crash remains under investigation by the Kosciusko County FACT Team.

The post Warsaw man killed in motorcycle accident on SR 15S appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

Last Thursday, the breaking news alert that NASCAR champion Kyle Busch had died in a non-racing related incident was quite jarring.

As the days go by, we find out more about what happened, and hopefully, time will allow us to understand the “why” of what happened.

And hopefully, NASCAR will not make the same mistake it made by hiding what happened to Dale Earnhardt. That’s another column for another day

When I heard the news of Busch’s shocking death, my brain drove its forklift into the back rooms of the warehouse of my mind and brought out an interview I did with Kyle Busch.

It was July 28, 2016, and Toyota was opening up its first dealership in Warsaw — right where it stands today, just north of US 30 on State Road 15.

The world of NASCAR had arrived in the state of Indiana to run the Brickyard 400 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Toyota brought several of its high-level corporate leaders to the grand opening of its Warsaw location.

And they were bringing Kyle Busch to Warsaw to help draw a crowd to their new shop.

And did he ever!

I don’t know how many people were crammed inside that building that afternoon, but there wasn’t enough room to turn around. And those who couldn’t get inside stood outside on a beautiful, warm summer day.

I was there because WRSW-FM was broadcasting live, and I was asked if I would interview Kyle Busch.

At that time, Busch seemed to be in the middle of all the driver spats in the NASCAR Cup Series. And for his part, he didn’t really flinch away from that. Truthfully, it sure looked like he embraced the role of “villain” in a world of stock car driven by squeaky-clean marketing majors like Jimmy Johnson and Jeff Gordon.

He would nudge you, bump you or just flat run you into the wall if that’s what it took to beat you.

And he could not care less about your feelings.

When presented with the opportunity to interview Busch, I didn’t hesitate to accept. No, he would not be my favorite person to interview of all time, but I have never and will never let that get in the way of doing my best to connect a person with the public.

In the days, hours and minutes leading up to Busch’s arrival at Toyota of Warsaw, I was reminded of the goal of this event, which was to be a positive promotion of the newest car dealership in Warsaw.

The best summary of that would be the marketing person from Toyota who said to me 15 minutes before the scheduled interview, “Remember, Roger, your job here is to interview him. You are not here to pick a fight with him, ask him something controversial or make a name for yourself.”

Some interviewers would put their microphone down at that point and take a pass on the interview. But for me, I was there on behalf of the radio station to do the same thing as everyone else was trying to do — leave a good first impression about Toyota’s new presence in Warsaw.

Shortly after, you could hear the cheering of the people outside. Busch had arrived.

He walked right up to me and said, “Roger, it’s nice to be here.” I smiled because I appreciated the fact that he knew who was interviewing him.

Then he leaned into my left ear and said, “Please don’t make me look like a jerk (he used a different word, but you get the point).”

I leaned into his right ear and said, “I have no intention of doing anything of that sort. I am here to promote this dealership and talk to you about Sunday’s race.”

He nodded in confirmation.

I remember very little about the interview itself, other than we talked about how he felt about his car during his practice and how important his relationship with Toyota was.

It lasted about 10 minutes, and then his representative gave me a smile and a wink to let me know it was time to wrap up so that he could say “hi” to people, sign some things and get back on his way to Indy.

When it was over, I sent the station to a commercial break and reached out my hand to shake Kyle’s and thank him for the opportunity to speak with him.

He took his headset off and immediately rejected my handshake. I panicked. What had I done wrong?

I had misread him because, instead, he hugged me. Not a bro hug, a good one. And in the midst of that he said, “Thank you for not trying to pick a fight with me or make me look like a jerk (again, my word. He used a much different word, but you get the point).

He patted my shoulder and walked away.

I doubt that he remembered that interview much beyond climbing aboard the helicopter. I will admit that I have tried and failed many times to analyze his words and what I should take away from them.

I will also admit that I had forgotten about that day until Thursday, when the news broke.

But I won’t forget it now, or ever again.

The post Roger Grossman recalls ‘The Interview’ with Kyle Busch appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

WARAW — For the second time in the past year, various groups will host a mental health resource fair at The Gathering Place in downtown Warsaw. 

The Gathering Place is located at 123 S. Buffalo St.

The Warsaw CARES Unit, which works to support those with mental health issues as part of its broader mission, is helping organize the event. 

Mikaela Bixler, with the CARES Unit, said the lineup of supporting entities is bigger this year, with upward of a dozen groups participating. 

“So a lot of different resources, including potentially resources to help people pay for mental health or get insurance to help cover mental health care,” Bixler said.

She says the cost of professional coverage continues to be a barrier for those seeking help.

“I do feel like a lot of people are hesitant to get mental health care or see a counselor because they think it's very expensive — and it is," she said. 

“We will have resources there to help people get it covered,” she said.

She also said some of the groups will offer telehealth services.

The free event is open to anyone and will run from 530 to 730 p.m.

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