ELKHART — Slate Auto says it will begin deliveries of its future electric pickup trucks from its plant in Warsaw beginning in December.

Slate Auto’s Christian Kreipke, who serves as the company's Government Sales Lead, also said Wednesday that details about reservations and distribution will be announced on June 22 in Warsaw.

Kreipke made the comments during a speech on sustainability that was part of a luncheon hosted by MACOG, the Michiana Area Council of Governments, at the Matterhorn Conference Center in Elkhart.

The startup auto company is not aligned with any dealerships and is thereby cutting out the middleman to keep the pricetag to a minimum.

“The bottom line is, we chose to do direct-to-consumer (distribution) so we can control the price,” Kreipke said. “For a vehicle at this cost, it could easily get out of hand with increased price, service agreements.” 

The company announced last year that it intends to employ nearly 2,000 people with operations beginning this fall at the old RR Donnelley and Sons plant on Old Road 30.

More than 160,000 people have put down a $50 deposit.

Slate is seeking to disrupt the auto market with a lower-than-normal price point for its electric vehicles, which are highly customizable.

The vehicles don't rely on steel parts, won't rust, and are designed to last.

He said he envisions parents can eventually hand off the vehicle to their children, who can then customize it to their preferences.

"What we're really talking about here is building the future of sustainability on many, many facets from the powertrain and materials that are sustainable," he said. "EV tends to be really conducive to longer term because there's much less parts, there are a lot less moving parts, and they're a lot easier to fix."

James Turnwald, the executive director for MACOG, says it's good to have another major manufacturer in the region.

“To be able to then have, hopefully, a lower cost electric vehicle that the general consumer could purchase, I think that is wonderful, and I hope that they do very well,” Turnwald said.

So sustainability here goes just beyond emissions to now talk about having a vehicle that isn't going to contribute to the Rust Belt.

Many of the parts can be added or adjusted by the owner, or they can opt for a professional.

The Clean Air Luncheon celebrated air quality improvements in the region.

Three groups were honored — the South Bend Link Trail, Seed to Feed, and the South Bend City Church.

The South Bend City Church is working to advance energy efficiency with the renovation of its new location, a building that was once home to a South Bend Tribune printing press.

The church installed a 44kW solar array that utilizes Crossroads Solar panels, a local manufacturer of solar panels in South Bend that employs citizens returning to the workforce. 

The Link Trail is recognized for providing a bike and pedestrian option to residents. The city of South Bend, Visit South Bend Mishawaka, and the University of Notre Dame collaborated to develop the Link Trail, a shared-use pedestrian and bicycle trail connecting downtown South Bend to the Notre Dame campus. 

Seed to Feed is recognized for driving sustainability forward with impactful initiatives. The organization continues to transform local food systems through an innovative, community-driven model that grows and shares more than 100,000 pounds.

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WARSAW — There are more signs that Slate Auto continues to move closer to beginning production of its electric pickup truck plant in Warsaw.

Slate recently announced that it had secured $650 million in additional funding to help launch its refurbished facility in Warsaw at the old R.R. Donnelley & Sons plant on Old Road 30.

A publication known as The EV Report said the funding will pave the way for Slate to begin taking pre-orders for trucks starting in June.

The Michigan-based company has already been taking $50 reservations, with 160,000 people already stepping up.

The Warsaw plant is expected to employ about 2,000 people.

The first electric pickup trucks are expected to begin rolling off the assembly line late this year.

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WARSAW — Warsaw area shoppers have been clamoring for years to see a grocery store open up on the south side of the city, and it's now about to happen, but on a smaller scale. 

Owens Fresh Meat Market, which opened in Leesburg two years ago, is adding a second store on the south side of Warsaw just north of Warsaw Community High School.

The store will be on Fisher Avenue near Kincaid Street in a building that used to be home to Kendall Electric. 

Co-owner Christy Owens said they've been looking for a spot in Warsaw and had considered using part of the Old Marsh property before finding a spot further to the south.

She said the future operations won't have a butcher on staff, but will be similar to the store in Leesburg.

"I know we'll have a fresh meat counter in there, probably a deli, a grocery section ... like everybody wants," Owens said.

"Pretty close to what we have here up in Leesburg, it'll just be on a smaller scale," she said.

She said they could open for business "hopefully" in June.

The closing of the Marsh grocery store (nine years ago) and the Owen's Grocery store (no relation to the Leesburg store owners) in 2919 left a clear void for residents on the west and south sides of the city.

City leaders worked for years to attract a grocery store to the Marsh property at the corner of Winona Avenue and South Buffalo Street, for years with no luck because of the property's deteriorating condition.

At the same time, the company that owned the old Owen's property (Krogers) prevented other grocery stores from acquiring the land, which will soon be home to a new apartment complex.

Filling that void, Owens said, is part of the reason for expanding.

Kristy Owens said they were interested in using part of the Marsh property, which had been owned by the city of Warsaw before it was sold to a company that is redeveloping the building into a large antique mall, which is expected to open posskbly by the end of the year.

Ultimately, they learned of the Fisher Avenue opportunity, she said.

News of the expansion plans was announced earlier this week in a video posted by the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, which you can see here. The video attracted hundreds of positive comments and reactions.

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WARSAW — Slate Auto, the Jeff Bezos-backed electric vehicle startup that plans to open a new manufacturing facility in Warsaw later this year, has announced it has raised $650 million to fuel its efforts.

Investment firm TWG Global led the round, and the cash infusion will be critical to developing the Slate truck and scaling up manufacturing to ensure production begins later this year. 

The startup was founded in 2022 and originally banked on the $7,500 federal EV tax credit to bring the electric truck's starting price under $20,000. With that credit now gone, the target price has crept up to around $25,000. 

The truck model is an innovative platform so customizable that it can transform from a two-seat pickup to a five-seat SUV.

Established in 2022, Slate was founded on a disruptive business model that simplifies the manufacturing process with the idea of building an affordable vehicle that owners can take pride in driving and customizing.

Slate will produce trucks at a reindustrialized the old R.R. Donnelley & Sons catalogue factory on the west side of Warsaw. 

Every Slate truck will be built in the same configuration, ready for accessorization after delivery.

The manufacturer’s retail price will be announced in June 2026.

Last year, Slate pledged to invest nearly $400 million in the factory, create over 2000 jobs in Kosciusko County, and contribute up to $39 billion to Indiana’s economy over 20 years.

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WARSAW — Area residents might have likely noticed that Dalton Foundry, visible from Winona Avenue, has remained operating well after its announced plans to cease operations (after more than 100 years) by the end of February. 

News Now Warsaw reached out to Dalton Corporation's parent company, First Brands Group LLC, more than once, but never heard back about the company’s status.

As it turns out, the company had one final extension with a major manufacturer, and that production — and employment of many of its remaining workers — ended on Friday.  

A small number of workers will continue until the end of the month, said one worker said on Saturday.

Two others previously said work was expected to cease by April 12.

One worker outside of the plant on Saturday said manufacturing and the use of the smokestack is now complete. 

The company said in December that the closing would affect about 260 employees.

The company has filed for bankruptcy protection, but city officials said operations could be revived if the property is sold.

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WARSAW — President Donald Trump has endorsed State Rep. Craig Snow in his upcoming primary race for state House District 22.

Snow, of Warsaw, is one of ten candidates recently endorsed by Trump as the president continues to take a keen interest in races in the Hoosier state after many Republican and Democratic lawmakers voted against Congressional redistricting in Indiana in December.

[caption id="attachment_129594" align="alignright" width="220"] List provided by Indiana Capital Chronicle.[/caption]

Most of Trump’s campaign efforts in Indiana have focused on supporting Republican challengers running against incumbent Republican state Senators who voted against redistricting in December.

Endorsing Republicans in the House seems to be an extension of that strategy.

The story did not include any comments about Snow directed by Trump.

Snow is facing a primary challenge from Daniel R. Koors, who resides in North Manchester. 

According to his Facebook page, Koors attended Purdue University and is the owner of DWK Trucking LLC.

A list of recent endorsements was the basis for an update by the Indiana Capital Chronicle on Trump's most recent endorsements, which you can read here.

Snow was first elected in 2020 and succeeded Dave Wolkins, who retired.

Endorsements by the White House involving local races have been exceedingly rare, but much more common under Trump.

Snow is likely the first local state representative to be endorsed by a sitting president in recent memory.

News Now Warsaw reached out to Snow for comment on the endorsement, but did not immediately hear back.

Snow was one of many Republican House members who voted to drastically redistrict congressional lines in December.

The state senate rejected the legislation, ending the debate.

Trump then promised to campaign against those who opposed the legislation.

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NORTH WEBSTER — If you thought March was especially stormy, you would be correct.

The National Weather Service’s Northern Indiana Office reports that March 2026 was the busiest March for severe weather on record.

In March 2026, the office issued 57 total severe thunderstorm warnings, covering nearly the entire forecast area.

The previous record was just 28, which was set just last year.

Three parts of the area saw a particularly high concentration of severe thunderstorm warnings. One included LaPorte, Starke, and Marshall Counties. Another concentration was seen on a line from Warsaw to Fort Wayne.

The office also issued 18 tornado warnings in March — nearly three times the record of seven set in 2023. The average number of tornado warnings issued in March for the Northern Indiana Office is just one.

The office's forecast area includes northern Indiana as well as southern portions of Michigan and northwest Ohio.

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WARSAW — K-CODE and LITE Recovery Hub, along with other groups focused on supporting people suffering from life’s biggest challenges, are teaming up for a community workshop called "Breaking Down the Walls of Stigma."

The meeting will include a documentary, a panel discussion, and outreach with various groups. It will be from 5:30 p.m to 7 p.m. at the Zimmer Biomet Center Lake Pavilion in Warsaw.

The event is open to everyone, and Tammy Cotton, founder and executive of LITE Recovery Hub, said she thinks many people could benefit from the meeting.

"Even if it's not affecting you within your own sphere of influence, you will come across someone who is unhoused or someone who is struggling with mental health somewhere and some way, and so why not learn and educate yourself on the resources that are out in our community," Cotton said.

Participating groups include Warsaw CARES Unit, Allendale Treatment Center, Fort Wayne Recovery, Serenity House, and Fellowship Missions.

Law enforcement will also have a role in the meeting.

K-CODE, formally known as Kosciusko Coalition on Drug Education, seeks to investigate problems associated with drug, alcohol and other addictive behaviors in the county and meets monthly with a large group working to reduce substance abuse.

The upcoming meeting was the idea of K-CODE Coordinator Heidi Blake and Cotton.

Cotton and Blake agree that while some progress has been made in addressing substance abuse and post-incarceration in Kosciusko County theey believe more can still be done.

They think improved collaboration, especially with the police, is important.

They also want people to better understand the circumstances rather than doing nothing.

“We really want to dismantle stigma surrounding those who have experienced incarceration, substance use, even some mental health (issues), and showcase the collaborative work being done in our community,” Cotton said.

“We’re not asking really anybody to do anything. Our call to action is for people to make themselves aware of the challenges people are facing, and maybe not just so much.”

A key part of that collaboration involves interactions with police, since most people's first instinct when they see someone passed out in public or clearly inebriated is to call law enforcement or do nothing.

Cotton and Blake are both quick to express appreciation for what police face every day, as they often regularly come into contact with people who are regularly in and out of jail on drug or alcohol charges.

But they think some would benefit from a fresh approach that relies more on collaboration with groups who can, in different ways, help those who are struggling rather than just being arrested.

Blake recalled a recent visit to an area park where she encountered a man lying down in the grass with a bottle of liquor and apparently passed out or overdosing. She called the police, who responded, and it became apparent that officers knew the man who was awakened and eventually told to leave the park.

Blake said she thought the situation could have been handled better. She lost track of where he went and was left wondering afterward what happened to the man.

She said she'd like to have seen the man receive some help other than being arrested.

Blake said she then felt guilty for not assisting the man, possibly by calling the Bowen  Health Stabilization unit in Piereton or LITE.

"We're not talking about long-term need. I’m talking about an immediate need – making sure this individual was safe, making sure he wasn’t going to harm himself,” Blake said.

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