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WARSAW — Nobody likes property taxes, but one Republican state lawmaker is proposing replacing it with a 7% sales tax on services.

[caption id="attachment_134087" align="alignright" width="120"] Prescott[/caption]

State Rep. J.D. Prescott, who represents parts of East Central Indiana, will hold a town hall meeting Friday night in Warsaw about his plan. 

News of the meeting, which starts at 5.30 p.m. Friday at the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce office on South Buffalo Street, spread quickly online Wednesday after an online promotion began to circulate.

Prescott talked with News Now Warsaw Wednesday afternoon.

“The idea of sales tax on services has been discussed in the past and shot down quite frequently,” he said, adding that what makes his plan different is that it offers a replacement tax.

He said he believes the transition to a sales tax is workable in terms of covering expenses and he is inviting the public to learn more. 

Prescott said he’s hosted about a half dozen meetings already and plans for more are in the works.

One issue that some people at the meetings have expressed concern over is the need for a larger reserve fund, which he said is necessary because sales tax revenues tend to fluctuate more compared to property taxes.

Prescott said property taxes currently generate about $11.6 billion while a 7 percent sales tax would provide about $13 million to $15 million for the state coffers.

He said some exemptions, including one for health care, would be part of the plan.

Prescott was asked whether he has the support from Republican leaders.

“I've had a lot of good discussions with my colleagues in the state house and the governor's office on this,” he said. “I've still got a long way to go to get the votes to get this thing across the finish line.”

“I think members of the General Assembly think it's at least worthy of discussion, he said.

The online promotion did not credit anyone directly for organizing the local meeting.

Prescott said the meeting was arranged in part by two state lawmakers — Reps. Craig Snow and David Abbott, but clarified that neither have expressed support for the plan.

Discontinuing the use of property taxes has been discussed on the fringes of mainstream political talk over the years, but has never gained any traction.

But Republican delegates at this summer's state GOP convention added language supporting property tax elimination to the party’s policy platform, according to Indiana Capital Chronicle.

Prescott said he hopes the Republican platform plank will lead General Assembly members to take up his proposal to eliminate property taxes.

Prescott said that the current ant-tax sentiment seen across the country has created an opportunity for such a bill to gain attention.

Brian Smith, the Democrat Party's chairman for Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District, shared a post about Friday’s meeting on Facebook that was created by a Kosciusko County Council member. 

Smith called the proposal a “crazy” and “terrible” idea.

He urged people to attend and speak out.  

Below is a copy of the promo circulating online.

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WARSAW — Combined Community Services' Tools for School program returns today at Lakeview Middle School in Warsaw, but organizers say this year's event by parents and students could be slightly complicated because of parking.

On-going renovations at the school means there is less available parking available.

Ami Pitt, with CCS, says that while parking will be available on the campus, additional parking will be available to the east on the west end of the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds.

For more than 30 years, the event has been a great resource for students heading back to school.

The program runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is open to all families in Kosciusko County.

“Tools for School is for every student in Kosciusko County who needs some extra help this year.  It's not just a Warsaw thing. It's not just a Warsaw schools thing. It's Warsaw, Whitko, Tippy Valley, private schools, Lincoln Christian, homeschoolers — any student in Kosciuszko County,” Pitt said.

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WARSAW — Three days of events kick off Tuesday morning at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds as the Sheriff's Office hosts its eighth annual Camp Hero.

The free camp requires pre-registration and more than 300 youths are expected to participate this week.

Many of the events feature the work of law enforcement, firefighters and EMS, and set the stage for physical challenges such as a tug of of war contest and water games to educational sessions on crime scene investigations and the dangers of vaping.

Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Doug Light said the activities are educational, challenging and fun.

Camp Hero continues to grow in different ways and much of that has to do with community support. A banner at the entrance of the fairgrounds that salutes sponsors of the camp continues to grow, Light said.

"We have more kids and more activities and you need more staff. We're blessed in this community to have people that are willing to provide us all that," Light said.

The Sheriff's Office relies heavily on other departments and works to improve the programs each year. 

“We kind of combined with DNR, they're going to do some boat rides around Winona, but this year our divers are actually going to get the kids in the water and actually let them kind of experience scuba a little bit," Light said.

The camp continues through Thursday and ends with a graduation ceremony.

To learn more about betting involved next year, contact the sheriff's office.

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WARSAW — Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts has announced its 2027 Professional Summer Season, featuring five productions that span beloved Disney classics, Broadway favorites, comedy, and rock 'n' roll.

The 2027 lineup includes Disney's Frozen, My Fair Lady, Disney's Freaky Friday, Clue, and Million Dollar Quartet, featuring the iconic music of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley.

Early Bird Season Subscriptions are on sale now through September 15, giving patrons the opportunity to save $30 while guaranteeing the best available seating for all five productions.

While individual tickets will be available later, Wagon Wheel encourages patrons interested in seeing Disney's Frozen to subscribe now. Subscribers receive priority seating before individual tickets go on sale, making a season subscription the only way to guarantee the best selection of seats for what is expected to be one of the theater's most in-demand productions in recent years.

"This season is one of the most exciting we've announced in years," said Sam Engle, Communications and Donor Relations Coordinator for Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts. "Between an incredible lineup of productions and the momentum created by our recent READI 2.0 grant, we're expecting to welcome many first-time visitors to Wagon Wheel next summer. Every show brings something completely different, and we're especially excited to introduce three titles that have never before been produced on our stage. It's going to be an unforgettable summer in Warsaw."

Season Subscriptions are available exclusively through the Wagon Wheel Box Office and cannot be purchased online. Patrons may subscribe by calling (574) 267-8041, visiting the Box Office during regular business hours, or completing a subscription brochure available in the Wagon Wheel lobby before performances of Dial M for Murder, running through July 25, and Anything Goes, running July 30 through August 8.

For more information about the 2027 Professional Summer Season, contact the Wagon Wheel Box Office at (574) 267-8041.

Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts is a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Warsaw, Indiana. Their mission is to enrich lives by fostering innovative educational programs, developing professional talent, and connecting communities through transformative performing arts experiences. For more information about Wagon Wheel Center for the Arts or to learn more about upcoming events, please visit www.wagonwheelcenter.org.

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WARSAW — OrthoWorx is celebrating a transformational milestone for Indiana’s life science ecosystem following the announcement that the NSF IMPACT Engine in Indiana, led by Indiana University, has been selected as part of the National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines program.

The NSF Engines program is one of the nation’s most competitive initiatives, designed to strengthen regional innovation ecosystems by accelerating research, commercializing breakthrough technologies, developing talent and creating long-term economic growth. As one of only a select group of regions chosen nationwide, the NSF IMPACT Engine in Indiana will receive $15 million over the next two years, with the potential to receive up to $160 million over the next decade as milestone goals are achieved. The initiative is further supported by $179 million in commitments from partner organizations across Indiana.

The NSF IMPACT Engine builds on the work of the Indiana Musculoskeletal Health Partnership for the Advancement of Care and Treatment, bringing together more than 170 partners representing industry, health care, higher education, research, workforce development, entrepreneurship and government. Together, the coalition will accelerate the development and commercialization of musculoskeletal technologies while creating one of the world’s largest integrated musculoskeletal data resources to support research, product development and patient care.

For Kosciusko County, the Orthopedic Capital of the World®, the announcement reinforces the region’s global leadership in orthopedic and manufacturing innovation and creates new opportunities to connect local expertise with statewide research, entrepreneurship and workforce initiatives.

“This is an exciting moment not only for Indiana, but especially for the Orthopedic Capital of the World®,” said Ryan Christner, president and CEO of OrthoWorx. “Our community has long demonstrated what’s possible when manufacturers, educators, health care providers, entrepreneurs and community leaders work together. The NSF IMPACT Engine recognizes the strength of that collaborative model and creates new opportunities to accelerate innovation, strengthen our workforce and improve musculoskeletal health for patients around the world.”

The initiative aligns closely with OrthoWorx’s mission to advance talent development, community enrichment and innovation while strengthening the long-term competitiveness of Indiana’s orthopedic industry.

“We are thrilled by the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) recent grant announcement focused on musculoskeletal health,” said Dr. David Hoffert, Superintendent, Warsaw Community Schools, “As a national leader in STEM education, Warsaw Community Schools’ instructional practices and innovative methodologies served as a cornerstone of the K-12 programming included in the grant application. Through this investment, we are excited to see these best practices continue to expand throughout our community and across Indiana, helping prepare students for high-demand STEM careers and strengthening the future workforce.”

Grace College has long partnered with industry to prepare students for careers in orthopedic medical device manufacturing, innovation and business leadership. The NSF IMPACT Engine further strengthens those connections by creating new opportunities for research, workforce development and entrepreneurship.

“The NSF IMPACT Engine reinforces what makes our region exceptional: the willingness of education, industry and community partners to work together toward a common goal,” said Dr. Drew Flamm, president of Grace College. “For Grace College, it creates even greater opportunities to prepare students for meaningful careers while collaborating with industry leaders to advance research, innovation and entrepreneurship. We are excited to be part of an ecosystem that is shaping the future of musculoskeletal health and developing the talent that will lead it.”

The NSF IMPACT Engine also creates new opportunities to support startup companies, attract investment and bring groundbreaking technologies from the laboratory to the marketplace, building on the collaborative ecosystem that has made Indiana a global leader in orthopedic medical devices.

“Innovation happens when great ideas are supported by strong partnerships,” said Jim Lancaster, interim CEO of the NSF IMPACT Engine in Indiana. “The NSF IMPACT Engine gives Indiana an unprecedented opportunity to unite researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, manufacturers and investors around a shared vision for advancing musculoskeletal health. By connecting these strengths, we can accelerate commercialization, attract new companies and talent, and ultimately improve quality of life for patients worldwide.”

To help the community better understand what this historic investment means for northeast Indiana, OrthoWorx will feature a dedicated panel discussion during the inaugural OrthoWorx Summit on Aug. 12. Leaders representing education, innovation, entrepreneurship, workforce development and the orthopedic industry will explore the significance of the NSF IMPACT Engine, discuss opportunities for the region, and examine how organizations across sectors can contribute to its long-term success.

“The OrthoWorx Summit was created to bring people together around the conversations shaping the future of our region,” Christner said. “There is no better example of that than the NSF IMPACT Engine. We invite educators, manufacturers, entrepreneurs, health care professionals, community leaders and anyone invested in the future of the Orthopedic Capital of the World® to join us as we explore what this means for our region and how we can work together to maximize its impact.”

Registration is now open for the OrthoWorx Summit, and more information can be found on the Events page of OrthoWorx’s website: orthoworxindiana.com.

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By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — Kosciusko County's Fair Board has embraced the sales of beer and wine at this year's fair but is limiting sales to after 6 p.m. to help create some distance from 4-H activities.

At the same time, 4-H leaders have erected signs that ban alcohol from certain areas.

Beer and wine sales began Monday and are available at an outdoor trailer near the grandstand entrance.

Fair officials said they chose the spot in part because its far from the hub of 4-H activities.

Those buying the beverages can take their drinks onto the midway and the grandstand.

[caption id="attachment_133522" align="alignright" width="370"] Amy Rumschlag, the 4-H educator for Kosciusko County is seen Wednesday inside the 4-H officed at the fairgrounds. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

Amy Rumschlag, the 4-H educator for Kosciusko County, was asked about the 4-H perspective.

“Fair Board makes that decision but 4-H really — our main goal is we want to focus more on our kids,” Rumschlag said Wednesday.

She added:

“We care about our kids and this is our awesome spotlight to promote the 4-H and promote what the kids are doing. Alcohol is not our foremost thing that we're paying attention to so we have tried really hard to focus on that on the kids and just having signs that we really don't want alcohol around the barns and around the livestock and any 4-H groups.”

The Kosciusko fair appears to be the only one in north central Indiana that has chosen to sell alcohol since the law changed July 1.

She said she believes other nearby county fairs are watching how is goes in Kosciusko County before considering whether to also begin sales.

Rumschlag is a Kosciusko County native who spent the last 18 years in Adams County with the 4-H program. This is her first year back in Kosciusko County.

“It has been great to reconnect with people and just, you know, see people, see some of their kids that we're in. You know, I went to school with some of these people and like their kids are in the program so it's been really cool to see that " she said. "And a lot of things have stayed the same but a lot of changes have happened too.”

4-H activities continue today with the Horse and Pony show at 9 a.m. and the annual Poss-Abilities show at noon.

In the grandstand, the 3-Par-J Rodeo starts at 7 p.m. 

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WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Community fair formally kicks off Sunday with its annual parade starting at 2 p.m. on the west side of Warsaw.

The parade will head east on Center Street to Bronson Street where it wool head into the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds.

The parade line up starts at 12:30 pm

The fair issued a statement that it “welcomes the entire community for a week filled with fun, entertainment, and memorable moments.”

This year’s fair theme is  “Stars & Stripes and Carnival Nights.”

The fair board earlier this month confirmed they plan to sell been and wine during fair week. 

Aside from a link to a South Bend TV station story on its Facebook page, the board has not posted any policies and details about specific hours or where the beverages would be sold.

Check out the fair's Facebook page here.

According to the fair page website:

• Hours: Gates open at 5 p.m. Monday and at 9 a.m. Tuesday through Friday and 1 p.m. Saturday.
• Admission: Ages 9 and Under, Free; $8.00 for adults and $3 for seniors. A weekly pass is $40
• POP Wristbands (available at Kiosk) are  $32.00

Carnival rides in the midway begin Tuesday.

Also, officials announced its tiger display has been replaced with a grizzly bear encounter.

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WARSAW — Community leaders on Friday put a cap on local celebrations marking America's 250th anniversary with an eye on celebrating its tricentennial in 50 years.

A large crowd gathered Friday on the east side of the Kosciusko County Courthouse for a the assembly of a time capsule containing various local items that will serve as present-day artifacts that will be sealed until until plans to open it in 2077.

Officials also celebrated the planting of a Liberty Tree on the east side of the courthouse lawn.

The capsule will remain inside the courthouse and will not be buried.

Friday's ceremony included numerous speakers and planning for the time capsule had the support of Maddox Lemler, a 15-year-old sophomore at Warsaw Community High school who has been working at the Kosciusko County Historical society as an intern.

The wooden antique box from the early 1900s box was acquired from a family in Whitley County on Facebook Marketplace by Mike Loher, ML Community Impact Alliance founder and Freedom Fest organizer. 

Among the speakers were County Commissioner Bob Conley, who read a letter that was included in the capsule. Warsaw City Council President Jack Whilhite, a former employee of Zimmer Biomet, read a letter from the orthopedic manufacturer who began business in Warsaw 99 years ago.

Zimmer Biomet’s contribution included a knee replacement implant etched with the words, “Made in Warsaw, Indiana.” 

County Council Member Joe Irwin, a farmer, placed a small replica of a modern John Deere tractor inside the box.

Other items included recent copies of the Times-Union, letters from well wishers and various other items.

[caption id="attachment_133381" align="alignright" width="330"] A couple deckled out in patriotic garb, bow their heads during a prayer at the ceremony. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

“These items tell the story of who we are, what we value, what we have accomplished, and what we hope for the generations who will one day open this capsule," said Ed Rock, who spoke at the event.

"Our hope is that when this time capsule is opened in 2076, as America celebrates her 300th anniversary, future generations will look back with gratitude and recognize that we did our part to preserve the freedoms and opportunities we inherited," Rock said.

The Tree, donated by Open Air Garden, is a Crimson King Maple and was planted ahead of time on the east side of the courthouse lawn.

The history of what became known as the Liberty tree was explained by Lisa Hendry, a volunteer with the Kosciusko County Historical Society.

Back in 1765 in Boston, she explained, a large elm tree became a gathering place for the colonists who were protesting the Stamp Act. Under its branches, ordinary citizens would gather to stand against unjust taxation and to defend the rights that would eventually become the foundation of our nation, Hendry said.

Soon, communities throughout the colonies established their own Liberty Trees as the places where the patriots would gather to discuss freedom, justice, and self-government, she said.

Although British soldiers cut down the original Liberty Tree in 1775, they could not stop the rooting of the spirit of our nation, which could not be destroyed. The idea of liberty had already taken root, she said.

"Today, more than 250 years later, we continue that tradition by dedicating this Liberty Tree in Kosciusko County. May it remind all of us as we walk by it that freedom is never guaranteed. It is earned, it is protected, it is preserved, and it's passed on from one generation to the next,” Hendry said.

The two ceremonies coincided a special edition of Third Friday, held a week earlier than normal to avoid a conflict with the annual county fair. The hoedown theme included line dancing and a sip and shop promotion by Main Street Warsaw and food.

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WARSAW — CASA has announced the graduation of three new Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteers who successfully completed the organization’s new pilot training program.

The volunteers are now prepared to advocate for children involved in the child welfare system, ensuring each child’s voice is heard and their best interests are represented in court.

The pilot training program combines the flexibility of online learning with the value of in-person instruction. New volunteers now complete 15 hours of online training followed by 15 hours of instructor-led, in-person training, providing a comprehensive learning experience while accommodating busy schedules.

CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to advocate for children who have experienced abuse or neglect. They build relationships with the children they serve, gather information from those involved in the child’s life, and provide independent recommendations to the court to help ensure children find safe, permanent homes.

The next volunteer training class begins with the online portion on August 1. Individuals who are passionate about making a difference in a child’s life are encouraged to learn more about becoming a CASA volunteer.

Visit casachildren.com to learn more about the training program and discover how you can help change a child’s story.

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