By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — Kensington Digital Media's extensive exterior renovations are continuing at its office at 216 W. Market St., in Warsaw.

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WARSAW — Kensington Digital Media and many in the community spent time this week wishing a happy retirement to Jim Brennan, whose voice has graced radio airwaves in Kosciusko County for nearly two decades.

At the age of 69, Brennan is retiring and will soon be moving with his wife, Jamie, to a new lake home in the area after living for years near Hoffman Lake.

Brennan grew up in Huntington and started his media career as a reporter in Fort Wayne.

Among his favorite memories were reporting live while stuck at a TV station during the blizzard of 1978 and running into Ronald Reagan who suddenly showed up and captured some of the first images of the president moving sandbags during the famous floods of 1982.

But Brennan might be best known for his smooth voice work as a DJ and work in commercials.

In recent years, Brennan has worked as a sales rep whose voice could be heard on WRSW, News Now Warsaw, and Willie 103.5.

Kensington’s general manager Woody Zimmerman said Brennn had an outstanding voice that stood up to some of the vest and thanked him for his impact on the company.

"We're definitely going to miss that," Zimmerman said. "We're going to miss him. He was a big part of this building and the success of WRSW."

Brennan said he especially liked the sense of community that he promoted and enjoyed over the years. He said he career could have taken him to larger markets, but doesn't regret moving on.

"I'm so blessed that we were able to raise our children here in Warsaw," Brennan said.

Brennan, an eternal optimist, stepped into retirement at the end of the year and sounds like he's adjusting well.

"I'm loving it man, every day's a Saturday. I just can't get over it," he said.

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WARSAW -- On Wednesday, WRSW radio began celebrating its 75th anniversary with a proclamation from Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer and a gathering with representatives of the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce.

Thallemer joined WRSW’s General Manager Woody Zimmerman and Program Director Kris Lake this morning. Together, they listened to a clip from Aug. 11, 1948, when station founder Reub Williams introduced WRSW live on the air with help from then-mayor Charles Homer Rice.

Thallemer, a longtime listener, proclaimed August as WRSW month.

"You guys are such great community members and I'm sure you have been for the last 75 years, but as mayor I really see it. I couldn't be prouder and more honored to be here this morning to represent the city in wishing you another 75," Thallemer said.

The radio station, now owned by Kensington Media, will continue the celebration during Third Friday festivities on Friday, Aug. 18.

[caption id="attachment_81476" align="aligncenter" width="885"] WRSW Program Director Kris Lake (L) was joined Wednesday morning by Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer who read a proclamation celebrating the radio station's 75th anniversary. News Now Warsaw photo by Emma Hall.[/caption]

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WARSAW — West Market Street in Warsaw got a chunk of attention Friday during the Board of Public Works and Safety meeting with the board approving two items involving the road.

One of the items included plans by Kensington Digital Media for an exterior renovation of the WRSW radio station offices at 216 W. Market St., that includes a pergola that will be part of the entrance.

City Planner Justin Taylor presented the board with an agreement between the city and Didier Holdings LLC to allow a proposed pergola to encroach into the right-of-way in front of the WRSW building.

“Anytime somebody wants to do something like this, we would require them to have an encroachment agreement to make sure that everything was acceptable to the board,” Taylor said. “I’ve reviewed their concept for this pergola structure. I believe it would not have a negative impact on visibility and clearance for traffic as it enters and exits the site, and it wouldn’t interfere with utilities, so I have confidence that the structure would not be detrimental to the area.”

He added that the work on the facade also would be an improvement and recommended the encroachment agreement be approved.

Woody Zimmerman, general manager for Kensington Digital Media, showed the board pictures of what the building looks like now and the concept for what it will look like.

“Coming on the heels of HopLore redoing their building, PNC did theirs a few years ago and the multi-purpose (project) going in where Owen’s used to be, this would look very, very good,” Zimmerman said of the new concept.

Under the pergola will be a patio using bricks from Market Street from years ago.

“We just want to make Market Street something that everybody enjoys,” he said.

Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer said he really liked the concept and appreciated the investment into the downtown.

Another request came rom HopLore Brewing Co. to close Market Street between Columbia and Lake streets and Washington Street between the alley on the north side of PNC Bank to the alley behind HopLore from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 13 for the Halloween Boofest. The event will be from noon to 4 p.m.

The event will be open to the public. According to the road closure request form, the cost is $40 per person or $65 per person for VIP.

While no one from HopLore attended the meeting, Thallemer said, “HopLore has made a nice investment in their property over on Market Street, and we’re really excited to have them, and I think this will give them a chance to showcase what they do best.”

He said there will be some beer and music, and during the day the housing project where the former Owen’s supermarket used to be will be highlighted. “It’ll be a fun day,” he said.

The board approved the road closure.

In other matters, the board also approved a $3,000 grant from the Kosciusko County Community Foundation to help establish a dog park.

“They’ve identified that as a project they would like to support,” Taylor said. “This project was initially envisioned by the Warsaw Rotary Club after the completion of their Rotary Park down Market Street, and they were looking for another project to get involved with, another way to benefit the community. So we’re really excited to get this initial seed money to start the process of working on this project.”

He said they currently have a schematic design for the park on a 4-acre parcel that would include two fenced-in areas, one for big dogs and one for smaller dogs. The concept also has a walking trail, parking area and a kayak launch.

Thallemer said, “This was a project envisioned by the Rotary Club” who provided a “napkin” drawing and a check. He said there’s still plenty of work to be done, but it would provide an alternate spot for dogs to do their business rather than downtown along the tree lines.

In other business, the board unanimously approved:

• An agreement between the city and Norfolk Southern for the Anchorage Road reconstruction and paving project, as requested by Community Economic and Development Director Jeremy Skinner. He said the agreement is necessary because the project crosses Norfolk Southern’s railroad tracks. Skinner said they will pay the railroad and Indiana Department of Transportation to oversee the communication and flagging during the project. The cost to administer the services are estimated at $20,143 and will be paid from the Northern TIF District.

• A pay request for $58,971 to HRP Construction for the construction of the lift station that will provide sanitary sewer to the Warsaw Municipal Airport, as requested by Skinner. The funds will be paid out by State Revolving Fund dollars allocated to the project.

“As you are aware, we refinanced the wastewater’s SRF loan, and, in doing so, we got access to some additional money at no cost and we’re using that for this lift station project,” Skinner said.

• The acceptance of a $3,000 grant through the Kosciusko REMC Operation Round Up Fund at the Kosciusko County Community Foundation for the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory, as requested by Fire Chief Brian Mayo. The grant will be used toward the purchase of eight Fire Pro X thermal imaging cameras, with the fire department paying the remaining approximate $1,200 of the cost. The WWFT board approved the grant acceptance Wednesday.

• The acceptance of a $3,800 grant from the Indiana Arts Commission to the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department for the Summer Concert Series, as requested by Parks Superintendent Larry Plummer.

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