The post Main Street Warsaw seeks artists for future downtown mural appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

The post Main Street Warsaw seeks artists for future downtown mural appeared first on Willie 103.5.

WARSAW — A new company on Winona Avenue in Warsaw is the first recipient of a new matching grant façade program established for businesses along the corridor that connects the city with the town of Winona Lake.

The program was recently established by the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce.

While façade grants have been used in downtown Warsaw for years, the expansion to Winona Avenue is aimed at helping turn around an important corridor that’s been neglected for decades. 

The first company to take advantage of the program is Real Property Management Golden Dome, which is located at the corner of Winona Avenue and Bronson Street.

The program will provide $8,300 to the company toward exterior renovations.

The chamber has set aside $35,000 for the program.

Chamber President Rob Parker explained the reason behind the program after a check presentation Wednesday.

“We believe as a major corridor in our community, it’s one that is lacking in terms of visual appeal, and by us investing in what we believe should be changed, we’re putting that first step forward to show that this is really important to the business community.”

Company owner Chris Bammerlin, who’s also renovating the interior, said he appreciates the help with the exterior. 

He joined the chamber late last year and jumped at the opportunity after learning of it.

You can see a before and after photo on the company’s Facebook page.

Parker said the program extends beyond Winona Avenue, and is available to businesses along Market and Smith streets, which run parallel to Winona Avenue.

The stretch along Winona runs from the roundabout to the railroad tracks, Parker said.

Six other companies have applied for the grant this year, and Parker said they hope to continue it next year.

“I anticipate having $100,000 worth of renovations done this year from that facade program. So, $35,000 invested is going to return over $100,000 in property improvements along businesses on Winona Avenue,” Parker said.

The eagerness to participate is telling, he said.

“It tells you that there is a need and I have others that are interested,” Parker said.

The program also spurs business activity.

“I anticipate having $100,000 worth of renovations done this year from that facade program. So, $35,000 invested is going to return over $100,000 in property improvements along businesses on Winona Avenue,” Parker said.

The post Chamber celebrates first facade grant awarded to new business on Winona Avenue appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

The post Chamber celebrates first facade grant awarded to new business on Winona Avenue appeared first on Willie 103.5.

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

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.

The post Friday town hall meeting looks at ending Indiana’s property tax system appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

The post Friday town hall meeting looks at ending Indiana’s property tax system appeared first on Willie 103.5.

WARSAW — The city of Warsaw has announced that micro surfacing is taking place on several Warsaw streets in coming days.

The following roads will be impacted:

Nature View Drive, Shell Bark Lane, Pine Cone Lane, North Pointe Drive, East Mariners Drive, Husky Trail, Normandy Lane, Patterson Road, Wayside Court, Parker Street, Harrison Street, Dubois Drive, Chevy Way, Pontiac Drive, North Lake Street, Argonne Road, Petro Drive, Sheldon Street, Fort Wayne Street, Hemlock Lane, Pond Cypress Court, Lindenwood Drive, and Nuthatch Drive.

The preliminary schedule, as well as any updated schedules, will be posted online at https://bit.ly/2026microsurface. All schedules are weather-permitting and subject to change.

Micro surfacing is a surface treatment designed to extend the life of asphalt, according to roadresource.org.

No parking is permitted on the street during micro surfacing. Roads will be temporarily closed during the application process and for four hours following application. Signs and door hangers will be placed at residents’ homes one day prior to application on their street.

The post Warsaw announces upcoming road work and includes link for details appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

The post Warsaw announces upcoming road work and includes link for details appeared first on Willie 103.5.

If you read the headline, you immediately think, “Here comes one of Roger’s famous columns that covers several topics in a single edition,” right?

Well, you’re wrong this time.

We are actually going to talk about food — specifically my favorite tailgate foods.

Now, I admittedly don’t get to tailgate a lot anymore. I don’t go to as many Notre Dame games as I did when I was single and even fewer since the kids came home.

And I certainly don’t eat in the parking lot before the high school games. I ate too close to one game broadcast early in my career and basically missed the whole game with food poisoning (No, I will never ever tell that story on these pages. Never. Ask me about it sometime and I will give you the shortened version of that dreadful night).

But I still like the food that traditionally is served in the parking lots of football games before kickoff, and just because I don’t eat out there doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.

I am not the most creative, adventurous eater, so the point here is not so much to teach you new and creative things to serve, but to remind your tastebuds of how much fun tailgating can be.

First, we start with the main course.

I can go one of two ways on this: I am totally good with a traditional cookout or with chicken wings.

A cookout is simple, and technology has advanced to the point where there are a lot of portable propane and butane grills out there that are compact but still give you plenty of cooking space to feed a group of people efficiently.

No matter what the makeup of your group is, the combo of burgers, brats and hot dogs is virtually guaranteed to hit the mark.

However, ask me what my favorite pregame food is and I will always answer chicken wings.

Now, we are talking about the traditional, bone-in wings and not the boneless wings. I have nothing against boneless wings, except for the fact that they aren’t “wings” at all—they are chicken breasts chopped up into bite-sized pieces and prepared like wings. And I eat boneless wings a lot! So if that’s what you like, have at it!

But on the tailgate, I want bone-in wings.

Wings do come with their own set of problems, starting with how to do you make them for a tailgate? And what do you do with the bones?

If we’re talking about a high school game or you live close to the game site, then it’s no big deal. But if you are a Purdue fan, for example, and you are making your own wings to take, that’s a long way to drive while trying to keep your wings warm in crock pots or a big cooler.

If you have the ability to run a small generator to plug your stuff into, that’s a game changer.

And make sure you have plenty of dipping flavors on hand. I prefer spicy barbeque and mild buffalo for my wings, but that’s where you have to know who’s coming and what they like.

There is a third option, which is chicken breast. I recommend either buying the thinly cut breasts from the store, or taking a whole breast and splitting it in half lengthwise to help it cook easier.

When it comes to sides, chips are plenty for me, but a lot of you have a go-to dish you like—like potato salad or egg salad, for example. But baked beans are next level.

If you really want to be a big hitter at the tailgate, try potatoes. I am talking about a crock pot filled with broasted potatoes seasoned with a hint of garlic.

If you go the chip route, make sure you have some dip to go with it.

Again, my favorite in the parking lot is a chili cheese dip, but you have lots of options here.

Now, next level tailgating when it comes to sides or chips is the addition of pulled pork or pulled chicken to your dip. For example, adding shredded pork to your mac and cheese or your cheesy chip dip should be a big hit. Having a bottle of high-quality barbeque sauce nearby is also essential for this stop in the food line, even if you don’t have pork or chicken shredded to add in.

Then we need to cap off your pregame meal with dessert.

Again, a lot of ways you can go here, but when you are talking about a football tailgate party, I don’t know that there is a better way to finish off your pregame than with a giant cookie. We’re talking one of those big cookies in the shape of a football with letters written in frosting on top.

Of course, you can always have a collection of various kinds of fruit, and that will be great. But the football-shaped cookie that is cut into squares will feed everyone.

As far as beverages, know your audience and the site. Alcoholic beverages are not allowed at high schools — period.

For college and professional games, please remember that you have a responsibility to those you will be sitting nearby to act in an appropriate manner and not ruin their enjoyment of the game. And make sure someone is the “designated driver” to get your people home safely.

Start meal planning accordingly…and pass the wings, please.

The post Roger Grossman and the preseason tailgater appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

The post Roger Grossman and the preseason tailgater appeared first on Willie 103.5.

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.

The post More parking available for today’s Tools For School at Lakeview Middle School appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

The post More parking available for today’s Tools For School at Lakeview Middle School appeared first on Willie 103.5.

By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — The Warsaw Municipal Airport is facing increased scrutiny from the Federal Aviation Administration over what to do about County Road 100 East. 

Long-term plans have looked at eventually expanding the east-west runway, but CR 100E literally stands in the way of that idea, and local residents made it clear nearly voiced opposition to closing the road nearly a decade ago. 

On top of that, the airport was recently informed by the FAA that the road issue has moved up in its priority status, and considers it a safety risk because of the potential for aircraft slide-offs, said Airport manager Nick King, who brought up the issue Tuesday while speaking with the Kosciusko County Commissioners.

King said an FAA memo makes it clear that if the road is not removed, either by converting it into a tunnel or somehow rerouting it, that the federal government could remove a minimum of 1,000 feet of runway space.

“It could be up to 1,500 feet of physical asphalt, which would make it so that none of our jets would be able to operate out of the airport anymore,” King said. “And that’s something that terrifies me.” 

King said the airport has made it clear they oppose closing the road, and he said he thinks there’s growing support to construct a tunnel. 

He speculated that the cost of such a project could range from $13 million to $20 million.

The road has become a key north-south arterial roadway in the community, he said.

“That’s where a lot of emergency traffic goes, a lot of school bus traffic, and we do not want to be a hindrance to that at all,” King said.

“That’s why it’s one of the things that we are working very, very hard on, and we just need the public to be aware this is something that is coming, and we all need to work together to try and put the best plan forward,” he said.

 A decision on the matter is still years away, but King said there’s a growing sense of urgency from the federal government.

County Commissioner Bob Conley, referencing the past anger about that idea of closing the road, said he appreciated the update and how the airport is looking at different options.

King said expansion of the runway is not among the airports top current priorities.

The post Warsaw airport looking at options for CR 100E, including construction of a tunnel appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

The post Warsaw airport looking at options for CR 100E, including construction of a tunnel appeared first on Willie 103.5.

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.

The post Camp Hero in Warsaw continues to thrive with widespread community support appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

The post Camp Hero in Warsaw continues to thrive with widespread community support appeared first on Willie 103.5.

 PLYMOUTH — A 72-year-old Plymouth woman is dead after a crash late Monday afternoon at the intersection of US 31 and 9A Road in Marshall County. 

The crash happened just after 3:15 p.m. and investigators say Donna Warren was driving east on 9A Road in a Ford Focus when she entered the pathway of a semi-tractor trailer and was struck. 

Warren was pronounced dead at the scene.

The post Plymouth woman, 72, dies in crash on US 31 intersection appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

The post Plymouth woman, 72, dies in crash on US 31 intersection appeared first on Willie 103.5.

The post Husky Trail road closing in Warsaw begins Aug. 3 appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

The post Husky Trail road closing in Warsaw begins Aug. 3 appeared first on Willie 103.5.