Staff Report INDIANAPOLIS – The rivalry between Attorney General Curtis Hill and Gov. Eric Holcomb expanded on Wednesday, July 22, when Hill announced his opposition to the way Holcomb introduced a new statewide mask mandate. Hours after Holcomb announced the mandate, which begins Monday, Hill released an opinion saying it’s not constitutional. Hill issued an …read more.

Kosciusko County Health Department is now asking organizers who are planning for events larger than 250 people to now fill out a form explaining how precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 will be addressed.

The Syracuse Lake Association Breakfast and Annual Meeting, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 1, has been cancelled.

After almost 27 years of service, Suzie Light has officially retired as CEO of the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. 

The state’s drive-thru testing site in Warsaw will continue for an additional two weeks, said Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer during a coronavirus media briefing on Wednesday at City Hall.

Results from the 2020 Kosciusko County 4-H Livestock Auction have been released.

Between noon Monday, July 20, and noon Wednesday, July 22, the Kosciusko County Health Department reported a total of 27 new COVID-19 cases. This brings the county’s total number of reported cases to 721, with eight deaths.

Three people signed paperwork to run for Warsaw School Board positions, including two incumbents and one newcomer.

Marshall County UNIT Officers ended numerous lengthy investigations and coordinated a multi-agency operation resulting in the apprehension of 20 individuals in and around Marshall County for drug offenses.

The 2020 graduates of Bethel University’s School of Nursing at Grace College boast a 100% NCLEX-RN Boards exam pass rate so far.

Grace College celebrates Dr. Paulette Sauders’ 55 faithful years of service upon her retirement this summer.

The Claypool Town Council discussed the town’s fire contract with the Claypool Volunteer Fire Department during a meeting on Tuesday, July 21.

Beginning Monday, July 27, Hoosiers will be required to wear masks.

Tornado Siren testing for the Town of Silver Lake is scheduled for Thursday, July 23, in the afternoon.

The Kosciusko County Community Foundation is opening a special grant program to address financial challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) is asking Hoosiers to pay with a credit card or check when possible to complete transactions.

An Atwood man is facing multiple criminal charges after continuously messaging and threatening a woman while violating a protective order.

Candace Smythe was honored for her 25 years with the North Webster Police Department at the North Webster Town Council meeting, Tuesday, July 21. It was held in the North Webster Community Center. She received an engraved plate to commemorate the anniversary from President Lisa Strombeck and Police Chief Greg Church to a round of applause to those in attendance.

The Winona Lake Residential Parking Study was presented to the town board Tuesday, July 21.

Demand for free COVID-19 testing remains strong in Warsaw.

Alan Tio, CEO of Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation, provided an update on the organization to the Syracuse Town Council during its monthly meeting Tuesday night, July 21.

Although the board filled the entire garage bay of Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District with chairs, only two public members were present for its monthly meeting Monday, July 20. There is still no official word on whether the district will move forward with sewering parts of Wawasee, but the board did provide updates on some of the moving pieces required to finalize plans.

On Saturday, July 11, 11 Lakeland Christian Academy graduates walked across the stage at the annual commencement ceremony.

The Syracuse Town Council made quick work of approving a number of resolutions and ordinances associated with Polywood’s expansion during its regular meeting Tuesday night, July 21. This was the first time the council met in person since the state shut down due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

If you have a passion for gardening and enjoy teaching others how to grow plants, the Purdue Extension Service has a class for you.

A petition requesting that Warsaw Community Schools develop a safer reopening plan has been launched at change.com.

Since the Mermaid Festival could not be held due to COVID-19 restrictions, the North Webster Lions Club felt it would like to bring a bit of fun to the community for one day only in 2020, ending with the Demolition Derby.

Syracuse-Wawasee Trails Committee discussed the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Conklin Bay project at the Monday night, July 20, meeting.

An update on the new project was also discussed. Minor issues are still being addressed. Selge Construction was on-site last week to follow up. Erlene Yentes, executive director, updated the committee that educational signs are located along the trail.

By Lauren Zeugner InkFreeNews SYRACUSE  —  In a brief 20-minute Zoom meeting Tuesday morning, July 21, the Syracuse Redevelopment Commission passed two resolutions that will keep Polywood’s proposed expansion and the development of a new ballpark moving forward. Dennis Otten, of Bose McKinney Evans, the law firm assisting the town on this project, briefly explained …read more.

A local man will serve two years in prison after a traffic stop resulted in the discovery of methamphetamine.

Community Corrections Executive Director Barry Andrew came before the commissioners with a vehicle purchase request at the Kosciusko County Commissioners meeting Tuesday, July 21.

One year after an initial investment of $400,000 in 2019 to begin the Whitko Career Academy, The 80/20 Foundation Trust, led by John Wood and the Board of Directors decided unanimously to invest an additional $2,433,877 in the future of manufacturing.

Warsaw resident Paul Schue captured photographs of Comet NEOWISE, which made its closest approach to the sun on July 3.

The special meeting of the Wawasee Community School Corporation board of trustees Monday, July 20, lasted only 12 minutes, but the board’s action could have districtwide impact for the next eight years.

City Council is already making adjustments in funding for road work in anticipation of shortfalls in revenues as a result of the pandemic.

News Release  LARWILL – The Whitko Community School Board approved the back-to-school plan for the 2020-2021 school year Monday, July 20. The re-opening plan includes a manual that was sent out to students, parents, teachers, and other staff that outlines multiple student learning options. The school district will continue to issue all K-12 students a …read more.

InkFreeNews offers outstanding advertising solutions whether your marketing goal is to launch a new business, drive traffic in-store or online or build name recognition. Look below to see last week’s viewership numbers and take advantage of what InkFreeNews has to offer. For advertising, call Kip Schumm. (574) 658-4111, ext. 2328. July 13 — 19, 2020 …read more.

MENTONE — The Tippecanoe Valley School Board approved the corporation’s reopening plan at the meeting held tonight, July 20. The main points from the reopening plan introduced last week remain the same. There were minor changes regarding the wording related to COVID-19 symptoms and positive test protocols. These two sections now come directly from the …read more.

Caroline Day, left, accepts the corporation’s Teacher of the Year award from School Board President Aaron Zolman. MENTONE — The Tippecanoe Valley School Board chose to honor the corporation’s teachers of the year during the meeting held tonight, July 20. Tania Grimes, director of curriculum, explained that each year, the Indiana Department of Education conducts the …read more.

Between noon Friday, July 17, and noon Monday, July 20, the Kosciusko County Health Department reported a total of 84 new COVID-19 cases. This brings the county’s total number of reported cases to 694, with eight deaths.

A Warsaw man has been arrested after allegedly taking items from the company he worked for.

The man who drove his car into Carr Lake on July 15, shoots himself during a police interaction in Celina, Ohio, according to the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, and Darrin Wright of WOWO news. 

A Warsaw man was arrested after entering into a contract to perform roof repair and then allegedly failing to complete the job. 

A Syracuse man was recently arrested after choking a woman twice with a belt.

Calling all elementary kids. Bring a parent to Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation this Wednesday morning at 9 for a fun experience learning about wetlands.

WARSAW — There’s no denying that the YMCA and the history of sports are uniquely intertwined. The YMCA is where many young people are first introduced to playing sports and even where many sports, like basketball and volleyball, were invented. The YMCA was even the first organization to pay someone to play quarterback, making him the first professional football player.

Below is COVID-19 activity for Goshen Health as of July 20, going back to March 11.

INDIANAPOLIS – State Rep. Dave Wolkins is urging residents to participate in the 2020 Census. Census responses are critical to future federal funding in local communities, and Hoosiers should respond now if they have not already done so, Wolkins said in a news release. Door-to-door visits by Census workers was set to begin in some …read more.

NIPSCO teams were kept busy this weekend. Approximately 700 customers around Ogden Island, Eli Lilly Road, Kanata Manayunk and Johnson’s Bay were without power from approximately 9:30 a.m. Saturday, July 18, through 12:14 a.m. Sunday, July, 19, due to a primary underground fault that failed at the same time there were storms in the area.

It’s safe to say things are justifiably stressful right now. As the world reacts to the pandemic, people are staying home, quarantining, and social distancing as an effort to stay safe and slow the spread of COVID-19.

A power outage in in Syracuse is affecting the downtown area along with 1,626 customers. NIPSCO is working on the problem and hopes to have power restored by 11 a.m.

High temperatures through Thursday will be in the mid-80s, according to the National Weather Service in North Webster.

North Webster Community Public Library will host a silent fundraising auction starting July 20 through July 31.

A Centennial Homes program is returning for 2020 sponsored by the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum. The “Ties That Bind” presentation is 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 25, Ruddell Pavilion, Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation Education Center, 11586 N. SR 13.

MENTONE – Tippecanoe Valley High School graduation ceremony scheduled for Sunday night, July 19, has been postponed due to unpredictable weather. TVHS graduation ceremony will now take place on Sunday 7/26, with the baccalaureate ceremony beginning at 7:00 p.m. and the graduation ceremony at 7:30 p.m., the school district said in a news release. The back-up date for …read more.

SYRACUSE — The Wawasee High School Class of 2020 was able to “finally have a graduation,” exclaimed Wawasee Community School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Tom Edington during his introductory remarks at the ceremony held on Wawasee Warrior Field, Saturday, July 18.

It was a day that would go down in history. Well not world history or even local history, but personal history for Mike Smith, Syracuse.

SYRACUSE – The board of directors and staff want borrowing items from the library to be user friendly. The Syracuse Library is now fine free. Here are some tips from the library staff: One of the benefits is there are no overdue fees when the books you return sit for three days in quarantine. Another …read more.

Great Lengths by Lisa, 225 N. Main St., North Webster, celebrated their grand opening with a ribbon cutting on Friday, July 17.

There are two things I will never understand:

Warsaw Community High School hosted it’s very first outdoor graduation Friday, July 17, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Matthew Bochard and Sylvia Gargett officially exchanged the gavel Tuesday, July 7, for the Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary Club.

A public ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for the Conklin Bay Boardwalk and Trail. The ceremony will be conducted by the Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 30, at the entrance to the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation headquarters on SR 13, south of Syracuse.

The ribbon cutting represents a significant step forward for the trails committee. It received a grant in May 2019 from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Next Level Trails program. Construction began in October. While the last section of the Conklin Bay boardwalk and trail was completed in March, the trail officially opened in May.

Kevin Kyle’s Facebook idea of having a patriotic rally blossomed Friday night into a large event at the courthouse square in downtown Warsaw.

The Indiana Department of Health has approved the application for Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory to continue as host agency for the distribution of Narcan (Naloxone) Rescue Kits for emergency responder agencies within the county. 

A 5-year-old child recovered from Pike Lake Beach on Tuesday evening has died.

After 90 minutes of deliberation, a jury ruled in favor of all of the defendants in a lawsuit stemming from a shooting death that occurred in 2014.

Thursday, July 16, the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce and North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce partnered to hold a ribbon cutting for Jerky Jerks, 503 S. Huntington St., Syracuse. The business opened in March before temporarily closing during the stay-at-home order issued in light of the COVID-19 pandemic; it has since resumed operations.

The Silver Lake Fire Department will be hosting a tenderloin dinner fundraiser from 4:30-6 p.m. (or until sold out) Saturday, July 18.

Lakeland Regional Sewer District Board of Trustees voted to extend its suspension of failure to connect penalties to July 31 at its monthly meeting held July 15. The penalties for not connecting to the sewer system will resume Aug. 1.

News Release INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) has announced the cancellation of all events this fall. It is therefore with deep regret and disappointment that, due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we have found it necessary to announce that all 2020 ISSMA Live Marching Band events have been cancelled, according to a …read more.

Indiana Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin work on replacing seven traffic signals along SR 15 (Detroit Street) in Warsaw beginning Monday, July 20.

A very hot start for the weekend ahead with rain and thunderstorms near the end, according to the National Weather Service forecast. 

A local supporter of Black Lives Matter is urging people to avoid any thought of counter-protesting at the Patriot Rally scheduled for Friday night in Warsaw.

The Animal Welfare League presents its “Pets of the Week” featuring Mac the dog, and Sparky the cat.

Five additional witnesses testified Thursday, July 16, in the second day of testimony in a civil trial for a lawsuit involving a shooting death that occurred in 2014. 

AKRON — During the Tippecanoe Valley School Board Work Session held tonight, July 16, a draft of the corporation’s reopening plan was shared. “We had a great reopening committee that put a lot of work and a lot of great discussion in on creating this plan,” said Superintendent Blaine Conley. “This plan has been reviewed …read more.

The first episode in a three-part docuseries about the Kosciusko County Jail Chemical Addiction Program will air at 8 p.m. this Sunday.

Warsaw Community Schools will host an in-person commencement ceremony for the Class of 2020 on Friday, July 17 at 7:30 pm at the Tiger Athletic Complex (TAC) on Fisher Field.

Warsaw Community Schools released Distance Learning information for elementary, middle, and high school levels.

The Winona Lake Jazz Festival will take place on Saturday, July 25, from 1 – 7 p.m. under a large tent on Tabernacle Lawn, 801 Park Ave., Winona Lake.

Due to COVID-19  safety concerns, Chautuaqua-Wawasee has decided to cancel the July 31 Lake Wawasee Historical “Then & Now” LillyPad cruise. 

The Tippecanoe Township board met with Fire Chief Jeremy Likens and Township Trustee Chris Francis at its regular monthly meeting,Wednesday, July 15, in the Tippecanoe Township Building, North Webster.

Warsaw Community Schools is selling the Gateway property.

Back to school plans, policies, and protocols were the biggest focus at the Warsaw Community Schools Board meeting Wednesday, July 15.

The Pierceton Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate LexLil Contracting LLC on being selected as the July Member of the Month along with the 2020 Member of the Year.

Emergency crews were dispatched to 322 N. CR 300 E, Wednesday evening in reference to a person hit by a vehicle.  

Three witnesses testified Wednesday, July 15, during the opening day of testimony in a civil trial for a lawsuit involving a shooting death that occurred in 2014. 

A month from today, school districts in northern Indiana will be in various stages of reopening their buildings for in-class instruction in the midst of a pandemic that is growing worse in some parts of the nation.

More major companies are now requiring customers who enter their stores to wear masks.

A Warsaw woman who was allegedly running nearly naked in the street now faces three charges.

You may have seen Lauren Klusman, with camera in hand, at a wedding looking to capture just the right moment on a day that should be one of the happiest a person will ever experience. She not only is a wedding photographer but also uses her camera extensively as part of her job as marketing and communications manager for the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce in Warsaw.

Ladies Night Out is from 6-9 p.m. this Saturday, July 18, at the North Webster Community Center. A fun evening, including dinner, cocktails, shopping and bingo, is planned for any and all women 21 and older who would like to attend.

Altrusa International of Warsaw has begun its 47th year of service to the Kosciusko County community.  

A man was arrested Wednesday afternoon, July 15, after apparently letting his vehicle roll off of public access boat ramp and sink in Carr Lake.

Goshen Hospital announced it has achieved the international Baby-Friendly Re-Designation after a review process conducted by Baby-Friendly USA, an organization established by the World Health Organization and the United Nations Children’s Fund.

The Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles announced Wednesday, July 15, it will begin appointments for driving skills exams on July 16 in select communities.

The first step to get temporary operational funds will begin for the Tippecanoe & Chapman Lakes Regional Sewer District. The first reading of a resolution for a bond anticipation warrant will be presented at the Aug. 10 meeting.

A citywide mask order by Mayor Lloyd Winnecke and a City Council ordinance mandating masks may be in the pipeline — but whatever happens may not happen quietly.

Maple Leaf Farms aims to help foodservice establishments reopen this summer with its “Operation Operator” promotion.