Dear Editor, Unfortunately, last Tuesday, Primary Election Day, a black female poll worker was subjected to an appalling and degrading racist comment from the white male Republican Inspector. We thank Kosciusko County Republican Chairman Mike Ragan for strongly condemning the inspector’s comment and for pledging to prohibit him from ever serving as an Inspector again. …read more.

Dear Editor, I have just read the reporting by the Warsaw Times-Union and InkFreeNews regarding a serious incident that happened at one of the polling locations on Tuesday. A white male inspector made a demeaning comment regarding a black female poll worker. At the time, the other poll workers who were in the vicinity did …read more.

Dear Editor, I know that “token” is intended to be a derogatory statement, but I see it differently.

A Republican Party election worker won’t be returning for future elections after he referred to a fellow poll worker, who is an African American, as a “token black.” 

I’m not sure how Democrats would have handled a similar situation, but from what I saw Thursday night at the GOP dinner in North Webster, conservatives are not big fans of wearing masks. The dinner attracted 130 guests and continued for more than three hours but only about half a dozen or so people were …read more.

In a four-way Republican race for Indiana Attorney General, incumbent Curtis Hill found himself under attack Thursday night, May 28, by former Congressman Todd Rokita.

Possibly the most interesting collection of candidates at Thursday night’s Lincoln Day dinner in North Webster won’t even be on the ballot in next Tuesday’s Primary.

SIDNEY – Lisa Parrett was named clerk-treasurer for the town of Sidney in an appointment by the Republican Party Tuesday, May 26, and becomes the fourth person to hold that position this year. It’s the latest change in the town’s leadership that also includes an all-new lineup on the town council. Kosciusko County Republican Chairman …read more.

News Release WARSAW – The Kosciusko County Republican Party’s annual Spring fish fry has been cancelled. The GOP’s Central Committee unanimously agreed to cancel the Spring Fish Fry which had been scheduled for May 6. “It was a difficult decision that we have labored over for several weeks,” said GOP Chair Mike Ragan. “Our first …read more.

Kosciusko County election officials are scurrying to prepare for an in-person primary on June 2. The county election board, consisting of Republican Randy Girod, Democrat Bill Morton and County Clerk Ann Torpy, were joined by chairmen from both political parties on Friday to hash out preliminary plans for the primary, which was moved from May …read more.

A decision to have a primary by mail could happen when the Indiana Election Commission meets April 22 to discuss the possibility, according to Kosciusko County election board members. Out of concern for the coronavirus outbreak, the state last week moved the May 5 primary to June 2, and election deadlines in the lead-up to …read more.

State Rep. Curt Nisly, who has already alienated Republican colleagues in the General Assembly, probably won’t be buddying up for dinner with Gov. Eric Holcomb any time soon. The Milford-area lawmaker was quick to criticize Holcomb’s mandate Monday requiring bars and restaurants to close in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Nisly, …read more.

SIDNEY – Parking issues and abandoned vehicles. Substandard housing and maybe even a deserted homeless camp along the railroad tracks. The town of Sidney is like a microcosm of many other small towns that face similar issues, but with a population of less than 100, it has fewer people to choose from who will step …read more.

What a week! Nationally – and locally – we saw a few things in recent days in politics that many would probably just as soon forget. As the nation’s eyes watched the Iowa Caucuses debacle, a reality show version of a State of the Union and an impeachment vote that acquitted President Donald Trump (followed …read more.

Gov. Eric Holcomb will be the keynote speaker in Warsaw when Republicans host their Lincoln Day Dinner on April 16. The location has not been determined yet, according to Kosciusko County GOP Chair Mike Ragan. Holcomb’s visit will come after the end of the General Assembly session and three weeks before Primary Day.  *  *  …read more.

SIDNEY – Three positions in Sidney town government and a vacancy in Jackson Township’s Advisory Board were filled through political appointments Thursday night, Jan. 23. Swift action by Democrats and Republicans ended a ten-day period in which Sidney’s town government had been left with just one elected official after three resigned earlier in the month. …read more.

WARSAW – Republicans are planning two caucuses in Sidney on Thursday, Jan. 23. A caucus to fill a vacancy on the Jackson Township Trustee Advisory Board will be at 6 p.m. Another caucus for a Sidney Town Council seat and the clerk-treasurer will be at 6:30 p.m. Two people have applied for the Jackson Township …read more.

Watching the Indiana House District 18 race initially unfold, I’m guessing this is not how the Republican Party in Kosciusko County would like to see the transfer of power begin for one of the longest-serving local lawmakers in Indiana, State Rep. Dave Wolkins. While there are apparently numerous people in the Warsaw area interested in …read more.

An interesting dynamic is lining up ahead of Warsaw City Council’s plan to hire its own attorney. Mayor Joe Thallemer is doing his best to stay out of the way as council moves toward hiring a city council attorney. While Thallemer says there are alternative sources of legal advice beyond City Attorney Scott Reust that …read more.

Al Rovenstine WARSAW — Kind, soft-spoken and honest are just some of the words that locals close to Cassius Alan “Al” Rovenstine have used to describe the former longtime sheriff and fire chief. An Atwood resident, Rovenstine passed away on Thursday, Oct. 10, at the age of 81. Rovenstine served as sheriff with the Kosciusko …read more.

It’s been five years since Warsaw City Council shot down an ordinance that would have allowed residents to have a few hens in their backyards, but according to two candidates, the issue is still on the minds of voters. Josh Finch and Chris Plack, both vying for the District 2 seat on council, said the …read more.

WARSAW — Republicans in four area towns will hold conventions next week to pare down the fall ballot. Etna Green, Pierceton and Silver Lake will have conventions at 7 p.m., Tuesday, Aug. 20. Mentone will have its convention at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 21, according to Kosciusko County Republican Chairman Mike Ragan. Registered Republicans in …read more.

KOSCIUSKO — Republicans in four towns in Kosciusko County will need to conduct political conventions this summer to reduce the number of candidates appearing on the general election ballot to the maximum allowed by state law. Seven towns with populations of less than 3,500 — Claypool, Etna Green, Pierceton, Leesburg, North Webster, Mentone and Silver …read more.

BURKET — The Kosciusko County Republican Party has chosen a new board member for Seward Township. Kosciusko County Republican Chair Mike Ragan announced Monday night, July 29, that Matthew Smith had been selected. Smith, of Akron, replaces Allison McSherry, who resigned recently. Smith was selected over Paul A. Onstott, of Burket

WARSAW — Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee Chairman Mike Ragan appointed Rita Anglin to complete the remaining term of the Etna Township Trustee position. Gary Sponseller, the elected Republican trustee, resigned from the position due to moving out of the township. Anglin did accounting for a business years ago and worked in the county auditor’s …read more.

ETNA GREEN — A second candidate has filed to run for the Etna Township Trustee’s vacancy. Rita Anglin, 2757 N. CR 875W, Etna Green, filed Monday morning, July 8, just ahead of the 2 p.m. deadline, according to Mike Ragan, Kosciusko County Republican Chairman. The vacancy opened up after the resignation of the trustee, Gary …read more.

MILFORD — “I will try to do the very best I can for the town,” stated Kenneth “Ken” L. Long, who was elected by VanBuren Township Precinct Committeemen, Tuesday evening at a Republican town caucus. Long signed the oath of office immediately following the caucus and will hit the ground running. Long defeated town resident …read more.

WARSAW — A self-proclaimed keyboard warrior who worked on dozens of campaigns years ago in Alaska has taken steps to run as an independent candidate for Warsaw City Council on the fall ballot. One week after Primary Election Day, 39-year-old Chris Plack announced plans on Tuesday, May 14, to run for District 2 city council …read more.

WARSAW — Joe Thallemer took a decisive step toward re-election Tuesday night by defeating City Councilman Ron Shoemaker in a bruising primary battle for mayor. Thallemer won 63.4 percent of the vote against Shoemaker and will move on to the general election without an announced opponent. Thallemer said he was pleased with the margin of …read more.

WARSAW — Given what was likely his final chance to speak before a large crowd prior to Tuesday’s election, mayoral candidate Ron Shoemaker tossed aside prepared remarks and ad-libbed a short two-minute speech at the Kosciusko County Republicans Lincoln Day Dinner Thursday night, May 2. Instead of providing a vision for what he intends to …read more.

Republican mayoral candidate Ron Shoemaker received an endorsement from Elkhart Mayor Tim Neese Thursday, April 18. Neese endorsed the primary challenger to Mayor Joe Thallemer in a 16-second video posted on Shoemaker’s campaign Facebook page Thursday. In it, Neese refers to Shoemaker as a good friend but does not offer any other reasons why Shoemaker …read more.

WARSAW — Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee Chairman Mike Ragan appointed Gene Warner to complete the remaining term of the Claypool Town Council member position. Larry Neher, the elected Republican Claypool Town Council member, passed away March 11. Warner has lived in the town of Claypool for more than 60 years. He worked as a …read more.

WARSAW — Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee Chairman Mike Ragan appointed Cory Ellinger to complete the remaining term of the Etna Green Town Council member position. Todd Slabaugh, the elected Republican Etna Green Town Council member, resigned from the position. Ellinger has resided in Etna Green for two years but has lived in the area …read more.

ETNA GREEN — On March 14, Todd Slabaugh submitted his resignation from his position as Etna Green Town Council president. In an e-mail to Ink Free News, Slabaugh provided further reasoning for his resignation. “I felt the need to resign when the former clerk [Laura Baker] resigned, but I didn’t feel I could ‘hit’ the …read more.

CLAYPOOL — The Claypool Town Council began its meeting March 19 by remembering Larry Neher, a town council member. Neher, who passed away on March 11, served on the Claypool Fire Department for 34 years and was a part of the Claypool Lions Club. He also served numerous terms as a Claypool Town Council member. …read more.

ETNA GREEN — Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee Chairman Mike Ragan will appoint a new Etna Green Town Council member at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 4, at the Kosciusko County Clerk’s Office, 121 N. Lake St., Warsaw. Todd Slabaugh, an elected Republican council member, submitted his resignation effective March 14. “We would like to thank …read more.

Four people will compete to be the first judge of the new Superior Court in Kosciusko County. According to Gov. Eric Holcomb’s office, the candidates are: Robert Bishop, an attorney who works in the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s office and oversees child support; Lindsey Grossnickle, a deputy prosecutor in Whitley County; Christopher Kehler a longtime local attorney, and Chad Miner, …read more.

WARSAW — Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee Chairman Mike Ragan appointed Patricia Cook to complete the remaining term of the Etna Green clerk-treasurer position. Cook has lived in Etna Green since 1984. She is married with seven children. Cook worked at an auto repair business for 15 years. “We congratulate Patricia Cook on this appointment …read more.

NORTH WEBSTER — Rebecca Kubacki and Randy Girod, both from Syracuse, had their names added to the list of recipients of the Kosciusko County Republican Man and Woman of the Year awards. The duo was announced as the 2018 recipients at the annual Kosciusko County Republican Man and Woman of the Year dinner Thursday evening. The …read more.

SYRACUSE — William “Bill” Dixon will fill the vacancy on the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board and be placed on the ballot in the general election Nov. 6. Dixon was elected to the advisory board Thursday evening, Aug. 9, at a caucus of Turkey Creek Township Precinct Committeemen. Kosciusko County Republican Chairman Mike Ragan then …read more.

WARSAW — U.S. Sen. Todd Young will be the keynote speaker at the Kosciusko County Republican’s Annual Lincoln Day Dinner. This year’s event will be Friday, April 27, at the Wagon Wheel Event Center, 2517 E. Center St., Warsaw. Social time will be from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. with dinner following. The cost is $50 …read more.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Kosciusko County Republican Chairman Mike Ragan advised all three Republican United States Senate candidates from Indiana who qualified with the 500 signatures from each of Indiana’s nine Congressional districts are scheduled to be at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds in Warsaw Wednesday, April 4, for the semi-annual Kosciusko County Republican Fish Fry. They …read more.

LEESBURG — Mike Ragan, chairman of the Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee, has set 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, for a caucus to fill the vacancy on the Leesburg Town Council. The vacancy, due to the resignation of Larry Richey, is an at-large seat. The caucus will be held in the Leesburg Town Council Chambers …read more.

[weaver_youtube fHivDyqSdjI rel=0]   SYRACUSE — Steve Foster and Avis Gunter were honored as the 2017 Kosciusko County Republican Man and Woman of the Year. The annual hall of fame dinner announcing the recipients was held Thursday evening, Aug. 31, aboard the SS Lilly Pad for a two-hour cruise around Lake Wawasee. Jean Northener was …read more.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — The deadline for filing a candidacy for Sheriff of Kosciusko County was at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 18. According to Mike Ragan, Kosciusko County Republican Central Committee Chairman, no additional candidates have filed and the slate is set. There are six candidates. The caucus will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June …read more.

SYRACUSE — A caucus of Republican Precinct Committeemen of Turkey Creek Township has been set for 7 p.m. Thursday, June 29, in the Syracuse Town Hall, 310 N. Huntington St. The caucus will elect a replacement to the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board following the resignation of Kimberly Cates. Cates resigned from her position on …read more.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — The deadline to file declaration of candidacies for the county council-at-large caucus was at 7 p.m. Sunday, June 4. Jonathan Fussle, a lifetime resident of Kosciusko County, filed his candidacy with Kosciusko County Republican Chairman, Mike Ragan, Sunday afternoon. The caucus will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 7, in the …read more.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — The caucus to elect a sheriff in Kosciusko County will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 21. It will be held in the historic Kosciusko County courtroom at 100 W. Center St., Warsaw.The individual elected will fill the remaining term of former sheriff C. Aaron Rovenstine, whose term expires Dec. 31, 2018.

WARSAW — Mike Ragan, Marsha McSherry and Austin Rovenstine retained their positions with the Kosciusko Republican Central Committee for the next four years. Reagan was elected chairman, McSherry, vice chair, and Rovenstine, secretary during a reorganization caucus this morning, Saturday, March 4. New to the central committee is James Heirerman who was elected treasurer. Lynn …read more.

WARSAW — Kosciusko County Republican Chairman Mike Ragan announced Sunday, Feb. 5, he is seeking re-election in the March 4 Republican reorganization caucus.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY —U.S. Senate candidate Congressman Todd Young will be the keynote speaker at the annual Kosciusko Republican Hall of Fame Dinner. This year’s dinner will be at 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 21, at Creighton’s Roost Banquet Room, Old 30W, Warsaw.

WARSAW — Kosciusko County Republican Chairman Mike Ragan has announced the Republican headquarters for Kosciusko County is now open. The headquarters is at 103 E. Center St., Warsaw.

WARSAW — Michael “Mike” Ragan was elected the new Kosciusko County Republican Chair by county precinct committeemen and vice committeemen Wednesday evening, Aug. 3. Ragan received the majority of the 94 votes cast over his opponent Tressa Nichols.

WARSAW — Warsaw resident Mike Ragan filed papers for the office of Kosciusko County Republican Chairman last Friday, July 15. The caucus is to be held Wednesday, Aug. 3, according to acting chairman, Marsha McSherry. Ragan has had an interest in being county chairman for many years, however it was the urging of retiring chairman …read more.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — In light of increasing controversy surrounding Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, Ink Free News reached out to several local Republicans to find out how they feel about his campaign. Two responded and one agreed to discuss his opinions. Attempts to contact other local Republicans were unsuccessful. Ink Free News first asked, “Do you …read more.

WARSAW — Warsaw Common Council members once again heard Mike Ragan’s concern over the daily congestion at Parker Street and Husky Trail. Ragan brought the concern before the board again on Tuesday evening, Sept. 8. “Both lanes are backed up,” said Ragan adding it will “only get worse, not better. It’s time to fix the …read more.

Mike Ragan of Warsaw has announced he is a candidate for chairman of the Kosciusko County Republican Party. Ragan will be up against current chairman Randall Girod in the March 2 election. Ragan is a retired businessman and has been married to his wife, Deanna, for 45 years. Mike was born and raised in Kosciusko …read more.