Fireworks are set to take place around the area both on July 3, and July 4 in celebration of independence day.

WARSAW — It was a hot afternoon with temperatures in the low 90s when the participants for the Barbee Lakes Flotilla lined up at one of the two parade routes. “Moana” and “Frozen” seemed to be the two most popular Disney movies among the boat decorations.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Some residents of the local lakes and river areas have felt a kinship to the Johnny Cash song “Five Feet High and Risin’” during the past week. While Goshen, Elkhart and Plymouth and parts of Warsaw received the major portion of media coverage, the rivers, lakes and streams of Tippecanoe, Van Buren …read more.

WARSAW — The winners of the Barbee Lakes Property Owners Association Flotilla, held Sunday, July 3, have been announced. The flotilla was actually three separate events, each starting 1:30 p.m. on three different lakes. Judging took place by lake, with an overall winner also announced. Winners were as follows: Little Barbee Lake: Karen Gibson, “Kentucky Derby” …read more.

WARSAW — When the Barbee Lakes Property Owners Association decided to host a flotilla, they realized their task would not be an easy one. There are multiple lakes in the Barbee chain so, according to Bob Gibbs of the BLPOA, a single flotilla could take several hours to make a full circle. With this in …read more.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — The Barbee Lakes will have their first-ever flotilla Sunday, July 3. The event includes prize money for the three winning entries.

NORTH WEBSTER — For many of those involved in the $28 million sewer project around the Barbee chain of lakes, a 50 percent completion notice is a breath of fresh air.

WARSAW — Once again, the issue of the public being able to use a platted road to access a lake came up during a meeting of the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission. During its regular monthly meeting Wednesday, Feb. 3, in Warsaw the APC considered a petition by Ronald and Karen Harter to vacate a 14.5-foot wide public way in the Brindle subdivision near Sechrist Lake in Tippecanoe Township.

NORTH WEBSTER — Board member Bob Sanders expressed frustration with those who refused to join the project when it was presented. “We’re bending over backwards to help these guys,” said Sanders. “… let them eat a little crow.”

NORTH WEBSTER — The district voted with a five to one yes to put a plan in place for property owners to be added to the project who may have refused to join before, purchased new property within the district, or one of several other possible reasons. Treasurer Mike DeWald was the only board member to vote no.

NORTH WEBSTER — It was no gentle start to the Thursday evening, Oct. 1, monthly meeting of Lakeland Regional Sewer District’s board in the North Webster Community Center, as the meeting kicked off with three bill pay requests of substantial amounts.

NORTH WEBSTER — Lakeland Regional Sewer District met for its regular monthly meeting at the North Webster Community Center Thursday evening, Sept. 3. The board opened the meeting with the opportunity for public questions, but quickly ended that after none of the public present offered thoughts.

WARSAW — Indiana Conservation Officers announce the temporary speed restriction effective immediately for motorboats to idle speed on the Barbee Chain of Lakes. This includes Big and Little Barbee, Banning, Kuhn, Sechrist, Irish and Sawmill lakes. Wawasee Lake and Tippecanoe Lakes were placed under idle speed restrictions late Friday afternoon. Due to hazardous high water …read more.

A 4-year-old Fort Wayne boy sustained numerous injuries, including partially collapsed lungs, when he was hit by a truck Friday night. The accident happened at 24 EMS B43A Ln., Leesburg, just after 4:30 p.m. According to a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department incident report, Blaine Holland was riding his bicycle in the Pine Bay Trailer Park on Sechrist …read more.

[weaver_youtube 2WL4r1wd2-4 rel=0] Divers of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, the Warsaw Police Department and the Warsaw Fire Department were on Sechrist Lake in the Barbee Chain of Lakes today attempting to raise two sunken vessels. Unfortunately, the operation was not a success. Cpl. John Engle of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources was …read more.

A crash on I-69 near Marion Tuesday afternoon left one woman dead and two communities mourning. Dixie Burgauer, 57, of Seminole, Fla., and also of Sechrist Lake, Warsaw, was killed when her vehicle left the interstate and crashed into trees where it erupted in flames. Burgauer was following a second vehicle, driven by her husband, …read more.

Indiana Conservation Officers have completed an investigation into a March 30 claim that three men beat a mute swan to death on Sechrist Lake. On Monday, the DNR released the full report finding only grounds to warn the holder of a permit that allows for the taking of the swans. Chuck Brinkman, 64, of Zionsville, …read more.

Although Indiana Conservation Officers cited the holder of a permit to kill mute swans in the Barbee Chain of Lakes, ICO Nick Vander Molen said the permit is still valid. Barbee property owners, upset with what they believe was the brutal killing of mute swans on Sechrist Lake last month, attended a Saturday morning meeting …read more.

An investigation by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources into the alleged beating death of a mute swan on Sechrist Lake has still not been concluded. A Saturday meeting among property owners of the Barbee Chain of Lakes where it happened is expected to see a large attendance. Public outrage followed when Jack and Linda …read more.

Sechrist Lake swan. (Photo provided) While the investigation into the alleged beating deaths of two mute swans on Sechrist Lake is said to be still incomplete, an email received from a representative of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources indicates the matter is being put to rest. DNR Public Relations Officer Lt. William Browne told …read more.

Despite the eyewitness accounts of what seemed to be the brutal beating death of a mute swan on Sechrist Lake last Saturday, Indiana Conservation officers investigating the incident have found no violations with the kill method. Jack and Rhonda Doyle said they watched helplessly from their pier as three men in a pontoon – which …read more.

Sechrist Lake resident Teressa provided photos of the swans that graced the lake for years. The mute swan pair were killed Saturday by a member of the Barbee Lakes Property Owners Association who declared the birds a nuisance. Sechrist Lake residents are speaking out in force about legal ramifications they feel need to be taken …read more.

The alleged brutal killing of a pair of mute swans over the weekend has residents of Sechrist Lake up in arms and calling for the dismissal of a property owner board member responsible for it. George Hiatt is a part-time resident of Irish Lake and a member of the Barbee Lake Property Owners Association. On …read more.

The “quintessential early bird” is making a rather unusually late appearance at a Sechrist Lake home, but it’s a welcome site for homeowner Bette Hiatt. About a month ago, Hiatt noticed what she calls a young female robin making a nest in a tree in her front yard. To her surprise, in about the last …read more.