K NOW Y OUR N EIGHBOR Williams makes the move to northern Indiana

“I haven’t even lived here a month and you’re trying to make me famous,” joked one of Kosciusko County’s newest residents, Ken Williams.

Ordinarily when seniors buy a second home for their retirement years, the move is from north to south, not the other way around. As Williams put it, “I already have a house in Florida, so why would I want another one there?”

Williams was born and raised in Jacksonville. Until five years ago, he said he probably couldn’t have even pointed out Indiana on a map, much less Winona Lake. All that changed when his only child, Sarah, fell in love with Dennis Smith, a Navy lieutenant from South Bend. After his discharge, the young couple married and moved to the Warsaw area, where Dennis took a job in the orthopedics field.

Last November, the Smiths had their first child, which also represented the first grandchild for Williams and his wife, Susan. While the Williamses were able to be here for the birth, they eventually had to return to Florida. It didn’t take long, however, for them to realize that Zoom calls and occasional visits were not going to be enough to satisfy their need to see their granddaughter.

“We knew from the moment we met Emma that we didn’t want to be a thousand miles away,” said Williams. “How were we going to solve that, since it was obvious the kids weren’t coming to Florida to live any time soon.”

It took a few trips to the area, but the Williamses finally found a house to suit their needs. He said it was definitely a downsize from their house in Jacksonville, but it was perfect for the two of them — of course with an extra bedroom for a nursery.

“We still have our house in Florida, which is paid off,” he said. For now, we’re planning to go back there during the winter and maybe get in a few rounds of golf to keep our games sharp.”

Williams, a retired golf professional who has spent his adult life working at a variety of golf courses and country clubs in northern Florida, said he is excited to check

Warsaw Senior Center plans rummage and craft sale

The Senior Center in Warsaw will be holding a rummage and craft sale in July.

The fundraising event will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 8, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, July 9, at the Senior Ac- tivity Center, located at the Pete Thorn Center, 800 N. Park Ave., Warsaw. out some of the courses in northern Indiana. He said he might even try to find a part-time job helping out at one of the local clubs.

Vendors are welcome.

For more information, call Patti at (574) 377-2328 or Kathy at (574) 268-8827.

“The golf courses I’ve played here so far have been nice, but I definitely miss the palm trees and year round soft grass that I’m accustomed to in Florida,” he said. “It’s always fun to play at different places, though, and see how the courses are built to fit into the existing terrain and climate.”

The Williamses said they’ve also enjoyed trying new restaurants in the area, as well as the local cuisine. Ken recently ate his first pork tenderloin sandwich, a Hoosier staple, and vowed that he would be ordering it often.

“This was definitely the right decision for us,” Williams said. “Any time you get to be with your family, you should. Time flies by way too quickly.”

Re/Max Results agents, teams recognized as ‘America’s Best’

Local Re/Max Results agents and teams were recently recognized in the 2023 “America’s Best Real Estate Professionals” rankings by RealTrends + Tom Ferry.

The rankings honor America’s finest real estate agents from across the country. More than 27,500 U.S. real estate sales associates from every state are featured in America’s Best. Those ranked are among the top 1.5% of 1.6 million real estate professionals in the United States.

Local agent Anna Gilsinger placed 53rd in the individual rankings for most transactions, and Pat- rick Pfefferkorn ranked 64th for highest sales volume. The James Bausch Team placed 25th and the Steve Savage Team placed 66th for most transactions by small teams, and the James Bausch Team ranked 44th for highest volume for a small team. The Next Level Group placed fourth for most transactions by medium teams and 13th for highest sales volume by a medium team.

“It’s an honor for our company to be included in this list of hardworking and dedicated real estate professionals across the country,” said Todd Stock, broker-owner of

Re/Max Results. “I’m more grateful than ever for each client who trusted us to help them buy or sell a home in the Warsaw area over this truly unforgettable year.”

“We are incredibly proud of these Re/Max agents for being recognized as the best” said Nick Bailey, Re/ Max LLC President and chief executive officer. “This honor is a testament to their unwavering commitment to excellence and their dedication to providing exceptional service. It underscores our brand’s ongoing position as the best option for productive professionals.”

Purdue Master Gardener classes offered in Warsaw this fall

Are you interested in assisting Purdue Extension with home horticulture education in your community? If so, consider taking the Purdue Extension Master Gardener Basic Training course being offered in-person this fall at the Kosciusko County Extension Office.

The main objective of the Purdue Extension Master Gardener Program is to train volunteers to assist Purdue Extension with home horticulture education in local communities.

Purdue Extension Master Gardeners receive training in horticulture to equip them to fulfill this ed- ucational role through volunteering in a variety of projects. The requirements for Purdue Extension Master Gardener certification include acceptance into the training through an application and screening process, payment of registration fee, completion of the Extension Master Gardener Basic Training, which includes passing the open-book final exam with a score of 70% or higher, and contributing at least 40 hours of volunteer service approved by the local Extension Master Gardener county coordinator within two years. Purdue Extension Master Gardeners are also required to complete at least 12 volunteer and six continuing education hours every year in order to stay active.

Some of the topics covered in this 14-week course include: plant science, vegetable production, lawn care and weed identification, insect identification and control, woody ornamentals, and many more. All classes will be held from 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays at the Kosciusko County Extension Office, 202 W. Main St., Warsaw. The course begins Aug. 15. and will run through Nov. 14.

The cost of the course is $180 per person or $240 per couple, which includes class materials, a soil test, program maintenance, a name tag (upon completion of your hours), a Purdue Extension Master Gardener manual, and reference materials. Applications are due to the Kosciusko County Extension Office by Friday, July 21. Space is limited. To receive an application or for additional information, contact Emily Kresca by sending an email to eluc@purdue.edu or calling (574) 372-2340.