the Paper - September 17, 2025

Local schools see a future with AI TECHNOLOGY

By LILLI DWYER Staff Writer

Times have changed since the first computer labs started appearing in schools in the 1980s

As digital technology has proliferated into more industries and aspects of daily life, many schools took it upon themselves to prepare students for the future by moving to 1:1 tech, by providing a laptop or iPad for each student Warsaw, Wawasee, Tippecanoe Valley, Whitko and Fairfield school districts all implemented such policies in the past 15 years

Now, school officials are taking the same tack with artificial intelligence

In the 2023-2024 school year, Warsaw Community Schools introduced Skill Struck AI to its staff, with support from an Indiana Department of Education grant The program has since been rolled out for students in grades 4-12

“We’re preparing students for tools and jobs that maybe don’t even exist yet,” said Kyle Carter, chief accountability officer “We recognized students and staff were utilizing those tools, so we wanted to partner with the state, utilize grant funds to unify around a platform that allowed responsible use of AI, active monitoring of how students were implementing the tool, so that we can ensure students were using it safely and responsibly,” said Carter

Indeed, Warsaw found, in initial conversations with staff, physical education teachers at Lakeview Middle School had created an AI tutor to put together workout routines for students They had modeled the tutor after Captain America The technology was already finding a place in classrooms

Whitko said in an email several of the online-based curricula it

uses are AI-assisted

For other districts, official AI implementation is still a work in progress

Wawasee Schools piloted the Magic School model for all its staff last spring With a $10,000 technology grant from IDOE, the district decided to invest more heavily in AI Magic School has not yet been rolled our for student use

Fairfield Community Schools’

Communication Director Dean Huppert said the district is “still in the planning stages of our AI technology ”

Tippecanoe Valley and Wa-Nee Schools had not responded to request for comment by press time

Applying AI To Academics

When schools like Warsaw and Wawasee get a technology grant and are looking for an AI vendor, they pick from those that meet IDOE’s requirements to receive state dollars

At time of writing, IDOE had not yet responded to questions on how vendors are vetted or what research it has to suggest AI will improve learning outcomes for students IDOE’s remarks will be featured in a follow-up article

Locally, school officials report AI is used to save time, improve efficiency and generate ideas, as well as scale assignments for students of different learning levels

As Wawasee’s Assistant Superintendent Dr Shelly Wilfong explained, teachers can feed lessons plans into Magic School and the AI will suggest quizzes and additional activities, like a “Jeopardy”-style game, to supplement lessons

Wawasee’s social studies teacher, Jenna Meyers, said she finds the technology useful for coming up with test questions She also uses it to scale documents to an easier reading level for her special education students

IN THE CLASSROOM Seventh graders at Edgewood Middle School work on a lesson in Hayden Mullett’s social studies class. Warsaw implemented 1:1 tech in 2013 and has rolled out use of AI program, Skill Struck, for staff and students in grades 4-12. Officials cite efficiency and scaling assignments for different students as benefits of using AI in the classroom. Photo provided by Warsaw Community Schools.

With Magic School, students will be submitting their writing assignments to the program and receiving “instant feedback,” said Wilfong “That allows teachers time to conference one-on-one with students ” Carter argued that AI users must still use their brains to come up with effective prompts

“I personally, as a parent, used the tutoring tools last year for my algebra student It was rewarding to step back and help him facilitate and lean into a tutor

You are still developing thinking skills and problem skills for the

students, because you still have to ask the right questions to get the guidance and support that you need,” he explained

Both Warsaw and Wawasee schools said AI can be used to develop behavioral plans

“You wouldn’t give it student information, but you might put in prompts about a behavior and ask it for different strategies,” said Warsaw Communications Director Krista Polston A New Form Of Digital Literacy

With AI freely available online, schools feel the need to start

teaching kids how to be responsible users early on

At Warsaw schools, students have to complete “detailed lessons” on how to use AI before gaining access to Skill Struck’s main functions Teachers can monitor the prompts students put in, and are able to flag inappropriate use

Something Wawasee’s teaching will emphasize is “what AI is and isn’t ”

“AI is not a human; it’s not your best friend, it’s not your therapist,” said Wilfong “Don’t give it personal information AI is not in-

Continued on page 2

TECH

STUDENT TIME — Emma Berry, left, Katie Sigsbee and Piper Kern review driver’s ed questions on a school laptop during their student resource time in Jenna Meyers’ social studies classroom at Wawasee High School. Meyers reported she uses AI for creating test questions and scaling assignments. Photo by Lilli Dwyer.

Nichols hopes memoir helps others

By LAUREN ZEUGNER Staff Writer

Reagan Nichols has written several books. None of them have been published yet, but that is about to change.

The Warsaw resident recently completed her memoir “Hopeful and Healing” and is looking for a publisher. Her book reflects on how she escaped an abusive relationship while figuring out what she stood for and keeping her faith intact.

In 2023, Nichols moved to Utah to be closer to her brother. She had recently left an toxic relationship and was dealing with depression when she met her ex-husband, who she refers to as “crazy” in the book. At the time, he offered to take care of her. With her brother busy and no friends in Utah, Nichols said any red flags he may have shown were missed.

Nichols brought him home for the Christmas holidays to meet her parents. It was then he made an off comment about kidnapping her, claiming it was a joke. Instead, the couple moved their wedding up, being married in the temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Indianapolis.

“My mom felt if she said anything, she would lose me,” she said.

After returning to Utah, the couple began a move to Florida. It was then Nichols realized her husband was addicted to porn and wanted to use her for his “brand.” He recorded her without her knowledge shortly after they were married.

Eventually, the couple moved to Warsaw where her mom felt the need to visit her every single day.

“I knew I needed to divorce him,” she said explaining she didn’t know how while maintaining her faith and following the doctrine of her church.

Her dad told her the heavenly father had a plan for her and it involved happiness.

“He was never physically abusive, but he used God to do bad things,” Nichols said of her ex-husband. For example, while terrified of guns, he purchased a shotgun and revolver to “protect” her telling Nichols, “God would tell him how to use them should the time come.”

At that point, Nichols packed her stuff, filed for divorce and a restraining order and left their apartment. She spent time at Beaman Home, started counseling and began to heal. He fled the state after she told him she filed for a restraining order. The marriage lasted six weeks.

As the divorce was moving forward, Nichols’ dad suggested she write a book. She started writing, never dreaming it would be published.

“I started writing so I could figure out what were lies and what was the truth,” she said. She finished the manuscript last summer and tucked it away. Last winter, she pulled it out again.

Nichols said when she first wrote it, it was traumatic and angry. When she went back to it last winter, she wanted to find the good and hope. Then she began looking for an editor on Reedsy. She was specifically looking for an editor with a Christian background. She found five that fit her parameters and showed them to her mom, who is also an editor. Looking over the list, her mom made a suggestion,

which Nichols followed.

“She couldn’t be better,” Nichols said of her editor. “She knows several people who went though similar situations and has edited similarly books.”

Her next steps are to find a publisher for the book. If she can’t find one within a year, she intends to self-publish.

The message she wants readers to take away from the book is “You can always find hope while making difficult decisions and you can find that hope in Jesus Christ.”

While she was dealing with the divorce, she was also meeting with church officials since her marriage was sealed for eternity in the temple. She met with a church council which wanted to know what happened. Nichols provided a 32-page document outlining the abuse she suffered.

“That was the worst part,” she said. “I was detailed … There were a lot more details there than any male church elder wanted to read.”

Last spring, she had to meet with the council. Her parents and the president of the women’s group from church also attended to support her.

“It felt like my ex-husband was using them to abuse me spiritu-

Local schools

Continued from page 1

fallible, don’t believe everything AI tells you.”

Only Wawasee High School students will be using Magic School, and their range of activities will be very limited. They won’t have access to any photo or video manipulation, discouraging creation of deepfake content.

“There are legal ramifications to these things kids just don’t think about,” said Wilfong.

Handling Cheating Schools are well aware some students have used third-party AI models, like ChatGPT, to take shortcuts on their work, or generate writing wholesale.

One of the things Magic School is supposed to help teachers with is designing AI-resistant assignments.

AI use is not considered cheating if it follows certain standards. Teachers in Warsaw schools use a point scale from one to six — a one-point assignment allows no AI use whatsoever, a six-point assignment means students may

ally, but it ended up being really supportive,” she said. Through the entire ordeal, her biggest concern was for her family, Nichols is one of six children and her ex-husband knew where her parents and siblings lived.

use it more extensively.

In tutor mode, Skill Struck doesn’t give direct answers.

“Students can’t just plug in a math problem and get an answer; it’s going to question them back, direct, guide, support, just as a teacher would do in a classroom,” said Carter.

The student code of conduct states unauthorized use of AI is considered plagiarism and will be handled as such.

Similarly, Whitko’s policies state students and staff must not plagiarize or falsify information; any use of AI-generated content must be properly cited.

Other Impacts

A point of contention members of the public have found with AI is its impact on the environment. The data centers that power AI not only require large amounts of electricity, but a continuous supply of fresh water to cool down the systems, often millions of gallons per year.

MIT News reported in January that generative AI models,

Her divorce was finalized and the church seal was cancelled (annulled).

“I’m just really excited about life and opportunities. I’m finally happy, which is what I’ve wanted my entire life,” she said.

like ChatGPT, can have “billions of parameters,” and the computational power needed to train them creates a huge energy demand, meaning increased carbon dioxide emissions and pressure on the power grid. Each time a trained AI model is used in daily life, more energy is consumed.

According to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, data centers consumed about 17 gigawatts of power in 2022, with the demand projected to increase to up to 130 GW in 2030, about 12% of the total U.S. demand.

When asked if Wawasee had any concerns about environmental impacts of AI use, Wilfong said “not as a school district.”

Whitko also stated the district was not concerned about this issue.

“We’re really mindful of sustainability,” said Polston. “At this point, we’re really thankful that we’re small scale and we’re not really using the AI at the scale industry is, but it’s having a big impact.”

No school district reported a significant amount of parent feedback on AI use in the classroom, though Warsaw’s Technology Instructional Coach James Davis recalled one parent was confused about why their child was using it for a summer school course.

“Once we explained it to them, the feedback was, it’s an extra tool to use in school and at home, because we’re not 100% able to go through this curriculum with them,” Davis recalled.

Warsaw currently has a survey open to the public, available at research.net/r/WCSCommunitySurvey, to help develop its next five-year plan.

SHARING HER STORY — Reagan Nichols recently wrote her memoir, “Hopeful and Healing,” hoping it will help others who find themselves in a similar situation. She is now looking for a publisher to work with. Photo by Cameron Graves.

AK Hare is NWTTCC Member of the Month

The North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce is announces A.K. Hare Company as the August Member of the Month.

This November, A.K. Hare Company will celebrate 30 years of business in the heart of North Webster.

Owned and operated by Amanda Hare since day one, the salon has become a trusted and welcoming space for clients from North Webster and the surrounding communities.

Hare opened A.K. Hare Company in 1995 when her son was just 3 years old and she was expecting her first daughter. Now, three children, a daughter-inlaw, and a set of twin grandsons later, Hare credits her family as a driving force behind the salon’s long-standing success. She believes in the importance of balancing work and family — a value she actively encourages among her team.

A.K. Hare Company has a loyal team of stylists, including two who have been with Hare for over 20 years, and its newest stylist, who has been with the salon for five years. Over the years, the salon has also been home to two beloved stylists who have since retired — one after 27 years, and the other after 16 years. Together, this team shares a common mission: to have every client leave happier than when they came in.

AUGUST MEMBER OF THE MONTH A.K. Hare Company was recognized as the August Member of the Month for the North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce.

Shown in front, from left are Abby Anderson, Amanda Hare, Amber Burchard, Kathy White, all from A.K. Hare Company; Emily Shipley, chamber president, North Webster Community Center; Elise Guy, chamber secretary, Guy’s Lawn Care; Karen White, chamber secretary, Caliber Designs; and Linda Land, chamber director, Lake-Land Cottages.

In back are Ryan Coverstone, chamber director, Main Channel Socks Marina; Emily Jones, chamber director, Lake City Bank; Gwen Fuchs, chamber director, Northwest Bank; and Tyler Huffer, chamber director, Titus Funeral Home.

As A.K. Hare Copany reaches this milestone, Hare is deeply thankful for the continued support of the community and looks forward to many more years of connection, care, and great hair. Visit the salon and wish Hare and her team congratulations

Not pictured is Zaylee Guy, A.K. Hare Company. Photo provided by the North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce.

at 119 N. Main St., North Webster or call (574) 834-3844 to learn about its services.

Antique Outboard Motor Show Sept. 20 in North Webster

The Antique Outboard Motor Club will hold its 2025 fall antique outboard motor show and swap meet Saturday, Sept. 20, at North Webster Town Park on the west shore of Webster Lake.

Several hundred antique outboard motor restorers, historians, collectors and enthusiasts from across the Midwest and Canada will gather in the park for a day of activities related to their hobby.

The event includes an exhibition of recent restoration projects, serious swapping of parts and literature, plus running the oldtime boat motors on the lake.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend. No admission fee.

Club members invite area owners of old outboard motors to at-

tend the show for an evaluation of their motors. Many antique motors are bought, sold and evaluated throughout the day. The swapping area includes all types of parts, literature, related accessories and many antique motors.

The Antique Outboard Motor Club, with over 5,000 national members, classifies an antique motor as being manufactured prior to 1950 and a classic outboard

over 30 years old.

The North Webster meet starts at approximately 10 a.m. and usually runs to mid-afternoon. Many participates stay late in the day, if the weather is nice, and they are able to run their antique motors on the lake.

For more information, contact Dave Tranter at jdtranter@kcaccess.com or call him at (260) 2131945.

Final session of Mediterranean diet series set for Sept. 24

The final session of the Mediterranean diet series will be presented by Karen Richey, health and human sciences educator for Purdue Extension Marshall County, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24.

The program will take place at the Home and Family Arts Building, located on the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds, 1400 E. Smith St., Warsaw.

The session will explore the theme “Have You Ever Wondered

About Rethinking the Foods You Eat?”

Participants will take a closer look at carbohydrates, including whole grains and sweets, learn how to read food labels and discover the benefits of mindful living — Mediterranean-style.

The program is open to the public. To attend, register by Friday, Sept. 19, by calling the Kosciusko County Extension Office at (574) 372-2340.

Good Neighbors is a column in which readers share friendly advice. To ask or answer questions, write the Shopping Guide News, Good Neighbors, P.O. Box 188, Milford, IN 46542; fax 800-886-3796; or e-mail abias@the-papers.com. Please no phone calls.

Editor’s Note: The Good Neighbors column is for people looking for hard-to-find or old items or for people seeking advice, not for items you can find in a local store or sell through the help of a classified ad.

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WARSAW OFFICE MILFORD OFFICE

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Grocery

This column will now run every other week.

Love Lucy’ DVDs/books

Good neighbors: I have a complete set of “I Love Lucy” series on DVD, along with books. If interested, call (574) 653-2311.

‘Little House On The Prairie’ DVDs

Good neighbors: I have the full “Little House on the Prairie” series, plus pilot on DVD. If interested, call (574) 653-2311.

Ventriloquist dolls

Good neighbors: I have Charlie McCarthy ventriloquist dolls with extra clothing, wig and booklet. If interested, call (574) 653-2311.

Sewing machine bobbins

Good neighbors: To the person who picked up the sewing machine, I found some bobbins that go with it. Call (574) 834-4502.

New questions

Glass jugs — Wanted: One gallon wide-mouth glass jugs. Call (574) 354-9413.

Clock repair — Does anyone know where I can get a windup schoolhouse clock repaired? Call (574) 834-2514.

Refrigerator — We are in need of a refrigerator. Call (574) 201-7553.

Garage door installation — I am looking for somebody to install garage doors. Call (574) 835-6054.

Nappanee Apple Festival entertainment headliners

Experience the thrill of The Luneau Basketball Family, the headlining act, performing in the Nappanee Library parking lot from 5:30 p.m. Friday to 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Be amazed by the mind-blowing, ball-handling tricks.

The Nappanee Apple Festival is Sept. 18-21.

Thursday’s festival kickoff at 5:30 p.m. sets the stage for an exciting evening of entertainment, featuring Blue River Jazz at The Goshen News Entertainment Tent and Bremen Family Martial Arts at The Monteith’s Best-One Stage, both performing at 5:30 p.m. Kids and parents alike will delight in Granpa Cratchet’s hilarious puppet shows at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m., a beloved festival tradition continuing through Sunday.

Meanwhile, at 7 p.m., head to The Goshen News Entertainment Tent at Depot Plaza to support the young women competing for Miss Apple Blossom scholarships and witness the crowning of the festival queen.

Friday festival goers are in for a treat with high-energy comedy shows by Mike Hemmelgarn, a talented juggler and ventriloquist, performing throughout the weekend.

The day’s music lineup is equally impressive, featuring Sunshine Production Factory, John Gaut, Adrienne Frailey, and Exit 41, culminating in a finale with a twohour performance by StraitJacket and Dirty Details, closing out Friday night.

Friday through Sunday, Silly Safaris, Indiana’s leading provider of live animal conservation education, brings its engaging, interactive show to the festival, offering a unique blend of education and entertainment captivating audiences of all ages. With over 3,000 shows annually across the U.S., Silly Safaris showcases a di-

verse range of reptiles, mammals, birds and bugs, creating an unforgettable experience combining fun and learning.

Saturday’s musical lineup is packed with performers, featuring Exit 41, Shiny Shiny Black, Seymour: The Music of John Mellencamp, 50 Five, Touch of Texas, and Gene Mullet, all joining forces with The Bulldogs to deliver a day of entertainment, showcasing a diverse range of musical styles and genres that are sure to delight festival-goers of all ages.

Rounding out the festival’s entertainment schedule Sunday are performances by the Gray Horse Band, John Gaut, Memphis Underground, Gray Horse Band, Heartland County Cloggers and NorthWood High School Dawning Generation, all coming together to deliver a finale to the weekend’s festivities.

Throughout the weekend, downtown sidewalks will be lined with crates of fresh apples, accompanied by an array of delicious apple treats, including pie, dumplings, fritters, turnovers, bread, cider and butter, offering endless opportunities for indulgence. But that’s not all. The festival will also feature contests, tournaments

and attractions, such as the Farm Tractor and Antique Farm Equipment Show at Nappanee Power from the Past Showgrounds from Thursday to Saturday, a Saturday morning parade, and an afternoon Wings, Wheels and Car Show at the municipal airport.

The 49th annual Nappanee Apple Festival is made possible through the financial support of local and area businesses, City of Nappanee employees, the Nappanee Area Chamber of Commerce and a team of volunteers.

Principal sponsors, including the Elkhart County CVB, Community Foundation of Elkhart County, Coppes Nappanee Cabinet Co., The Goshen News, Digger Specialties, Inc., Miller’s Orchard, Community Fiber, and Monteith’s Best-One Tire and Auto Care, have also contributed to the festival’s success, ensuring a fantastic experience for all attendees.

For a comprehensive guide to the festival, including a full list of entertainment, events, and a map, visit nappaneeapplefestival.org.

Stay up-to-date on the latest festival news and behind-the-scenes peeks by connecting on social media at @napplefest on Facebook and Instagram.

Warsaw military banners moving downtown; deadline Oct. 3

The “Warsaw Salutes You” Banner program will be relocating this fall to the downtown Warsaw courthouse corridor.

Planners for the program hope the new location helps to provide better visibility for the military banners.

This fall marks the eighth cycle of “Warsaw Salutes You Banners,” which will be installed in time for Veterans Day Nov. 11.

Twenty-four banners will be offered on a first-come, first-serve

basis. The cost of a banner is $65, and each banner is returned to the purchaser at the end of the display cycle.

The deadline to apply is Friday, Oct. 3. Applications can be requested by sending an email to warsawsalutesyou@gmail.com.

Honorees must have lived or currently be living in the greater Warsaw area and must have served or be serving in one of the branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Local artist’s work on display in Indy gallery

Artwork by local artist, Steve Creighton, is now being represented at the James R. Ross Fine Art Gallery, 5627 N. Illinois St., Indianapolis.

The gallery is an expert on early Indiana art and actively maintains an extensive inventory of Hoosier Group and Brown County artwork as well as works by other important Indiana and Midwestern painters and sculptors. It also features inventory by top American, European and Russian artists. The inventory is available for sale.

Creighton’s lush and dramatically-lit floral still lifes are new ad-

ditions for sale in the gallery. The works feature a soft brush technique along with chiaroscuro, resulting in rich and striking works.

Creighton’s paintings are held by collectors throughout the country. He is a signature member of Oil Painters of America, the National Oil and Acrylic Painters’ Society and the Hoosier Salon. His studio is in Warsaw.

The gallery’s Facebook page (James R. Ross Fine Art) features available artwork. The gallery may be reached at (317) 255-4561 or contacted by email at jim@jamesrrossfineart.com.

‘Origins’ seminar delves into creation vs. evolution

A six-part seminar titled “Origins,” which examines the creation vs. evolution debate, is being offered this September.

Essential questions explored include whether there is scientific evidence to support intelligent design, if can you have faith in a story of creation and how life began, and whether science and religion must be in opposition when discussing the origins of life and the universe.

The program will be presented for two hours each evening starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19, through Sunday, Sept. 21, in the Shrine Building at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds in Warsaw by Pastor Bernie Andersen of the Warsaw Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Presentations will combine video interviews with members of

the scientific community and some of today’s leading experts on creationism with a presentation and discussion of the data and theories that surround the debate.

“Origins” was created by Stan Hudson, Ph.D., who studied both geology and theology at the university level and received a doctor of ministry degree from Fuller Theological Seminary.

Andersen’s special guest will be Don DeYoung, Ph.D., an author of 21 books on Bible-science topics and a retired physics professor who believes “nature is a powerful testimony to the creator’s care for us.”

Visit the website at originsseminar.org/warsaw for additional information, including the topics covered, a video trailer and pre-registration.

Food bank seeks help during Hunger Action Month

September is Hunger Action Month, a month-long campaign dedicated to raising awareness and inspiring action to end hunger in America, according to a news release from the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, based in South Bend.

Food insecurity in America has reached its highest rate in more than a decade, reaching 47 million people facing hunger, including 14 million children, the food bank said.

Hoosiers can work to help alleviate hunger anytime and especially anytime during the month of September.

The food bank is offering some ideas.

Collect Food, Money

People can organize a food drive at their workplace, club or place of worship to restock the food bank’s warehouse shelves. Food collected is redistributed through the food bank’s network of agency partners.

The most needed food items include:

• Peanut butter.

• Jelly.

• Canned soup (chicken noodle, cream of mushroom, vegetable, tomato).

• Pancake mix and syrup.

• Boxed dinner meals (beef pasta, alfredo, cheeseburger, cheesy tuna, lasagna).

• Canned ravioli.

• Canned fruit.

• Canned vegetables.

• Boxed potatoes (au gratin, mashed).

• Spaghetti and spaghetti sauce.

• Items that are low-sugar and low-sodium are needed.

• Pop-top lids are preferred.

Ghost stories, ghost hunts at Old Jail Museum

Are you fascinated by the paranormal? Does your heart race at the sound of things that go bump in the night? Or maybe you just enjoy hearing tales of local history. If any of these are the case, then you’ll want to mark your calendar for an event coming to the Old Jail Museum, Warsaw.

• No glass jars.

Monetary donations help, too. Every $1 donated provides up to five meals or eight pounds of food.

Visit And Volunteer

A tour of the food bank’s facility can help people understand its various programs, including Food 4 Kids Backpack Program, mobile food distribution program, senior nutrition program, commodity supplemental food program, the emergency food assistance program and the Community Food Pantry of St. Joseph County. Contact Legislators

“(W)ith the largest cuts to SNAP and Medicaid in history now signed into law, food and health care will soon be further out of reach for those who need it most,” according to the news release from the food bank. “Hunger in America is a crisis.”

The food bank suggests people contact their legislators about these issues.

Be Social

If you’re doing an event or activity in September to help alleviate hunger, the food bank would like you to share your photos by tagging the food bank on Facebook (@FoodBank-of-Northern-Indiana), X (@ FoodBkNIndiana) and Instagram (@foodbknindiana) and include #HungerActionMonth, #EndHunger and @FeedingAmerica.

Hunger Action Month began in 2008 when Feeding America’s network of food banks united to mobilize individuals to take action to fight hunger in their communities.

The Food Bank of Northern Indiana has participated in Hunger Action Month since 2009.

The Kosciusko County Historical Society will be offering haunted ghost tours of what some say is Kosciusko County’s most active paranormal location. Tours will go through the jail portion of the museum as well as a portion of the former sheriff’s residence. Experienced guides will share stories of their personal experiences in the building, as well as employ the latest investigative equipment to perhaps document a paranormal experience as it happens.

Dates for the tours are: Friday, Sept. 26, and Saturday, Sept. 27; Friday, Oct. 3, and Saturday, Oct. 4; and Friday, Oct. 10, and Saturday, Oct. 11. Tours will be offered each of those nights from 6-9 p.m. for $10 per person.

In addition, this year the historical society will be offering a limited number of VIP packages for those seeking a more intense experience. The packages will consist of a full, 2.5-hour investigation led by veteran ghost hunters. The hunts will take place from 9:30 p.m. to midnight nightly. The cost for the VIP experience is $30 per person. Spots are limited and will be sold on a first-come, first-serve basis.

All guests are required to be at least 16 years of age.

Tickets may be purchased in advance on the Kosciusko County Historical Society’s website at kosciuskohistory.com or can be purchased the night of the event.

The Old Jail Museum is located at 121 N. Indiana St., downtown Warsaw. For more information, call the museum at (574) 2691078.

INDY GALLERY Artwork by local artist, Steve Creighton, is now being represented at the James R. Ross Fine Art Gallery, Indianapolis. Photo provided by the gallery.

‘STARRY NIGHT’ Artrageous will be bringing its immersive performance of painting, music, dance, puppetry, storytelling and audience participation to the Warsaw Performing Arts Center Oct. 2. Photo provided by the Warsaw Performing Arts Center.

Prepare for an ‘Artrageous’ performance this fall

Artrageous, an immersive performance which melds live painting, music, dance, puppetry, storytelling and audience participation into one high-energy spectacle, will be visiting Warsaw in October.

The two-hour performance will begin at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2, at the Warsaw Performing Arts Center.

Tickets are on sale now at warsawschools.org/pac.

Artrageous invites audiences into a world where “every stroke of the brush is a heartbeat, every note is a pulse and every move is a masterpiece.” With a theatrical presentation likened to the Blue Man Group, the show features 10 to 12 multi-talented performers in one, high-energy, participatory concert and fine-art event.

As audiences guess each live-painted creation, which are often iconic pieces of artwork, such as “Mona Lisa” or “Starry Night,” or portraits of cultural

icons, they experience a race to complete the artwork in sync with the music.

With a legacy of more than 3,000 performances, Artrageous has energized stages in 49 U.S. states and 12 countries, using more than 700 gallons of paint and donating 200 Artreach programs to communities in need.

The show also boasts star-studded collaborations, from Harrison Ford and the NBA All-Stars to Sir Richard Branson, Cirque du Soleil and events, like the Oscars After Party.

“We strive to unite art, community and imagination on one stage. Artrageous isn’t just a show — it’s an adventure you co-create,” said a spokesperson from the Artrageous ensemble.

Artrageous originated in 2014 from a long-standing theater arts community dating back to the 1980s street-theater roots in Vancouver. The performance troupe is based in New Mexico.

Elementary School

and Walsh. Photo provided by Madison Elementary School.

No Name Quartet to perform Oct. 5

Calvary Baptist Church of Oswego is inviting the public to a night of great southern Gospel music by the No Name Quartet. It will be at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, at Calvary Baptist Church, 3065 E. Armstrong Road, Leesburg.

Jeff Secaur, Tim Yocum, Mike Yokum and Bob Jackson have been singing together for more

than 20 years. These four men love to sing together and praise the Lord with the talent God has given them. Why No Name? In their own words, the group stands with Peter in his message to the religious leaders in Acts 4:12: “’Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by

which we must be saved.’ This is the Savior we love to sing about. May his name be glorified.”

The concert is free. A freewill offering will be taken to help support the ministry.

Following the concert, there will be a time of fellowship and refreshments.

For more information, call (574) 453-4786.

‘From incarceration to thriving’ focus of film festival

Living in Transition Effectively, Milford, is one of the local sponsors for an upcoming film festival on justice and transformation.

The Inthrive Film Festival is a free, one-day event being held from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, in the Leighton Auditorium at the St. Joe County Public Library, 304 S. Main St., downtown South Bend.

Inthrive is the nation’s only touring festival “dedicated to uplifting the voices of incarceration survivors,” according to a news release.

The festival features films created by or about people affected by incarceration, live music from currently incarcerated musicians and panel discussions with those who have been incarcerated in Indiana sharing their journeys “from incarceration to thriving.”

Highlights include a showcase of Indiana filmmakers, shorts confronting incarceration and the feature “What These Walls Won’t Hold.”

“Too often, the potential of justice-impacted people is overlooked,” said festival Director David Smith. “This festival challenges that narrative by celebrating resilience and creativity.”

Local sponsors of the festival include Reform Alliance of Indiana, Indiana CURE and L.I.T.E. Recovery Hub. To learn more, visit inthrivefilmfestival.org/south-bend.

Native Indiana animals

come ‘alive’ for Merry Lea’s ‘Enchanted Forest’

Join Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College for an enchanting night hike from 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 17 and Saturday, Oct. 18, as part of annual “Enchanted Forest” event. Trail guides will lead groups on a one- hour hike by lantern light to meet real “live” animals on trails. Costumed staff and volunteers will talk about life as native Indiana animals. They will discuss their favorite foods, fears, habitats and answer any questions children and adults may have. This family-friendly evening is a great alternative to Halloween events which are too scary for young children. Registration for this event is not required and cost is $5 per person (cash preferred, includes snacks and hot chocolate); ages

2 and under are free. Hikes will head out every 25 minutes. While you wait for a guide, enjoy live music, hot chocolate, snacks, and warm up around a campfire. This enchanting event will take place at Merry Lea’s Farmstead site, 2152 S. 425W, Albion. Visit its website for more information.

Merry Lea is located just south of Wolf Lake, halfway between Goshen and Fort Wayne. Directions and updates are available at goshen.edu/merrylea or the Merry Lea Facebook page. For any questions, contact merrylea@goshen.edu or call (260) 799-5869.

Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center of Goshen College is a 1,189-acre nature preserve.

LITTLE LEARNERS Warsaw’s Madison

kindergarten students have been learning about community helpers and jobs. They recently had the chance to meet a helicopter pilot, Brian Walsh (“Flyin’ Brian”), and see the helicopter he flies.

Pictured from left are kindergarten students Theo Villa, Nick Heiman, Arianna James, Santiago Aguilar and Raelynn Long,

GOSPEL MUSIC Calvary Baptist Church of Oswego is inviting the public to a night of great southern Gospel music by the No Name Quartet. It will be at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 5, in Oswego. Photo provided by Bryon Weinstein.

FALL H ME IMPR VEMENT

Fall in love with your backyard this fall

StatePoint — Just because fall is here doesn’t mean your backyard fun has to end. Fall is the perfect season to breathe in crisp air, sip something warm under the stars, watch an outdoor movie and make the most of your outdoor setup. With the right tools and a few seasonal upgrades, your backyard can stay the place to be long after Labor Day. Here’s how.

Blow Away The Mess: ‘Leaf’ It To The Pros

Those golden leaves look lovely on trees, not so much on your lawn. A good leaf blower (especially a cordless or battery-powered model) like the Greenworks 80V Cordless Leaf Blower can keep your yard tidy and pathways safe. But to take it up a level, look no further than the Mammotion Yuka robotic mower with sweeper kit. It doesn’t just trim your lawn, it also collects fallen leaves as it goes.

Bring The Heat: Stay Toasty On The Patio

With propane or electric patio heaters, you can keep the chill at bay and enjoy those al fresco dinners well into the season. Try the Dr. Infrared Heater Outdoor Patio Heater for electric convenience or the Hampton Bay 48,000 BTU Patio Heater for classic propane warmth.

Cover Up: Furniture That Survives The Season

Fall weather can be unpredictable, but with water-resistant covers for patio chairs, tables and lounge sets, your stylish setup won’t suffer. Brands like Vailge and Duck Covers make highly rated all-weather options in multiple sizes and styles.

Pool Days Aren’t Over Yet

If you’re one of the lucky ones with a pool, you might be able to stretch swimming season into September, especially with a pool heater. A reliable robotic skimmer like the Bublue BuVortex V5 will spin around your pool, clearing it of fallen leaves, bugs and branches.

Backyard Movie Magic:

Outdoor Projectors

Cooler nights are made for blankets, popcorn and movie marathons under the stars. Outdoor projectors turn backyards into a private cinema. One of the best is the Valerion Vision Master Pro 2, which delivers ultra-bright, cinematic 4K laser projection even in ambient light.

Fall Clean-Ups Are Easier With The Right Tools

Pressure washers, trimmers and gutter vacs are great tools to prep your home for colder months. The Sun Joe SPX3000 Pressure Washer is a fan favorite. When paired with a gutter cleaner like the WORX Universal Gutter Cleaning

Kit, you’re ready for seasonal upkeep.

Don’t Let Mishaps And Malfunctions

Ruin Your Fall Fun

Outdoor gear works hard all year — but colder weather puts added stress on everything from leaf blowers to lounge chairs. When something breaks, it can be expensive to replace. The good news? Many of these items can

be protected. The surprise? Most Americans don’t know it.

An Allstate Protection Plans survey found:

• Only 9% know patio tables can be covered

• Just 7% know about patio chairs and umbrellas

• Only 6% realize lounge chairs qualify And awareness is also low for leaf blowers (34%), robotic pool cleaners

(28%) and patio heaters (22%).

Don’t wait for a breakdown. A protection plan helps keep backyard essentials working longer and saves you from surprise repair costs. Visit allstateprotectionplans.com for more fall outdoor living tips. By performing a few maintenance tasks and protecting your gear, you can stretch backyard season into sweater weather.

BACKYARD FUN Just because fall is here doesn’t mean your backyard fun has to end. Photo provided by StatePoint.

Saving money while setting up a smart home

StatePoint — Whether you’re setting up a smart home in new digs this moving season, or simply looking to get better connected, making your home smart doesn’t have to break the bank with these practical ways to get connected and save.

Get Connected

A smart home all starts with fast, hassle-free internet, and these days, there are options available that can help you get connected with no downtime.

Rather than waiting for an installation appointment or technician, solutions like T-Mobile 5G Home Internet offer easy setup right out of the box. Simply plug it in, power it on and you’re online within minutes. With all T-Mobile Home Internet plans there are no annual contracts or monthly equipment fees. Additional savings are available when bundling with T-Mobile voice plans, making this a solid choice if you also happen to be shopping for a wireless plan.

Moving into a new home can mean making adjustments to your budget, and unexpected bill increases can make planning difficult. Unlike some other internet options, T-Mobile doesn’t have introductory promo pricing that increases later, making it easy to account for this line item into the future. Select plans even come with extras, like subscriptions to popular streaming services, so you can save on these monthly expenses too.

Get Smart

Now that you have internet that can support your smart home, it’s time to select a smart home ecosystem on which to run it, along with devices you’d like to connect it to. Just be sure the ecosystem and devices you choose are compatible.

The good news? While this technology that adds seamless convenience to your life comes with a price tag, many smart home features can help you save on monthly expenses, offsetting the cost of your

Amaral/iStock via

new smart home. For example, devices that make your home more secure, such as smart locks, doorbells, cameras and security systems, could potentially score you a discount on renters or homeowners insurance. Other devices, such as thermostats, lights and appliances, can be programmed to help reduce energy usage and bills. Of course, you should be sure to protect all your smart devices from hackers by using strong passwords and two-factor authentication, and by keeping systems up to date. There are endless details to manage when settling into a new residence. Fortunately, setting up internet and smart home technology no longer needs to be stressful. Sponsored content.

Budget-friendly ideas to freshen up indoor spaces

Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 4pm • Saturday 8am - 11:30am

Family Features — Whether you’re fatigued by seeing the same decor every day or simply looking for an opportunity to refresh indoor spaces with an appealing mini makeover, rethinking your favorite room in the house doesn’t need to be an expensive ordeal.

Even if your budget is tight, you can still make small changes to transform a room. Consider these ideas:

• Bring stylish flair to your space with a new color scheme. Rather than replacing all the furniture, which can be costly, focus on smaller accessory pieces such as pillows and decorative items. Create variety by using multiple hues of the same color or mixing two or more complementary colors.

• Introduce new accent furniture. Smaller and less cost-prohibitive than centerpieces like a couch, for example, accent pieces such as end tables or a coffee table can provide subtle changes to the look of a room. You could also opt to refinish a piece of furniture you have on-hand to create a look that’s all your own.

• Morph your room by simply rearranging what you already own. Adjusting the orientation of your furniture and decor can let you see your favorite room from a whole new perspective.

Find more ideas at eLivingtoday. com.

Source: Family Features

SMART HOME A smart home all starts with fast, hassle-free internet, and these days, there are options available that can help you get connected with no downtime. Photo Source: (c) JLco-Julia

Getty Images Plus.

A guide to identifying common garage door issues

Family Features — Garage doors can experience a variety of issues, from minor annoyances to major malfunctions. However, regular maintenance can not only ensure safety and longevity, but also prevent small issues from escalating into costly problems.

Common problems include the door not opening or closing properly, unusual noises during operation, the door reversing before it fully closes, uneven door movement and slow response time from the opener or remote control.

Identifying the root cause is the first step to fixing the issue.

• Door not opening or closing properly: This could be due to misaligned sensors, which can

be fixed by adjusting the sensor brackets at the bottom of the tracks or cleaning the lenses.

• Noisy door: This can typically be resolved by tightening all the hardware, including hinges, bolts and screws — as well as the opener’s chain or belt — or lubricating the moving parts such as rollers, hinges and tracks. Be sure to replace any that are worn out or damaged.

• Door reversing before it hits the floor: Often caused by an obstruction in the path of the door or a misadjusted limit setting. Check for an object blocking the door (or a sensor) or reset the limit to alleviate.

• Door moving unevenly: Possibly due to worn-out springs or

cables, it’s often best to replace the damaged parts.

• Slow opener response time: Try reprogramming the opener or replacing the batteries in the remove control to get more prompt response times (and potentially range) from your opener.

While many garage door maintenance tasks can be handled by homeowners, certain situations warrant professional intervention. For instance, if you notice significant damage to the springs or cables, it’s best to call a professional.

Discover more easy and effective DIY solutions for common garage door problems at eLivingtoday.com.

Source: eLivingtoday.com

A guide to asking the right flooring questions

Family Features — If you’re looking for flooring inspiration for your next home renovation or new build, scrolling through social media boards and manufacturers’ sites are good places to start. However, there are other important flooring considerations beyond aesthetics.

To help you find the right floor that balances beauty and substance, consider these questions from the experts at Beautifully Responsible. Are The Claims Standing On Sure Footing?

Whether it’s sustainable flooring or flooring that promotes good indoor air quality, it’s difficult to know for sure which flooring really meets the criteria they claim. Third-party certifications can provide the dose of truth you need. They are independently verified, meaning the flooring manufacturer needs to prove it’s meeting the strict guidelines of the certifications to use the badge.

For instance, third-party certifications — such as FloorScore (for indoor air quality) and ASSURE Certified (for multiple attributes in rigid core flooring) — are quick ways to make sure the flooring you’re considering can back up its claims.

While These Floors Look Stunning In Photos, How Will They Look After A Few Bouts Of Tug-Of-War With Your Dog?

Life is full of unexpected moments, whether it’s your new puppy having an accident or spilling

coffee in your rush to leave home. Make sure you understand how much effort is required to maintain your flooring choice. Look for durable, scratch-resistant and water-resistant options. Your floors need to withstand your everyday life.

Flooring is also a financial and time investment. While it can be easy to get carried away with the variety of beautiful flooring options out there, it’s important to match your floors with your family’s stage of life.

How Can I Find Good Looking Floors I Can Feel Good About?

You deserve to feel good about every aspect of your floors — whether it’s stopping your guests in their tracks in amazement when they enter a room or the environmental impacts made by a company working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, finding flooring that matches your home’s aesthetics and what’s important to you requires a little research.

Check the sustainability section on the manufacturer’s website. Most suppliers of Beautifully Responsible resilient flooring go to great lengths to engage sustainability in their business models. Many also publish detailed sustainability reports.

Look for Environmental Product Declarations, which detail product ingredients, carbon footprint and overall environmental impacts.

What About Economics?

Aside from durability, scratch

resistance, moisture resistance, third-party certifications and manufacturer commitments to sustainability, affordability is a major factor when choosing a floor. Resilient products have an enormous bandwidth of affordable products that address first homes to dream homes. Also, look for innovations created by resilient flooring manufacturers to make installation more efficient and less costly than many other flooring categories.

Where Can I Find A Floor That Meets All These Criteria?

Resilient flooring, including varieties from Beautifully Responsible member brands, offers hundreds of options with style and substance.

Resilient flooring offers many scratch-resistant and water-resistant options, making them both pet-friendly and a breeze to clean up with neutral cleansers. You can also find industry-wide EPDs for

various types of resilient flooring and many manufacturers regularly publish sustainability reports, sharing their progress toward environmental goals. Walk on peace of mind knowing you’re protected from many common mishaps, all while creating a stunning, sustainable home environment.

Find your floor and answers to more common questions by visiting beautifullyresponsible.com.

Source: Beautifully Responsible

GARAGE DOOR ISSUES While many garage door maintenance tasks can be handled by homeowners, certain situations warrant professional intervention. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Lake City Bank welcomes new member of operations team

Lake City Bank representatives recently welcomed Ashley N. Ormsby as assistant vice president, commercial documentation counsel.

In this position, Orms-

ASHLEY

ORMSBY

N.

by is responsible for drafting, reviewing, monitoring and tracking commercial loan documentation to ensure it complies with regulatory guidelines, applicable laws and the bank’s credit policies and procedures.

Ormsby earned a bachelor’s degree from Butler University and a Juris Doctor degree with concentrations in international law and business law from William and Mary Law School.

TVHS receives grant to launch photography program

Tippecanoe Valley High School has announced the receipt of a $10,000 grant from the Dekko Foundation to support the launch of a new photography class.

The new program will help students to explore their creativity, develop technical skills and discover potential career paths in the visual arts.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Dekko Foundation, an organization that shares our belief in the transformative power of the arts in education,” said Ashlie Schlemmer, director of communications and marketing for the Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. “This grant allows our students to express themselves and build confidence. Integrating the arts into education cultivates not only creativity but critical thinking, empathy and a deeper understanding of the human experience — essential qualities for meaningful learning and leadership.”

“I am so excited and thankful to have received a $10,000 grant from the Dekko Foundation for my new photography program,” said Lisa Lynch, photography

and art teacher at Tippecanoe Valley High School. “We can purchase 17, professional Canon cameras with newer technology plus accessories. Having professional cameras will aid in learning manual settings essential for taking professional photographs. This will open opportunities for photographic careers such as photojournalism, marketing or having their own photography business.”

The cameras have video capabilities, which opens more opportunities and advancements in the future.

Lynch has already begun teaching students about composition and encouraging a shift in mindset.

“They are now artists, photographers. They have agency. They get to tell their stories, and we get to see life through their lens. What’s really cool is seeing students apply that knowledge in their photos,” said Lynch.

Tippecanoe Valley High School is highlighting the grant from Dekko in conjunction with National Arts in Education Week, Sept. 14-20.

Warsaw sorority selling Butter

Braid pastries for fall fundraiser

Beta Zeta Chapter of Delta Theta Tau Sorority is again selling Butter Braids as this year’s fall fundraiser. Proceeds are philanthropically donated to groups in Kosciusko County.

Available for sale are Butter Braid pastries in several flavors, which can be served as a breakfast item or for dessert. The ready-to-serve cake rolls are offered in chocolate, lemon, pumpkin, carrot cake, strawberry cheesecake and red velvet. There are also soft pretzels and pretzel bites. New this year are freezer-to-oven breakfast and ham-and-cheese croissant crowns.

Orders will be delivered to customers early in November in time to enjoy during the holidays.

Orders can be placed by contacting a sorority member until Oct. 26 or by calling Marcia at (574) 527-1612.

Interra, business partners make donation to El Campito

Melanie can brighten up the Interior of your home.

Melanie can brighten up the Interior of your home.

Melanie can brighten up the Interior of your home.

Walls Ceilings

Walls Ceilings

Window And Door Trim

Window And Door Trim

Walls Ceilings

Stairways

Stairways

Window And Door Trim

Woodwork Staining

Stairways

Woodwork Staining

Garage And Workshop Floors And Walls

Garage And Workshop Floors And Walls

Interra Credit Union recently hosted its third annual Back Forty Shooting Clay event in Bourbon. The event was a celebration of business relationships and a fundraising effort for El Campito Child Development Center, which helps culturally-diverse children and families in St. Joseph County thrive by providing a foundation for world-class early learning and development support.

ing. It’s inspiring to see everyone come together for such a meaningful cause.”

Woodwork Staining

Small Patch Repair

Small Patch Repair

Drywall Repair

Garage And Workshop Floors And Walls

Drywall Repair

Small Patch Repair

Great Service – Reasonable Rates

Great Service – Reasonable Rates

Drywall Repair

References Available Upon Request. 574-304-5075

References Available Upon Request.

Great Service – Reasonable Rates

574-304-5075

References Available Upon Request. 574-304-5075

“Events like this allow us to celebrate our business relationships while making a positive impact in the community,” said Randy Lehman, vice president, commercial lending manager. “Partnering with El Campito to support their mission of high-quality early childhood education for culturally diverse children is truly reward-

Back by popular demand, Interra brought back the gun raffle to support fundraising efforts, giving attendees the chance to purchase tickets to win one of three guns of their choice. Thanks to the enthusiastic participation in the raffle and additional donations, Interra surpassed the fundraising goal — raising over $11,000 for El Campito.

“We are truly grateful for the outpouring of support from our community,” said Aleyna Mitchell, El Campito director of development and community outreach. “Contributions like these not only help us further our mission of providing high-quality, early

childhood education, but they also inspire more people to get involved. We’re excited to see the lasting impact this generosity will have on the children and families we serve.”

“We are thrilled by the incredible turnout and support for El Campito,” said Mike Blosser, senior vice president, head of commercial. “It’s inspiring to see our community come together, and the impact of today’s efforts will be felt by local youth for years to come.”

The success of this event was made possible by the generous sponsor partnership with Synergy Insurance Group.

To learn more and to get involved with El Campito, visit elcampito.org.

DONATION TO EL CAMPITO Pictured from left are Interra representatives, Mike Blosser, senior vice president, head of commercial; Shelley Pulaski, vice president, commercial lender; El Campito representative, Aleyna Mitchell, director of development and community outreach; and Interra representative, Randy Lehman, vice president commercial lending manager. Photo provided by Interra.

MONEY TO CHARITY Pictured sitting in front from left are sorority sisters Kathy Stanley, Jean Whitenack and Brenda Arnold. In back are Marcia Randolph, Barb VanCuren and Maria McGrath. Photo provided by Beta Zeta Chapter of Delta Theta Tau Sorority.

Aviation Hall of Famer Wil Davis visits Mentone

By DEB PATTERSON Editor-In-Chief

Aerospace businesses and what it did for America was the topic of Indiana Aviation Hall of Famer Wil Davis’ keynote address at the 2025 Rotors over Mentone program Saturday, Sept. 6.

“Whether it’s flying … whatever, aerospace business played a significant part in our country back in the 60s and I’m going to tell you why.

If you can remember the 60s, I certainly can, the country was being torn apart,” said Davis. He noted assassinations, drugs, the war in Vietnam and riots. “The country was just in despair.”

He stated it was in December 1968 when Apollo 8 was launched. “Its mission was to fly around the moon and come back. It was the precursor to Apollo 11 that went to the moon and brought the guys back.”

He noted there was a tremendous pressure to get Apollo 8 done and Frank Boreman, commander, received a letter with no signature or return address. “Thank you for saving 1968,” was all it said. “What it was about, the Apollo 8 mission gave, is credibility. It galvanized the country. People don’t realize the significance of that. Because it had to work right,” Davis stated.

It was on a tight schedule. President Kennedy had said the country would get there in this decade “and we did. So I look at it, it galvanized the country and we need something right now to galvanize the country. We have too much dissension. Dissent is fine, but it has to be productive, too. I hope you

understand what I’m saying, when I say the aerospace industry, Apollo 8, brought our country together.”

During his presentation, Davis also noted he had done some crop spraying in the area early in his career. He recalled one time, laying in his truck on a road close to Mentone when he saw a marker that said “Hometown of Lawrence Bell.” He was flying a Bell 47 and was amazed at how close he was. He also recalled using a Tomcat 47D model he transformed into a single cockpit that was successful to his crop spraying operation.

Prior to Davis’s keynote address, a video from the Indiana Aviation Hall of Fame was shown, detailing his history in aviation.

Davis, who grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., had a fascination with aircraft. His original career goal was to pursue veterinary medicine and he attended Cornell University for that purpose. But he graduated in 1965 just short of his veterinary degree. Because the Vietnam War was in progress and he was inspired by his cousin, a Naval aviator, he joined the Navy in 1966. He found himself in Pensacola, Fla. for pilot training. After earning his naval aviator wings, he was assigned to the Helicopter Attack Squadron 3 based in Na Bha Vietnam, south of Saigon. “HAL 3” was a special assignment; it was the only attack helicopter squadron established by the Navy. Davis and his squadron colleagues flew in constant support of the Navy SEAL teams and the Navy’s River Patrol Boats.

In his service years, Davis flew the Bell 47, Bell Huey H-1Sikorsky

H-43, Kamen H-2, and Bell Jet Ranger helicopters. He flew 425 missions and awarded 21 air medals, including one direct action air medal.

After the war, Davis remained in the Navy, assigned to a search and rescue squadron based at Naval Air station Lakehurst. In 1969, he was deployed to the aircraft carrier USS Franklin Roosevelt. He flew search and rescue in the Mediterranean Sea and plane guard for carrier operations. He was also the squadron maintenance officer.

In 1971, he transitioned to jet fighters receiving orders for jet training in Meridian, Miss. There, he became a flight instructor on the TA-4 Skyhawk fighter for all flight operations, including carrier landings.

He returned to civilian life and settled in Bluffton, operating an aerial spraying service. He stayed active in the military, joining the Naval Reserves in 1975, where he took on various flying and leadership roles. He served with the Fleet Logistics Squadron at Selfridge Air Base in Michigan flying DC-6 and later flying the Douglas DC-9 out of Glenville Naval Air Station. Davis also advanced in the ranks serving as operations officer, executive officer and, in 1986, as squadron commander.

He retired from the reserves in 1988 after 22 years and the rank of captain.

His civilian flying career grew as well. In 1986 he flew the DC-9 for the Navy and for Airborne Express. He soon tried his entrepreneur spirit. He purchased a small region-

al airline that would become known as “Direct Air,” moving its operations to the Gary/Chicago Airport. He was not only the CEO but also flew a Beech 1900 for the airline. The company prospered, eventually linking five Illinois cities with the Midway and Gary airports.

In 1991 he expanded further, acquiring Gary Jet Center, with two partners. He took over complete control of the company in 1994. Today, Gary Jet Center is a a significant member of the Indiana aviation community providing fixedbase operations support, aircraft maintenance, charter, and aircraft management with over sixty employees. The company also supports Boeing Aircraft’s fleet of Boeing Business Jets. For its outstanding service, Boeing named Gary Jet Center as Supplier of the Year for 2013, 2015 and 2018.

Davis still serves as chairman of the company while his daughter manages day-to-day operations as president.

In 2012, Davis received the Freedom Award from the United States Secretary of Defense for his support of active and reserve military employees, due to his policy of paying the full salary of Gary Jet Center employees serving in the National Guard or Reserves for the full period of their deployment.

The program included participation by the playing of the National Anthem and patriotic songs by select bank members from Tippecanoe Valley High School, remarks from Brian Iddles, vice president of the museum board and presentation of the colors by the American

Legion Post 49. Davis was introduced by Marsha Scott, museum board secretary.

The day was filled with up close views of a number of Bell helicopters still in use, museum displays not only in the Bell Museum, but also the Mentone Museum. There was also helicopter rides over Mentone.

GUEST SPEAKER Indiana Aviation Hall of Famer Wil Davis was the keynote speaker. Photo by Deb Patterson.

O B ituaries

Susan Ruth Ferguson Elementary School Teacher

With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Susan Ruth Ferguson (Ruenpohl) on Sept. 6, 2025, at the age of 78. She passed away peacefully at her home in Wakarusa, surrounded by her loving family.

Sue was born in St Louis, Mo., on Aug. 20, 1947, to Henry and Ruth Ruenpohl and moved to Indiana after marrying Dean Ferguson upon graduation from Taylor University in 1969.

SUSAN RUTH FERGUSON

She was known across the region for her empathy, kindness and unrivaled creativity in teaching multiple generations of elementary students. She was a devoted wife to Dean, a dedicated mother to Clayton and Jeffrey and a cherished grandmother to Atticus and Cillian. She will be remembered for the unwavering love she shared with all she came into contact with. She will be deeply missed.

Family and friends may call from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, at Nappanee Missionary Church, and Saturday, Sept. 27, for one hour prior to the celebration of Susan’s life which will begin at 11 a.m. Pastor Jason Rohde will officiate.

Memorial contributions may be given to Nappanee Missionary Church Acts 29 Mission Fund.

Arrangements are with Thompson-Lengacher & Yoder Funeral Home, Wakarusa.

Karrah Leigh Teruya

Karrah Leigh (Fidler) Teruya, 36, Syracuse, passed away in the early hours of Aug. 14, 2025, at IU Health University Hospital, surrounded by loved ones.

Karrah was born at Goshen Hospital on May 12, 1989, to Jim and Denise Fidler. She was the oldest of five children.

On Sept. 13, 2014, she married Micah Nathanael Teruya.

Surviving are her husband, Micah; her brother, Seth (Lindsey) Fidler; her sisters, Makayla Fidler and Tressa (Brandon) Reinholt; and her parents, Jim Fidler and Denise (Shavinski) Fidler.

Her brother, Harrison Paul Fidler, preceded her in death in 2009.

After high school, Karrah graduated from California State University, Northridge, and quickly earned her certificate from Ace Culinary Academy. Shortly after moving back to Indiana with her husband, she became a certified Level II sommelier.

In 2018, she was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She fought through several relapses and survived a bone marrow transplant during those seven years. However, she never let it stop her. With unending determination, she earned a master’s degree in health administration from Purdue University and her Sattva Vinyasa 200hr yoga certification while still undergoing treatment.

Karrah lived her life with awe-inspiring fortitude and sought out every possible adventure. She loved with her whole heart and never turned down the chance to grow and better herself. She treated every challenge as an opportunity to learn and to share her story with those she loved and everyone she met. She never faced an obstacle she allowed to hold her back. Her indomitable spirit lives on in those she loved. To have known her was to have been blessed.

A celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025, at Herr Pond, 7813 E. 800N, Syracuse.

Betty Reeder

Betty Reeder, 87, Milford, died Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, at Lutheran Hospital of Fort Wayne.

Arrangements are currently pending at Titus Funeral Home of Syracuse.

Byron Sears

Byron Sears, 84, Syracuse, died unexpectedly Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in his residence.

Arrangements are currently pending at Titus Funeral Home of Syracuse.

Verdonna Yakimicki

Verdonna Yakimicki, 66, Hoffman Lake, Warsaw, died Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, at Parkview Regional Medical Center.

Arrangements are currently pending at Titus Funeral Home of Warsaw.

Births

Larion Mathias Borkholder

Luke and Katrina (Yoder) Borkholder, New Paris, are the parents of a son, Larion Mathias, born at 4:39 p.m. Sept. 9, 2025, at Blessed Beginnings Care Center, Nappanee. He weighed 9 pounds and was 20 inches long.

Larion joins one sibling, Tristan.

Kendric Liam Lehman

Marcus and Amy (Miller) Lehman, Bremen, are the parents of a son, Kendric Liam, born at 4:34 p.m. Sept. 10, 2025, at Blessed Beginnings Care Center, Nappanee. He weighed 7 pounds, 13 ounces, and was 20 1/2 inches long.

Bank announces promotion

Lake City Bank has announced that Livia E. Rose has been promoted to assistant vice president, operations business analyst officer.

In this position, Rose assists with the management of core banking products and services, including loans, deposits and transaction processing. She supports project teams with new product and service implementation, as well as feature enhancements and process improvements. She has been with the bank for two years.

Rose has a bachelor’s degree in computer science-digital media from Taylor University and a Master of Business Administration from Indiana Tech. She is a Whitko Scholarship Fund board member and Pierceton Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Grading committee member. Rose volunteers with Junior Achievement of Kosciusko County, Pierceton Elementary School Mentor Program and Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County.

Court News

Small Claims

The following small claims have been awarded in Kosciusko Superior Court III, Judge Chad Miner presiding: Chiphone Federal Credit Union v. Anthony L. Garza, $2,449.78

Aegis Dental Group Warsaw PC v. La Nueva Troje LLC, $812 Warsaw Health System LLC, d/b/a Kosciusko Community Hospital v. Cesar Soto, $1,519.80

Civil Collections

The following civil collections have been awarded in Kosciusko Superior Court IV, Judge Christopher D. Kehler presiding: LVNV Funding LLC v. Brittani Alber, $6,399.44; v. Jennifer Christopher, $1,240.31

Elizabeth Clay, $752.71; v. Kylee Eaton, $1,039.93; v. Christy Gordon, $1,294.72; v. Jack Huber, $1,321.56; v. Rebecca Miller, $1,731.14; v. Rebecca Miller, $868.57

Chad M. Ouimet, $1,023.60; v. Tessla Stephen, $1,175.14; v. Amanda VanKirk, $1,184.87; v. Heather Voter, $1,243.49

Capital One NA v. Victoria Bean, $8,762.56; v. Dawn R. Borkholder, $4,372.64; v. Peter L. Chinworth, $7,568.94; v. Travis A. Fisher, $11,785.89; v. Jenifer Gautschi, $17,689.95; v. Colin Harker, $2,496.16; v. Darrell Hutcherson, $2,046.18; v. Erin L. Miller, $1,908.57; v. Gretchen L. Mueller, $2,866.14; v. James Trolinger, $2,642.84

Jefferson Capital Systems LLC v. Timothy Blackburn, $936.82; v. Rodney Croy, $709.82; v. George Stidams Jr., $1,118.73

Forsythe Finance LLC v. Dennis Bollenbacher, $4,547.15

Synchrony Bank v. Justin S. Conley, $4,063.77; v. Donna Miller, $4,265.87; v. Jaimie Sumwalt, $3,260.50; v. Jay Vader, $8,607.15

Three Rivers Federal Credit Union v. Jerry Lee Davis Jr., Sarah Aleisha Davis, $1,729.16; v. Derek Michael Grim, $5,158.82; v. Derek Michael Grim, $12,315.81

Midland Credit Management Inc. v. Kaylee Hammond, $820.56

Credit Acceptance Corp. v. Ryan Horn, Brooklyn Ritter, $6,910.66

Credit Service International v. Stephanie D. Maierle, $1,230 NCB Management Services v. Nicolas M. Marshall, $8,700.50

City of South Bend v. James T. Mudd, $1,188.42

BSREP II MH Heritage Capital v. Allison O’Hara, $46,718.69

Prestige Financial Services Inc. v. Angela Marie Parks, $4,360.86

Goshen Hospital Association Inc. v. Krystina P. Ponder, $1,090.65; v. Jessica A. Rocha, $2,659.39; v. Daytona J. Ropp, $4,438.17; v. Rebecca R. Slaybaugh, $3,173.32; v. Thomas L. Waikel, $1,005.33; v. Angela A. Zolman, $3,830.95

OneMain Financial Group LLC v. Brandon L. Snyder, $10,124.64 Citibank NA v. Tyler Wetzel, $5,639.33

Client Services KL v. James W. Wilbert, $834.96

Evictions

HATTON-SADLER FUNERAL CHAPELS

“Our families serving your family with professionalism, compassion and care.”

Pierceton and Warsaw Michael and Tracy Wilson

The following eviction has been awarded in Kosciusko Superior Court III, Judge Chad Miner presiding: 5858 N 2nd LLC v. Jennifer Gasaway, $2,758.57

Mortgage Foreclosures

The following mortgage foreclosure has been awarded in Kosciusko Superior Court III, Judge Chad Miner presiding: Lakeview Loan Servicing LLC v. Nicole Gable, Tyler McClure, $187,948.08

Superior Court III

The following fines for infractions have been assessed in Kosciusko Superior Court III, Judge Chad Miner presiding: Speeding — Brian M. Jaimes, Warsaw, $164.50

Failure of occupant to use a safety belt — Nicole Berg, Rochester, $25; Sarah L. Miller, Warsaw, $25; Gage A. Howard, Warsaw, $25

Failure to register — Candice N. Wright, Bourbon, $164.50; Tyler D. Fulk, South Whitley, $164.50; Albert M. Himes, Pierceton, $164.50; Zackery B. Burke, Claypool, $164.50

Driving while suspended, suspension not result of conviction — Jonathan D. Parahams, Warsaw, $189.50

Boat equipment violation, float device per-person requirement —Alexander P. Bergen, Winona Lake, $164

Learner’s permit violation

Merlin D. Bontrager, Nappanee, $164.50

Disregarding lighted signals — Gregory J. Marsh, Warsaw, $164.50

Disregarding stop sign — Heather L. Campbell, Nappanee, $164.50; JF Medina, Claypool, $164.50

Passing on the right — Cherish R. Heckaman, Warsaw, $164.50

Passing in a no-passing zone

Jeffery A. Madden, Silver Lake, $164.50

Operating a motor vehicle with a false plate, plate belongs to another vehicle — Trenton L. Alderfer, Warsaw, $164; Roxanne K. Kline, Plymouth, $164

No operator’s license in possession, no valid driver’s license — Leonardo J. Vargas, Warsaw, $189.50

Operating with expired plates

Melanie J. Goon, Warsaw, $164

No valid driver’s license — Allyssa Trolinger, Warsaw, $164.50

Child restraint system violation — Cynthia S. Frederick, Warsaw, $25

Disregarding an official traffic control device — Douglas E. Marsillett, Tippecanoe, $164.50

Marriage Licenses

The following couples have applied for marriage licenses in the office of Kosciusko County Clerk of the Court

Melissa Boggs: Rowe-Mauk

Jordan James Maze Rowe, 25, Silver Lake, and Bailey Renee Mauk, 26, Silver Lake

Shaffer-Bellis

Robert Lee Shaffer Jr., 54, Warsaw, and Patty A. Bellis, 63, Warsaw Shroyer-Belote

Bradley James Shroyer, 36, Leesburg, and Amanda Megan Belote, 35, Leesburg Menzie-Hamby

Kray Jacob Menzie, 24, Warsaw, and Daniela Jean Hamby, 26, Warsaw Ott-Shumaker

Braydon Ott, 26, Syracuse, and Kaleigh Shumaker, 25, Claypool Snow-Waters

Kahler Renae Snow, 29, Winona Lake, and Luke David Waters, 31, Fort Wayne Williams-McCleese

Daniel Williams, 58, Warsaw, and Melissa Ellen McCleese, 44, Warsaw Dimitroff-Ughetti

Rayna Victoria Dimitroff, 35, Syracuse, and Jason Jon Ughetti, 40, Syracuse Hackworth-Farrell

Lachelle Renee Hackworth, 29, North Webster, and Patrick Ryan Farrell, 36, North Webster Kemp-Slabaugh

Micah Jon Kemp, 29, Nappanee, and Katelyn Diane Slabaugh, 23, Wawaka Fernandez-Chang

Rafael Fernandez, 41, Warsaw, and Veronica Del Rosario Chang, 52, Warsaw Kaufman-Schwartz

Dale Ray Kaufman, 19, Bremen, and Amy Diane Schwartz, 20, Etna Green Wade-Harman

Alexander Ryan Wade, 27, Warsaw, and Madison Elena Harman, 22, Warsaw

Continued on page 13

Certified Level II Sommelier

KARRAH LEIGH TERUYA

LIVIA E. ROSE

C ounty R epo R t

Cuautle-Belen Ahuatl

Erik Cuautle, 27, Warsaw, and Maria Belen Ahuatl, 22, South Bend Lockridge-Knisely

Kelsey Lockridge, 26, Warsaw, and Sky Knisely, 25, Warsaw

Smith-Smith

Paul Kirk Smith, 66, Leesburg, and Gina Mari Smith, 64, Leesburg

Marriage

Dissolutions

The following couples have filed for a marriage dissolution in Kosciusko Superior Courts I or IV:

Thompson — Austin Thompson, Claypool, and Megan Thompson, Pearcy, Ark. They were married March 21, 2011; no separation date given. Two minor children.

Hellyer — Rhiley Hellyer, Pierceton, and Stetson Hellyer, Pierceton. They were married Sept. 20, 2019,

and separated Sept. 1, 2025. Two minor children.

Roth — Paul Roth Jr., Silver Lake, and Cynthia Roth, Warsaw. They were married July 4, 2016, and separated June 12, 2025. Three minor children.

Doran — Brittani Doran, North Manchester, and Keagan Doran, Claypool. Minor child(ren). No other information was available.

Walton — David E. Walton, Mentone, and Amy L. Walton, Rochester. They were married Jan. 5, 2008; no separation date given. No minor child(ren).

Pamer-Rodriguez Mayorga — Emily Sue Pamer, Milford, and Jose Manuel Rodriguez Mayorga, Goshen. They were married Oct. 22, 2022, and separated Feb. 11, 2025. No minor child(ren).

Hygema-Bowerman — Ansel Logan Guy Hygema, Warsaw, and Hannah Renee Bowerman, Pierceton. They were married Aug. 31, 2024, and separated July 3, 2025. No minor child(ren).

Local Realtor completes state leadership academy

The Kosciusko Board of Realtors has announced Natalie Brookins has completed the Indiana Association of Realtors Leadership Academy.

The year-long Leadership Academy is designed to prepare Realtor leaders with the knowledge, skills and confidence to better serve their clients and communities. Through sessions focused on team building, communication, professional development and

business best practices, graduates are better equipped to take on leadership roles within the real estate industry and beyond.

Brookins, a licensed Realtor since 2017, currently serves as the office manager for Coldwell Banker Real Estate Group. In addition to overseeing daily operations, she is an advocate for continuous growth and professional development, for herself as well as the Coldwell Banker agents she supports.

The mother of three boys, Brookins also brings a background in community service, having worked with families and young children through home visits and program facilitation prior to her real estate career.

Study abroad opportunities available for high school students

Qualified high school students are offered a unique opportunity to explore the world by spending an academic year, semester, or summer in Europe, Asia, North or South America, Australia, or South Africa as part of the ASSE International Student Exchange Program.

A nonprofit, public benefit organization, ASSE is dedicated to promoting closer ties of friendship between the United States and other countries by fostering intercultural understanding through youth exchange programs.

Students, 15 to 18 years old, qualify on the basis of academic performance, character references, and a genuine desire

Local students named to president’s list

The following local students were named to the president’s list of their respective college:

Southern New Hampshire University

Bourbon — Diamond Soriano Leesburg — Olivia Kitson Mentone — Zachary Landis

Kosciusko REMC opens applications for the Youth Power and Hope Awards

Applications for the Youth Power and Hope Awards are now open. Indiana Electric Cooperatives, including Kosciusko REMC and Indiana Connection Magazine are sponsoring this annual award program.

This program honors students in fifth through eighth grades for their community service. Up to five qualified candidates will receive $500, be honored at the Indiana Electric Cooperatives’ Annual Meeting in December, and be featured in an upcoming issue

LaunchPad

of Indiana Connection magazine.

Since 2009, the program has annually honored Indiana youth for their community service. In the past, winning community projects have included raising money for Riley Hospital for Children and donating toys for its patients, collecting coats for the less fortunate and providing police officers with stuffed animals to comfort children in crisis situations.

“We are excited to have an opportunity to celebrate the community-minded young people in

Kosciusko County and throughout Indiana. Investing in our next generation is a huge part of how we show care for our members and local community,” said Tara Haack, vice president of marketing and communications at KREMC.

Applicants’ parents or guardians must be a member of an Indiana electric cooperative, like KREMC, to apply. Applications are due Friday, Oct. 3. For more information and to apply, visit kremc.com/youth-programs.

applauds child care site visits highlighting need in Indiana

LaunchPad, a child care initiative of the Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce, is supporting Kosciusko and Whitley county child care providers as it opens its doors to state and local policymakers in September through the “Legislators and Little Learners” site visit series.

The visits are intended to showcase the essential role of early learning in strengthening families, businesses and communities across the state.

to experience life abroad with a volunteer host family. Prior knowledge of the host country’s language is not a requirement. Scholarships are available and are based on academic performance, leadership skills, and financial need.

Families abroad are carefully screened, and students do not need to know the language of the host country prior to departure, but will acquire the language skills through experiencing the day-to-day local culture and attending regular high school classes along with their new teenage friends.

ASSE also provides the experience of a lifetime to American families, who are interested in hosting an international student from Spain, Italy, Germany, Ukraine, Thailand, Japan, and many other countries. These exceptional young students will attend the local American high school for an academic year or semester.

Students or families interested in learning more about becoming an ASSE exchange student or host family should contact ASSE at (800) 7361760, visit studyabroad.asse. com, or send an email to asseusamidwest@asse.com.

Legislators have been invited to visit Growing Kids Learning Center in Warsaw, Wee Warriors Acad-

emy in Syracuse and Armstrong Early Learning in Columbia City.

Indiana’s challenge to attract and retain early educators threatens both children’s futures and the state’s current workforce, according to a news release from LaunchPad. Without strong investments, inadequate child care ends up costing Indiana an estimated $4.22 billion annually in lost productivity and economic activity, according to the organization.

LaunchPad’s mission is to help create high quality, affordable

child care seats for working families. The organization said it sees these visits as an opportunity to advance solutions requiring shared responsibility among communities, businesses and government.

“We applaud the child care providers, who are helping policymakers understand the real impact of the child care in our community,” said Sherry Searles, LaunchPad director, “and we look forward to working with leaders to develop lasting solutions.”

For more information about LaunchPad, visit klaunchpad.com.

Kosciusko Realtors

spend day

volunteering at Magical Meadows

The Kosciusko Board of Realtors held its second annual Volunteer Day at Magical Meadows therapeutic horse-riding center Sept. 4, letting members come together to give back to the community through hands-on service.

Realtor and affiliate members worked together to expand and improve the center’s horse agility course, a project launched

during last year’s KBOR Volunteer Day. This year’s projects included building new horse obstacles, repairing existing obstacles from last year’s build and brightening the obstacles with fresh coats of paint. The efforts support Magical Meadows’ mission of providing therapeutic horseback riding for children and adults with

physical, cognitive and emotional challenges.

The Kosciusko Board of Realtors has 192 Realtor members, who are part of the 20,500-member Indiana Association of Realtors and the 1.5 million-member National Association of Realtors, making the national association America’s largest trade association.

YOUTH AWARDS — Applications for the Youth Power and Hope Awards are now open. This program honors students in grades five to eight for their community service. Photo provided by KREMC.

HELPING HANDS The Kosciusko Board of Realtors held its second annual Volunteer Day at Magical Meadows in Warsaw Sept. 4. Photo provided by the Kosciusko Board of Realtors.

NATALIE BROOKINS

Community Choice HVAC joins SW Chamber

By LILLI DWYER Staff Writer

The Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce celebrated the addition of a new member, Community Choice HVAC in Milford, Wednesday, Aug. 27.

Community Choice HVAC was established by Chelsea and Andrew Meyers in July. The business provides “full-service HVAC,” Andrew Meyers said, including maintenance, repairs and replacement for both commercial and residential systems.

“We have ‘community’ in our name, and we both feel very strongly about that,” Chelsea Meyers said of their choice to join the chamber. “And we need visibility, so reaching out to the closest group for that would be a good start.”

P ublic A uctions

Real

Bidding open until 4 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 18. Property located at 15229 CR 34, Goshen. Public inspections 4-6 p.m. Tuesdays or by appointment. For bidding and bidding updates, call (260) 499-0216 or (260) 499-0093.

Two-Day Antique Auction

9 a.m. Friday and Saturday, Sep. 19-20. Located at 890 S. Van Buren St., Shipshewana.

Online Toy Auction

Bidding open until 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 22. Pickup located at 1582 W. SR 114, North Manchester. Farm toys, diecast semis, trucks, planes, banks, farm advertising, petroliana toys, Fisher Price, wooden blocks, pull-toys, John Deere collectibles. Metzger

Property Services, metzgerauction.com.

Real Estate Auction

6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23. Located at 1582 W. State Road 114, North Manchester. Tracts 1 and 2: West of North Manchester on corner of SR 114 and 400W. Tracts 3 and 4: South of SR 114 on SR 15. Over 216 acres with cropland and woods. Metzger Property Services, metzgerauction.com.

Online Only

Real Estate Auction

Bidding open noon Friday, Sept. 19 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25. Property located at 5425 E. Washington Road, Pierceton. Four-bed, three-bath home, heated shop and storage buildings on 5 acres. Schrader Auction, schraderauction.com.

Community Choice HVAC is located at 13117 N. Old SR 15, Milford. Learn more by calling (574) 227-6700, or visit Community Choice HVAC on Facebook or nextdoor.com.

Real Estate Auction

6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25. Located at First Baptist Church, 208 W Market St., Pierceton. Property located at 6701 E. 750S, Pierceton. Country home and 46 acres recreational land in two tracts. Metzger Property Services, metzgerauction.com.

Blosser Auction

10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 26. Located at 21743 CR 30, Goshen. Parcel 1: Home, garage, shop buildings on 3 acres. Parcel 2: 6 acres. Tractors, skid loader, truck, trailers, shop equipment, farm primitives. Hahn Auctioneers, hahnrealtyandauction.com.

Dick Truex Estate Auction 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. Located at 11749 Quarles Road, Wakarusa.

Building Auction

10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 27. Open house 5:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23. Located at 605 S. Linda Lane, North Webster. Multi-use building on double city lot. Metzger Property Services, metzgerauction.com.

Wayne And Ina Moore Farms Auction

6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29. Located at 6019 W. 650N, Ligonier. Schrader Auction, schraderauction.com.

Online Real Estate Auction Bidding open until 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 29. Open house 5:30-6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26. Property located at 210 S. River Road, North Manchester. Four-bed, two-bath house with attached garage. Metzger Property Services, metzgerauction.com.

David and Suetta Beachy Auction

2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30. Located 3 miles south of Middlebury on SR 13 to CR 24, then east 1 1/2 miles to 10952 CR 24, Middlebury. Grosse Real Estate Auction

6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2. Open house 4-6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18. Located at 69735 CR 21, New Paris. Ranch house with shop on 1.2 acres. Hahn Auctioneers, hahnrealtyandauction.com.

Land Auction

6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2. Located at Claypool Lions Club, 201 W Calhoun St. Property located west from SR 15 to 700S, turn northeast on Beaver Dam Road, on north side. 75.5 acres tillable, woods and recreation, in three tracts. Metzger Property Services, metzgerauction.com.

NEW ARRIVAL The Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce held a welcome ceremony for new member, Community Choice HVAC, Wednesday, Aug. 27. Pictured from left are Brent Randall, SW Chamber

Executive Director; Rita Davis, SW Chamber; Chelsea Meyers, Community Choice HVAC; Andrew Meyers, Community Choice HVAC; and Melody Cusick, SW Chamber. Photo by Lilli Dwyer.

Washington S.T.E.M. Academy prepares for Literacy Night

Washington S.T.E.M. Academy will host its third annual Literacy Night from 5:30-7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23. This year’s event will feature new opportunities for the community to experience, including digital literacy and financial literacy.

“We know how important literacy is in our community and want there to be one spot that works well to find resources, but we also want this to be a reminder that reading is fun,” said Washington parent-teacher organization President Julia Porter. “Students may not have access to books or even time to read them, so it’s important to us to highlight the importance of reading. There are so many aspects we wanted to incorporate this year, so we have added a S.T.E.M. showcase and a financial literacy component to further support Warsaw students and their families.”

Literacy remains an important aspect of Washington’s PTO mission. Each year, the PTO ensures every student at Washington receives one free book at the

CELEBRATION OF READING

literacy carnival with games and prizes for families

Scholastic book fair, and there will be opportunities at the event to contribute toward this effort.

Families can also enjoy crafts with art teacher, Miranda Hall, as well as lettering activities with Aynsley Patton of Blue Sky

and Violets.

The S.T.E.M. Showcase will include hands-on activities with science, technology, engineering and math instructional Coach Derek Pike, Washington’s Girls Who Code Club and Robotics

Club. Families will also have the chance to connect with the Kosciusko County Soil and Water Conservation District to learn more about their work and impact on local students.

“It is so vital that students

BONNEYVILLE BUILDERS

are proficient in navigating digital literacy in a constructive way to access online resources for learning and research,” said Pike. “One component of S.T.E.M. integration encourages teachers to provide opportunities for students to access online information as a part of their projects.”

This year’s financial literacy focus will include the Kosciusko County Foundation and KEYS Club sharing details about the new Piggy Possibilities program, as well as Heartwood Planning Group providing resources on saving for the future.

As in years past, the Warsaw Community Public Library will help students sign up for library cards and share resources. The Wordhouse Bookstore and Pages A Plenty will have books available for purchase. Grace College’s Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society will host a literacy carnival with prizes, and Washington’s library will be open for families to explore and pick up free books. New this year, the Wagon Wheel will also share information about its conservatory program.

“Washington is excited to host Literacy Night and the S.T.E.M. Showcase so that we can bring students and families together with our community to celebrate the love of reading,” said Washington Principal Cheri Sleighter.

“Seeing others celebrate reading contributes to our students’ excitement to continue to learn through literacy.”

Outside, families can purchase food and treats from Kona Ice and Rocksteady Pizza, soda and cookies from The Sweet Exchange.

Follow Washington S.T.E.M. PTO on Instagram and Facebook for more updates about the event.

Grace College students host a

at Literacy Night at

Washington S.T.E.M. Academy. Photo provided by Warsaw Community Schools.