Kokomo Magazine January 2026

+ Guided by Calling Inside the Mission & Impact of Turnabout Community Resource Center

Beyond the Menu THE FAMILY STORY BEHIND CASA DE CADDIE GRILL

+ 2025 Year

in Review

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Inside the Mission & Impact of Turnabout Community Resource Center

Holly’s Package Store Celebrates 45 Years in Greentown

JANUARY CROSSWORD PUZZLE

GUIDED BY CALLING

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2025 YEAR IN REVIEW

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WELCOME TO ELWOOD

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/ATKOKOMO /TIPTONMAGAZINE

4 | January 2026 | TownePost.com

NATALIE PLATT

POURING TRADITION

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KOKOMO TOP SOCIAL POSTS OF 2025

KEY CONTRIBUTORS

TIPTON TOP TOP SOCIAL POSTS OF 2025

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KOKOMO TOP STORIES OF 2025

PUBLISHER KIM SENKUS kim@townepost.com (317) 501-1743

BEYOND THE MENU

The Family Story Behind Casa de Caddie Grill

PAWPULAR PETS

TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. FOUNDER, CEO TOM BRITT tom@townepost.com (317) 496-3599 PRESIDENT JEANNE BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011 CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ERIN TURK CREATIVE DIRECTORS VAL AUSTIN TONI EADS EDITOR JOSH BROWN TOWNE POST NETWORK, INC. 8800 North Street, Suite 117 Fishers, IN 46038 Phone/Text: (317) 810-0011 FOR FRANCHISE INFORMATION, VISIT FRANCHISING.TOWNEPOST.COM

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GUIDED BY CALLING INSIDE THE MISSION & IMPACT OF TURNABOUT COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER Writer / Natalie Platt

When Paul Drazich talks about Turnabout Community Resource Center in Russiaville, he passionately speaks like it’s his steady calling and much less like a description of what he does for work. He has led the center since its launch in November 2021, though his route there stretches back nearly two decades.

Drazich first stepped into jail ministry in 2006 while living in the Warsaw area with his wife. He worked with men and women in the Kosciusko County legal system until 2018 and learned how layered recovery can be. The move to Kokomo came in 2018 for his wife’s job, and he continued studying, eventually completing training through the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors RAISING KOKOMO’S FREQUENCY ONE CLIENT AT A TIME

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in 2021. That timing lined up with the formation of Turnabout. He was invited to become its executive director and primary counselor, the role he keeps today.

His work at Turnabout rests on training and lived experience. He completed two courses in addictions counseling, yet he speaks just as openly about his own history. Drazich was an alcoholic and has been clean and sober for more than 40 years. When he talks about his background, there is no self-dramatizing, only an understanding of what it takes for someone to walk into a room and ask for help.

Turnabout’s approach is broad. AA meets inside the building.

Counseling can be secular or faith-based. Drazich says the center’s purpose is to offer hope, help and healing in whatever form fits a person’s needs. Volunteers work with family members of addicts, and other partners step in where the community has gaps. One group of grief counselors meets monthly at the United Methodist Church in Russiaville with parents who have lost children through death, miscarriage or abortion. That work is important to him because families often have nowhere else to take that kind of pain.

Another gap became clear early on. Veterans in the area had no counseling support. Turnabout now partners with the AMVETS post in Russiaville. Five counselors are available to work with veterans, and several served in Vietnam or later conflicts.

Drazich is a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard. He was never deployed in a conflict, but he works closely with AMVETS and other local veterans groups to help people reach the services they qualify for.

progress only happens when both sides show up willing to work.

He urges the community to keep one date in mind. A benefit for Turnabout and the Carl Koontz Memorial will take place Saturday, March 14 at Western Schools. It marks 10 years since Officer Koontz was killed in the line of duty. The day will include demonstrations from the sheriff ’s department and other agencies.

Final details are still being arranged, but Drazich says the event carries weight for the community.

For anyone hesitant to seek help, he keeps the message clear.

Everything is confidential unless the court requires otherwise.

Turnabout’s volunteers understand addiction from many angles, and if the center cannot meet someone’s needs, they guide them toward the place that can.

Turnabout serves Carroll, Clinton and Howard counties in Indiana.

During the times when families, teens or children may struggle with addiction, mental health issues or other life-crisis dilemmas, Turnabout can provide a trusted beacon of care, connecting critical and available resources to help, heal and support all those who may need them.

Anyone needing help, or just someone to speak to, can reach out to Turnabout at 765-753-5003. The center is located at 190 N. Union St. #31 in Russiaville.

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When asked what matters most to him in his day-to-day work, Drazich returns to the moment when a person realizes they are not defined by their addiction. Watching someone say “that was who I was, not who I am now” remains one of his favorite parts of the job.

Turnabout receives support from churches throughout Russiaville and the surrounding area. The counseling is free financially, though Drazich reminds clients that there is still a personal cost.

Counselors invest time preparing and meeting with people, and clients are given homework to continue their growth. In his view, Find us out and about at Markets, at The Shop and our booth in The Originial Treasure Mart!

DRIVE A LITTLE; SAVE A LOT!

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TOP SOCIAL STORY OF 2024 TownePost.com | January 2026 | 9

Welcome to

Welcome to

GREENTOWN

Sweet Success

Andrea Kaiser, Aubrey Keiser, Leah Kaiser and Rachel Shafer

A TOWNE POST NETWORK PUBLICATION BROUGHT TO YOU BY KOKOMO/TIPTON MAGAZINE

GREENTOWN

BLONDIE’S COOKIES MARKS FOUR DECADES OF FAMILY, FLAVOR & COMMUNITY DEDICATION Writer / Natalie Platt

TownePost.com | September 2025 | 1

10 | January 2026 | TownePost.com

TownePost.com | 1

2025 YEAR IN REVIEW

2025

KOKOMOTop Stories KOKOMO/TiPTON MAGAZiNE

FORTITUDE SCHOLARSHIP

1

4

7

FORTITUDE SCHOLARSHIP CANDIDATES 2025 - PART 1

2

A FRESH COAT

5

DOG PARK LEGACY

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SENIORS CAN TAKE FREE CLASSES AT IVY TECH KOKOMO

BLONDIE’S COOKIES

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NEW KOKOMO ANTIQUE MALL BLENDS VINTAGE CHARM WITH MODERN VISION

KOKOMO'S ENGAGEMENT CENTER USHERS IN A NEW ERA OF COMMUNITY SUPPORT

WHITMAN ROOFING HANDLES EVERY JOB WITH CARE AND COMMITMENT

LIORA SPA

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MEDICARE 2026 – WHAT TO EXPECT

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STOUT FLOORING & HOME FURNISHINGS HAS BEEN KEEPING CUSTOMERS HAPPY FOR 135 YEARS

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DAPPER ON A DIME ARRIVES IN TIPTON

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ACE EXTERIORS AND RESTORATION BUILDS TRUST AND COMMUNITY

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MIDWEST MODALITIES OFFERS PERSONALIZED ENERGY THERAPIES

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GETTING THINGS ROLLING WITH DAVIS BROTHERS MOVING AND REMOVAL TownePost.com | January 2026 | 11

2025

KOKOMOTop Social Posts

12 | January 2026 | TownePost.com

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Drums Please! We are so excited to share your #1 story of 2024's Keyton Romero! She is such a wonderful person and we were so happy to share a little bit of her story with you.

For 135 years, Stout Flooring & Home Furnishings has been a trusted name in quality and service for Howard County homeowners.

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Meet Jaeley Shuck, a Senior at Kokomo High School and one of our Spring Fortitude Scholarship Contestants.

With determination, an Eagle Scout’s vision, and a $20,000 meritbadge fundraiser, Carter Pitzer turned a patch of Webster Street into Kokomo’s newest dog park!

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We're excited to welcome Ace Exteriors And Restoration to the magazine! Dylan Akshar along with his wife, Tori launched their locally owned business a couple months ago and we've got them covered in July's issue!

Welcome to the magazine!!

Susanne Miller has built Liora Spa around family, community and selfcare. Click below to read our October cover story!

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Todd Jordan gets our men in business spotlight today. Drop by both Kokomo Toys & Collectibles AND Kokomo Antique Mall if you're downtown this weekend for the Haynes Apperson Festival and say hi to him!

Discover how Midwest Modalities—Kokomo’s newest holistic haven— offers personalized energy therapies like Reiki, hypnotherapy and the Harmonic Egg to help residents elevate their mind, body and spirit.

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Blondie's Cookies Inc. has marked four decades of family, flavor and community dedication.

I dare you to wait til you're super hungry then go look at Main Occasions Catering 's food pics Actually don't, cuz then nothing else will compare and you'll be stuck with subpar food and your day will be ruined.

Just read a little about them here, and in September's spread on Greentown businesses.

2025

TIPTONTop Social Posts 1

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Meet Lillian Stewart, a Senior at Tri-Central Community Schools and one of our Spring Fortitude Scholarship Contestants.

Tri-Central valedictorian and Lilly Endowment winner Kaitlyn Maruszewski was recently announced as the new Indiana FFA Organization president after the 96th Indiana FFA State Convention.

Oh the places you'll go!

Congratulations to all graduates at Tri-Central Community Schools!

Tipton Community School Corporation Congratulations Class of 2025!

Here it is! The NUMBER ONE TOP STORY OF 2024 goes to.... Maucks Meats. Located right here in Tipton, they specialize in locally grown meat in smaller portions. You can swing by and pick up dinner without having to buy the whole

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Hey BAR Stables, we wanted to take a look back on your story. Thanks for all you do around the communities and we're so happy to have you in the magazine!

Guess what!! There's a new pet groomer in town (next to Dollar General)! Clean Paws Spa is now open and ready to make your pets perty!

Glamour and Grace Boutique creates stylish, affordable looks for every woman. Click below to read more!

Kicking off our Men in Business Q&A is Whitman Roofing Incorporated's Brad Whitman!!

Did you know March issue has a spin-off.

That's right! We're publishing our first Kokomo/Tipton Magazine Coupons and Savings Guide to thank you all for continuing to support local.

TownePost.com | January 2026 | 13

POURING TRADITION HOLLY’S PACKAGE STORE CELEBRATES 45 YEARS IN GREENTOWN Writer / Natalie Platt

Richard Lacy takes his time when he answers questions about Holly’s Package Store, the Greentown liquor store that just celebrated 45 years in business. His responses are genuine and he has an easy laugh, just like someone you’d imagine who runs a business that “has a great vibe,” according to a recent Google review.

Opened since October 1980, Lacy wants to make sure the community knows the family-owned business is more than “just a liquor store.”

Lacy’s connection to the store goes back to childhood. He grew up just across the parking lot, where he shot his first basketball and watched his dad run the shop that was then owned by his great uncle. When his father became ill, he stepped in part time while working in insurance, joining his mother at the store. Over time he found himself drawn more deeply into the business, eventually discovering that the

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store wasn’t just a job, but a place where he could carry forward something meaningful.

“We’re a small business that happens to be a liquor store,” he says. “We treat everyone with genuineness and kindness, no matter who it is that walks in our door…I hope everyone knows that, and knows they can come in here for whatever they need or just conversation, if they need that.”

That kind of connection still matters in a small town like Greentown. Lacy says in bigger cities, it’s easy to walk into a store and never hear a hello. At Holly’s, regulars are greeted by name and newcomers often leave feeling like they’ve made a new friend.

The familiar exchanges — maybe it’s a story shared or a laugh at the counter — have become part of the store’s personality.

“We don’t try to imitate corporate chains or reinvent ourselves, he says. “We stick to what our family has always done, and that’s to be a welcoming place for the Greentown community and beyond. I feel like we have an opportunity to not only bring

great bottles to the store, but bring people to the store from other areas so it creates opportunities for other small businesses in our town.”

Lacy hopes doing things the right way honors his father’s legacy. Gary Lacy ran the store for nearly 42 years before his death in 2023. He was a quiet but known fixture in the community and preferred to keep the spotlight off himself — while the younger Lacy is the face of the store’s social media presence on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. “My dad was pretty old-school,” Lacy says. “But we know to be successful — to continue being successful — that we have to adapt. Dad would have thought social media was too modern, but I think it’s important to show the community what Holly’s is really about, and that’s building connections.”

Lacy says his family has always put thought into nearly everything they offer, especially when it comes to special barrel picks or small-batch blends — he always brings

Down On

MAINSTREET Bar and GRILL

customers into that process.

“I don’t just pick it myself,” he says. “We take our customers with us, and I rely on them because they are the ones that help keep our business successful.”

Lacy’s father only drank on special occasions and Rich has followed suit, asking his customers for their feedback on specific liquors before the store decides to carry something new.

Some might think that owning a liquor store but rarely drinking seems counterintuitive — but Lacy says it’s OK to be different.

“I hope everyone knows that,” he says. “It’s OK to be different, to be you, to be original, and we hope we meet you soon at Holly’s.”

Holly’s Package Store is located at 119 W. Main St. in Greentown. You can reach the store at 765-628-2712 or find them on social media at @HollysPackageStore.

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Mon–Thurs 11am–1am; Fri–Sat 11am-3am; Sun 12pm–1am TownePost.com | January 2026 | 15

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Welcome to

ELWOOD

SPONSORED BY

18 | January 2026 | TownePost.com

VISIT ELWOOD

GREENSIDE REALTY GROUP FETTIG'S BODY SHOP 2836 North B Street, Elwood (765) 552-6235 fettigsbodyshop.com

Fettig's Body Shop is locally owned and deeply rooted in the community. They treat every vehicle like it’s their own. Fettig's combines expert craftsmanship with genuine care, ensuring highquality repairs that keep you safe and confident on the road. Beyond the shop, they proudly support local events, charities, and neighbors in need. Here, you’re not just a customer—you’re part of the family, and Fettig's is committed to keeping the community strong, one repair at a time.

HEMBREE MOTOR SALES 517 N. Anderson St, Elwood 765-552-6741 hembreemotors.com

Welcome to Hembree Motor Sales. Robert Hembree started selling cars for Chase Motor Sales in 1969 and bought the business and changed the name to Hembree Motor Sales in 1974. Steve Hembree started to work after gaining his Business Administration Degree in 1987 and then bought Hembree Motor sales in 2000 from his Father. The family business is based on honesty and integrity just like it started in 1974.

They strive to find the very best inventory in the area and all cars are inspected and serviced so they meet their standards and yours!! Stop in! You will love their no-pressure small town family style approach of doing business!!

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9271 W 1050 N, Elwood (765) 551-7117 Greensiderealty.com

Introducing your local team of real estate professionals. Greenside Realty Group is proud to be providing the community with the most honest and dedicated services! Whether you’re planning on purchasing your first home or your next, selling a home, or investing, they are here to help guide you every step of the way.Feel free to contact Greenside at 765-551-7117 or stop in and see them anytime at their office located at Elwood Golf Links!

THE TIN PLATE FINE FOOD AND SPIRITS 2233 South J St, Elwood (765) 557-8231 tinplateelwood.com

Tin Plate Fine Food & Spirits is proud to honor Elwood's rich industrial history. The restaurant stands as a tribute to the American Sheet and Tin Plate Company, once the world's largest tin plating factory and a significant employer in the area. Established in the 1890s by two Richmond businessmen, the mill brought jobs, growth, and an influx of skilled workers, many from Wales. Today, The Tin Plate, located near the original mill site, offers a warm, nostalgic atmosphere with a nod to the hardworking spirit of those early tin plate pioneers. They invite you to enjoy a unique dining experience, immersed in a piece of local history.

2233 SOUTH J STREET ELWOOD, IN 46036

765-557-8231

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TownePost.com | January 2026 | 19

BEYOND THE MENU THE FAMILY STORY BEHIND CASA DE CADDIE GRILL Writer / Natalie Platt

If you ever visited La Charreada in Marion in the early 2000s, you probably saw Christen Paredes as a baby — and later on, as a young kid doing his homework in the corner at Los Portales in Tipton. After growing up inside the restaurants his family owned, Paredes is now managing Casa de Caddie Grill.

eight years, with Paredes watching his family manage the restaurant as a toddler. In 2009, the family moved to Tipton and opened Los Portales in Carter’s Mall. The small space quickly gained loyal customers, including those who supported the family at their previous location.

A town that has long been run by familyowned businesses and restaurants, Casa de Caddie is continuing the tradition of being locally-owned and operated.

The restaurateur says that over the years, his family has built a strong base of regulars who continue to welcome them in the Tipton community.

Paredes’ family first entered the restaurant business in 2001 when they opened La Charreada in Marion. They were there for

In 2021, the family opened El Patron in Greentown. Paredes says the first few months were slow, but the community soon embraced

the restaurant. El Patron became a steady presence in the area and helped the family expand their experience running multiple restaurants.

Now, their newest venture, Casa de Caddie Grill, is open at 119 N. East St. in Tipton.

Paredes says they had owned the building for several years but had not used it until recently, really thinking about what the Tipton community needed and wanted in a new restaurant. Planning and renovation of the building began in March 2025, with the overall renovation taking about eight months. The reno included tearing down ceilings, installing new flooring, repainting

848 E Jefferson St, Tipton / 765-675-2383 20 | January 2026 | TownePost.com

and refurnishing the building. The restaurant officially opened Nov. 3.

The new restaurant is managed by Paredes and his cousin, Anisa, with oversight from his uncle Jose. The family emphasizes keeping operations close and hands-on, following the model established in their previous restaurants.

Casa de Caddie Grill’s menu includes pizzas, burgers, wings, sandwiches, steaks, ribs, pastas and a variety of appetizers. Paredes says many of the recipes are family-based and include input from friends who have helped along the way. He describes the restaurant as providing bar-style food with a variety of options, and plans to continue improving the menu over time.

The restaurant has also become a place for people to gather and watch sports.

“A lot of people consider us a sports bar,” Paredes says. “We want to give people the option to come out, enjoy themselves and watch games, especially bigger events like the Super Bowl or college playoffs.”

Community support has been important from the start. Paredes says people who knew the family from previous restaurants were already confident in what they would offer.

pride. He is just 19 and a sophomore studying business management at IUK in Kokomo, while balancing classes with full-time responsibility at the restaurant. He schedules his college courses early in the day or online so he can be at Casa de Caddie Grill in the afternoons and evenings. It is a heavy load, but Paredes stresses the importance of time management to reach his academic and professional goals.

“We are just a small family-owned restaurant “If it was not for the community, I do not think in Tipton,” he says. “We’re not a chain, we’re not corporate — when a customer walks in we we would have opened,” he says. know their names.”

The family also participates in local events, Paredes’ focus right now is continuing to sponsors school activities and supports local soccer programs. Paredes emphasizes that the make Casa de Caddie Grill successful. He emphasizes that opening the restaurant is restaurant is family-owned and not part of a about contributing to the community and corporation. continuing the family’s tradition of running a “Local businesses are a big thing,” he says. local, family-owned business.

“You make so many friends. You get to know You can visit Casa de Caddie Grill at 119 people on a deeper level.”

N. East St. in Tipton. You can also reach the restaurant at 765-675-2893.

Paredes shares all of this with a quiet kind of

Give the gift of good food, good vibes, and great memories

119 N East Street, Tipton / 765-675-2893 / Mon–Thurs 11am–10pm / Fri–Sat 11am–11pm / Sun 11am–9:30pm TownePost.com | January 2026 | 21

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Coming in February: Valentine’s Day Gift Guide FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION, CONTACT KIM SENKUS kim@townepost.com (317) 501-1743

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