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WHS Art Show winners announced
This 2-D design by Aubrey Gerber, distinguished senior, placed first in the 3-D design during the Wawasee High School Art Show. She submitted a lakehouse series. Photo provided by Wawasee Community...
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Sun shines on Leesburg Memorial Day Parade, Service
Scott Allen places the wreath at the memorial. Text and Photos By Deb Patterson InkFreeNews LEESBURG — There was not a cloud in the sky for the annual Leesburg Memorial Day Parade Monday morning, May...
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Susan Hiatt
Susan Hiatt, age 76, of Winona Lake and Sarasota, Fla., passed away on Thursday, May 22, 2025, at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Susan Hiatt She was born on Nov. 21, 1948, to William “Bill” and Theda...
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Terri Wootten adores antiques and the people who buy them
By Laurie Lechlitner Staff Writer ROCHESTER — “In 1995, after I married my husband Jon, I went into the family business, Green Oak Antiques,” stated Terri Wootten, Rochester. “We’re located three miles...
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Echoes of the Past participate in Leesburg Memorial Day Parade
Darrin Lincoln gives his grandchild a ride on his 1951 Farmall H. Photos by Christina Morehouse. News Release LEESBURG — Members of the Echoes of the Past participated in the annual Memorial Day Parade...
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Outdoor Workers Need UV Protection
By Jeff Burbrink Ag & Natural Resources Extension Educator, Purdue Extension, LaGrange County LAGRANGE — When I am in the company of farmers, gardeners, and others who spend considerable time...
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Titus Funeral Homes and Cremation Services receives Award of Excellence
Funeral Director and Owner, Cory Benz, right, along with Funeral Director Tyler Huffer, were proud to represent the Titus team and accept the award at the convention on behalf of its dedicated staff....
View ArticleBudget-friendly tips for end-of-school-year celebrations from Interra
News Release GOSHEN — The end of the school year marks a time of celebration, recognition and the exciting transition into summer. Whether planning a graduation open house, a class party or a backyard...
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First State Bank joins Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber
First State Bank has joined the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce. Shown from left are Dan Buchman, State Farm and chamber ambassador; Dewey Miller, Justin Beer and Jeff Showalter, all of First Sate...
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Kosciusko Community YMCA announces lobby remodel, new play cafe
News Release A view of the new Play Cafe. News Release WARSAW — Parkview Warsaw YMCA announces construction will begin this summer on a lobby remodel and a new play cafe. Completion is expected in late...
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Carpenters Union To Move Trade School To Hidden Lake
Chris Eberhardt, left, with Arkos Design, and Jeff Gielerak, right, Central Midwest Carpenters, speak to the Warsaw Board of Zoning Appeals Tuesday about Central Midwest Regional Council of Carpenters’...
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Snow & Mishler Talk Taxes, School Referendums & Medicaid At Legislative...
Indiana Sen. Ryan Mishler, left, and Rep. Craig Snow, right, address Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce members Tuesday at the Chamber’s last Legislative Review Session of the year. Photo by David Slone. By...
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Wawasee named Red Wagon School District of Riley Children’s Foundation
Emma Young and Jaci Worrell are shown with the Kehoe Cart at Riley Children’s Hospital Library, along with a large check representing the contributions made since Kehoe Kids Project was started. Photo...
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Doug Shoemaker to lead this year’s Wawasee Flotilla
Doug Shoemaker, 2025 Wawasee Flotilla Commodore. News Release SYRACUSE — Doug Shoemaker, owner of the Frog Tavern and the S.S. Lillypad II, will lead the 2025 Wawasee Flotilla Saturday, July 5. The...
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Wawasee High School Class of 2025 Graduation Ceremony Set for Sunday, June 8
Due to construction at Wawasee High School, limited parking will be available. Shuttle buses will be utilized to transport parents and guests from the three parking areas to the main entrance of the...
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Syracuse Student Wins First Place in Statewide Indy 500 Essay Contest
Rhyker Nordin won first place of the 500 Festival Education Program Essay Contest over 26,000 submissions from across the state. Photo provided by Wawasee Community School Corporation. News Release...
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Previewing the Long-Term Effects of Tariffs
By Michael Hicks Guest Columnist MUNCIE — Whenever President Trump’s tariff fiasco comes to an end, we will turn attention to the lasting impacts. It is not a pretty picture. One of the many...
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Indiana’s Forbidden Flora
By John Woodmansee Agriculture/Natural Resources Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Whitley County COLUMBIA CITY — It’s been around since 2020, but did you know that in Indiana, there is a list of 44...
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Echoes of the Past Announce Scholarship Winners
News Release KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — During the month of May, the Echoes of the Past awarded three scholarships to graduating seniors of the Class of 2025. The recipients demonstrated strong commitments to...
View ArticleWawasee Launches Year-Round Child Care Program for Age 6 Weeks to 5 Years
News Release SYRACUSE — Wawasee Community School Corporation announced the launch of Wawasee Child Care, a legally licensed exempt provider program designed to support families in the community by...
View ArticleMilford Food Bank receives grant from Noble County Community Foundation
News Release MILFORD — The Community Foundation of Noble County is a 501(c)(3) public charity dedicated to improving the quality of life in Noble County by serving as a catalyst for positive change,...
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Hospice director has a peaceful, calming spirit
Todd Wilson and granddaughter Jaedyn. By Laurie Lechlitner InkFreeNews ROCHESTER — “I’ve been an ordained minister in the Methodist Church since 1999,” stated Todd Wilson, Rochester. “I started as a...
View ArticleCar care class for young drivers scheduled for June 11
News Release KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Young drivers looking to build confidence behind the wheel and under the hood are invited to attend a hands-on car care class at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 11. The class...
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Sheriff’s Office Investigates Crash at SR 13 and Backwater Road
Police block the intersection of SR 13 and Backwater Road, North Webster, while they investigate a crash between a Chevrolet Silverado and motorcycle. The crash was at approximately 3:10 p.m. today,...
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Minor Injuries In Milford Crash
Damage to the passenger side of the Kia Sorento. Text and Photos By Deb Patterson InkFreeNews MILFORD — Minor injuries were reported in a two-vehicle crash at First and Higbee streets, Milford, today,...
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Pawasee Dog Parade Coming to Oakwood Resort June 7- Bark Your Calendars!
News Release SYRACUSE — Get ready for a tail-wagging good time. The second annual Pawasee Dog Parade will be held at Oakwood Resort, 702 E. Lake View Road, Syracuse, from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, June...
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New Palmer Kayak Launch and Rental Kiosk Opens to Expand Outdoor Recreation...
A sign at Wawasee Conservancy Foundation’s property, Between The Lakes, Pickwick Drive, Syracuse, marks the new kayak launch. News Release SYRACUSE — Outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers now have a...
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UPDATE: Sheriff’s Department Investigates Crash At SR 13 and Backwater Road
Shown is the damaged Chevrolet pick up truck driven by Dylan Cassidy, North Webster and Harley Davidson, driven by Carlos Lundy, Middlebury. Photos by Deb Patterson. News Release NORTH WEBSTER — Carlos...
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High school senior born blind strives for independence
Mattix Garrett, a senior at Warsaw High School, loves music. He’s been in band since sixth grade. He plays the baritone in the band, and is teaching himself to play the guitar. Being blind since birth...
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Interra adds Eric Stoneburner to agribusiness lending department
News Release GOSHEN — Jeremy Bender, vice president, manager agribusiness lending, is proud to add Eric Stoneburner to the agribusiness lending department as an agribusiness lender. With over a decade...
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Roberts-Burns announce engagement, wedding
Barry Burns and Wende Roberts News Release KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Wende Kay Roberts, North Webster, and Barry Burns, Chattanooga, Tenn., announce their engagement and plan to marry at 1 p.m. Saturday, June...
View ArticleFFW Corporation announces quarterly cash dividend
News Release WABASH — FFW Corporation, parent corporation of Crossroads Bank, has approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per share of common stock. The dividend is payable June 27 to shareholders...
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Jail Bookings
Kosciusko County The following people were booked in the Kosciusko County Jail:
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Marion R. Holloway
Marion Holloway Marion R. Holloway, 90, of Rochester was surrounded by his loving family when he passed away at 7:19 a.m. Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at his home. On Feb. 7, 1935, Marion Roy was born in...
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Michael Jay Beck — UPDATED
Michael Jay Beck Michael Beck, known to many as Mike, passed away on May 26, 2025, in Toledo, Ohio. He was born on June 13, 1959, in Elkhart. Mike attended Elkhart Memorial High School and learned the...
View ArticleBarbara Parker — UPDATED
Barbara Parker, age 94, of Warsaw, died at Paddock Springs Nursing Home on May 28, 2025. She was born on Sept. 8, 1930. She would marry her husband Richard Parker on June 17, 1950. Barbara is survived...
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Robert Konkle — UPDATED
Robert “Bob” Konkle, 89, Warsaw, died Thursday, May 28, 2025, at Parkview Warsaw Hospital. He was born on Jan. 7, 1936. Bob is survived by his wife, Gloria (Bentz) Konkle; his son, Tony (Susan)...
View ArticleBernice L. Wood-Fry
Bernice L. Wood-Fry, 94, Columbia City, died Thursday, May 29, 2025, at home. She was born March 6, 1931. On June 25, 1949, she married Dale D. Wood, who then passed away on Dec. 2, 2000. She then...
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Marion E. Lainhart — UPDATED
Marion Earl Lainhart, 101, Winamac, died Sunday, May 25, 2025 at Hickory Creek Nursing Home in Winamac. He was born on April 23, 1924. He is survived by: nieces Nancy Sue (Monty) Gum, Winamac, and...
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Opening Act drops out of concert, should tickets be refunded?
Illustration by Aren Elliott. By Christopher Elliott Guest Columnist Vanessa Wilkins buys a concert ticket through SeatGeek, but when the artist she wants to see drops out, can she get her money back?...
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Warsaw celebrates the Class of 2025 at graduation ceremonies Friday
Graduates arrive Text and Photos By Deb Patterson InkFreeNews WARSAW — The next chapter in the lives of the class of 2025 from Warsaw Community High School began Friday evening, May 30, as students,...
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Power to do God’s work
By The Rev. Ron Purkey Guest Columnist Read Acts 1:1-8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea,...
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Gregory A. Smith
Gregory A. Smith, 88, peacefully passed away on Friday, May 30, 2025. He will be deeply missed by his loving family and the community. Gregory A. Smith Born in Warsaw, on Aug. 30, 1936, Greg was an...
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Thomas Carlyle ‘Tom’ Marrs
Local businessman, entrepreneur, inventor and scientist, Tom Marrs, 83 of Rochester passed away after a brief illness unexpectedly at 5:39 p.m. Thursday, May 29, 2025, at his home. Tom Marrs On Dec. 7,...
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The Why and How of Deadheading
This column is sponsored by: Clayton Garden Center: Quality Service with a Hometown Touch A gardener using an Ergocut dead header in the garden. Photo courtesy of Corona Tools. By Melinda Myers Guest...
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Butch Agrees that Age is a State of Mind
By John ‘Butch’ Dale Guest Columnist One of my former students called me last week, and we caught up on the past few years. During our conversation, she mentioned that traveling is in her plans as she...
View Article4-Year-Old Drowns in Syracuse Lake
News Release SYRACUSE — A 4-year-old child drowned in Syracuse Lake Sunday afternoon, June 1. Turkey Creek Fire Territory was called to the 800 block of East Northshore Drive, after a 4-year-old was...
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Short-sided school board
Dear Editor: The recent defunding of the media program at Wawasee High School is short-sided for multiple reasons. First, think about how media is impacting each of us every day — and is growing....
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Misdiagnosing Housing Problems
By Michael J. Hicks Guest Columnist MUNCIE — The U.S. faces three types of housing market problems, with three very different types of solutions. Yet, policy efforts at the city level to the state...
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Kosciusko Chamber of Commerce and Staff Finalists for State Chamber Awards
Pictured from left are: Barb Smolen, LaunchPad assistant; Scott Wiley, community engagement specialist; Jackie Wyatt, receptionist; Nora Christiansen, event coordinator; Rob Parker, president and CEO;...
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