By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — This year, The Magical Meadows wrapped up an extensive expansion project featuring two indoor riding arenas that cost an estimated $2.6 million.

Now, organizers are setting their sights on renovating the original arena and office space.

With the opening of two new arenas, officials will now focus on transforming the original arena and office space. On top of that, the building’s second floor (nearly 2,000 square feet) opens the door for even more changes in the future.

“The vision for this building is to completely do another huge renovation,” said Executive Director Michael Kuhn on Saturday while overseeing a first-ever trunk-or-treat event for people with special needs.

“We’re in the exploratory phase of building plans for that, and it will become the Adams Center for Wellbeing and Belonging,” he said.

The future name is a nod in recognition of longterm board chairman Carl Adams, who is a former executive director with Magical Meadows and who is still active with the organization.

Detailed plans of the venture are expected to be announced early next year, and Kuhn said the price tag is expected to be around $1.9 million.

The proposed Adams Center for Well-being & Belonging would include:

• A multi-use gymnasium and recreation center
• Space for adaptive recreation, exercise, camps, group activities, and community programming
• Renovated private therapy and treatment rooms
• Opportunities for outside providers to offer services such as recreational therapy, music therapy, and other specialized therapies 
• Inclusive spaces where individuals with and without disabilities can participate together
• New opportunities for siblings and families to play, connect, and participate alongside one another

The goal, he said, is to create an inclusive environment.

The Adams Center would not be exclusively for individuals with disabilities. Instead, the goal is to create a truly inclusive environment where people with and without disabilities can participate together.

The project would also allow The Magical Meadows to partner with qualified outside providers rather than attempting to directly provide every service. Providers could rent treatment and program space, expanding access to specialized services while also creating an additional source of earned revenue for the nonprofit.

More than 10 percent of Kosciusko County residents live with a disability, and The Magical Meadows has previously identified a shortage of local spaces and programs specifically designed to meet the needs of those individuals, according to a recent news release.

The project would also allow The Magical Meadows to partner with qualified outside providers rather than attempting to directly provide every service. Providers could rent treatment and program space, expanding access to specialized services while also creating an additional source of earned revenue for the nonprofit.

This model was first identified as part of the organization’s long-term sustainability strategy during the Growing with Heart campaign.

Recent expansion included the Warriors Arena, a dedicated facility created to serve veterans and first responders through The Magical Meadows’ Warriors Mount Up program.

The other arena now serves an array of equestrian-focused therapy programs.

In the meantime, organizers will look at the next phase of expansion.

“We want to do our homework,” Kuhn said. “We want to make sure this project is thoughtful, sustainable, and worthy of the people it will serve. Over the next several months, we are going to listen, learn, and work with the people who have helped us get this far to determine the best path forward.”

Saturday’s Trunk or Treat event expands on the organization’s belief in inclusivity.

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Staff Report

PLYMOUTH — Two Kosciusko County men were arrested after allegedly inappropriately communicating with a juvenile.

According to a report from the Times-Union, the arrests came after Marshall County police were alerted at about 1:25 a.m. Sunday by a caller who said a man was attempting to engage in sexual activity with a minor.

No other details were available, but as a result of an investigation, police determined that 52-year-old Tommy McKinney of Warsaw and 67-year-old William Marsillett of Etna Green are now accused of conversing with a youth under the age of 14 or a person they believed to have been under the age of 14.

Police say the conversation was sexual in nature and that they had been encouraging the juvenile to participate in sexual activity.

Police tracked the two men to a vehicle they had driven to meet the juvenile.

Both men are facing charges of child solicitation, possession of methamphetamine, and inappropriate communication with a minor.

Their bonds were set at $1,500.

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News Release

WARSAW — Music lovers will have the opportunity to experience an evening of world-class jazz when the United States Air Force Band’s Airmen of Note takes the stage at the Warsaw Performing Arts Center for a special, free public performance.

The free concert is slated for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12.

As the premier jazz ensemble of the United States Air Force, the Airmen of Note bring exceptional musicianship and a rich jazz tradition to audiences across the country. The Warsaw performance is part of the ensemble’s community relations tour, which connects military musicians with communities through live music and engaging performances.

Admission to the concert is free, but tickets must be reserved in advance. Community members are encouraged to secure their seats online at https://events.ticketleap.com/tickets/usafband/the-airmen-of-note-live-in-warsaw.

The Airmen of Note is one of six performing ensembles within The United States Air Force Band, the Air Force’s premier musical organization.

Based at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., the band represents the United States Air Force through performances that honor those who have served, inspire patriotism and service, and build connections with communities across the nation and around the world.

The upcoming performance offers a unique opportunity to experience the talent and artistry of Air Force musicians right here in Warsaw.

Community members are encouraged to reserve their free tickets early and help welcome the Airmen of Note to the Warsaw Performing Arts Center.

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Staff Report

WARSAW — It’s that time of year — Warsaw has announced plans for its fall leaf pickup schedule.

The dedicated leaf pickup program is set to begin Monday, Nov. 2 and will conclude Dec. 11, weather permitting.

The weekly leaf pickup with coincide with resident’s regular garbage collection day.

Residents within the corporate city limits of Warsaw may place leaves at the curb prior to November 2. However, residents should be aware that the City will not have a dedicated leaf pickup route running daily before the No. 2 start date.

Residents are asked to follow these guidelines to help City crews efficiently collect leaves and keep the community safe:

• Place leaves at the curb or alley for collection.
• Leaves should be placed out by 7:00 a.m. on the resident's regular trash collection day.
• Do not mix sticks, branches, trash, or other debris with leaves. These materials can damage collection
equipment and create safety concerns for City crews.
• Do not rake leaves into the street or gutter. Leaves can clog stormwater catch basins and interfere with
drainage.
• Residents are encouraged to keep leaf piles clear of parked vehicles and other obstructions whenever
possible.

Collection schedules may vary depending on weather conditions and the volume of leaves throughout the community. Crews will continue working through the designated collection period to service neighborhoods as efficiently as possible.

Residents with questions regarding the leaf pickup program can contact the City of Warsaw Public Works Department at 574-372-9561 during regular business hours.

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By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

WARSAW — Thousands turned out Saturday for Winona Lake’s Trick-or-Treat on the Trail, and big crowds are expected at Friday’s Downtown Spooktacular in Warsaw.

But the noise and hectic pace of those kinds of big community events are not always a comfortable environment for everyone, especially for those with special needs or challenges.

Michael Kuhn, the executive director for The Magical Meadows, said they’ve heard those concerns for years from parents, especially those with disabled adult children who still have a thirst for youthful frivolity that they might have missed out on when they were younger.

“When they go out and try to trick-or-treat as an adult, sometimes people aren’t so kind,” Kuhn said. “They don’t understand the scenario, the situation, and what that person may be dealing with.” 

With that in mind, The Magical Meadows hosted its first-ever trunk-or-treat event, specifically designed for those with disabilities and other challenges. 

Hundreds filed through the trunk-or-treat event, without having to worry about odd looks or comments.

Kuhn said he thinks the new tradition will fill a void.

Since some of the participants were non-verbal, there was also no need to greet candy givers with the traditional “Trick or Treat.”

This year marks the 20th anniversary for Magical Meadows, and coincides with the opening earlier this year of two new indoor riding arenas. Those renovations also included a long concrete parking lot, creating a good location for a Trunk or Treat event 

“With our new facilities, it just opened up an opportunity to really be able to welcome a lot more people and have the parking lot space to be able to do this,” Kuhn said.

Bourbon firefighters were on hand with a fire truck for children to enjoy and photo opportunities for trick-or-treaters were also available.

Saturday’s event is part of a growing effort by Magical Meadows to serve a broader segment of the community beyond horseback therapy with specialized needs.

Other groups turned out just to support the cause, Kuhn said.

Representatives of Night To Shine, including Tina Rice, were among those helping out.

Night to Shine works to create prom experiences for those with various disabilities.

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Network Indiana

MUNCIE  — A Randolph County man has been charged in connection with the shooting that killed a 17-year-old Yorktown football player.

Muncie police said 40-year-old Dairus Thompson II faces a preliminary charge for aiding, inducing, or causing murder in the October 5th shooting death of Chris Wilson Jr.

Officers found Wilson inside a vehicle suffering from multiple gunshot wounds in the 1400 block of East Cromer Avenue. Wilson was a standout defensive end at Yorktown High School and had committed to play college football at West Virginia.

According to court documents, detectives tracked Thompson’s white GMC Acadia on video driving toward Randolph County after the shooting. Police said phone records placed Thompson and a teenage relative in Muncie at the time of the shooting.

Witnesses told police Thompson suggested the shooting was a case of mistaken identity. Investigators say Thompson parked his vehicle and sent the teenage relative to carry out the shooting on his behalf.

Police also uncovered a video on Thompson’s phone where he gave instructions on how to perform a drive-by shooting.

Thompson was already in custody on an unrelated firearm charge stemming from a September homicide outside an Anderson nightclub.

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By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw

NORTH WEBSTER — This ongoing long, dry stretch of pleasant weather is expected to continue for another five days, if not more, across the region.

That’s because of a high pressure system that has stalled across the upper Midwest and part of Canada.

Meteorologist Chris Roller, with the National Weather Service office in North Webster, said Warsaw has gone about 10 days without rain.

Kosciusko County will see partly sunny skies and a high of 72 today.

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Staff Report

MENTONE — A Mentone man was arrested on drug and unlawful possession of firearm charges Friday morning.

Authorities, led by Indiana State Police, descended on a home around 9 a.m. Friday as they executed a search warrant and eventually took into custody Anthony Hackworth, 40, who was the only person at the location at the time.

Officers located and seized a firearm, illegal narcotics, and an extensive amount of drug paraphernalia

He faces charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of cocaine or a narcotic drug with a prior, as well as unlawful possession of a firearm by a dangerous person, according to a news release from Mentone Police.

The Mentone Police also offered words of appreciation to the Silver Lake Police Department, the Indiana State Police and the Indiana State Police SWAT team for their assistance in safely executing this operation.

Hackworth’s address on his booking sheet was listed as 112 E. Main St., Apt. B.

His bond was set at $35,000.This investigation remains active and ongoing.

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News Release

WARSAW — Warsaw Police are asking for the public’s help to find suspects linked to theft and fraud at businesses in Warsaw.

Two men are believed to have stolen a wallet and conducted fraudulent transactions totaling more than $4,600 across multiple businesses Thursday, according to a news release from the Warsaw Police Department.

The suspects and a newer-model white Dodge Durango with tinted windows were seen on security footage. The SUV was last seen headed west on U.S. 30 from Pierceton toward Warsaw around 3:27 p.m. Thursday.

Despite the footage and witness statements, police say investigators have yet to identify the suspects or the specific SUV. The businesses involved were not identified.

Because officers believe the men may not be locals, they are also trying to find any potential additional victims who may not even know they were taken advantage of, according to the release.

Anyone with information on the investigation, or anyone who recognizes the suspects or the vehicle, should contact Warsaw police at 574-385-2210.

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In the JV matchup, Valley earned a straight-set victory (25-15, 25-20). Kennlea Koch led the way with 2 aces and 4 assists, while Amanda Rivera-Roche powered the offense with 4 kills. Alayna Parker added 2 kills, Bella Parker and Bella Newcomer chipped in 2 digs apiece, and Africa Baca and Minda Shriver each contributed a block.

The varsity squad followed with an impressive 3–1 win (25-18, 25-19, 23-25, 25-15). Senior Betty Shepherd paced the attack with 11 kills, while Gaby Gonzalez anchored the defense with 7 digs. Kinley Crabb dished out 13 assists to keep the offense rolling, and Bailey Anderson added a block. Autumn Parker and Lillian Dunbar kept Wawasee off balance from the service line with 4 aces each.

The Vikings were also spotlighted this week as Shepherd, Gonzalez, and junior Hadley Wise were named to the IHSVCA Players to Watch list, recognizing 75 players across Michiana.

Tippecanoe Valley looks to keep the momentum going when they travel to Plymouth on Wednesday night.

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