KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann, Indiana Office of Tourism Development and Kosciusko County Nominating Committee announced in May the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay had begun accepting torchbearer nominations from the public.

Torchbearer nominations recognize Hoosiers who demonstrate exceptional public service, excellence in their profession, acts of heroism or volunteer service to their neighborhood, community, region or state. The deadline to submit nominations is Dec. 31.

The torch will pass through Kosciusko County, on SR 15, Sept. 29. The local committee is planning a festival around that time to celebrate the bicentennial. There are additional events being considered throughout the county over the summer prior to the Torch relay.

“Being selected as an Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay torchbearer is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Hoosiers,” Ellspermann said. “We look forward to honoring Indiana’s history while also optimistically looking forward to the future during this momentous event for Indiana.”

Paper applications are available and can be returned at Kosciusko County Government, 100 W. Center St., Room 121, Warsaw, IN 46580. An online nomination form is available here.

Once all nomination forms are collected, a juried nomination process will be employed in each county to select torchbearers. Nomination committees have been formed in each county to manage this process on a county-by-county basis.

Nominees must be a current or former resident of Indiana or be nominated in honor of a current or former resident. Hoosiers may be nominated posthumously and a substitute torchbearer can be submitted to carry the torch or behalf of the nominee. Nominees must be at least 10 years of age (torchbearers that are minors will need to meet other youth torchbearer requirements). A nominee must possess the physical adaptive ability to carry the torch a minimum of a quarter mile. Accommodations will be made for those torchbearers with disabilities.

The complete list of torchbearer criteria may be found on the online nomination pay.

The Indiana Bientennial Torch Relay will start Sept. 9 in Corydon, Indiana’s first state capital and culminate with a celebration Oct. 15 on the grounds of the statehouse in Indianapolis. The torch relay will touch each of the state’s 92 counties during the 2,300 mile journey across the state.

Bicentennial coordinators for Kosciusko County are Jennifer Whitaker and Diane Wulliman. To contact the co-coordinators people can email [email protected].