Cody Anderson (left) was sworn in by Winona Lake Town Attorney Adam Turner (right) as a reserve officer for the Winona Lake Police Department on Feb. 18. InkFreeNews photo by Kory Stoneburner-Betts.

WINONA LAKE — The Winona Lake Town Council witnessed the swearing-in of a Winona Lake Police reserve officer and approved a land acquisition at its meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 18.

Town Attorney Adam Turner swore in Cody Anderson as a reserve officer for Winona Lake Police Department. Anderson will be the tenth officer in Winona Lake’s current pool of reserves, according to Winona Lake Police Chief Joe Hawn.

Anderson is a former U.S. Navy Reserve officer and is a 2011 graduate of Warsaw Community High School. He currently works as a second shift supervisor at Polywood in Syracuse.

Since leaving the Navy Reserves in December 2019, “I decided I wanted a little more in life,” Anderson said of his decision to join the Winona Lake Police Reserves. Anderson was a master-at-arms in the Navy Reserves. The position provided him “the best of both worlds” regarding experience in military and law enforcement.

Anderson’s wife and family, along with the Winona Lake Police Department, witnessed his swearing-in at the council meeting.

The council also approved a resolution to acquire land on the northeast corner of Argonne Road and Kings Highway. The acquisition is needed for the roundabout planned for the intersection of Argonne Road, Kings Highway, Park Avenue and Winona Avenue. The land was recently appraised at $18,000, according to Winona Lake Town Manager Craig Allebach.

The council approved a related right-of-way acquisition agreement with A and Z Engineering. The cost of the acquisition services will be reimbursed through the Indiana Department of Transportation, according to Allebach.

Other business included:

• Four Winona Happenings were announced. The Village at Winona will hold its first “Wine About the Winter in the Village” from 3 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 29. A parking study workshop will be held 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 4, at the Winona Lake Town Hall. Kids Market will be held at the Gordon Heath and Wellness Center on March 7. The Four Leaf Clover 5K and 10K will be at Green Earth Multisport at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 15.
• KEDCo Chief Executive Officer Alan Tio updated the council on the work of the economic development firm. Among the items mentioned, Tio noted KEDCo is looking at the vacant Arnolt building and Gatke buildings near Winona Lake. He said the two locations were “blank canvases” in terms of economic development.
• The council approved Parks Department Director Holly Hummitch’s purchase of shades and tables for the Limitless Park at $10,547.49.
•  Allebach announced the town is working with a municipalities website developer to update the town’s online presence. Allebach noted the upgrades to the website are the first in over a decade. He expects the updated website to launch in the next few weeks.

Cody Anderson (center) poses with his wife and children along with Joe Hawn (third from left) and the Winona Lake Police Department following Anderson’s swearing-in as a reserve officer Feb. 18. InkFreeNews photo by Kory Stoneburner-Betts.