Marc Eckel’s mural painted on his building at 123 W. Center St., Warsaw, was one of the positive things that happened in the county in 2020. InkFreeNews file photo.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Believe it or not, there was positive news to talk about in Kosciusko County in 2020.

This mural by Fort Wayne artist Tim Parsley and assistants Christina Hoover and Sloan Araujo was painted in downtown Warsaw as part of Mural Fest, which started on Sept. 11 and featured the completion of 11 murals in 11 northeast Indiana cities in 11 days.

Some of those uplifting stories this year:

• Artwork beautifying the county.

A handful of murals were added to downtown Warsaw. Tim Parsley and assistants Christina Hoover and Sloan Araujo painted a mural of ducks swimming on the side of the Glam building at 212 S. Buffalo St., as part of Mural Fest, which saw 11 murals painted in 11 days in northeast Indiana.

Marc Eckel, of Warsaw, also painted a mural, based off a photo of his son blowing bubbles on his building at 123 W. Center St.

Art also came to Warsaw through a sculpture at city hall done by John Mishler. It’s called “Lifting Up” and honors the architect of city hall, Mary Ellen Rudisel-Jordan.

Former Kosciusko County Community Foundation CEO Suzie Light, who retired this year, was honored with her own piece of artwork, a plaque on the foundation building at 102 E. Market St., Warsaw, called “Lighting the Way,” done by Steve Shelby.

Winona Lake honored the history of Native Americans in the area by dedicating the latest statue on the Winona Lake Heritage Trail called “Native Americans.” It was done by Steve Perry.

• North Webster gets a new library.

North Webster Community Public Library is open in its newest incarnation at 110 E. North St., south of the North Webster Community Center.

The project took 15 months and cost $5 million to complete. The new building was dedicated on Oct. 4.

• Winona Lake plans for a future ice rink.

The rink is planned to be finished in November 2021. The town accepted $1.5 million from the K21 Health Foundation to build the rink.

• Rotary Park dedicated

Warsaw’s newest park, Rotary Park, was dedicated on Sept. 25. It’s located at the intersection of West Market and Center streets and includes a pavilion and climbing wall.

Construction of Rotary Park in Warsaw was completed in 2020. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.