Members of the Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission are shown at the Wednesday, March 13, meeting. From left are KCCRVC President Mark Skibowski, Vice President Lyle Schrock, Board Member Jessica Hartman and Board Member Kathy Ray. Treasurer John Hall attended via Zoom, seen above.

Text and Photos
By Patrick Webb
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — The Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation & Visitors Commission has approved two grants for the Echoes of the Past.

During the KCCRVC’s Wednesday, March 13, meeting, Echoes of the Past Marketing and Public Relations Manager Chris Morehouse made the request for $500 for radio advertising and $8,186 for portable bleachers. She said Echoes of the Past is celebrating their 30th anniversary.

“The majority of the advertising that we do is through Facebook,” Morehouse said, through Facebook groups and Echoes of the Past’s page, along with their website. Past visitors to Echoes of the Past’s events have drawn people from Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky and Wisconsin, Morehouse said.

Morehouse said the group was applying for a grant for out of county advertising due to budget restraints.

Echoes of the Past also asked for portable bleachers and concrete to place the bleachers for tractor pulls. 

“We have a huge event that we do in August called our Summer Fest,” Morehouse said, which she estimated hosts 300-500 guests a day. Morehouse reported that for the Summer Fest, guests have used chairs from the dining area to view entertainment such as the tractor pull and children’s events. The portable bleachers can sit 54 people.

Morehouse said the bleachers would also be used event such as Cookies with Santa, which includes a sleigh ride. Morehouse said last year 150 children participated, and there was a three-hour wait time for sleigh rides.

KCCRVC President Mark Skibowski clarified the request was $6,000 for the bleachers and asked about the additional $2,000 for cement. Morehouse said the area for the tractor pull was a “grassy, sandy area,” and that they wanted to lay cement for patron safety. Member Kathy Ray asked about the bleachers’ use at other locations, and Morehouse clarified the other areas were flatter.

The KCCRVC approved both grants, and later re-voted after County Auditor Rhonda Helser clarified that with Treasurer John Hall attending virtually, the board needed to state their names along with their vote.

In other business, the board:

• Approved four separate $500 grants for the Chautauqua Wawasee, including for advertising in Visit Indiana’s e-newsletter for a June 30 event “Ask Ben Franklin: In His Own Words,” as part of a patriotic speakers’ series. A professional actor from Washington, D.C., will perform as Franklin.
• Approved a request from Chuck McLaughlin, on behalf of Lake City Skiers, to continue to help Lake City Skiers with motor payment grants. McLaughlin reported the Lake City Skiers recently won individual and team awards at a contest in Wisconsin and were voted Best Host Team. McLaughlin reported the Lake City Skiers were encouraged to place a bid to host the 2027 World’s Tournament.
• Heard an update from Kosciusko County Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Cori Humes, who attended the meeting along with several members of the KCCVB’s board. Humes reported the KCCVB’s new website rebranded for “Clearly Kosciusko,” has been completed.
• Heard an update on the City-County Athletic Complex.
• Swore in Kathy Ray as a member.

The KCCRVC’s next meeting will be at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 8.

Board Member Kathy Ray is sworn in at the KCCRVC meeting Wednesday, March 13. To the left is Vice President Lyle Schrock and to the right, behind Ray, is Board Member Jessica Hartman. Treasurer John Hall can be seen in the top left corner live streaming in.