Staff Report

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Dangerously low temperatures and wind chills are in the forecast for this holiday weekend, with temperatures Friday, Dec. 23, predicted to reach a low of -10 F.

Hoosiers statewide can utilize Indiana 211, a 24/7 resource that continuously updates warming center locations and hours. You may call 2-1-1 anytime to be connected with a community navigator for assistance in finding a warming center near you.

If needed, the following warming centers will be available locally:

Claypool

• Claypool Fire Department and the Town Barn will open warming centers in the event of a power outage. Residents needing to use either center over the weekend may reach out to the Claypool Police Department either calling Kosciusko County Central Dispatch and asking for the Claypool officer, or by calling the marshal’s department directly at (574) 377-0322.

Etna Green

• Etna Green Fire Department, 132 Broadway St., Etna Green, is on standby and prepared to open the building if there are any major developments or power outages. More information will become available if the building is opened to the public.

Mentone

• Mentone Fire Department, 201 W. Main St., Mentone, will be reopened for the weekend if there are any major developments or power outages. More information will become available if the building is opened to the public.

Milford

• The town of Milford is on standby and prepared to open the community building, 111 S. Main St., Milford, if there are any major developments or power outages. More information will become available if the building is opened to the public.

Nappanee

• Nappanee City Hall is actively planning to open a center at an undecided location, but only if there are any major developments or power outages. More information will become available if a center is opened to the public.

North Webster

• Tippecanoe Township Fire Territory has designated the North Webster Community Center as a conditional emergency warming center beginning Thursday, Dec. 22, and running through 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 24. If there is a resident in need of an emergency warming location, a request for entrance into NWCC needs to be made through the fire department by calling (574) 834-7676. In the event there is a larger need or a state of emergency is called, the TTFT, NWCC and the Red Cross will open the center fully.

Syracuse 

• Syracuse Police Department and Turkey Creek Fire Department are also on standby and prepared to open a center if there are any major developments or power outages. More information will become available if a center is opened to the public.
• Wawasee High School, Syracuse, is on standby and will open if there are any major developments or power outages. More information will become available if the school is opened to the public.

Warsaw

• Fellowship Missions, 1520 E. Winona Ave., Warsaw, will be providing cold weather relief from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Overnight beds will be available if people visit Fellowship Missions between 4-8 p.m. on those days.
  
• The Home and Family Arts building at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds, 1400 E. Smith St., Warsaw, will be open 24 hours through the weekend for anyone who needs shelter from the cold.

The following communities are not offering warming centers at this time: Burket, Leesburg, Pierceton, Silver Lake and Winona Lake.

Please contact us with any new or updated information regarding the warming centers at [email protected].