From the Files of the Kosciusko County Historical Society

Editor’s note: This is a retrospective article that runs a few times a month on InkFreeNews.    

Information for this retrospective series is courtesy of the Kosciusko County Historical Society.

Dec. 5, 1979 — For the second time in less than two months, the Warsaw Community School system has won its day in federal court.

U.S. District Court Judge Allen Sharp Tuesday dismissed a class action suit by Warsaw students Brooke and Blair Zykan against the school corporation and its Board of Trustees, stating the “complaint does not allege a violation of constitutionally protected activities.”

The Zykans questioned the right of the school board and administration to ban textbooks, make curriculum changes and interfere with teachers’ use of materials in connection with a class.

Judge Sharp, in his five-page opinion, said in essence that there definitely was such a right.

Dec. 12, 1979 — Final testimony is set in South Bend today in a lawsuit filed by former Warsaw Community High School teacher JoAnn DuPont against the local school corporation, but the jury won’t have to worry about any decisions.

U.S. District Court Judge Allen Sharp dismissed the panel of four men and four women Tuesday afternoon after attorneys for the school system and DuPont settled their differences out of the public courtroom on the issue of damages. The school agreed to pay an estimated $9,000, as opposed to the $50,000 sought in a Feb. 23 federal complaint.

DuPont, formerly a high school business instructor in Warsaw, alleged school administrators and the Board of Trustees had violated her First Amendment rights when she was fired from her position in March 1978. She maintains the board took the action because she publicly spoke out against the banning of textbooks and changing of curriculum. She also claims her involvement with the Warsaw Community Educators Association helped lead to her firing.

Early 1900s — In the early 1900s, the ice business was one of the largest industries in Warsaw.

Two local ice companies took care of the Warsaw and Winona Lake area, and a wholesale outlet shipped to all parts of southern Indiana year round.

Local ice companies were operated by Ernest Clase and Dr. W.L. Hines, who operated the Warsaw Ice Co., and John Collins, who operated the Collins Ice Co.

The Warsaw Ice Co. was on Center Lake on the north end of Buffalo Street, and the Collins plant was on the east side of Center, near the site of the Band City Oil Co.

The Wholesale Ice Company, owned by Henry Kithmer, of Indianapolis, shipped ice in large refrigerator freight cars. His ice houses were on the east side of Center Lake, the west side of Pike Lake and the west side of Eagle Lake.

— Compiled by InkFreeNews reporter Lasca Randels