NORTH WEBSTER - There were political speeches, of course, at Tuesday’s Kosciusko County Republican Party Hall of Fame Dinner, but the event is better known as the dinner where the Republican Woman and Man of the Year Awards are given out.
This year, the award recipients were County Treasurer Michelle Puckett and North Webster Town Councilman Dan Thystrup, respectively.
In announcing Puckett as the 2024 Woman of the Year, Kosciusko County Republican Party Chair Mike Ragan said, “This lady has been a good friend to us. ... Has served the county for many years in many different areas.” He said she’s served at caucuses in some towns that weren’t very fun to do, particularly Sidney, but she’s always been happy to do whatever has been asked of her to do.
Accepting the award and very surprised, Puckett said, “I have so many mentors in this room, I can’t even tell you how many. Brad (Jackson) has always been a friend. Sue Ann (Mitchell). All my councils and commissioners. Elected officials and constituents. Never thought this one would be me, but thank you very much.”
Ragan then announced Thystrup as the 2024 Republican Man of the Year, saying, “I’ve admired this person since I’ve met him. He is in this country because he fled socialism, and he loves this country and he talks about it all the time. He’s very active in Kosciusko County politics.”
Keeping it brief, Thystrup said, “I thank God very often that he put me in Kosciusko County. What if he had sent me to Detroit? Thank you for the award. It is awesome.”
During 2nd District U.S. Congressman Rudy Yakym’s speech, he ended it by recognizing Kosciusko County Northern District County Commissioner Brad Jackson.
“Brad has been a very, very close friend of mine all the way back to 2011. When I was working as Jackie Walorski’s finance director, it was actually Kim Cates who helped introduce me to Brad Jackson, and I’ll never forget it,” Yakym said. “When you’re a young person in a new role and you need some people to help you, Brad was one of the guys that was there for me as a Kosciusko County commissioner.”

    Second District U.S. Congressman Rudy Yakym (R) presents Kosciusko County Northern District Commissioner Brad Jackson (L) with a copy of what Yakym read into the U.S. Congressional Record on Oct. 25. Jackson is retiring at the end of this year as a commissioner after 28 years. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union
  

After that, he said he and Jackson went on to be the best of friends. He said he appreciated Jackson and his leadership.
As a member of Congress, Yakym is able to enter something into the U.S. Congressional Record. In honor of Jackson’s long service to Kosciusko County and his upcoming retirement as a commissioner, Yakym announced he entered something into the Congressional Record on Jackson’s behalf.
In the Congressional Record, Oct. 25, Yakym entered, “Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor, recognize and congratulate my good friend, business leader and builder, devoted public servant, and Kosciusko County Commissioner Brad Jackson as he prepares to retire as county commissioner at the end of this year after 28 years in elected office.
“Brad has been a close personal friend of mine for more than a decade and a committed and effective champion for all things Kosciusko County for even longer. From his work as a second-generation homebuilder and experienced business owner to his service in elected office, Brad's long-standing commitment to meeting the needs of Kosciusko County Hoosiers has been deep and unwavering. Quite simply, Brad is the kind of person that you want in your corner and serving in government and making decisions that affect people's lives.
“Brad's belief in and adherence to conservative principles and values has helped keep Kosciusko County growing and on the move during Brad's nearly three-decade tenure as county commissioner. Fiscal discipline, low taxes, preventing unnecessary regulations on businesses and job creators, and support for law enforcement and keeping crime low have all been hallmarks of Brad's approach to politics and public service. Most of all, his love for community, his family, and God has kept Brad grounded in the things that matter, and it has made him a leader who is admired and respected by so many - including me.
“As Brad's career in public life comes to a close, I am reminded of the saying ‘I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.’ I believe this quote applies uniquely well to County Commissioner Brad Jackson. The Kosciusko County community is unquestionably better off thanks to this good man with a servant's heart. Brad has not only built countless construction projects in his career, he has also built an incredible legacy and a stronger foundation for Kosciusko County to stand and grow upon going forward.

    Kosciusko Republican Women’s Club President Ashley McGinnis (R) presents the club’s Jackie Walorski Inspiration Award for 2024 to County Councilwoman and Commissioner-elect Sue Ann Mitchell (L) at Tuesday’s GOP Hall of Fame Dinner. Photo by David Slone, Times-Union
  

“I join Hoosiers throughout Indiana's Second Congressional District in expressing our gratitude to Brad for his many years of dedicated service. I wish Brad a very happy retirement and him, his wife Lynnette, their two sons, and their extended family all the very best going forward.”
Ashley McGinnis, Kosciusko County Republican Women’s Club president and Winona Lake Town Councilwoman, earlier presented the club’s 2024 Jackie Walorski Inspiration Award to County Councilwoman and Northern District Commissioner-elect Sue Ann Mitchell.
Walorski, the U.S. representative for Indiana’s 2nd congressional district, was one of four people killed in a two-vehicle accident on Aug. 3, 2022.
Before announcing the award recipient, McGinnis explained the award was the club’s way to continue to honor Walorski as she was “such an extraordinary woman.”
McGinnis said, “The late Jackie Walorski was a great friend to many of us in the Women’s Club. She worked alongside us at fish frys, she rode with us in parades, she worked with us at the county fair. She was an inspiration - not just an inspiration politically, but also personally. She was also willing to step up and listen.”
She then announced Mitchell as the recipient of the award.
“Sue Ann Mitchell has supported the Women’s Club for many years, serving prior as the club president, secretary and treasurer. She is recognized for her outstanding dedication to the Women’s Club and consistently going above and beyond,” McGinnis said, calling Mitchell a devoted elected official and “an inspiration to all of us, just like Jackie.”
Mitchell noted that she and Steve Foster were trying to clean out the headquarters the other day and they came across rolls of Walorski’s campaign stickers. “I couldn’t throw them away. I’ve still got them,” she said.