Warsaw Will Provide Some Fond Memories
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
One of my first memories of Warsaw was that of Nancy Dickerson at a city parks department board meeting.
It was a jovial setting with a mix of small talk and business. Boat ramps and beaches intermingled with talk about the kids, friends and life in general.
And in the middle of the meeting, Dickerson, with her infectious smile, started passing out homemade candies. I don't remember what type, probably because I was so bowled over by this cozy little situation where people gather to oversee the town's business while munching on homemade goodies.
The reporter in me was aghast. This is not what the journalism degree from Ball State was supposed to yield. I was not made to sit around and record the news of a board that smiles and passes candies around. I was supposed to be covering gruff politically strained meetings where everything was serious and scornful.
And as I sat there watching this happy bunch of people, it dawned on me:
I was sitting in the bosom of small town government where pleasantries exchanged between neighbors always overcome politics. Grass roots democracy at its finest.
And as much as I was taken aback, somewhere along the 13 years I've spent here, I learned to appreciate that small-town flavor.
Working at the Times-Union gave me a chance to learn about things they can't teach at Ball State. You can learn how to write a lead in class, but until you've sat around a few zoning meetings and sewer issues and seen the real-life issues that confront Joe Blow in the bosom of Small Town America, you haven't seen the real world.
In Warsaw, I've seen plenty and I would like to think it's given me a better perspective on life.
When I look back at the times in Warsaw, it seems as if many of the events I've covered and the people I've met and befriended seem to have shaped a great contrast.
I was proud and excited to cover the development of Central Park and the CCAC and the expansion of Ind. 15.
Those and most other major accomplishments I've seen in this community almost all result from the leadership of former mayor Jeff Plank. He was a whirlwind of enthusiasm whose thumbprint on this city will remain for decades.
But as much as the city seems progressive, the county seems almost the opposite. The most annoying aspect of my job has been the lack of leadership by Kosciusko County.
That was summed up just a few weeks ago when the big vote by county council arrived on the Economic Development Income Tax. As always, the commissioners failed to take a stand when it was needed most. The commissioners submitted a letter failing to indicate whether they support it, but did outline how they would spend the money if it were passed. You can't get any more spineless than that.
It's odd how the city and county can be so different. But when you get right down to it, the city has proven you can be conservative and still be progressive.
But the most interesting aspect of the community is its people. There's something about the chance of hearing the quick wit and wisdom of John Davis one minute and then eating at Dig's and hearing Bill DeGaetano bark out orders to his waitresses.
Or hearing Rep. Tim Roemer and his traditional spiel on "Hoosier Common Sense" put into perspective later by nemesis Rich Burkett.
Burkett, the conservative critic, might not have ever won an election, but I think Washington would be well served by his insights.
What I remember most about this community is its conservative mindset.
That's pretty much summed up best in the words of Gary Gerard and his News Views column. Talk about something that has struck a chord with the community.
I'm thankful to have worked with Gary. Aside from the journalistic things he's taught me, Gary gave me an earful of conservative theory that somehow escaped me until he arrived 10 years or so ago. Taxes, abortion and gun control are just a few of the issues we disagreed on and debated at a seemingly daily rate. We still might not agree on a lot, but I can at least say I understand the issues much better these days. And yes, Gary, I will never again suggest tax cuts are a sop to the rich.
In my time with the Times-Union, I've tried to entertain and inform. But along the way, I made my share of mistakes. And there were stories I started that never got finished. I wouldn't want to leave town with anyone thinking I didn't respect the power of the printed word. For those occasional lapses, I apologize.
My new job takes me to Anderson, a larger city that has more crime, a bit of grime and a slightly meaner edge.
What the city won't have are Nancy Dickerson's goodies. And no doubt, in a few weeks, I will miss all the things that make Warsaw such a sweet, unique memory. [[In-content Ad]]
One of my first memories of Warsaw was that of Nancy Dickerson at a city parks department board meeting.
It was a jovial setting with a mix of small talk and business. Boat ramps and beaches intermingled with talk about the kids, friends and life in general.
And in the middle of the meeting, Dickerson, with her infectious smile, started passing out homemade candies. I don't remember what type, probably because I was so bowled over by this cozy little situation where people gather to oversee the town's business while munching on homemade goodies.
The reporter in me was aghast. This is not what the journalism degree from Ball State was supposed to yield. I was not made to sit around and record the news of a board that smiles and passes candies around. I was supposed to be covering gruff politically strained meetings where everything was serious and scornful.
And as I sat there watching this happy bunch of people, it dawned on me:
I was sitting in the bosom of small town government where pleasantries exchanged between neighbors always overcome politics. Grass roots democracy at its finest.
And as much as I was taken aback, somewhere along the 13 years I've spent here, I learned to appreciate that small-town flavor.
Working at the Times-Union gave me a chance to learn about things they can't teach at Ball State. You can learn how to write a lead in class, but until you've sat around a few zoning meetings and sewer issues and seen the real-life issues that confront Joe Blow in the bosom of Small Town America, you haven't seen the real world.
In Warsaw, I've seen plenty and I would like to think it's given me a better perspective on life.
When I look back at the times in Warsaw, it seems as if many of the events I've covered and the people I've met and befriended seem to have shaped a great contrast.
I was proud and excited to cover the development of Central Park and the CCAC and the expansion of Ind. 15.
Those and most other major accomplishments I've seen in this community almost all result from the leadership of former mayor Jeff Plank. He was a whirlwind of enthusiasm whose thumbprint on this city will remain for decades.
But as much as the city seems progressive, the county seems almost the opposite. The most annoying aspect of my job has been the lack of leadership by Kosciusko County.
That was summed up just a few weeks ago when the big vote by county council arrived on the Economic Development Income Tax. As always, the commissioners failed to take a stand when it was needed most. The commissioners submitted a letter failing to indicate whether they support it, but did outline how they would spend the money if it were passed. You can't get any more spineless than that.
It's odd how the city and county can be so different. But when you get right down to it, the city has proven you can be conservative and still be progressive.
But the most interesting aspect of the community is its people. There's something about the chance of hearing the quick wit and wisdom of John Davis one minute and then eating at Dig's and hearing Bill DeGaetano bark out orders to his waitresses.
Or hearing Rep. Tim Roemer and his traditional spiel on "Hoosier Common Sense" put into perspective later by nemesis Rich Burkett.
Burkett, the conservative critic, might not have ever won an election, but I think Washington would be well served by his insights.
What I remember most about this community is its conservative mindset.
That's pretty much summed up best in the words of Gary Gerard and his News Views column. Talk about something that has struck a chord with the community.
I'm thankful to have worked with Gary. Aside from the journalistic things he's taught me, Gary gave me an earful of conservative theory that somehow escaped me until he arrived 10 years or so ago. Taxes, abortion and gun control are just a few of the issues we disagreed on and debated at a seemingly daily rate. We still might not agree on a lot, but I can at least say I understand the issues much better these days. And yes, Gary, I will never again suggest tax cuts are a sop to the rich.
In my time with the Times-Union, I've tried to entertain and inform. But along the way, I made my share of mistakes. And there were stories I started that never got finished. I wouldn't want to leave town with anyone thinking I didn't respect the power of the printed word. For those occasional lapses, I apologize.
My new job takes me to Anderson, a larger city that has more crime, a bit of grime and a slightly meaner edge.
What the city won't have are Nancy Dickerson's goodies. And no doubt, in a few weeks, I will miss all the things that make Warsaw such a sweet, unique memory. [[In-content Ad]]