By Dan Spalding
News Now Warsaw
WARSAW — The city of Warsaw has announced the opening of two warming centers for anyone during the next three days.
In a statement issued Thursday afternoon, Mayor Joe Thallemer said residents requiring shelter from the cold can use the Women’s Building at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds on Winona Avenue. The shelter will be open 24 hours through the weekend.
Temperatures Thursday night in Warsaw will plummet to below zero with winds whipping up to 50 mph, creating dangerous outdoor conditions.
Brutal wind chills and temperatures are expected to persist through Sunday.
Fellowship Missions will also be open as a daytime warming shelter from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, it will be available from 1-4 p.m.
Overnight beds will be available by visiting the Fellowship Missions between 4 – 8 p.m. on those days.
With the certainty of severe winter weather moving into our community tonight, Thallemer said that except for essential and emergency services, city offices will be closed Friday.
With about six inches of snow in the forecast, the city is asking that cars parked along streets be removed from the street. High winds will continue through the weekend, causing continued drifting of snow.
The city warns that travel should be discouraged until crews have had a chance to clear the roads.
The statement reminds residents to be prepared for power outages and report all power outages directly to NIPSCO at 1-800-4-NIPSCO or NIPSCO.com/out and for Kosciusko REMC customers, call 574-267-6331 and press 1.
Friday’s regular trash route will be picked up on Friday. With city offices closed in observance of the holiday, Monday’s trash will be picked up on Wednesday and Tuesday’s will be on Thursday. Residents are asked to bring in their cans in as soon as possible to prevent them from blowing into the street.
The statement ends with holiday wishes from Thallemer: Have a safe and warm Merry Christmas!
