LIVE OAK ELECTRIC CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF QUALITY, TRUST & COMMUNITY COMMITMENT
In the Details, Healing At the Root
Comes Full Circle New Quilt Shop Fills Fabric Gap in Plymouth
Rd. North Judson, IN 46366
john@townepost.com mandi@townepost.com (574) 249-9217
tom@townepost.com (317) 496-3599
BRITT jeanne@townepost.com (317) 810-0011
Writer / Darcie Dodds Schott Photographer / Jubilee Edgell
When Joann Fabrics in Plymouth closed its doors, it was time for another door to open, thought Mary Jo Finley, owner of the new Color Wheel Quilt Shop at 200 N. Michigan St. in Plymouth. “Plymouth has needed a quilt shop for a long time,” Finley acknowledges, “and the time was now.”
Finley emphasizes the importance of being
able to shop for fabric in person.
“Sewists who buy fabric want to feel the quality, see the scale of the design, see how tight or loose the weave is, and most importantly see the color,” she says. “On a computer or phone screen, the color might appear very differently in person from what you thought you were getting.”
Another factor Finley attributes to the Color Wheel Quilt Shop’s success is its location.
“We’re in the middle of a fabric desert,” she adds.
According to Finley, the closest fabric or quilt shops where one can get fine-quality quilting cottons like the ones she carries are 25 miles
north, 35 miles south, 27 miles east and 52 miles west.
Color Wheel Quilt Shop’s slogan is: “Fabric you desire and service you deserve™.”
“When we meet with fabric manufacturers’ representatives and are deciding what fabrics we will carry, we don’t think, ‘What fabric will sell?’ We think, ‘What fabrics do our customers desire?’ Our mission in everything we do is to provide customers with the fabric they desire and to do it with the service they think they deserve,” Finley says. “When you come to the Color Wheel Quilt Shop, we want you to feel valued and special, because to us, you are special. We are honored that you have come into our shop.”
Finley speaks proudly of her staff of five employees, describing them as very capable and experienced, working very hard to make sure that when customers leave the shop, they feel like they have been helped as much as possible. Eager to help customers bring
their quilt dreams into reality are Catina King, creative manager, Angie Beyler, business manager, Tammi Green, embroidery manager, Phyllis Pier, fabric manager, and Darlene Derifield, sewing manager.
King plays a major role in selecting fabric, notions and patterns for the store and teaches classes on how to make bags, how to freemotion quilt and others, all while helping quilters and sewists tap into their inner creativity.
Beyler assists the shop with anything to do with the computer and general business operations. Green helps customers select which embroidery machine will suit them best and then teaches buyers how to use their embroidery machine.
“Our machines arrive in boxes, but we unpack them so that you have the opportunity to try before you buy,” Finley says. Pier is in charge of displaying the fabric and making sure there is at least one fat quarter
of every bolt of fabric in the shop, and assembles kits of cut and selected fabric that make it easier for customers to start a project. Derifield makes sure quilt top samples are on display and works with Pier to assemble kits to make it easier to achieve similar results. She also teaches beginning sewing and how to use a serger.
In addition to teaching appliqué and beginning quilting, Finley also cleans and
services sewing machines, pointing out that “a good cleaning can make a world of difference in how your machine sews.”
Some of the fabric lines that Color Wheel Quilt Shop carries include Free Spirit (Tula Pink, Kaffe Fassett, Anna Maria Horner), Moda, Tilda, Liberty of London, Riley Blake Designs, QT Fabrics, Northcott, P&B, Andover, Hoffman, FIGO, In the Beginning, Timeless Treasures, Michael Miller, Allison Glass, Henry Glass, Studio E, Blank, AE Nathan, Windham, Anthology and more.
“Moda makes a Grunge blender that is very popular with quilters. We are receiving approximately 48 bolts of Grunge a month until we have all 241 colors. By the end of March, we should have them all,” Finley says.
The shop has done the same thing, creating a collection with white and cream tone-ontones, batiks and Free Spirit solids. In addition to fabric and notions, Color Wheel Quilt Shop is an authorized dealer for
Italian-designed Necchi sewing, serger and embroidery machines. Necchi sells 12 models in the United States, and Color Wheel Quilt Shop carries all of them.
The Color Wheel Quilt Shop’s line of Necchi machines has been received very positively by customers. Tammi Green, shop embroidery manager, who has considerable machine embroidery expertise, evaluated the Necchi embroidery machines with high remarks, and she has produced beautiful results with the Necchi machines.
Finley shared a bit of local Necchi trivia. Quilter Tom Treat recently visited the Color Wheel Quilt Shop. (His parents, Budd and Ajean Treat, founded the wellknown Treat’s menswear store in downtown Plymouth.) Tom told Finley that in 1953, when his dad was in the Navy, stationed in the Mediterranean, he bought a Necchi sewing machine in Italy and carried it back to the United States as a gift for his wife. The machine was used for many years to alter and
tailor in their shop.
A block south of Treat’s on Michigan Street, Finley named her store the Color Wheel Quilt Shop because of the influence the color wheel has had on her quilting.
“When you purchase fabric for a quilt, it’s a big investment, and you want to be confident that it will look good when it is finished,” she says. “Using the color wheel is a good way to achieve that goal.”
Quilt Shop, Finley’s began using a color wheel 30 years ago, when she collected discarded scraps of fabric and eventually organized them into small color-coordinating bags. The shop sells color wheels just like the one Finley first used.
“Color wheels are game changers,” she says. When Finley decided to make appliqué quilts for her granddaughters, she needed 50-weight
cotton thread in a bunch of different colors. With a local store carrying this type of thread no longer open, Finley began to search for the needed thread.
“With appliqué, the thread shows and needs to match the fabric as closely as possible in order for the quilt to look nice,” she says.
She traveled to five quilt shops in two states without success in finding the needed thread. Finley committed to making sure the Color Wheel Quilt Shop would solve this need, and it does, carrying 80 colors of 50-weight cotton.
Finley also offers quilter activities at the shop. One such upcoming event is the Super Bowl Bed Turning, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 8.
A bed turning is a community-focused event rooted in history, when women gathered to hear about a woman’s collection of quilts. Quilters can register to participate in the February event to view and listen as Finley talks about a stack of quilts she, along with her
grandmother Aunt Tony (not an aunt, and her name is not Tony) and others made.
Registration is $50 in advance and includes fabric the participant may select after registering. Quilters may bring their own sewing machine from home, use one of the Color Wheel Quilt Shop’s Italian-designed floor models. Super Bowl refreshments will be included.
Capacity is limited, so if interested, stop by Color Wheel Quilt Shop to register soon. Finley hopes others have quilt collections they would like to bring in and describe so that Color Wheel Quilt Shop bed turnings might become a monthly event.
Color Wheel Quilt Shop is located at 200 N. Michigan St. in Plymouth. Quilters can see the thread display and everything else the shop has to offer from 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Live Oak Electric LLC in Culver is
Celebrating 25 years in business, Live Oak Electric provides a comprehensive menu of general electrical work and generator services. Its staff of certified electricians and support personnel live their motto of “A Business Built on Service,” with quality work, trust and
Owned and operated by Steve and JoAnn Ulery, Live Oak Electric has an interesting beginning. As former dairy farmers with a state-of-the-art milking facility, the Ulerys have years of experience with electrical systems and business management.
During a market downturn, they sold the cows and Steve worked in a factory, while JoAnn took a position in an office at Culver Military Academy. It was during
this time that Steve was helping a friend rewire an old home when he heard what he recalls “was God calling me to open an electrical business and to raise up and train young men.”
Not long after, the couple turned their fulltime focus to building Live Oak Electric, choosing the name Live Oak because of the tree’s strength and consistent life. The culture of the company came together with simple authenticity and, as the couple states, a mission to “operate a Godly business with integrity and train up young men and women in the process.”
Today, the team of certified electricians is led by Bryce Gibbons, who came on board right out of high school, has learned the trade well over the past 12 years, and for the last five years has taken on a greater level of leadership responsibility. Now the primary manager of the business, Gibbons became a 50-50 partner in Live Oak Electric on Jan. 1, 2026, with a multiyear
purchase plan to gain 100 percent ownership as Steve moves into full retirement.
The Ulerys’ son-in-law, Shawn (Ginger), became their first employee and was on staff for four years before taking a leave of absence to serve in missions. Now back, he is one of five electricians on the team. Their daughter, Ginger, is also part of the office staff.
Live Oak is a full-service electrical company for residential, farm and light commercial projects. With eight technicians in the field, the company offers a variety of services including new construction, upgrading old wiring, troubleshooting and electrical design, as well as sales, installation and service of Generac generators.
Most of the current field staff have completed electrical technician schooling and hold electrician certification from the
U.S. Department of Labor. Several receive annual certification through Generac for factory-authorized installation, service and warranty work on standby generators. They are also trained in 811 Pipeline Awareness for Excavator Operations.
As an authorized dealer of Generac generators for homes and businesses, Gibbons estimates that he and the other
certified generator technicians at Live Oak “have serviced nearly 700 generators annually in the area and have installed 500 of those, 70 in just last year alone.” Annual service plans cover generator maintenance checks with discounted rates for 24/7 priority service calls.
Serving the community is a core element of the company, including a commitment
At Pulaski Memorial Hospital, our cancer treatment program is not just about medical care but also about providing a familiar and comfortable environment for our patients. We are your local support system, here to guide you through your journey with compassion and understanding.
We understand the challenges you’re facing and are here to assist you every step of the way. From personalized treatment options to educational resources, we are here to help you navigate every step of your treatment plan.
We are pleased to have Dr. Kalid Adab, MD, and Nurse Practitioner Shannon Tingle, FNP-C, at Pulaski Memorial. Dr. Adab is boardcertified in medical oncology, hematology, and internal medicine. Shannon is a Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in hematology and oncology.
Both Dr. Adab and Shannon can assess and treat benign and malignant blood disorders and various cancers. Together with a compassionate staff, PMH is ready to join and guide you on your journey to overcoming cancer.
Appointments are available at both our Winamac and Knox Clinic locations.
to an onsite and on-call presence at Culver’s Lake Fest. Live Oak sponsors area sports teams, including Argos and Culver baseball, Culver soccer and Culver cheerleaders, and is involved with training for the 4-H Electric Project, as well as supporting the 4-H Livestock Auction. Staff electrician Geoel Simpson volunteers with Camp We Can for children with disabilities, and Live Oak supports the program.
Office manager Katie Miller holds a semiannual “Shoppazar” in Bass Lake, donating proceeds to local charities and needs.
Live Oak also supports the Plymouth and Warsaw Home & Outdoor Shows with electrical setup and maintenance, and proudly takes part in the Marshall County Senior Expo, which goes beyond vendor showcases and addresses safety issues that affect seniors.
Live Oak Electric appears in The Lakes magazine, The Culver Citizen and Pilot News. The company has been a member of the Builders Association of North Central Indiana for more than 20 years.
Steve Ulery assures, “We strive hard to get emergency electrical issues resolved quickly, knowing that our customers depend on electricity more than ever in today’s world.”
Ginger adds, “Our customers call, and we will be there for them to take care of them,” recalling common customer feedback such as, “You are the ones who call us back, and you stand by your work to get the job done right.”
Live Oak Electric is located at 15718 State Road 17 in Culver.
Service areas include Marshall, Fulton, Starke, Pulaski and Kosciusko counties.
For more information about electrical and generator services, call 574-842-4776 or visit liveoakelectric.com.
Writer / Amy Beaucham
Ashlynne Gingerich is the wholistic wellness counselor behind The Flourished Root, and her message is direct from the start. On her website, one sentence reads like a steady hand on one’s shoulder: “You were not designed to feel depleted.” It is simple language, but it lands like relief — a reminder that brain fog, bloating, anxious mornings, painful cycles and that wired-but-worn-out feeling do not have to be brushed off as “just life.”
She chose the name The Flourished Root intentionally. A plant’s root system comes first. It anchors, absorbs and feeds what will eventually bloom above the surface. Gingerich’s work follows that same idea, strengthening what is underneath so a woman can flourish again.
At home, that “rooted” picture looks less like perfection and more like real life in motion. Gingerich and her husband, Sean, are raising two little boys: SJ (short for Sean Jr.), who turned 4 in January, and Asher, who is 2. She is homeschooling her oldest right now, building a business inside the same schedule most of her clients recognize — snacks, lessons, laundry and the steady hum of being needed.
The story of The Flourished Root did not begin with a business plan. It began with a young woman who could not understand why she felt so run down when she was “supposed” to feel fine.
“I didn’t have the energy that I thought I should as a 19-20-year-old girl,” Ashlynne says.
She was doing what she thought she was supposed to do.
Gingerich grew up in Indiana, spending most of her childhood in Bristol. Her parents now live in Middlebury. In high school, she was active and athletic. She played lacrosse, loved the gym and eventually earned her certification as a personal trainer. She took nutrition classes in college, tried to “do it right,” and still kept hearing the same quiet refrain underneath it all: surely this should be working.
Instead, the symptoms kept stacking up.
“More than just feeling exhausted, I had strong sugar cravings, headaches, bloating, dizziness, anxiety and seasonal sadness,” Ashlynne says.
Pregnancy became the moment that sharpened everything. It was not an easy, picture-perfect season. It was an “I’ve had enough” moment, she says.
Gingerich says she wanted to feel better not only for herself, but so she could be the best version of herself for her husband and kids.
Her story stays relatable because she does not package it as an instant turnaround.
“Don’t get me wrong,” Ashlynne says. “I didn’t all of a sudden change everything in my life and all my symptoms went away, and I became the best mom ever. I still struggle, and I still strive to become better and better for my family.”
What changed, she says, is that improvements began to show up — enough to keep going. She has seen progress in her mood, energy and digestive issues, and that progress fuels what she does now.
After high school, Gingerich worked in a chiropractic office and kept leaning toward alternative health. She also earned a degree in marketing while she was still figuring out how, exactly, her health passion would take shape as a career.
• Boat Covers
• Boat Enclosures
• Boat Lift Covers
• Custom Trucker Tie Down Straps
• Rollease Shade Systems
• Overhead Door Screens
• Trampoline Mats
• Bimini Tops
Gingerich holds both a naturopathy certification and her HTMA professional certification. She is currently studying for her Wholistic Wellness Counselor Diploma.
Faith also threads through her perspective and her community.
Raised Catholic, Gingerich and Sean now attend Maple City Chapel.
When Gingerich talks about her work, she often sums it up as minerals, motility and the nervous system, with a mission aimed squarely at women who feel exhausted, foggy and off balance. She also has a phrase that shows up repeatedly in her teaching: God is in the details.
She is clear about what “root cause” means. High cortisol, inflammation, dysregulated hormones and leaky gut are not root causes, she explains. They are signals. Her job is to look underneath, figure out what the body is trying to communicate, then support the foundation so the symptoms can begin to calm.
A central tool in Gingerich’s practice is Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis, usually shortened to HTMA. She describes it as the missing piece that helped her move beyond generalized advice and into individualized care. The hair sample is taken in a discreet way that does not leave a visible patch. In her words, HTMA provided “a piece of personalization to each client,” and it gave her the confidence to say she is not simply guessing at what might help.
Part of why she chose HTMA is that it is noninvasive and captures patterns over time. Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis measures key minerals and toxic metals stored in the hair.
Gingerich explains that bloodwork often shows what is happening in the moment, while hair can reflect a longer-term snapshot.
Motility is another piece she watches closely. Digestion is not
only about what you eat. It is also about movement — the coordinated process that mixes, breaks down and moves food through the digestive tract. When the nervous system stays stuck in stress mode, the body tends to prioritize survival over digestion. That is why Gingerich often includes practical nervous system support.
Supplements are not the first step in her approach. Gingerich says she prefers food-first, especially in the beginning, and she is careful not to steer clients toward any product for personal gain.
It also matters to her to be clear about what her work is and is not. Within her scope of practice, Ashlynne says she cannot treat or diagnose disease. She positions her services for people commonly dealing with fatigue, digestive issues, painful periods and a desire for guidance and better daily health.
“This is the part I want women to understand before they assume they are too far gone or too busy to start,” she says. “I always start by listening to what a mom is walking through — her symptoms, her season of life and how much support she feels she needs.
“For women who want deeper guidance, accountability and someone to walk closely with them through the changes, oneon-one coaching is often the right fit,” Ashlynne adds. “My goal is never to push someone into a program, but to help her choose the starting point that feels doable, supportive and aligned with where she is right now.”
Gingerich also created Be Balanced for women who want a lower-cost way to keep learning and receiving steady support.
Inside Be Balanced, members receive bite-sized guidance meant to fit real life. Root-cause lessons help women understand what may be behind fatigue, bloating, anxiety or hormone imbalance
so they can stop guessing. Nourishment guides include real-food meal plans, mineralrich recipes and grocery swaps for women who do not have hours to meal prep.
In the next year, Gingerich’s hope for The Flourished Root is to continue reaching women locally and in many states, providing virtual and in-person wellness coaching that aligns with their values and feels doable.
Ultimately, her vision is to see more women restored, more households steadied and more families thriving because a woman finally got the care she deserved.
The Flourished Root’s approach offers a calm, back-to-basics step forward in a world that often makes wellness feel loud and complicated.
For more information, visit them online at theflourishedroot.com. Clients can visit my office location at 6356 West 1150 North Milford, IN 46542 and Purely Wholesome, where you can also check out various wellness products.
very year there comes a time in late spring when the air gets warmer and the days get longer, and plans point to spending time on the water again. What better way to beat the winter blues than to start preparing to hit the water for family fun, fishing and more.
Wyland’s Marine in Elkhart and Mishawaka is the one-stop shop to answer those nautical needs. From new and preowned watercraft sales, service and even financing, Wyland’s Marine is a comprehensive company serving water activity enthusiasts for 85 years.
Wyland’s Marine has been family owned and operated since 1941. Earl Wyland first opened Wyland’s Marine on U.S. 33 in Elkhart, selling Evinrude outboards along with hunting and fishing gear. In 1983, the Wyland family acquired Bulldog Marina on Jackson St. in Elkhart along the St. Joseph River, where the original store still stands today. San Pan and Aqua Patio pontoons were the main seller in those days.
A decade later, in 1993, a second location opened in Mishawaka, also along the St. Joseph River, and both stores are still in operation today, with plans to open a third location in southern Michigan soon.
Today, this impressive full-service marine business is helmed by Owner Steve Wyland, and run by General Manager Tim Buzalski, Office Manager Taylor Wyland and Sales Manager Abe Buzalski.
Wyland’s Marine sells a variety of watercraft and equipment. Watercraft lines include Bennington, Godfrey, Evotti and Sylvan pontoons, as well as Hurricane deck boats, Yamaha outboards and Kawasaki jet skis. Boats can be customized with items such as the Lillipad Ladders and diving boards, which they sell. Customers can also find RGC boat lifts and docks, and Trailmaster trailers at Wyland’s.
In addition to watercraft and equipment
Hours:
Monday-11am-7pm
Tuesday-11am-7pm, Prime Rib Special 4pm-7pm
Wednesday-11am-7pm
Thursday-11am-7pm
Friday-11am-7pm
Saturday-11am-7pm
sales, Wyland’s offers full boat and engine service with their factory-trained technicians and service personnel. Additional services include repowering older boats with new motors, installing electric bimini tops, and new boat covers and canvas.
“We are always looking for younger folks interested in becoming mechanics,” Buzalski says.
And if all this doesn’t make the argument for Wyland’s Marine being a one-stop shop for all things water activity, add to the list annual watercraft maintenance such as detailing and algae build-up removal, boat lift and dock installation, winterization service and inside boat storage. In fact, Wyland’s Marine has the capacity to store over 800 boats inside their clean, metal storage buildings for the winter. Pickup and delivery are available with or without a personal trailer.
Rental needs are covered on Wyland’s menu of services as well, with over 70 slips available
A&L Storage Barnsof Kendalville 901 W North St Kendallville, IN 46755
Mon–Fri: 11:00 AM–4:00 PM (260) 242-7608
A&L Storage Barns of Benton Harbor
2535 M-139 Benton Harbor, MI 49022
Mon–Fri: 1:00 PM-6:00 PM Saturday: Closed Sunday: 2:00 PM-5:00PM (269) 921-5727
A&L Storage Barns of Kokomo 2312 N Plate St Kokomo, IN 46901
Monday & Friday: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
Tuesday & Thursday: 10:00 AM-5:00PM Wednesday: Closed Saturday: 10:00 AM-1:00PM Sunday: Closed Lot open for browsing 24/7 (765) 461-2286
Angola Travel Stop Angola, IN 46703 260-463-2975 X 1 ALSB@IBYFAX.COM
Maple Lane Metals 13428 Springfield Center Rd Grabill, IN 46741 260-627-5000
J&D Woodworking 27951 Wasepi Rd Centerville, MI 49022 269-432-2788 JDWoodworking@IBYFAX.com
Wormans Outdoor Solutions 5597 W. IN 24 Logansport, IN 574-601-1629 Wormansoutdoorsolutions@gmail.com
Cabins
Maple Valley Garden Center 2552 E State Rd 2 Rolling Prairie, IN 46371 219-575-0139
Abom1983@gmail.com
EJ Flooring 20 W. 100 N. Winamac, IN 574-946-0111 Ejsflooring@hotmail.com
Rabers Patio 815 N VanBuren St. Shipshewana, IN 260-336-1978 Merl@raberpatios.com
Riverside Tire 14777 St Rd 49 Antwerp, OH 43518 419-258-1917
Cottage
Renewed Marketplace 809 E. Vistula St. Bristol, IN 574-612-0367
Yoderzach4@gmail.com
Oakes Enterprise 1912 US Hwy 12 Galien, MI 269-545-9020
Greg@oakerenterprises.com
BID Jackson 3150 Page Ave. Jackson, MI 269-217-5420
Greg2401@yahoo.com
to rent between both store locations. Freedom Boat Club is onsite to answer Wyland’s customers’ boat rental requests.
Wyland’s stays current on watercraft innovations and connected to customers by participating in the annual Discover Boating Chicago Boat Show for more than 40 years. This year’s Chicago show is scheduled to take place January 28 – February 1, 2026. They also participate in South Bend’s Michiana Boat & Sports Show, this year taking place January 23-25, 2026. Wyland’s also holds their own in-house show in February.
For more information about Wyland’s product lines and services, visit wylandsmarine.com. Wyland’s Marine has two locations, one in Mishawaka at 13100 Jefferson Blvd. You can call them at 574-259-1510. You can visit the Elkhart Store at 3931-A East Jackson Blvd and call 574-295-7632.
They are closed for the season until May.
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Writer / Meredith Baker
When customers walk into Manasses Henry Furniture, a stillness settles in. It’s not silence, but a calm you only find where real hand-sanded edges, the scent of walnut, and the unmistakable craftsmanship practiced by someone who cares deeply about the result. For owner Bill Yoder, that hum of creation became the heartbeat of his life’s work.
Manasses Henry Furniture has been part of the Middlebury landscape since 1986. However, the story people see today really
began when Yoder took ownership in 2015. It was a quiet rebrand that was grounded in values that trace back long before he ever considered running a furniture business.
Yoder didn’t inherit the business the way people assume. What he did have, though, was a grandfather with a tiny woodworking shop and incredible patience, teaching a young boy how to build barstools and birdhouses. Those early hours in the shop left a lifelong imprint.
That spark followed him into adulthood, and in 2012, just before his wedding, his fiancée asked him to build a corner hutch. It was a simple request that changed his future. “That was my first real piece,” he says. “That’s what kicked off the furniture building.”
This gesture of love turned into a steady stream of requests from friends and, eventually, customers searching for something they couldn’t find in a catalog. Word spread, and then, operating under its original owners, they took notice. That’s when the opportunity to purchase the company arose, and Yoder stepped into the role with clarity and conviction.
Today, Manasses Henry Furniture is known for its unmistakable approach to custom woodworking: solid hardwood construction, traditional joinery, no particle board, and no shortcuts. Yoder describes the work plainly and with the undercurrent of pride of someone who builds trust.
“We try to create something you can’t find anywhere else,” he says.
The custom process begins with listening. Some customers come in with sketches. Sometimes the job requires visiting their home to understand scale and character; other times it means mailing blocks of stains and finishing samples to customers hundreds of miles away.
Once the vision is clear, Yoder drafts up a drawing for approval. Eight to 12 weeks later, or longer for intricate work, the finished piece is ready for pickup or delivery. Many customers choose hardwoods like cherry, walnut or oak, all of which Yoder enjoys working with for their beauty and durability. And while the business offers more modern painted finishes as well, the shop’s original DNA remains ingrained in traditional craftsmanship.
The shop has created everything from dining sets to bedroom furniture, small tables to large heirloom pieces designed to be handed down through generations. Yoder’s own home now features a bedroom set he designed and built himself, one of those rare moments when a craftsperson gets to keep something they make.
And customers come back, sometimes years later, because the furniture really does last. One client recently returned to order a matching table and chair set for her children as she prepared to pass down her own. Stories like that affirm what Yoder believes: custom furniture is an investment, not a purchase.
Asked what advice he’d give the next generation should the business ever pass on, Yoder is quick to answer: stay small. Not small in ambition, but small in spirit — small enough to stay personal, to
look customers in the eye, to honor their stories, their budgets, their homes.
In a world racing toward speed and convenience, custom woodworking asks for something different: time, communication and patience. And in return, it offers something Amazon can’t deliver tomorrow — meaningful craftsmanship.
Standing inside the showroom, surrounded by pieces made to last longer than most trends, Yoder feels the same satisfaction he felt with that very first hutch.
“In the end, you have something you helped create — something you just can’t get anywhere else,” he says.
Manasses Henry Furniture is located at 53692 County Road 37 in Middlebury. To schedule a consultation or inquire about custom work, call 574-825-1185.
Replaceable AR235 Cutting Edge
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33. Academic’s achievement
Any boat
Celebrity, briefly
Alphabetizes, e.g.
Fragrant wood
Grant
Loser to Lewis
Domestic
Foreign dignitary
Medal contender
Adolescent development
Cartoonist’s supplies
Pro
___ to riches
Function
Hardly extroverted
Pricing word
What borrowers do
Gymnastics ideal
Hopper
Takes in
Danger signal
Drive forward
Keynoter’s spot 10. It’s picked from pockets
Lodge fellows
Live in the past?
Wears out
Miffed 22. Make-up artist? 24. Emulated Jack Horner
Evening hour 28. Angler’s attachment 29. Liberal pursuits
Top 32. “___ not!” 34. Romance, e.g.
Copper finish 39. Hearts
40. Military standings 42. Eye drop?
43. Pantomimed disco title 44. Do a number 46. Halloween purchase
In shape
49. Possibilities
50. Mi, fah, ___, lah 51. Really test
• Uses a Rechargeable Power Pack (included)
• Stainless Steel Zipper
• 2 Side Zipper Pockets, 1 Inner Pocket for Battery
Writer / Miranda Medeiros
There is more than just one type of love. There’s the love you feel for someone romantically, the undying love for a child, loyal love for family, fond love for close friends, and grateful love for others in your life who maybe fall into multiple categories. February gets a bad rap sometimes, because it essentially is the month of love. All around us stores will advertise a little cherub pointing its heart tipped arrow at someone hoping to hit its mark.
Valentine’s Day doesn’t need to only be a romantic love. There are plenty of people we love aside from our significant other, and if anything, February should be about spreading the love and romanticizing the things in our life that are small, but we love daily.
Maybe for some people, it’s their daily cup of tea. Imagine showing a little selflove and getting a tea that’s out of the ordinary. Something perhaps that begins with a zesty zing of cinnamon but finishes with a deep romantic flavor of ripe plum. This tea is no other than the Republic of Tea Cinnamon Plum, a premium black tea full of life and flavor and packaged in unbleached tea bags. This is only one of more than150 teas that we carry. So whether you wanna show love to yourself, or someone else, we’re sure to have a flavor that will fit the bill.
Not to mention that we also have a tea loyalty program, nothing says self-care like getting a tea for you and someone else while also earning $10 off a tea purchase after filling your new tea card. We also offer the same loyalty program for our coffee lovers, except rather than $10 off of a bag of coffee, it’s a whole free bag. As a store that cares deeply for the
community we’ve called home from the very beginning, we LOVE to show love to our customers. Offering these loyalty programs is just one way we do that.
It’s our mission to make sure that everyone who walks through our doors, immediately feels welcomed and safe. Seeing our customers come through our doors is like greeting a friend, because often times we really do recognize the faces that come in and we’re genuinely happy to see you. We show love to our customers and community by always offering free coffee samples, because nothing feels more comforting than a warm cup in your hands as you have
friendly conversation and take your time strolling through the aisle ways.
Another way we show love to our community is by offering high end kitchen items at a reasonable price. All items are tested before being brought into the store by the owner and heart of the store, Phyllis Willie, herself. No one cares more deeply about this store and customers than her and she ensures the quality of the items we carry are up to her standards while also keeping the prices as low as she can so our customers can have access to quality items without feeling like they’re being ripped off price wise. From Swedish made Ankarsrum mixers, Moca
Master coffee pots, Italian Hestan pans, and Indiana made Whetstone wooden utensils, we carry a massive variety of wonderfully made kitchen items to show love to you, and to anyone you feel like gifting.
We get customers who come in for the first time not realizing we were right in Walkerton, and the biggest comment we receive is, “Why is a store like this in a location like this?” Walkerton is small, sweet, and a crossroads for travels coming to and from larger cities.
But the honest answer here is why not Walkerton?
Walkerton embodies everything the New Kitchen Store values. Local people, community, small business, and a friendly neighborhood. This town is where the roots of this store were planted, and when you plant something you have to take care of not only the plant but its environment
WE ARE CURRENTLY BUYING / SELLING THE FOLLOWING ITEMS:
• Gold Jewelry
• Sterling Silver Jewelry
• Platinum Jewelry
• Turquoise Jewelry
• Dental Gold
• Service Pins
• Pocket Watches
• Sterling Silver Flatware
• Dimes - 1964 & Before
• Quarters - 1964 & Before
• Halves - 1970 & Before
• Dollars - 1935 & Before
• Proof & Mint Sets
• Old Paper Money
• Old U.S. Coins
• Foreign Coins
• Gold & Silver Coins
• Gold & Silver Bullion
• Pennies - 1958 & Before
• Nickels - 1938 & Before
• Nickels - 1942-1945
At A Reasonable
Writer / Jeff Kenney
If one pauses on the lawn of the Pulaski County Courthouse to read the names on the county Honor Roll Memorial monument — which is dedicated to those from the Lakes-area county who gave their lives in the various wars of the past century-plus — it would be easy enough to overlook the name of Richard S. Freeman, situated as it is among three rows of names of those who lost their lives in service to their country in World War II.
And while every loss is momentous, Freeman’s life and service were remarkably impactful beyond his native county and are all too little-known today.
A West Point graduate known for his decorated humanitarian missions and whose name would be attached in memoriam to a Hoosier-based Army Air Forces training school, Freeman lost his life 85 years ago this month, on Feb. 6, 1941.
Born in Winamac in 1907, Freeman attended the University of Notre Dame in South Bend before entering the United States Military Academy at West Point, from which he graduated in 1930.
• Commercial & Residential
• New Construction/Ponds
After attaining qualification as a pilot, in 1934 he became part of an air mail delivery program under the auspices of the Air Corps, making him one of the pioneers of the Army Air Mail Service.
That same year, the Air Corps tested its new all-metal monoplane bomber, the Martin B-10, by way of a mass flight to Alaska, and Freeman piloted one of several planes under the command of Lt. Col. H.H. Arnold. Weeks of flights from Bolling Field near Washington, D.C., to Fairbanks included aerial photography missions covering thousands of miles of uncharted wilderness.
Much of the recognition Freeman would receive, however, was for his humanitarian endeavors as a pilot. Among these was his part in a goodwill mass flight of B-17 Flying Fortress bomber planes carrying medical supplies to Buenos Aires, Argentina, in February 1938, which was followed by another such flight that year from Langley Field to Bogota, Colombia.
Exactly two years to the day before his untimely death, on Feb. 6, 1939, Freeman flew to Santiago, Chile, on a super-bomber Boeing XB-15, also full of medical supplies, as part of a crew aiding
victims of the 8.3-magnitude Chilean earthquake that killed more than 30,000 people. Freeman and the crew were awarded by the National Aeronautic Association, in conjunction with the Army, with the Clarence H. Mackay Trophy, which is presented annually for “the most meritorious flight of the year.” Interestingly, the trophy had been awarded in 1934 for the Alaskan flights in which Freeman participated, though the award was given specifically to commanding officer Arnold.
Freeman also led a mercy mission to the leper colony near the island of Molokai in the Pacific.
In 1938, Freeman played a role in the filming of the Spencer Tracy and Clark Gable movie “Test Pilot,” in which he was part of the crew flying a B-17 bomber in the hit film.
That same year, the U.S. Army acquired
Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30 am - 5:00 Saturday 7:30 am - 3:30 pm Closed Sunday
land at Fairbanks, Alaska, with plans to utilize the base it built there for coldweather testing of aircraft and equipment. Named Ladd Field in 1939 for Air Corps pilot Arthur K. Ladd, who had died five years earlier in a plane crash, Richard Freeman was appointed the founding commander of the base, which was located on today’s Fort Wainwright.
Ironically, for all of the contributions Freeman’s efforts made toward critical services and planes used in World War II, he lost his young life just months before the United States officially entered the war after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
Freeman was engaged in an experimental flight exercise on Feb. 6, 1941, when the U.S. Army Air Corps B-17B Flying Fortress No. 38-216 he was piloting struck the west slope of the Trinity Mountain Range, 12 miles west of Lovelock, Nevada.
In addition to the 33-year-old Freeman, other Army fliers who lost their lives in the accident included 1st Lt. Edward W.
Ketcham, T/Sgt. Kay H. Gilreath, Sgt. Everett R. Crabb, Sgt. Joseph P. Davies Jr., Sgt. Elmer S. Trainer, Sgt. Frank C. Whidden and Pfc. Charles E. Applegate.
The plane had been equipped with the then-top-secret Norden bombsight, and authorities suspected, but never proved, sabotage as the cause of the crash.
Freeman’s body was returned to Winamac for burial, and he posthumously received the Distinguished Flying Cross for his service.
Recounting his service, the 1942 West Point yearbook wrote: “In addition to his rating as command pilot, navigator, pilot of multi-engined planes, he was also considered to be an expert bombardier. He had 6,000 hours of flying time.”
Freeman’s legacy carried on when, two years later, the War Department announced in General Order No. 10,
dated March 3, 1943, that the advanced flying school southwest of Seymour, Indiana, in Jackson County — which had been established in 1942 — would be named Freeman Army Air Field in honor of the memory of Capt. Richard Shafle Freeman.
The state-of-the-art facility included 413 buildings and four 5,500-foot runways on 2,560 acres. Many of its 4,245 graduating pilots — prior to its last graduation in February 1945 — flew B-17 and B-24 bombers in World War II.
The facility gained notoriety for another reason as well. Among those training at Freeman Field were Black aviators, including a group of the famed Tuskegee Airmen.
Some 1,300 Black airmen were training at the base in the spring of 1945 when three Black aviator officers tried to enter one of the officers’ clubs on the base, which were segregated in spite of Army
regulations against segregation. The three were arrested and confined to quarters before an additional 58 Black officers attempted to enter the same club, leading to a violent altercation and more than 60 arrests.
The following investigation reaffirmed segregation at officers’ club facilities on the base, though more than 100 Black officers refused to sign the regulation and were arrested and forced to remain in their quarters. They were transferred to another base to await court-martial, while training of their unit at Freeman was brought to a stop. Later that month, under public pressure, charges were dropped against all except the original three. Only one was ever actually tried and was fined $150 for assaulting an MP.
The incident, which made headlines around the country, played a role in national discussion of race-based segregation in the military, contributing to its eventual end.
In January 1946, Freeman Field was declared surplus and was finally deactivated in November 1948. Just more than 2,000 acres were reallocated for a municipal airport for the town of Seymour; more than 240 acres for agricultural training in Seymour Community Schools, and an industrial park was developed via the Seymour Industrial Association with 60 acres of the land.
Today, a handful of the buildings, as well as the runways, are still standing, and a unit of the Indiana National Guard has an armory there. Freeman Army Air Field Museum is also located near the airport office.
Visitors to the Freeman Field site today will find a bronze marker placed by the Indiana Historical Bureau, telling the story not only of the base but of Richard
Freeman as well — a brief testament to the contributions of a little-known aviation hero of the Lakes area.
Jeff Kenney serves as museum and archives manager for Culver Academies and is on the board of the Culver Historical Society in Culver, Indiana, where he is a frequent speaker and writer on local and regional history.
Writer / Amy Beaucham
A full freezer says something about a home. Wrapped parcels tucked neatly into organized stacks invite thoughts of Sunday roasts, weeknight meals and the comfort of knowing good food is ready when you need it. Families across the Lakes West area often begin that journey at Four Woods Custom Butchering in Topeka, where the story
behind the meat is as important as the flavor on the plate.
Four Woods is owned by Joseph Bontrager, who brings 13 years of experience from working side by side with a seasoned butcher before stepping into ownership himself. His start came at a time when he and his wife were running a small, reputable dog-breeding business that did not provide
the return they expected. When her uncle mentioned that a local butcher shop was coming up for sale, the idea took root. Joseph sat down with his wife to talk it through, then reached out to Richard, a trusted relative whose years of experience in professional butchering and willingness to walk alongside them made the idea feel possible.
They presented their plan to the bank and received approval in two days. Joseph still remembers that moment clearly, describing it as a blessing he did not expect but knew to follow.
From the beginning, the business stayed busy. Only two quiet weeks fell between July and mid-summer. The rest of the year brought a steady stream of customers through word of mouth alone. Four Woods
processes beef, hogs, deer and sheep, with goats likely to be added as demand grows. Many customers bring animals they raised themselves, while others work with trusted local farmers.
A typical week at Four Woods follows a system Joseph has refined through years of practice. Customers drop off their livestock in advance so everything can be scheduled properly. Fridays are kill days, when animals are harvested humanely and moved into the cooler to chill. Once they have rested, the sides move along the rail system into the cutting room. There, Joseph and his crew divide each animal into the cuts selected by the customer. Every package is wrapped, labeled and placed in the freezer. When an order is complete, a card goes on Joseph’s desk, and he promptly calls the customer to arrange pickup.
Many families are new to custom butchering. Joseph’s explanations help
them understand what to expect and how to plan. He uses detailed cut sheets that list every option clearly so customers can make choices with confidence.
Conversations often turn to how each family cooks. A busy household may prefer more stew meat and ground beef. Another family that enjoys grilling might opt for more steaks and kabob cuts. Joseph brings these ideas together in a way that allows families to imagine their meals and select cuts that match their style while limiting waste.
Custom smoking has become another part of the shop’s rhythm.
Four Woods smokes hams, bacon and other cuts, along with popular deer products during hunting season. Joseph’s house recipe for ring bologna has developed a strong following. He also makes pork burgers with a custom seasoning blend and offers summer sausage in both traditional and honey barbecue varieties. Some seasonings come from trusted suppliers, while others are blends Joseph is developing himself. He pays attention to customer requests
and expands his offerings based on what consistently sells.
Alongside the processing area, Four Woods also has a small retail store that offers ready-to-purchase meats. The space currently features a selection of grain-fed beef and pork from a nearby farm where calves are raised and fed with grain grown right on the property. Joseph hopes to expand this store in the near future. More room, additional coolers and a wider variety of cuts are all part of his long-term plan. He envisions a place where people can stop in at any time and leave with quality local meat, even if they have not scheduled a custom order.
Joseph believes strongly in the value of knowing where meat comes from. He explains that locally processed meat has a softer texture and fuller flavor. Storebought products often include additives that cause them to fry away in the pan. Families appreciate understanding how
their animals were raised and handled, and Joseph treats that responsibility seriously. He focuses on returning as much usable meat as possible from every animal and encourages clear communication with customers. While he prefers to discuss details in person at drop-off, he works by phone when needed.
The work is long and physical, but Joseph finds meaning in it. He enjoys hearing that a family filled their freezer or discovered a new favorite cut he suggested. Those
Accent your kitchen with a beautiful metal range hood. Fully customized to your specs and style.
moments remind him why small processors matter. His goal is simple: satisfied customers who trust the work behind every package they bring home.
Four Woods Custom Butchering offers more than a service. It offers connection. When meat is processed or purchased locally, the food on a family’s table can be tied back to a nearby pasture, a farmer who cared for the animal and a butcher who understands his craft. Families appreciate knowing their meals come from work done with honesty, skill and respect.
Joseph is committed to maintaining that standard, giving customers the confidence that what they bring home is wholesome, thoughtfully prepared and truly local.
Four Woods Custom Butchering is located at 4665 S. State Road 5 in Topeka. For more information, call 219-741-0972.
Brighton | Kendra Scott
Nora Fleming | Happy Everything
Clara Sunwoo | Spartina
Ambre | Hobo | Latico
Lysse | CapriBlue Open: TuesdayFriday: 10-6 Saturday: 10-3 625 Main Street in Rochester, Indiana 574-224-4759
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/ Mike Dikos
Patrick Auto Group is more than an auto shop. It stands as a trusted cornerstone of the community it serves. From the moment you walk through the doors, it’s clear that the work done here goes well beyond fixing vehicles. The shop plays a vital role in keeping families safe on the road, supporting local businesses and showing up for neighbors when they need reliable, honest service. Beyond service and repairs, Patrick Auto Group also helps community members get behind the wheel through affordable vehicle financing, making dependable transportation more accessible for individuals and families alike.
Every vehicle that passes through represents a person, a story and a responsibility. This dedication to care, integrity and community is what truly defines Patrick Auto Group’s impact.
After moving from Marshall County in 1992 with his parents, Jerry and Marlene Patrick, owner Jeremiah Patrick has proudly called Starke County home ever since. When you visit Patrick Auto Group in search of a reliable used automobile, you aren’t just treated as a customer; you are treated as family. Jeremiah
understands the importance of family, and this value is displayed throughout all aspects of the business. This atmosphere is also easily recognized in the down-to-earth, close-knit working rapport of the employees, which provides a smooth experience for the consumer.
For many, when purchasing a new automobile, one of the biggest concerns is financing. Patrick Auto Group understands this and offers options to help customers get financed. All financing plans have a term of three years, which ensures payments are not drawn out over many years.
“Financing the future, not the past isn’t just our motto, it’s actually what we are striving to do for people who purchase from us,” says general manager Sherry Whittaker.
The buy-here, pay-here convenience is an advantage that many can appreciate. Having an initial low down payment along with affordable weekly payments is a huge plus for people with the desire to establish or build their credit. Focusing 100% on the customer
makes the purchase of an automobile a stressfree experience. All vehicles purchased come with a six-month/7,500-mile/50-50 partsand-labor warranty.
Starting as a local business in 2015, Patrick Auto Group has seen expansion benefiting both the business and the community. In addition to sales, the shop can also service your automobile regardless of the place of purchase, using either diagnostics or inspection. The maintenance department has grown to 10 service bays, which are staffed by SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) certified technicians who ensure that your automobile is serviced and maintained to the highest standards.
A recent addition to the department is a brandnew, state-of-the-art four-wheel alignment machine. Having your wheels properly aligned ensures true rotation. Lube and oil technicians are available to service and inspect your vehicle and get you quickly on your way. This service helps ensure you are ready for the cold months of winter or a long road trip during the summer.
Partnering with Advance Auto, Patrick Auto Group is the only dealer in Starke County that is a member of the TechNet Professional Automotive Service Center network. This program provides a nationwide limited repair warranty for 24 months or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first, for qualifying repairs performed.
Along with maintenance, cosmetic work can
also be completed at Patrick Auto Group. Paint, body and detail shops are available to keep the appearance of your car looking its best, as well as to repair physical damage when needed. First responders and active military members receive discounts for services provided.
Patrick Auto Group has remained a valuable asset to Starke County. In addition to serving everyday consumers, the business also holds several fleet service accounts with the city of Knox, ensuring that vehicles are readily available to provide necessary city services and maintenance.
Serving the community of Starke County since 2015, Patrick Auto Group is a trusted destination for sales and service when the need arises to purchase a vehicle or repair an existing one.
Patrick Auto Group is located at 640 N. U.S. Highway 35 in Knox. For more information, visit them online at patrickautogroup.net or call 574-772-7272.
Carpet
Laminate • Vinyl Plank • Tile • Linoleum
• Area Rugs
Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 AM- 5 PM
AKA Polish Mistakes, Sausage Snacks, (and some other less appropriate names for print, haha)
INGREDIENTS
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 lb. ground hot sausage
• 1 lb. Velveeta
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• ½ teaspoon garlic salt
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 loaf party rye bread
• Chopped parsley (optional)
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Place the ground beef and ground hot sausage in a large skillet over medium heat.Cook until browned and cooked through, breaking the meat up as it cooks.
2. Cut the Velveeta into cubes.
3. Once the meat is cooked, drain off the grease.
4. Add the Velveeta, and continue to cook until the Velveeta is melted.
5. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, oregano, garlic salt, and regular salt.
6. Preheat broiler to high.
7. Line a baking sheet with slices of rye bread.
8. Place a 2-tablespoon-sized scoop of the cheese and meat mixture onto each slice of bread, spread out to cover most of the bread slice.
9. Broil the appetizers until hot and bubbly, about 2–3 minutes. Watch carefully so they don’t burn! Note: If you don’t want to use a broiler, bake for 15–18 minutes at 350°F.
10. If desired, sprinkle with fresh or dried chopped parsley after baking and Enjoy!
Dean
DunningCFO, Lori Dunning -CEO, Destynie ThibodeauxManager, Melissa Goodrich
Writer / Amy Beaucham
/ Jubilee Edgell
Some businesses chase attention with bright signs and big slogans. Wicked Trio is more interested in what you experience inside and vividly replay in your mind on the drive home. After visiting Wicked Trio, you are sure to notice the way a favorite scent lingers, the way the unique, inviting shop felt like it was waiting just for you, and the way its cheerful owner, Lori, seemed to know exactly what would make you smile.
Follow the lane at 9858 E. 100 N. off Highway 23 near Knox and look for the black building with pink trim and playful pink woodpeckers out front. Inside, shelves are filled with perfumes, body butters, wax melts, bath salts, carpet deodorizers and more, all created around one central idea: people deserve luxurious scents without luxury prices.
This is Wicked Trio, a disabled veteran-owned, family-run fragrance company that has quietly grown into a destination for what owner Lori Dunning affectionately calls “anything smelly.”
“We sell all kinds of smell-good stuff,” Lori says. “Our current fragrance collection has over 530 scents. In our new store, you will find more than 15 different vendors. Come see all the unique goodies!”Wicked Trio began with a few wax products Lori and her family made at home. Customers loved the fragrances and started asking for more ways to enjoy them. They wanted their favorite scents as perfumes, in body butters, in wax melts for warmers. Each question turned into a new product. Before long, Lori realized she had found more than a hobby.
Her husband’s years of dedicated military service and Lori’s cherished years beside him as a military spouse shaped the way she
grew the business. She gained a deep respect for the organizational methods, routines and discipline that keep everything running smoothly. Lori now runs what she calls a “tight ship,” paying close attention to quality, turnaround time and fair pricing. She remembers what it felt like to stretch every dollar and wants her customers to enjoy premium products without the premium price tag. Perfume quickly rose to the top of the best-seller list. Lori buys high-quality fragrance oils labeled as “type” versions of popular designer scents and turns them into water-based perfumes with a generous percentage of fragrance. Alcohol, she explains, evaporates faster and is tougher on skin.
“I’m about the customer,” Lori says. “What makes the customer happy is the product inside that bottle.” Many designer perfumes sell for hundreds of dollars for a similar size. At Wicked Trio, customers get an essence version of their favorite fragrance at a fraction of the cost, often in formulas that last even longer on the skin. Body butters, whipped scrubs, bath salts, shaving butter, aroma beads, room sprays, roller-ball perfumes, car fresheners, diffuser oils, solid perfumes, pain rubs and more have followed. Most are made with natural butters and oils, with color added only to wax products. Lori is candid with customers about fragrance sensitivities and uses essential oils when she can, while still offering the wide variety of scents people request.
Carpet deodorizers are one of her newest hits. Regular customers began asking if she could create something for carpets that would smell as good as their perfumes and body products. Lori listened, experimented and put the first jars into the hands of trusted regulars for feedback.
“I am now selling them right and left,” Lori says. “I’m so glad they asked.”
The deodorizers are a fine powder that you sprinkle over carpet, let rest for 20 to 30 minutes, then vacuum. Scents like Sweet Orange Chili Peppers, Christmas Tree, Pumpkin Spice Latte and Mountain Air have already found loyal fans.
As Wicked Trio grew, Lori needed more space than her home workshop could offer. Her much-appreciated husband built a 15-by-24-foot building on their property and painted it black with pink trim. It sits behind another building, so first-time visitors should watch for the pink woodpeckers and follow the lane back.
Inside, shelves are lined with Wicked Trio products and displays from more than a dozen local vendors. The sign “Wicked Trio & Friends” sums up Lori’s heart for helping other makers grow alongside her.
“You cannot be in competition with anyone else in the store,” she says.
Each vendor brings something different: sublimation-printed shirts and tumblers, handcrafted jewelry, 3D-printed art, glittery hair gels, resin pieces, clever teacher gifts, cozy home décor and even “creepy cool” oddities created with found feathers, bees and moths. Current vendors include Anne’s Oddities, Bright Beads, Color Street, Ginger Gems, Grandma and Papa’s Creations, Manic Moms Creations, Ashley’s Mia Bella Candles, Reedle Deedle Designs, Shirts N Such, The Lather Lab, TJs Creations, Vee’s Creations and Weist’s Crafts and More, alongside Wicked Trio’s own displays.
Many of these makers also appear in the shop’s live sale events on
Facebook. During a live, a vendor holds up each item, shares the price and assigns a number or code word. Shoppers claim pieces by commenting with that code, and the first claim that appears on Lori’s screen wins. Items are held for two weeks for in-store pickup and payment, unless customers choose to pay sooner and have their treasures set aside. Even after a live ends, shoppers can still comment on the video, and if the item is available, Lori will add it to their cart. Lori keeps order forms at the front counter and personally manages special orders so her vendors do not miss a sale. She understands their world. Before opening the shop, Lori spent years hauling her own booth from fair to fair. Now she pours that energy into the customers and vendors who find their way to her little pink shop.
“I’ve been a vendor,” she says. “So I know what it’s like to have to lug your stuff around.”
At the heart of it all is Lori’s family. On her business card, she lists herself as CEO and “headstinker,” with her much-appreciated husband, a retired electrician, and her granddaughter by her side.
“I’m the headstinker. My husband is the old fart. My granddaughter, who is my lovely assistant, she’s a little stinker. So you know, we’re a bunch of stinkers here,” Lori says with a laugh.
Her daughter, Melissa Goodrich, is an integral part of the business as well. Melissa helps with cleanup, crews and organizing the shop,
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and Lori likes to say that if the rest of them are “stinkers,” Melissa is the “air freshener” who keeps everything fresh and running smoothly.
During the interview with Lori, her personality was as memorable as any fragrance. Her quick humor, strong business instincts and deep care for people came through in every answer. She moved easily from explaining formulas to telling stories, turning an already enjoyable conversation into something that felt more like a visit with a longtime friend.
Lori talks about customers the way some people talk about close friends. She knows their favorite scents, remembers how they first found her products and enjoys helping them discover new combinations they might never have tried on their own.
Online reviewers echo that focus.
Customer Cristina Tinoko shared that she first placed an order online, but Lori canceled the shipment when extreme heat threatened to damage the products. Later, Cristina spotted Wicked Trio body butters at the American Antique Mall on Indianapolis Boulevard in Highland and bought three of them. In her review, she refers to those body butters as “these beauties,” and says she now plans special trips to see what other scents Wicked Trio has to offer. After years of hunting for her favorite floral, Allison Welliver found it at Wicked Trio.
“I have been searching for lilac oil forever from small businesses, and no one ever has it in stock,” Allison says. “Wicked Trio not only had it, but they also had two different kinds! I bought both… Thank you so much for giving me my scent back!” She adds that she received “amazing customer service.”
Customer Lori Plaspohl recalls meeting Lori and a fellow maker at the Covered Bridge Festival in Mansfield. She and her best friend loved the products they sampled, yet what stayed with them most was the conversation. It was such a bright spot in their day that they circled back to talk more and buy more before they left. Other customers rave about everything from shipping to specialty products. Customer Amy Smith-Wilson in Virginia describes opening a box of wax melts and being greeted by scents that “smell so good,” noting that they arrived quickly and in perfect condition, even in the heat.
Nicole Fulgham, who has sensitive skin, says her favorite body butter “really lasts forever in both scent and moisture” and reports no irritation. Jenny MayCrochet Ethington credits Lion Pain Balm with easing her arthritis knee pain so much that she has stopped using another over-the-counter ointment. Longtime fan Renée Markovitz jokes that she might be “addicted” to the products and offers this advice with a wink: if you have to be addicted to something, “do scents, not drugs!” Stories like these keep Lori pushing forward, even while managing her own health challenges. She feels deeply grateful to have found work that suits her gifts and personality.
“It is not just about money, it’s making treasured new friends along the way,” she says.
Community work is woven into Lori’s schedule. She leads Hope for the Holidays of Starke County, coordinating gifts and support for families who need a boost during the Christmas season. She also maintains detailed records and communication so that the program can continue to grow.
Inside Wicked Trio, that same generous spirit shows up whenever local organizations need help. When groups ask for a gift basket or gift box for a fundraiser, she responds generously. Lori says she always, always does say yes to those requests.
The creativity and care she brings to community projects show up in the way she helps customers build gifts, too. Fragrance collections are especially popular during the holidays. Shoppers can choose a mix of perfumes, scrubs, body butters, carpet deodorizers or other items in their favorite scents, and Lori will assemble them into a custom gift box. She often adds a discount when people build a larger set.
For many first-time visitors, the experience begins with a single fragrance. Lori might suggest a small bottle of perfume, a jar of body butter or a bag of aroma beads that fits their style. Once customers discover how long the scent lasts and how soft their skin feels, they tend to come back.
“My perfumes are where it’s at,” she says with a smile.
Wicked Trio is located at 9858 E. 100 N. in Knox, just off Highway 23 down a lane behind the front building. Look for the pink accents and those memorable woodpeckers.
Hours are typically Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with extended hours and seven-day-a-week shopping leading up to Christmas. For weekend or after-5 p.m. shoppers, a quick text or private message is often all it takes for Lori to step out and open the door. She jokes that it usually takes about 60 seconds to walk out to the shop, unless she is in the middle of time with her greatgrandchildren, who always win. To ask questions, place orders or schedule a visit, customers can call or text 574-575-1524 or email Loridunning1@gmail.com anytime.
Wicked Trio ships orders and will often deliver larger purchases within about an hour of Knox. Customers can shop online at wickedtrio.com or message Lori through the Wicked Trio Wax Company Facebook page to claim items from live sales, place special orders or ask scent questions.
“We sell all kinds of smell-good stuff,” Lori says.
Whether you gravitate toward a soft, fruity floral, a nostalgic lilac, a cozy holiday blend or something completely custom, chances are she already has a fragrance waiting with your name on it.
ALL times listed are Central Time.
EVERY MONDAY
Bingo – Doors open at 5 p.m., Early Bird starts at 6 p.m., and regular games start at 6:30 p.m. at the Koontz Lake Association Community building.
EVERY THURSDAY
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. - New Kitchen Store Farmers Market. Please visit our online store and don’t forget to like us on Facebook! facebook. com/NewKitchenStore
KLA Board Meeting at the KLA Clubhouse is the third Tuesday of the month. Meetings are open to the public and start at 6:30 p.m. Come and join us and find out how you can volunteer in the community. You can also find out what is going on around Koontz Lake.
Koontz Lake Lions Club meet every third Thursday at 6pm in the Sewer District building located at 10625 E Prairie Ave in Koontz Lake. Meetings are open the public.
3
6 p.m. - Koontz Lake Conservancy District Monthly Board Meeting. The meeting will be held at the Sewer District building located at 10625 E Prairie Ave in Koontz Lake. Interested parties may join remotely by calling (240) 591-0378 and entering the code
385729# when prompted, or via web at join.freeconferencecall. com/klcdboardmeeting.
3:30-6 p.m. or until sold out –Tyner Odd Fellows Fish Fry carry and dine in at St. Patricks School located at 811 Tyler St, Walkerton, IN
ALL times listed are Eastern. 7
7am - Alternate (no ice) BCC fishing derby at the BCC building. Contact Tim at 574-248-2985 for information and early registration.
21
LOWPOA Chili Supper at the BCC Building. Time TBA
21
9am – BCC Meeting at the BCC Building, 4374 North Shore Drive, Bremen
ALL Times listed are Eastern Time.
EVERY SATURDAY
10 a.m.-1 p.m. – Culver Farmers Market is the only indoor farmer’s market between South Bend and Indy (that we know of). It is held at the Culver Union
Township Public Library’s lower level located at 107 N. Main St, Culver, IN. For more updates, you can follow The Culver Farmers Market is also on Facebook and IG @culverfarmersmarket, their website culverfarmersmarket. org, or emailing them at culverfarmersmarket@gmail.com.
EVERY TUESDAY AND THURSDAY
8:30 a.m. – Yoga at the Beach Lodge, all levels are welcome. Chair yoga is at 10 a.m.
6 – 8
Culver Winter Fest. Visit findculver.com for the schedule of events.
ALL Times listed are Eastern Time. 27
5-6:30 p.m. or until sold outTyner Odd Fellows Fish Fry carry out and dine in at the Knights of Columbus – Elkhart 1043 located at 1331 North Main St., Elkhart, IN
Lake • Porter • Laporte • Saint Joseph
Newton • Jasper • Starke
Pulaski
Elkhart
Marshall
Noble • Whitley • Dekalb • Allen • Cass Miami
Wabash
Berrien • Cass • Saint Joseph • Branch • Vanburen • Kalamazoo • Calhoun
