This article is brought to you by the Committee to Elect Joni Delon.
Joni says, “Everyone in Kokomo knows someone who could be impacted by the United Auto Workers’ strike. I believe in fair wages for a hard day’s work. I believe in a safe workplace. And I believe in the right of working people to negotiate a labor agreement.
“That’s why I was proud to serve on the Kokomo Common Council’s negotiating team this year. Working together, we reached a three-year contract with the local firefighters’ union. In the union’s own words, it is ‘one of the best contracts we’ve ever seen!’”
When you vote Joni Delon for Kokomo Common Council District 2, you’re going to get a fair-minded leader with a heart for giving back!
Bridges Outreach's very successful Hawgin' the Block event has been held every October for the last 10 years. The success of this fundraiser was largely due to Mike and Carol Wills, the owners of Hawg Heaven. Parking their food trailer along Main Street during each October First Friday events, the two donated the proceeds from Hawgin’ the Block to support Bridges Outreach.
But in August, Mike Wills suddenly passed away, leaving a large void in his family and the Bridges Outreach family as well.
"Mike was the driving force behind the food trailer and it was a pleasure to work with him," said The 2 Mortgage Guys Co-Founder Steve DeLon, a friend and event co-organizer.
The Bridges organizers conferred with Carol, and the restaurant decided to pitch in again in 2023 to raise funds for the non-profit, only a bit differently.
Orders and deliveries were taken at Hawg Heaven's Gathering Place at Defenbaugh and Webster streets in Kokomo, and although the menu was limited to just a sandwich, drink, and chips, a crowd filled the building during Friday's event, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.
DeLon reported later that Hawg Heaven had sold 550 meals in those three hours.
Around 2:30 p.m., before the Bridges First Friday block party on Main Street, Delon, Travis Taflinger of Bridges, 2Mortage Guys co-founder Ryan Minick, Carol Wills, and other event coordinators gathered outside of the Bridges Outreach office on Main Street to dedicate a plaque to Mike Wills honoring his contributions to the event and to Bridges.
DeLon stated in his post, "He (Mike Wills) always had so much joy, and a strong work ethic to give back, and help Bridges pull off a successful event."