Baldwin And Company

was the bar manager for the place before I took over and she knew I always wanted to own a restaurant. When she heard the previous owners wanted to sell the place, she reached out to me. The owners then reached out to us and the rest is history. My husband also helps me with the restaurant.”

Judson’s Route 10 Bar & Grill offers a variety of drinks.

“We run daily drink specials as well,” Mannella says. “We also offer Triple XXX Root Beer, nonalcoholic, which is made here in Indiana as well.”

Mannella notes that customers enjoy her specialty menu items. “We are known for our Broasted Chicken and Rib-Eye Steak Sandwiches,” Mannella says. “We have a Route 10 Burger that is our own specialty. We also have a few items on our menu that you can only get at Judson’s Route 10. Our Highway Fries are made with a sauce that one of our cooks made. He is in the process of getting the sauce patent. Also, all our soups are homemade, as well as most of the items on our menu.”

Regular customers already have their favorite dishes.

“We sell a variety of foods, but our Italian Beefs are probably our number-one seller, along with the Italian Beef Rolls,” Mannella says. “We also sell a ton of our Route 10 Pizzas, made in house. Our Broasted Chicken is a hot seller. It comes with homemade broasted wedges and homemade coleslaw that is delicious.”

Mannella and her family have their own personal favorites on the menu.

“My husband personally loves it when we have a Rib-Eye Steak special, and he also loves the Philly Steak Sandwich with Cheese Whiz,” Mannella says. “Our kids love our pizza and deep-fried bread sticks. I personally love the Southwest Salad and the Chicken

Alfredo Soup. I love the Triple XXX Root Beer. Our bar manager also makes a drink called the Drunken Mermaid that is delicious.”

Mannella says Judson’s Route 10 Bar & Grill has some fun events in July and throughout the summer.

“Every Saturday in July we will be having a band or a DJ/karaoke,” she says. “On July 8 we will be having the second annual Bike Night put on by the Knights of Hell. There will be a bike show and what we call a Burnout Contest, which is who has the loudest pipes, and a stereo contest. There will also be a live DJ, and cash prizes. It starts at 4 p.m. and will continue until 8 p.m.”

Mannella adds that the fun doesn’t stop there.

“We also will be having dart tournaments and bag tournaments coming up throughout the summer,” Mannella says. “We will also be hosting wine-and-canvas nights, along with cookies and canvas for kids.”

Mannella notes that she has thoroughly enjoyed being the owner.

“We are really excited to be on this journey and we hope to bring life back to Route 10, and also have a place for the town to go and have a good time,” Mannella says. “We want to become a destination that people want to stop at.”

For more information on Judson’s Route 10 Bar & Grill, located at 613 West Talmer Avenue in North Judson, call 574-896-5558 or email route10grill@yahoo.com.

HERITAGE PINE SHAVINGS PROVIDES SAFE, HIGH-QUALITY ANIMAL AND LIVESTOCK BEDDING

Writer / Matt Keating

Photographer / Kari Lipscomb

If you want to get something done right, ask the person who is busy all the time. Myron Frey, owner of Heritage Pine Shavings, would be just that person. Frey keeps very busy with his business, which he proudly started in September 2019.

“I came up with the idea for my business when I was looking through a Plain Communities Business Exchange publication,” Frey says. “I saw something about pine shavings. I thought to myself that I can do something with that. Using pine shavings is a cheap source of savings when you are making something, and I thought I could use pine shavings to start a business. I knew a lot about it, and I knew people who would be able to use them.”

Frey gets his materials from different workers.

“I buy the shavings from people that make deck spindles,” Frey says. “I use a lot of yellow spindles. They are very high quality. They make a big difference. People have told me they really like them and so do their animals.”

Frey uses the materials for animal and livestock bedding.

“I would say about 90% of the pine shavings I sell are used for bedding for horses,” Frey says. “I also use the shavings for chicken barns. They are the most used shavings for chicken bedding materials. They are also safe and healthy for chickens. The shavings can also be used for bedding for sheep, goats, rabbits and hogs. The animals respond very favorably to it.”

Frey has one group of customers he would love to do more work for.

“I would like to get more 4-H people to use the pine shavings for all of the great 4-H projects they do,” Frey says. “They do wonderful work and they need the pine shavings all the time.”

Frey says many people have told him how much they like his pine shavings.

“It has a minimal amount of dust and a very good pine smell that people love,” he says.

“It also has smaller flakes and it cleans easier. The absorbing of the shavings lasts longer.

Customers like that because their animals appreciate it. The shavings are dry and clean. They are high quality.”

Frey says the insulating properties are great and the price is low.

“The price is very reasonable, and the shavings are also easy to carry and easy to store,” he says. “They are lightweight and easy to fill a barn or chicken coop with. You aren’t carrying around something that is too heavy.”

Frey adds that the pine shavings keep the animals very clean.

“The shavings also keep the animals relaxed in their stalls,” Frey says. “The shavings have a calming impact on the animals and they can sleep better. The shavings are fluffier and softer. People have told me that the shavings have made a big difference. Their animals are cozy and comfortable. They are much warmer. Horses and other animals can really calm down and get to sleep. Animals need quality sleep just as much as people do.”

Frey has been able to get new customers through positive word of mouth.

“It also helps that I have another business, Dusty Road Equine, where I sell horses, and I also do horse prepping and horse training,” Frey says. “I enjoy the work and meeting different people that work with horses. It’s a great business. Horse prepping and horse training takes time to get it right, but it’s enjoyable work and I like being outside. I really love working with horses.

It’s something I know a lot about and it’s something I can keep getting better at.” Frey also has another job.

“I’m an electrician at Wolf Pup RV factory, which is also in Topeka,” Frey says. “I love living here. Topeka is a great place to live and work. You are only three miles away from wherever you are going. The people in Topeka are also as nice as can be.”

To find out more about Heritage Pine Shavings, located at 6655 South State Road 5 in Topeka, contact Frey at 260-350-2366. You can also find Heritage Pine Shavings at the following Dealers: KS Horsemanship, Sturgis, MI -269-689-0581; Spring Valley Feed Mill, LaGrange, IN- 260-463-9950; Starlight Feed & Harness, Bristol, IN- 574238-0657; Woodside Harness & Tack, Ligonier, IN- 260-593-0985; Millersburg Feeds, Millersburg, IN- 574-642-9925; Bontrager Feeds, Topeka, IN- 260-5939218; Shipshe Farm Supply, Shipshewana, IN- 260-768-7271; Orva Schlabach, Milford, IN- 574-248-2026; Swiss Acres Harness, LaGrange, IN- 260-463-3559