MAGAZINE
JULY 2022
LOCAL FOCUS KEGAN SCHMICKER IS RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF TIPTON
DISHING IT OUT TRES HERMANOS NUNEZ FINDS A FOOTING IN TIPTON
TownePost.com
Eder Martinez
DISHING IT OUT
TRES HERMANOS NUNEZ FINDS A FOOTING IN TIPTON Writer / Matt Keating Photography Provided
Eder Martinez, manager of Tres Hermanos Nunez in Tipton, says he has enjoyed what every restaurant manager hopes for - repeat customers. “We have been extremely busy since we opened on February 18,” Martinez says. “A lot of that is repeat business. People come in here for the first time, and tell me after their meals that they couldn’t wait to come back. They loved their food and were looking forward to returning.”
Martinez says his regulars have also told their families and friends that they enjoy the wide variety of different choices on the menu. “A lot of people have told me they have been surprised that we aren’t just another taco and burrito restaurant,” Martinez says. “We have those delicious items of course, but we also have a lot of different great steaks. They have been very popular.” The sandwich choices are also appealing to repeat customers. “Mexican restaurants aren’t always known for their cheeseburgers 2 / TIPTON MAGAZINE / JULY 2022 / TownePost.com
and hamburgers, but we have received a lot of positive response for those menu items as well,” Martinez says. Martinez notes that the seafood has also been tremendously popular. “We have a seafood dish called Special Jennifer, which includes grilled shrimp, onions, tomatoes, peppers and mushrooms,” he says. “We also have an excellent Shrimp Diablo, which is grilled shrimp with bacon in a hot and spicy sauce. Those are just a couple of the outstanding seafood meals we have. We also have a wide array of different items. The menu of Mexican dishes is also very big.” Martinez adds that customers are very pleased with the prices at Tres Hermanos Nunez. “We have great prices,” Martinez says. “Customers tell me all the time that they can’t believe the amount of food they are getting at such low prices. I have had many people tell me that has been a big deal for them, especially during these crazy times with the economy.” Martinez says Tres Hermanos Nunez in Tipton is one of 10 franchise restaurants. “We thought Tipton would be an ideal location, because we thought this market was perfect for a restaurant that had an extensive menu that would offer people a wide variety
of menu options,” he says. “Not everyone wants to order Mexican Food. They might be more in the mood for a sandwich, or a steak or seafood. We thought Tipton was also an outstanding city. There are a lot of great businesses and schools here.” “We appreciate the community for letting
us become a part of it,” he adds. “We want to say thank you for letting us be a part of it. Thank you for your continued business now and for years to come.” Check out Tres Hermanos Nunez at 870 East Jefferson Street in Tipton, and call 765408-0477 for more info.
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870 E Jefferson St / 765-408-0477 / treshermanosnunez.com TownePost.com / JULY 2022 / TIPTON MAGAZINE / 3
LOCAL FOCUS KEGAN SCHMICKER IS RUNNING FOR MAYOR OF TIPTON
Kegan, Rio and Keilah Schmicker Writer / Christy Heitger-Ewing Photography Provided
There’s something special about a small town. Kegan Schmicker and his wife Keilah realized after moving away from their hometown of Winamac just how much they appreciate small-town life. After struggling to establish a sense of connectivity in Noblesville, they began to house hunt in small communities in Hamilton County places like Cicero, Lapel, Sheridan, Arcadia
and Atlanta. After getting outbid on seven different homes, however, they expanded their search to include Tipton. It turned out to be the perfect fit. “From the moment we moved to Tipton, we were surrounded by people who genuinely cared about connection,” Schmicker says. “People here want to help one another, both personally and professionally.” After relocating to Tipton in the spring 4 / TIPTON MAGAZINE / JULY 2022 / TownePost.com
of 2015, Schmicker got involved with the Chamber of Commerce and the Tipton Main Street Association. Soon after, he enrolled in an economic development course at Ball State University and began working with the City of Tipton on economic and community development activities. In recent years, Schmicker has been involved in several economic development and downtown revitalization projects. For
“ FROM THE MOMENT WE MOVED TO TIPTON, WE WERE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE WHO GENUINELY CARED ABOUT CONNECTION. PEOPLE HERE WANT TO HELP ONE ANOTHER, BOTH PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.” — KEGAN SCHMICKER
instance, he helped secure a $160,000 grant for the pool and splash pad. He has applied for a planning grant through the state that allowed them to create their downtown strategic plan. At that same time, Schmicker worked with the Tipton Redevelopment Commission to create a riverfront district for the downtown area to complement the downtown plan. He also helped solicit stories and volunteers to be featured on Ball State’s WIPB “Now Entering Tipton” production. “That project helped re-instill a sense of pride of place in the community,” he says. Schmicker, who has served as executive director of the Tipton County Chamber of Commerce since September of 2020, applied to T-Mobile’s Hometown Techover Challenge, which is a nationwide contest
for small communities. Tipton was selected as a top-10 nominee, which earned them a $50,000 grant. The Tipton County Chamber was awarded a grant from the Indiana Destination Development Corporation to install a mural in Sharpsville. In addition, Tipton was a nominee for TechPoint’s annual Mira Award in the category of Community Impact this year the state’s largest tech-based honor.
a shift in the momentum of downtown revitalization efforts, and he’d like to ramp those back up. He plans to focus on Tipton’s recreational assets and leverage the things that make Tipton a great community. He also wants to find ways to revitalize downtown that create more public-private partnerships.
“It was exciting to be recognized by a panel of 53 judges for that nomination, and to acknowledge the work we are doing at the chamber of commerce is getting noticed,” he says.
“Some of these cornerstone properties in our community are in such disrepair,” he says. “Without public-private partnerships, the only other solution is demolition, and I don’t think we should be supporting demolition as the strategy for our downtown.”
He recently announced his plans to run for mayor of Tipton in the May 2023 primary. He was motivated to do so because following the pandemic, he witnessed
Schmicker helped kickstart the latest iteration of the trails group, which is a project started by volunteers who hit a roadblock in the planning process.
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“It’s a common objection for property owners not to want a trail near their property, but if there’s local leadership involved in the process, it helps aid community conversations regarding formal planning,” says Schmicker, who welcomes individuals to share their opinions.
of area leaders. Recruiting and mobilizing volunteers is a key factor to success. “Especially for a rural community, volunteers are incredibly important,” says Schmicker, who feels that the best way to achieve economic prosperity is through a shared economic development strategy. “You have greater success by recruiting people to participate in the planning process. It starts there.”
“We recently took Rio to the golf course with us because we like to golf, and she did amazing,” he says. “That will be a new regular activity.” As for career plans going forward, Schmicker says he wants to get people participating in local government like they have never done before.
“As a leader of the community, whether it’s city council or the mayor, your first “Residents of Tipton need to see that obligation is to listen to the concerns of the getting involved in their community community and to try to work with them to should be rewarding and exciting. I think Should he win, Schmicker, 32, will join a resolve those concerns,” Schmicker says. “I through doing that, we will be successful growing list of young mayors across the think that’s how government should work a communityPhilip because we will see greater state, including Ryan Daniel of Columbia - in more ofPhillip an inclusive nature than it is E. Nichols Philip V. Nichols Robert L. as Nichols B. Nichols Robert F. Nichols participation from the community in all City, Joshua Marsh of Greensburg, and today.” facets,” says Schmicker, who loves nothing EXPERIENCE…... Matthew Gentry of Lebanon. more than walking from the chamber office When elected officials lead community Our family has beenmotivation, serving your families since Phillip Nichols daughter to the bank, waving to folks along the way. The Schmickers have E. a 2-year-old efforts, not only can it increase started working but for William Young in the 1890’s. named Rio, back and two dogs named Copper efficiency and effectiveness, it can & Seneca AsV.fourth funeralB.directors with a combined 75 Philip Nichols generation L.licensed Nichols Nichols Robert F. Nichols Belle. In their free time, the family likes “I love that unspoken communication also inspire a new group ofRobert people to get Philipand years experience, Bob & Brad Nichols have the background and NCE…... involved. Plus, volunteers play at or enjoy the concert among people,” he says. “It shows that you knowledgecan to feel helpconfident you throughtosome of the the splash hardestpad times en serving yourthat families Phillip they E. Nichols series in the park, downtown concert series, recognize each other, see them, appreciate thesince project are working on will be you will face – the loss of a loved one. or William & Seneca Young back in the 1890’s. them and support them.” and golfing. funded if they know they have the support on licensed funeral directors with a combined 75
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