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Covering Milford, Syracuse & North Webster, Indiana
Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Student Builders
One Nation Under God
Page 9 www.the-papers.com
New chapter starting at Shopoff’s location %\ /$85(1 =(8*1(5 6WDII :ULWHU It’s almost a year to the day when it was announced in Cruisin’ Cuse Jon Shopoff had retired and was not going to reopen the root beer stand at 417 S. Huntington St., (SR 13), Syracuse. Shopoff hung up his apron after 36 years at the drive-in. Now a new chapter for the location is starting. Aaron Allen has purchased the building and is right now in the process of renovating it. While he doesn’t currently have plans, a new restaurant may be in the works. Currently, Allen is in the middle of a major remodel to bring the building up to code. Allen said in a brief phone conversation what he anticipated to be a twoto three-month project will now take considerably longer. Allen said the project is expected to take up to six months, although he hopes it won’t, due to supply line and scheduling issues. Although many will remember the restaurant by its most recent name, the history of the building dates back several years prior to when it was purchased by Jon and Margie Shopoff in 1982 or 1983. Last June former colleague Tim Ashley received a history of the building from Tami Gallahan Tschiniak, daughter of Harold and Annie Gallahan. Tschiniak Continued on page 2
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On Wednesday, March 30, Tippecanoe Township Trustee Chris Francis finalized the transfer of ownership of North Webster Ball Diamonds to the Wawasee Community Summer League. “We’ll still support them as the township as well,” Francis added, referring to mowing, tree trimming and providing fresh dirt to the property during the offseason. The township is also a sponsor and recently contributed $2,500 to the league. “It’s all about the youth of the ,1 ,76 +(<'$< ³ 6KRSRII·V RSHQLQJ IRU WKH VHDVRQ ZDV DOZD\V D FURZG SOHDVHU DQG UHVLGHQWV DQG VXP community. It’s a great organizaPHU YLVLWRUV ZHUH GLVDSSRLQWHG WR OHDUQ ODVW \HDU WKDW -RQ 6KRSRII KDG GHFLGHG WR UHWLUH DIWHU \HDUV 7RGD\ WKH tion,” said Francis. GULYH LQ ORFDWLRQ KDV D QHZ RZQHU )LOH SKRWR Wawasee Community Summer League offers tee ball, baseball and softball for children ages 4-14. So far around 300 have signed up for the 2022 season, according to league volunteer Jamie Beer, who
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expects a total of roughly 400 participants by the end of the process. Francis noted how the players, parents and volunteers have put in a “tremendous amount of work” to the ball diamonds’ upkeep. The transfer of ownership is to both “reward them for the work they put in” and provide assurance their work would not be “undone” in the future. “A lot of kids come out and help for work days,” confirmed Mike Fowler, league commissioner. The transfer process started in 2019, when the township approached the league about taking ownership of the property; however, the COVID pandemic caused delays. According to Francis, Kosciusko County Surveyor Mike Kissinger donated his time assisting with the legal description and platting of the property “out of the kindness of his heart … without costing the town or the league any money.”
Salyer resigns as director of Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce %\ /$85(1 =(8*1(5 6WDII :ULWHU
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Four candidates vying for county commissioners nomination Incumbent Robert “Bob” Conley is being challenged by three candidates for the Republican nomination for Kosciusko County Commissioner — Southern District in the May 3 primary election. No Democrat candidate has filed for the primary. Conley is a barber in Warsaw
and also serves on the Kosciusko County Area Planning Commission. Other candidates are: Elaine Kokenge, a technician at Kosciusko Community Hospital. Brian Pyle, a local attorney who serves on the Purdue Extension board of directors in Kosciusko County. Don Wiesehan Jr., who works
for the Parkview Health Police Department in Fort Wayne and is a retired Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputy and was also a Winona Lake police officer. The Mail-Journal asked each candidate three questions and here are their responses. What do you see as the most important issue in Kosciusko County and how do you plan to address it?
Conley: “Fiscal responsibility. We as a county apply for and receive a tremendous amount of grant monies both from the federal government as well as the State of Indiana. During the year of 2021 we were granted $11.4 million. This is money we have paid in taxes that the federal/state overcollects. If we write grants, they will pay it back. At Continued on page 2
Two running for Syracuse Town Council District 2
5(1($ 6$/<(5 done an absolutely outstanding job in the last 2 1/2 years. She has been the key to making our chamber a driving force in the advancement of our community. This is a credit to her and to her alone.” Candidates for the position of executive director are being identified and are being solicited. In the interim, Dennis Pressler, as board president, will be the acting executive director.
Indiana’s Largest Marina Over 90 Years of Exceptional Service and Products
%\ /$85(1 =(8*1(5 6WDII :ULWHU This election season, there are two Republican candidates running for Syracuse Town Council District 2. Incumbent Paul Stoelting is being challenged by Matthew Goodnight. Why do you want to represent District 2? Stoelting: “I live in District 2 and I’ve done it for 20-plus years. I think I have knowledge to give to the council. I think that takes time to gain. I think experience
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The Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce notified its members Wednesday morning, April 6, that Renea Salyer, executive director, had tendered her resignation as the executive director of the chamber and the SWCC Foundation on Monday, March 28. Her last official day with the chamber was April 6. In her resignation letter, Salyer stated the commute from Warsaw to Syracuse and the additional time required of her position had placed a burden on her personal ability to meet the increasing needs of her family. Salyer has already accepted a position in Warsaw. She will be available on an “of counsel” basis beyond April 6 to assist the chamber in its transition. In an email notifying members of Salyer’s resignation, the SyracuseWawasee Chamber of Commerce’s board of directors noted Salyer “has
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