$1.50
Covering Milford, Syracuse & North Webster, Indiana
Wednesday, April 27, 2022
District 2 FFA Event At Wawasee See Page 7
One Nation Under God www.the-papers.com
A look at the ballot
*(77,1* 5($'< ³ 9ROXQWHHUV ZLWK WKH )ULHQGV RI WKH /LEUDU\ KDYH EHHQ EXV\ SUHSDULQJ IRU WKLV ZHHN·V ERRN VDOH DW WKH 1RUWK :HEVWHU &RPPXQLW\ 3XEOLF /LEUDU\ 3LFWXUHG IURP OHIW DUH )ULHQGV PHPEHUV -XDQLWD 5RELQHWW (OVLH 5LJGRQ +HOHQ )UDQN DQG 'HE 0LQHDU ZKR ZHUH VSHQGLQJ WKHLU 7XHVGD\ DIWHUQRRQ VRUWLQJ ERRNV LQ DQWLFLSDWLRQ RI WKH VDOH ZKLFK ZLOO WDNH SODFH IURP D P WR S P 7KXUVGD\ $SULO DQG D P WR S P )ULGD\ $SULO 7KH\ ZLOO EH VHOOLQJ D YDULHW\ RI ERRNV ERWK KDUGFRYHU DQG SDSHUEDFN DV ZHOO DV '9'V &'V DQG RWKHU PDWHULDOV DOO DW EDUJDLQ SULFHV 3KRWR E\ .HLWK .QHSS
Earth Day Festival at WACF As April showers turn to May flowers, the nature lovers and the outdoorsmen are sure to be getting antsy for a day out in the sun and dirt. The annual Earth Day Festival, hosted by the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation, 11586 N. SR 13, Syracuse, should be just the thing to scratch that hibernation itch.
This festival is free to all, and will run 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 30. There’s plenty to see and do for all ages, and the event offers a great mixture of fun and education. There will be more than 20 educational, fun, handson programs. If you’re interested in seeing a raptor, learning what challenges
birds face during migration, experiencing a muzzle-loading gun, explore wild spaces on trails in the county, find a geocache and so much more, you’ll find it all here. There will be a series of interactive sessions held during the festival at the amphitheater. “Does Nature Love Us Back” will be co-hosted by Cliff Kindy, Dani
Tippman and John Edgerton, who have spent their lifetimes working with plants, animals, water and soil. They come together for the first time to offer a shared vision of their life’s work, woven from three independent strands into a unified message of hope, harmony and humility. Continued on page 2
Van Buren Township sells 2001 fire truck Etna Township Fire Chief Randall Byrer visited the April 26 meeting of the Van Buren Township Advisory Board, where the board approved the sale of Milford Volunteer Fire Department’s 2001 International pumper truck
Turkey Creek Dam and Dike to meet May 7 The Turkey Creek Dam and Dike Conservancy District will meet at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 7. The meeting will be held at the WACF office, 11586 SR 13, Syracuse. The public is invited to attend.
to Etna Township for $28,500. Also on hand were members of Milford Fire Department, including Assistant Chief Steve Farber, who said Milford’s new truck, a 2022 Freightliner purchased by Van Buren Township for $412,760 from Hoosier Fire, was in service and has already been on several runs.
The $28,500 will go into the township cumulative fire fund. Also on hand was Diane Perry, who plans to run for Van Buren Township Trustee Becky Alles’ office and has been accompanying Alles to meetings and training. Alles requested the board consider her (Alles) as trustee designee for the 2023 budget so she could
continue to assist Perry. A vote will be made at the June meeting after Alles’ remuneration is decided. Alles reported purchasing a new computer in March for $869 and expending $480 in repairs and maintenance. The old computer was six years old and had a Continued on page 2
Commissioners approve South Shore rezoning %\ /($+ 6$1'(5 6WDII :ULWHU Kosciusko County Commissioners have approved several rezoning requests, including one for creating housing at a former golf course site. That was done at the commissioners’ meeting on Tuesday, April 26. The four requests, which were presented by Kosciusko County Area Assistant Planner and Floodplain Administrator Matt Sandy, previously
received favorable recommendations at the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission’s April 6 meeting. Two of the requests involved rezoning property at the former South Shore golf course in Syracuse. Steve Snyder, the attorney for petitioner South Shore Ventures LLC, spoke in favor of the rezoning, with no remonstrators present at the meeting. Twenty acres of the former golf course are being rezoned from residential and public use
to agricultural and 54.12 acres from public use to residential. The former will allow the Lakeland Youth Center to relocate there “along with some outdoor sports fields,” said Snyder, and the latter request is to create a subdivision. He said he plans to come before the commissioners later to rezone the remaining acreage to commercial. Snyder noted before the commissioners voted the rezoning was important because SyraContinued on page 2
Fence allowed with conditions for WCSC %\ '(% 3$77(5621 (GLWRU ,Q &KLHI An exemption request by Wawasee Community School Corporation was approved, with conditions, by the Syracuse Board of Zoning Thursday evening, April 21, at its monthly meeting. The conditions came at the request of neighbors, Brad and Lynette Jackson, through attorney Steve Snyder. The corporation requested the exception to allow the Marine Mechanics class to have a fenced area in a public use district. The fenced area would be used to store boats, watercrafts and small engine projects as an
5IF .BJM +PVSOBM
accessory use to the school. The facility is located at 801 S. Sycamore St. The petition was brought to the attention of the planning office staff after a complaint was filed. Matt Sandy, assistant planner, stated the property was originally zoned industrial, and was rezoned to public use after being purchased by the school corporation. As part of the class operation, boats began being stored on the property, which is not permitted in a public use district. The area plan commission recommended the BZA hear the matter as an exception. James Flecker, counsel for
Inside
%\ '$9,' +$=/(',1( 6WDII :ULWHU
the corporation, explained the program and goals, which included storing 20-25 boats students winterize and prepare for summer use. The storage area would be moved to the northwest portion of the property. An 8-foot fence with two swinging gates and a black vinyl wrap will be constructed. Snyder said the Jacksons support and understand the purpose of the program, but don’t like looking at blue tarps all the time. Snyder brought up issues his clients expressed. “There are a couple issues that need to be resolved that Flecker didn’t talk about,” said Snyder. Continued on page 2
LYC Had Small Beginnings See Page 9 See The Public Notice On Page 10
Who will be on your ballot? While the locations where registered voters can cast their ballots have changed, the candidates appearing on the ballot will remain the same as if voters went to their respective precinct polling locations. The Democrat ballot will have one race for voters to decide, if they reside in the U.S. Rep. Third District. Locally that includes Tippecanoe and Turkey Creek townships. Republicans will have a full ballot with a number of races, depending on the voter’s residence. Republican Ballot Here is what voters in the Lakeland area will see on Republican ballots. The nomination for the U.S. Senate is voted on by all voters. Todd Young is running unopposed. The candidates for U.S. Rep. Second District and U.S. Rep. Third District are also unopposed. Those residing in Jefferson, Plain and Van Buren townships will see only Jackie Walorski’s name on the ballot for U.S. Rep. Second District. Likewise, those in Tippecanoe and Turkey Creek townships will see only the name of Jim Banks on the ballot for U.S. Rep. Third District. Voters in Tippecanoe and Turkey Creek townships will see
David Abbott’s name as the only candidate for State Rep. District 18. Voters in Jefferson, Plain and Van Buren townships will be deciding if Curt Nisly or Craig Snow will take the nomination for State Rep. District 22. Nominations for district county council seats are voted by only those residing in the districts up for election. The County Council District 1 race between Kimberly Cates and Todd Davis will be decided by those voters residing in Tippecanoe and Turkey Creek townships and Plain Precincts 1 and 4. County Council District 3 voters, residing in Plain Township Precinct 5, will decide between Anthony (Tony) Ciriello, Scott Clay or Josh Lozano. While there is no race for County Council District 2 seat, sought by Michael Long, only voters in Jefferson and VanBuren townships and Plain Township Precincts 2, 3 and 7 will vote for his nomination. Races decided countywide will include: County Auditor — Rhonda J. Helser and Chasity Sandy County Recorder — Teena Pence and Deborah A. Wright County Sheriff — Kyle Dukes and James Smith Continued on page 2
Vote centers make it easier to vote Voters will have it easier to cast their votes in this year’s primary election. No longer will voters need to leave for work early, or leave work early to cast their vote, that is if they work in Kosciusko County. The 2022 primary is the first time Kosciusko County voters will use vote centers. This means you can vote anywhere in the county between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Your ballot will appear the same as if you had voted in your precinct. You live in Milford, but work in Warsaw? No problem. There are eight vote centers in the Warsaw area you can visit to cast your ballot for the precinct you reside. Nothing else has changed. You will still need to show a valid identification, such as a driver’s license, and as with any primary, you will have to declare a party. There are 21 vote centers throughout the county, one in every community. Locally the vote centers will be located at: Leesburg — Leesburg Lion’s Community Building, 114 W.
School St. Milford — Wawasee Community Bible Church, 2035 E. 1300N North Webster — North Webster Community Center, 301 N. Main St. Syracuse — Syracuse Community Center, 1013 N. Long Dr. Additional vote centers will be located at: Atwood — Atwood Community Center, 213 Hovey St. Burket/Mentone — Mentone Fire Station, 201 W. Main St. Claypool — Claypool Lions Building, 205 W. Calhoun St. Etna Green — Heritage Park Building, 228 S. Walnut St. Nappanee — Mount Tabor Hall, 8424 N. 800W, Etna Green Pierceton — Pierceton Community Building, 105 W. Walnut St. Silver Lake — Town Hall meeting room, 604 N. Jefferson St. Sidney — Amazing Grace Community Church, 202 W. ArContinued on page 2
ELECT
Kimberly
CATES Kosciusko County Council “Experienced & Engaged” “I will listen and represent you.” Paid For By The Committee To Elect Kimberly Cates