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Covering Milford, Syracuse & North Webster, Indiana
Scenes From Mermaid Festival
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
One Nation Under God
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PASSING THE CROWN — Cutie Queen Amelia Beer and Cutie King Cruz Turner pass of their royal duties to the new Cutie Queen Remington Nabinger and Cutie King Roczen Vetor. Pictured from left are Beer, Nabinger, Vetor and Turner.
QUEEN OF LAKES — The 2024 Mermaid Festival Queen of Lakes court. Seated in front, on her throne, is 2024 Mermaid Festival Queen of Lakes Madison Nunez. Behind her, from left, are Miss Barbee Lake Lillian Kelsey, Miss Wawasee Lake Rachel Studebaker and Miss Kuhn Lake Chloe Bollinger.
Nunez named 2024 Mermaid Festival Queen Of Lakes Text and Photos By MARISSA SWEATLAND Staff Writer Miss Chapman Lake Madison Nunez was crowned Mermaid Festival Queen of Lakes during the 78th annual pageant, held Saturday, June 22, inside the North Webster Community Center gymnasium. The gymnasium’s bleachers were filled with parents, siblings, friends and community members supporting the con-
Miss Cross Roads State Ameritestants. Fourteen contestants en- can Royal Beauties; and Emily tered the pageant, vying for Parcell, 2024 Georgia Miss Agthe chance to win the crown. riculture USA. The contestants were Miss Each contestant represented a different area lake. Each con- Center Lake Gwendolyn Frank, testant is an upstanding com- 17, North Webster; Miss Syramunity member, many logging cuse Lake Kendell Jarress, 17, multiple pages of community Syracuse; Miss Ridinger Lake service and volunteer experi- Brianna Lackey, 17, Churubusences in their pageant applica- co; Miss Lake Wawasee Rachel tion. Judges for the evening’s Studebaker, 17, Syracuse; Miss pageant were Diane Duncan, Barbee Lake Lillian Kelsey, 20, 2024 America’s Ultimate Warsaw; Miss Chapman Lake Queen; Hannah Fitzpatrick, Continued on page 2
Cutie Contest crowns 78th Royal Court Text and Photos By MARISSA SWEATLAND Staff Writer Parents, family, friends and community members flooded the North Webster Community Center gymnasium on Friday, June 21, to support their cutie in the annual Mermaid Festival Cutie Contest. Thirteen young ladies took the stage alongside 12 young gentlemen, each vying to earn the coveted crown and sash that would forever highlight their names into Mermaid Festival history. The emcee for the evening was North Webster native Phil
Metcalf. The judges of the contest were Willadean Duncan, Hendricks County; Duane Harmon, Madison County; Christy Rushton, Madison County; 2023 Miss Elkhart County 4-H Queen Maya Narayan, Elkhart County; Jay Duncan, Marion County; and Stacy Harmon, Madison County. The judges were judging the cuties on attitude, cooperation, attire, self-confidence and appearance. Each cutie candidate was given a score from one to 10 by each of the six judges. Once the scores were added up, the contests with the highest scorings were
crowned to the cutie court. The judges had a tough decision ahead of them. Each cutie presented themselves with poise, grace and big, big smiles. In the end, the judges agreed Remington Nabinger and Roczen Vetor were the winners of the 78th annual Cutie Contest. Nabinger, 7, is the daughter of Nicole and Trent Nabinger, North Webster. Vetor, 5, is the son of Acacia and Darrell Vetor, Warsaw. Members of the court on the Cutie Queen’s side, in order of finish, were Rihanna Alley, 7, North Webster; Helena Dixon, 7, Warsaw; and Joanna See, 5, Continued on page 2
Syracuse BZA approves two exceptions By MARISSA SWEATLAND Staff Writer The Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals had a two-case agenda at its regular June board meeting held Thursday, June 20. After Board President Randy Cox called the meeting to order, County Assistant Planner Andy Heltzel read the case of community member Rodney Bell. Bell came before the board to petition for an exception for the purpose of allowing the change and alteration of a nonconforming tract by allowing an oversized residence accessory building and lot be combined with the west half lots of 74, 81 and 86. This property is located at 203 E. John St., Syracuse. “Basically what he is wanting to do is take the lot and combine it with the one that his house is on rather than the duplex,” Helt-
zel explained, pointing to various points on the map Bell provided. “No new buildings, just because it is an oversized accessory building we need to have a hearing because it is nonconforming.” “So you’re just tying the lots together?” board member Brandon Wolfermann asked. “Just tying the lots together,” Heltzel confirmed.
The board approved Bell’s petition for an exception. The board then heard from Steve Snyder, on behalf of the petitioner, James Roederer. Roederer petitioned for an exception for the purpose of the construction of a personal storage warehouse with single family residence above in a commercial district. The property is located
at 1411 N. Long Drive, Syracuse. “James wants to put up a personal storage building with residential quarters in it. He’s got a place on Northshore Drive, this would serve as his auxiliary location,” Snyder explained to the board. “This would also give him storage for the typical things lake people need storage for.” “Structure-wise, will it be a
post-frame building?” Cox asked. “Will it be designed to look residential?” “It will be very attractive,” Snyder reassured. “It will look residential in character and two stories tall. It certainly will be compatible with the church
structures and the archery shop next door.” The board approved Roederer’s petition for an exception. The next regular Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals board meeting will be 6 p.m. Thursday, July 18.
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6521 E. Cornelius Road Syracuse, IN 46567 Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 am-5 pm Closed Sunday TYING THE LOT — Andrew Heltzel, county assistant planner, right, points out Rodney Bell’s, left, properties on a map to clarify the request to the Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeal’s board members. Board members pictured from left are Corey Mast, Brandon Wolfermann, Matt Goodnight, Randy Cox and Heltzel. Photo by Marissa Sweatland.
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