The Mail-Journal - July 19, 2023 by The Papers Inc.

$1.50

Covering Milford, Syracuse & North Webster, Indiana

Wednesday, July 19, 2023

Krull Is World Champion One Nation Under God

Page 8 themail-journal.com

Wawasee announces project public hearings The Board of School Trustees of Wawasee Community Corporation will meet 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, and 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, in the Warrior Room at Wawasee High School, 1 Warrior Path, Syracuse, to hold public hearings. On Tuesday, Aug. 1, the board will hold a public hearing to discuss and hear objections and support regarding the proposed renovation of and improvements to Wawasee High School, including the construction of a new Performing Arts Center; reconstruction and/or renovation of Milford School; and the renovation of and improvements to facilities in the school corporation, including deferred maintenance improvements and site improvements, and the purchase of equipment and technology, collectively known as the “Project.” On Tuesday, Aug. 8, the board will hold a second public hearing to discuss and hear objections and support regarding the proposed Project and will consider the adoption of a resolution making a preliminary determination to enter into a lease agreement relating to the Project and to issue binds to ﬁnance the Project. The public is invited to attend and participate in the public hearings.

(1-2<,1* 6800(5 ³ 3LFWXUHG DUH $OLDV %ULGJHV -D\FHH :HLQOH\ DQG *DEULDO :HLQOH\ DW :DXEHH /DNH 7KH\ ZHUH HQMR\LQJ D QLFH VXQQ\ GD\ DW WKH EHDFK LQ 0LOIRUG ODVW ZHHN 7KH\ DUH IURP 1HZ <RUN DQG ZHUH YLVLWLQJ IDPLO\ LQ /HHVEXUJ 3KRWR E\ 3KRHEH 0XWKDUW

4-H King’s suit sold instead of kiss at annual 4-H livestock auction 7H[W DQG 3KRWRV %\ '(% 3$77(5621 (GLWRU ,Q &KLHI One of the highlights, and often the most amusing, of the annual Kosciusko County 4-H Livestock Auction is the 4-H

King and Queen Kiss. These cherished kisses have gone to family members, boy friends or girl friends, youngsters of friends and event a pet calf. But this year the King’s Kiss didn’t sell on Friday, July 14. This year’s 4-H King Charlie

Krull, son of Shawn and Lissa Krull, Milford, stood in front of the auctioneers stand and waited, and waited. No bids came in. Lighthearted banter about Krull’s long curly hair blowing in the wind were made as well as the fact it was said he had

County Council approves funds for justice building %\ '$9,' 6/21( 7LPHV 8QLRQ After further review and discussion, the Kosciusko County Council on Thursday, July 13, approved to use $2.4 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to make improvements to the Justice Building. At their June 8 meeting, the council had tabled the request to use the ARPA funds to cover the cost of the interior upgrades on the building that is 40 years old in some places because of the estimated costs. The county’s ARPA committee and the county commissioners approved the use of the funds for the building work. Commissioner Cary Groninger brought Chris Stine, architect with Design Collaborative, with him to the meeting Thursday to help explain the costs and process. Groninger thanked those council members who did take a tour of the Justice Building after the June meeting to see what was needed to be done. He referred to the ﬂoor plans provided to the council showing

areas the improvements will include. “Because when you start talking about all three floors of the Justice Building, that square footage really starts to add up from the number of square footage we’re actually touching,” he said. Stine explained how they came up with the square foot and lineal foot costs for the project. “In essence, you’re looking at flooring, which consists of resistant flooring; carpeting. You’re looking at wall coverings, which really consist of either vinyl wall fabric replacement or painting. And you’re looking at

base, which is wood products in some locations and vinyl products in other locations,” he said. In their initial meetings and walk-throughs with County Ad-

ministrator Marsha McSherry, he said they talked about ceilings, doors and “all kinds of things,” but ended up limiting Continued on page 3

Polywood reportedly lays off employees %\ /$85(1 =(8*1(5 6WDII :ULWHU Polywood in Syracuse has reportedly laid off approximately 200 employees earlier this week. Multiple attempts to reach of-

ﬁcials at Polywood for comment were unsuccessful. Dave Wilkinson, Syracuse town manager, said he had not heard if Polywood was planning on laying off anyone prior to being contacted by The Mail-Journal.

been practicing for that purchased kiss. Still no bids came in and Krull walked away. But he wasn’t walking away because of the lack of bids. He walked behind the auction stand and grabbed the tropical suit and tie he wore the evening he was crowned 4-H King. This blue and white suit with palm trees, water and ﬂamingos began a bidding frenzy. First his father, Shawn walks up to the stage and offers $1 as he originally purchased the suit. Then Andrew Ferrell takes the mike and bids $100 so he can wear the suit as a show stopper at 4-H meetings. But he was outbid by Dan Knepper, who has known Charlie since he was in mini 4-H, offering $250 so he can wear it when they go to Key West. At this point Knepper was the highest bidder. That is until Kosciusko County Sheriff Jim Smith came up, and while admitting he didn’t know what was going

on said he has been thinking about changing the color of the jail jumpsuits. “Orange is not everyone’s color.” He bid $400. He was outbid by Colton Crabb who needed a suit for the prom and bid $500. Josh Crabb knows his son doesn’t have that kind of money and bids $600 to buy the suit to use for curtains in the camper for next year’s fair. At this point the auctioneer jumps in and starts the bidding at $650. But just as the bidding was getting underway Hubert and Beth Krull, Charlie’s grandparents, appear as they thought Charlie was to give his grandmother a kiss. But instead his suit was being auctioned off and they wanted the suit for their other grandsons to wear in the future. “It’s the next family heirloom,” Hubert Krull stated. A bidding war then begins between Hubert and Josh with the bid at $1,000. Continued on page 2

Syracuse Town Council moving forward with utility rate hike %\ /$85(1 =(8*1(5 6WDII :ULWHU After review of a utility rate study done by London Witte group, an Indianapolis accounting firm, the Syracuse Town Council instructed Robert Reynolds, a representative of the firm, to come up with a rate ordinance during its regular meeting Tuesday night, July 18. Reynolds went over three scenarios for both water and sewer rates. The first having the town raising rates to cover operation expenses and upcoming projects. The second was covering expenses in a combination of a rate hike and a $500,000 bond. The third was covering expenses in a combination of a rate hike and a $1 million bond. Town Attorney Jay Rigdon reviewed the procedure for passing the rate ordinance. The town council would introduce the rate ordinance at its August meeting,

5IF .BJM +PVSOBM

hold a public hearing and adopt the ordinance at its September meeting with the ordinance going into affect in October. “The debt (from the proposed bonds in scenarios two and three) scares me,” said Councilman Bill Musser. “We have a lot ahead of us. I think we have to put this on the tax payer rather than the city.” He noted other communities in the area have significantly raised their rates recently. “I think it’s important for the public to understand inflation has affected the water utility,” said Councilman Larry Siegel. Musser noted after this initial rate hike, the town should move forward by slightly increasing rates every year so the town doesn’t run into a similar problem in the future. Under the first option, an aver-

age customer, which uses approximately 3,000 gallons a month, would have their water bill increased by approximately $4.82 and their sewer bill increase by $13.81. In his town manger’s report, Dave Wilkinson reviewed a plan he and Mark Aurich, public works superintendent, have developed to fund projects using American Rescue Plan Act funds. Wilkinson reviewed upcoming projects from now through 2025 and how they could be funded. The Oakwood Lift Station project would require $40,000 from the Oakwood Improvement Account to cover the cost. The Lakeside Water Loop project would require $12,360 from the water depreciation fund. Wilkinson and Aurich are lookContinued on page 2

Indiana’s Largest Marina

-bm _-mm;Ѵ bv om; o= m7b-m-Ľv Ѵ-u];v| l-ubm-v ruo 7Ѵ 1-uu bm] |_; 0;v| 0u-m7v om |_; -|;uĺ )b|_ |_; 0b]];v| v;Ѵ;1ঞom o= m; -m7 ru;o m;7 0o-|vķ |_;u;Ľv v u; |o 0; - 7u;-l0o-| -bঞm] =ou o ĺ

Over 90 Years of Exceptional Service and Products

6521 E. Cornelius Road Syracuse, IN 46567 Hours: Monday-Saturday 9 am-5 pm Closed Sunday

574.457.4404

wawaseeboat.com b t