The Mail-Journal - September 27, 2023

Band Wins First In Three Contests

Page 9

Justice building security ordinance amended

The security ordinance that limited or prohibited deadly weapons, cell phones, recordings and food in the Justice Building was amended by the Kosciusko County Commissioners Tuesday, Sept. 26, but still left concerns for a Warsaw man who questioned the constitutionality of it Tuesday and on Sept. 12.

The commissioners approved the original ordinance on Aug. 15. County attorney Ed Ormsby read applicable portions of the ordinance Tuesday and spoke about what had changed in it.

Morton’s receive 2023 Charles D. Smith Award

Editor-In-Chief

Willard ‘Bill’ Morton and his wife Victoria ‘Vicki’ Morton, Syracuse, whose involvement and compassion has left an impact on the community, were awarded the 2023 Charles D. “Charlie” Smith Award by the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeast Indiana.

The award was presented Tuesday evening, Sept. 26, during the organization’s 10th anniversary celebration.

“Vicki and I are deeply honored to stand here today as recipients of the Charles D. Smith award. This recognition has a profound meaning to us as it represents the values and ideals that guide our lives,” said Bill Morton.

He continued by stating “bestowing this prestigious honor upon us, to be counted with the likes of Charlie Smith and past recipients is truly humbling. We accept this award with ... responsibility and a debt of gratitude to the countless individuals and organizations who have partnered with us in Kosciusko County. Through collaboration, shared visions and dedication to community, we’ve been able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.”

Bill Morton added that volunteering is not a solitary endeavor but a collective force for positive change.

He noted he became a Big Brother through the lunch buddy program, which turned into a community based match. Since his first Little has now turned 18, he has been matched with a second lunch buddy. “My two Littles have made a hugh impact in my life ... you will receive a huge return on your investment of time on mentoring a Little.”

Vicki, who saw how much fun her husband was having with his

Little, joined the program and received the same experience. She has moved on to a second lunch buddy. “Trust me, we have gotten more out of our experiences with Big Brothers Big Sisters than we could impossibly image. We have also learned a lot about the residents in the community and ways to help those in need.

“We would not be living in this community ... if not for agencies like Cardinal Center,” stated Vicki Morton. Because of Cardinal Center, they are able to have a place for their son Andrew, who has cognitive challenges, to go during the day, which he loves. “We are able to handle CASA cases, teach Junior Achievement classes, be lunch buddies and even have a few minutes to ourselves.”

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Syracuse BZA hears marina exception, neighbors plead denial

During the Thursday, Sept. 21, Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals regular meeting, the board had a full agenda and audience.

Steve Snyder represented Brandon Beller and Main Channel Marina. He went before the board to ask for an exception for the purpose of allowing a marina in a residential district and a variance which would permit allowing two uses on a tract of ground: the residence and marina. The property is located at 700 E. Palm Drive, Syracuse. The marina would like to build outside boat storage within a screened, fenced area.

“The open boat storage will have no building, just screened on the south and east sides,” Snyder explained, “the effect on values will be minimal.” The purchase of the property is dependant on the exception and variance’s approval.

“This is a logical expansion,” Snyder suggested, “with the screening it would be cited for a minimal effect on adjacent properties. This is for boat storage only, this not for customer or employee parking. It will be outside boat storage in the winter time and boat trailers in the summer time.”

When Randy Cox, fiscal body of the municipality, asked the public if anyone was here in favor of the project, Perry Glancy raised his hand.

“I have owned property by Main Channel Marina since 2015 and it was recently sold in 2021, but since I purchased that property I was a direct neighbor to the marina. They are great neighbors. They cleaned up Smokey’s. Sometimes progress is hard to swallow, but we are a boating community and it is a lake. Several families there is how they make a living and put money back into the community,” Glancy explained.

County Plan Commission Director Matthew Sandy read a letter on file from Gerald and Allyson Ellis, which cited their disapproval of the exception and variance. The letter cited traffic and speed limit concerns.

“There is too much commercial traffic in a residential area,” the letter read.

When Cox asked the public if anyone was here in opposition of the project, nearly every hand shot up into the air.

Everyone had a turn to speak and everyone brought up the same general concerns: traffic and property values.

“The thing you don’t see, sitting behind your desk there is the traffic,” Ellis explained to the board. “People drive like a bat. We have already have had one fatality and I told the police someone will get hurt or killed again. You guys let this go with not holding back some of this and you’re going to be sorry. This commercial thing is going to bite you, and it’s going to happen soon.”

“Progress and growth always

leads to more traffic,” Snyder responded, “but we can’t control the drivers, nor is it our job to control it. There will be development in this community, it is a high demand community. If you look at a recent study, Syracuse has higher real estate prices than anywhere in the state. The effect of that is a result of lakes. Well, lakes require support and one of the main support systems of a lake is a marina.”

“My main concern is the traffic is horrible. Besides that, my concern is if they get the storage unit, is it going to turn out like the Harkless situation? Now it has just got approved to build buildings on it. It’s just going to go more and more and more. When is that going to stop? Are we all just going to back out properties up to the marina? We did not except this kind of growth and it is going to depreciate our property values if we have a marina in the backyard,” Vickie Owen pleaded, with most of the audience nodded in agreement.

“I do think that is where we need to draw the line, no buildings on this new lot. We are top 50 most expensive places to live in America right now so property values, although I understand the concern, I do not see the depreciation in Syracuse,” Brandon Wolferman, executive of the municipality, explained.

“What we did with Smokey’s has not affected anybody’s prop-

Reading the ordinance, he said, “1.) No person, other than law enforcement officers, elected officials, officers of the court and authorized security personnel for the Justice Building shall possess within the Justice Building any deadly weapon as defined by Indiana code.

“2.) Except as otherwise authorized by one of the judges and except for law enforcement officers, elected officials, officers of the court, authorized security personnel for the Justice Building and employees or contractors of the county or the state of Indiana that are conducting official business: No person shall possess or use a mobile phone on the second floor of the Justice Building.”

He continued, “3.) No person shall bring food or drink into the Justice Building, except for persons that work at the Justice Building.” A violation of section 1 of the ordinance may result in a fine of up to but not more than $2,500 for the

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NEW ROYALTY — Wawasee high school seniors Donovan Blair and Kylie Perkins were named homecoming king and queen Friday, Sept. 22. Blair is involved in wrestling, student council and National Honor Society. Perkins is involved in girls basketball, Future Farmers of America and National Honor Society. The homecoming ceremony took place during halftime of Wawasee’s 14-7 loss to Northridge, during which Blair rushed for a touchdown in the first quarter. Photo by Nathan Pace.

Syracuse BZA denies air conditioner variance

At the Thursday, Sept. 21, Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals regular meeting, Steve Snyder presented on behalf of ASK3 Commerical. Snyder petitioned for a variance which would permit the placement of an exterior air conditioning unit two feet from the east side property line. The building is located at 621 E. Northshore Drive, Syracuse.

The original set of plans included air conditioning condenser and a generator at the southwest corner of the building. The HVAC professional recommended a second air conditioner in a different location to be able to cool and heat the amount of cubic footage.

The air conditioner would be a mere two feet from the neighboring property line, when ordinance requires five.

Snyder presented a letter from Mickey Scott, fire chief of Turkey Creek Fire Territory, that firefighters need five feet open space and they are able to work around air conditioning units. Snyder pointed out there is plenty of open space.

Snyder helped represent David Fry. Fry and Snyder went before the board to petition for a variance which would permit allowing a carport to remain 0.39 feet from the south property line. The property is located 706 S. Lakeside Drive, Syracuse.

“The property line is not as it is depicted on the GIS,” Snyder explained, “the survey jogs where the roofed concrete patio is.”

Fry thought the property line was straight; it is the jog of the line that is creating the problem.

Fry also did not acquire a permit for the carport. The board set five feet as the minimum amount of required setback, which is property that will have to come from neighbors.

The board approved the variance with the condition Fry obtains the proper permits and meet the five-foot setback.

Mitchell and Tam Smith went before the board to petition for a variance with would permit allowing a deck and stairs to remain 17 feet from the right-of-way of the road, where 25 feet is required by ordinance. The property is located 205 W. Allen St., Syracuse.

new decking boards. The front deck is what is in question; it was placed too close to the road.

The variance was approved as presented, with the condition proper permits are obtained.

if they were talking about the window and they said ‘no, the furthest point,’” Frey explained, “so I made a mistake and did not include the eve and the gutter, which stick out further than the window.”

ing would be moved back 29 feet from Harkless and 19 feet from the south line, which would gain the four feet needed per ordinance. King and Julie Traub noted their opposition in an email to the board.

ture, produce and Bales overflow parking were permitted.

The board approved the variance as presented.

Scott Abbs suggested placing the unit on the roof, Snyder quickly declined the idea.

Ultimately, the request for variance was denied.

The Smiths were remodeling the property and forgot to obtain the proper permits. The west deck has always been on the property and was not changed, other than

Tim Frey went before the board to petition for a variance which would permit the alteration of granted variance by allowing a bay or bow window to be located 15 feet from the right-of-way of Benton Street instead of the granted 16.5 feet. The property is located 501 N. Lake St., Syracuse.

“When I went to get the permits, they asked me about dimensions. I was told to measure from the furthest point that sticks out. I asked

Snyder went before the board on behalf of WSLCC Properties to petition for a variance which would permit the construction of a boat storage building 29 feet tall, where maximum allowed by ordinance is 25 feet. The property is located on the east side of Harkless Drive, north of Palm Drive, Syracuse. The accessory building is in a residential area. The build-

The variance was granted as presented. Jason Metz went before the board to petition for an exception for the purpose of the alteration of a granted exception by allowing vehicle and watercraft sales long with previous granted uses in a commercial district. The property is located 600 N. Huntington St., Syracuse.

“We would start with just a few of each because of the small nature of the lot. It will have to seasonally change because the produce stand is only there for a few months,” Metz explained. “The extra parking for Bales is only required by the property owner for a few months. So it would expand and contract seasonally.”

The variance was granted as presented.

Justice building

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first violation and up to but not more than $7,500 for a second or subsequent violation per Indiana code.

A violation of section 2 or 3 of the ordinance may result in a fine of up to, but not more than $100 for a first violation and up to, but not more than, $250 for a second or subsequent violation per Indiana code.

The ordinance does not restrict the lawful authority of the judges to adopt more restrictive orders or rules within and about the courtrooms of the Justice Building. The previous ordinance was repealed and replaced by the new version of the ordinance.

“That is the amended ordinance itself. The changes that were made to the ordinance that was passed on Aug. 15 are two changes,” Ormsby said. “The commissioners have taken out the portion of the previous ordinance that said no person shall use a device to record audio or video or take pictures in the Justice Building. And then, the other change is the penalty for possession and use of a mobile phone on the second floor of the Justice Building has been changed from a fine of up to $2,500 to a fine of up to $100 and then $250 for subsequent violations.”

Commissioner Bob Conley made a motion to approve the new ordinance.

Commissioner Cary Groninger asked to confirm the revised ordinance prohibited cell phones on the second floor of the Justice Building but a person can have them on the first floor. Ormsby said that was correct. Groninger then seconded Conley’s motion.

“I would add that we did a walk through of the Justice Building to try to come up with an area upstairs that made sense to be able to have phones. The layout of the judges’ chambers are all right there. It’s really impossible to have an area up

there,” Commissioner Brad Jackson said. He said they also talked about getting lockers for people to put their cell phones in so they don’t have to go back out to their vehicles to put their phones away or retrieve them.

Conley said the delineation of the first floor was pretty obvious.

“You go up the stairs or up the elevator, that’s the line that we drew to get better balance so people can use their phones if they need to, access information on their phones as needed but still give security and some assemblance to the judges and the courtrooms.”

The commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the revised ordinance.

Matt Banta, who questioned the constitutionality of the original ordinance on Sept. 15, was back before the commissioners Tuesday to question the constitutionality of the revised version.

“I’m very glad to see that the photography part was taken away, but I have questions about the second floor. On the second floor, is there any part of the second floor that is open to the public? ... So, to me, this sounds like a deprivation of property if you tell me I can’t take my phone up to the public lobby to support someone who’s going into court,” Banta said.

He understands he can’t use his phone in court, but it was his understanding the whole ordinance was put together to protect the judges from people misbehaving in court.

“I have a problem with my rights being taken away because of someone else’s behavior. ... But if you deny the public access to their own property in a place that they’re allowed to be, in public, that’s a Fourth Amendment violation and you’re looking for a lawsuit,” Banta stated.

“I’m not a guy who’s going to just sit down. This is not right,” Banta stated.

Conley said the commissioners were allowing him to use his phone on the first floor inside the Justice Building.

“If I have to go to court, am I supposed to sit on the first floor until court is called, or am I supposed to wait on the second floor?” Banta asked.

“That’s totally up to you. You do what you want to do,” Conley said.

After a disagreement between Banta and Conley over whether or not Conley said “he didn’t care,” Jackson thanked Banta for his comments and the commissioners said no more.

In other business, the commissioners approved:

• Kosciusko County Highway Department Superintendent Steve Moriarty’s request to advertise for the 2024 annual highway supply bids on Oct. 4 and 11. The bids will be opened at the commissioners meeting Nov. 6 at 9:15 a.m.

• Kosciusko County Emergency Management Agency Director Kip Shuter’s request to apply for the Emergency Management Performance grant for $55,000. The grant covers 50% of the full-time EMA employees for fiscal year 2023. Shuter also informed the commissioners at 2:20 p.m. Oct. 4 there will be a nationwide emergency alert test so all cell phones will receive that emergency warning.

• Two rezoning requests as presented by Area Plan Director Matt Sandy.

The first was for Brett Harter, rezoning 6.22 acres from agricultural to an agricultural II district on the south side of CR 500N, just west of Sullivan Road near the North Webster-Oswego area.

The final request was to rezone 23 acres from agricultural to commercial for Kenneth Showalter. on the west side of SR 15, just north of CR 400N in Plain Township.

Morton’s receive 2023

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The Mortons’ dedicated the award to all those who “continue to inspire us with their unwavering commitment to make the community a better place,” stated Bill Morton. “Your dedication fuels our passion together to create a brighter future for all ... We are excited to continue our journey of service and look forward to working together to make a lasting impact on the lives of those in need.”

Bill Morton also noted the Big Brothers Big Sisters Scholarship fund they started in 2020. This scholarship fund assisted four Littles last spring with financial assistance to a college or trade school.

Some of the highlights of the impact the Mortons have made on people’s lives were noted in a 7-minute video featuring representatives of the organizations

Syracuse BZA

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So you are predicting something that has not happened,” Bill Cripe explained.

“The concern I have is when we say no buildings, we have seen what happens when we put

restrictions on no buildings. Two months they come back and ask for variance, so we say no living quarters. In two years they come back and ask for variance. There is nothing we can put in there to stop someone, say five years from now, to come and ask to build a building,” Scott Abbs explained of his hesitance. “You can make a statement, you can make it a condition but

they do have the right to come back and ask,” Sandy explained.

After over an hour of debate and discussion, the board ultimately granted the exception and variance, Abbs was the only board member to vote no. The next Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals regular meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Syracuse Town Hall, 310 N. Huntington St.

Previously, sheds, outdoor furni-

they volunteer their time. They were described as caring, generous and advocates, being all in, and champions for youth with the selfless and giving of their time and energy to help out in the community, stepping in where needed and having compassion for people in a vulnerable situation and pouring themselves into the life of children that has a ripple impact.

Some of their involvement noted include:

Vicki Morton’s commitment to offering rides to voters without transportation during past elections, ensuring every voice was heard. She is also the Kosciusko Democrat County Chair and Bill Morton is on the election board. Their dedication to advocacy extends to the Cardinal Center with their involvement including a generous Leadership Gift enabling the center to provide meaningful work opportunities and artistic endeavors for adults with disabilities, creating a more inclusive society.

Regarding their work with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bill’s mentoring journey began in 2014 with his first match in the School Buddies program, later transitioning to Community-Based Mentoring

in 2016. Over the years, he continued to foster connections, exemplified by his ongoing match with Little Brother Spencer. Vicki, too, has left a lasting impression through her mentorship journey, starting in December 2014 with LS Racheal transitioning into a community-based mentoring in 2015.

Tammy Smith, community development director, stated the award bestowed upon Bill and Vicki Morton is a reflection of their exceptional contributions and selfless devotion to bettering their community. Through their roles in local government, their commitment to education, and their compassionate mentorship, the Mortons stand as shining examples of the transformative power of service.”

Michelle Smith, daughter of Charlie Smith, spoke about her father prior to the announcement of the award. “Those who knew my dad know he valued people, family, friends and relationships above everything else. He was generous and intentional with his time and resources and invested in the community. He had a very special way to make you feel valued and important ... his gifts and strong leadership skills

provided an invaluable resources ... most of all his genuine down to earth nature, contagious smile brought new live to countless organizations and individuals that he helped and he is truly missed. His dedication to family, faith and community .... set a very high standard for volunteerism.”

The Charles D. Smith Award was established in 2015 and recognizes an individual or individuals who demonstrate passionate volunteerism, strong community leadership and a lifelong commitment to serving others.

Smith was an avid supporter of Big Brothers Big Sisters and the children in his community, He contributed to a 100% increase of children served in Kosciusko County. His altruistic gifts and his strong leadership skills provided the agency with invaluable resources to make Big Brothers Big Sisters one of the top mentoring organizations in the Midwest.

Additionally, the evening included a story from Big Couple Nick and Alyssa and their journey with their Little Christopher, a fashion show by some of the Big and Littles, and presentation of an award to Zane Hollar, 2022 Indiana State Big of the Year.

L.I.T.E. Recovery Café celebrates grand opening with ribbon cutting

The next regular Syracuse Board of Zoning Appeals will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at the Syracuse Town Hall, 310 N. Huntington St. erty value to the negative, if anything, it has increased the value. To say us getting the property will decrease property value, it has not proven to in the past.

KEITH

A Christ-centered ministry dedicated to assisting incarcerated individuals in making a successful transition to their community following

SERVING OTHERS — Tammy Cotton, founder and executive director of L.I.T.E. Recovery Café at the Milford Methodist Meeting House, holds part of the ribbon that was cut during the grand opening celebration sponsored by the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce. Photo provided by Tammy Cotton.

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Randall Girod

Former Prosecuting Attorney

Randall “Randy” Girod, 64, Syracuse, passed away unexpectedly while vacationing in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023.

He was born in Decatur on Feb. 17, 1959, to Jane (Maddox) and Dwight Girod. He grew up in Fort Wayne and graduated from Elmhurst High School in 1977. Randy graduated from Indiana University in Bloomington in 1981 with a B.S. in accounting from the business school. He was a member of Delta Chi fraternity.

Randy graduated from Indiana University School of Law in 1984. He was a congressional intern for both John Myers and Dan Quayle. He clerked for the Indiana Supreme Court. He worked as a deputy prosecuting attorney and then a prosecuting attorney in Kosciusko County in the 1990s. He was active in the Republican Party of Kosciusko County and served as the GOP chairman from 2009-2016. He was inducted into the Republican Hall of Fame in 2018.

Randy served for many years on the Kosciusko County Election Board and he served on the Syracuse Public Library Board for 16 years.

He is survived by his sister, Susan Girod, of Stevens Point, Wis.; brother-in-law, Jerold Harter, of Stevens Point, Wis.; and niece, Claire Girod, of Minneapolis, Minn.

Randy was preceded in death by his father, mother and sister, Lisa. He was a devoted son and brother.

He was buried at Decatur Cemetery in Decatur at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27. There will not be a funeral service but family will be at the burial.

Memorial donations may be made to New Hope of Indiana, 8450 N. Payne Road, Suite 300, Indianapolis, IN 46268; or the Papakeechie Protective Association, P.O. Box 261, Syracuse, IN 46567, email papakeechie@ gmail.com.

Ethel Hughes

Community Volunteer

Ethel Hughes, a loving and family-oriented woman, passed away Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, at The Waters of Syracuse.

She was born Dec. 11, 1932, in Nappanee to John and Eva Lynn Reed. She attended Goshen Schools and was married to Joseph “Joe” Hughes on Aug. 27, 1949.

Ethel devoted her life primarily to her family as a homemaker and mother. However, she was also known for her dedication to various endeavors, including time at Thornburg Park Pharmacy, the B.K. Root Beer Stand and Penn Controls. One of Ethel’s proudest accomplishments was her dedication of countless hours of volunteer work at the Syracuse Community Center. Her unwavering commitment to serving others undoubtedly left an indelible impact on the community.

Additionally, Ethel actively participated in civic duties by working at the polls on election day and was a longtime member of the Syracuse Fire Department Auxiliary. More personally, Ethel enjoyed cooking, bowling in leagues, golfing with friends, playing card games with loved ones and enthusiastically participating in bingo nights.

Ethel Hughes is survived by her children, Peggy (Brad) Schuldt, Brenda Daugherty and Kirk Hughes. Her memory will also be cherished by nine grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren who survive with broken hearts.

In addition to her husband Joe Hughes, with whom she shared more the 67 years, Ethel is preceded in passing by her parents, John and Eva Reed; and by her siblings, Marianne Lung, George Reed, Betty McKibben, Midge Stutzman, Bob Reed, Alice Furney, Chuck Reed and an infant brother.

Titus Funeral Home of Syracuse, 1001 S. Huntington St., is entrusted with care of Ethel and the Hughes family. A gathering of friends will take place from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at the funeral home.

Ethel Hughes has left a lasting impact on those who had the privilege of knowing her. Her legacy of love and dedication will continue to inspire and guide us as we navigate life without her presence. Goshen Hospice cared for her in her final days. They, in addition to the Syracuse Community Center, will accept memorial gifts with envelopes available at Titus Funeral Home. Written condolences may be left for the family at www. titusfuneralhome.com.

L.I.T.E. Recovery

for “Living in Transition Effectively.”

County Jail.

Continued from page 2

their release, L.I.T.E. Recovery Café held its official grand opening on Friday, Sept. 22. Located inside the Milford Methodist Meeting House, L.I.T.E. was welcomed to the community with a ribbon cutting sponsored by the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce. L.I.T.E. is an acronym

The ribbon cutting followed a series of short speeches presented by participants in the program as well as founders Chris and Tammy Cotton. They offered their insights on the importance of the programs L.I.T.E. provides to the community, both in Milford and at the Kosciusko

“L.I.T.E. focuses on helping the inmate, and the inmate’s loved ones, navigate the path to a successful reentry into their community,” noted Chris Cotton, who serves as the president of the organization’s board of directors. “Our nonprofit is sustained through grants, donations,

partnerships and volunteers. L.I.T.E. is a faith-based initiative but is open to all inmates and offers numerous secular programs.”

For further information, visit LITEinKCJ.org, or on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and X. L.I.T.E. is located at 210 W. Catherine St., Milford.

NWCC auction, dinner fundraiser Oct. 7

The 15th annual North Webster Community Center Fundraising Auction and Dinner will be from 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at 301 N. Main St., North Webster. Doors open at 5 p.m. for the center’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The event will feature silent and live auctions, dinner and a big prize raffle.

New this year is that the silent auction will also be digital so that those who cannot attend may bid on items online.

The large silent auction features 100 to 150 items. Instead of the hallways, silent auction items will be inside the Culver Wellness Center, located inside the NWCC, as well as online. People will be available to help get attendees registered; bidding on the silent auction items will be by phone only that night.

The live auction is conducted by Brian Wuthrich of Hahn Auctioneers.

There are 50 live auction items this year. Some of the items include: two Trek eBikes, two Easy Go electric golf cart, opening day Chicago Cubs tickets, an Indy car experience, a kayak, Grossnickle Eye

Births

Rylan Mark Yoder Freemen and Kristina (Mast) Yoder, Syracuse, are the parents of a son, Rylan Mark, born at 4:46 a.m. Sept. 21, 2023, at Blessed Beginnings Care Center, Nappanee. He weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces, and was 19 1/2 inches long.

Lasik surgery, a 9 millimeter Smith and Wesson, two tickets to the Taylor Swift concert in Indianapolis, and Xfinity Series autographed car parts, among others.

Also new this year are reserved tables available for eight people for $500.

“As the new executive director, I am getting a behind-the-scenes perspective of all the hard work that has gone into this year’s auction by the board of directors. They are putting together an incredible evening that will benefit the center, but it will also be a really fun evening for the community to get together, eat great food, have a lot of laughs, and a chance to walk away with some great prizes,” said Emily Shipley.

A dinner ticket is $40 and includes entry, bid number, dinner

Former Kosciusko County Republican chair Randy Girod dies in Michigan

Randy Girod, a respected community member and politician, died suddenly on Friday, Sept. 22, in Grand Rapids, Mich.

According to current Kosciusko County Republican Party Chair Mike Ragan, Girod was very involved in the Kosciusko community and took on several different roles during his life.

Some of these roles included being elected as Kosciusko County Prosecutor in the early 1990s, serving for one term. He was the GOP chair for seven years and

four months before he resigned to care for his sick mother. Ragan spoke of how Girod handpicked him for the position after he resigned and spoke on his behalf at the caucus. At the time of his passing, Girod was an active member of the election board and a precinct committeeman in Kosciusko County. “He was a great friend and men-

tor. He was an active member of the party, known well throughout the state, and was a great help to this community,” said Ragan. “He will be sorely missed. This is truly a tragic loss for our community.”

Former Kosciusko County GOP Chair Jean Northenor had only positive things to say about Girod.

“Whenever I came in contact with him, it was a wonderful event. I am 91 years old so you know I have known many people in my life, but I have never known anyone kinder or more thoughtful than Randy. He always put other people first no matter what. Sometimes that would get him into

some trouble and he would come to me and say ‘Oops, Jean, what do I do?’” said Northernor. “You couldn’t help but like that young man.”

The other side of the political aisle feels the loss as well.

“The Kosciusko Democrat leadership are also heartbroken. Randy most recently served on the election board with my husband, Bill. They spent many car rides together delivering machines and attending meetings. He was such a kind and caring person. Definitely would consider him a friend,” Vicki Morton, chair of the Kosciusko County Democratic Party, said.

and one entry into the big prize raffle.

For a $20 raffle ticket, one can be entered into the big prize raffle.

People do not have to be present to win. Tickets are available at the NWCC office or online.

The big prize raffle is a year’s worth of groceries from Neighborhood Fresh, for $200 a month for a year; a year’s worth of gas from Family Express, $100 a month for a year; a $1,000 cash grand prize; and eight $500 cash prizes.

Last year, the event raised over $111,000.

Dinner, provided by Chubbie’s, consists of Italian grilled chicken breast, pork medallions, smashed red potatoes, green beans with bacon and onions, assorted rolls, Italian salad, and desserts, such as

cupcakes, cookies and pies.

Also, there will be a cash bar and soft drinks will be available for purchase.

This year’s annual sponsors are:

Ace Hardware, Pro Wake Watersports, Barts Watersports, Cottage Watchman Security Systems, Dockside Gifts and Apparel, Sock’s Marina, Mohawk Pier, The River Coffee Shop and the Griepentrog family.

The event’s sponsors are: The Papers Inc., Lake City Bank, T.L. Jackson Construction, Dave’s Electric, Cooling and Heating, Linda Stookey, Clayton’s Garden Center, and Troy Ousley Seawall Company. For more information, to bid on items or purchase tickets, visit nwcommunitycenter.org. Visit its Facebook page for the most up-todate details closer to the auction.

All charges made by law enforcement are allegations and individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Kosciusko County

Officers with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office investigated the following accidents and incidents:

Accidents

9:26 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, East CR 1200N, near East Bowser Road, Syracuse. Driver: Marty

L. Slabaugh, 59, East CR 1100N, Milford. Slabaugh was driving a motorcycle when his vehicle left the roadway, hitting a fence gate. Slabaugh sustained cuts to his head and legs and was flown from the scene. Damage up to $5,000.

7:14 p.m.

Monday, Sept. 19, East LaPoint Drive, east of North Hamill Court, Milford. Driver: Julie A. Losee, 47, Delmore Drive, Merrill, Wis. Losee backed into a parked vehicle. Damage up to $5,000.

Incidents

8:36 a.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 20, 5000 block of North CR 750E, North Webster. Tina Schrock was the victim of theft. Value of $1,500.

4:58 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 7600 block of North CR 300E, Milford. Criminal mischief was done to Katherine E. Morris’ mailbox.

11:29 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, 4200 block of North CR 700E/ North Sullivan Road, Leesburg. Rebecca E. Rhoades was the victim of theft. Value of $2,000.

North Webster

Officers with the North Webster Police Department investigated the following incidents: Incidents

11:42 a.m. Friday, Sept. 22, 500 block of South Main Street, North Webster. A bike was found. Value of $30.

4:24 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, 900 block South Huntington Street, Syracuse. Rena A. Gerber and

Amanda L. Dahman reported theft of a license plate. Value: $75.

Syracuse

Officers with the Syracuse Police Department investigated the following accidents and incidents:

Accidents

11:32 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, 12166 N. Kern Road, Syracuse.

Driver: Scott E. Abbs, 69, East Northshore Drive, Syracuse. Abbs was turning into a parking space when he hit a parked, unoccupied vehicle. Damage up to $2,500.

2:56 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, North Main Street, west of West Railroad Avenue, Syracuse.

Drivers: Schlene R. Morgan, 56, East Cornelius Road, Syracuse; and Melody E. Francis, 48, West Levi Lee Road, Warsaw. Morgan’s vehicle hit the back of Francis’. Damage up to $1,000.

Incidents

11:22 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, 1200 block North Long Drive, Syracuse. Deanna Geberin reported the theft of a bicycle. Value: $250.

10:49 p.m. Friday, Sept. 22, 1100 block North Lake View Avenue, Syracuse. Officers investigated a report of a suspicious vehicle.

Jail Bookings

Kosciusko County

The following people were booked in the Kosciusko County Jail:

Sept. 25 — Harold Jason Caudill, 44, 10080 N. Turkey Creek Road, No. 5, Syracuse, booked for resisting law enforcement using a vehicle, criminal recklessness and reckless driving. Bond: $5,250 surety and cash.

Sept. 24 — David Vermillion, 38, 3949 E. Oldfield Drive, Leesburg, booked for disorderly conduct.

Bond: $300 cash.

Sept. 24 — Ramon Andra Hart

II, 30, 311 W. Huntington St., North

Amanda Summers arrested after vehicle pursuit ends in North Webster

A Muncie woman was recently arrested after a vehicle pursuit with law enforcement, which began in Whitley County and ended in North Webster.

Amanda L. Summers, 33, Muncie, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a level 4 felony; resisting law enforcement, possession of a controlled substance, operating a vehicle while intoxicated, endangering a person prior, and operating a vehicle with a controlled substance in the body, all level 6 felonies; and reckless driving and possession of paraphernalia, both class C misdemeanors. She is also facing four traffic infractions.

On Sept. 21, an Indiana State Police trooper responded to a report of a white van traveling all over the roadway on SR 9 in Whitley County. The trooper found the suspect’s vehicle and noticed its driver fail to come to a complete stop at two different stop signs. According to court documents, the trooper attempted to pull the van over, but its driver did not

Webster, booked for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana — growing on premises, possession of marijuana, driving while suspended and possession of a hypodermic needle or syringe. Bond: $5,250 surety and cash.

Sept. 24 — Natalie Jo Miller, 29, 3949 E. Oldfield Drive, Leesburg, booked for resisting law enforcement and disorderly conduct. Bond: $750 cash.

Sept. 24 — Kenny Lee Nesmith, 40, 204 E. Henry St., Syracuse, booked for possession of methamphetamine, criminal trespass, false informing, and possession of paraphernalia. Bond: $5,250 surety and cash.

Sept. 23 — Jason Wayne Elijah, 49, 121 E. Esterbrook Drive, North Webster, booked for theft. Bond: $600 cash.

Sept. 22 — James Robert Carpenter, 35, 7227 E. Blacks Court South, North Webster, booked for criminal mischief. Bond: $500 cash.

Sept. 22 — Christopher Ray Schisler, 20, 11139 N. Humpty Dumpty Drive, Cromwell, booked on a warrant. No bond listed.

Sept. 21 — Kayla Nicole Morgan, 25, 517 Meadow View Drive, Syracuse, booked for burglary. Bond: $30,250 surety and cash.

Sept. 21 — Paul Steven Fisher, 43, 2763 E. 1100N, Milford, booked for operating a vehicle while intoxicated. No bond listed.

Sept. 19 — Danny Leonard Roberts Jr., 31, 310 N. Henry St., Milford, booked for a probation violation. No bond. Noble County

The following person was booked in the Noble County Jail:

Sept. 16 — Joseph K. Todd Jr., 60, 11169 N. Wawasee Circle East, Cromwell, booked for possession of methamphetamine and driving while suspended with prior. Bond: $5,000.

Whitley County

The following person was booked in the Whitley County Jail:

Syracuse house vandalized with vulgar language

The home of Wawasee High School student was vandalized in the late hours of Sunday, Sept. 17, with spray painted, vulgar language.

In a Facebook post, her mother, Erica Cotner, posted unedited photos of the house and wrote:

“To the kids that still continue to bully my 15-year-old daughter and called her names in which are not true … shame on you and your parents. As if she doesn’t have enough going on as a 15-year-old girl. For her starting fresh at our home last year and entering high school in which she knows no one, to make friends with the wrong crowd. This year was different as she went to school as a sophomore with new goals and new friends. Clearly the old friends are still upset about something … Either way this is heart breaking. Not only for her but for us as parents. Not to mention once again she will be the ‘talk’ at school for the next few weeks. We live right next to the high school so everyone

knows where she lives. A report was made, and cameras are being watched so I can only hope we figure out who it truly was. As for me and my family … we are not OK. There is no manual for being a parent. We just do what we feel is right in the moment and hope our children pick up from right

and wrong. Bullying is real and I never thought I would be the parent who had to deal with it.”

The incident is still under investigation by the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office. The school corporation is aware of the situation and is cooperating with the investigation.

Two men arrested for breaking into barn near North Webster

Two men were arrested for allegedly burglarizing a barn near North Webster.

entered the barn through an unlocked service door.

stop. A vehicle pursuit occurred, with the van passing vehicles in a no-passing zone, speeding, and performing an improper turn. The pursuit then entered Kosciusko County via U.S. 30.

The van was eventually stopped in North Webster after stop sticks were deployed which hit both of the van’s passenger side tires. The van also hit a vehicle, which was stopped in the roadway.

While taking the driver, later identified as Summers, into custody, officers saw several items in the van commonly utilized for drug use. Summers told officers she fled because the individual who rented the van told her the vehicle was stolen. A BMV inquiry showed there were no active stolen vehicle hits for the van.

When asked if there were any illegal items in the van, Summers said there was a gun in the vehicle. Upon searching the vehicle, officers found ammunition, drug residue, and paraphernalia.

Summers said she was smoking drugs, while the pursuit was taking place, in an attempt to get rid of the items. She said she had used both methamphetamine and heroin.

Summers has prior felony convictions for drug dealing and operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Summers also had two active warrants for her arrest at the time of this incident.

Summers was booked in the Whitley County Jail Sept. 21.

Sheila Evans arrested for threatening to shoot man

A Syracuse woman was arrested for allegedly threatening to shoot a man. Sheila R. Evans, 47, 11830 N. Acorn Drive, Syracuse, is charged with intimidation, a level 6 felony; and disorderly conduct, a class B misdemeanor. On Sept. 9, a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to a domestic complaint in Syracuse. A man said he and Evans had a verbal argument and then she told the man to leave. According to court documents,

Court News

Superior Court III

The following fines for infractions have been assessed in Kosciusko Superior Court III, Judge Chad Miner presiding: Speeding — Jada C. Batts, Milford, $164.50

Failure to register — Brandon D. Ross, North Webster, $164.50 Driving while suspended — Robert J. Herendeen, Leesburg, $189.50

Marriage Licenses

The following couples have applied for marriage licenses in the office of Kosciusko County Clerk of the Court Ann Torpy: Schlichter-Emahiser Shayna Leeann Schlichter, 25, Syracuse, and Ethan Thomas Emahiser, 26, Syracuse

Miller-Jackson

Keirsten Marie Miller, 24, Syracuse, and Luke Jackson, 28, Syracuse

Lewis-Lindsey

Heather Marie Lewis, 24, Cromwell, and Nicholas Alexander Lindsey, 29, Cromwell Anderson-Feldman Sabrinna Anderson, 28, Crom-

well, and Skylar Feldman, 30, Cromwell

Marriage Dissolutions

The following couples have filed for marriage dissolutions in the Kosciusko Superior Court: Fields — Ashley Fields, Milford, and David Fields, Milford. They were married Feb. 17, 2023; separated June 16, 2023. No minor children.

Hunsberger — Darlene Hunsberger, Milford, and Ned Hunsberger, Milford. They were married Aug. 21, 2015; separated June 25, 2022. No minor children.

Sylvester-Bowman — April Sylvester, Milford, and Darian Bowman, Plainfield. They were married July 22, 2005; separated April 23, 2012. No minor children.

Graff — Kenneth Graff Jr., Leesburg, and Jessie Graff, Etna Green. They were married June 20, 2020; separated Aug. 31, 2023. No minor children.

Adams — Constance Joan Adams, Syracuse, and James Macneal Adams, Leesburg. They were married June 30, 1999; separated April 14, 2023. Two minor children.

Jordan William Graham, 25, 22 EMS W23C Lane, North Webster, is charged with burglary, a level 5 felony; theft, a class A misdemeanor; and theft with a prior conviction enhancement, a level 6 felony.

Tyler Lee Herbst, 27, 5389 N. 1000E, Pierceton, is charged with burglary, a level 5 felony; and theft, a class A misdemeanor.

On Sept. 8, a man reported his barn near North Webster was being broken into by two men who were still actively at the scene. The two men were later identified as Graham and Herbst.

According to court documents, the man confronted Herbst and Graham, chased them, and fired two warning shots into the ground from his personal firearm. A Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office deputy responded to the scene, taking Graham and Herbst into custody.

Graham said he heard from an individual that the barn had interesting items inside. He and Herbst

Graham said he would have taken some tail lights for a boat trailer had he not been interrupted by the property owner.

Herbst said he knew there was boat merchandise in the barn as he had been in the location before.

The property owner said the doors on the barn were locked, and the back door had marks along the frame where someone used an object to force the door open.

Trail camera recordings from the barn showed Herbst and Graham picking up items and going through the property owner’s belongings. At the scene, the deputy found a backpack containing four fishing boat rod holders that the property owner said belonged to him. Herbst said the backpack belonged to Graham.

Graham was previously convicted of theft in Kosciusko County in August.

Graham and Herbst have both already been arrested. They have initial hearings at 11 a.m. Oct. 12, in Kosciusko Superior Court One.

while the man was packing some of his belongings, Evans approached him in an irate manner and attempted to take a firearm holstered on his hip. The man said he pushed Evans’ arms away in order to maintain weapon retention.

A physical struggle ensued when Evans then attempted to grab a handgun on the floor. Evans threatened to shoot the man during the incident. Evans said she had a verbal argument with the man and that she was attempting to place one of the handguns in a closet when the man pushed her.

Three children were present in the home at the time.

Evans has already been arrested and released on her own recognizance.

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Obando sentenced for sexual misconduct with a minor

One arrested after two-vehicle accident west of Oswego

A Michigan City woman was arrested after a two-vehicle accident just west of Oswego on Saturday afternoon.

At 12:58 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 23, emergency personnel responded to a two-vehicle accident at the East Armstrong Road and CR 200E intersection in Leesburg.

According to a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office accident report, Trey T. Theard, 18, Fort

Wayne, was traveling north on CR 200E in a gray 2017 Ford vehicle.

Theard said he thought the CR 200E and East Armstrong Road intersection was a four-way stop.

Only traffic traveling north and south on CR 200E has a stop sign at this intersection. While attempting to cross the intersection, Theard’s vehicle was hit by a white 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt, driven by Hollie A. Martin, 42, Michigan City.

Both Theard and Martin, along with four passengers in Theard’s

vehicle, complained of pain after the accident. The passengers in Theard’s vehicle were Nicholas Butler, 16; Angelo Rongos, 16; and Cole Hanas, 16, all of Auburn; and Carson M. Craft, 17, Mentone. No one involved was taken to a hospital.

Martin was arrested at the scene on preliminary charges of possession of methamphetamine and driving while suspended prior. Damages are estimated up to $25,000.

Miller sentenced to five years in prison for child molesting

A Cromwell man will serve five years in prison after pleading guilty to child molestation.

Darren Eric Miller, 27, Cromwell, pled guilty to child molesting, a level 4 felony. An additional child molesting charge was dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

Miller was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court One Thursday, Sept. 21.

For child molestation, Kosciusko Superior Court One Judge Karin McGrath sentenced Miller to eight years in the Indiana Department of Correction, with five of those years being served in prison and consecutively with other criminal cases. The remaining three years were suspended on formal probation. There is a no-contact order in place between Miller and the victim. Miller must also register as a sex offender. He has a jail time credit of 225 days.

During the sentencing, Defense Attorney Jay Rigdon spoke on Miller’s behalf, saying Miller had learned from his actions and recommended only two to three years

of jail time. McGrath explained to the court Miller had a prior criminal history of delinquency before this case. When McGrath spoke specifically of this case, she said, “Child molest is child molest and I don’t know how any child will not suffer harm from this abuse. What makes this case even worse is this child was in Miller’s care at the time of the abuse.”

According to court documents, Aug. 18, 2022, staff at Wawasee Community School Corporation reported an incident where a student came to school with a bruise on their neck. The student went to the school nurse’s office with a complaint of a sore neck. When asked how it got there, the student said they woke up with it. The child’s guardian said there was no reason for there to be a bruise on the child’s neck and Department of Child Services was then contacted.

In a forensic interview Oct. 26, 2022, the child said Miller was the one who gave them the bruise on their neck and reported having been touched over their clothes by him too. The child reported Miller touching them on 10 different occasions at the guardian’s residence.

On Nov. 14, 2022, Miller came to the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office for an interview. When asked about the bruise on the child’s neck, he said he accidentally bit the child’s neck while he was tickling them. Miller was adamant it was an accident and agreed to submit to a polygraph examination.

On Nov. 28, 2022, Miller arrived at the Warsaw Police Department and submitted to a polygraph examination given by Indiana State Police. This examination showed Miller to be deceptive. In the postexamination interview, Miller admitted to touching the child over their clothes, but it was an accident that occurred while tickling them. Miller also stated that it was 95% possible that he sucked on the child’s neck causing bruising, but still maintained he bit the child’s neck.

Caudill arrested after long pursuit that ended in Milford

Harold Jason Caudill, 44, 10080 N. Turkey Creek Road No. 5, Syracuse, was arrested following a pursuit that began in Warsaw and ended at 406 Turkey Creek Drive, Milford, Monday, Sept. 25.

Caudill was arrested for resisting law enforcement using a vehicle, criminal recklessness and reckless driving. He was being held on $5,250 surety and cash.

Shortly after 4 p.m. Monday, Warsaw Police attempted to stop Caudill after discovering the registration on the motorcycle he was driving had expired in 2020.

He fled from the area of Center and Lincoln streets in Warsaw, then over to SR 15 where Caudill

led police northbound. The pursuit continued northbound through Leesburg, going eastbound on CR 900N, before heading northbound on CR 100E. From there the pursuit went westbound on Mock Road and back northbound on Old SR 15 into Milford.

Officers were seen going through downtown Milford, only to report they had lost sight of the motorcyclist in the area of Catherine Street.

It wasn’t long after that, police were notified the motorcycle was dumped on property behind 315 Ulrich Drive and the driver was seen getting into a white van, heading toward SR 15. The van reportedly drove around to 406 Turkey Creek Drive, where the suspect was found hiding in a shed behind the residence.

Erwin Frank Obando, 62, 1014 N. Huntington St., Syracuse, was sentenced for sexual misconduct with a minor, a level 5 felony, with remaining charges being dropped as a result of a plea agreement. Obando was sentenced in Kosciusko Superior Court One Thursday, Sept. 21.

For sexual misconduct with a minor, Kosciusko Superior Court One Judge Karin McGrath sentenced Obando to five years in the Indiana Department of Correction, three of which will be served in prison and the other two on probation. He must also register as a sex offender.

The victim’s mother spoke at the sentencing and said to Obando, “I hope when you plead guilty today, you say it loud enough for the people in the back of this courtroom to hear loud and clear because you are guilty. You made everyone think my (child) was a liar, but you are the liar in this court. I hope you think about what you have done.”

Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Sobek said, “This is not an easy case because of the amount of time that has passed since the incident, but with that being said, several factors went into the making of this plea agreement and the court has deemed it fair.”

Following this, McGrath said, “The victim has been living in un-

certainty and a nightmare for a very long time I hope you realize the effect your actions had and what it has done to this victim.”

On Dec. 12, 2019, the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office received a report from the Indiana Department of Child Services about a molestation occurring in the county.

The victim said the abuse began when they were about 7 years old and involved Obando giving back massages and pull-

ing down their pants. The child reported Obando had sexually touched and fondled them during a period of seven years. The child was afraid of Obando because he was much bigger than them and he told the child not to tell anyone. In November 2019, Obando touched the child and they pushed him off of them and left while he was kissing them. Obando claimed he was undergoing medical treatment at the time of the incident and he was in bed when the child asked for a back rub. He proceeded to give them a back rub the best he could since he was in pain and then the child kissed him. He went to return the kiss, but could not remember if he kissed the minor’s face or another area.

Slabaugh flown from motorcycle accident

A Milford man was flown to a hospital after a single-vehicle motorcycle accident near Syracuse Friday night, Sept. 22.

At 8:50 p.m. emergency personnel responded to a vehicle accident on East CR 1200N, near East Bowser Road, Syracuse.

According to a Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office accident

report, Marty L. Slabaugh, 59, Milford, was driving a black 2001 Harley-Davidson motorcycle when his vehicle left the roadway, hitting a fence gate, and coming to a rest just inside the fence.

Slabaugh sustained cuts to his head and legs. He was flown from the scene by air ambulance for his injuries.

Damages are estimated up to $5,000.

Milford Fire Department hosting chicken barbecue

Milford Fire Department will be hosting its annual Chicken Barbecue, Sunday, Oct. 1. Chicken will be available from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets, $7 per half, can be

purchased from any member of the Milford Fire Department to guarantee your chicken. Chicken can also be purchased during the event.

The chicken can be picked up at the Milford Fire Station. Proceeds from this annual event is used by the fire department toward needed equipment.

Police from Warsaw, Milford and the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s office converged onto the property where the suspect was arrested and placed in a waiting Warsaw Police Department squad car.

Officers then went over to 315 Ulrich Drive where the motorcycle was located and a wrecker service called to impound the bike. Witnessses told police Caudill did lay the bike down when sliding into the driveway of the residence on Ulrich Drive.

Lutheran EMS was called to the Ulrich Drive location after Caudill complained of pain to his right shoulder from a prior surgery. He was treated and released from Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital before being transported to the county jail.

Sports Warriors a few plays short of massive upset

Taking on a top-ten team in Class 4A, host Wawasee felt it had a chance to shock the state and upset No. 9 Northridge Friday, Sept. 22. The Warriors led 7-0 in the first quarter but would lose 14-7 to its Northern Lakes Conference foe.

“We played like we could,” coach Jon Reutebuch said. “We went toeto-toe with a very good team in the NLC. High energy from the get-go. Just some missed opportunities. Turnovers, penalties, we just got to clean that up. If we learned anything about us tonight is what level we can play at and that is a new standard for us. We come out and play like that every time we can beat anybody.”

One year ago, the Raiders jumped on the Warriors 42-17 with over 400 yards of offense. This year, the Wawasee defense kept the Raiders to just 117 yards. Only 11 yards were through the air. The home team finished with a 10-7 advantage in first downs. Seniors Brandon Kelly and Hunter Kunish both finished with two tackles for losses.

“Defense came to play. Flying around the ball. Making tackles,” Reutebuch said. “The guys rose to the occasion. The defense has been pretty strong all season except for the Concord game which we flushed. They just came out firing, flew around to the football and made the plays.”

Northridge was just 3-13 on third down, but Wawasee had the same success rate on offense. Sophomore quarterback Luke Keim, in for the injured senior Mason Shoemaker, had 88 yards passing with 39 of those coming on a pass to senior Donovan Blair on the first Wawasee possession. Blair would score on a carry from two yards out with 7:02 left in the first quarter. It turned out to be the only points Wawasee scored in the contest. Wawasee also

had a fumble and an interception in the first half as the mistakes hindered more chances to score points.

“We’ve got a lot of guys out. We’ve got a sophomore quarterback. Losing our tight end in the game. That hurt. We didn’t give up. We kept plugging away and we’ll get better from that,” Reutebuch said.

Early in the third quarter, Blair and a Northridge player were ejected from the game for personal foul penalties. Down another body, the Warriors turned the ball over on downs four times in the second half. The Raiders grabbed the lead 14-7 on a one-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

Wawasee’s last chance came on a drive that started with 2:15 left

in the game from its own 29. Keim would get a first down on a completion to junior Bradyn Pike, but the Warriors would fail on fourth down near midfield to end the game.

Wawasee falls to 1-5 while Northridge moves to 5-1. The next game is 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, in a county clash at Warsaw (5-1). The Tigers were ranked in Class 6A prior to losing 34-11 to Mishawaka Friday. Sept. 22. With just three games left in the regular season, the Warriors hope to not only get healthy but also find their stride before sectionals.

“Each game is an opportunity to get better for the sectional. That has always been our goal,” Reutebuch said.

Girls soccer dealt tough sectional draw

The girls soccer team has dealt with numerous injuries and now has to deal with the top team in its sectional to start the postseason. Wawasee will play sectional favorite NorthWood at Lakeland. The game is set for 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 3.

The varsity team lost to Warsaw 8-0 Saturday, Sept. 23, in another game where the Lady Warriors had players out with injury.

Get to know Wawasee senior Jaci Worrell, who plays volleyball and softball for the Warriors. Her volleyball season has been impacted by ankle injuries, but Worrell has remained positive about her team.

Favorite athletic moment?

Freshman year when our softball team won sectionals. After high school will you stay in Indiana or move out of state?

I’m in between.

After high school plans?

I am going to be a nurse.

Best place visit on the weekend?

The lake.

Favorite streaming service?

Netflix. Best quote from coach Denlinger?

She always says “What’s the next serve look like?” We say “Over and in.”

Favorite food to eat after a game or practice?

Burger King.

Favorite color?

Pink.

How do you feel about your season?

For me it’s kind of unfortunate. I’ve hurt both of my ankles so I’ve been in and out. We lost six seniors last year so it was a new change. I think overall we are doing pretty well.

How have you battled through the injuries?

It’s really hard to sit and watch, especially your senior year. I think it helps me because I trust my teammates. I trust the people on the court.

“Obviously with injuries and some of our experienced players not being able to play it’s tough when we play teams like Warsaw,” coach Luis Camargo said. Wawasee has not scored a goal since it beat West Noble 6-1 on Aug. 16. The main goal scorers from the early weeks of the regular season have been out with injury in juniors Molly Beer and Morgan Reel.

“Each of them have two goals so that’s been affecting us in the offense. We are kind of just working with what we have. We have a lot of freshmen having to step up and play. That experience has a big role

when we are playing teams full of seniors and juniors,” Camargo said.

The loss to Warsaw was the final home game of the year for Wawasee. The regular season finale is 7:15 p.m. Thursday at NorthWood, the same team it will play in sectionals five days later.

Despite the adversity of the season, Camargo appreciates the effort of his players in the loss to Warsaw. “I am proud of the way they played today staying throughout the whole game. That’s a positive but definitely not happy with 8-0 at home,” Camargo said.

Tennis places in top three of NLC, draws Warsaw

For the Warrior tennis program, the 2023 season has been one it will not forget as sectionals are set to begin. Wawasee was third in the Northern Lakes Conference for the season and for the NLC tournament, the latter of which finished up on Saturday, Sept. 23.

Coach Vince Rhodes says it was the best performance his team has had at the NLC Tournament in the 12 seasons he has been coaching the team.

Junior Joey Harper was named to the All-Conference team. Harper advanced to the first place match at No. 1 singles with two victories. He fell in the final 6-3, 6-0 to Goshen’s Pi Wellington.

Harper won his first match of the NLC tournament 6-1, 6-0 on Wednesday, Sept. 20. His second round match was with Warsaw’s Charlie Norton. Harper struggled early, losing the first set 4-6 and was down 1-5 in set two. Harper found his form and fought off three match points and would lead the set 6-5. The second set would go to a tiebreaker where once again, Harper fell behind. Down 4-6, Harper rattled of the next four points to win the tiebreaker 8-6. The third set was all Harper, 6-0. His advancement secured his spot on the All-Conference team.

Junior Kane Dukes won his first two matches at No. 2 singles in straight sets. In the final on Saturday, Sept. 23, Dukes lost to Isaac Stahly of Goshen 6-0, 6-1. Dukes did not get on the All-Conference team or even listed as an honorable mention.

“He had a good record this year but normally they take mostly all number one players mainly because those are your top players on your teams,” Rhodes said on why Dukes was not selected. Rhodes says the loss Dukes had to Concord’s Andrew Kavanagh earlier in the season was also held against him when the coaches voted on the All-Conference team.

Junior Brayden Miller was fifth in No. 3 singles after going 1-1 in the NLC tournament.

Junior Evan Byler and senior Ty Brooks were sixth at No. 1 doubles.

The duo lost their final match in the tournament in three sets at 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.

Junior Dane Cripe and senior Caden Pratt were sixth at No. 2 doubles.

Wawasee discovered who it will next face after the sectional draw was released Monday, Sept. 25.

Wawasee Yacht Club prepares for major Regatta

Thirty teams are expected to participate in the annual Hoosier Regatta on Lake Wawasee, Sept. 30Oct. 1. Considered one of the most successful and enduring Lightning class sailboat regattas worldwide, this year marks the 70th anniversary of the event which was first held during the summer of 1954.

Wawasee will travel to sectional host Warsaw, a team it lost to 3-2 back on Sept. 12. The Warriors took the top two singles matches in the loss and had a player unavailable for the match in Brooks that day. Warsaw finished second in the NLC next to Goshen. Sectional begins at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27. Columbia City awaits the winners at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28. Tippecanoe Valley and Whitko are on the opposite side of the bracket.

Lightnings are 19-feet long and require a crew of three people for racing. Designed in 1938, nearly 16,000 have been built worldwide. The class is governed by the International Lightning Class Association and includes over 100 active fleets worldwide, including the WYC.

Racing teams will travel to Lake Wawasee from across the Midwest, including several representing the Buffalo Canoe Club, home of several top Lightning sailors. The competition will be particularly fierce this year. Participants include several former and current North American champions, the current world champion, the reign-

ing world masters champion, and a three-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year. The president of the ILCA will also participate. Three races are planned for Saturday beginning at noon, with two more planned for

Warriors running gauntlet prior to sectionals

Coach Jordan Sharp will not have to worry about his team being tested prior to sectionals with the bulk of the Northern Lakes Conference slate leading up to the postseason. The Warriors have had to face to face the top teams in the NLC to end the regular season. Wawasee lost at home to Warsaw 4-0 on Saturday, Sept. 23.

“Right now we are extremely frustrated because we just played the third tough NLC game this week. We’re hanging in there with the big teams better than we’ve normally have,” Sharp said.

Wawasee lost to Goshen on Sept. 19 (5-1), Concord on Sept. 21 (3-0) and later to Warsaw.

The frustration carried over to the Warsaw game where controversial calls went against the Warriors. Senior Josh Trujillo put the ball in the Warsaw goal in the first half but the goal was rescinded on a foul against Trujillo. Warsaw scored with six seconds left in the half to go up 3-0. Sharp and the Warriors felt the goal should not have counted because of an offside call that was not made.

“After that first half we were a little ticked,” Sharp said. “A little frustrated because in our eyes, we scored a goal that was called back on a foul we thought was pretty weak. Josh put one in the net I told him we are counting that in our hearts. Another one with a questionable offsides.”

Warsaw added another goal in the second half as the Wawasee players showed their frustration

on the field.

“Second half you saw the frustration coming out with players in little outbursts here and there that were not appropriate. We do apologize for some of our guys with the things they said,” Sharp noted.

Wawasee was without senior captain Hunter Fiedeke for the game as he attended a wedding.

Sharp continues to like what he sees from his team defensively.

“I just want to shout out Xavier Washington, our captain, our leader. He is a phenomenal player. He has been playing center back for us. He would rather be playing striker,” Sharp said. “He has just been a beast for us in the back and helping us do good things. Weston McClintic, our goalie, just playing out of his mind every single game.”

Wawasee will play its final regular season game 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, when Plymouth visits.

The Warriors found out Sunday, Sept. 24, they will play West Noble to start sectionals at 5 p.m. Monday, Oct. 2. Sectionals are at NorthWood with Lakeland and Angola in the other first round game.

Wawasee played West Noble to a 1-1 draw on Aug. 26 and defeated Lakeland 3-0 on Sept. 6. Sectional host NorthWood and Garrett are on the other side of the bracket. Sharp hopes the NLC has prepared his team to have a strong postseason.

“We recognize that these NLC teams are big tough teams,” Sharp said. “Anything we can do against them is good and an improvement for us and hopefully really prepares us for sectionals.”

Girls Volleyball

Sept. 21 — Wawasee lost at Warsaw 25-8, 25-17, 25-12. Junior MacKenzie Hackleman had a team-high three kills and five digs for the Lady Warriors.

Sept. 23 — Wawasee split its four games at the Bremen Invitational going 2-2. The girls opened with a 25-19, 25-16 loss to Culver Academy. It was the second time Wawasee was beaten by Culver Academy at an invite in a span of a week. Wawasee responded with wins over Bremen, 25-16, 25-12 and Prairie Heights, 25-18, 25-14.

The Lady Warriors closed out the invitational with a 25-16, 25-17 loss to NorthWood.

Sept. 25 — Searching for a big NLC win, Wawasee took the first set on the road at Northridge. The host Raiders responded by winning the next three to win the match 16-25, 25-13, 25-9, 2521. Wawasee is now 10-14 on the season and 0-4 in NLC play. Next

game is at Mishawaka at 7 p.m.

Thursday, Sept. 28.

Junior Varsity Volleyball

Sept. 21 — Wawasee lost to Warsaw 25-10, 25-14. Sophomore Ava Mock led the Lady Warriors with four kills and five assists. Freshman Berkley Dolsen also had five assists and freshman Kullyana Caudell scored a team-high three aces.

Sept. 25 — Wawasee was swept by Northridge 25-14, 25-17. Next game is 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at Mishawaka.

Junior Varsity Football

Sept. 23 —Wawasee visited Northridge and was defeated 38-6. The Warriors are 3-3 this season and will host Warsaw 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30.

Unified Flag Football

Sept. 25 — The Warriors played their last home game of the season and were defeated by county rival Warsaw 32-24.

“The highlight of our night to-

night was definitely our autograph night where our team signed 100 posters that went to elementary and middle school students that will hopefully be athletes in the future,” coach Andrew Wilson said. Next game is 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27, at NorthWood.

Cross-Country

Sept. 23 — The Wawasee boys were fourth as a team in a crowded Culver Academies Invitational with a team score of 165. Freshman JD Stoffel led the Warriors with a time of 17:47 for 23rd overall. Freshmen Ivan Waikel and Mason Worrell both finished at a time of 17:56 to stay inside the top 35. Junior Hunter Allen ran 18:00 for 37th. Junior Issac Winers was 41st overall.

The Wawasee girls also ran in the Culver Academies Invitational and were 13th as a team. Sophomore Mia Hodgson was 12th overall. Sophomore America Benitez, freshman Alex Nunemaker and

Sunday morning.

Once touted by a former class officer as “the finest regatta in which you will ever sail,” the Hoosier Regatta offers high quality inland lake racing and top caliber competition, but the hospitality of the WYC volunteers is what makes the weekend a can’t-miss experience. All visiting teams are housed nearby by local hosts, which helps keep the event easy and affordable. The food, including coveted traditions such as hot-buttered cider served after Saturday’s racing, sets the Hoosier Regatta above many others on the racing circuit. Meals are prepared throughout the weekend by an experienced team of dedicated volunteers. Over 120 people will enjoy Saturday night’s dinner, followed by a very entertaining door prize program. After racing concludes on Sunday, awards for the top five teams will be presented. The winner will have their name engraved on the beautiful Hoosier Regatta perpetual trophy. Acclaimed photographer and digital media professional, Bill Crawford (harborpictures.com), will be on site all weekend capturing the action on and off the water. Stay up-to-date with the latest Hoosier Regatta photos and information by following the Wawasee Yacht Club on Instagram and Facebook.

sophomore Lauren McDaniel all ran a personal records. The next meet for the boys and girls is 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, in the third and final leg of the NLC championships at Ox Bow Park.

Boys Soccer

Sept. 26 — Wawasee fell behind 3-1 at the half to visiting Northridge and would lose 4-1. Record is now 3-9-1. Next game is 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, when the Warriors host Plymouth to close the regular season.

Girls Soccer

Sept. 26 — Wawasee lost on the road to Mishawaka 3-0. Record drops to 1-12-2. Next game is 7:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at NorthWood in the regular season finale. Junior Varsity Girls Soccer

Sept. 26 — Earned a 1-1 draw at Mishawaka. Junior Natalie Katzer assisted on a goal by freshman Karlee Clevenger to tie the game. Next game is 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28, at NorthWood.

Community Corner

For White, North Webster will always be home

About 10,000 cars go through the traffic light at the intersection of Main and Washington streets in North Webster, and Karen White has a front-row seat to all the hustle and bustle going on in the downtown area.

White works for Caliber Designs, owned by Jason Meck, her partner. The business does remodeling, building, design and architecture and much more.

White is a native of North Webster. Her parents were high school sweethearts who graduated in the last class at North Webster High School.

band divorced. She worked in the travel industry until COVID shut everything down. When it did, she went to work for Meck, offering interior design.

White said what she really loves about interior design is playing around with space and floor plans. Meck explained White is able to do 3-D renderings to show clients a variety of options when it comes to using space. “You need to get the layout,” White said. “Even if it’s just visual.

PROFILE

They moved away from the area, returning when White was 10. She grew up on Tippecanoe Lake and now lives on Sechrist Lake, just a few doors down from where her grandmother lived. Being on the water has always been important to her.

“I never saw myself moving away,” she said. “I never had that feeling. North Webster has always felt like home.”

A graduate of Wawasee, White attended Ball State for a semester before transferring to Indiana University at Fort Wayne where she earned a degree in interior design.

“I would always as a kid be shuffling things, especially in my room,” she said about her interest in interior design. She also took an interior design class while in high school and loved it.

She got married, had two daughters, Kennedy, who is a sophomore at IU, and Morgan, who is a junior at Wawasee. She and her hus-

Bridge Results

North Webster Bridge Group

The North Webster Bridge Group met Tuesday, Sept. 19, at the Senior Primelife Enrichment Center in the North Webster Community Center. Winners were Dick Adams, first, and Ronnie Pierog, second.

Lincolnway District annual Cubmobile Races

Color selection is huge. It’s just listening. Most clients know what they want.”

White also serves as the secretary for the North Webster Tippecanoe Township Chamber of Commerce. She said she took on the role because she wanted to give back to the community.

“I care about the longevity of the community. I want to see North Webster grow,” she said. “I’ve always enjoyed building relationships and meeting different people.”

While the chamber hosts a number of events throughout the year, White said she prefers to stick to the background and be the glue, helping hold things together.

Her favorite event is Dixie Day. “The amount of people who come into town is enormous,” White said explaining she loves how the town transforms for an event.

“It takes everyone to participate to make it happen.” And from her desk at Caliber Design, she can see all the action, from watching people bounce between the different stores on the block to having a great spot to watch the Mermaid Festival parade.

Syracuse Cub Scout Pack 3828 competed in the Cubmobile Races Saturday, Sept. 23, in Warsaw. The Syracuse pack competed against 75 racers from nine other Cub Scout packs from the Lincolnway District of the Anthony Wayne Council of Scouts of America.

Several racers from the Syracuse pack brought home trophies. The first place trophy in the heavyweight division went to Hazel Ratty. Capturing first place in

Mobile Meals drivers

Volunteer drivers for Syracuse, Milford and North Webster Mobile Meals have been scheduled as follows:

Syracuse Drivers Oct. 2-6

MONDAY — P. Smith

TUESDAY — P. & L. Stump

WEDNESDAY — D. & K. Matz

Our systems are different than any other! You deserve better water. Trust the experts at Rabb Water Systems.

THURSDAY — C. Hill

FRIDAY — P. Smith

Milford Drivers

Oct. 2-6

MONDAY — J. Kammerer

TUESDAY — A. & C. Haab

WEDNESDAY — C. & J. Wagoner

THURSDAY — M. Webb

FRIDAY — R. & P. Haab

North Webster Drivers

Oct. 2-6

MONDAY — G. Smith

TUESDAY — Bart’s Watersports

WEDNESDAY — R. Chambers

THURSDAY — C. & J Spicklemeier

FRIDAY — J. Parcell

Authorized Dealer

Authorized Dealer

the welterweight division was Eva Aites followed by Zander Monroe in second place. Evan Scott won second place in the featherweight division with Trent Ritter placing third. Second place in the bantamweight division went to Kenlyn Sims. Noah Wells placed second in the middleweight division.

Similar to a soap box derby car, a cubmobile is a gravity-powered wooden race car built by the Cub

Scouts with a rider who steers the unit.

Any boy or girl in grades kindergarten through fifth grade interested in joining Cub Scouts is invited to the Scout Woods, 10433 E. CR 500N, Syracuse, at 6 p.m. every Monday. For more information about scouting, contact Cub Master Trevor Ritter at (574) 377-6177, or visit the Syracuse Cub Scout Pack 3828’s Facebook page.

Wawasee High School welcomes parade

The annual homecoming parade at Wawasee High School benefitted from sunny weather Friday, Sept. 22. Student organizations and homecoming candidates took advantage of the chance to throw candy to spectators along Chicago Street.

The Wawasee marching band began the parade followed by a procession of homecoming royalty.

The parade included Wawasee youth football and youth cheerleading. Other high school clubs featured in the parade were Wawasee cross-country, cheerleading, theater, choir and Future Farmers of America.

The Warriors would lose the homecoming game 14-7, to No. 9 Northridge.

Wawasee Marching Pride brings wins in first three contests

The Wawasee Marching Warrior Pride has won each of the last three contests it’s participated in as it heads into state preliminaries.

Not only has the band finished first overall at the Goshen Invitational, at the DeKalb contest and most recently at Carroll High School in Fort Wayne, it has also captured all three special caption awards given for general effect, music and visual at each contest.

Those who have attended a home football game have had a chance to see the Marching Warrior Pride’s competition show as it’s the band’s halftime show. The band is planning a community show for Monday, Oct. 7, for those who have not yet had a chance to see it.

Band director Tony Pawlicki said in an email he believed the band was making an impact with judges this year because “the show is quite difficult, musically and visually. It moves at a quick pace and is far more advanced than what Wawasee has put on the field in recent years. As a result, judges recognize the complexity, especially relative to our competition and if our students perform the repertoire to the standard they are capable, award us more points.

“From an audience perspective,

the show music is familiar, even though the arrangement does a great job of weaving the different melodies and harmonies of the individual tunes together to form a new and exciting tapestry. Our fans who travel along with others help to create a loud and appreciative atmosphere at all our competitions.”

Wawasee’s Marching Warrior

Pride competes in Scholastic Open Circuit rather than the ISSMA Open Class. Pawlicki explained the main difference between the two is ISSMA Open Class classifies bands based purely on school enrollment whereas Scholastic Class slots bands based upon school enrollment and band size. In Scholastic, the band is limited to having 55 performers on the field.

As the band prepares for state preliminaries, Pawlicki said keeping the band focused is the biggest challenge.

“Focus is difficult to maintain this late into the season regardless of our success,” Pawlicki said. “But the success of this group is certainly introduced a new element to our weekly distractions. By now, each student and staff member have spent over 350 hours working on the show and it certainly can be easy to slop into a state of apathy. At this point our focus is on fixing the mistakes in the show based

upon the feedback from the adjudicators we see every weekend. The kids know if they stop improving other bands will catch up to them.”

Pawlicki went on to explain state preliminaries will have the exact same format as every other competition. “The only real difference is the potential for it to end the season if they don’t perform well,” he said. State preliminaries do not feature a placing structure, rather a gold, silver or bronze rating.

The Wawasee Marching Warrior Pride has never won at state finals. The previous two times the band qualified for state finals were in 2021 and 2022. In 2021 the band finished 11th out of 14 while in 2022 the band placed ninth out of 22.

Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy holds first meeting of year

The first meeting of the year was recently held at Warsaw Community Church for the Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy Class of 2023–2024.

The 28 high school juniors in this year’s class are from Lakeland Christian Academy, Tippecanoe Valley High School, Triton Junior-Senior High School, Warsaw Community High School, Wawasee High School, Whitko Junior-Senior High School and home school. The attendees participated in mixer games and leadership role-playing exercises while also getting to know the KYLA board members and learning what to anticipate for the upcoming year.

Students in KYLA learn the fundamentals of leadership during monthly sessions held at various sites across Kosciusko County. At these meetings, they receive an overview of different aspects of the community, including government, health care, agriculture and service organizations. By undertaking a group community service project of their choosing and sharing their experiences, they will have the chance to further explore their leadership abilities.

The next KYLA meeting will take place Wednesday, Oct. 4, at Cardinal Services.

Kosciusko Youth Leadership Academy exists to provide a positive environment where aspiring high school juniors can learn the basics of leadership and become informed, capable leaders who assume active roles in the growth of the community. For more information, visit kosciuskoyouthleadership.org or follow KYLA on Facebook.

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INDEX

ANNOUNCEMENTS ....................A005-A100

BUSINESS SERVICE...................C010-C430

EMPLOYMENT.............................E010-E080

FARM ...........................................G010-G070

FINANCIAL ..................................H010-H030

INSTRUCTION .............................K010-K020

ANNOUNCEMENTS

10 YEARS AGO, SEPT. 25, 2013 Milford High School Class of 1944 recently met for lunch. Those attending were Mary (Hummel) Wolford; Lucille (Morehouse) Evans; class of 1946, Maryann (Pinkerton) Hummel; class of 1946, Eudora (Groves) Hurd; Dale Stump; Glennis (Orn) Stump; Dean Troup; Harley Stieglitz; and Liz Stieglitz. Those absent were Mr. and Mrs. Willis Ehnle; Joan (Good) Ganger; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hoerr; Evelyn (Baker) Johnson; and Mr. and Mrs. John Tom.

Bill and Anne Troup of Milford are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary Oct. 5. They were married Oct. 5, 1963, in Atwood by Bill’s uncle, Albert Troup. Bill is retired from NIPSCO and Classic Transport. Anne is a homemaker. They are celebrating with a family dinner.

20 YEARS AGO, SEPT. 24, 2003

Jade Reanne Pulsipher, 7 years old and a second grader at Milford Elementary School, donated some of her long locks of hair recently to the Locks of Love charity. Locks of Love uses the hair to make wigs for cancer patients. Ten inches went to Locks of Love.

Milford School will be getting new playground equipment this Saturday. The Milford ParentTeacher Organization raised $10,000 to add to another $5,000 that came from the school. Milford Lions Club and Milford Kiwanis helped raise money for the cause and will help install the playground equipment when it arrives.

Sharon Lawson of Warsaw is the newest employee at the Milford Post Office. She has been employed by the post office before as a rural carrier, but now works in the main office. Lawson decided to take the test about two and half years ago and was on the roster for future hire. She has been working at the office for about two weeks.

30 YEARS AGO, SEPT. 22, 1993

Alison Dick, 12, and her sister, Sarah, 9, daughters of Dr. John and Shirley Dick, Milford, recently won a “StarTrek” costume contest in South Bend. They took first place in the junior division (ages 16 and under) with the uniforms that Alison had made. The girls will gladly tell anyone that Alison designed the uniform tops and Sarah picked out the materials to make the top. Their “Star-

Trek” insignias were purchased at the convention, which was held Sept. 11 in South Bend.

Well-known hog farmer Glen Byler was recently named recipient of the Elkhart County Agricultural Society’s Uncle Elmer Award — for his contributions to the county’s agriculture. Glen retired in 1991 after 29 years as a hog buyer for Routh Packing Co., located just north of Milford.

40 YEARS AGO, SEPT. 28, 1983

Plans are being finalized for the new Milford branch of the Lake City Bank, to be located in the building adjoining Schwartz’s Super Valu on SR 15. Gary Lyon, Lake City Bank Vice President, said construction work on the project should begin in the near future, with the bank branch being ready for business by the second week of December.

An American flag was presented to the school board of Maple Grove School, located on CR 900W, Milford, on Wednesday, Sept. 21. The presentation was made on behalf of the American Legion, Ancil Geiger Post 226, by Commander Stan Stump and Finance Officer Russell Ruch.

Mrs. Kenneth Haney of r 2 Milford entertained at a birthday

It happened in North Webster ... 40 years ago

party on Sunday for her husband and granddaughter, Tonya Bope of Bremen. Mr. Haney isn’t telling his age but young Tonya was 11 years old on Sunday. Haney’s birthday was on the 23rd. 50 YEARS AGO, SEPT. 26, 1973 Glen Morehead, former Milford resident now a Warsaw insurance agent, told Milford Lions about a trip he and Mrs. Morehead took in April to Bavaria, Germany. Their trip took them to such cities of interest as Munich, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Oberammergau, and he showed a scrapbook of color photos he and Mrs. Morehead took of the beautiful Bavarian area. David Beer is serving as interim pastor of the First Brethren church in Milford. Dave and his wife and their young daughter are residing south of town. The church is presently holding revival services with Woodrow Immel, a former minister, serving as evangelist.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry T. Hamilton, Jr., of Kalamazoo have purchased the former Ruth DeFries home on Fourth street for his mother, Mrs. Eula Hamilton. Mrs. Hamilton has moved in and is very pleased with her new home.

Betty Greider was named Farm Bureau’s ‘Woman of the Year’

10 YEARS AGO, SEPT. 25, 2013 North Webster Elementary School fifth-grade students are planning a working field trip to the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo Friday. They will be expected to take notes as they visit the

various biomes or habitats at the zoo and will interview a zookeeper. Much preparation and research has gone into the trip. Shown sharing some of their information are students of Mitch Willaman.

Friends of the North Webster Community Public Library’s Juanita Robinett had this to tell, “Well, the Friends of Li-

brary have had some big book sales, but the upcoming Mega Harvest Sale promises to top them. For one thing, we’ve had lots of generous donations, plus the North Webster Library has emptied some shelves and all those books are included.”

Log rolling was of several activities displayed during the Paul Bunynan Lumberjack

Show during the North Webster Heart of the Harvest Fall Festival Saturday, Sept. 28, at the Lions Club Mermaid Festival Grounds.

20 YEARS AGO, SEPT. 24, 2003

Following a second reading of a proposal to raise sewer rates during the regular monthly meeting Wednesday, Sept. 17, North Webster Town Council members voted to implement the ordinance. The adjustment will raise the monthly rates of residential customers by $7.60. In January 2004, customers will pay $33.10 monthly instead of $25.50.

Lakeland Kiwanis Club of Continued on page 11

Nelson’s Catering acquires Kelly Jae’s Lakeside

Nelson’s Catering and Fundraising, 607 Nelsons Parkway, Wakarusa, has acquired, Kelly Jae’s Lakeside, 110 E. Main St., Syracuse. According to a statement provided by Nelson’s marketing specialist Erin Nafziger, “Tad Gongwer has joined forces with the cherished and long-serving general manager Cassy Griffin to assume ownership and operations at Kelly Jae’s Lakeside. Fans of the beloved restaurant can rest assured that not much is changing. The same dedicated team of impeccable chefs, attentive wait staff and skilled bartenders will continue to provide the exceptional dining services patrons have come to cherish. You can still sip and savor at Lakeside for many years to come.”

Kelly Jae’s Lakeside is open 5-9 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, and closed Sunday through Tuesday. Reservations can be made by calling (574) 537-1027 or by visiting their website, kellyjaes.com.

It happened in Syracuse ... 10 years ago

Family farm expands into berries

10 YEARS AGO, SEPT. 25, 2013

Peggy Bucher was looking for something new to do and she knew she wanted it to involve the family’s farm land on CR 300E near Dewart Lake, Syracuse. After much study and research, she decided to grow blueberries. Now, not only are there “u-pick” blueberries, but also “upick” raspberries, and honey from her own bees. A blue barn is under construction on the property. It will not only serve as a country market and headquarters for the farm but has lent its name “Blue Barn Berry Farm” to the new venture. Besides being the local audiologist in Syracuse, Dr. Dawn-Marie Bass and her husband, school teacher Andy, are on a personal adventure as well. Of their four children, two are adopted from overseas. Both have compelling stories. The newest member of the Bass family is 12 year old Jacob, who was a slave in Ghana, West Africa. He worked in the worst possible conditions imaginable, had no clothing and slept on the ground. He suffered from malnutrition. Jacobs’s siblings are Anjali, age 14; Anthony, age 12; and Becca, age 8. Anjali was adopted from India when she was young. She has what is termed a “dead ear.” Treatment at Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis

changed her life. While Anjali has other medical issues, she is a student at Lakeview Middle School and doing well according to Bass.

20 YEARS AGO, SEPT. 24, 2003

Former Syracuse resident

Jeanne Gardiner returned to “our town” Thursday, all the way from Corpus Christi, Texas. She was visiting her son, Don Orr, who lives in Rochester with his wife, Kim, and children, Anna Frantz, 9 years old, and Aaron Orr, 6. Don brought Jeanne to Syracuse for the day. Going around town like she used to do, Jeanne had lunch with JoAnn Robinson, Kern Road, and her daughter, Mary Lynn. She paid a visit to Dr. Richard Brungardt at Syracuse Animal Clinic. She also stopped in The Mail-Journal office to say hello. Jeanne was in banking and marketing when she lived in Syracuse and was very active in the community.

Chalet Realty, owned by Rick and Malinda Pinney, is celebrating 30 years in the real estate business, serving Wawasee and Syracuse lake areas. Rick’s parents, Lola Pinney, now a South Carolina resident, and her late husband, Bill, had worked with the late George Duckwall, who started the real estate business. The Pinney’s son, Rob, received his real estate broker’s license when he was a senior in high

Betty Greider

Continued from page 10

North Webster met on Monday for its weekly meeting. Marilyn Kline offered the invocation. This meeting was the club’s Guest Day. Among the 28 guests in attendance was Kiwanis Lt. Gov. Roger Kisseberth. The fall banquet will be Thursday, Sept. 25, at Quaker Haven. Jim Redslob reported a crowd of 150,000 to 200,000 were at the air show on Saturday and a good crowd on Sunday.

Knights of Columbus made a contribution of school supplies to New Beginnings Day Care in Milford, Lakeland Day Care in Syracuse and North Webster Day Care. Each day care cen-

ter received 600 notebooks, 100 boxes of crayons and 100 markers.

30 YEARS AGO, SEPT. 22, 1993

Despite opposition from neighboring property owners, county commissioners approved a request to rezone over 40 acres of land near North Webster from an agricultural to a residential district. The petition was submitted by Stan and Susan Estes.

North Webster Town Council’s public hearing to approve a sewage rate increase went off without a hitch Wednesday, Sept. 15. The new ordinance will raise the average month-

ORDINANCE NO. 2023-08

ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE

WHEREAS, it has been shown that certain existing appropriations now have unobligated balances that will not be needed for the purposes for which appropriated; now, therefore:

Section 1. BE IT ORDAINED by the Town Council of the Town of Syracuse, Kosciusko County, Indiana, that for the expenses of said municipal corporation the following additional sums of money are hereby appropriated out of the funds named and for the purpose specified, subject to the laws governing the same:

FUND# FUND NAME APPROPRIATION AMOUNT

#2404 Local Road & Bridge #452 CCG-Reconst. Railroad $158,143.50

Matching Grant Fund

Duly passed and adopted by the Town Council of the Town of Syracuse, Indiana, on the 17th October, 2023.

TOWN COUNCIL TOWN OF SYRACUSE, INDIANA

ATTEST: Virginia A. Cazier, Clerk-Treasurer

Town of Syracuse, Indiana hspaxlp

NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS OF ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS

Notice is hereby given the taxpayers of Kosciusko County, Indiana, that the County Council of said County will meet at the Kosciusko County Courthouse, 100 W. Center Street, 3rd Floor Courtroom, Warsaw, Indiana at 6:00 PM on October 12, 2023 to consider the following additional appropriations in excess of the budget for the current year:

school! After graduating from Wawasee in 1997, he entered Purdue University, working at the real estate office summers. He graduated last year with a double degree in small business and financial planning and now works full time at Chalet Realty.

30 YEARS AGO, SEPT. 22, 1993

Revenge of the parents. Sally and Dave Cotton, Syracuse, recently returned home from spending 10 days with sons, Chris and Chad, who live in Austin, Texas. The temperature clung to 100 degrees; then came a cool wave which brought it down to 92! The senior Cottons decided that September was not a good time of the year for visiting — perhaps February??? According to Sally, she and David found it “neat to get revenge on the children.” The boys would come home from working all day, take their parents out to dinner, sit around and talk late into the evening — and then get up early the next morning to get to work, and start the pattern all over again — while the parents rested up for the “homecoming.”

Last year this time, you read in this column about Jeffrey Conrad, youngest son of Kim and Stephen Conrad, stating that he was going to play in the State Junior IGA/ PGA tournament like his two older

ly sewer bill from $20.90 to $24.20, an increase of slightly more than 15%.

40 YEARS AGO, SEPT. 28, 1983

Alice Long of the North Webster area was named the Farm Wife of the Year Monday evening at the Kosciusko County Farm Co-op’s annual meeting. Betty Greider of North Webster was named Woman of the Year by the Kosciusko County Farm Bureau Co-op at its annual meeting Monday.

Long-time North Webster physician G.W. Stalter is taking down his shingle Oct. 11 after 36 years of practicing medicine in the community.

brothers. This 3-year-old not only has accomplished his goal, but came in first in the 3-year-old class (partly because the other 3-yearolds quit— but mostly because he persevered.) His brothers did very well also. Stephen was first in the 8-year-old class; and Michael came in fourth in the 6-year-old category.

40 YEARS AGO, SEPT. 28, 1983

Five State Bank of Syracuse staffers are attending 16 weeks of American Institute of Banking classes at Mishawaka’s Marian High School. Susan Hulley is “Bank Investments;” Gerry Byland and Donna Mangona, “Savings and New Deposits;” Suzie Brouwer, “Principles of Banking;” and

Jeanne Gardiner, “Supervision and Personnel.”

The South Shore Country Club was the setting for the 90th birthday party for Mrs. Blanch Mason of Syracuse. Over 100 guests were present to celebrate the occasion. Each guest was presented with yellow mums and pictures were taken of each guest as he or she arrived. A special table was set up with numerous photos, awards and newspaper articles depicting the memorable events in the life of Mrs. Mason, from the family portrait in the late 1890s to present.

50 YEARS AGO, SEPT. 26, 1973

Forty members of Alpha Nu chapter, Delta Kappa Gamma, an

honorary society of women educators, met for a breakfast meeting at Culver Inn, Culver. Hostesses were Mrs. Lloyd Moseng, Mrs. Ray Manis, Mrs. Terry Mishler and Mrs. Mary Esther Henning. President Mrs. Richard Ditmer, Syracuse, conducted an initiation ceremony for Rosa Lee Pletcher, a third grade teacher from Syracuse elementary school. Mrs. Richard (Mary) Weaver, 200 No. Huntington St., was pleasantly surprised Saturday night when her children (five of ‘em) threw a party in her honor. They brought in a band for the occasion. They had to work it so their dad, who is a semi truck driver, could be home to help in the celebration.

Goshen Retreat Women’s Health Center reaccredited by American College of Surgeons

Goshen Retreat Women’s Health Center was recently reaccredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, a quality program administered by the American College of Surgeons. To achieve this accreditation, the center met standards for leadership, clinical services, research, community outreach, professional education and quality improvement for patients.

50 YEARS AGO, SEPT. 26, 1973

Kathryn Greider of R1, Cromwell, is a new employee at the Syracuse license branch, according to branch manager, Jack Vanderford. Greider is a native of the North Webster community, where she graduated from high school.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lamb, North Webster, are the parents of their second child, a son, Barry Lee, born Monday, Sept. 17 at Goshen Hospital. He has one sister, Jenelle, who is 3. Maternal grandparents include Mr. and Mrs. Anzie Kiem, North Webster, and maternal great-grandparents include Mrs. and Mrs. Alfred Kuhn, North Webster.

LEGAL NOTICE

On April 14, 2022, the Town of Milford applied for a planning grant to use Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, administered by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) to develop a Water Infrastructure Utility Plan. The intent of the Plan is to study the Town’s water, sewer, and stormwater utility systems to determine their respective capacities and deficiencies with provision of recommended solutions. The Town was notified on May 19, 2022 by OCRA as a recipient of $90,000 in CDBG funding to develop the Water Infrastructure Utility Plan. This grant award and the Water Infrastructure Utility Plan benefits the residential households in Milford to ensure the Town continues to provide quality and affordable utility services.

Approximately 61.7% of the grant award, $55,530.00, is used to benefit low-tomoderate income individuals. Additionally, the Town provided a 10% match amount of $10,000.00 to go towards this project that was used to procure professional engineering and grant administration services to lead the development of the Plan. The selection of the highly-qualified engineering firm, Commonwealth Engineers, Inc. was determined through a Request for Qualifications (RFQ).

The Town of Milford will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at 7:00 PM at the Milford Community Building to provide citizens an opportunity to hear a presentation from Commonwealth Engineers, Inc. on the findings and recommended solutions to the Town’s water utility systems, and share their comments about the Plan prior to seeking approval by the Town Council.

Interested citizens are invited to provide comments regarding this project either at the public hearing or submitted to the Town by prior written statement. Accommodations for individuals with disabilities or with limited English proficiency can be requested at the contact information below. This project will result in the displacement of no individuals or businesses. Information concerning the proposed project may be obtained from: Tricia Gall Milford Town Clerk-Treasurer Milford Town Hall (8 am - 5 pm Monday - Friday) 574-658-4519 hspaxlp

LEGAL NOTICE OF GENERAL (OR SPECIAL) ELECTION

The voters of Kosciusko County are notified by the county election board in accordance with Indiana Code 3-10-2-2 that a general (or special) election will be held in the county on November 7, 2023, with the polls open for voting from 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., prevailing local time.

In accordance with the list of candidates and the public questions certified to me by the State of Indiana or this county’s election board, and the certificates of candidate selection filed in the office of the circuit court clerk of this county (or the Lake or Porter County election director), the following offices and public questions or judicial retention questions, if applicable, will be on the general (or special) election ballot: OFFICES TO BE FILLED BY VOTERS

MAYOR, NAPPANEE CITY CLERK OR CLERK/TREASURER, NAPPANEE JUDGE, CITY COURT, NAPPANEE CITY-COUNTY OR CITY COMMON COUNCIL MEMBER, NAPPANEE

TOWN CLERK-TREASURER,

NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS OF ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION

Notice is hereby given to the taxpayers of the school corporation known as Wawasee Community School Corporation (the “School Corporation”) that the Board of School Trustees (the “Board”) of the School Corporation will meet at the Wawasee High School Warrior Room, 1 Warrior Path, Building 1, Syracuse, Indiana, at the hour of 5:30 p.m. (Local Time) on October 10, 2023, to consider the following additional appropriation of the bonds (the “Bonds”) which the Board has determined to issue. The Board considers such additional appropriation necessary to meet the need existing at this time:

An appropriation in the amount not to exceed $18,345,000 from the proceeds of the Bonds, including all original issue premium and all investment earnings thereon, to be deposited in the School Corporation’s Construction Fund (Fund #2301) on account of the preliminary costs associated with the (i) renovation of and improvements to Wawasee High School, including the construction of new Performing Arts Center, (ii) reconstruction and/or renovation of Milford School, and (iii) 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, the “Project”) in the School Corporation, including the incidental expenses necessary to be incurred in connection with the Project and the issuance of Bonds on account thereof. The funds to meet such additional appropriation are to be provided by the issuance and sale of Bonds by the School Corporation.

The foregoing appropriation is in addition to all appropriations provided for in the existing budget and tax levy, and a need for such appropriation exists by reason of the inadequacy of the present buildings to provide necessary school facilities in the School Corporation.

Taxpayers of the School Corporation appearing at said meeting shall have the right to be heard in respect to the additional appropriation.

Dated this 27th day of September, 2023.

/s/ Secretary, Board of School Trustees Wawasee Community School Corporation hspaxlp

“The primary goal of the standards is to provide the highest quality care for patients with breast disease by delivering comprehensive, patient-centered, multidisciplinary care,” said Randy Christophel, Goshen Health president and CEO. “This accreditation honors our providers for delivering innovative and outstanding care to patients with breast cancer.” Choosing a NAPBC-accredited center assures patients that their breast care team will include health care professionals from a variety of disciplines who will work together to provide the best care available through their entire course of treatment. Patients will also have access to clinical

trials and new treatment options; genetic counseling; and patientcentered services including psychosocial support, rehabilitation services and survivorship care.

LEGAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC TEST Notice is hereby given that the public test of the direct record electronic and optical scan equipment to be used during the Municipal Election on November 7, 2023 will be conducted in the Kosciusko County Justice Building, 121 N. Lake St., basement, Warsaw, IN 46580 on October 2, 2023 at 9:30 a.m. This public test is open to the general public. Indiana Election Code: 3-11-1322.

Dated this 21st day of September, 2023.

Ann Torpy Clerk, Kosciusko Circuit Court hspaxlp

2022, is being revised by this

approved by SRF on April

The revision includes final design changes to formally adopt a new alignment that would be located in a field south of E. County Rd 300 North and would reconnect with N. County Rd. 100 East just south of the Warsaw Municipal Airport. hspaxlp

NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS OF ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION

Notice is hereby given the taxpayers of the Town of Silver Lake, Kosciusko County, Indiana that the proper legal officers will consider the following additional appropriation in excess of the budget for the current year at the Town Council regular meeting place at 604 N. Jefferson St., Silver Lake, Indiana, 46982 at 7:15 p.m. on the 11th day of October 2023.

FUND NAME: 9500-2301 Police Donation Fund AMOUNT

Major Budget Classification: 104100 Donations $13,916.75

Taxpayers appearing at the meeting shall have a right to be heard. The additional appropriation as finally made will be referred to the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF). The DLGF will make a written determination as to the sufficiency of funds to support the appropriation made within fifteen (15) days of receipt of a Certified Copy of the action taken.

Dated this 21st day of September 2023.

Tonya Conley, Silver Lake Clerk-Treasurer hspaxlp

NOTICE OF DETERMINATION

Pursuant to Indiana Code § 6-1.1-20-5, notice is hereby given that the Board of School Trustees of the Wawasee Community School Corporation (the “School Corporation”) has preliminarily determined to issue bonds in the aggregate amount not to exceed $18,345,000 to fund the preliminary costs associated with the proposed (i) renovation of and improvements to Wawasee High School, including the construction of new Performing Arts Center, (ii) reconstruction and/or renovation of Milford School, and (iii) 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, the “Projects”), which Projects were previously approved at a preliminary determination hearing held by the School Corporation on August 8, 2023.

Dated: September 27, 2023

/s/ Secretary, Board of School Trustees Wawasee Community School Corporation hspaxlp

Mentone, IN 46539

Early Voting Location Kosciusko County Justice Building, 121 N Lake St, First Floor, Warsaw, IN 46580

Dates & Times:

October 30, 2023 to November 3, 2023 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

November 6, 2023 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM (Noon)

Saturday October 28, 2023 & November 4, 2023 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Early Satellite Voting Location

Saturday, October 28, 2023 & Saturday, November 4, 2023

10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Mentone Fire Station, 201 W Main St, Mentone, IN 46539 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and seal of the Clerk of Circuit Court of Kosciusko County, Indiana, 21st day of September, 2023.

Ann Torpy

Secretary, Kosciusko County Election Board hspaxlp

LEGAL NOTICE

The Town of Milford is applying for a construction grant funded by the Community Development Block Grant CARES Act (CDBG-CV) program, administered by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) to replace deficient water meters. The intent of the project is in response to the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure its customers have quality and reliable meters for the Town to accurately bill its customers, and provide information for Water Loss Audits. The Town of Milford will hold its first public hearing on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, at 7:00 PM at the Milford Community Building to provide citizens an opportunity to provide their input on the federally assisted water meter replacement project.

The Town is eligible to apply for up to $1 million in CDBG-CV program funds, but will be seeking federal assistance for $251,440, with an estimated project cost of $350,000 to purchase new water meters and hire a contractor to install the new meters. If awarded, approximately 61.7% of the grant award, $155,138.48, will be used to benefit low-to-moderate income individuals on an area wide basis.

The Town of Milford is committing at least 30% of its allocated Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ARPA) funds, $98,560, with OCRA matching the investment one to one for the implementation of the water meter replacement project. Interested citizens are invited to provide comments regarding these issues either at the public hearing or by prior written statement. Accommodations for individuals with disabilities or with limited English proficiency can be requested at the contact information below. This project will result in the displacement of no individuals or businesses. Information concerning the proposed project may be obtained from:

White washed tombs—

Remove the lampstand

I know that many don’t believe what Revelation has to say. But, for the sake of argument, let’s say it’s true. Jesus tells the church at Ephesus that if they didn’t remember and repent, he would?

Revelation 2:5 New American Standard Bible 1995, “Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first; or else I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place — unless you repent.”

I know we don’t understand this reference. We don’t use lampstands; we go to the wall and flip the switch and we have light. But in Jesus’s time to light up the room, you placed a lamp upon a raised stand to illuminate the darkness.

From what I can see here every church of Jesus Christ has a lampstand placed for it by God. As near as I can decipher, this lampstand can represent several things, Jesus, the Spirit, and the angel. But what we can observe here is the

Part one —

lampstand represents God’s light into the darkness. Is this already happening? Have we the church abandoned God so He took His light and went somewhere else? I fear we the church in North America have

Around The Lakes

lost our lampstand, Jesus is in the process of taking it somewhere else. The Methodist Church in America may be witnessing this. The fastest-growing part of the United Methodist Church in Africa, and South America, we are in decline. Have lost our lampstand? Maybe instead of speaking down to our brothers and sisters in the countries we should go and learn what they are doing to grow, oh, I know we are too smart to learn from them? They’re growing, we’re not, time to be humble. We have become With Washed Tombs, filled with dead men’s bones, haven’t we? God fully expects the church of Jesus Christ to prove itself a miraculous group in the very midst of a hostile world. Christians of necessity must be in contact with the world but in being and spirit ought to be separated from the world — and as such, we should be the most amazing people in the world.

The history of funeral service in Syracuse

Editor’s Note: This is the first of a two-part series on the history of funeral service in Syracuse, written by Michael Harris.

In 1952, my father Charles M. Harris came to Syracuse, and the Syracuse, North Webster and lakes community, as a funeral director and served the community in that capacity for the next 65 years (until his death in 2017.)

This year in commemoration of what would have been his 100th birthday (July 21, 2023), I felt compelled to write a history of funeral service in Syracuse. I hope you will find it as fascinating as I did, and that for those of you who remember my father’s service, you will pause for a moment and reflect on what he meant to you. For those who did not know him, I still hope you will pause and reflect on the dedication of service brought to our community by the many funeral directors who have served it. (I believe my father’s service to have been the longest to date.)

Having grown up in and around the funeral industry all of my life, at this writing I am 68, I have seen a number of changes in the funeral industry, even within my lifetime.

Funerals have been a necessary part of life for the survivors since time began. When Syracuse town fathers Henry Ward and Samuel Crosson came to the area in 1835, there were still large numbers of Native Americans living here. It wasn’t until 1846 that the U.S. government forced the remaining native peoples to move west.

Accounts from early settlers include stories of native burial rituals:

“There used to be ... a considerable village of Indians ... near Leesburg. And there was a well-worn trail between this village and Indian Village to the east, where abode Flat Belly... And occasionally a dead Indian at one of the villages was transported for burial to the other.

“On such an occasion the undertaker rode astride a pony with the late lamented balanced crosswise in front of him and the mourners

on horseback and afoot followed along the zigzag trail...”

Thinking about these changes, I felt it might be interesting to actually recount the history of funeral service in Syracuse.

There was, of course, a time when funerals were handled by family and close neighbors. Eventually certain members of a neighborhood or community stepped forward to become the person who would be called when someone died. They lovingly cared for the deceased, preparing them for any viewing or wake that the family may have wanted.

One such individual was John Theopolis Howard, born in Schoharie County, N.Y., in 1845, later migrating to LaGrange County, where he married in 1864. He entered the civil war quite young and was injured at the Battle of Shiloh in 1862 at the age of 17, but remained active in the Union Army until the end of the war.

Sometime thereafter he moved to Syracuse, where he was appointed postmaster and later became the first rural mail carrier in the Syracuse area. He remained a mail carrier until he was no longer able to work.

His death notice in the newspaper recalls: that even while working full-time for the post office, “as a neighbor he was obliging and helpful. It will be remembered by older citizens that the time was in Syracuse when the deceased, and Willis Wallis, also deceased, performed for the neighborhood all the duties now performed by the licensed undertaker and that, too, without money compensation.”

(Well-known area electrician, Roscoe Howard, was the son of John Theopolis Howard. Roscoe died in 1967.)

In his book, “Sketches of Lake Wawasee,” Scott Edgell mentions that Betty Jarrett (matron of Buttermilk Point) would often be called to care for her deceased

neighbors. It is likely that many kindly unnamed people fulfilled this role quietly in their own neighborhoods.

Later enterprising furniture makers who were called on to make caskets also found a niche in caring for the dead.

The first official “undertaker” in Syracuse was Frank Landis. Ron Sharp, in his history of Syracuse, notes, “In 1872, Frank Landis was coffin maker for the community. He received $5 each for his cherry coffins and all were custom-made. In 1875, Landis had a hearse made, costing between $150 to $200 (dollars).”

Like most of the funeral directors of our community, it appears that Landis was active in community affairs and was on the planning committee of the Brethren Church at the corner of Mill and Main Street (still standing) which was dedicated on Oct. 9, 1887. He was also a member of the “Silver Cornet Band.” And in May of 1924, he was among a large number of citizens who signed petitions asking the town board to turn over the school to the township trustee. Landis died in 1925.

George Darr purchased the funeral business from the Landis family “and has conducted it in a most efficient manner ever since.” Darr was born on a farm near Syracuse and has spent his life here (in Syracuse.) He is one of our best and most deserving citizens, according to a bio published in the Syracuse Register.

Darr was apparently quite innovative, which is probably why it was said he conducted the business in a “most efficient manner.”

In ads from the Syracuse Journal, he is listed as an “undertaker and embalmer,” and he states, “I have on hand the finest line of caskets in the county, over 20 different styles and finishes, also a complete line of burial robes. (We) answer all calls promptly day or night.”

In another ad from 1894, he also states that “special attention is given to embalming. (And that you will) not be charged for the use of our new hearse.” Darr was born in 1876 and died in 1947. He may have been a ward trustee (188788); and one of the first water utility customers in Syracuse in 1901. As well as a member of the school board (1893-97).

One interesting item of note during Darr’s time was an accident on Lake Wawasee in which a group of young people went swimming at Black Stump point. The young man, Bert Sargent, tried to persuade one of the young women to enter the water. Taking her hands, she eventually slipped in grabbing him by the neck. They both went under and despite efforts to save them, drowned. A nearby fisherman, Col. Eli Lilly, also made an attempt but was only able to pull Sargent’s lifeless body from the water. Darr and Dr. Bowser were called to attend to the deceased youth. It is uncertain if Bert Sargent was related to the Sargent’s of Sargent’s Hotel. But it seems likely.

BOOK FANS will have the opportunity to stuff a bag during the Friends of the Syracuse Public Library’s book sale from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29, in the library’s downstairs meeting room. The Friends have collected a wide variety of books from fiction to nonfiction and will have puzzles too. Grocery bags are $3 to stuff, while the Friends’ reusable cloth bags will be $5 to stuff. The sale is cash only.

Shown above from left are Friends of the Library Lynn Emmert, Allyson Ellis and Sue Kracke, going through the puzzles that will appear in the sale.

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THE KOSCIUSKO County Historical Society has teamed up with Indiana Dimensional Coatings in North Webster to offer pumpkins to the children of Kosciusko County. They will be passing out 80 pumpkins from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at The Old Jail Museum, 121 N. Indiana St., Warsaw.

They will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis. Come out and let your little one pick out a pumpkin. The Historical Society would like to thank Indiana Dimensional Coatings for sponsoring this wonderful opportunity and would like to thank our members and community for their continued support. The pumpkins are from Tobias Family Greenhouse in Syracuse.

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TRICK-OR-TREATING HOURS in Milford for this year will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31. The Milford Community Building parking lot will be blocked off for a trunk-or-treat event during that same time.

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DO YOU have a fourth grader in your home? If you do, the Syracuse Public Library has some exciting news to share. Fourth graders can receive free admission to a national park as part of the Every Kid Outdoors program.

Miss Megan at the library has the complete scoop if you want more information about this program, or visit everykidoutdoors.gov. to get started.

Fun fact: Did you know Indiana has one national park and three other locations designated by the National Park Service? They include Indiana Dunes National Park, George Rogers Clark National Historical Park, Lincoln Boyhood National Memorial and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, which spans 16 states and 4,900 miles.

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MILFORD KIWANIS will hold its seventh annual “Soup Supper Cook-off” from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20, inside the Milford Community Building. The public is invited to not only attend the event, but also to be part of the fun by entering their favorite soup in the contest.

The event is part of Meet Milford’s Food Truck Friday event. All proceeds will go to Milford Kiwanis’ numerous projects in the community and region. To participate, you need to prepare and supply two gallons of any kind of soup you choose. Once the soup is dropped off at the event, your work is done. Milford Kiwanians will do the set up and service, although you’re welcome to stay and serve your soup if you would prefer.

The top soup in several categories will be recognized, along with an overall grand champion. Categories will include: restaurants, businesses, civic groups, local government organizations and individuals.

If you have questions or would like more information, call Becky Alles at (574) 453-8676. The deadline for entries is Monday, Oct. 16, if you want to be included on the voting ballot.

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THE 15TH annual Fall Harvest Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at Lakeside Park in Syracuse. This is also the final date for the season for the Artisans and Farmers Market.

The event will include the Inclognito Cloggers from 10:30-11:30 a.m., pumpkin decorating, food vendors, kids activities, live music and more.

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NEW HOPE Pet Rescue will host a bingo

fundraiser Saturday, Oct. 7. The event will be hosted by Knights of Columbus, 414 S. Sycamore St., Syracuse. Doors open at 5 p.m. Bingo begins at 7 p.m. Bring $25 to play and for snacks.

THE FRIENDS of the Milford Library are offering this wonderful fall painting by Goshen artist Don Sheline. Silent auction bidding will be available at the library until Friday, Oct. 27. The Friends hope you will make a bid and be able to enjoy this treasure in your home.

THE WAWASEE Marching Pride has done exceptionally well in competition this band season. For those who haven’t seen the show yet, the community performance is tentatively scheduled at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9, at Wawasee High School. Come cheer them on as they continue their pursuit toward a state title.

—o—

JUST A reminder that THIS is Syracuse will be offering a variety of free presentations from 7-8 p.m. the first three Wednesdays in October, at Calvary United Methodist Church, 801 S. Huntington St., Syracuse.

There are five topics/activities being offered: Beginning acoustic guitar; euchre for beginners or experienced players; language and speech development for children; pour painting; and working with challenging behaviors in children.

For more information or to sign up for any of these programs, email thisissyracuse@gmail.com, call (574) 457-3778 and leave a message or send them a direct message through the “THIS is Syracuse” Facebook page.

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THE NORTH Webster Chamber of Commerce Main Street Committee has begun this year’s project. The Main Street Committee, which is chaired by Scott Kuhn, is one of many committees with which chamber members can get involved.

As a committee, the members try to find ways to help bring beautification to downtown North Webster. The flower pots were a vision that the Main Street Committee brought to life and is a collaboration between the chamber, its members and the town.

It is a community effort as the chamber relies on volunteers to help make it happen. The flowers and decorations are paid for with chamber funds. The committee hopes to add additional flower pots each year to Main Street.

This summer, Suckerfish Powerwashing volunteered its time to water the pots. Even though they are self watering, they still needed some extra hydration.

The Main Street committee organized a spring clean-up day and volunteers members came and helped plant summer flowers, which were purchased from local member, Clayton’s Garden Center. Fall decorations were purchased from Sue’s Creations, and she volunteered to update the pots to the fall decorations. Shown is Sue Ward, chamber director and owner of Sue’s Creations.