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Covering Milford, Syracuse & North Webster, Indiana
Band Wins First In Three Contests
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Page 9
One Nation Under God themail-journal.com
Justice building security ordinance amended By DAVID SLONE Times-Union
HARVEST TIME — In a common sight for this time of year, a combine harvests this season’s crop of soybeans from a field just outside Milford.
Morton’s receive 2023 Charles D. Smith Award
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.” Continued on page 2
MORTONS HONORED — Bill and Vicki Morton were recognized for their volunteer efforts as recipients of the 2023 Charles D. Smith Award presented by Big Brothers Big Sisters. The presentation was made Tuesday, Sept. 26, during the organizations 10th anniversary “The Big Celebration.” Shown in front from left is Vicki Morton, Ann Smith and Michelle Smith, daughter of the late Charles D. Smith. In back is Tammy Smith, BBBS community development director and Bill Morton. Photo by Deb Patterson.
Syracuse BZA hears marina exception, neighbors plead denial By MARISSA SWEATLAND Staff Writer 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.
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“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
Inside
By DEB PATTERSON Editor-In-Chief
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. 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 Continued on page 2
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-
Continued on page 2
Major Regatta Weekend See Page 7 See Public Notices On Page 11
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.
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