Barring any unforeseen obstacles, construction on the Pickwick trail segment could begin as early as July with the work completed by October.

The Syracuse-Wawasee Trail committee reviewed the plan with Daniel Ernst, vice president of the Land Plan Group at Earth Source Inc., and Stacy Haviland, landscape architect, project manager for the Land Plan Group at Earth Source Inc., during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday night. Earth Source is the consultant hired to work with the trail committee on designing trails around the lakes. Permits will be submitted for review today.

The Pickwick segment will travel from Elnora to the established trail on Cornelius Road. The trail will consist of asphalt with boardwalk in two wetland areas and will range in width from 6 feet to 8 feet.

The trail will be located on the right side of the road with flashers at Elnora and Pickwick. Riders and walkers will be able to follow the trail across Pickwick and travel down the left side of the road, which borders Mudd Lake. As the road changes from Pickwick to East Shore Drive (the Kale Island area), it will change from asphalt to boardwalk to accommodate the wetland area.

As she explained the trail design, Haviland explained a few trees will have to be removed throughout the entire stretch. The first boardwalk area will also require utility lines to be moved.

A proposed outlook will be built along East Shore Drive. A few trees will be removed for the outlook and a repeater on an utility pole will be turned. The outlook will be boardwalk, however, the stretch of trail along East Shore Drive will be asphalt until it gets to the bridge. A prefabricated 46-foot pedestrian bridge will be installed with boardwalk on ends. When the trail gets to where East Shore Drive curves into Cornelius, it will travel behind the guard rail already there. The guard rail will be moved up a bit, and there will be a board walk section behind it. Flashers will be installed at that point so walkers and riders can cross East Shore and pick up the Cornelius segment that was laid last summer.

Certain areas of the segment will require county permits, however, Ernst reported since the board walk areas will be using helical piers, a nationwide permit is already in place. Work in the wetland areas will remain within a tenth of an acre so DNR permits will not be required. As the plan is set up, Ernst also said legal lake elevation permits will also not be required. The total trail length is 2,800 feet.

Donations
In other trail business, approximately $9,700 in donations have been collected for the project. About $55,850 in matching funds for the Lily grant has been raised since last November.
Max Laudeman reported on the North Shore/East Shore Drive segment. He will be the segment manager this summer and will try to extend the work that was started last year. There will be an article coming out in the latest issue of the Syracuse Lake Association newsletter about the project.
Spike Ford, committee chair, informed Laudeman some people have approached him and Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, about installing segments of trail on their property.
Dave Brandes reported on the SR 13 section of the trail. The Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation has purchased property and approves having the trail committee install a majority of the trail on its property. The property already has a wet land delineation.

Most of the trail will be on grade. Brandes told the committee it looks like installing the trail will be easily done although there are a few low spots. As the trail travels west closer to town, it will need a boardwalk at a wetland area and then return to grade by the WACF sign.

On the eastern edge of the WACF property is an old house that needs to be torn down. Brandes suggested using the property as a sub trail head since the driveway can be used for parking and the property has a well which could be used for a water fountain.

The WACF also purchased property in Noble County. That property has a shelter which in good condition but will be removed. Brandes suggested using the shelter at the SR 13 property to provide shade as well.
Work continues on the Transportation Enhancement Grant which must be submitted to the Indiana Department of Transportation by August. Brandes has met with Tammy Cotton, chamber director, to encourage all chamber members to write letters of support for the project to INDOT. The committee will also have to show connectivity both within the community and to other communities such as Milford and Goshen.

Laudeman suggested putting a sample letter on the trail committee’s Web site and encouraging members of the public to write letters as well.

Riverstone Partners, a local developer, has agreed to install the trail to the committee’s specifications at its current project site.

The high school section is almost done. Landscaping and fencing were recently installed. Ford said all that needs to be done is for Pickwick to be stripped and getting the trail across McConnell Ditch to the other side. Brandes reported he may have donors of materials for the bridge.

Placemats/brochures
Ralph Smith and Kim Mundy reported on putting placemats in local businesses with information about the trail project. A sample of the placemat was also provided to committee members. Depending on how many were ordered, the placemats would cost about 19 cents to 20 cents.

The Channel Marker has agreed to use them and Huntington Street Bar and Grill is considering the request. Along with information on the trail and a map, the placemats would also direct people to the Web site so they could make a donation. Smith and Mundy will continue to do some more research on costs and possible locations.
LuAnn Yentes and Sandy Buhrt provided a mock up of the trail brochure along with quotes from Able Printing and the Paper. The brochure provides information on the project, a map and a detachable donation card. The committee approved the Paper’s quote and ordered 5,000 brochures.

The trail committee’s Web site, syracusewawaseetrails.com, is up and running although still under construction. When completed it will have about six pages of information including a home page, a page about the committee, a map of the trails, a progress page and a place where people can adopt a section of trail for maintenance, a news page with progress reports about the latest segment and a donation page.

Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana announced Thursday its annual 10 Most Endangered — a list of Hoosier landmarks in jeopardy. The list calls for public attention to irreplaceable historic sites on the verge of extinction.

Jeopardized by abandonment, neglect, deterioration and sprawl, the 10 most endangered face imminent threats.
This year, the Syracuse Depot is one of four new entries on the 10 most endangered list. The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad built the Syracuse Depot, located on East Medusa Street, in 1913, when Americans and their freight moved on the rails. The passenger depot replaced one from the 1870s worn out from heavy use by travelers to the resorts on Lake Wawasee in the late 19th century.

In Syracuse and in towns throughout Indiana, the railroad connected the community to the world beyond, giving the depot a prominent role in the social and economic life of the town. The depot created a visitor’s first impression and a farewell memory for those departing for college, war or life in another place.

The Craftsman style depot, built of red brick with limestone trim, represented a step-up from the wood frame depots usually built in small towns. Although the original interior remains intact, the vacant depot suffers from years of neglect.
CSX Corp., which owns the Syracuse Depot and many others in the state, cites the building’s dilapidated condition as justification for demolition. Depots are readily adaptable to new uses, but CSX insists the building must be moved, which removes the landmark’s historic context and drives up the cost of restoration. Historic depots throughout the state face similar desperate dilemmas.

Since the inception of the most endangered program in 1991, Historic Landmarks Foundation claims 46 saves and 10 losses. “Historic Landmarks Foundation puts the most endangered sites at the top of our priority list,” said Marsh Davis, president of the nonprofit organization. “We tap funding sources to commission feasibility studies, write grant proposals, mobilize coalitions, contact developers, lobby governments. We do whatever it takes to find solutions that will save these imperiled landmarks.”

To find out more about the Syracuse Depot and the other nine of the 10 most endangered landmarks, visit Web site www.historiclandmarks.org or contact Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana to request a free brochure, 340 W. Michigan St., Indianapolis, IN 46202; or call (800) 450-4534.

The next Save the Depot meeting will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, at the Syracuse Community Center. The meeting is open to the public.

DJ Construction, Riverstone Partners and Steffen Realty announce a new waterfront condominium project, Sunset Harbor, on Lake Wawasee.

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 8, to commemorate the start of the project. The ceremony will be held on the future building site at 10005 Turkey Creek Road.

The new four-story building will hold 12 luxury condominium units and 36,124 total square feet. The design team worked hard to create a waterfront feel to the exterior of the building using many different materials including stone, metal, vertical and horizontal siding, and shingles.

Each of the 12 units will have a premium northwesterly long view of Lake Wawasee and have two boat slips and one personal watercraft slip along the 244 feet of main lake frontage included on the property. Other features of the building will include large balconies and windows, a separate building for parking garage, a heated pool, and a new concrete seawall along the lake and channel frontage. A commercial elevator will serve all four floors.

According to DJ Client Representative Pete Garber, the DesignBuild project will begin this April and is targeted for completion in April 2009. The project will include the demolition of the existing building on the site (the former Southeast Bay Marina) to make room for the upscale, four-story condominium building.

The project is being developed by Riverstone Partners, a real estate development company located in Indianapolis. The new Sunset Harbor condos will be marketed by Steffen Realty located in Syracuse. The commencement of Sunset Harbor will mark the third Lake Wawasee condominium project developed by John Bontreger and Mark Carney of Riverstone Partners and marketed by Harlan Steffen of Steffen Realty.

Financing for the project is provided by First Federal Savings Bank in Rochester, and design services are provided by Helman Sechrist Architecture. For additional information, contact Steffen Realty at (574) 457-4446.

DJ Construction Co. Inc. is a DesignBuild contractor focusing on commercial, industrial, educational, health care, church and institutional buildings in Elkhart County and surrounding communities.

This year Oakwood Park should be celebrating the 115th anniversary of its founding. Instead, the Oakwood Board announced Thursday, March 20, that it has returned the property to the North Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church.

Oakwood will complete its commitments to existing customers by continuing operations of the ministry through Labor Day. "We just didn't want to be in the position of shutting down immediately when people were prepared to come," explained Mac Fife, president of the Oakwood board. Oakwood staff will be handling the day-to-day operations.

A reversion clause in the Oakwood Foundation bylaws provided among other things in Article IX, Section 1: No real estate acquired by the corporation from the North Indiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church Inc. may be sold or encumbered without the prior written consent of the North Indiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church Board of Trustees.

Article X, Section 1 reads: Upon the dissolution of the corporation, assets shall be distributed to the North Indiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church Inc. provided the North Indiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church Inc., is exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code at the time of the organization's dissolution.

Fife explained nonprofit tax-exempt entities such as Oakwood must have a reversion clause should they go into default. He explained Oakwood has been struggling for several years and it is currently Oakwood's slow time of the year, so the decision was made to approach the northern Indiana conference, which was able to accept the property.

"I believe there's a chance for something good to come out of this," Fife said in a phone interview. "This board has worked very hard. It's been a long, hard slog. Our focus was to preserve Oakwood."

Fife explained the board had pursued opportunities such as a public appeal for donations and writing grants. However, the current lawsuit between the board and Oakwood benefactor Howard Brembeck and former board member Don Blosser kept donors away. As for applying for grants, Fife said writing them was an art, as grantors tended to change their focus and timing them was also crucial. Another problem with applying for grants was many required raising matching community funds, something the board felt the lawsuit hampered.

"When this board took over in 2005, we knew we had a tiger by the tail. We did what we could to stabilize the debt. Oakwood needed an endowment, a sizeable one, but it would take time to do that turnaround. At some point you find yourself up against the wall," Fife said. "We tried to remain true to running a ministry. We were roundly criticized for how we did it, but we had no choice. There is no board that I know of who worked harder."

The Oakwood Foundation Board and the North Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church have agreed to keep Oakwood open through Labor Day. Oakwood personnel will handle the day-to-day operations.

The conference has agreed to loan Oakwood Foundation $200,000 so it can satisfy its obligations to vendors, which currently total approximately $160,000.

The North Indiana Conference of the United Methodist Church stated in a press release that it had officially received the property in accordance with Oakwood Foundation bylaws and the action of the 1993 North Indiana Conference session of the church, when the Oakwood Foundation took possession of the property.

The trustees of the North Indiana Conference voted to receive the property, with the approval of Bishop Mike Coyner and the conference's district superintendents.

The trustees voted to sell the entire property. After the property is sold and all debts are paid, the board of trustees will bring a proposal for its approval to the North Indiana Conference about the use of any net proceeds.

As for the Oakwood Foundation Board, Fife explained it will eventually dissolve itself, however, he was unsure of when that would happen due to the ongoing lawsuit.

The Save the Syracuse B&O Depot Committee continued discussions on its to contact CSX to discuss turning the depot over to the committee during its regular monthly meeting Wednesday night, March 19.

Henry DeJulia, town manager, asked what the plan will be once the committee and town gain control of the building. Committee chair Mark Baumgartner said once the committee has the deed, it can then apply to the state for a planning grant.

DeJulia wondered if it would be a good idea to tarp the building to save the interior or to go ahead and remove the interior into storage and build a replica. He is concerned with delays in getting CSX to respond, the building may be damaged beyond repair.

Both Baumgartner and Cassie Cowan, committee member, said the interior is in relatively good condition despite how the roof looks. Most of the water damage is at the edges of the depot building. Baumgartner said once the feasibility study is done the committee can decide on a location to move the building.

Baumgartner reported CSX is not interested in dealing with real estate but is looking into the possibility of turning the building over to the committee so it can be moved. “Once we have control of the structure, then we can mount a capital campaign. We’ll also need more volunteers,” said Baumgartner.

The CSX representative Baumgartner has spoken to told him to call back in two weeks so she has some time to review the situation. Meanwhile, Baumgartner has been put in touch with a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers which is also a lobbyist in Indianapolis.

DeJulia speculated the committee may actually be talking to the right people at CSX, but they aren’t interested in responding. Baumgartner suggested getting Gov. Mitch Daniels’ people involved in the situation.

There was some discussion as to whether the building would qualify for the National Historic Register and if that was something the committee wanted to do. Both Cowan and DeJulia said listing it on the register could make restoration very difficult and expensive. Baumgartner said he was at least interested in what the requirements are.

Once the depot is moved and restored it must be self-supporting. Both Cowan and Baumgartner said they like the idea of having the depot being used as a bike shop along the trail system. The building could be used for bike repair, bike rentals, as well as renting other sports equipment such as canoes and kayaks. It was suggested the committee look at grants through the Indiana Department of Transportation.

DeJulia asked if anyone had spoken to Michiana Area Council of Governments. He said MACOG is able to find grant money in strange places due to how it is connected. Kosciusko County recently joined MACOG.

At the end of the meeting the committee agreed to join Historic Landmarks Foundation Inc. The foundation recently presented the committee with a $2,500 grant to help raise matching funds for the planning grant.

There was also some discussion about the committee becoming a 501(c)3 organization. Cowan said she thinks the committee would do better raising money if there is town ownership or the town name is on the project; it would help with grants although the town wouldn’t have to pay for anything associated with the depot.

The next meeting of the Save the Depot Committee is 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 16, at Syracuse Community Center. The meeting is open to the public.

The Syracuse Park Foundation approved $66,000 for the construction of a new pavilion with rest rooms and installation of a fence along Turkey Creek in Crosson Mill Park. The decision was made during the foundation’s regular monthly meeting Tuesday night.

Chad Jonsson, park superintendent, explained the Syracuse Park Board approved of the decision a few weeks ago during its monthly meeting. Donn Baird, foundation treasurer, asked about the ceilings, which are set for 8 feet. Jonsson explained 8 feet is standard, but the ceiling will be vaulted with the trusses visible.

Mike Burht, a foundation member, asked if birds would be a problem. Jonsson said he didn’t think so.

Spike Ford, foundation president, asked where the footprint for the pavilion would be. Jonsson explained it would be in roughly the same position as the old Scout Cabin. Ford also asked for a start and completion date. Jonsson said the pavilion could be completed by June 1.

Milestone Construction will build the pavilion and is currently working on permits for the park department. State permits are needed since the rest rooms will be open to the public. Public works will run the water and sewer lines to the rest rooms.
Ford asked about parking, Jonsonn said parking will be available in a paved lot along SR 13 and a graveled area on a side street.

The rest rooms will have a timed-locking system. If someone is in the rest room at night when the door locks, the person will still be able to get out. The rest rooms will also be heated so they can be used for activities in November and December.

Maintenance of the pavilion will be the park department’s responsibility.

Members of the Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee met immediately following the park foundation board. Plans were set for the upcoming season.

LuAnn Yentes, committee member, has agreed to update the Web site and design a brochure for the project. She brought along a pocket map from Crystal Mountain Ski Resort in Michigan, along with a quote from The Papers Inc. The cost for 500 four-color maps would be $880. Purchasing additional 100s would be $10.84.

Burht passed out a trail map he picked up in Michigan along with several trail maps he printed off the Internet for comparison. Ford suggested Yentes meet with him and Jonsson to discuss the content of the maps.
As for the Web site, it was agreed the link to the trails site through the park department Web site was difficult to find. The trail project either needs to make it easier to find or have its own stand-alone site.

Committee member David Grandstaff strongly suggested hiring someone with knowledge of Web design. Kerry Rookstool, also a committee member, suggested someone.

In segment reports, Baird reported he will start work on getting Pickwick stripped. Landscaping will follow on the high school segment when the weather breaks.

Ford gave an update on the bridge to go over McConnell Ditch. He met with Phil Beer who represents some bridge companies. They looked at McConnell Ditch for a pedestrian bridge. The neighbors in the area are fine with the idea as long as the bridge is for pedestrians and not for motor vehicles.

As for the SR 13 segment, the committee needs to start thinking about the Transportation Enhancment Grant, which will be submitted to the Indiana Department of Transportation. Ford asked for testimonial letters from people who support the trail system.

Ford gave an update on Cornelius Road. Tom Stricter, a resident, came to the meeting. Residents along Cornelius Road from Pleasant Grove to Warner Road hope the trail route could be moved to the north side of the road, rather than on the south side.

Ford explained the original survey of the area showed the railroad’s right of way reached to the middle of the road. There is also a drainage problem that needs to be addressed before the county will issue a permit for a trail. The plan is to build from Pleasant Grove to the curve where Pickwick and East Shore meet.

However, the more immediate work that needs to be done is extending the trail along Cornelius to the west side of Wawasee Boat Co. Doug Anderson, owner of Wawasee Boat Co., has agreed to move the fence so the trail can be laid. EarthSource, the trail committee’s consultants, have been hired to do engineering, building plans as well as wet land and other permitting. Cost is not to exceed $30,000.

Anderson would like as much work done by Memorial Day as possible.

Ford also told the committee it can build that section and there will still be funds left over as there are savings available outside the contract.

Stricter confirmed the committee isn’t planning to go beyond Wawasee Boat Co. until the county fixes the drainage problem. Ford said that was the case.

The committee also signed a contract giving EarthSource the OK to draw up preliminary design and engineering work for where the trail crosses Cornelius and East Shore and goes under the guard rail where board wall will start.
“This is going to be the most expensive per mile segment and has the potential to be spectacular,” Ford said.

On the North Shore/East Shore segment, activity is shut down until Max Laudeman has agreed to work on it when he comes back for the summer.
In new business, Ford asked about getting a brush attachment for the park department’s gator to clean up the Cornelius trail a bit.

Burht also suggested getting a brochure on the trail project together with a tear off donation flap and having a mass mailing early in the summer when people come up to the lakes and then again at the end of the year. He said he and his wife would be willing to assist in the cost of doing that.

Ford is also looking for a fundraising committee person to approach local businesses about supporting the trail project.

Syracuse and the surrounding area are poised for industrial growth. After years of having no place for new industries to locate, the time is right for development. Certainly, the climate is welcoming for industry due to the direction of the town council and town manager.

"Syracuse is not only well situated for industry but it has a good work force with a good work ethic. The school works hard to cooperate with industry on what type of skills are needed for employment. I think the outstanding work force available to potential companies is an often overlooked asset," explained Henry DeJulia, Syracuse town manager.
"Being within easy driving distance of US 6 and US 30 as well as just 25 miles for I-80 (Indiana State Toll Road) are also positive. The availability of rail service is also a plus."

The town and the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce are working together to entice more industry. In the works isn a promotional folder that can be given to site selectors or companies who want general information about the area. De Julia is also serving on the Kosciusko Development Inc. board as the town representative.

He continues, "We want to provide a climate here that says we are open for business. We will work with industry to make the process as easy as possible. We will be proactive."
Former town council president Paul Stoelting comments, "We hired Henry because of his background in industrial development. It is a top priority for the council."

The new town sponsored industrial park at US 6 and SR 13 in Elkhart County is listed on the KDI site for prospective developers and businesses. Soon, it will also appear on the Elkhart County development site as well. The park is also being listed on the state of Indiana site as well.

A developer for the 6 and 13 Syracuse Technology and Industrial Park is being actively pursued. According to DeJulia, presentations from prospective developers will soon be presented to the town and one will be chosen. The property on the other corner of US 6 and SR 13 has been put up for sale for industrial use, also.

In answer the frequently asked question, can a town cross county lines? Yes, many town and cities include property located in one or even two counties.

The largest facility in the area that is available for relocation is the former Dana property. For sale for $2.1 million it offers 325,745 square feet of space. Well located within an industrial area, it is well located in an industrially zoned area. While not a done deal, there is definite interest in the property for manufacturing uses according to the firm marketing it, Zarcher Properties.

Dana and its predecessor Weatherhead were for many years one of the largest employers in the area particularly of union labor. Many people who had worked there moved to other Dana locations. Some employees retired while others found employment elsewhere. What a boon to the community it will be when the plant is once again in use.

Syracuse's industrial park on Brooklyn Street is full except for the property commonly referred to as Vega field owned by Wawasee Community Schools. Whether that land might become available for industrial is unknown at this time. With a change of superintendents it could be a possibility.

Liberty Homes owns another large piece of property that has SR 13 frontage. Included in this property is land along Sycamore Street south of Parker Seals that has had positive interest.

De Julia states, "The future of manufacturing is in the small 20 person or less company fulfilling a specialized niche. Many of our existing industries are in this category."

Why is Syracuse so concerned about attracting more industry? The benefits of a broad based economy is important to the suppliers of those companies and to the retailers in town who serve the work force. It is important to have dollars circulating all year long, not just in the summer with the tourists and summer residents in town. The demise of Arthurs illustrates that retail businesses have to have more than a summer base.

Don Colbin, owner of Colbin Tools would like to expand at his current location but is land locked. "I've looked in other towns but this is a good place to have a business and is close to our customers," he notes.

Quality of life for their employees is an important factor in attracting industry to an area. The lakes, emerging art scene, and night life in Syracuse for young adults are all good points. The quality of the schools and the many activities for children are attractive to families. The town is continuing its street enhancement and beautification program to enhance the aesthetics.

"We are working hard to make this one of the best places to live and work in the state," concludes DeJulia.

It’s the largest single purchase ever made, according to Dave Brandes, chairman of the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation.

The dotted line was signed Jan. 29, with Hubert (Hugh) and Jacqueline (Jackie) Dunithan on 34.63 acres of land along SR 13 and .62 acres adjacent to Lake Wawasee.

Tom Yoder, WACF board member and land acquisition chairman, had been working with the Dunithans for close to four years in negotiations for the acquisition. The Dunithans will remain in the residence until May.

The future use of the property, which includes the current residence of the Dunithans, is uncertain, according to Heather Harwood, executive director.

"It’s a central location for meetings," she indicated, adding discussion and planning for what the property will be utilized for will now take place.

However, the property will never be built upon or developed. Harwood indicated plans do call for the property to be restored to its original condition.

The Dunithans did retain a "buildable" lot for one single family residence on the shore of Lake Wawasee. An easement through the newly acquired WACF property to SR 13 has been granted.

Yoder, who noted the purchase is an acquisition, not a gift or donation, said it will be good for the community. "WACF has made an excellent purchase," he stated, "and Dunithans chose an excellent buyer. A win-win for everybody."

WACF feels the main reason for acquiring this ground is the protection of Conklin Bay wetlands from the land side of them. "Wetlands by definition are that part of the earth that forms the transition from water to land. We want to reduce risk of damage from the water side, too," stated Yoder.

He added this acquisition will also provide "opportunities to do education by ‘show and tell’ and possibly synergy with the trail project as it passes along SR 13." WACF already owns approximately 6 acres, along SR 13, north of the property just acquired.

Property’s History
Long-time residents of the area will remember in the early 1970s when portions of wetlands on the property were illegally filled by the land owner Chet Elder.

Elder was taken to court by the Department of Natural Resources and in March 1979, the DNR was awarded approximately 20.72 acres and conditions, limitations and restrictions were put on the 2.54 acres only buildings appropriate for a family estate; a dwelling, garage, guest house, storage building and like structures were allowed. The documents also state the property could not be subdivided or partitioned or a condominium, apartment or multi-family facility built.

It was also noted in court documents a conservation easement would be granted, however structures, house trailers, campers, advertising or business signs, excavation, filling or no other topographic change was to be made. Also no trees, shrubs, plants could be destroyed, cut or removed except without written permission and methods allowed by the state forester.

Dunithans, or companies owned by them or in partnership with others, purchased most of the property owned by Elder in the mid to late 1980s and additional property in the late 1990s from such individuals as Sandra Smith, Dave McGrew, David A. Wolkins, and George Burkley, according to property reports on file with Kosciusko County.