Firefighters battle the blaze. (Photo by Deb Patterson) SYRACUSE — The three residents of an apartment, James and Vicky Hawkins and Greg Dvorak, two dogs and at least 10 chickens escaped unharmed, after fire destroyed a 4,950 square foot pole barn Wednesday evening, May 18, on the property of Dr. Richard Brungardt, 11639 N. SR …read more.

SYRACUSE — Turkey Creek Fire Territory, requesting a full assist from North Webster, Milford and Benton fire departments, are still battling a fire at 11639 N. SR 13, on the property of Lakeland Animal Clinic. The building is located north and west of Dr. Richard Brungardt’s home and the animal clinic. Initial reports indicated the …read more.

SYRACUSE — The Syracuse Town Council held a public hearing during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday night, May 17, regarding the super voluntary annexation of the Syracuse Technology Park, located north of town near the intersection of US 6 and SR 13. The park is technically in Elkhart County. Syracuse resident Sharon Fowler asked why …read more.

NORTHERN INDIANA — The list of northern Indiana waters where muskies can now be found continues to expand — a trend DNR biologists say is not necessarily a good thing. Although muskie fingerlings are stocked each year into eight lakes in the region to provide muskie fishing, muskies are now showing up in waters where …read more.

The Turkey Creek advisory board Monday, May 9, welcomed two applicants for the board’s vacancy. Randy Cox and Cindy Taylor publicly introduced themselves to the board. Both are seeking to fill the position vacated by Steve Snyder’s resignation earlier this year. Cox is retired from 21 years with the Kosciusko County dispatch center. He was …read more.

The Turkey Creek fire board Monday, May 9, unanimously approved a $27,000 allotment to purchase nine new overhead doors for Fire Station 1 in Syracuse. “The current doors and openers are more than 30 years old with parts no longer available,” said Fire Chief Mickey Scott. “We are having issues with getting the doors to …read more.

Turkey Creek Fire Board member Bill Musser announced Monday, April 11, the process is underway to select the board’s at-large member to replace Steve Snyder, whose term ended Dec. 31. “Randy Cox is interested in becoming the fifth board member,” said Musser, also a member of the Syracuse Town Council. “The town council has met …read more.

Turkey Creek Fire Territory executive board unanimously approved $30,000 to replace the fire department’s 20-year-old SCBA equipment. The funds will come from the department’s equipment replacement fund. Changes in the governing National Fire Protection Association standards necessitate the upgrade. The standards now dictate the low pressure alarm on air cylinders sound when the operating pressure …read more.

LEESBURG — The body of the second individual who fell through the ice at a Leesburg quarry has been recovered. Allen Stattler, 41, Dowagiac, Mich., was located at approximately 11 a.m. this morning and recovered from the quarry around noon today, Feb. 22, according to Kosciusko County Coroner Tony Ciriello. The first individual Dustin Reaker, …read more.

UPDATE: Indiana Conservation Officers recovered the body of Dustin Reaker, 29, Bremen, from the Leesburg Quarry Sunday around 7 p.m. The investigation revealed that Dustin Reaker and Allen Stattler, 41, Dowagiac, Mich., possibly went ice fishing Friday night and never returned. Stattler is still missing. Indiana Conservation officers will resume the search today.   LEESBURG …read more.

SYRACUSE — Dr. Tom Edington, superintendent of Wawasee Community School Corp., reports there was a small incident at Wawasee Middle School, prior to the start of school, this morning, Feb. 19. “There was a smoking electrical panel in the gymnasium area,” Edington reports. Turkey Creek Fire Territory was notified when the automatic alarm system was …read more.

SYRACUSE — Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Team is at 304 W. High St., Syracuse, where a meth lab is being dismantled. The home is at the corner of Mill and High streets. According to the Kosciusko County property search, the home is owned by Jason W. Meade. Documents found at the Kosciusko County Jail …read more.

SYRACUSE — Turkey Creek Fire Chief Mickey Scott issued a public service announcement at the Monday, Feb. 8, meeting of the territory’s fire board. “Due to the recent changing conditions with the warm weather and rain in our area, we would like to remind everyone that even though we do constantly train in the various …read more.

SYRACUSE — One person was transported to IU Health Goshen for minor injuries and also received a citation for failure to yield. Dorthy Young, 68, Fort Wayne, was transported to the hospital by Turkey Creek EMS, after complaining of neck and left side pain. Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department reports Young was eastbound on US 6, …read more.

Turkey Creek Fire Chief Mickey Scott reported Monday, Jan. 11, his department used only 89 percent of its allotted 2015 budget. The taxpayers got their money’s worth. The department finished the year with 1,363 emergency runs, an average of 114 runs per month and the most in the territory’s seven-year history. The total exceeded 2014’s …read more.

SYRACUSE — Turkey Creek Fire Territory and Syracuse EMS responded to a vehicle on fire late in the morning today, Monday, Jan. 4. The call came through around 11 a.m., sending firefighters onto the snowy roads. Emergency personnel arrived on scene to find a small Dodge truck engulfed in flames just south of a residence …read more.

SYRACUSE — Turkey Creek EMS and Benton Township Fire Department responded to an accident scene this morning around 7:45 a.m. at the intersection of US Highway 6 and CR 33 (SR 13). The accident involved a horse and buggy that had been struck by a large Dodge Ram truck.

CROMWELL — The district approved increased wages and salaries for the 2016 year for employees of Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District, with Jim Young noting, “We felt like they (are) going to go through a little more this year than last year.”

SYRACUSE — Paul F. Meredith, 37, North Fourth of July Avenue, Syracuse, was not injured when his PT Cruiser ended up hitting a large tree stump. But a passenger in his vehicle, Trina L. Hamrick, 39, North Fourth of July Avenue, Syracuse, was transported to IU Health Goshen Hospital for possible abdominal/pelvic injuries. The two …read more.

SYRACUSE — A driver swerved to avoid hitting a deer, which caused his vehicle to go off the road and strike a large tree stump in an accident around 10:20 tonight. The accident was reported at 13217 N. 1000E, Syracuse. The scene was near the office of the Turkey Creek Regional Sewer District. Turkey Creek …read more.

Turkey Creek Township Fire Board Monday welcomed Brian Richcreek, a full-time member of the fire department since 1998, to the recently created position of deputy chief of operations. Richcreek said he will “design and develop a full training system to use throughout the whole fire department to meet all the training that OSHA, ISO and …read more.

SYRACUSE — Turkey Creek Fire Territory received the call of a possible house fire on North Street, Syracuse, around 9:47 p.m. last night, Thursday, Dec. 10.

SYRACUSE — Turkey Creek Fire Territory and EMS, alongside Syracuse Police, were dispatched to a house fire in the area of North Street, Syracuse, near the intersection of North Main Street. Turkey Creek Fire called for an assist from Benton Township Fire Department and Milford Volunteer Fire Department. While responding to the blaze, EMS and …read more.

WARSAW — The beginning of some year-end business took place Monday evening, Dec. 7, at the Warsaw Common Council meeting, with council appointments to various boards and commissions. Additional appointments, made by the mayor, will be announced at the Dec. 21 meeting. “You have six appointments to make,” Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer told council members. …read more.

NORTH WEBSTER — North Webster Police, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department, Turkey Creek Fire Territory and EMS responded to a personal injury accident this morning around 8:35 a.m. The accident occurred at SR 13 and north of CR 850N, north of North Webster. KCSD Officer Chris Francis reported that the driver of the vehicle was traveling north …read more.

SYRACUSE — Both employees and patrons were taken aback to see the dining room filling with smoke this afternoon at Cool Beans, 109 S. Huntington St., Syracuse. A small electrical fire on the grill began to emit smoke, and a patron in the diner made the call to the fire department.

SYRACUSE — Fire Chief Mickey Scott told the Turkey Creek Fire Board Monday evening, Oct. 12, he ordered the chassis for the department’s new ambulance.

MILFORD — A couple who were out for an early morning stroll possibly saved a major portion of the downtown business district in Milford this morning, Thursday, Oct. 8. Because of their actions one business suffered fire and smoke damage while another sustained only smoke damage according to preliminary reports.

SYRACUSE — During a special meeting Monday evening, Sept. 21, the Turkey Creek fire board voted to recommend to the Syracuse Town Council Fire Chief Mickey Scott’s request for a new ambulance.

At the Monday evening, Sept. 14, Turkey Creek fire board meeting, Fire Chief Mickey Scott unsealed two bids the department received for a new ambulance. The new vehicle will serve as the scheduled replacement for the department’s current 2002 ambulance. The board directed Scott to analyze the voluminous bids, contained in thick three-ring binders, and …read more.

SYRACUSE — The public is invited to attend a Sept. 11 commemoration service, 6 p.m., Friday, Sept. 11, Veterans Memorial at Crosson Mill Park, 311 N. Huntington St. (SR 13). The park is directly across the street from Syracuse Town Hall.

WARSAW — Review of proposed budgets for 2016 are complete. Now the Warsaw City Council needs to act on the proposals before the Sept. 19 deadline to advertise that budget.

Though costs ran “considerably more” than expected, renovation of the township’s cemeteries has reached the halfway point. Turkey Creek Township Trustee Barb Griffith reported Monday, Aug. 10, the charges totaled $56,567.50 for tombstone and memorial marker remediation, tree removal, landscaping and debris removal. The township had budgeted $30,000, so Griffith requested additional appropriation of $26,567.50 …read more.

SYRACUSE — Syracuse’s proposed 2016 budgets fall under the maximum levy, or the maximum property tax money that a local government is allowed to raise and use for budgeting. For this reason, Syracuse Town Council President Paul Stoelting commended departments at the town council’s regular meeting Tuesday, July 21, stating, “Everyone seems like they are …read more.

Turkey Creek fire territory and township advisory boards considered a full slate of fiscal requests Monday night, July 13, in Syracuse Town Hall.

Minor injuries are being reported in a two-vehicle accident on CR 1000E (East County Line Road) near CR 1250N, on the north side of Lake Wawasee, Syracuse. The accident occurred around 11:18 a.m. today, Tuesday, June 16. According to information at the scene, one vehicle was traveling southbound on East County Line Road, and crossed …read more.

UPDATE: Turkey Creek Fire Territory Fire Department and EMS, Syracuse and North Webster Police departments and Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department responded to a call of an armed man outside a residence at 9485 N. SR 13, Syracuse, later finding a vehicle on fire in the woods behind the property. According to Syracuse Police Chief Tony …read more.

Jane Timmons suffered from smoke inhalation and was treated at the scene by Syracuse Paramedics and transported to Goshen Hospital following a fire in the kitchen at her home. Syracuse Police Chief Tony Ciriello states the fire was reported at 6:26 a.m. today when Kosciusko County Central Dispatch received a 911 call reporting a house …read more.

Syracuse Police and Turkey Creek Fire Territory Fire Department and Paramedics responded to a two-vehicle accident at approximately 12:23 p.m. today. The accident was at the corner of Bowser and Huntington streets, Syracuse. According to police on scene, a grey Chevrolet Equinox driven by Melinda Cannon of Syracuse was traveling north on Huntington Street. When …read more.

A Syracuse man was taken to IU Health-Goshen with a fractured right leg and bruised left leg after becoming pinned between two vehicles in his driveway earlier this evening. Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department reports Benjamin Freestone, 36, 72285 CR 133, Syracuse, was directing Lavina Freestone, 15, Syracuse, into the driveway, at the residence, to park …read more.

Turkey Creek Fire Territory took the next step toward outfitting the exercise room at Fire Station 1 by accepting a $36,549 bid from Direct Fitness Solutions, the vendor supplying physical fitness equipment for the Syracuse Community Center. The proposed acquisition includes a treadmill, elliptical trainer, multi-station fitness machine, dumbbells and related accessories. Two additional pieces …read more.

Several firefighters received recognition Saturday at the Turkey Creek Fire Territory annual awards dinner. Winners and their awards were: Kyle Stamm, Chief’s Award, Airboat Operations; Larry Weaver, Jr., Firefighter of the Year; Quinn Hunter, EMS Member of the Year; Howard Birkel, Officer of the Year; Travis Miller and Janelle Fancil, 10-Year Service; Cody Manges, EMS …read more.

Warsaw Board of Public Works and Safety entered into a development agreement between the city and Parkview Health Systems during Friday morning’s meeting. The agreement states Parkview will construct a four-floor building of approximately 86,000 square feet along with landscaping and parking on the property. The construction value is estimated to be approximately $20 million …read more.

Positive financial news took center stage at Monday’s Turkey Creek Fire Territory board meeting. Fire Chief Mickey Scott reported several items reflecting a fiscally healthy department: • The department received a refund of $1,013 from its workers’ compensation policy, attributable to a favorable risk factor recalculation. Year to date, the department has been refunded $6,052 …read more.

A steady stream of interested residents Saturday afternoon received personal tours of Fire Station 1 during an open house showcasing the station’s recently completed expansion and renovations at the fire station in Syracuse . About 15 to 20 firefighters and paramedics from the Turkey Creek Fire Department were on hand to provide visitor escorts. Fire …read more.

[weaver_youtube MDqd5xrIbAs rel=8]   The fire at 501 S. Edgewater Drive, Syracuse, this morning, has been ruled as accidental. The mobile home is owned by Curtis Smith. Two dogs and a cat perished in the fire. Turkey Creek Fire Territory Fire Chief Mickey Scott reported no one was at the residence when the fire was …read more.

      A one-car garage at the residence of Kirt Grubb, 11954 N. Camelot Trail East, Cromwell, was destroyed in a fire Saturday afternoon. The cause is undetermined. Turkey Creek Fire Territory Fire Chief Mickey Scott reports the building, owned by Angie Stuckman, was fully engulfed when firefighters first arrived at the scene. There …read more.

Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board unanimously passed next year’s budget after second reading Monday night. No one from the public offered any comment on the proposed budget. The 2015 budget totals $1,972,926, including $36,855 in personnel compensation, $4,300 for supplies, and $54,450 for other services. The fire department’s budget comprises the remaining 90 percent of …read more.

With one minor exception, all is well with the Turkey Creek Fire Territory. Fire Chief Mickey Scott reported Monday night the annual service testing of all the department’s fire hose, couplings, nozzles and fire hose appliances was recently completed. All equipment met the national standards except for one 50-foot section of 1-3/4-inch hose, to be …read more.

Joseph Littlejohn is alive today thanks to Capt. Bob Tinkey and Derek Patterson of the Turkey Creek Fire Territory and Joseph’s wife, Ann Littlejohn. Littlejohn was organizing fishing gear in his garage last weekend when what he described as a “small honeybee” stung his finger. By the time Ann removed the stinger, he was having …read more.

Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board Monday conducted the first reading of the fire territory’s 2015 budget, totaling $1,565,661 for operations and $210,000 for the equipment replacement fund. The board noted only about half the budget will come from property taxes, 14 percent from properties within Syracuse and 86 percent from township properties. The remainder will …read more.

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana DNR has formally announced its hunting and trapping dates for the 2014-15 season. A complete list of the official dates can be found at http://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/files/fw-hunting_trapping_seasons.pdf Of note for the different categories are furbearer hunting and trapping hours are hunting/running at noon of first day to noon of last day, trapping from …read more.

With their budget preparation done, the Turkey Creek fire territory and advisory boards turned their attention Monday to other issues. The fire territory’s budget expenditures continued to come in under budget, with less than 40 percent of allocations spent through July. The run report for July indicates the Turkey Creek Fire Territory responded to 112 …read more.

Longevity at Turkey Creek Fire Territory stands to increase with an option for employees to switch from the civil public employees retirement fund to the 77 PERF fund available exclusively to police and fire personnel. The 77 PERF fund is being offered to current employees and will replace the Civil PERF in which they currently …read more.

[weaver_youtube FniNO2gkBLo rel=0] Two individuals lost their lives in a fire at Medina’s Body Shop, 310 N. Higbee (SR 15), Milford, early this morning. The fire was reported at 7:18 a.m. by Justin Brown, an employee of CTB who had just left work and observed smoke and flames. Numerous other reports were also received by Kosciusko …read more.

During the regular monthly meeting of the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board Monday evening, fire chief Mickey Scott made a plea to residents help clear fire hydrants of snow. “We will be removing snow from around the fire hydrants in the coming weeks in order to have the ability to quickly access (them) during an …read more.

During the regular monthly meeting of the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board Monday evening, Dennis Darr was reelected as board president for 2014 and John Heckaman was welcomed as the newest board member. “I’ve been here all my life and I have an interest in the township and helping the fire department,” the Syracuse marine …read more.

Syracuse Fire Chief Mickey Scott provided an update on a lake hydrant on Pickwick Park Drive to the Turkey Creek Fire Territory Board during its regular monthly meeting last week. Last month it was reported water could not be drawn from the hydrant. Scott told the board a large catfish had been pulled up into …read more.

Kristine M. Jaskutis of Syracuse is reported to be in critical condition today following an accident near 13060 N. CR 1000E. (Kosciusko/Noble County Line Road), Syracuse. The accident was reported at 11:29 p.m. Jaskutis, 50, was driving a red, 2005 Ford F15 pickup truck that was southbound on CR 1000 East and left the roadway for …read more.