The Syracuse Lake Association Breakfast and Annual Meeting, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 1, has been cancelled.

Fireworks are set to take place around the area both on July 3, and July 4 in celebration of independence day.

SYRACUSE — Paul Stoelting will serve as president of the Syracuse Town Council for 2020. The Mail-Journal caught up with Stoelting during this busy time of the year to ask him about the council’s accomplishments during 2019 and what challenges face the council in 2020. Stoelting has served on the Syracuse Town Council for more …read more.

SYRACUSE — Syracuse Park Board Wednesday, July 10, unanimously approved the 2020 park and recreation budget submitted by Superintendent Chad Jonsson. The board made one amendment to the park improvements line item, increasing the originally proposed $20,000 to $45,000 to provide funding for several projects on the department’s to do list. Even with the increase, …read more.

SYRACUSE — Early afternoon at Lakeside Park had many trying to stay cool. With temperatures in the mid 80s and little cloud cover, kids and adults alike were enjoying the cool waters of Syracuse Lake.

INDIANAPOLIS — Organizations in Kosciusko County have received more than $315,000 in grants to fight aquatic invasive plants and improve waterways. The funds were recently awarded by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Director Cameron F. Clark through the Lake and River Enhancement program. Invasive aquatic vegetation management grants were awarded to the Barbee Lakes …read more.

SYRACUSE — A plan to repair the lake level control device in Syracuse will be a “win, win” for the town of Syracuse and the residents upstream and downstream. Repairs will be done in two phases. The first phase is repairs immediately upstream and downstream of the device. This will be done with funds received …read more.

SYRACUSE — Documents from Syracuse Town Council meetings indicate the town has owned the lake level control device for 97 years, since the summer of 1922. But the town may have owned the device even earlier than 1922. The lake level control device, which for years has been referred to as a dam, is referenced …read more.

SYRACUSE — It’s been close to two years since discussions were held publicly about how to finance repairs needed to the Syracuse Flood Control Structure, also known as the Syracuse Memorial Dam. Since then a committee of representatives from the Syracuse Lake Association, Wawasee Property Owners Association and Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation was formed to …read more.

  SYRACUSE —Repairs and improvements to the Syracuse Flood Control Structure and an update on projects by Lilly Center for Lakes and Streams, were two topics of importance brought before those attending the annual Syracuse Lake Association breakfast meeting Saturday morning. Henry DeJulia, Syracuse Town Manager, presented the program with questions being taken from those …read more.

SYRACUSE — Once a year members of the Syracuse Lake Association and Wawasee Property Owners Association have an opportunity to renew friendships and make new friends when both organizations host its annual family breakfast. Approximately 300 attended this year’s event, held this morning at Oakwood Resort. Guests enjoyed biscuits and gravy, pancakes, sausage, bacon, scrambled …read more.

INDIANAPOLIS — Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish and Wildlife grants totaling nearly $660,000 have been awarded to fight invasive aquatic plants in the state’s lakes. Organizations in Kosciusko County received $143,200 to fight the invasive plants. Kosciusko County received grants for 10 projects involving 19 lakes. Local sponsors will share at least 20 …read more.

SYRACUSE — Syracuse Town Manager Henry DeJulia called a meeting Thursday night, May 3, with representatives from the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board, Wawasee Property Owners Association, Syracuse Lake Association and Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation, to discuss repairs to the town’s flood control device, located in Crosson Mill Park. The town has had control of …read more.

SYRACUSE — The public access ramp on Medusa Street, Syracuse, will be closed by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Oct. 2-20. The state will be upgrading the ramps. According to Paul Stork, Northern Access DNR, the work will include removing the existing cement ramps and pier that separate the two ramps. These ramps, which …read more.

SYRACUSE — A personal perspective of Syracuse Lake and its history was given by Dr. Larry Allen during the annual Syracuse Lake Association meeting Saturday morning, Aug. 5. This is the 60th year Allen has resided at the lake. Prior to Allen’s presentation several matters of concern were addressed by Becky Fox, SLA president and …read more.

SYRACUSE – Lakeside Park in Syracuse was busy the Fourth of July with people enjoying the beach and swimming, others sitting and talking in lawn chairs, kids burning energy in the playground area, sand volleyball games, vendors serving ice cream cones, shaved ice and more. Begun about 7:15 p.m., the Lake Area Community Band performed …read more.

SYRACUSE — Families from Syracuse and Wawasee lakes enjoyed the annual Syracuse Lake Association and Wawasee Property Owners Association family breakfast at Oakwood Resort. Several hundred attended the annual event Saturday morning. Not only could the guests enjoy breakfast with friends they haven’t seen for a year, but also meet new friends. Guests also had …read more.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — A recent rash of fish kills in several Kosciusko County lakes has residents and anglers looking for possible causes. In most cases, DNR biologists say the causes are unknown, but the fish kills will not affect the overall health of fish populations or the quality of fishing. Dead common carp were reported …read more.

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — The Lilly Center for Lakes & Streams recently distributed a study to residents on Lake Tippecanoe, James Lake, Oswego Lake, Syracuse Lake, Lake Wawasee, and Winona Lake highlighting research on each of these lakes throughout history. The viewbooks feature historical snapshots of each lake, providing information about that lake’s history as well …read more.

SYRACUSE — Wawasee, Fairfield and West Noble building trades students have been busy using power tools, levels, wrenches, screwdrivers, paint brushes and more to build a house at Syracuse Lake. Tuesday evening, May 2, in the Wawasee High School cafeteria, those students were honored during the annual Wawasee & Fairfield Building Trades Banquet.

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Department of Natural Resources grants, totaling more than $585,000, will be used to fight invasive aquatic plants in Indiana’s lakes. Some of those funds will be utilized in area lakes.

SYRACUSE — Almost immediately, one would likely notice a picturesque view of Syracuse Lake when walking into this year’s house being built by Wawasee, Fairfield and West Noble high school building trades students. And it seems, though it is not literally true, one could also almost reach out of a window and touch the water of the lake.

SYRACUSE — The annual meeting of the Syracuse Lake Association Saturday morning, Aug. 6, included news of a new type of algae being found on Syracuse Lake the past week.

SYRACUSE — Centennial Lake Wawasee cottages were honored by the Syracuse-Wawasee Historical Museum during a presentation by the owners on their homes. The awards were given Saturday, July 23, at the Syracuse Community Center, home of the museum.

[weaver_youtube FdgWVkeHZLk rel=0]   SYRACUSE — Recent activities of the Center for Lakes & Streams, water quality in Syracuse and Wawasee lakes, the history of the lake to current. These were topics presented by Dr. Nate Bosch, director of Center for Lakes and Streams, at a community gathering on Lake Wawasee Saturday evening, June 25. …read more.

SYRACUSE — While the weather at first threatened a soaking walk, the slight drizzle lessened and eventually ceased as about 25 walkers set off on the Next Indiana Campfires walk Thursday, June 9, along the Syracuse Lake portion of the Syracuse-Wawasee Trail. The goal? To connect nature, literature and Indiana’s bicentennial.

SYRACUSE — Syracuse-Wawasee Park Foundation and Indiana Humanities are hosting a Next Indiana Campfires sunset walk around Syracuse Lake from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, June 9. The outing is part of “Next Indiana Campfires,” Indiana Humanities’ new series that pairs literature and nature to help Hoosiers explore Indiana’s wild places and discuss conservation and stewardship. Attendees …read more.

By HEATHER HARWOOD Executive Director, Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation SYRACUSE — Recently the Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation acquired the waterfront property, which for decades was the Searfoss Family Homestead. The property is located east of the Wawasee-To-Syracuse Lake main channel and across the road from the Channel Marker Restaurant on Pickwick Drive. The property will …read more.

By MADISSON HEINL Communicaitons Specialist, Center for Lakes & Streams, Grace College WINONA LAKE — The Center for Lakes & Streams recently began conducting stormwater monitoring in the Warsaw area as a partner in the Clean Waters Partnership. The CWP is an extension of The Watershed Foundation and is a collaboration of county individuals, businesses, …read more.

SYRACUSE — Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to the preservation and enhancement of the Wawasee area watershed for present and future generations. Water quality protection and improvement is an important consideration with regard to all WACF activities, but such protection and improvement may take many forms including land acquisition and preservation, …read more.

By MADISSON HEINL Communications Specialist, Center for Lakes & Streams at Grace College WINONA LAKE — The Center for Lakes & Streams conducts regular stream sampling on county streams which feed into several local lakes in Warsaw, Winona Lake, North Webster and Syracuse even throughout the winter months. Stream sampling is a way to gauge …read more.

SYRACUSE — Sometimes an interest can stick with a person from childhood even to retirement age.

SYRACUSE — There was a lot of discussion between members of the Syracuse Quiet Zone Committee, along with residents, Syracuse Town Manager Henry DeJulia and representatives from Lawson, Fisher Associates, an engineering firm in Mishawaka regarding safety and insurance liability during a Quiet Zone Committee meeting Tuesday night, Dec. 8. The committee was discussing the …read more.

SYRACUSE — The Wawasee community is welcoming back a familiar face after a three-year hiatus. Kim Slocum made the decision to join the company he left just a few years ago, and the Rinker family is welcoming him back with open arms.

SYRACUSE — The Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation’s first Falltastic event was held Saturday, Oct. 17, and again today, Sunday, Oct. 18, from noon to 4 p.m. at the Levinson-LaBrosse Education Center, 11586 N. SR 13, Syracuse.

SYRACUSE — Wawasee Area Conservancy Foundation members and volunteers helped make science a lot more fun during a three-day event at the education center on SR 13. Syracuse Elementary School fourth-grade students attended Bug Fest 2015 Monday, Sept. 14, from 9 to 11:15 a.m. or 12:15 to 2:45 p.m.

SYRACUSE — Turkey Creek Township Fire Territory responded to a boat on fire Tuesday evening, Aug. 4, on Syracuse Lake. At 5:57 p.m., firefighters received the call and were able to extinguish the fire in about five minutes.

SYRACUSE — The Syracuse Lake Association met for a productive morning discussion at the Syracuse Community Center on Saturday, Aug. 1.
Beginning at 8 a.m., Carla McLain and Bill Trame greeted guests at the door and welcomed them in for a warm breakfast and coffee. As Syracuse residents mingled and ate, the room quickly began to fill. Presentations began at 8:40 a.m.

By AARON ROVENSTINE Kosciusko County Sheriff KOSCIUSKO — This month’s question comes from Turkey Creek Township, and the resident asks about our Lake Patrol and its visibility on Syracuse Lake. Before I give our Lake Patrol Coordinator Sgt. Jon Tyler’s answer to that question, I would like to take a look back at the history …read more.

The good news is the CSX railroad bridge between Syracuse Lake and Lake Wawasee is now open on both sides. Becky Fox, president of the Syracuse Lake Association and Kay Young, president of the Wawasee Property Owners Association, both confirmed a crew of volunteers had been out Saturday, June 20, removing chucks of concrete from …read more.

The annual Wawasee Property Owners Association and Syracuse Lake Association Family Breakfast is an opportunity for neighbors to meet neighbors, renew friendships, make new friends and learn about various non-profit organizations in the area. This year’s event was held Saturday morning at Oakwood Resort, Syracuse. Non-profit agencies such as the WPOA, Syracuse-Wawasee Trails, Syracuse-Wawasee Garden …read more.

Efforts to keep boaters from using the east side of the railroad bridge is being made with caution tape and markers. Board members of the Wawasee Property Owners Association expressed concern over the condition of the CSX railroad bridge over the channel connecting Syracuse and Wawasee lakes last Saturday during its annual public board meeting. …read more.

The 2015 Wawasee Flotilla T-shirts, featuring this year’s unique logo, have arrived and are being distributed to outlets in Syracuse. The theme for this year’s Flotilla is “Pirate Parade.” The flotilla will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 4, on Lake Wawasee. Gray and black t-shirts in long and short sleeves, crew neck and …read more.

  The condition of the railroad bridge over the channel connecting Syracuse and Wawasee lakes is causing not only concern for the upcoming holiday weekend, but a larger, and possibly devastating concern for the lake and the community. This was a topic discussed at the annual Wawasee Property Owners Association public board meeting this morning, …read more.

Questions about Lake Wawasee and Syracuse Lake water levels have been among the most common research-related questions received by the Center for Lakes & Streams over the past few years. In 2012 the lake levels in Wawasee and Syracuse dropped about 18 inches below normal. The expanded study evaluated the causes of lake level changes …read more.

At its March 24 meeting, the Kosciusko County Commissioners heard a number of Area Plan Commission items, namely a vacation of a public right of way in the Indian Hill neighborhood near Syracuse Lake in Syracuse. A related matter came before the commission in May of 2011. At the time, the commission opted for a …read more.

Syracuse-Wawasee Trail Committee met Monday night to discuss several ongoing trail projects, as well as updates on existing projects. Plans for the Conklin Bay portion of the trail were discussed. Megan McClellan, executive director, said the wetland delineation will cost $4,620. “We have money for this section but it’s for laying trail,” she said. The …read more.

Syracuse Lake was a serene combination of sun and ice when locals began to arrive Saturday morning. It is the scene for Syracuse’s annual snowmobile races, hosted by the Kiwanis. Just off the beach area, the lake will packed with ATVs, trailers, an assortment of off-road toys and most importantly, all kinds of snowmobiles. There …read more.

“Making Syracuse Lake Clean, Healthy, Safe and Beautiful” was the topic presented by Dr. Nate Bosch, director of the Center for Lakes and Streams and assistant professor of environmental science at Grace College. Bosch’s presentation was made during the annual Syracuse Lake Association Annual Breakfast Meeting held Saturday. Megan McClellan, new executive director of Syracuse-Wawasee …read more.

Let lake breezes caress you while strolling through four lovely summer gardens on the Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Walk. It will take place between 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, June 28, with three Lake Wawasee lakefront gardens and one on Syracuse Lake. The annual walk is sponsored by the Syracuse-Wawasee Garden Club with proceeds going to support its …read more.

One is a decorative stepping stone, but it’s really a piece of local history. In the yard of Tom Knopp’s home overlooking Syracuse Lake are two quite old millstones from the former Crosson Mill. Crosson Mill, carrying the surname of Samuel Crosson, a founding father of Syracuse, was a grist mill originally built by Turkey …read more.

Celebrate the beginning of summer with the Wawasee Property Owners Association and Syracuse Lake Association family breakfast. The event will be from 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 21, at the Oakwood Resort. Breakfast will consist of pancakes/syrup, scrambled eggs, biscuits/gravy, sausage, bacon, rolls/butter, assortment of fruit, orange/apple juice, coffee and tea. There is …read more.

SYRACUSE, Ind. — Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating an incident on Syracuse Lake which resulted in one person being arrested. Around 6 p.m. Monday evening, Indiana Conservation Officers received a call from Syracuse Police regarding a sunken boat at the public access site on Syracuse Lake. Johnathan Heckaman, 33, of Syracuse, was subsequently arrested after he sunk his own …read more.

Rainy and chilly weather made it feel more like March than past the midpoint of May, but the 26th annual Wawasee Kiwanis Cruisin’ Cuse car show went on as planned in Syracuse Saturday. Because of the weather, the number of cars for the show was considerably below normal. Classic rides were on display in the …read more.

Jordan Swain came before the Syracuse Park Board to propose having boat races on Syracuse Lake during the park board’s regular monthly meeting Monday night. Swain explained there used to be races on the lake and he and others would like to bring them back. Swain belongs to the Northern Indiana Outboard Racing Association and …read more.

For the first time in two years, the sound of snowmobile engines emanated from Syracuse Lake when the Wawasee Kiwanis Snowmobile Drags returned to Syracuse Saturday, just offshore from the lakeside park. Warm weather caused organizers to cancel the event two years in a row. The third time was the charm. This year’s event had …read more.

Wawasee Kiwanis Club is celebrating winter with its legendary and rejuvenated Snowmobile Drags happening this Saturday, Feb. 1, and its Soup Supper, taking place this Friday, Jan. 31. With plenty of ice on Syracuse Lake and below average temperatures throughout January, everything is ready for these events. The action is centered on the lake out …read more.

The much anticipated, annual snowmobile drag races presented by the Wawasee Kiwanis and held on Syracuse Lake at Lakeside Park, 1013 N. Long Drive, will be Saturday, Feb. 1. There is no black out date. Lunch will be available on site on the day of the race. Registration is from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. …read more.

A research study on Wawasee and Syracuse lake levels during the drought of 2012 has been completed and Kosciusko Lakes and Streams has released its findings. In short, “Lake levels were likely affected by residential irrigation in 2012, though groundwater inputs to the lake likely compensated for some of the losses.” Dr. Nate Bosch, director …read more.

The largest Syracuse Lake Association breakfast meeting in its history was held Saturday morning at Syracuse Community Building. More than 84 association members and families attended to hear what the SLA has been doing the past year. Among business was a presentation by board member Nate Shoemaker seeking interest to add music (synchronized with a …read more.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqLoaV9EVr8&feature=youtu.be]   Members of the Wawasee Lake Patrol dedicate their volunteer time to take care of educating all who boat on the state’s largest natural lake. Jim Tranter, who oversees the local patrol, presented information about that patrol at the Wawasee Property Owners Association’s annual public board meeting Saturday at Oakwood Hotel, Syracuse. Tranter …read more.

The drought of 2012 dropped Lake Wawasee’s water level down about 18 inches from normal levels, and even dropped nearby Lake Michigan to its lowest water level in recorded history since 1918. Curiously, however, this water level drop was not seen for all of the more than 100 lakes in Kosciusko County. Recently, there have …read more.

State officials with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources will be on hand at the annual Syracuse Lake Association’s breakfast meeting Saturday morning. The event will take place at Syracuse Community Center. Breakfast, catered by the Brown Bag Deli, will be served from 8 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. immediately followed by the association’s annual meeting. Becky Fox, SLA president, …read more.