Syracuse Chamber Names New Board Members

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer-

SYRACUSE -ÊNew board members to the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce were announced Wednesday by chamber director Shelly Bickel.

The new members are Bonnie Martin, Gene Hill, Randy Hollon and Brian Rensberger. Retiring board members include Joyce Selvey, Mark Stock, Steve Ehle, Don Tatman and Don Strouse.

In other business, Bickel reminded chamber members the annual dinner is Thursday at the Tippecanoe Country Club. Social hour begins at 6 p.m. and a magician will perform. Approximately 80 people are expected to attend.

"I think we'll have great entertainment," Bickel said.

Holiday Magic is Nov. 18 from 4 to 9 p.m. and Nov. 19 and 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bickel said a raffle will be held this year as part of Holiday Magic but a person has to go to each store to be registered for the raffle. Advertisements will be in local newspapers the week of Holiday Magic.

A final draft of the welcome signs to Syracuse was shown. The two signs will be at the intersection of Ind. 6 and Ind. 13 and at Wawasee Middle School.

The chamber's chicken barbecue will be Aug. 5 at Lakeland Youth Center.

Reporting on the town council's last meeting, Bickel said the main topic was the senior citizen center. Council president Bill Cutter asked how the seniors will maintain the building if it was built, she said. Everyone was adamant about supporting Priscilla Rhode, who has worked on creating a senior citizen center in Syracuse for many years, she added.

Bickel said the next step for the community center will be to form a building corporation and proceed with the lease agreement with the participating parties.

Syracuse town manager Brian Redshaw told the chamber the town has approximately $20,000 invested in the community center and that may be why some of the councilmen are reluctant to pull away from the project, though the council can at any time.

"I think the whole town needs to look at that carefully," out-going chamber president Tim Yeager said.

Redshaw said the community center will be built on donated property.

"I guess personally," Yeager said, "if the community is going to make that sort of commitment, the community should make that commitment."

As for the Scout Cabin, Bickel said, the town council wants more information on the site and building plans, and the council wanted to wait until all council members were present before making any decisions. The Rotary Club wants to rebuild the Scout Cabin at its present site.

Redshaw said work on the railroad crossings is continuing. The circuits for the crossings at Huntington, Front and Main streets will be tied together, he said. If one fails, all will fail.

"I'm not happy with that," Redshaw said, "and I've talked to some people at the railroad who aren't happy with it."

Since Wednesday was Yeager's last meeting as chamber president, he said: "I want to thank everyone for their cooperation. I think we've come (a long way) for the last two years." He acknowledged treasurer Steve Ehle and Shelly Bickel for their work. [[In-content Ad]]

SYRACUSE -ÊNew board members to the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce were announced Wednesday by chamber director Shelly Bickel.

The new members are Bonnie Martin, Gene Hill, Randy Hollon and Brian Rensberger. Retiring board members include Joyce Selvey, Mark Stock, Steve Ehle, Don Tatman and Don Strouse.

In other business, Bickel reminded chamber members the annual dinner is Thursday at the Tippecanoe Country Club. Social hour begins at 6 p.m. and a magician will perform. Approximately 80 people are expected to attend.

"I think we'll have great entertainment," Bickel said.

Holiday Magic is Nov. 18 from 4 to 9 p.m. and Nov. 19 and 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Bickel said a raffle will be held this year as part of Holiday Magic but a person has to go to each store to be registered for the raffle. Advertisements will be in local newspapers the week of Holiday Magic.

A final draft of the welcome signs to Syracuse was shown. The two signs will be at the intersection of Ind. 6 and Ind. 13 and at Wawasee Middle School.

The chamber's chicken barbecue will be Aug. 5 at Lakeland Youth Center.

Reporting on the town council's last meeting, Bickel said the main topic was the senior citizen center. Council president Bill Cutter asked how the seniors will maintain the building if it was built, she said. Everyone was adamant about supporting Priscilla Rhode, who has worked on creating a senior citizen center in Syracuse for many years, she added.

Bickel said the next step for the community center will be to form a building corporation and proceed with the lease agreement with the participating parties.

Syracuse town manager Brian Redshaw told the chamber the town has approximately $20,000 invested in the community center and that may be why some of the councilmen are reluctant to pull away from the project, though the council can at any time.

"I think the whole town needs to look at that carefully," out-going chamber president Tim Yeager said.

Redshaw said the community center will be built on donated property.

"I guess personally," Yeager said, "if the community is going to make that sort of commitment, the community should make that commitment."

As for the Scout Cabin, Bickel said, the town council wants more information on the site and building plans, and the council wanted to wait until all council members were present before making any decisions. The Rotary Club wants to rebuild the Scout Cabin at its present site.

Redshaw said work on the railroad crossings is continuing. The circuits for the crossings at Huntington, Front and Main streets will be tied together, he said. If one fails, all will fail.

"I'm not happy with that," Redshaw said, "and I've talked to some people at the railroad who aren't happy with it."

Since Wednesday was Yeager's last meeting as chamber president, he said: "I want to thank everyone for their cooperation. I think we've come (a long way) for the last two years." He acknowledged treasurer Steve Ehle and Shelly Bickel for their work. [[In-content Ad]]

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