SNOWY SCENERY

Took a ride on the lake today to enjoy the beautiful scenery. Some of my Florida friends called to laugh and make fun! They don't know what they're missing. It's breath-taking!

BLIZZARD OF 2012

December 26th, 2012 brought the Blizzard of 2012! Approximately one foot of snow piled up in 6 or 7 hours. The snow was very wet giving the snow plows a serious challenge. The Conservancy road crew kept the main roads open during the blizzard and by 6:00 the main roads were spotless and the many of the side roads had been plowed. Pictured is Anthony Hawood working on Aspen Drive.

GEORGENE SETTLES

Friends and neighbors in the Conservancy are saddened of the passing of Georgene Settles on December 21st. Georgene and her decesed husband Buz were "givers" being very active volunteers over the years. Georgene was responsible for expanding the local library and reading programs in addition to being president of the local Cordry Sweetwater Lot Owners Association. A memorial service is scheduled for January 12th, 2013.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Happy Holidays from Dave and Iris.

CONSERVANCY NEWS

There will be no election for 2 open seats on the board of directors. James Ray of area 5 has applied for that seat and Cathey Byers of area 6 has applied for that position. No other applications were recieved so there is no need for an election. Mr Ray replaces Dave Jarrett and Mrs. Byers replaces David Moebs. In other actions,

the board of directors hired Rodney Blasdel for the newly created position of Conservancy Manager. Mr. Blasdel begins work on January 2nd, 2013.

BOAT RAMPS ON HOLD

The ecology commission and the building commission both reviewed and recommended a contract be let for the construction of a new boat ramp on Sweetwater Lake and the repair of the boat ramp on Cordry Lake. After closer review, the CSCD Board of Directors have decided to re-investigate the specifications and information before letting the contract out for bids. Hopefully, construction can be done early this spring.

DECEMBER WATER SKIERS

65 degrees and sunshine brought out some water skiers on Cordry Lake on Saturday, December 1st. Local skiers

Tony Elmes and Dave Jarrett enjoyed the smooth water.

DREDGING'S DONE

The dredging company is dismantling the dredging barges in preparation for removing from Sweetwater Lake. The area of spoils is being leveled and graded.

DEER REDUCTION HUNT CANCELLED

The CSCD Deer Reduction Hunt for remainder of 2012 has been discontinued. The walking trails are open for residents to use.

RESTRICTIONS ON PARKED WATERCRAFT

The CSCD Board of Directors passed Resolution 2012-6 at the November meeting. The resolution reads: "Minimum setback from the side lot line is five (5) feet and any lake front structure shall not cross over an imaginary line that extends out from the side lot line setback into the lake. At all times, watercraft parking must observe an imaginary line that extends out into the lake perpendicular to the intersection of the side lot line and the shoreline."

NASHVILLE LIGHTS

Nashville is all decked out with Christmas lights. Stores and restaurants are all open.

LEAF PILES

The area leaf/compost area is being well used this fall. I think we live in the "leaf capitol" of the world!

Hey Bird Watchers. Mike Clay called me recently from the Audubon Society. He's looking for residents in the area to participate in a Christmas Bird Count event. They want watchers to report bird varieties during the period beginning December 16h through Christmas. I know we've got some bird enthusiasts out there! Give Mike a call at 317-682-8884 for more information.

HALLOWEEN FUN

Halloween night volunteers drive and pull haywagons loaded with costumed "trick or treaters" around the lakes and stop at pre-arranged stops for treats. Sweetwater Realty is one of those stops. Pictured is the Sweetwater Realty staff and friends enjoying the evening.

NEW SWEETWATER GAS PUMP

The Ecology Commission will be looking at bids for a new Sweetwater Gas Pump Dock at this Thursday's meeting.

COMPUTER COMPANY

I don't often "plug" businesses on this blog but here is an excepton! Roadrunner Computers LLC - Sales and Service - 317-878-5904 - Trafalgar, Indiana 46181. Michael Beldon saved me from virtual melt down this week! Very professional, reasonable, up-to-date, and.....he does HOUSE CALLS!

HAUNTED FOREST and HAYRIDE

The Cordry Sweetwater Fire Department will present their annual Haunted Forest and Hayride fundraiser on October 26th and 27th from 8:00 PM to Midnight. Admission for the event is $8.00 for

adults and $4.00 for children 3-11 years. The brave participants will board a hay wagon at the Sweetwater Beach and be taken back to the haunted trail. The poor souls will then walk the haunted trail and encounter various skits put on by volunteers. Afterward, they will reboard a hay wagon and return to the beach. Food is available before and after the ride.

PEAK COLOR

It's beautiful! I thought that the summer's drought would dull the fall colors. Wrong! (Photo taken from Cordry Dam)

NEW BEACH WALL

In less time than it took to make the motion, a new retaining wall and steps have been installed at Sweetwater Beach. Local contractor Jerry Cleefman and company completed the wall in record time AND it looks great!

DREDGLER ON THE MOVE

The Dredger at Sweetwater Lake has moved his base of operations to the boat launch area. A new "loading dock" for the dredger's use has been constructed while he completes 5 or 6 private dredging jobs on the lake. There is some speculation that this "loading dock" might become the local contractor's launching ramp in the future.

FIRE PREVENTION WEEK

National Fire Prevention Week and our local volunteer fire department enjoyed visiting the library on Friday, October 5th. Pictured are several local residents being given a tour/demonstration of the fire engine.

BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE

As the dredging comes to an end, the removal of the roadway is underway. I stopped by to watch the worker remove a Bobcat from the lower level up to the top of the road. It took several attempts and adjustments before it was accomplished. The excess rip rap is being used to line the shoreline of the areas that were dredged. Some of the rip rap us being used to construct a "contractors boat ramp" at the Sweetwater boat ramp/dock area.

PARK ADDITION

Larry, Frank, and Quinn have been at it again! The latest addition to the Firehouse Park is a new industrial grade swing. Thanks to the fellows and South Central REMC for erecting the swing. (REMC dug the hole with a power auger) Now we would like to see the basketball courts moved to this area of the park but it will take some hefty donations. There is a need for more volunteers for small projects such as this. (Planting some plants, hanging Christmas lights at the club house, etc.)

Make your contact at the conservancy office.

DREDGING FINALIZING

The dredging project is nearing completion on the north end of Sweetwater Lake. The dredgers are soon going to start on private projects.

NEW BEACH WALL

The CSCD Board awarded a contract to a local contractor to replace the retaining wall at Sweetwater Beach with a new masonary block wall and steps. Work should begin soon.

WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY

Several lakes residents have been taking advantage of the low water to update their docks and shorelines. It's the "window of opportunity!"

NEW BOAT STORAGE BUSINESS

Looks like a new boat and trailer storage business is popping up on Nineveh Road. Call 317-878-4223 for information.

EDINBURG FALL FESIVAL

Enjoy the Edinburg Fall Festival this weekend. The streets are filled with carnival rides and the downtown district has several terrific restaurants staying open later hours.

DREDGING UPDATE

The dredging continues at the north end of Sweetwater. The dredging company reported that they are approximately 75% complete. The CSCD Board approved private freeholders to "piggy-back" at their own expense to have additional dredging done while the company still has their equipment in the lake. Contact Mr. Lee or Mr. Haywood at the Conservancy office.

OX ROAST REPORT

The 2012 Cordry Sweetwater Ox Roast is history. The weatherman missed it! He predictied doom and gloom and floods and prepare your sandbags and it didn't happen. It was hot and humid and a couple of showers. It didn't dampen the spirits of the workers and those who attended and enjoyed the show by Snake Man, Bird Man, and perfromances by the Brown County Community Band. Let's hope the end tally produces lots of money for the CSLOA and the Fire Department. If you missed, you can send your $75 annual membership dues in anytime to the Conservancy Office.

OX ROAST COMING

The annual Ox Roast is set for September 1st. The Silent Auction needs donations! Contact Carrie Vavul @ 933-3366. The CSLOA membership newsletters have gone out: For $75 you support the Lot Owners Association and the Fire Department/Amulance. You can pay your membership at the CSLOA booth on Ox Roast Day.

DREDGING REMINDER

It appears that the Conservancy may allow private property owners to dredge other areas in Sweetwater Lake at their own expense. The window of opportunity is getting narrow! The dredger is nearing completion. Private property owners need to contact SRS and the Conservancy. Dan Lee and Anthoney Haywood will be in charge of dredging permits. Call the Conservancy office at 317-933-2893.

Dredging Moved

The Dredger on the north end of Sweetwater Lake has moved to the next cove down on the east side. They continue to dredge until they have reached their contract goal of 8,500 cubic yards. Private individuals who are interested in dredging at their own expense while the dredging equipment is still in the lake should contact Dan Lee or Anthoney Haywood at the Conservancy Office.

AND THE DREDGING GOES ON

The dredging company continues to work on the north end of Sweetwater Lake. The workers tell me that they are about 45% completed on the contracted amount of spoils removed. They also commented that they are hitting the "shale" bottom which means that they can only go so deep. It appears that there is plenty of room at the "spoils field" across from the beach which means that private owners may have the opportunity to contract for private dredging while the equipment is still here.

DOWN! DOWN! DOWN!

The lakes levels are going down, down, down! I measured the Sweetwater spillway on July 30th and it looks to be approximately 12 inches down. Cordry Lake appears to be the same.

SCUBA DIVERS

The Johnson County Sheriff's Department Dive Team enjoyed the clear waters of Sweetwater Lake this past week. They also helped located some anchors and trapping equipement belonging to Mr. Smith. (our muskrat trapper) Seems as though he got caught in a high wind last winter and his boat capsized dumping some of his tools into the lake!

DREDGING CONTINUES

Dredging continues on the north end of Sweetwater Lake. The dredging company reports that they are 25% finished with the project.

BOAT STICKERS RIPPED

The CSCD Security Commission held their monthly meeting on July 10th and addressed numerous topics. One topic involved a freeholder that has recieved 3 tickets this summer. It is my understanding that 2 of the tickets were issued to a jet ski that did not have current stickers past the June deadline. At least 2 of the violations did not involve reckless driving, alcohol, dangerous behavior, or disrespect to the safety boat personel

. The commission voted to remove all stickers from all boats owned by this freeholder for one year. This motion will be voted on at the regular board meeting on Tuesday, July 17th, 2012.

FIREWORKS 2012

Another great fireworks show on July 7th, 2012. This event is funded by the Cordry Sweetwater Lot Owner's Association each summer. Cost is $4,000 for the event. Do remember that memberships are coming due in September for the CSLOA for $75. Quite a bargain for fire and ambulance protection.

DREDGING

Dredging at the North end of Sweetwater Lake is underway. The barges and excavators are in place and digging. The water near the North end is temporarily a bit murky.....small price to pay for progress. I've recieved numerous e-mails questioning if other areas could be dredged. It's a money issue! The Conservancy is spending $140,000 for 8,500 cubic yards of material to be removed per this contract. That's all they have to spend for this year. The ecology commission is asking for a budget of $150,000 for next year's dredging projects. That's all that is planned at this point. I'm personally hoping that private individuals may be permitted to dredge some nearby coves at their own expense while the dredging machinery is in the lake. It all depends

if there is room for the spoils at the field across from the beach. Stay tuned!

OX ROAST COMING

SILENT AUCTION/ANNUAL OX ROAST - Have an item you could contribute to the Silent Auction from your business, your hobby, or giving spirit? Help make this year's Silent Auction the biggest and most profitable ever by donating. Contact Carrie Vavul at 317-933-3366 or carrievavul@gmail.com

SWEETWATER TRAIL CLOSED

Sweetwater Trail just south of the back gates will be closed for about 1 month beginning July 2nd, 2012 for bridge replacement. Alternative routes south to Nashville and State Road #46 will need to be determined. Maps will be available at Sweetwater Realty. (bridge pictured is in Camp Atterbury)

READY TO PLAY

The new playground equipment is ready to play on. Thanks to Larry, Quinn, and Frank for installing this unit. Now....let's add some more playthings!

GOODBYE GEESE

I happended on The Great Goose Round-Up this morning on Cordry Dam. A combination of conservancy workers in boats and private company workers on land were herding a great number of geese into a fence enclosure then one by one hand loading them into a fenced in trailer. At this time, they are in their "molting" stage and can't fly so capturing is easier. The geese are bound for relocation a long way away.....we hope!

GUARD RAILS

The installation of guard rails at strategic dangerous locations in the Conservancy is nearing completion.

LET THE DREDGING BEGIN!

Finally! Workers appeared today clearing out brush and vegitation in preparation for dredging at the north end of Sweetwater. The construction of a "parking spot" for dump trucks is step #1. The trucks will be loaded at this point and take the "spoils" to a location across the road from the beach.

IMPORTANT DATES

It's happening! June 16th - Fish Fry at the clubhouse June 23rd - Concert at the Beach @ 8:00 PM June 30th - Cordry Lake Boat Parade @ 8:00 PM July 7th - Fireworks at Sweetwater Beach

HOWARD PRINCE RETURNS!

People frequently ask, "What happened to the statue of Howard Prince that used to be at the entrance to Prince's Lakes?" The statue was in storage for a while and has now be re-erected at the Town Hall in Prince's Lakes.

TULIP TREE SAP

The Tulip Trees in the area have been making quite a mess. They are giving off an extraordinary amount of sticky sap this spring. It's due to the Tulip Tree Scale, a small bug that infects Tulip Trees. It's also a result of our warm winter that didn't kill off many insects. There are even large black sticky spots on some of the roads where the Tulip Trees hang over. I thought I was having a flat tire one day.....got out to look.....just sticky spot in the road!

REDUCE YOUR FIRE INSURANCE FEE

The Cordry Sweetwater Volunteer Fire Department recently underwent a full audit by the I.S.O. The I.S.O. is fire rating organization. As a result, our fire insurance rating went from a #6 to a #4 which should reduce home owner's insurance fees. Call your insurance agent to verify. (and pass along a thank you to the fire department - 101 Firehouse Road, Nineveh, Indiana 46164)