Dennis Darr, second from left, president of the Turkey Creek Township Advisory Board, welcomes newly elected board member John Heckaman. Heckaman was elected at a township precinct caucus Tuesday evening. On the far left is Barb Griffith, township trustee while on the far right is board member Kim Cates. (Photo by Deb Patterson)

Encouraged by others and showing an interest in township matters, John Heckaman, Syracuse, was appointed in a Turkey Creek Township Republican Caucus to fill the unexpired term of Bill Dixon Tuesday evening.

Dixon resigned effective Dec. 31, 2013. His term of office is up for election in 2014.

“I’d been asked last term if I had an interest in it,” he stated. He’s been watching after the township easements on local lakes and has provided assistance to the fire department when help was needed with equipment. “I’m around the area so much, if anything is going on I see it.”

A native of Syracuse, except for the first six months of his life, Heckman is a local business owner, president of Sudlow Piers.

“I’ve been a strong supporter of the fire department,” he stated, noting he has seen first hand the importance of the department. “Unless you’ve used the EMS or fire department, you don’t appreciate the department we have.”

He has also taken an interest in keeping the few public easements around the lake, owned by the township, open for the community. “I like watching that stuff for the community and others to have access to the lake.”

He noted his strengths and weaknesses will fit well with the other two board members, Dennis Darr and Kimberly Cates. One of his strengths, that he noted, was he likes digging up information.

Because his business has him out in the community, he knows what is going on in the township. “There’s stuff going on I see it.”

Heckaman, a graduate of Wawasee High School, is married to the former Kelly Easterday and he has a daughter Cait. He is the son of Connie and the late Dave Heckaman and grandson of Ann Sudlow and the late John Sudlow.

Randy Girod, county Republican chairman, expressed appreciation to Dixon for his years of service and dedication and the appreciation of Heckaman and others for their interest and willingness to serve.

Heckaman was elected by five of the six township precinct committeemen present. Those individuals included Girod, Tony Ciriello, Kim Cates, Susan Myrick and Karen Grady. Heidi Heinisch was not present.

Heckaman was the only individual filing interest in the position.