Navy vet honored by city of Chelsea

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A proclamation declaring April 18, 2019 as Richard Stephens Day was announced at Tuesday night’s Chelsea City Council meeting.

A Seaman, Second Class in the U.S. Navy, Stephens was 19 years old when he was aboard the USS Indianapolis, which was sunk by a Japanese submarine in 1945 during WWII. Of the 1,195 aboard the ship, he was one of only 316 survivors rescued from the Pacific Ocean after being lost at sea for several days. He died last month at the age of 92.

Several members of Stephen’s family were present to accept a plaque with a copy of the proclamation. His daughter, Charline Summers, said it was an honor for the city of Chelsea to recognize her father’s service in the Navy.

“It’s so special," she said. “Dad was very shy, but he would have just loved this. I can just see him smiling.”

Stephens had lived in Chelsea with Summers for the past eight years. His wife passed away five years ago.

Summers’ husband, daughter, two grandchildren along with her neighbor and friend were in attendance with her at the meeting.

Mayor Tony Picklesimer was on a business trip to Las Vegas working to recruit business to Chelsea. Scott Weygand, Mayor Pro Tem, led the meeting.

During the community forum, COP David Cheek said they are preparing for the Big Kaboom and have two new COP volunteers who are halfway through training. Emily Sims with the Chelsea Library announced that the registration for the summer reading program is open and registration can be done on their website. Captain Brad McCain with the Fire Department announced the dedication for a new ladder truck will be held Saturday, May 25 at 9 a.m. at station 31 located at 160 Chesser Drive. Tours of the new truck and station will also take place.

Items discussed in the/precouncil meeting included:

  • Progress made on the Hwy. 11 sports complex.
  • Completion of the drop-off line at Chelsea Middle School.
  • The grading project at the Community Center should be completed by June, along with the archery park.
  • Demolition has begun on the inside of the new fire station 33.

UPCOMING DATES

June 29: Big Kaboom. Food, fun and fireworks from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

July 2: Chelsea Historical Museum will give out 4th of July goody bags

July 19-21: Back to school sales tax holiday

The next city council meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 4 at 6 p.m. with precouncil meeting at 5 p.m.

PLANNING COMMISSION  

The Chelsea Planning Commission held their meeting following the council meeting.

On the agenda was the rezoning request from Sugar Enterprises, LLC at the intersection of U.S. 280 and Essex Drive containing 28.8 acres for residential development. Representatives from Sugar Enterprises were in attendance at the meeting and said they met with the HOA on May 14, but had not had enough time to revise the plan. The commission approved a continuance on the case and rescheduled the public hearing until the June 24 meeting, as recommended by Keith Hager, city engineer for Chelsea.

A motion for a resurvey of 10.35 acres located at the Chelsea Crossroads subdivision to divide the lot into outparcels to offer for sale to retail customers was approved.

The next planning commission meeting will be held on June 24 at 6 p.m.