The Independent-News, Volume 93, Number 44, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 28 March 1968 — Page 1

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VOLI MF, 93, NUMBER 44

Potato Creek Site Chosen By State * \MCHh3A R ’ . _______.. f « ? iy- - II '7- : ?J ppr.orAF^ 31TE FS^ । I // - - - AT £ RECREATION AREA 1 J Liberty •)!_.. V Walkerton I p: > JI i «' M ■ ■■ _ In 0’134? io aßgs stt====== a fe= = -^ Li..,.; ) * Xur^-Jr^- v » > ■ ■♦“ ••• — - ' \ * *

Initiation of land acquisition for a 3,Bl.Vacre State Recreation Area on Potato Creek in southwestern St. Joseph County was announced in South Bend Friday by John E. Mitchell, Director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. This will be the second project in a 10-year program for developing five new recreation areas near large concentrations of urban population, Mitchell told a luncheon meeting of the South Bend Chamber of Commerce at the Indiana Club here. "We are making g<xxl progress in acquiring the desired acreage along the Wabash River for the Harmonic State Recreation Area near New Harmony.” Mitchell satd. 'This will augment other state-operated facilities in the Evansville-Vincennes region. "Now I am authorized by Governor Roger D. Branigin to announce that we will proceed with a major new Recreation Area to serve the South BendMishawaka - Elkhart neighborhood. "The long range objective is to provide an important outdoor recreation opportunity within an hour’s drive of every Hoosier home. The long range plan, announced in 1965. also provides for three other recreation areas to serve greater Indianapolis. Ijike County. and the Anderson-Muncie-New Castle region. "At the same time that we are moving for creation of these new State Recreation Areas we also are modernizing State Parks and are developing Recreation Arens around the several new reservoirs throughout Indiana.” The Falls City area will be served by the continued expansion of the Harrison - Crawford State Forest and Deam Kike In Clark State Forest. Mitchell expl tim'd The Ft. Wayne an a has !*■ kav n State Park. Cham o’ I-tki> State Park Ouabtche S’ <te Recreation Awa and the n w Upper Wab»’i Rcmi\ its

The Department of Natural Resources will seek funds from the state budgetary authority and also the United States Bureau of Outdoor Recreation to prepare abstracts and appraisals of the proposed area on Potato Creek. ‘ This work should be proceeding by the latter part of this vear,” Mitchell said. Acquisition of land would then proved. "It might take at least 2 to 3 years to develop the new Recreation Area." Mitchell said. "Some of the timetable would dep< nd on forthcoming legislative appn ipriations.” The major difference between a State Park and a State Recreation Area Is that the primary purpose of a State Park is to out standing scenic or historic value, such as the Dunes of Kake Michigan. the canvon gorges of Turkey Run and McCormicks Creek or the scenic hills of the Lincoln country or the Pioneer Village of Spring Mill. In State Parks the emphasis is <n preservation in Recreation Acreas the emphasis is on recreation. A State Ret reati< n is created to fulfill the obligation of the State of Indiana to provide accessible outdoor recreation for all its people It should include water-based recreation areas, and । al! of ours do. However, natural > scenic beauty is also emphasized. "The n-w Recreation Area along Potato Citsk will be with- . in an hour’s automobile travel . from K'gonier and Kigrange । County on the east. Rochester I and Winamac on the south, and i the Mi< higan City on the west. , "Another possible site, north of the Indiana Toll Road, also was , carefully considered in planning . for this new Recreation Area. | However, the site along Potato । Creek being farther south would serve appr xin atclv 1 300 mote , squ. re mil. > -f I' diana within an ■ h< m - ride th nw. old th. < ther . site. •Bth of th- ... - t hid mans add in’. it 11! 1 n ded

WALKERTON, INDIANA, THURSDAY, MARCH 28. 1968

The final determination was—made after careful evaluation ot all of the facts. "Slate Highway 4 is the south boundary of the new area. Three north-south highways providing site access arc U.S. Highway 31 (3 miles east), State Highway 23 (2 miles west) and State Highway 331. Access to the so-called Toll Road site would have been by a county road. U.S. Highway (20) east-west) is 5 miles south, and there are no nearby northsouth state highways. Thus we considered accessibility of the Potato Creek site as a decisive factor. “By damming Potato Creek wc will form a 357-acre reservoir with a maximum depth of 25 feet and an average depth of 10‘ 2 feet. There will be a minimum lluctuation of water in the recreation areas. “The new Recreation Area now includes 577 acres of w<M>ded land, or 15'< of the total site. Only 28 acres will have to be cleared for the lake. We will reforest much of the remaining area. "The new Recreation Area will include a variety oi lacihties. There will be beach facilities and also boat ramps on the lake. There will be family (individual) camping areas, a group canip, and picnic areas. There wil be a saddle barn and biidle trails There will be a wildlife retuge and also a winter sports area. ■ The entrance will be from the south. immediately off State Highway 4. A hard-surfaced road system will connect with all parts of the Area. "This will greatly augment outdoor recreation facilities in northern Indiana. It will enhance the economy of the region It will be available to all Hoosiers ns another major part of our state outdoor recreation system.” As a rub good intentions xvith-o- nl die long befoie it's time t< use them.

Walkerton C of C Ladies' Night Plans Complete The Chamber of Commerce Ladies’ Night is drawing near and ticket sales is now in full swing. All members of the Board of Directors have tickets for the event to be held on Thursday. April 11. at 7 00 pm. CST in the Walkerton Elementary School gym. Roland Kelly, news director of WSBT and WSBT-TV will lx- the featured speaker. More information of Mr. Kelly will he available next week. It Is hoped that the Walkertc n area will respond to this program as the Roan! of Directors hamade plans to open this to other outside of the Chamber Membet ship. Tickets sell for $2.75 per person and other entertainment is being planned in addition to the dinner and speaker. Those selling tickets are; Mahlon Jacob, president of the Chamber; Ed Walz, vice-pres-ident and program chairman for this event; Bob Urbm. secretary: Rusnell Rhine treasurer; and the other five board members who are Helen Welch. Al S<ade Bill Morris, Ervin Stuntz and Jake Pi .well, Tlie program will be one of the' highlights of a busy war for the Chamber as the plans for several projects continue. One of the g<»als is to coordinate the efforts of the civic and fraternal organizations to make for a better Walkerton area However, tickets for this evening should lie purchased as *x>n as possible to complete plans for the dinner and arrangements for th*, buildin? The membership chairman Jake Powell is laxpie^tin, a wrap-up of the membership dm To date, mans should be members have not s« nt tn th it dm - Simply send them to th tuy or cive th* in t M 1 '.I and y< u will be m . d ’ ■ k

TEN CENTS PER COPI

Chris Anderson Selected For Boys' State Representatives to Boy’s State from North Liberty High Sih "4 will be Chris Anderson. s<>n of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Anderson, 27975 shiv»‘i-. Road, Walk* erton, with Billy Slabich. son of Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Slabach, 68099 Sycamore Road, North Liberty, as the alternate Representatives are chosen by the faculty < n the basis of interest in government, grades, character and personality. • *• . WMk K%4 j L w c r f *■■ . . A A cfeA. . 1®11: Chr is is <i meincer oi tne tmn >r Societ y. Spanish. Sci< nee. and Lettermens Club and is an outstanding athl.de m both basketball ajul baseball. Bill is also a member of the Honor Society and Lettermens Club; he is also active in athletics in both basketball and track. Both boys plan to attend college but have not definitely decided where they will go. The Nortl Liberty boys are sponsored by tha Edward Sou sir y Post. 365. of American I>*gion Freshman Orientation For Glenn High School An Orientation .Meeting foe 1968-69 Freshmen and their parents will be held at J< hn Glenn High Srlv* I on Thursday exening Man h 28. at 8 <M> pm. School Time in the high school gym. Mr. Hal Muncie. John Glenn Principal will explain Flexible Scheduling and other curricula changes that will tak-i place in the new high school. Mrs Margaret Murrax and Mr. A! Boise. *h<*>l counselor^ will discuss and answer questions concerning registration for the 196869 school year. Tri Kappa Spcrsois Fashion Show Tonight A Carousel of Colors a fashi K show and card paity will be held at 7 30 pm CSV tonight (Thursday! nt the Walkerton Elementary School. The show is sponsort'd b\ the locd Tn Kappa Chapter with the pnMreds going towards a scholarship for a J 'hn Glenn High School senior. Fashions are being funushed by Bosworths, of Plymouth. . Tickets are available at the door. I — People get the blues today be. cause they fail to 1 k at their i problems tn the right light. other V • xitie r ' ■ > Cl’r’kr in- lu lm t>■. ■ <nSu”» mer I Fya il xx "fIIw in « < h ed»ti n .f Th< In ! pen ’cnt-N ws.”