The Independent-News, Volume 101, Number 50, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 20 May 1976 — Page 16

MAY 20. 1976 - THE INDEPENDENT NEWS

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE Io All Concerned Parties: Ihe question has been raised about the renovation going on at Place Park. According to Mr. Kickbush this has caused some hardship tor his 325 pupils and raised mans questions. Perhaps wc can ilarifv this. Mans weeks ago we held public meetings to discuss with .til concerned parties the plans and needs tor the parks in Walkerton. W here were all these people that care? Hoss cass it is to profess concern but would it not be wiser to take a hard look at vs hat is being done tor the south in Walkerton (including 125 I res students). Please teel tree to use the park lor sour field hockey, track and field activities. It’s a big park with room tor mans sports, but understand tliat it is not up to the Walkerton Park A Recreation Board to pros ide ground tor sour sch<x>l activities. I his is left to the schools themselves to play their sports around the facilities they have. The town cannot take it upon themselves tor obvious reasons, budget. ck„ to accomadate Urey School officials. Ihe park is not subsidized in any wav for the schools using the facilities. The upkeep is strictly the low n of Walkerton’s. Ihe fence posts adorning the field will be used to protect the new field from damage, but also protects the byslanders. For many wars we've had injuries from stray balls. Bv putting up the fence we hope to make the park safer. Although the school has for years enjoved the use of Place Park they have had none of the responsibilities of upkeep. Ihe fence will not be locked and will be removed for special ixcasions such as the 4th of July and the horse show . I here are four ball parks in Walkerton, true. I. The Jaycee softball diamond on the outskirts of lown. this is a private park. 2. I he I it tie league park by the water tower, this is a public park but is mainly used by the Little Leaguer's. 3. Place Park, used by many in town including the Urey students. it's a public park. 4. John Glenn, a private facility only for school activities. I his leaves a total of two ball parks tor all the manv citizens of Walkerton. It vou were inconvienced bv the

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removal of the track and the work on the new diamond we are sorry, but it might have been prevented bv your coming to us and telling us vour needs concerning the park system. Bv vour silence we went ahead and tried to do what we though would eventually benefit all the manv citizens of Walkerton. Right now the physical education classes at Urey are using the public tennis courts. I his is fine, hut who will resurface them, and pay for the upkeep. Not the school. The courts are for all to use including the school but some seem to forget that using public facilities for school functions is a privilege and not to be taken for granted. We .ire trying hard to meet the needs in this town for recreation by tearing out an all but useless track. We were able to finally improve the ball diamond already existing. There will be new bleachers installed. also better lighting. Place Park offers a covered eating area, restnxims, hall field, basketball courts, slides and play things for the younger children. That still leaves many areas that have nxim for such sports as field hockey, football practice, etc. When the tennis courts are resurfaced and repaired we're sure many children will be thrilled and grateful. Will this not benefit your 325 childlren? Summing up. you feel your activities are now limited and your curriculum was harmed. You feel you should have been approached with our plans, notified in advance. Teachers and students seek answers about the renovation. Fantastic. we will be expecting a number of vou at our next meeting. WALKERTON PARK & RECREATION BOARD Gail L. Malstaff Douglas Baker Roger Orcutt James Bolzc To Mr. Kickbush, who cares: We are sure you care, but we doubt that vou understand or appreciate what is being done by the l’ark Board. All plans for the town park in question have been made at public Park Board meetings. After many hours of study and examination this project was started. Ihe whole lower area of the park was rough and unsafe for any kind of outdoor activities. (Have vou ever played football on cinders? Some of us remember!) When the grass is in and up the lower part of the park will be safe

for the 325 children you speak of, plus the 170 in Little League, and everyone else who use the facilities during the year. We spoke with you a few months ago, informing you that the heavy equipment would be working in the park and asked your cooperation in keeping school children out of the park during this time for safety reasons. I he Little League has grown and now needs a minimum of two baseball fields for practices and games. I he four haseball fields you speak of must be the Little League Park by the water tower, the town park in question, the baseball field in the Industrial Park, and the high school field. Ihe first two are owned by the town, the third is privately owned and sponsored, and although the Little League helped financially with the high schixil diamond, we were asked to leave the field and never use it again. We. on behalf of Little League, went to the Park Board months ago and asked permission to use the town park ball diamond during the summer. Permission was granted. The fence posts in the park are for a fence in the outfield. The posts and fence are not permanent and my be removed the first part of August, or whenever deemed necessary by the Park Board. It is unfortunate that renovation of the town park interferes with the school children’s activities: however. we feel that you have unjustly blamed baseball, saying that the park is limited to baseball. Only a small portion of the park is limited to baseball for a short period of time. If those of you who care were to pitch in and help the very few of us who give our time freely to these summer programs, we're sure all parties would benefit. There are a lot of rewards from this kind of participation. Larry Dill Dave Hudson Co-Presidents, Walkerton Little League, and for many years unpaid helpers in youth activities. WESTVILLE TRACK TEAM DEFEATS GLENN 100 yard dash —l. Hockett (G). 2. Walker(W), 3. Bacon (W); time 10.8 220 yard dash —l. Gilkerson (G). 2. Walker (W). 3. Lower (W);

SuCCM The future belongs to those who now strive to achieve. Dad & Lad’s Walkerton

time 24.7 440 yard dash —1- Zickmund (W). 2. Sommer (W), 3. Morris (G); time 53.1 880 yard run —l. Florian (G), 2. Beaslev (G). 3. Goetz (W); time 2:12.6 Mile run —l. Cowger (G). 2. Pilarski (W). 3. Cline (G); time 4:45.5 (new school record) 2 mile run —l. Gerber (G). 2. Haag (G). 3. Elliott (W); time 10:26.4 High hurdles — 1. Payne (W), 2. Mathas (W). 3. Glikerson (G); time 17.5 Low hurdles —l. Sosh (W), 2. Hockett (G). 3. Payne (W). time 21.4 Shot put —l. D. Johnson (W). 2. Roush (G). 3. E. Johnson (W); distance 42” Discuss —l. Brannon (W), 2. Harrell (G), D. Johnson (W), distance 120'4” High jump —l. Sebert (W), 2. Cassidy (G). 3. Firanek (W); height 5’4” Long jump —l. Zickmun (W). 2. Cowger (G), 3. Sebert (W); distance 22’5*/j” Pole vault —l. Rhodes (G). 2. Sosh (W). 3. Brannon (W); height 12’5” (new school record) Mile relay — I. Westville (E. Johnson. Walker, Payne, Sommer); time 3:45.3 880 yard relay —l. Westville (Caddell, Sosh. Lower, Zickmund); time 1:39.3 Honor Urey School Athletes Urey Athletic Awards Banquet was held on Tuesday evening. May 11 in the school gym with an overflowing crowd of parents, students and friends enjoying the pot luck dinner and the speaker, Mr. Kevin Huffstetter. Special awards were: Amy Albertsen. scholarship; Mary Huffst-

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ter, all around athlete and Anne Huffstetter, mental attitude. Also Ron Shortt, mental attitude. Dick Jones and Greg Brovoid, all around athletes and Paul Hershberger and Ben Samuelson, scholarships. In the 9th century, the King of Persia was known as the Illustrious Jam. i’Drond?i ) you I YU F M . i aSL 9 /4vi To a great group : of graduates—our i very best wishes. i Gene’s Sunoco North Liberty