The Independent-News, Volume 102, Number 36, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 10 February 1977 — Page 1

THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS

VOLUME 102; NUMBER 36

How Allocation Os Gas Is Determined Northern Indiana Public Service Company regulations governing the allocation of gas to be followed during emergency situations is as follows, known as Rule 34. Sers ice Priority - Claas I — Residential and small commercial customers whose usage averages less than 10.000 cubic feet per day and human needs customers — hospitals. medical centers, nursing homes and customers where a reduction of supply would adversely affect public health and safety. These customers would be the last to curtailed during an emergency. Service Priority - (law II — Would include commercial and industrial customers using more than 10.000 cubic feet a day but less than 50,000 cubic feet per day and would also include "plant protection" gas. Service Priority • (la»s 111 — Ineluded are commercial and industrial customers having a contract quantity of 50,000 cubic feet a day but less than 500.000 cubic feet a day. Service Priority • ( lass IV — Ineluded are commercial and industrial customers having a contract quantity of 500.(XX) cubic feet per day or more. Off-peak gas customers make up Service Priority - (lass V, and interruptible gas customers arc in the last classification — Service Priority (lass VI. In the event of curtailment to anv of the above classifications, service would be restored in the reverse order of the original curtailment. "In order to meet the firm requirements of existing customers, the proposed rule would also allow NIPSCO to refuse to supple new or additional firm service to any new customer during the penod of any gas supply emergency.” Dean Mitchell. NIPSCO chief executive officer, said. "When no emergency exists or is foreseeable, however. we may supply the needs of new customers if their requirements do not exceed 1.000 cubic feet per hour nor more than 10,000 cubic feet per day. "The unprecedented and unrelenting cold temperatures of the present winter, plus large curtailments by pipeline suppliers and with an additional unanticipated emergency curtailment by one of our suppliers, forced us to file this request with the Public Service Commission.*’ Mitchell said. Once the emergency has passed, the utility requested that the Commission hold a hearing and enter an order establishing Rule 34 as a permanent curtailment plan. Mitchell said NIPSCO was searching the country for spot purchases of natural gas to ease northern Indiana's energy shortfall. However, the federal legislation, which allocates natural gas supplies to arras where human needs were not being met, would make these purchases very difficult. "With our storage resources drained severely by an early and severe winter, we arc relying almost solely on flow gas from our suppliers at present." Mitchell said. "And with the winter only just a little more than half over, with more cold weather predicted, it is imperative that the most stringent energy conservation mea-

NOW THAT’S SNOW *22 IK - .5 -"IB.

Snow. snow. snow. We certainly have had our fair share of snow this year. The scenes are of Walnut Road and of Glenn-L Estates, right here in Walkerton. The tow n crew certainly deserves a pat on the back for the undieing efforts put forth by the street department in clearing the endless snow that has fallen upon our tow n. The county highway department surcs be observed by all customers." "Also we are appealing to all commercial establishments who use natural gas to help in the* utility’s efforts to stretch gas supplies to the maximum by dialing down their thermostats to 65 degrees in the daytime and to 55 degrees or lower at night. But we arc also asking that all retail stores, offices, restaurants, taverns, clubs, public institutions (except schools) and any other commercial operations that are not absolutely necessary to sene human needs to immediately reduce their business hours to a bare minimum," according to Dean Mitchell. "Opening later in the morning, closing earlier in the evening and operating fewer days during the week can reduce gas usage considerably," Mitchell said "This will add to our supply thus helping to assure residences and other human needs facilities natural gas service and shorten the time industry will have to remain at 'plant protection' levels through this additional sainfive by our commercial customers and with a sustained break in the weather, we may be able to get back to nearly normal operations sooner than we had originally expected. Only by sharing the burden during this emergency can we successfully meet the essential gas needs of all." the utility chair man said.

WALKERTON, INDIANA THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 10, 1977

photos by Michael Pearish also deserves recognition for their efforts, although they seemed futile with the high winds that have plagued our area. Let’s hope that spring will be here soon' P-L-J School Board News Superintendent Harold R Muncie announced at the regular meeting of the School Board of Trustees on Tuesday, February 2. that a list of parents have been selected to sene on the textbook adoption committee this spring. They are: Music and Art committee. Mrs. Alvin Boise. Mrs. William Carter, Mrs. Bryce Rohrer and Mrs. Art SchmelU; Industrial Arts and Home Economics committee. Mr. Bruce Henry. Mrs. Mike Corbett, Mrs. John Wolff and Mrs Harold Knowlton; and for Business and Agriculture committee. Mrs. Robert Farrar, Mr. Leßoy Johnson, Mr. James Keeling and Mr. John Dolph The school calendar for 1977. was approved. Students will report on August 23. Christmas vacation begins at 11 00 am. on December lb and classes resume on January 3. Spring vacation is March 20-24. commencement is on May 21 and school ends May 2b The superintendent reports that all students in grades kindergarten through five have completed their immunization shots or are in the process of doing so The next meeting will be held Tuesdav. February IS. at 7:00 p m in the administration building NOTICE Pic regular monthly meeting of the North libertv I own Board for March will be held on March 9 al 7:00 p.m al the North Liberty town Hall

COMMUNITY CALENDAR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10 12:00 noon — Walkerton ( ham her of Commerce. 6:00 p.m. — North Liberty fresh man basketball team to host South Central. American Legion to meet in Walkerton. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY II b:3O p.m, — John Glenn Falcons to host Northern State Conference foe La Ville in basketball. 6:30 p.m.. North Liberty Shamrocks to host Mishawaka Marian in basketball in the Id 7- * homecoming activities. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. — Story hour at the Walkerton Public Library 6:30 p.m. — North Liberty Shamnxks to travel to Culver Com munity High School for a couple of basketball games SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 13 7:30 p.m — Parent Improve ment Program at the Walkerton Elementary School sponsored by the United Methodist Church. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14 St Valentine's Day P I .1 Athletic Boosters to meet TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 6:30 p m John Glenn fresh man basketball team to travel to Bremen 6:30p.m. — North Libertv fresh man basketball team to travel to La Ville. Polk I incoln Johnson School Board to meet in the Supcnn tendents office. Walkerton Walkerton Jaycecs to meet. 6:30 p.m. — The North Libertv Shamrocks makeup game with Oregon Davis at the Bobcats gym. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17 6:15 p.m. — North Libertv Shamnxks to play Fairfield in North Liberty. 6:30 p.m. — John Glenn freshman basketball team to host LaVille. 7:00 p.m. — Walkerton Master Mason degree. JG HOMECOMING CHANGED TO FEBRUARY 25 The John Glenn High School Basketball Homecoming activities have been changed to February 25 due to the adverse weather conditions The John Glenn Falcons will host Tippecanoe Valles with the B Team action to begin at 6 30 p.m. FALCONS HOST LAVILLE THIS FRIDAY I he John Glenn Falcons will host the LaVille Lancers in avers kev Northern State Conference game The Falcons, alreadv with one loss in conference play, were given a shot in the arm a couple of weeks ago when Jimtown dumped the Fairfield Falcons, who onlv had to win their last two contests to cinch the crown However, thev have one game left with North Libertv. Jimtown. also unbeaten but onlv a victor in 2 conference games, due to the weather, will be plaving a hcavv schedule in the last three weeks of the season LaVille is also a contender for the title, needing to remain unbeaten in their last three conference games so every game is a critical one at this point of the season. The game Friday night will start with B Team action at 6:30 p m

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Policy Statement By State Supt. Announced State Superintendent of Public Instruction Harold H Neglev todav released a policv statement con ccrmng school cancellations caused bv this winter's harsh weather con ditions Neglev released the pohev statement to the Commission on General Education of the State Board of Education at its monthlv meeting tcxlav so that requirements listed in the Administrative Hand book could be waived for s< h<*>ls seriously affected bv the weather Ihe Commission, which Neglev ihairs, ruled that (I) there is no provision in the law for the reduc tion of the state distribution for having less than I's davs; (2) the ( ommission on General Education reaffirms its position that PS davs with students in attendance is a minimum educational requirement for accreditation However, if the requirement cannot be met due to unavoidable circumstances during the 14’6 ” school vear. the re quircment is waived, tb schools which provide authorized adult high school credit courses during the 14'6 " school vear are granted a waiver of the requirement of Rule I 1 that in order to be eligible for statu reimbursement "an authonz ed class shall provide no less than 42 clock h<xirs of instruction." if cancellation of classes is unavoidable. (4) schools are encouraged to consider expanding summer school offerings to assist students in making up for lost education, and (5) the Commission wishes to bv advised regarding the status of "school days with students in at tendance" at the March 2. H". meeting The Commission on General Education also resolved to urge the Indiana General Assemblv to pro vide the additional monev neces sarv so that all schools can have at least 160 davs with students in at tendance. In other business, the Commis sion resolved that it would be re sponsible for establishing all of the guidelines for secondary vocational education in the state, denied a request by Dewey and (ass lown ships for consolidation, granted commissions to 24 public schools and three private schools and ap proved final building plans for Charlestown High School. Clark County; the Southeast Fixintain School Corporation Administration Building. Fountain ( ountv. Austin High School. Scott (ountv. and Delaware FJementarv School san derburgh ( ountv TAX AID SERVICE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS SET Once again RFAI Sen ices will provide free tax aid for senior citizens (61) years and ewer) This service will benefit those seeking propertv lav refund (circuit break er) or earned income credits I his service will be provided bv Mr Farl H Miller and Associates who are member of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program. A A R P and volunteers in tax assistance I he date of February 21 at 12 30 p m has been set at the North libertv (ommunitv Building "Truth never grows old Thomas Fuller Send a "Happv Ad" — Just $1 00'