The Independent-News, Volume 103, Number 9, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 4 August 1977 — Page 1

THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS

VOLUME 103; NUMBER 9

Single Persons Eligible For Housing Allow. Single person, living alone, are now eligible to participate in the Housing Allowance Program. The final legal step, permitting expansion of the program, was taken last night when the South Bend Housing Authority concurred with recent approval action by the U. S. Dept, of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Priority attention will go to single residents between 40 and 61 years of age when the Housing Allowance Office (HAO) begins processing applications from noneldelrly single-member households. HAO Director Charles F. Lennon. Jr., announced today that enrollment of nonelderly singles will begin Monday, August 1. He also described the priority system. "Because Congress has set a singles enrollment limit, we need to make sure that the needy, older singles have an early opportunity to be enrolled," said Lennon. "We expect there will be room for younger singles, too," he said. "While we invite applications from them now. we ask their patience while we first interview the older singles." The Congressionally set limit on singles is for no more than 10 percent of the HAP clientele to be single and under 62. Until now', the experimental program has been available only to families and to singles who were at least 62, or disabled, or handicapped. or forced to relocate because of government action. The 10 percent limit amounts to room for 963 single-occupant households under 62. since the present overall program funding is for payments to no more than 9,63# housing units in St. Joseph County. "Os course, this in no way affects the number of elderly singles we can enroll, Lennon said. "As before, there is no limit on how many older adults we can accomodate." Funding comes from HUD. Monitoring the experiment locally, as well as in Green Bay, Wis., is The Rand Corp, of Santa Monica, California. If the singles quota is fully met, it will probably mean another halfmillion dollars annually for the local economy, estimated Lennon. Already 4,943 St. Joseph County homeowners and renters (as of July 15) are receiving monthly allowance payments which add up to nearly $4 million a year. The newly included individuals must meet the same income criteria as the elderly and other singles already in the program: that is, an income of $5,600 is the approximate ceiling for singles. This amount may be increased in September as a result of recent survey information. Unlike the elderly, for whom an assets limit of $32,500 is in force, the nonelderly singles may not have assets exceeding $20,000. The housing unit — which could be a house, apartment, mobile home, or room — must be rated safe, decent and sanitary under program standards. While the 40-61 age group will first be interviewed. Lennon would not speculate as to how soon the under-40 singles would be enrolled. "Under an agreement with HUD, we will review the trends

Personalized License Plates Now On Sale Personalized license plates in Indiana went on sale Monday, August 1. at the price of $40.00 for plates containing at least two and not more than six letters or combinations of letters and numbers. The money raised from the sale of the personalized plates will be divided as follows, $30.00 of the fee will go to the two political parties, $7.00 will go to the state and the remaining $3.00 will go to the local license bureau. Each party will keep $7.50 of its $15.00 inside the county that you purchase your plate. Applications for the special plates will be sent to the Bureau of Motor Vehicles at Indianapolis over the computer terminal and the bureau staff will decided who gets what if more than one person makes the same request. Applications for the special plates will be accepted through December 31 and new applications will have to be made each year. Motorists will be assured every year as long as it is applied for. of the same plate. Each branch in Indiana has received copies of 925 combinations considered objectionable. Most generally spell out vulgar words or expressions. On Monday the Walkerton Branch sold four personalized plates. TO BE IN STATE TRACTOR PULL Todd Millar. 12. son of Mr. and Mrs. Warrep Millar. Lincoln Township. North Liberty, won the junior 4 H tractor driving contest in area competition at the St. Joseph County Fairgrounds on Thursday of last week to move him on to the State Fair on August 22. Todd is a three-year 4-H member and he also takes beef, swine, electric. models and field corn projects to the local county fair this week in South Bend. from month to month,” he said, "and when it appears that the 40-to-61 singles have had an ample opportunity to respond to our invitation, and with applications from the younger single households.” Lennon stressed, however, that young individuals would be well advised to apply right away. "When we do start processing their applications, we will begin with the earliest ones and continue until all 963 allocations are filled.” If the historical pattern holds, the over-40 singles will not fill all the available allocations. In more than two years of enrollment, the roster of monthly recipients has reached to about one-third of the estimated eligible households, single and under 62 in St. Joseph County. Os that number, 1.b47 are estimated to be between 40 and 61 years of age. One-third participation from that group would be 548 — leaving considerable room for vounger singles in the 963 quota. However. Lennon does expect an extraordinary response from the 40-61 individuals. "For a long time, we have been concerned about the plight of many nonelderly widows not eligible until now. I am certain that news of the program's expansion will be heartening to them," said Lennon.

WALKERTON, INDIANA THURSDAY, AUGUST 4, 1977

P-L-J School Board Okays 1977-78 Budget The Polk-Lincoln-Johnson School Board met in regular session Tuesday, August 2. The Board approved the 1978 budget for advertising. The total school tax rate for the 1978 budget is $5.9566 per SIOO assessed valuation. This is a decrease of .1434 cents over last year’s rate. The tax rate was based on last year’s assessed valuation and with a higher valuation expected this year the tax rate could be further reduced than advertised. The tax rate for the three funds are $4.5565 for the general fund, $1.1501 for debt service and .25 cents for cumulative building fund. A special meeting will be held Thursday. August 25 in the administration office to approve the budget as advertised. Negotiations between the Polk-Lincoln-Johnson School Corporation and the Polk-Lincoln-Johnson Education Association have been completed and are waiting ratification by both parties before finalizing the new agreement. The board appointed Miss Cindy Huhnke as reading teacher at Urey Middle School; Nova Shih as social studies teacher at John Glenn High School; Jon Arnett as social studies and physical education teacher at John Glenn High School and also accepted the resignation of Edith Eilene Travis, elementary teacher who is retiring after serving 39 years in the school corporation. Several coaching assignments were made for the 1977-78 school year. Jon Arnett will be the head football and eighth grade basketball coach at Urey Middle School; Gerry Brown, assistant football and seventh grade basketball coach at Urey Middle School; Kerry Hacnes will be the cross country coach at John Glenn High School; and Richard Kickbush, boys tennis coach at John Glenn High School. The 1977-78 school calendar lists the following key dates: August 23, Students report in the morning for half day; October 27-28, Fall Vacation; November 24-25, Thanksgiving Vacation; December 19 - January 2, Christmas Vacation; March 20 - 25, Spring Vacation; May 21, Commencement, and May 26, the end of school. The School Corporation needs one bus driver for a morning route Anyone interested may call the superintendent’s office. The bids were received on the construction of a dirt dike at the John Glenn High School. Three construction companies bid but the school board tabled the selection of the company until a future date. The board passed a resolution on behalf of Miss Travis, commemorating her 39 years of service to the children of this community. The next regular board meeting is Tuesday, August 16, at 7:00 p.m. in the administration building. Glenn Volleyball Practice Set The first practice and orientation for girls volleyball at John Glenn High School will be Monday. August 15. 9:00 a m. at the high school gym. A physical exam is required before practice. Physical forms may be picked up at the high school. If you have any questions, please cali Barb Osowski, 586 3377 - Volleyball Schedule

WALKERTON TOWN BOARD NEWS The Walkerton Town Board met in regular session on Monday evening, August 1, with all five board members present. After regular business procedures which included the approval of claims 373 thru 390, the board held a hearing on the use of Federal Revenue Sharing Funds. It was agreed by resolution that the expected total of SI 7 ,950 to be received, would be spent in the following manner: Services Personel. $10,000; Services Contractual, $2,134.00 and Property and Equipment, $5,816. The Fire Department's monthly report was given with the department answering five calls, two assists to North Liberty and one assist to the police department. Leigh Roy Hahn also presented board member Michael Corbett and 15 other firmen with a First (lass Fire Fighter Certificate. The other firemen to receive the certificates were Gene Brems. Jim Bolze, Roger Orcutt, Charles Baker, Willard Baker, Charles Decker, Linder Pearish. Greg Williams. George Laizure. Larry Dill. John Krancnburg. Greg Back. David McKesson, John McGovern and Leigh Roy Hahn. Police chief Clifford Ward presented the police report for the month of July, published elsewhere in this edition. Also, a complaint voiced by Mr. Clifton, of 1405 Ohio Street, over certain happenings in West York was heard and the board advised him to seek legal aid with his domestic problem. B. F. Williams presented his plans for a sub-division he designed in 1973 called Hickory Lane Estates. The sub-division consists of 34 acres of property with 80 lots arranged in a cul-de-sec fashion and is land laying between the Walkerton Trail and State Road 23 in the south portion of Walkerton. The plan calls for all the electrical and telephone lines to be buried, etc. He has been holding this planned sub-division off until the town can offer the new sewer system. Utilities superintendent Marvin Williams discussed the power shortages the town had in recent times due to heavy loads in the extreme weather conditions. He stated he would like to install some new transformers in some areas to aid this situation. Greg Williams, a member of the fire department, asked permission to use the fire trucks for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon Campaign. Approval was granted for this request. SEPTEMBER 6 St. Joseph 6:30 1 8 North Judson 6:30 J 13 Culver Com. 6:30 T 14 Argos 4:30 H 19 Bremen 6:30 I 20 South Central 4:30 H 22 Marquette 6:00 T 26 Plymouth 4:30 H 27 La Ville 4:30 H 29 Oregon-Davis 6:30 H OCTOBER 4 North Liberty 4:15 T 6 Fairfield 6:00 H 8 Glenn Invitational H (Culver. Knox. O-D, Glenn) 11 Jimtown 6:30 T 13 Triton 4:30 H 18 New Prairie 4:00 H 19 Culver Girls Academy 4:00 H 25 Sectional

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Activities For All Children At Festival Set All children are invited to par ticipate in activities at the United Methodist Church parking lot dur ing the Potato Creek Festival. August 12 and 13 in North Libertv. No entry fees are required, and prizes will be given for winners in each activity and age group. Activities include potato print making contest, carve your print at home, print several samples on a sheet of paper then bring your potato and paper to the parking lot at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. August 12. Judging at 6:00 p.m. A free throw contest using potatoes will be at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday. Rope jumping contest also at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday and contests for everyone — guessing the number of potatoes in the sack will begin on Friday with the winner determined on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. Wooden toys will be offered for sale with proceeds going to missions. For lovers of good clean fun. local celebrities will be provided as targets for the mashed potato throw. Each participant gets three wooden spoonfuls of mashed potatoes for 25c. Riis begins at 6:30 and ends at 8:00 p.m. on Friday and then the throw will begin at 2:00 p.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday. Come and join the fun' INDIANA STATE FAIR The Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis is the scene again this year for Indiana’s biggest annual fair. This year's fair will run for 11 days. August 18-28. Special Indiana State Fair Shows this year will be held in the Coliseum and include: August 19. 8.00 p.m., the Beach Boys; August 20. 4:00 & 8:00 p.m., Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.; August 21. 4:00 Jt 8:00 p.m.. Captain and Tennille Show; August 23-26, Dolly Parton with Steiner Championship Rodeo; August 23, 8:00 p.m . Kansas. August 27, Tony Orlando and Dawn; August 28. 4:00 & 7:00 p.m., Linda Ronstadt. Harness racing also plavs an im portant role at the Indiana State Fair. This year races will be held in the Grandstand area August 25-27 at 1:00 p m.. with additional races the 25th at 7:30 p.m. Motorcycles have been added to this year's state fair with the AMA C hampionship races scheduled for 8:00 p.m.. August 27 and 2 00 p.m. August 28. Practices and qualifications begin at 6:00 on the 2" 7 th and noon on the 28th Another highlight of the fair will be the Indiana high school band contest This year this event will be held on August 24 beginning at 9:00 a m The top 16 bands from the morning session will return for the finals at ’3O p m. that same day More than 100 Indiana bands are expected to compete for top honors this year OREGON TOWNSHIP SENIOR CITIZENS TO MEET AUG. 1 2 The Oregon Township Senior Citizens Club will have their next meeting on Friday. August 12 with an outing and a boat trip planned. Members should meet at the Koontz Lake Conservation Gub at 11:00 am. You may bring your lunch or buy it on the boat. If in doubt about anything call Lucille Dipert at 586-7246.