The Independent-News, Volume 103, Number 52, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 1 June 1978 — Page 4

JUNE 1. I^7B THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS

EDITORIALS

POSTAGE INCREASES The public should now be very aware of a rapidly pushed through postal increase that includes about all phases of postage. Not only is the cost of mailing a first class letter jumping two cents, but about every other piece of postage is also going up The Postal Service says this is the first increase in two and one-half years. That may be well and true for first class, but other increases have occured in that period of time. Special interest is in second class mail with us due to the fact that this is the vehcile that mails our newspaper. We too are absorbing an increase as is third and fourth class mail as well. The blanket increase of postal rates was recommended May 12 by the Postal Rate Commission. The Post Office is still one business that is not run like a business. A loss is picked up through other channels and despite the fact that the new increases are now in effect, the Postal Service will not show a profit or break even point with this. And what is more disheartening, despite all the modernization of the postal service, the service does not get better. lor years now we have had to sack our own mail, both second and third class. And vet this isn’t reflected in the work load locally and by sending it directly into the area center. South Bend in our case, we are almost assured of worse service than when it was sorted locally. An interesting note in the news release of the rate increases was a statement bv chairman M. A. Wright concerning fourth class rates going up. He said, ‘ the Postal Service will not be as competitive as it should be. We need a restructuring of rates.” The Postal Service Governors directed the Postal Service to prepare a new parcel rate proposal for consideration by September. This shows a weakness somewhere . . . either the service or the rates are out of balance. And for one to say it cannot be done economically, just look at private enterprise, the United Parcel Service proves you can transport with good service and at a competitive rate and still make money. However, they have to make money, they arc not government subsidized. No business who uses the mail, as almost every business does for one thing or another, would complaing about the charges if they were competitive and if the service was sufficient. It will be a happv dav for all businesses if and when this can be reached, but under the present set-up. that road looks to be well in the future. F^REMEMBES^F (TAKEN FROM THE FILES OF "THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS)

1973 The Summer Festival Kiddies Day Parade was cancelled due to the lack of entries. Those who wish to be in the Grand Parade on Saturdav arc encouraged to participate at 1:00 p.m. The 4-H Horse Show will be held on Sunday at Place Park with 30 classes to be judged. The show is sponsored by the Lincoln Twp. 4-H Clubs. At the market chickens are 59 cents a pound; chuck roast at 75 cents a pound; swiss steak at $1.19 a pound; ham roast at 51.29 a pound; minced ham at 99 cents a pound; Folgers coffee, 3 pounds for 52.49; giant box of Tide for 73 cents; orange juice, five 6 oz. cans for SI.00; Banquet buffet suppers, 32 ounces each for $1.19; lettuce at 39 cents a head; lemons 6 for 59 cents and oranges 10 for 69 cents. 1963 Quitting business sale began last week at Hershberger’s Sc to SI.OO store, downtown Walkerton. The North Liberty Summer Recreation program will begin for the participants on Wednesday, June 12, under the jurisdiction of the South Bend Community Schools and the North Liberty Park program. The Walkerton Junior League Benefit Dance will be held at the Walkerton American Legion on Saturday night The Walkerton Lions Club will hold their annual Chicken Barbecue on Sunday, June 16 This annual event will feature the bar becue chicken that has been so popular with the area people. Three Walkerton High School students are among the 3.(XX) 4 H Club bovs and girls from the state’s 92 counties who will attend the 1963 4 H Round-Up on June 4 I hey are Ann Clark. Theresa Schmehz and 1 arry Schmeltz 1958 Ihe Department w ill issue a 3-cent stamp to commemorate the 2(Xhh anniversary of Gunston Hall.

home of George Mason through the Lorton. Va.. post office on June 12. Jim Taylor, for many years a barber in Walkerton and recently in South Bend, has announced the opening of a new shop in North Liberty. At the market Maxwell House instant coffee was 99 cents for a giant glass jar; California potatoes are 59 cents for 10 pounds; bananas are two pounds for 25 cents; small can of frozen lemonade for 9 cents; Swiss steak, 7 9 cents a pound; pork liver, 29 cents a pound; pork tenderettes, ”3 cents a pound; pork sausage, 59 cents a pound; baking powder. 13 cents a can; Nestles quik. box 47 cents; Special K cereal. 27 cents a box; and Lux bar soap, three for 28 cents. 1948 A total of 284 men and women enjoyed the annual Alumni Banquet and dance at Walkerton last Friday evening when Mrs. Walter Heil, president, presided over the group. There are seven teacher positions open in the W'alkerton schools with four in the grades and three in the high school. Eighty-three of the 104 dwelling units in West York, government housing project in Walkerton, were sold on June 3 at the project office in Chicago in a public ceremony attended by many interested persons of the project. Twenty-one units are still available. The newly elected directors for the Koontz Lake Fire Department Association, as determined by the annual election held Memorial Day are Andrew B. Brandel, Wm. S. Kramner, Harry Fries, James Gar belt, F ( Kramer, Edward Leverenz, Otto Philpott, Clyde Ricketts, ( larence Reid, Hilding Sundeen and Frank Wyland. 1943 The electric storm which struck this community about noon Lues dav did considerable damage to trees all over northern Indiana. In Walkerton lightning struck the new

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■ Next month, the voters of California will vote on a referendum issue that underscores the public s concern about property taxes in those states in which property taxes have soared in recent years The referendum proposal would limit California property taxes to one per cent of market value each year This would be the equivalent of a S 4 rate for every SIOO of assessed valuation At the present time, the statewide average property tax rate in California is in excess of SIO If the voters adopt the proposal, it will cut state property tax revenues by $7 billion On the face, this has a good deal of appeal Yet it leaves unanswered the questions of financing public services such as schools, police and fire protection, welfare and highways. If the referendum proposal is adopted, other sources of revenue will have to be tapped In California. recovering the $7 billion loss in property tax revenues could force a sales tax increase from 6 per cent to 13 5 per cent Or it could hike the state income tax rates by 150 oer cent.

residence of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Shirley on Van Buren Street running in on the clothes line which is fastened to the house. A large amount of plaster was torn off the wall in the bed room and one window frame was also damaged. Mrs. Charles Worrell, who lives next door to the Shirley residence, was knocked to the floor of her home by the lightning. On May 8, 1942, United Telephone Company, Inc., which serves Walkerton and North Liberty, filed a petition with the Public Service Commission of Indiana requesting authority to increase rates. A number of hearings were held and on April 19, 1943, the Commission issued an order granting the increase. The following will give you an idea of the rates charged then. Residence, one party wall phone was 51.50 and will be increased to $2.00; a desk phone, was the same and for the rural party line users a wall phone was $1.25 and upped to $1.65. Business phones were $2.00 and will be S3.(X). The new rates go into effect June 1. The first band concert for the summer season will be played next Wednesday evening, June 9th, at the uptown band stand starting at eight o’clock. The Park Board for Place Park has been re-appointed by the Tow n Council. Members of the board are R. W. Wolfram, Mrs. Keith Baker, Mrs. Everett Henry, Mrs. Arthur Grote, Herbert Rensberger and Charles Cripe. Jr. VOICE OF THE PEOPLE 1 would like to know when the state is planning on fixing the two blocks of U. S. 6, downtown Walkerton? They have come along and put some patch in the holes and then when the first semi comes by the patch is gone. These two blocks can tear your car or truck apart. Not only that, but when you try to cross the street you can fall. 1 know because 1 did. I think it is about time that something is done about the condition of our highways. I he state would have been smart if they would have fixed this road when they had the road closed at Bremen. I hope that they get this road fixed before someone gets hurt

Capitol Commentary Governor Otis R Bowen

No one is certain what the voters decision will be The fact that such an extreme remedy has been placed on the ballot — coupled with the potential for serious disruption of California's government operations if it prevails — dramatizes the public s frustration where spiraling property taxes are concerned California isn t alone in this issue because rising property taxes have fanned red-hot controversies in most states Taxpayers revolts, such as the one that put the California measure on the ballot, are mounting Indiana, of course, is a notable exception The reason is simple Five years ago. we had the foresight to face into the property tax problem before it got totally out of hand Hoosiers devised and implemented a sound, durable and workable property tax relief program that has checked the rise of property taxes At the same time, we have established a stable funding base for local government. Californians could have benefited from our experience before the issue became so inflamed with emotion.

worse than I did. Charlie We have just returned from a visit to Tennessee where, among other things, we visited Graceland, home of Elvis Presley. One of the ladies in our group placed an arrangement at the monument. We had to wait a while to get near the site, as people were constantly streaming through the area in which the public was permitted. like millions of his fans, I was shocked and saddened by Elvis’ death. I was prepared, on the trip down, to experience that same sense of loss shared by the multitudes. What I was not prepared for was the outrage I felt over the vulgar commercialism along Elvis Presley Boulevard. Someone once said. "No one ever went broke underestimating the public's taste.” How sad and true it is was evident in the blatant and ghoulish rip-offs around Graceland. Posters were selling for $lO and more; dinner plates for SSO; cheap tawdry little momentoes

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DOWN 1. Noteworthy 2. Injure 3. Gaelic 4. Encounters 5. Biblical sea 6. Sacred bull 7. Article of furniture 8. Went astray 9. God of youth and beauty 11. Soviet news agency 18. Wrathful

from $1 on up. One lady sported a necklace priced at $750. To get to the point, there are two specifics which uglify a situation such as this. First, you have the "imitation fans”; those who never bothered to see a concert or buy a record until after Elvis died. Those arc not fans; they are no more than self-centered people using his death (and their imitation grief) to gain attention. Now that he's dead, they ’re buying everything in sight as a sympathy ply for them selves. Secondly, while these enterpren curs are getting rich off grief, it merely brings home the point that there is far more profit in human misery than any other endeasor Your highest-paid professions arc those dealing with misfortune and disaster . . . doctors, lawyers, alcohol, drugs . . . you name it, and it if has to do w ith misery. there’s a huge profit involved. So sad. but oh, so true. Joyce Roth 1120 Harrison St.

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