The Independent-News, Volume 104, Number 17, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 28 September 1978 — Page 4

SEPTEMBER 28, 1978 — THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS

EDITORIALS -

LET’S KEEP IT FUN! Friday night is a night that is one of tradition . . . not that John Glenn and North Liberty have been playing football against each other for so many years ... but that Walkerton and North Liberty have competed against each other as friendly rivals for many years. The rivalry, which once was basically basketball, is now carried over to the gridiron, where many outstanding rivalries are exploited. At one time the two town's teams met twice a year (and as many as four times including tourneys) in basketball. Now only one regular scheduled meeting is held in the round ball, but the outdoor game has added a lot to the rivalry. However, in the past few years, feelings have a few times differed from just the friendly rivalry to almost serious trouble. Last year an injury or two was the result of kids going from one town to another for a little friendly harrassment. but it turned out a little more serious than that. The rivalry is great. . . just as long as it remains just that. . . rivalry in a friendly manner. There is no call for fighting, destruction of property or spraying of paint or other more permanent reminders of the rivalry to be the result. We sincerely hope the spirits remain high, the competition on the field is keen, the game is good and all have a good time . . . even in the “extra'' activities. However, we also hope that if any actions get out of hand, that the proper authorities take charge and take charge hard. If it involves school children let the school officials be very firm in their actions. If it happens to involve some older than the school age. let the legal authorities take charge and again take charge firm. Despite the many stories you hear from “the good old days” about first the game and then the fight . . . well that is basically just what a lot of them are ... just stories. And the longer the elapsed time the better the stories get. This is the case between Walkerton and North Liberty just as much as it was at one time between all rival schools. You could hear the same at LaPaz and Lakeville. Knox and North Judson, and on and on. However, much of this came years after and only in the minds of those telling the stories. The need for good clean and friendly rivalries is great ... on a high school level it can be replaced by nothing. However, let’s keep it that wav . . . good clean and friendly. Everyone will gain if it is. OVER 800,000 It is always heard far and near when someone in the public eye is involved and this last week end was no exception as the tragic shooting death of California Angels star Lyman Bostock was one of the headlines of the day. The tragedy not only involves a life of a human being, whether or not he had been in the public eye, but also revives the very controversal subject of gun control as someone always jumps at the chance to renew this matter. Whether one is for gun control or not, there is one staggering fact that is almost incredible in itself. Since 1900 there have been over 800,000 murders by gun in the United States of America, a figure that is higher than all the lives lost by Americans defending our country in wars in our history. Whether it is gun control or what is needed to control such a figure, the greatest country in the world almost moves to the other end of the pack in being the most uncivilized when you consider this figure. There are countries where very tight gun controls and police control is the dominate thing that will have just a handfull of murders year after year on their records. In England, and very possibly other countries, the police do not even carry guns. Guns are something different in most parts of the world than the part they play in this country . We are not preaching for gun control, at this point there are so many million in circulation it would be an impossible feat, but with guns being owned by a large number of people and families, especially in the metropolitan areas, something must be done to curb this totally ridiculous loss of life. Not just because a national figure such as Bostock was shot ... not becuase of shootings of other famous people . . . you still hear all the time of the two Kennedy's, Martin Luther King, the attempt on Governor Wallace, and on and on. The loss of any life has to affect someone and the loss of any life, from a national figure to just the average man on the street by this means is tragedy enough that one would think some kind of control could be effective through the courts, through the laws that can be enforced or something. It may be true that guns don’t kill people, people kill people, but in the countries where guns are not an easy thing to have and where laws can be enforced, they don't look at the type of figures we have mentioned here . . . over 800,000 losses of human life by gun since 1900.

I

f^^emembeicW (TAKEN FROM THE FILES OF THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS)

1973 Since Monday, September 10. Koontz Lake residents have been taking their first “inside" look at the local library’s newly built headquarters. Located on State Road 23, opposite Palmer's Furniture Store, the 30 x 50 foot building stands on the south side of a grassy plot lined with shade trees. This Saturday afternoon the North Liberty High School will be celebrating their football homecoming. The Shamrocks will take on the Knox Redskins at 2:00 p.m. At the market this week fryers were 49 cents a pound; swiss steak at $1.29 a pound; rolled rump roast at $1.49 a pound; franks at $1.19 a pound; smoked sausage at $1.19 a pound; ocean perch at 85 cents a

pound; french fries at 39 cents for a 24 ounce bag; Ivory bar soap at two for 19 cents; custard pie at $1.19 for a 10 inch pie; cinnamon bread at 69 cents a loaf; package of three I carmel apples for 49 cents; head lettuce at 29 cents each and eight bottles of RC cola for 69 cents plus deposit. 1963 Ihe Tri Kappa and the Walkerton Lions Club are combining their efforts this year on the annual birthday calendar that has been handled by the Lions for several > years in Walkerton. The drive to solicit names and take orders for the calendars is starting this week । with the ladies of the Tri Kappa i sorority canvassing the town. i The Walkerton Senior Class will

■ State energy officials have released their annual fuel and weather forecast for the winter months, based upon detailed information received from government and industry sources. The forecast is somewhat more optimistic than the one offered last September, when the state was facing the near-certainty of a coal strike — which ultimately proved to be disruptive to our economy and our lifestyle. Unfortunately, the weather experts this year aren’t in agreement as to the winter outlook. Most of them foresee a cooler than normal autumn but disagree about temperature conditions in the winter months of January through March. Weather is an important element in forecasting energy supplies. There is a direct tie between the consumption of fuel for heating purposes and the severity of winter weather. Given these uncertainties, state energy officials made their fuel predictions based upon the assumption that the heating season will be somewhat colder than normal If that is the case, supplies of natural gas, petroleum and coal appear to be adequate For the most part, inventories of these fuels are more substantial than at this time last year Although petro-

have a pop bottle drive Saturday beginning at 9:30 a m. and continuing through the day. Any kind of pop bottle will be collected by the group as they cover the town in search of old bottles. This fall’s United Fund Crusade of Hope marks the 50th annual drive of United Campaigns in St. Joseph County. Eat all the watermelons you can while they last at Stuntz’s Pine Forest. With the exception of a very little amount of work to be completed, the Town of Walkerton, under the direction and approval of the Town Board, has finished work on the town streets for this summer. Walkerton has as fine a system of streets in town as can be found in almost any town or city. Markets have canned hams at $3.59 for a five pounder; ground beef three pounds for 99 cents; smoked picnics at 29 cents a pound; boiled ham at 89 cents a pound; tuna. 4 flats for $1.00; crackers, 2 boxes for 45 cents; celery at 10 cents a stalk; grapefruit at 10 for 50c and grapes at 35 cents for two pounds. 1958 Lorraine Mullet, 10, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Myron Mullet, suffered a broken collar bone in a car-bycycle accident at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. A disaster preparedness program is underway in Walkerton with Jack Erbaugh general chairman and Amos Hunt vice chairman. Sponsored by the St. Joseph County Chapter American Red Cross Disaster preparedness committee will Coordinate the Walkerton program. Sunday, September 28 at 2:00 p.m. will be a very special day for the people of Walkerton Evangelical United Brethren Church when they will dedicate a new Communion Table, a Conn Organ and new Hymnals. Playing at the Rialto this week is “The Fly” and Space Master X-7”. Next week is “The Enemy Below.” 1948 The first meeting of the parents of the Walkerton school band was held T uesday evening in the band room with 30 parents giving evi-

Capitol Commentary Governor Otis R Bowen

leum stocks are down a bit, the refineries now are emphasizing heating oil output and storage tanks rapidly are being filled. Energy officials are watching the propane situation closely. Propane is widely used to dry grain and to heat rural homes. A combination of a late harvest and an early onset of colder weather is anticipated by weather and crop forecasters. Past experience shows that this could put strain upon the local supply and distribution of propane Energy officials are not predicting trouble with propane but they do say that the situation warrants close attention. However, any forecast of winter fuel and energy conditions is subject to a number of variables and unforeseen factors. Even a normal winter can produce brief periods of exceptionally cold weather or severe storms which disrupt the fuel delivery system, while causing increased demand to offset frigid temperatures. Furthermore, the world energy distribution system is quite vulnerable to disruption from weather, war, system failure, terrorism or bad political judgments The nation is far more dependent upon foreign oil than it was during the 1973-74 embargo These are uncertainties that must be reckoned with

dence of the fact that there is sincere interest in the project of an organization such as this. Officers were elected with Mrs. David Lawrence, president, and Mrs. A. J. Kennedy, vice-president. The high school girls in northern Indiana will have an opportunity to compete for three sets of Rogers Bros. 1847 silverware at the annual Muck Crop Show held at Walkerton November 10, 11 and 12. according to R. N. LaFeber, chairman of the Lions Club program committee. The contest is open to any high school or 4-H club girl between the ages of 14 and 21 and will be held on Armistice Day, November 11. The girls will be making potato salad and it will be judged by the appeal of taste, attractive in appearance. workmanship and originality. Eggs may be used, other vegetables may also be used, but potatoes and onions must predominate the salad. Any dressing may be used. The high school band is making plans to give a marching demonstration on Halloween night and a Fall Concert of popular music selections and novelties October 31. Week end menu at Mary’s Kitchen, one mile west of Walkerton on Road 6 features T-bone steak dinner for $1.40; fried chicken $1.00; roast beef. 70 cents; prok chops. 90 cents; Italian spaghetti with meat sauce. 60 cents; and beef and noodles at 60 cents. The dinners include soup, vegetable, potatoes. bread and butter, and your coffee. 1943 A meeting of unusual interest because of the importance of the speaker who will be presented has been scheduled for the high school gym in North Liberty on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. when Dr. J. Raymond Schultz, of North Manchester, will address the Farm Bureau in a county-wide meeting. The topic of his speech will be “The Farm Can Help Win The War And Write The Peace.” A campaign to pay off the debt on the new Methodist Church in Walkerton was inaugurated Sunday when Claude E. Houser, president of the Board of Trustees, announced plans of the drive and ap-

pointed captains. The church was built in 1936, following the disastrous fire on February 20, 1935. which completely demolished the old cobblestone structure. The original debt of $6,000 has been reduced about $2,000 and it is believed that it can all be cleaned up w ithin a short time. Announced casualties of the United States Armed Forces from the outbreak of the war to date (whose next of kin have been notified) total 105,205 according to War and Navy Department reports. VOICE OF THE PEOPLE In response to the Tuesday Polk-Lincoln-Johnson School board meeting it appears that the Superintendent and/or some school board members have an "I don't care attitude.” They were made aware of specific problems at Walkerton Elementary School — the reply was, “this only represents six our of 550.” There was no public notification of the matter of policy at Walkerton Elementary School to be discussed or time or place. It seems if 20 parents showed up under the above conditions then there are more than six. Can they brush off even six out of 550 students? The reply of “Dear Mr. and Mrs. you are the only parent to ever complain" is a great turn off! Consider if you are the only complaining parent then there must be something worng with your attitude. There is nothing wrong with being a concerned parent, but the administration speech is an effective turn off! Either the school board has not acknowledged or has not been made aware of these problems. There is another school board meeting October 3 and maybe we need quantity to be more effective. If you are a concerned parent and want to be heard please call one of these numbers, 936-8454, 936-8457 or 586-2105. Mrs. Richard Hesters