The Independent-News, Volume 105, Number 14, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 13 September 1979 — Page 1

THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS

VOLUME 105; NUMBER 14

School Options Being Studied At North Liberty The North Liberty-Greene Citizens Committee held a press conference on Saturday. September 8 at 1:00 p.m. at the North Liberty United Methodist Church with approximately 30 persons attending. Lhe committee intends to study the feasibility of creating their own school corporation or merging with adjoining corporation such as Un-ion-North or Polk-Lincoln-Johnson School Corporations. Committee chairman. John Peddycord, stated that if the North Liberty Schtxd would merge with another corporation that they will seek to retain the existing schools and improve the curricula and physical conditions, sshich according to the committee have been neglected the past 16 years, lhe committee is not satisfied with the present educational program or the facilities at either of the North Liberty Schools. On August 20 the committee presented to the South Bend Community School Corporation board a program on the deplorable and hazardous conditions at the North Liberty Elementary School. Also brought to the board’s attention was the desire of the people of North Liberty and Greene for a KW quality integrated educational experience for the students. The North Liberty Schools joined the South Bend Community Sch<x>l Corporation 16 years ago and the schools have not been updated during this period, according to Peddycord. At present North Liberty does not know what the corporation has in mind for them. The board released a cost estimate report on September 4 by Herman Hoffmann, senior architect for building services of the school corporation. Two plans were submitted. One calls.for the construction of a new elementary school with the existing building to be demolished with the total cost for this to be around $2.760,(XX). This is part of scheme one. Three options to scheme one include adding eight classrooms to the present high school at an estimated cost of $792,000. The addition would be necessitated by the demolition of the elementary school as six rooms are presently being used by North Liberty High School due to overcrowded conditions. The second option is a comparable curricular standards which includes electronics lab; graphic arts lab; a little theatre and other facilities (which were not mentioned) that are already in other South Bend schools. The cost of this option is $6,204,870. The third option is to have grades 7-12 at the high school, present structure for 800 students with an additional nine classrooms and other facilities at a cost of $1,845,000. Cost of the first scheme is estimated by Hoffman at SIO.BIO,7 7 0. Scheme two would be the con struction of a new high school, demolition of the elementary building and the renovation of the present high school for use by the elementary at an estimated cost of $11,920,000. The citizens committee said that the administration’s estimates are totally inappropriate for the students educational needs. lhe committee hopes the administra (continued on page 3)

WALKERTON, INDIANA 46574 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 1979

COUNTY POLICE NOW HAVE AIR POSSE Saturday. September 8. Sheriff Ralph DeMeyer unveiled the county police department’s newest addition to the forces, the Volunteer Air Posse, at the Maurice Liggett farm. North Liberty. Four privately owned planes and a helicopter are part of the posse who can be summoned to assist whenever possible. The single engine pilots include Richard Stewart. Greg Rogers. Dick Bush, Art Ferretti and Bob Gerencser. The helicopted pilot is Ronnie Drake. Walkerton. Now St. Joseph County Police have a well rounded program with a fleet of cars, a boat, horses and now air support. — photo by Michael Pearish

WALKERTON TOWN BOARD NEWS lhe Walkerton Town Board met in regular session on Tuesday. September 4 with all members present, lhe minutes of the previous meeting and claims 564 to 592 were approved. An additional appropriations for the general fund were discussed and signed by the hoard as had been advertised. Thev are: #l3. Salaries for Police. $3,225.00; #2l. Communication and Transportation. $225.00; #22. Heat. Light, Power, $2,000.00; #24, Printing and Advertising, $150.00; and #261. Garbage and Trash Collection, $1.582.45. Gene Brems. fire chief, gave his monthly report of the department with three fires, one training meeting, two assists, one evacuation practice at Miller’s Merry Manor w ith a total .of 111 man hours. The department spent slls of its money during the month of August. He also asked for permission to use the fire station for the truck stag on September 14. which permission was granted. On September 15 and 16 and also on October 6 and 7, five firemen will be attending fire school. Brems informed the board of a possible Indiana Department of Forestry Grant to be offered for 1980. The grant would be for equipment, training and organization. After a motion and second, it was voted to give Brems the authority to fill out an application for such a grant. lhe department has a 19 7 4 city truck which is a class A pumper. Brems thought the board should be considering plans to purchase a new truck in the future. He felt a sinking fund should be set up. l he request is too late for this year but will be considered in the future. Marvin Williams informed the

Recent Telethon Nets $2,688 Here For Jerry’s Kids l he Town of Walkerton raised a grand total of $2,688.00 for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Distrophy Labor Day Telethon. Ihe money is used for the research and treatment of muscular distrophy. Volunteers from the Walkerton Volunteer Fire Department and their wives; along with some 20 other volunteers from various organizations, manned the phones over the two-day telethon. This was the first year Walkerton was asked to have the phones, although they have helped raise money for Jerry’s Kids in past years. Besides the $2,688.00 that was donated the Walkerton Volunteer Fire Department collected $465.00 in their annual “Fill The Boot" campaign. GLENN HOMECOMING NEXT WEEK The John Glenn High School football homecoming will be next week with the annual parade to be on Thursday. September 20 at 6:00 p.m. from Urey out to the high school. The homecoming football game will be on Friday when the Falcons will host the Culver Cavaliers. Our electrical energy use has about doubled every decade since 1900. board of the progress of the electric and water companies. The water lines are installed at the south part of town. The new electric service is going to be installed soon at the new American Roller and Worlmald factories in the Industrial Park. The police report for the month was also presented and accepted and with no further business, the meeting adjourned.

Punt, Pass & Kick Contest Here Saturday lhe 19th annual Punt. Pass A Kick Contest will be held this Saturdav. September 15, at the John Glenn High School hxitball field, lhe event is sponsored bv Powers Ford Sales, "17 Rixisevelt Road. Walkerton. Contestants compete onlv against others their own age. Arn youngster 8 through 13 years of age is eligible to enter but must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to register for the contest at the local Ford Dealer. Scoring is based on accuracv and range with one point added for every fixit of punting, passing and kicking distance and a point subtracted for every fixit oft a center line. NOTICE lhe Johnson Township Farm Bureau will entertain the Lincoln I ownship Farm Bureau of LaPorte County, on Thursday, September 13. at the Johnson Township Community Building with a wiener roast supper. WALKERTON FIREMEN’S AUXILIARY TO MEET The Walkerton Ladies Firemen’s Auxiliary will meet on Tuesday evening. September 18, at 7:00 p.m. at the fire station for their monthly meeting. We welcome all wives of the firemen to attend. OPENINGS AT DAY SCHOOL There are still openings at the North Liberty Church of Christ Day School. Classes are available tor children from the ages ot 3-6. Ihe Day School program is designed to help your child be better prepared for kindergarten. To register your child or for more information call 656-4632 or Joyce Bradley 6563388.

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Potato Creek Park Extends Activities In response to the high use made this summer of Potato Creek State Recreation Area, located just east of North Liberty on State Road 4, park officials have announced an extended season, lhe beach will remain open on the 15th and 16th of September from 10:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m.. however it will be closed during the week. Ihe boat and bicycle rentals fall hours will be from 6:(X) a.m. until 8:00 p.m. dailv, or sunrise to sunset, whichever is shorter until Sunday, September 30. During October the boat and bicycle rental will be open on Saturdavs and Sundavs. weather permitting. Ihe park entrance gate will be operating full time through October 28. From October 28 until December 1. the gate will be operating from 3:00 p.m. Fridav until 11:00 p.m. on Sunday. Starting on December Ist thru the remainder of the winter season, the gate will operate on Saturdavs and Sundavs onlv. Ihe entrance fee is $1.25 per car or $ 10.00 for an annual pass. lhe Naturalist programs will be offered through October 28. Anvone wishing to bring a group from school or any other organization for a Naturalist program is urged to call 656-8186 and make arrangements. I here is no charge for the Naturalist service. lhe picnic areas, boat launch, trails and campground remain open year around. Cross country ski rentals will begin in December as sixin as there is adequate snow. Posy Parlor Under New Ownership lhe Posv Parlor. 402 Illinois Street. Walkerton, has been purchased bv Eleanor Heckaman from Mr. and Mrs. Roland Sheneman, w ho ow ned and operated the flower shop for the past four years. Mrs. Heckaman has worked at the Posv Parlor for a year and a half Mr. Scheneman has returned to his previous profession, plumbing. Ihe shop will be known as Eleanor's Posv Parlor and will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mondays through Saturdavs. JOHN GLENN ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES HAVE OPENINGS The following adult education classes will be offered at John Glenn if enough people enroll. Typing, office machines and accounting will meet on Monday night starting September 1". English will be offered on Tuesday night starting September 18. if we have ten enrolled and sociology or economics will meet on Thursdav night starting September 13, if we have ten enrolled. Any questions concerning these classes may be answered bv calling .Alvin C. Boise, Adult Education Director at John Glenn High School, phone 586-3195. PAST MATRONS PICNIC POSTPONED Ihe Past Matrons Club picnic was postponed until Sunday, September 23. when it will be held at the home of Miss Dorothea and Al Brenner, Koontz Lake, at one o'clock. A potluck dinner will be served.