The Independent-News, Volume 106, Number 23, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 13 November 1980 — Page 4

- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - NOVEMBER 13, 1980

4

editorials]

FIRST THINGS FIRST The Polk-l incoln-Johnson School Board released their financial studs concerning the possible merger between I iberty Township and the Pl J School Corporation last week and this has been a most misunderstood report. It has caused widespread confusion, concern and often the wrong impression since being published. This was released in time to let the public study it before the public meeting on Thursday night, Nosember 13, at 7:30. dealing with this merger subject. One of two things has happened. Either too much was said or not enough. Either way. confusion has been the main result and the report actually is being taken out of context causing the mixed feelings about this matter. First of all. this is in no way a replacement of the report that had been published some two months earlier that was taken from the study made for the Liberty and Greene Township people. In fact, this is not even a similar report. It should not be compared in any way, shape or form with the earlier report. This was a financial report on several variations of estimates of costs. This, definately was needed by the PI J School Board in their study of the matter. It is in no way gospel for what may happen one way or the other. In fact, none of the four plans necessarily will be implemented in that exact manner should the merger be approved. There are some entries and figures that I am sure the public will have many questions about and the board will have to lake into serious consideration before any action could be taken should the merger come about. Second, the so called “vote” on Saturday is not a vote as most people think it to be. It is a vote in the true sense of the word that it is a choice, an opinion, of those caring to express their voice, but it is not a mandate for the PLJ School Board to make their decision. It is to be used as a sounding board by the PLJ board as to the people's feelings. In fact, it probably will reflect considerably less than 25 per cent of the people in the three townships due to the lact of publication, time and understanding of what is going on. Third, the report released last week to some degree has put the cart ahead of the horse. Actually, what must first be decided is whether or not the PLJ School Board is willing to accept Liberty Township should the occasion arise. The South Bend Community School Board only stated by their decision they would release Liberty Township to PLJ, they haven’t actually done this yet as it takes the combined effort of both school boards to do this. Also, Liberty Township has not offically asked to be accepted into the PLJ School Corporation. Should this happen and the merger would be worked out between the two boards, then a new board would be formed to include Liberty Township. The new board should have some say as to the structure of the future plans. There is not really any need at this time for the people to think they are making a decision, they are expressing their opinion which will be considered by the board. The board will still have to make the first decision, then explore and continue the plans for the other questions and problems al hand. It must be realized that the report released by the PLJ Board concerned only possible plans to assess the financial situations of the proposed merger. The first report, compiled by three educators, entered more into the total concept and it must be remembered, they recommended a very feasible corporation in terms of general population, geographical size and socio economic makeup. And most important, also that a “sense of community” exists within the area, the school size would be very favorable with sufficient number of pupils at all levels to support and justify sound, high quality educational programs and pupil services. This new corporation would have an assessed valuation in excess of that generally available to school corporations of comparable size, the assessed valuation per resident pupil in average daily membership should be substantially above the average for Indiana school corporations. The unit would have substantial potential for issuing general obligation bonds and would have sufficient wealth to finance the necessary funds without exceeding reasonable and prevalent limits. This report was projected to cover a period of five year in an effort to look ahead in the future of our school situation. WHEN... (Taken From The Files Os The Independent-News)

1975 I here will be a preview of ihc-lo-S "t, John Glenn Falcons varsity and B team Basketball players on Friday evening. November 14 al 96 pi' I <>ai. h< s arc Mike lones and B<>b 1 oung I! Farmer Slate Bank of VS. tit will mail out the ( hristmas Club checks this week to Vh dub

members for 19"’5. A total of S"'i O'”' QO will be distributed to the ilub members I h< grand opening of Malstaff’s ( realm Kitchens and Baths. M)' O*i Roo-,. \ It Road Walkerton, will bi onSaiurd.i. November IS At the market center cut pork chops wen selling fir $1 49 a pound n li< d pork r-ast at SI km a

pound; all beef franks at SI. 19 a pound package; brown 'n serve sausage at 89 cents for an eight ounce package; Swift Buttcrball turkeys. 5 9 pounds at 89 cents a pound. 10 16 pounds. 7 9 cents a pound, and 16-24 pounds. 75 cents a pound; ducks at 99 cents a pound; roasting chickens at 79 cents a pound; a gallon of Vim milk at SI 19; 10 pounds of Pillsbury flour at SI .56; nine ounces of ( <x>| Whip at 59 cents; three heads of lettuce for SI.00; three pound package of fresh straw berries for SI .00; and 10 pounds of white potatoes for 99 cents. 1970 The John Glenn High School Thespian Sixictv w ill present “The Diary of Anne Frank" on Friday and Saturday. November 13 and 14 in the high school auditorium at 8:00 p.m. each evcing. Members of the cast arc Lynn Nukala. Ron Johnson. Steve Wiktorowski. Theresa DeSimone. Juds Huffman. Jeff Marquardt. Wayne Feece. Sue Morris. Rick Strang and Margaret Mechling. Ihc John Glenn Band and Chorus will present their joint concert on November 19 in the auditorium of the high school Next Monday evening. November 16. the members of the North Liberty Lions ( lub will canvas the town of North Libert) in their big fund raising drive to sell light bulbs. Proceeds from the sale are used in various Lions projects in the community. 1965 Preparations for the 1965 Christmas gift project for patients in Beatty Memorial Hospital. Westville. began today in Walkerton with headquarters for gifts to be at Dave & Ray's Supermarket. Jacob Drugs, and Skogmos. The Polk-Lincoln-Johnson Community Project will start its drive on Saturday. November 13. Students from Tvner and Walkerton representing the various classes and organizations will start a d<xvr to dixvr campaign with you pledging to a certain monetary amount for the recreational facilities in Walkerton. such as the Little League Park, tennis and basketball courts and improvements to the Youth Building. At the market sausage was selling for three pounds at a SI.00; stew meat at 69 cents a pound; round steak at 70 cents a pound; T-bone steak at b 9 cents a pound; ground beef at 49 cents a pound; half and half at 29 cents a pint; a can of tomato juice for 27 cents; pizza with cheese at 39 cents and w ith meat at 49 cents; and Pillsbury flour. 25 pounds for 52.19. 1960 The crowning of the Sweetheart is always a highlight of the FFA Banquet held annually . The candidates for Sweetheart arc Sue ( lark. Judy Ullery, Connie Wood, Pat McKesson and Twila Swanson. The Sweetheart for 1960 is Connie Wixsd. All people who have Walkerton telephone service and that the dials have not been installed on your telephones, please call Telephone Number 6 and report the same. Bill and Evelyn Finley , formerly of Walkerton, have purchased the Stan's Case, in South Bend, and are now operating the same. 1955 North Liberty s need for a zoning ordinance or some wav of protecting residential sections against the encroachment of commercial enterprise is seen in the Standard Oil ( ompany s move to construct a fill ing station in the heart of the residential section at the corner of Main and Market Streets Ihxisier dairymen will hear “What ( an Be Done" and “Where Do We (io From Here" when they attend the tßith annual meeting of the Indiana State Dairy Ass<xiation at Purdue I Diversity on December Atlei I ebruarv 1. all eggs offer ed for sale in Indiana exicpt sold to consumer on (he farm, must be graded it a price is quoted in ad \ ertising

THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS Robert E. Urbin, Editor Susan R. Urbin, A sola tan t Editor INDEPENDENT-NEWS CO., INC., Publisher 601-03 Roosevelt Road. Walkerton. Indiana 46574 Telephone (219) 586 3139 PUBLICATION TIME Thursday of Each Week Second Class Postage Paid At Walkerton, Indiana 46574 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 15c Per Copy; $4 00 Per Year (50c Extra If Mailed Out Os State), Publication Number 261460

According to an announcement made by Harley G. Hixsk. director of the Department of Conservation, a lot of pheasant dinners are in prospect for Hixrsier hunters. A total of 18.252 cock pheasant have been distributed over the state. 1950 Robert Urbin. 17, well known Walkerton athlete, suffered the loss of his right leg just below the knee in an operation at the University of Michigan Hospital. Ann Arbor. Michigan. Monday morning. November 6. due to cancer. Citizens in Lincoln and Liberty Townships voted strongly for Republican candidates Tuesday to elect the entire ticket in both units. The race of Claude Houser for sheriff is still undecided as the election commissioners are squabbling over the count of absentee ballots. At the last count, Mr. Houser was defeated by a narrow margin. At the market Pct milk was selling for 12 cents for a tail can; picnic hams at 45 cents a pound; T-bone steak at 85 cents a pound; round and sirloin steak at 85 cents a pound, beef roast at 65 cents a pound; a pound of wieners at 45 cents; two heads of lettuce for 25 cents; four boxes of Jello for 25 cents; and three grapefruit for 25 cents. VOICE OF THE PEOPLE We would like to take this opportunity to thank our local Fire Department particularly the fine men who devote themselves for our community. We were very gratified for their efforts to take care of our residence while we were out of town. Their efforts kept our damage minimal. Their training and dedication makes all of us glad to live in Walkerton. A special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Kenny Chapman for their assistance. What great neighbors they arc. Also a special thanks to Ellen Cochran. who was grandma sitting at our house at the time of the fire. Her quick response was needed to see that proper people were notified of the emergency. Mr. and Mrs. Walter Pickavct While standing in line at a local grocery store last week. I witnessed the follow ing. .A man came in from work to cash a payroll check (buying nothing). Upon seeing that the check was for several hundred dollars, the cashier asked for his driver's license for identification. Instead of being grateful to the girl for being so conscientious. the man responded very sharply with, ' I've cashed these checks here for years". With that remark, and no show of driver's license, the cashier reluctantly cashed the check I hat man mav have cashed his same check there for years, but that same cashier has not worked there (or years If this man did not do his job properly would he still have a job (and that paycheck)'. Instead of being intimadated when asked for his license, he should hay< been glad what if that had

been soneone else with his pav check, then he would have been upset if the girl hadn't asked for identification. Let's allow our local cashiers to do their jobs properly We should all be cooperative with these cashiers, as someday some one mav try to cash one of our checks. Pam McMah.ti The election is over and our can didatc either won or lost. The im portant part was the enthusiasm shown This spirit should be car ried over into helping the commun itv Ihc 4th of Julv committee could verv much use this enthus iasm. Ihc next meeting will biheld on November 20th at the town hall. Ihc boxes that have been placed in local business places will be picked up on the 19th If you have anv ideas or comments please pul them in these boxes. We want to make this the best Fourth of Julv for a wonderful place. Walkerton The most popular adult sport in Britain is dart-throwing. TREMENDOUS TRIFLES THE CHANCE CHICLE THAT STARTED CHEWING GUM The exiled Mexican DictatorGeneral, Santa Anna, left behind a hunk of chicle that innocently led to the beginning of the multimillion dollar chewing gum industry of today. The general had been defeated ignominiously at San Jacinto in revenge for the massacre six weeks before of the defenders of the Alamo I exas was independent and Santa Anna exiled He retired to a little stone house in Staten Island's Sailors Snug Harbor where, in June 1866, he made the acquaintance of a photographer, I homas Adams, Jr. and his son. In the course of the conversation. Santa Anna produced a piece of something resembling overshoeing, cut off a piece, and with evident relish began to chew it, at the same time offering a piece to his guests In explanation, the general said it was the gum of the zapote tree, known to his friends as "chicle", and ascribed to it the flashing white teeth of the native Aztecs and Mexicans. With this Santa Anna sailed out of this account to resume his tumultuous career in Mexico. The ingenious elder Adams experimented with this hunk of gummy stuff —about the size of a man's fist. First, to see whether it could be vulcanized. Then as a setting for false teeth. No success. Finally, recalling how avidly Santa Anna had chewed this chicle, he tried once again chewing it. He enjoyed the process and, before long, he was experimenting with sweetening and flavoring. When he finally arrived at a candy-hke taste that suited him. he rolled it into pieces and sent it to a candy store in Jersey City. The store offered it for sale and was pleasantly surprised to find ihat the public liked it. The popularity of chewing gum spread rapidly. Soon the entire Adams family had to devote all its time to producing more and more of the product In 1871, the Adamses got a patent on their first gum-making machine. Ihe chewing gum industry is now an enterprise with annua! sales exceeding sO(>,(MMHwmi ^ n d it ail slatted with the curiosity of an in geniotis Yankee who wondered whether this stiange chunk of chide left hv an exiled Dictator didn t have some practical possibilities.