The Independent-News, Volume 106, Number 40, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 12 March 1981 — Page 4

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- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - MARCH 12, IMI

EDITORIALS

WE APOLOGIZE It became evident very quickly Tuesday evening that a serious misunderstanding on our part led to some actions we want to apologize for to both the school board and the public. First of all, to the school board. It was evidently a misunderstanding on our part in thinking that after the approval of the I iberty Township merger at the December 16 meeting, upon statements made, especially at the November 13 general meeting at John Glenn High School, that the board would in the future hold public meetings concerning the various steps of the merger between Liberty Township and the PLJ School Corporation. We felt the board was very sincere in wanting public imput as it appeared clear to us that they felt, as well as a lot of the public, that communication had not been the best and was part of the problem. We realize that weekly meetings were started by the board instead of two a month, to deal with the problems at hand. We also realize and appreciate the many hours of work this has cost the board, certainly a job not many people want and they recieve both little thanks and compensation for. However, we were surprised to find out at Tuesday’s meeting that all the decisions of “how and where” the merged school district was to be handled has already been planned completely. We realize this is the board’s decision to make, but one we misunderstanding^' felt they would not make without more public meetings specifically designed for these problems. One must contact the superintendent and be placed on the agenda to approach the board at their meetings with problems or questions, but still the board at no time stated publicly for instance: “On January 3 at our meeting, we will discuss the use of buildings, etc., for the future of the merged organization”, or anything to this extent. In fact, no news releases have been made in this time concerning the laying of the final plans of the grade breakdown, building useage, and plans that were being followed for the merger. We apologize for misunderstanding this situation. However, we still feel that the board is dealing with a “new” school corporation and their future and certainly felt that the public imput would have been openly extended to the residents of Liberty Township as well. We still feel this was not done. It may be true that they at this point have no official representation and that they have had individuals at the various board meetings, but our misunderstanding of statements made at the November 13 meeting led us to believe more such meetings would have been held. This is especially true after the board had to accept the feeling the September 16 and November 13 meetings, the total opinion vote, and the merger project the whole way through, including Liberty Township’s straw vote, displayed a very keen public interest. The board has based their decisions on the various building uses, class breakdowns, etc., on the recommendations of the administration and the opinion poll taken at the November 13 meeting. These options were useful, but certainly misunderstood by us in the fact we felt they were just proposals to gain the opinion of those voting. Certainly of the 463 approval votes for the merger, 336 of these voting for option “B” which the board has closely followed, is not any kind of a full opinion of the new school district of well over 8,000 people. This was certainly one point where we misunderstood the statements made at that time. The weighing of additional options, even though the board said they were considered, must have been passed over lightly and not pursued to the fullest extent. We are not saying they are right or wrong, but felt at the time and still do, that more public imput would have been helpful in finding out the overall opinion of the four townships involved. Because of misunderstanding and not pursuing to the fullest extent, we must apologize to the public for not passing more information on to them. We feel we have had a good relationship with Superintendent Muncie and the board, we have had opposite opinions on certain matters over the years, but felt we have been fair and have certainly appreciated Mr. Muncie’s aid in getting late Tuesday night business to us for Wednesday publication despite being well after our deadline and putting a definite hardship on us to get this in by press time of 11:30 a.m. We also have time and time again, offered our columns completely free of charge to the board and administration for any and all news and views they would like to get out to the public and felt this has been use moderately, not as heavily as could be. Public relations and communications is still a big factor in this area as is indicated by the newly formed group of C oncerned Citizens who are now getting organized. Our feelings on the overall merger has been one of a very positive approach the entire way through. We hav’e supported this merger, tried to bring out both sides of the story as it is not all going to be a bed of roses, and have encouraged and backed the board in their efforts and results. We know the responsibility they have had cast upon them, but also realize the decisions made al this time will be ones that we will live with for many years to come and will have a definate effect over the schools of this area for the future. We have felt on several occasions that decisions have possibly been made with the heart more than the head, but the overall picture is not bleck, it is bright and a real step forward for the area.

FVCREMEMBERJ^f (Taken From The Files Os The Independent-News)

1971 The John Glenn High School Thespian Sixictv will present Neil Simmon's smash coined) hit. "Star Spangled Girl." on Friday, March 5 and Saturday, March 6 in the auditorium of the school beginning each evening at X:oo p.m. I xtcnsion of the l egal Services • legal I ducation Program to reach more low income families in St Joseph Counts has been announced and beginning on Thursday. March 4, a satellite office will open at the Walkerton Wesleyan Church and w ill be staffed b\ third year lass students from the University of Notre Dame and will be under the supersision of senior attorney for the program. Charles F. Crutch field Final preparation for the annual "Pop" concert on March 4 has been completed with a preview of the concert scheduled for the student body being added to the latest plans. The evening concert is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Walkerton's Prelude To Spring Sale. March 4. 5 and 6 is sponsored by Harvey's Dime Store. The Ridge Co.. Fabric Care Center. Nu Shine Cleaners. State Farm Insurance, Glenn View Estates. Jacob Drugs. Dairy Queen, Her Place, Mini Shop, Lorraine's, Dad & Lad's. Wilcox Supermarket. Walkerton Skelgas Service. Mahoney-Mann Chev.-Olds, Dave & Ray's Supermarket and Karn's TV & Appliance. 1966 Winamac broke a tight game up in the second half as they dropped Walkerton 66-50 in the 1966 Sectional tourney at Knox on Thursday evening. North Liberty, rated a good chance at winning the LaVille Sectional this year, found a cold streak that will long be remembered. This fact that cost them the ball game Saturday afternoon and the chance to advance into the finals. Something unusual after all the years of action in the South Bend meet. The Shamrocks lost to Bremen by a score of 55-45. The Walkerton Community Rec reation Project needs your help and support. This is the word of the committee w ho has undertaken this project to give to the community a more complete and well-rounded program. The entire project includes a new Little League ball park, a sports center which will consist of tennis courts, volleyball courts, a roller skating rink which in the winter can be used for ice skating. Also included in the plan is a Teen Club in the Youth Building where access to the youth will be given many hours a week under proper chaperoned conditions. It finally happened! A contract has been let for the resurfacing of State Road 23 from the corner of Indiana 4 to Mayflower Road. This was received from the State Highway Commission this past week end at our office. 1961 Once again March 1 begins the annual assessment of all personal property in the State of Indiana. By order of the Governor, Matthew Walsh, the 1960 license plates have receive an extension of the deadline until March 15, at midnight. This was released on March

We hope that as plans progress everything works out well especially for the students, but also for the battered budgets of individuals and the school corporation alike as this is now the key matter in the operation of all school systems. Liberty Township will have two representatives on the board, first appointed by the judge of the circuit court and then elected in the May, 1982 primary. The present board has been dedicated and worked hard, but we still feel they should know and realize the people are behind them in seeking quality education as well as satisfying personal feelings and are willing to offer help and/or constructive criticism whenever they can.

Ist. The license branch, in Walkerton. is located at Powell-Mann Garage. 301 kixisevelt Road. Advertisers in the IndependentNews, March 2. 1961 issue, were the following: Opera Ball Room. Mrs. Bennett's Chicken Dinner Restaurant. Rialto Theatre, Rees Theatre, A & P. Lee's Jewelry. Hiatt Insurance. Central Credit Corp., Walkerton Ford Sales. Dave A Rav's. Skogmos. Powell Mann, Robert W. Johnson Insurance. Reed's Electric. J. B. Williams A Sons. Jacob Drugs, Nick's Super market. Hershberger's Dime Store. Cargill Hvbrids, Al A Ron's Twin City Service. Farm Bureau Co-Op. Wikox Super Market. Community Revival. Uptown Laundromat. Farmer's State Bank. Harry 's Sinclair Service. Bob's Welding Service. Farm Bureau Credit Union. North Libertv Elevator. Koppcnhofer lumber, three public sales. Walkerton Livestock. Walkerton Lumber and Coal and the Minstrel Show. 1956 The second meeting of the Troop committee which is planning to reorganize the local Boy Scouts, was held Monday evening in the basement of th Methodist Church. An effective scouting program is one of the best avenues for the building of character and brotherhixxl. which are essential in our present day political and economic world condition. Back the Scouts. Persons who desire to contribute clothing or other articles to the Church World Service, for Brethren Relief, arc asked to bring their articles to the Church of the Brethren. in North Liberty, before Monday. March 5. Advertisers in the North Liberty News in the March 1. 1956 issue, were as follows: Rialto Theatre, Rees I heatre. The Laundry Basket, Lambert Buick Sales, Modern Elec trie, Swihart Farm Store. Palace Theatre. Grain and Feed of North Libertv. Community Grocery, Avon Products, Miller and Steele International Dealer. Limbaugh Bulk Fertilizer Plant. Irwin Chev. Co.. Mrs. Bennett's Chicken Dinner Restaurant. Community State Bank. McDaniel Funeral Home. Price Garage, Newcomb Drug Store. Drs. Hardy and Lushbough, Lemontrees. Economy Food Market. Steele Insurance Agency, Dr. Cibock. Ketchen Brothers. Williams Royal Blue Store, Quigley D-X Service. Liberty Locker Plant. Russ Garage. Band B<x>sters White Elephant Sale. North Liberty Elevator. Fish Lake Royal Blue Store. Wilcox Supermarket. Williams Supply Co., Bremen Quality Cleaners. Singer Sewing Center. Public Sale. Walkerton Livestock Sale. Marshall County Community Sale. Walkerton American Legion and North Libertv Lumber and Coal. 1951 Walkerton will be the host to the 1951 Muck Crop Caravan on March 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the Town Club. Growers are insured a fine program on vegetables, diseases, entomology and muck crop talk. Walkerton Boy Scout Troop obtained second honors at the Klondike Derby held at Centennial Park. Plymouth, on Sunday afternoon. The Walkerton patrol was made up of Michael Wirt. Harold Rubv. Claude Watkins, Kenneth

Ruby, Tom Cotton and Mike Nus baum. 1941 The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad piled up 15 freight cars and their contents and burned up one ca boose early Sundav night about 10 car lengths east of Road 23 crossing in Walkerton. Dr. John Holland, pastor of the little Brown Church of the Aw radio station WLS. Chicago, will speak at the annual meeting of th< RI MC at Hanna High Schcxil g\n on Mondav. Gumz Brothers of North Judson know n as the world’s largest potab raisers, w ho farm 6,(XX) acres, havpurchased the Valley View Fam three notes northwest of Nortl libertx. from Short Brothers of Hamlet, who have owned the fam for several years. The members of the sevcntl grade band were measured or Mondav for their new uniforms. 1931 I. E. Gordon, who has operatic a restaurant and s<xla grille on the corner of Avenue F and Bth Street Walkerton, for several years, ha leased the Daugherty Building bi tween the Post office (which i where Dr. Hershberger's office is today) and the Rialto Theatre and. will move to that location in th< near future. I he last free band concert of thwinter season was given in th< schixd gymnasium on Tuesday evening. March 3. at 8 o’clock b. the Walkerton Chamber of Con’ merce band, directed by Ralph N LaFeber. The Knox Chamber of Com merce working in conjunction with the Walkerton Chamber of Com merce and the Koontz Lake Ini provement Association, is scekint to locate a federal government bass hatchery at Koontz Lake. Th< federal government has appropri ated $50,000 for a hatchcry to b< hxated in Northern Indiana. At the local markets, A A P Food Store. 10 pounds of sugar for 4‘* cents; five pounds of Gold Medal flour for 13 cents; a pound of oho margarine for 17 cents; a pound pail of peanut butter for 19 cents 15 pound peck of potatoes for 2 q cents; six grapefruit for 25 cents and two pounds of fresh spinach for 13 cents. At W. F LaFeber A Son Market three packages of Jello was selling for 20 cents; 24 ounces of peanut butter for 29 cents; bacon squares at 17 cents a pound; three pounds of Monarch coffee for 90 cents large size of Swans Down cake flout for 25 cents; three pounds of Bald win apples for 25 cents; and a dozen oranges for 19 cents. Ha [551 SAVES LIVES b ■■■ ■ It works! Since 1974 the year the 55MPH speed limit began. it s been the biggest factor in reducing highway deaths by more than 36 000 *** s Kn©