The Independent-News, Volume 106, Number 47, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 30 April 1981 — Page 4

4

- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - APRIL 30, IMI

| EDITORIALS!

SLIGHTLY SHORT-CHANGED Two of what I consider are my better friends always talk and tell me to look on the bright side. I do feel that I have optimistic views much more so than pesimistic attitudes, but still at this time of the Indiana Legislature every year I feel like I am getting a little short-changed. Despite the desires and intentions, especially of our local representatives in the Indiana State House, and I’m sure most legislators are positive in their intentions and actions, the last few days of the sessions, whether it be long or short, always leave that same feeling with me. This year the state has several very key issues that must be acted upon that are not just important, they are our future. One of course is the budget, another the formula for school funding and third is the redistricting that must be done every ten years according to the constitution. It is not that these three, plus quite a few other matters have been neglected, but these are the real important issues and as is usually the case, they will be forced to be acted upon at the eleventh hour, often with much more compromise than possibly should be injected into these important matters. In this 61 day session, hundreds and hundreds of bills have been introduced in the two legislative bodies, many never getting out of committee, more dying on the floor, some being passed as they were written and then there is the compromise as similar bills clear their respective houses that must then go back to an appointed committee to work out the differences. Add to this the amendments stuck on bills late in the legislative session that basically do not change the original text of the bill, but that can squeeze soemthing else through that may be as different as day and night. This is a place where the real trading has to come ... I’ll support yours if you support mine. Nothing against any one or group of bills that has already been acted upon, but when the more important are the ones that gets the last minute treatment, the trading and bartering, I feel that perhaps justice is not being done 100 percent on these issues. A time limit for the state legislature is a good thing if it isn’t forcing too much to happen in too short a time near the end of the session. The state of Indiana does have some serious problems at this time as finances haven’t kept up with inflation over the years and the frozen tax rates have made the depletion of several funds a serious problem. Many schools are in a very bad situation and now you hear more and more about cutting back, both in teachers and in programs. The situation isn’t going to get better unless some type of good working program can be worked out. The budget that must be passed will definitely shorten many funds and programs including the highway maintenance and building programs as well as many others. And the redistricting of both the state Senate and House as well as the Congressional Districts, will leave a lot of people unhappy as the “party in power’’ has this leverage to aid their own cause. You can be sure that the minority party will feel like they are being discriminated against. It just won’t be satisfactory to all any time the political angles are weighed as heavily as they are. I don’t know the answer, and by the time you are reading this, these may all be history, passed on by the legislature as they duty for this session is to definitely end by April 30. But, should some last minute action be the result that will not take care of the very important problems in a satisfactory way, I still will feel like the hustle and bustle of beating the deadline has once again short-changed me as well as all Hoosiers. WHEN... (Taken From The Files Os The Independent-News)

1971 Wcltha Burnside retires from teaching career and plans to spend most of her time gardening, sewing. reading as well as some traveling. She began teaching in a small rural school in Monon. Indiana, and she has also taught in the South Bend City Schools, while spending her last 26 years in the Polk-Lincoln-Johnson School Corp. Ramona Bowers has been named valedictorian of the John Glenn High School class of IM7| and Jim Lute was named salutatorian. , The Walkerton Business and Professional Women's Club is sponsoring a scholarship for the first time this year. On Saturday. April 24. Pat Ja cobson, a junior at John Glenn High School, competed in the GAA Invitational State Gymnastics meet at Munster High School and she placed fifth in low intermediate compulsory vaulting. She is the daughter of Mr and Mrs. Conrad

Jacobson, Plymouth. 1966 On Tuesday. May 3. the PrimaryElection will be held in Indiana and everyone is urged to go to the polls. The candidates from the respective parties will be elected to run in the fall election. At stake is everything from school boards to representatives in Washington. Neil Baughman and Albert Mroc/kieuicz have been chosen to represent North Liberty High School at Boys State this year and are sponsored by the Edward Sousley Post. American Legion, North Liberty. 1956 Another year has rolled around and again it is time to reunite old friendships and life-long memories of by gone days when everyone was full of frolic, puppylove, bubble gum and oh, yes some might of evened studied The North Liberty Alumni dinner will be held on Saturday evening.

At the market T-bone steaks were selling for 52 cents a pound; beef roast at 39 cents a pound; slicing bologna at 25 cents a pound; club steaks at 49 cents a pound; round, swiss and sirloin steaks at 52 cents a pound; pork cutlets at 39 cents a pound; a three pound chuck roast for $1.00; spare ribs at 39 cents a pound; and three pounds of ground beef for 89 cents. The first registration for St. Patrick School. which will open in September, will he held on Sunday. Mav 13 at the new school. 1946 Thirty-two seniors will be graduating from North Liberty High School on Thursday. Mav 9. Don't forget we have changed our time to one hour ahead. Iwo hundred and twenty-one Walkerton high school students were X-rayed in connection with the survey the St. Joseph County Tuberculosis League sponsored earlier this month. 1931 Plans for the third annual Walkerton High School Alumni Banquet. which gives every evidence of being in fact, "bigger and better than ever" were set in motion at a recent meeting of the officers of the association, according to Dave Lawrence, chairman of the publicity committee. The banquet will be held on Friday. Mas 15. LaPorte County Officials have been informed by state highway commission that the portion of State Road No. 6 between Westville and LaPaz will be built in 1932. Lack of necessary funds was given as the reason by the commission. El hurt Place, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Place, of near Walkerton. won the LaPorte County heavyweight championship for the third consecutiv year at the annual LaPorte American Legion Boxing Show Friday night. Weekly Senate Wrap-Up From Sen. V. R. Miller Conference committee work continuted to dominate the action in the Senate last week, as the first session of the One Hundred and Second General Assemble winds down its activities. A conference committee is appointed when a bill is voted on in different forms by the House of Representatives and the Senate; its purpose is to iron out the differences between the two versions. Still being worked on in these committees arc such issues as the state budget, the school aid formula, highway funding and a number of criminal justice reforms. These will be acted on and if approved by both houses, sent to the Governor by the end of the session. The Hazardous Waste bill, w hich started out as S. B. 157 and was sent to the Governor as H. B. 2025. finally made it through the difficult legislative process and is expected to be signed into law. The measure will allow a branch of the Indiana Board of Health to choose sites around the state to be used for the dumping of hazardous chemical and radioactive wastes. Under current law . local authorities could prevent the building of such facilities; consequently there has been a shortage of the facilities in Indiana. Under the new law . industrywill have enough places to discard hazardous wastes, which will both lower costs to consumers and help attract much needed new industry to the state. The dump sites will be chosen carefully, and tight controls and supervision will ensure that no one will be endangered by the location of any site. The first lobbying reform legislation in the state since 1915 was passed this week in the form of S. B 12. Under the new law . lobbyists must report any item over SIOO that they give to a legislator, with a yearly ceiling of $500; the only exception is food or beverages. Failure to do this is a Class D

MILLER’S MERRY MANOR Celebrates ■MB NATIONAL |r> NURSING BL HOME WEEK May 10 • 17 SPECIAL EVENTS SUNDAY, MAY 10 Open House 2:00 - 4:00 with Jackie Singleton singing MONDAY, MAY 11 John Glenn High School Choir — 1:30 TUESDAY, MAY 12 Quilt Show — 1:30 WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 Senior Citizen’s Bowling Team — 1:30 THURSDAY, MAY 14 Mildred Smith, Bible Study — 1:30 FRIDAY, MAY 15 Harmonicas — 1:30 — Playing for Birthday Party for our resident, Meri Mannina’s 100th birthday The public is invited to attend any or all of these activities THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON NATIONAL NURSING HOME WEEK May 10 - 17, 1901 During National Nursing Home Week, we are particularly reminded of the needs of nursing home residents. They require special medical and health-related services delivered by Individuals dedicated to their care in safe and healthful settings. People in nursing homes also need contact with the community -- often possible only when the community Itself reaches out to those who have no families or whose families are far away. Let us remember the elderly and dedicate our efforts to enabling these citizens to remain healthy and Independent while at the same time ensuring that the care provided them In nursing homes fulfills the human needs of the people whom they are committed to serve.

felony. Lobbists will also be required to register and report their expenditures year-round instead of just during the session. Contingent fees are also outlawed, and lobbyists are barred from the legislative chambers. Lobbyists will be required for the first time to specify every bill that they are lobbying for. and along with legislators will be subject to criminal penalties if they conspire to violate the terms of the new statute. This legislation will go a long way toward strength cning the people's confidence in their elected officials and will provide voters w ith the information necessary to decide wether improper influencing has taken place. Senate bills that have been signed by the Governor include: — S. B. 15. which will shorten the grace period in which to redeem a bad check from 20 to 10 days. S. B. 78. which prohibits prisoners from conducting private business on department grounds. — S. B. 315, which makes it illegal for insurance companies to discriminate on the basis of blindness without proof of greater risk. — S. B. 60. which makes it a class D felony to destroy by fire or explosion any property valued between $250.00 and $5,000.00.

— S. B. 93. which removes selection of candidate for Lt. Governor from district primary and returns it to state party conventions. One issue remaining is the approval of new district lines for the State Senate. House, and U. S. Congress. This is necessitated by the population changes that have occurcd during the past ten years. The reapportionment committees have been at work redraw ing the district lines, w ith the maps to be made public and voted on in the near future. Once again, do not forget to call the Senate toll-free number 1 -800 382-9467 or w rite to me at the State House. Indianapolis. Ind. 46204. it you have a problem. ! TELEPHONE I I NUMBERS FOR || i LEGISLATORS j ' House Os Representatives; 1 800-382-9841 Senate I; l! 1-800-382-9467 <