The Independent-News, Volume 107, Number 28, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 17 December 1981 — Page 4

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- THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS - DECEMBER 17, IMI

EDITORIALS

ANNOUNCEMENT SHOULD BE FORTHCOMING The rumor mill has been running lately about a problem the Polk-Lincoln-Johnson School Board may be facing with insufficient funds to operate on this school year. At this time, this is strictly a rumor and even though the finger has been pointed in certain directions, this is still at this point basically a rumor. The spreading of rumors without facts is bad . . . and just as bad is a board of a governmental or institutional agency trying to surpress information from the public, especially when the public, as in the case with a school board and administration, is operating on the public’s tax dollars. To date we have no proof of either of these situations meriting comment until the facts are brought out at the public meeting and given to the public. We sincerely hope the financial situation of the school corporation is nothing that is of major consequence and also hope that the same board does not try to hide or disguise any facts from the public. At the board meeting tonight (Wednesday) these facts should be brought out in the open. We strongly suggest the board follow all ethics and rules of common sense and freely let the public know just what the situation is, this alone should stop the rumors from floating around. If guilt is uncovered in a mistake, the proper action should be taken at that time. Until then, we are content to wait and see and continue to offer to the board all the newpaper space they want and need to bring the facts to the public and let the public know just where we stand. They are an elected board to represent the people. It may also be pointed out, that if any problems do arise, this is the same board that is in the process of spending some $5 million dollars on renovations and additions to buildings and completely control the purse strings on all operations. We hope their conscience will be their guide in whatever decisions they should make. A TREND BEING FORMED? The Indiana Legislature is facing a short session in 1982, one in which not a lot of time is alloted to handle the business of running the state, but certainly one which allows our lawmakers much more latitude in planning and putting into motion the needed actions than was possible under the old system of meeting every other year. From advance publicity of bills being introduced, and with the constant reporting of scandals and other problems of elected officials over recent years, we to some extent see a trend forming. Among legislation introduced already for consideration after the first of the year is renovation in current patronage systems in the state of Indiana that has tendencies to raise some questions from time to time. This has been away of life too long that some of these political patronage procedures have hidden completely from the public, just how they are run and the benefits from the same. Much has come to light with the recent publicity in our own St. Joseph County with the case of former sheriff and also the problems at the license branch in South Bend with funds being extorted. Introduced is legislation to make public the records of such political plums as the feeding of prisoners in county jails, which can result in some windfall income by the sheriff if all the monies aren’t used to feed the inmates, and also the profits made from various aspects of the license bureaus which are not publicly reported. Maybe the trend is here that will take away some of the "side benefits’’ that entice people into some of the public offices. It has long been known that politicians are among the least trusted of people when they are in office and to remove the cause for some of these questions might just be a step in the right direction and an asset to all concerned citizens. This may be a trend well worth following.

WHEN... (Taken From The Files Qf The Independent-News)

1971 The first day of the Walkerton Salvation Army Kettle Drive was highly successful with a total of 516 44 being reported The drive will continue for the next two Sat urdavs I he W alkcrton Chamber of Com merce is again sponsoring a ( hrist mas Decorating Contest for Walk erlon and the area with cash prizes to be awarded of $lO (X) for first place and $5 00 for second place in the different categories. Judging will be held on December 18

At the market whole frying chickens were selling for 29 cents a pound; legs, thighs and breasts at three pounds for $1.00; livers at 7 9 cents a pound; franks at **9 cents a pound; potato salad at 39 cents a pound; slender sliced meats, three for SI (K). ( arnation instant break fast at 19 cents; three cans of Milnot for 3 C cents; two pound can of Maxwell House coffee for $1 29. small tin of tuna for 39 cents, lettuce at 19 cents a head; carrots at two pounds for 29 cents, and 10 pounds of Idaho potatoes for 89 cents.

1961 At the Marshall County School Reorganization hearing Monday at the Tyner High School, it was definitely learned the Oregon Township. Starke County, was petitioning to be released from the Starke County jurisdiction and be put in with the Marshall County plan to be included in a new schtxil corporation with Polk Township. Marshall County, and WalkertonLincoln Township. St. Joseph County. Most of the Walkerton business houses will begin remaining open evenings for your Christmas shop ping convenience, starting on December 11. Santa Claus will be coming to Walkerton on Friday night for a visit with the children. He will continue to come on Friday evenings. December 15 and 22. and will be in the dow ntow n area. At the market T-bone steak was selling for 7 9 cents a pound; pork roast at 29 cents a pound; smoked sausage at 49 cents a pound; pork cutlets at 59 cents a pound; hot dogs at two pounds for 89 cents; polish sausage at 49 cents a pound; large size of Tide for 29 cents; 10 pounds of sugar for 99 cents; and 10 grapefruit for 45 cents. 1951 The community-wide celebration of Christmas for the kiddies of the town and countryside gives promise of something unusual and very interesting. It will start on Thursday evening, December 13, in the high school gym. Seven civic clubs arc pooling their resources to sponsor the party along with the school. Those clubs are the Chamber of Commerce, American Legion. Legion Auxiliary. Community Club. Lions Club and Junior Woman’s Club and the Business and Professional Women's Club. Farmers in Lincoln Township aided by the Walkerton businessmen are petitioning the County Commissioners for the improvement of the Underwood Road from the city limits of Walkerton, west and south, to Johnson Tow nship. 1931 The State Bank of Walkerton will pay out about $5,500 to the members of their Christmas Savings Club within the next few days. Chevrolet's new car for 1932 went on display last Saturday . Emboying silent syncro-mesh transmission in combination with selective free wheeling, a 20 percent increase in power, top speed of 75 to ”8 miles an hour, streamlined bodies and a wealth of other new features were viewed. Playing at the Rialto Theatre is Eddie Cantor in the comedy hit “Palmy Days". ancillagrams Ancilla College serves 17 nearby communities. The college is easy to find: seven miles west of Plymouth on Highway 30; 40 minutes south of South Bend. The college offers Associate of Arts Bob Hope says: “Red Cross can teach you first aid. And first aid canbea lifesaver? Wk' k ■ +

THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS Publication Number 261460 ROBERT E. I RBIN, EDITOR SUSAN R. URBIN, ASSISTANT EDITOR INDEPENDENT-NEWS C O„ 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; $4.50 Per Year (50c Extra If Mailed Out Os State)

Weekly Update From Congressman JOHN HILER

Most Americans are very gtxxi about paying their bills on time. I hex have to be. Letting payments slip a month or two. or even a few days will usually bring a phone call or visit from a collection agency. Repeated late bill paxing also brings a p<x>r credit rating, making it more difficult if not im possible for the offender to obtain future financing for personal or business purchases. Unfortunately, that's not the case with the federal government. In fact. Uncle Sam's bill-paying record is so bad that it had emerged as one of the major small business issues of the 9 7 th Congress A g<xxi example of this can be found in South Bend. Mr Edwin Burke, owner of Burke Audio ( enter has been engaged in a three year battle with the Veterans Administration hospital in Battle ( reek. Michigan. The VA hospital has made 15 purchases from Mr. Burke’s small business. Only one has been paid within the 30-day due date. The average payment time is 5 7 daxs — almost two months — and Mr Burke reports that two purchases made last April were not paid for until about two weeks ago. Anyone involved in the running of a business can understand Mr Burke's frustration with three years of sloppy government bill paying and the inability to do anything about it. short of ceasing to do government business altogether. The magnitude of the problem was portrayed by the General Accounting Office, an investigating arm of the Congress, in 1978. GAO Degrees after two years; credits that transfer to another educational institution. The first time the U.S. flag flew over a schoolhouse was in May 1812. at a log school at Catamount Hill, Colerain, Massachusetts.

For constipation you’ll call it “The Overnight Wonder” Ever feel uncomfortable with your laxative 7 I hen its time you tried the gentle medicine they call The Overnight Wonder' It s todays Ex l»x and it relieves the discom forts of constipation by helping re .ton-the lady's own natural rhythm Try it tonight You'll like the way you feel in the morning 1 Chocolated or pills [ x Hix is The Overnight Wt >nder I.io om'iuiJ ’- ted

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found that 39 percent of all biii paid bx the federal government ar late, with the average delay bcm ’4 days Ihe General Sen ices A ministration, the government main buyer, paid "4 percent of it invoices more than 19 dav slate; tl Department of transportation p.i late t>4 percent of the time; and tl old Department of Health, Edu<.< lion and Welfare paid 09 percent its invoices late. Several bills have been mtr duccd that would help correct th problem. Iwo bills that 1 have u sponsored, and another one just ir troduccd last month, would requir a federal agency to pay its vendor within .30 days. If it failed to do s< the vender would be allowed ’ charge interest on the amount pa due. One of the bills I've co-spot sored, HR 3494. would require tha any interest payments resultm. from late bill paying would con from administrative funds, not oi. of agency program funds, so as n to unfairly penalize program rec ip ents for an administrative mistakr It is of little wonder that so man Americans arc distrustful of th way the federal government opm ales when it cannot properly d something as simple as paving bill on time This type of legtsla tion is long overdue, and l’n encouraged that congressional a lion on irresponsible govemmen bill paving will receive active cm sideration in the near future. If you have any questions or com ments about this issue, pleas write: Cngressman John Hikr House of Representatives. Wash ington, D. C. 20515. if Rest Easy v With Sleep-Eze. )j f I lx- ogre Jn-nl m \ Mecp i Zi’lx'lps v>u get \ it a good night slecj ami J I’ wake up refreshed Us, J onk is irechd * a