The Independent-News, Volume 107, Number 40, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 11 March 1982 — Page 4

IHh iNDtPtNDLNI NtWS - MARCH 11, 1982

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EDITORIALS

PULLING TOGETHER Quiic some time ago we ian across a weathered old card that was used, we think, back in the early 1930’s by the Walkerton Chamber ol Commerce as a membership drive tool. It had on it a senes of three or four pictures that told a good story more so than words could say (he first pictures were ot a couple ot donkeys tethered lo gether with a short leins, each fighting and pulling in opposite directions trying to reach two separate piles of hay. Needless to say, it was a real standoff as they tugged in opposite di reclions each seeking their own pile ot hay. Then the final two pictures showed the two donkeys standing peacefully, side by side, each eating tirst on one pile and finally, the same eat ing on the second pile in complete harmony. The moral of this story was "pulling together” and the re suits were obvious as to what could be accomplished by pulling together instead ot each his own direction and selfish way. That may have been some 50 years ago . . . and we don’t know how successful that particular membership drive was, but certainly it is still obvious today that pulling together is a much needed relationship and way we must continue At the present it is obvious that economic times are not the best. And our area suffers as much as many and more than most It has always been away of life in America when hardships tall, to pull together to see the way through. This is obvious today, maybe not as much as in limes of national emergency or disaster, but in ihe recession period we are going through This is true in business, government, our local towns, schools, clubs and organizations or what have you. It is obvious that failures and problems continue to magnify and grow where little or no effort is made to pull together. We do not have the answer for the problems of today . . . and we do not know ot any one individual or group that does. However, it is obvious ihai whether it is you and your business, your town, your club or organization, your school or whatever, it will take a unified el fort by all and help from one io another to see us through what can be very trying limes in many instances The unified effort and "pulling together” is the one thing that will add to ihe success of seeing the end of these problems It has often been said it will get worse before it gets better and that very possibly is true, but that is just a furuther reason for unified efforts in trying to solve the problems ol today that plague different people in different ways, but that all have an effect on our overall picture at this lime. It was gratifying to see the union and one auto manufacturer work out some problems to ensure jobs instead of fighting each other tooth and nail. This may not be the answer, but it is a positive step in the right direction. And this can work for much more than the major auto manufactuers . . it can work in small business, in running the affairs of the various governments, etc. It must have a positive effect even if it isn’t the complete answer to a problem. Z^REM E MBEP." y tlaken From The Files Os The Independent-News)

1972 Pai Jacobson, senior at John Glenn, placed sixth in advanced vaulting at the ninth annual State GAA Gymnastics meet held at Munster on Saturday Ihe Sorth liberty High School music department will present their annual Spring Concert on March 28 at ’’3o p.m. in the high school gym. I his concert is being performed as a token appreciation to the community for their tre mendous moral and financial sup port of the Hand Program in the past. Going into effect will be the 1 (X) p.m. on fuesday deadline for all news articles and classifieds for Ihe Independent News” 1 aster cantatas will be perform ed al both the Methodist ( hurch, in Walkerton, and at the Koontz 1 ake Missionary Church, on Sunday 1952 Sits lane Chapman, chairman ol the Orville Easterday Post Xmern.an l egion bioodmobile pro jiit reports that the Fort Wav ne unit will ,ome to Walkerton in Slav 2nd. It is hoped that the entire community will participate in this worthwhile project and give a pint of blood Ihi South Bend Shrine C lub s annual ( harity Show has been an

nounccd for I hursday . Friday and Saturday \pril IT 18 and 19 with I he Mariners, one of the country ’s outstanding male quartets, will again headline the show which will bi held at John Adams High School auditorium. Ihe county schools were closed Wednesday afternoon to give all the teachers of the county an opportunity to examine textbooks at Washington Clay High School. Representatives from the various publishers of school textbooks were here to point out the merits of their books and answer any questions the teachers might have. Donald Aldrich has purchased the D X Service station of John Solmos and started operations Monday morning He will be as sisted on the drive bv his brother. Devon Aldrich, and Disk Adams, who will give part time service lor thirty seals the Woman’s Community Club has set aside one program during the club season for the entertainment of their hus bands to make up for the hurried meals they have had lo take on ac ount of club aitivitics. last Iri day night was the night and the parts was held at the Presbyterian Church. Ihe pot luck supper was snveil al tables decorated with St Patrick s Dav decorations

1942 Mtn women and young folks in Indiana will do something ncvei bi foie attempted in this slate oi in any otln i slate in the Union when lin y go lo (he voting polls on Sun day. April 12. lo register their voluntary pai Ui ipalion in the na lion’s drier lo finame its greatest war by sail ol Deli use Bonds Ihe citizenry of Walkerton and 1 Im oln township have subscribed over oin hundred thousand dollars in Government Defense Bonds and Stamps according to postmaster A I Rogers and Wayne Burch, as sistant cashier of the Farmers Slate Bank ol Wyatt. Walkerton branch Ihi USO group with Miss Maty loughian, director, has rented the rooms ovii the Independent News Co office, formerly occupied by the Community Club, and will use same as club rooms tor the group ot workers at the Kingsbury Ord nance Plant and their families "I he worst in years” might al most be used to describe the snow blizzard Sunday afternoon and allday Monday, which struck here with such fury as to block practically all north and south roads. School busses were unable to make all their rounds Monday and Tuesday , forcing dismissal of school for one dav m Walkerton and two days in North Liberty. Ihe mailmen were unable to drive all their routes and many workers were unable to make it back and forth to work VOICE OF THE PEOPLE A iolenee It is much easier to tolerate news accountsol violence, and threats of v ioli ncc. than it is to accept its re alitv Following threats to the lohn Glenn High School varsity basketball coach, it is no longer possible to view the world’s insan tty from a place far off. \ lok ncc is a 10l like sm in as much as it is always the problem of another place or another person. Nefarious bastards always live in other countries, cities or homes than our ow n. Ihe ambiance oi our school, church, community never seems to be m doubt. One oi the ways we propagate the insanity ot our world is bv always refusing to take any responsibility tor things we don’t like. For sure, most ot us do not embrace violence as an appropriate mechanism tor resolving issues. Yet. at the same time, many ot us contribute to and participate in an ecology of violence bv refusing lo own our quintessential relationship with it. Ihe letter to Coach W aller is symptomatic ot a social phenomenon and is not simply the creation of a nefarious person. We might ail profit from this ex perience if the focus ot conversation would change from who done it. or what kind ol person would, to how do 1 participate in doing violence to my fellow man ' It’s often true that we are mosl shocked and outraged over issues that directly speak to our existence. When one listens carefully to what one is saying, we soon realize that our words betray our deepest struggles. Maybe the answer is to listen more carefully to one another, to speak more gently to each other, and to be in touch with our own responsibility for our own sapience and sentience. Peace and Justice Dr. Robert Gcarheart. Pastor I nilcd Mithodisl Church Walkerton Weekly Wrap-Up By Senator V. Richard Miller Ihe 1982 Session of the General Assembly is now history, as both houses adjourned Saturday even mg. February 20 Despite what

you may lead elsewhere. I believe tin session was very productive as (In ligislatuii enacted a comprc hensivt fiscal paikage that will in able the state to balance Us budget |oi the next two years, maintained the i urn nt 20 percent property lax H dm lion program, provided about a $93 million increase tor public schools, and established a fiscal program lor the Indiana business community that will raise the corporate supplemental net income tax by one percent while providing them with taster depreciation schedules and a state credit tor in i leased research and expenmenta lion. Additionally, the legislature re formed the slate's nursing home laws and regulations, provided fl nancial safeguards tor residents of retirement homes, enacted a fire safety paikage for hotels, motels and public buildings, revised the statutes governing the Alcoholic Beverage Commission, eliminated the written driver's test tor persons over the age of 21 with less than b violation points, and established a program requiring motorists to show "proof of financial responsibility" at car registration time. Regarding the state's fiscal condition, as vou may know our economy has remained rather sluggish the last two scars due to the federal recession, and there has been much effort in the legislature to raise slate taxes lam proud of the tact that the legislature was able to accomplish all of the above, and more, without the need for adding to the tax burden faced by our citizens As a result, our slate remains one of the lowest taxed in the nation, a record we can justifiably be proud oi. School Funding: Regarding the school funding bill, the legislature reaffirmed last sear's state tuition support appropriation of more than SI billion dollars for the year beginning July I Additionally, for 1983 onls, schools mas elect to transler limited sums from the cumulative building funds to their general operating funds to help offset up to percent increases in fuel and electricity costs. I hese provisions mean that operating revenues for our state schools should be about >93 million more in 1983 than 1982 enough for a statewide average increase of about 5 percent although the figure will sary from school district to school district. Business Fiscal Package: Another major issue dealt with this session was the creation of a comprehensive fiscal package for the business community. This program raises the corporate supplemental nd income lax from 3 percent to 4 percent, retroactive to January 1, 1982. I his provision is cxpcilcd to raise about >39 million in 1982-83, s4l million in 83-84. and $44 million in 84-85. Also in the bill is a provision that applies the Reagan Admimstra tion’s Accelerated Cost Recovers System lo Indiana. I nder this program. corporations, unincorporated businesses and farmers will be allowed faster slate income tax writeoffs on depreciable property so that Indiana is in line with the federal depreciation schedules en acted last scar. 1 hese tax breaks for businesses will not start until the 1982 tax year, however. And in another part of the bill that would benefit the business community, a program of stale income tax credits for increased business research has been established. I his will give businesses undertaking new research and development a 2 percent credit in 1982 and 1983. and five percent in 1984 and 1985. Ihe bill also provides tax breaks on Indiana tax returns foi citizens participating in the so called IRA's Individual Retirement Accounts. and the Keogh plans for self employed individuals. Under this program individuals deducting from the federal taxable income beginning in tax war 1982 can also deduct from their state income taxes.

Other Accomplishments: Among the many other at comphshments of the legislature this year were bills that would: lighten the state s regulation ot nursing homes. (SB (X)) Ri quire all motorists registering their motor vehicles to show proof of financial responsibility for the amounts of insurance required by state law . (HBI23I) Require all hotels and motels to install smoke detectors bv September IS. 1982. (SB 411) — Provide financial safeguards for residents of retirement homes. (HB 1048) Provide for automatic renewal of property tax deductions on mortgages for the disabled and for personsoverbS. (HB 1177) — Establish a 'rainy day fund" for state finances in which revenues in healthy, robust years can be put away for use in recessionary times when the general fund is depleted. (HB 1376) — Require a physician to notify the parents before performing an abortion on an unwed minor. (HB 1144) — Allow motorists with fewer than six active points on their dnver s license to be exempt from the written driver’s test at renewal time. All persons would still be required to pass the vision test. (SB 28) — Create a twenty member Indiana Film Commission to develop a program to attract film and TV producers to film in Indiana. (HB 1005) — Allow local taxing units to appeal to excess propertv tax limits to help pay for volunteer fire fighting costs. (SB 26) — Make it a deceptive act for a supplier to give a customer an esti mate for repair work costing more than S"SO. if the final charge exceeds the estimate bv 10 percent (HB 1269) — Allow the state to collect the state sales tax and income tax with holdings 13 times, this vear. in stead of the vustomarv 12. to help case the state’s fiscal crisis during the current fiscal vear. This one time only bookkeeping maneuver will provide an extra estimated $l3O million bv mid 1983. - Create the Governor s Select Advisory Commission on Primary and Secondary Education, with an appropriation of $150,000 to study review and make recommendations on the state s educational system (HB 1435) Establish a committee to study funding alternatives lor locai government and local school cor {Mirations. HB 1335) Establish a new schedule ” A tor the unemployment compensa turn tax paid bv employers. <HB I 309) Allow the investment ot public pension funds into the Indiana home mortgage market as a means to boost the depressed housing and construction industries, and to pro side low cost mortgages to Indiana residents. (SB 13") — Lighten up a loophole in the stale s vhild abuse law to prevent a parent convicted of child abuse from automatically gaining <. usiodv of the child upon release from jail. (SB2I) Since space cannot permit a more detailed description of the above accomplishments, if vou would like more detailed informa tion on any of the above mentioned bills, please contact me Finally, if there is anything else 1 can do to be ol assistance to vou in the months ahead, 1 am al your service 1 can be reached al P () Box 498, Plymouth, Indiana 46>63 Support the March of Dimes CMftCTS KXMOADONMMBai IHISSPA. t v ONIHiHuItU UY IHI Pußl SHI