The Independent-News, Volume 108, Number 45, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 14 April 1983 — Page 4

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- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - APRIL 14, 1983

EDITORIALS

NOT READY FOR THIS Very recently the Federal Government has altered the restrictions on over-the-road trucks once again to allow bigger, wider, heavier and more double trailers to be using our roads and highways. If this is buckling to the pressures put on recently after the increase in use tax and gasoline taxes, it might just be another big step . . . backwards. The relaxing of existing laws that will provide not only the double trailers on more roads, but increase both the size and weight of all rigs, might just be something that many of the state highways affected cannot stand. Possibly if this were limited to the Interstates, which also are rapidly getting in need of serious and extensive repair even though the system isn’t too old, the much older, not-so-well built stale highways just aren’t ready for this. Il is horrifying right now to sit and watch the trucks try and manipulate the corners such as our intersections of highways in Walkerton present, and this has to be only one case in thousands across the nation. The trucks have very clearly outgrown the highways and we simply cannot tolerate larger rigs on substandard roads. The new controls will allow not only larger, but the double trailers and what might just be the most damaging of all, more weight per truck. This in all probability will outdo much of the road repair we are supposed to get with the increase of the federal gasoline tax, let alone lake into consideration the safety factor involved. The new laws will allow the increases not only on the Interstates, but on roads where any federal money is involved. That, broken down a little, means just about every road where they now travel. It will not apply necessarily to deliveries off of some of ihe highways, but certainly most state and federal highways they now travel will be open for the new regulations. It is especially frightening when we see, from our location, dozens of instances every single day where traffic is ground to a complete halt, cars are forced to back away from intersections to allow the larger trucks to even make a turn, and least of all the utility and other poles and structures that are on corners, jeopardized. And will the federal government be wailing and willing when the light pole outside our building comes crashing down on us, to come to our aid? No way . . . and someday it is going to happen. It has already been broken off just below the base, inproperly reinstalled, hit again and pushed almost through our building and once only the electric wires connected saved it from a crashing finish. And that was before the trucks were allowed io get larger. Nowhere does common sense come into play as too many just can’t see that a good share of the highways and roads of our country just aren’t ready and able to handle increased sizes. But what the heck, someone has pushed, lobbied and gotten their wishes regardless of what the consequences may be here and all over the country. ANONYMITY DOESN’T HELP It has been called to our attention locally, as well as through our direct experience, that too many people like to do things anonymously. Too many convictions, complaints, allegations, personal viewpoints, grudges, etc., are evidently satisfied by an anonymous story. We see it all the lime and most of us will say they wouldn’t remain anonymous in such cases, but under different circumstances, many would do the same thing. We received quite a few anonymous “Voice Os The People’’ type articles . . . some very good, some very bad, but regardless of what we feel about the contents, the fact that it is an anonymous letter puts a different light completely on the subject. The case brought to our attention is similar to this. It involves complaints against public officials in one of our local towns. And perhaps, the phone calls made, the letters written, the complaints issued have some meaning, but the fact that they are anonymous puts an air of question on the subject immediately. We feel that most people would not like a governing body, whether it be a town board, school board, county office, etc., to act too quickly on an anonymous tip. And yet, very often the tip of this type is factual or at least close enough that it should be looked at and possibly investigated. But where do you begin if every anonymous tip is going to be considered? We strongly feel that the governing bodies mentioned have a hard enough time and certainly those serving in such positions are not doing so for the money or fame gained, they are doing it because somewhere along the line they feel a responsibility for the job they accepted. And yet, such anonymous stories, complaints, etc., can only make their job more difficult. If a legitimate complaint needs to be lodged, one owes it not only to themselves, but to those in power to do something about it, to have some basis of concern for the problem. Your elected or appointed officials that are serving you, deserve and need this help. And those involved, if factual in their reasoning, I also owe it to themselves to see that further action be taken on i the problem. It is nice to remain anonymous in many cases, but if a mat ter is serious enough to cause one to seek help, then it must be serious enough to help in the proper way and an anonymous phone call or letter is not the answer These reports arc only hurting everyone involved.

Weekly Wrap-Up By Senator K Richard Miller As lhe 1983 legislative session winds down, negotiations are proceeding on several major issues such as the two year state budget, the local option tax program, and utility reform. Conference committees have been established and have held several meetings on each of the above three issues. Conference committees are composed of four members — one from each of the four party caucuses. Once agreement is reached on the various differences between the two earlier passed versions, each house must then vote and approve the new compromise version. If one of the two houses rejects the conference committee report, the matter either goes back to committee for another try, or in some cases, left to die until the following year. The Senate met one day last week, and during its deliberations approved a resolution endoursing President Reagan’s proposal to set a lower minimum wage for minors. The President's proposal is essentially aimed at creating jobs for lb and 17 year old teenagers who might otherwise be shut off from the job market. The full Senate also approved a bill stiffening penalities for persons convicted of promoting or staging animal fighting contests. The proposed law , if signed by the Governor would impose penalties of up to four years in prison and a SIO,OOO fine for persons convicted under the statute. The Senate also agreed to House changes to a bill establishing a new state funded work study program for college students. Under this program, the state of Indiana would reimburse employers of eligible college students for no less than 50 per cent of the federal minimum wage. A third measure approved by the Senate and sent to the Governor would abolish the State’s Office of Court Reporter, and make other cost saving changes in the state’s judicial system. An earlier “Sunset’’ study found the Court Reporter to be slow in publishing court reports and documents, and found that most law firms used reports published by a private company. The abolition of the office has been estimated to save taxpayers about $400,000 per year. In other action, a conference committee has met twice and has begun deliberating on language requiring Indiana's license branches to file annual income and expenditure reports with the commissioner of motor vehicles. License officials would have to report money spent on salaries, rent, utilities and other business expenses, political contributions. taxes, and miscellaneous expenses. As of Friday. April 8. the session has consumed 59 of the bl session days allowed by law. The bOth day has been set for Tuesday. April 12, with adjournment expected later this week, or sometime during the week of April 18. Once again. 1 remind residents to contact me if they have any concerns or thoughts on issues before the General Assembly. The Senate toll free number is 1 800-382-9467. Correspondence can be sent to Indiana Senate, State House. Indianapolis, Ind. 4b204. A divorce is when Dan Cupid begins to look like Damn Stupid Support the March of Dimes ■■■mmw rmcn rauHomoMHMM

Z^ReT:EMBER WHEN---

1973 Gene Knowlton and Michael Daube have been chosen by the Orville Easterday Post 189 American Legion to represent Walkerton at Boys' State. The alternate is Derek Schultz. “The Roar of the Greasepaint. The Smell of the Crowd" will be presented on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, at the North Liberty High Schixil by the drama and musical departments of the school. This is a broadway musical. The opening of the Package Store. North Liberty, will be on Monday. April lb. 1968 The representative to Boys' State from North Liberty will be Chris Anderson. He is sponsored by the Edward Sousley Post 365 of the American Legion. Initiation of land acquisition for a 3.815 acre State Recreation Area on Potato Creek in southwestern St. Joseph Countv was announced in South Bend on Friday by John E. Mitchell. Director of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. This will be the second project in a 10-year program for developing five new recreation areas near large concentrations of urban population, stated Mitchell. The Mission Thrift Shop has moved into their new location at the former Farmers State Bank building, 708 Roosevelt Road, just two doors down from the Paddle Wheel Restaurant. At the market T-bone steak was selling for 99 cents a pound; sirloin at 89 cents a pound; porterhouse at $1.09 a pound; ground beef at three pounds for $1.39; bulk sausage at three pounds for $1.00; round steak al 79 cents a pound; fun franks at 59 cents for a pound package; a two pound carton of cottage cheese for 49 cents; butter at 59 cents a pound; a gallon of ice cream for 99 cents; four Duncan Hines cake mixes for $1.00; frozen strawberries at four 10 ounce boxes for $ 1.00; ten pounds of potatoes for 39 cents; bananas at 10 cents a pound and carrots at 10 cents for a pound package. 1963 A reorganization meeting has been called for by D. Russell Rhorer. County Superintendent of Marshall County Schools to be held in the Polk-Lincoln United Schools Corp, gym at Tyner. J. B. Kohlmeyer. Indianapolis, chairman of the state reorganization committee, will be on hand to explain all the new laws and how they effect the changing of units. Johnson Township. in LaPorte County, and Oregon Township, in Starke County have been especially invited to the meeting. It will begin at 7:30 p.m. on April 8. Sharon Smith, Walkerton, and Linda Brown. Grovertown, have been selected to go to Girls’ State this summer. The Walkerton P.T.A. has completed plans for the Spring Carnival to be held in the grade school gym on Saturday from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. 1958 The excitement of a week ago when two fugitives were captured west of North Liberty had hardly died out when more excitement developed in the town on Wednesday morning. Three of the local businesses were victims of burglaries early Wednesday morning. A 300 pound safe was stolen out of the Lonzo Oil Company at Reed and State Streets. No cash was in the safe but there was an accumulation of valuable papers which the company missed. The burglars gained entrance into the building through the rear window which they smash cd to open according to Town Matshal Richard Hanley. At the D X station, eight tires, valued at $l6O. were stolen Price Garage was the third place of entry where tires valued at $l2O. a complete

welding set which included acetyI lene tanks and a small amount of cash were taken from the garage. The Park and Recreation Board । of North Liberty, is completing ■ plans for the annual kiddies Easter Egg Hunt to be held on Easter Sunday beginning at 3:00 p.m. at Liberty Park. I 1953 i Little Ronnie Peterson, five year I old son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Peterson, fell out of a second floor bathroom window last Thursday and was miraculously unharmed. He did not receive any broken bones. Floyd Gore. Walkerton, made a U-turn on North Main in front of the Police Station on Thurs- ■ day afternoon and his two year old son fell from the car as the door swung open. The boy escaped with only bruises. i The junior class of North Liberty i High School will present “Sing For Your Supper" on Thursday and । Friday evenings. 1943 i The second war bond drive will begin on Monday and the goal is 13 । billion dollars. The government is ; asking its patriotic citizens to loan it a total of 12 billion to help finance the war. The senior class of Walkerton ■ High School has chosen for their play, a mystery, farce, “The House Os Horrors”. They will present it • on April 30 in the high school gvm--1 nasium. The Class of 1943 from Walker- ' ton High School will graduate 23 i girls and 13 bovs on Thursday, Mav 20. ^^COOKING * You can dish up a blue nbbon meal with an authen tic French flavor if you serve a fine French wine and ( chicken cordon bleu. A wine that can be fine for the occasion is one imported from France by Barton & Guestier, expert producers of fine French wine* for over 250 years Called Partager (which means “toshare’’ in French), it can be very nice to share with good friends. It needn’t take much courage to venture into French cooking if you let the people at Partager share I this recipe with you: CHICKEN CORDON BLEU 4 whole chicken breasts, skinned and boned Salt L freshly ground pepper, to taste 8 thin slices mozzarella or Swiss cheese 4 thin slices ham । 1/4 cup flour 2 eggs, lightly beaten 1 1/2 cups extra fine bread crumbs 1/4 cup butter Pound each breast between sheets of waxed pa । per to form a large cutlet. Season with salt and pepper. Layer 1 slice cheese, 1 slice ham and another slice cheese on each cutlet. Fold chicken over cheese and ham on three sides and roll cutlet to seal in filling. Lightly flour chicken, dip in egg, roll in bread crumbs. Heat butter in oven-proof skillet, saute chicken over moderate heat until brown on all sides. Place in 350°F. oven about 20 minutes, until chicken is tender. Makes four servings.