The Independent-News, Volume 111, Number 34, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 23 January 1986 — Page 4

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- THE INDEPENDENTNEWS - JANUARY 23, IM6

■ .111 W. I LU... LI J L Il 11. । ■ | EDITORIALS!

ONE MAN’S POWER If the lawmaking process in Indiana has a flaw, it seems to be the fact that often one man has too much power over a certain bill, resolution or matter. And this isn’t just the speaker of the House or president of the Senate, it can be a committee chairman that through just themself can kill a bill of any magnitude. This very possibly may be the case this year involving two very much discussed and controversial matters. It happens to be the matters of license branch reform and the lottery matter. Both of these issues are topics of much discussion. In fact, after hearing the message loud and clear during the 1984 election, Governor Robert Orr has strongly promoted a drive for license branch legislation. And the lottery issue has been a hot topic for several sessions due to all the states surrounding Indiana having some type of lottery action and many feel that the Hoosier state is losing much revenue to those who play the lotteries in other states and of course the additional income certainly could be put to good use in Indiana. However, both matters may be stoooed in committee as the chairmen of the two committees handling this matter in the House that has openly opposed the matter and therefore may just not let the bill have a reading in committee, automatically killing it. This easily could happen despite the fact these are two of the most highly discussed matters in the state. Such action wouldn’t automatically kill the license branch bill however, as some type of amendment could be made to another bill that would send the matter through a different committee. However, in the short session, time is very valuable and this would be a difficult way of passing any type of reform. The resolution on the lottery would have to wait another year and it already takes two consecutive sessions of legislature to approve the resolution and then a referendum vote in a general election to amend the constitution to allow the lottery to even be considered. At the best, this would be several years before anything concrete could result. It just seems that one man’s personal feelings may have a little too much power in a situation like this. Even the Governor has a check system against him when it comes to one man’s desires to pass legislation. In fact it is one of the Governor’s own party members who may hold up the license branch reform despite the pleas from the top man himself. Such power may be needed in many cases, but in such important and wideley publicized matters as these two, it just seems that one man’s power for being in the right place at the right time, is a little too much for our legislative system.

Z^^EMEMBeH^R 1981 The following order will be put into effect in the Town of Walkerton during snow situations: All cars are requested to park on the even sides of the streets on even numbered days and on the odd side of the streets on odd numbered days. If this is done then the street department will be able to remove the snow properly. During such a situation streets that have no parking on one side will be disregarded. Dr. Harold C. Urey, 87, born on April 29. 1893, to Samuel Gayton and Cora Rebecca (Reinhold) Urey, winner of the 1934 Nobel Prize for chemistry for his discovery of deu- • terium. or heavy hydrogen, essential to the development of the hydrogen bomb, died on Tuesday, January 6, in LaJolla, California. Urey lived in the Walkerton-Tyner area for the first six years of his life. New officers were elected to the Walkerton Industrial Fund, Inc., Monday, January 12, as follows: Ray Chapman, president; Mike Butler, secretary; Wayne Burch, treasurer; Larry Hiler, Regg Williams and Roy DeSimone, vicepresidents. 1971 Charles Cripe, Jr., Walkerton, retired on January 4 from his duties as rural mail earner in Walkerton. Chuck had 52 years and four months of service in the Post Office. He began his career in 1918 while in the eighth grade, serving Grover Spahr, postmaster He worked four hours a day, com ing in early to open up and get the fire started and sori mail. Mr Cnpe served six postmasters the past half century Besides Spahr, they included Scott Blain. Worth Leßoy. A L. Rogers. Arthur Shir

ley and the present postmaster, Robert Awald. He was a clerk 25 years, ten of which he was assistant postmaster. An open house honoring Mrs. Elsie Johnson, librarian of the Walkerton Public Library, who is retiring after having served 18 years in that capacity, will be held on Sunday, January 24, from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the library. Now open is the Hydro-Spray car wash next to Wilcox Supermarket. The new facility will be open 24 hours a day and will cost 75 cents for the automatic wash and 25 cents extra for wax. 1966 There will be a public meeting on January 26, at 7:30 p.m., in the Tyner School gym to discuss current plans for the school corporation’s new John Glenn High School. Details of the new building program will be explained by the PU staff members, the board of education, architects and the school building corporation. The North Liberty Shamrocks have reason to cheer after two close wins Saturday in the Bi-County Tournament to claim the title. Those on the team are Jim Hurt, Mike Knepp, Lynn Scott, Jody Wesolek, Steve Melkodaj, Neil Baughman, Lamar Wesolek, Greg Hudak, Carl Fraser, Joe Ginzer, Karry Kane. Hal Ort and the managers are Larry Set not and Allen Albright. They are coached by Bob Gowin. 1961 Postmaster Arthur Shirley announced today that the new post office for Walkerton is ready and that Carl Burkhart, postal techni cian, arrived on Monday to super vise installation of the new equip ment for the new location at the corner of Illinois and Van Buren Streets, m Walkerton Harry C. Doll, long time businessman in Walkerton, was named

as the president of the Walkerton Chamber of Commerce last Wednesday night as the selections of the nominating committee elected their officers. The Walkerton Industrial Committee completed the purchase of 20 acres of land this past week and took option on 6 ‘/a more adjacent to what was purchased. This land was bought from Gus Verkier and lays at the southwest edge of Walkerton by the New York Central railroad. The Walkerton Indians drew North Liberty as their first round opponents in the 36th annual St. Joseph County Basketball Tournament at John Adams High School. 1956 Under the sponsorship of the Methodist Church, Boy Scout Troop 241 will be reorganized in January. The Hartung Sheet Metal bowling team placed third in the American Pin Classic bowling tourney in Chicago on Sunday. With a 3,079 total scratch they placed next to teams from Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Waukegan. Members of the team are Emily Adams, Mae Bowers, Pearl Frailey, Mary Hartung and Marie Holmes. 1951 A suit to stop a drainage ditch cleanout which the plaintiffs claim would result in flooding of the lower Kankakee Valley has been bitterly contested in the Marshall County Court, at Plymouth. The suit was brought by Gyde P. Miller and his sister, Frances Mclntosh, of Indianapolis, who own farm land on the Kankakee River south east of Mill Creek, in LaPorte County and next to St. Joseph County. Rev. V. L. Garner, pastor of the Walkerton E.U.B. Church, visited his son in Chicago and while there spoke on the “Bread Os Life" hour over WMBI, radio station of the Moody Bible Institute. Undaunted by their disastorous fire of last Friday night, the Wells Manufacturing Company plant at North Liberty is being rebuilt. Partial production work was started in one division of the plant on Wednesday morning. 1946 When Mr. and Mrs. Chauncey Wood, North Liberty farmers, returned from attending the eighth annual soy bean show at Remington, Indiana, on Tuesday, they came home with seven awards which are evidence of their ability to produce the very best in soy beans. Mrs. Helen Mitchell, manager's aid for Kingsford Heights since November 1942, has taken over the active management of West York housing project in Walkerton, following the resignation of Mrs. Irene Gjemre, last week. 1941 The Boy Scouts went on their first hike Saturday with fire building being the purpose of the hike. The PT A has started a new project at school, they are serving a complete lunch with two, three and five cent servings. Some 35 dump trucks are hauling cinders through Walkerton and North Liberty from the Indiana and Michigan Electric plant, in Mishawaka, to be used in the construction of roads throughout the 11,000 acre plant at Kingsbury. A foundation of shale is covered with cinders to make the roads. Approval of petitions for establishment of a passenger bus line and two freight lines serving new defense areas in Indiana has been announced by the Public Service Commission. The Yankee Coach Lines, Inc., of Indianapolis and Chicago, and the Tucker Freight Lines, of South Bend, were authorized to start freight service from South Bend to Kingsbury. 1931 Ten basketball teams representing the high schools of St. Joseph County will compete for the county title at North Liberty, Friday and Saturday, January 30 and 31. Two new schools have entered the county athletic asMKiation since

last year and they are Greene Township Consolidated and Wash-ington-Gay Township schools. Action will begin at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. Others in the tourney include Lakeville, Madison, New Carlisle, Central of South Bend, Mishawaka, Riley, North Liberty and Walkerton. The Walkerton Chamber of Commerce band under the direction of Ralph N. LaFeber, will give a free band concert in the Walkerton School gym on Tuesday evening. The B & O “Milk Shakes", which have come to play an important part in the lives of every community served by them, are to be discontinued after Saturday's run, according to reports from the local B & O Depot. Dr. E. I. Engle, of Chicago, a graduate of the American University of Chicago, will open an office in the Rose Flat, over Ewing’s Barber Shop. He is a chiropractor and naturopathist. VOICE OF THE PEOPLE “Roar! living Does Not Constitute "Racism’’!’’ It is unfortunate that in the world what is right is not always right and what could easily be is not. With all of the ills and injustices that seem unconquerable it is so disheartening to be held back from victory by predjudices that will not see others needs. For nearly a year now a handful of parents from the southwest corner of Greene Township have been working to make the board that represents the South Bend Community School Corporation understand our unique problems. It has been stated by some that others in the corporation suffer from some of the same problems. 1 might be inclined to agree — but not to the number or the extent that we from the North Liberty Community suffer. We fought a clean fight and nearly had a victory when a few (less than 6%) of our area obtained help from outsiders with alterior motives and served as an excuse for certain board members to investigate our statements of community support. This was our first slap in the face. Mr. Hollis Hughes suggested that the board “not trust our figures". A poll was taken at the expense of the taxpayers pocket and our integrity. It was found in our favor. We had not lied! Now that the accusation of dishonesty would not stick we and our rural neighbors were accused by Bill Wilson of "trying to pull something over on the city slickers" in regards to finances. Again when that smoke screen didn’t work, the move was on to find something else amiss with our efforts. In came the accusations as to the quality of education in the schools serving our community — the John Glenn System. Comments were made by certain board members to the extent that a formal apology was demanded. With the same arrogant attitude shown so many times toward the wishes of the South Bend residents, people they arc to serve, the request by John Glenn officials was refused. They were told they didn’t deserve an apology. The state was contacted and now they have become heavily involved as a direct result of the type of comments and actions taken on the part of the South Bend Board. In a direct quote from Senator V. Richard Miller on November 26, 1985, “there are elected, as well as appointed school boards in my senate district, but I have never seen one like South Bend, so biatently go against the wishes of the people in the area". We have proved our position beyond a shadow of a doubt — completely above board. Those things that we have been unjustly accussed of have in fact been perpe trated against us by our accusers and yet we continue our fight.

We bear no animosity toward any race, religion or color. We have no “hatred" for people in the city. We feel we are no better - no worse than anyone else. All other avenues against us have been used. Now we are being accussed by at least two board members of having “racist" motives! What excuse are they to use next? Before Rev. Engdahl had been involved in our discussions at length, as a new board member, he had “reservations" about our position. Since then he has seen the facts and agrees that the point here is that a wrong that was committed five years ago and is trying to be healed. He has no reservations now. I want to thank him publicly for that. We have had many, many supporters among them the pastor of my own parish. He knows me but investigated the situation nonetheless before publicly supporting us. I know him well and believe me when I tell you he would never have supported us if he felt that “racism” had anything to do with our position. I take personal offense at this suggestion as a human being and as a Christian. Am lor my neighbors, or anyone else who lives in the country by the very nature of our geographic location guilty or racism? If by being a rural person one is guilty of racism then a white man 120 some years ago gave his life in vain. Abraham Lincoln saved our nation and freed a people and yet was as “rural" as any stereotype cartoonist of the day could picture! Our neighborhood has an average residency of 20 yean, far too long to be guilty of so called "white flight". I remember well a comment made last spring by your current board president Hollis Hughes, in regards to the possible selection of a new school superintendent. After expressing that his preferance was Ronald Boyd, a black gentleman from California, he stated that “South Bend was not ready for his choice". This man has the audacity to accuse me or my neighbors of racism? I am not a perfect person nor are my neighbors nor is anyone else and I am sure we all make mistakes but how many times can a group of four people on a board laugh in the face of the people they are to serve? Mr. Parker, wishing to save the taxpayers of your city thousands of dollars in legal expenses by having the corporation work together with the Legislature to come up with a sound elected school board plan, was turned down by these four people, the same night they refused our transfer requests. They want their system perpetuated. We will not be giving up our own fight because we feel it is just. My fervent wish through is that the citizens of our community let your Legislature know that you want a board that will be answerable to someone besides themselves. A board that will not time and time again vote four to three in favor of defeating the will of the people. Dennis K. Prout, Chairman, “Parents of Liberty" 28850 Madison Rd. N North Liberty, Ind. 46554 656-8311 About 70 porcont of the people in America read a newspaper at least once a day. The first aquarium for "monsters of the deep" was Marineland, constructed in Florida in 1037. American Red Chmm + together, we can change* things.