The Independent-News, Volume 111, Number 45, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 10 April 1986 — Page 4

THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS - APRIL 10, 1986

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EDITORIALS

THAT IMAGINARY LINE! It looks like the outlying areas of St. Joseph County might just once again be victims of “that imaginary line”. That is if the powers that be in South Bend get their way. In the latest case, they will have another fight on their hands, but just perhaps, once again, they will find away around their opposition as is so often the case. The imaginary line that so often affects us is the county lines. Being located where Walkerton is can be a clumsy situation as Walkerton sets closer to at least two, if not three other county seats than they do their own. For residents of North Liberty, Lakeville and other outlying areas of St. Joseph County, it is not as bad, but still they can get pulled into the whims of those in South Bend without basically any say in the matter. Look at the southwestern corner of Greene Township for example, in their efforts to have their children go to school in their own local area. The latest controversary that has been dug up in South Bend is just that, one that was dug up after some 13 years of being dormant. Beverly Beck, and of course Mayor Parent, are strong supporters now of annexing Clay Township. The area actually takes in most of Clay Township and part of German Township, an area of approximately six square miles, and would take most of the business area along with enough population to give South Bend more than 50 percent of the county population. This is the key . . . along with the extended tax base of the business area, as the South Bend government then could control the entire county in relationship to raising taxes. South Bend has tried a few times, without success, to implement a county local option tax to bolster their tills for work within the city. Having less than 50 percent of the population it takes the South Bend Council plus either Mishawaka’s or St. Joseph County’s council to approve the same. This has been turned down by the other two councils, thus leaving South Bend alone in their efforts. The annexation plan that was tried in 1973 and met with such strong opposition, is the one clear way that South Bend could get the extra tax levied without the cooperation of Mishawaka or the County councils. This is certainly not the only case where the boundary line has hurt the outlying districts should it come to pass. Especially in the case of the Lincoln Township area and Walkerton, close in many ways to either Plymouth or LaPorte, but still affected by South Bend. There have been attempts to install a new county-wide communications system . . . one needed in the city and not in outlying towns, but one that if they can get through we all help pay for. Despite protests by the township fire departments and other outlying governments, this matter is still being sought, and with strong editorial support from the South Bend Tribune. This is one of the three goals they have included in their editorial page for years under the heading of “Unfinished Business”. If the county-wide system would be so good for everyone, let them put it in North Liberty or Walkerton, both on United Telephone exchanges. These exchanges already have extended service to Lakeville and certainly could be arranged with New Carlisle. Then let the present Bell system be the one that is on the long-distance end of things and let them tell their own people how there would be so much advantage to this. If it is good one way ... it certainly must be good the other! And other items that the metropolitan governments have sought “county help” for in one effort or another includes the bailing out of the South Shore with a county tax, at one time a county tax to help finance the proposed baseball stadium in South Bend, and also a food and wine tax to help the convention and tourism benefits for South Bend. It is easy for those sitting on their thrones in the city to say “county wide” instead of doing it themselves. They use as one excuse double taxation being they pay taxes for the County Sheriffs Dept. Well so does Walkerton, North Liberty, New Carlisle, Lakeville, and any municipality outside of South Bend with their own police departments. It is time that some type of breakdown be made where each governmental agency takes care of itself . . . just like the outlying districts have been and will continue to do. A little more respect of the “county” area’s feelings would generate a little more respect for the metropolitan area. Yes, there are probably some advantages as well as disadvantages to being in St. Joseph County, but as efforts continue to make St. Joseph County “Uni-Gov” similar to Marion County, the less advantages we can sec from the outlying districts, even though inside those imaginary lines. RfCHE me mber^

1981 Tim Hanson and James Dreessen have been chosen as delegates to represent John Glenn High School at Hoosier Boys State, Indiana State University, Terre Haute, June 6-11. Wade Boise and Mike Elkin are the alternate

delegates. Spring clean-up days in Walkerton will be held on Monday and Tuesday, April 20 and 21. Employees of the Town will be around to pick up any large or small objects at curbside that the normal trash pick-up will not take.

On Friday, April 10, two science classes at Urey Middle Shool, Walkerton, planted a small tulip tree in the school yard in celebration of Arbor Day. 1971 Members of the John Sheaks family lost all their clothing Thursday night when fire destroyed four bedrooms in their seven room frame house at 702 Indiana Street, Walkerton. Mrs. Sheaks and her four children were not at home at the time. A passer-by sighted flames from a downstairs bedroom and called the Walkerton Volunteer Fire Department at 8:15 p.m. Firemen with four units fought the blaze until 11:30 p.m. The Walkerton-Lincoln Township High School Alumni Association will hold their annual banquet on Saturday, May 1, with registration beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the John Glenn High School. 1966 Work is scheduled to start on State Road 23 around May 1 as the North Liberty to Mayflower Road section is scheduled to be widened and resurfaced. The low bid by Rieth-Riley Construction Co., has been received in the amount of M 32.842.00. Two head coaches have been named for the John Glenn High School for the 1966-67 school year filling the vacancy of basketball and football along with wrestling to the present coaching plans. Roger Beehler has been named head basketball coach. Louis Kollias varsity football and wrestling coach and Beehler will also have summer baseball. The Rialto Theatre is re-opening this weekend in Walkerton after being closed for several months. 1921 This past week a replacement well in Place Park adjacent to Well No. 6, was tested, hooked into the existing lines and run for a period of approximately two days. Tests indicate this to be the best producing well ever in the Walkerton area. The Town Board opened bids for the purchase of a new police squad car and a 1961 Studebaker Lark will be purchased. Marilyn Lidy, the five year old daughter of Mrs. Faye Lidy, 907 Harrison, who was bitten so viciously by one of two dogs running free, has been taking the very painful rabies shots for the past week. She received bites on the face causing a considerable amout of stitches and attention to close the wounds making necessary the series of 14 rabies shots. Representative John Brademas gave the address at the dedication ceremonies of the new Walkerton Post Office, on Sunday afternoon. 1956 On Wednesday evening, April 18, 28 adults met in the basement of the Methodist Church, to hear Miss Harriett Dively, Regional Director of the Camp Fire Girls and Miss Dorothy Denton, executive secretary of the Camp Fire Girls movement in St. Joseph County. After the fine presentation the group decided to use the Bluebird Camp Fire and Horizon Club movement. The Park Board of North Liberty extends a greeting to all spring cleaners to bring the results of their efforts to the park and dump the refuse in one pool now being filled in at the south end of the park. Old concrete, rocks, sand, dirt, cans, etc. are welcome. Local Shriners have made arrangements to take the Liberty and Greene school children to the Shrine Circus, in South Bend, on Saturday afternoon. 1946 Plymouth won the most of the points in the races but in field events Walkerton was able to capture several points. Daube won first in the shot put with 41 feet, nine inches and Bellinger won second place in the pole vault. The Kindergarten class visited the dairy on Thursday. Mr. Frame showed the class how the bottles

THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS Publication Number 261460 ROBERT E. URBIN, EDITOR SUSAN R. URBIN, ASSISTANT EDITOR INDEPENDENT-NEWS CO., INC., PUBLISHER 601-03-Roosevelt Road, Walkerton, Indiana 46574*1294 Telephone (219) 586-3139 PUBLICATION TIME: Thursday of Each Week Stcond Class Postage Paid At Walkerton, Indiana 46574 SUBSCRIPTION RATES: 15‘ Per Copy; $5.00 Per Year (SI.OO Extra If Mailed Out Os State)

were washed, the milk pasturized and how they were filled. Each child was given one half pint of milk to drink. A hobo band from South Bend has been billed for the April meeting of the Walkerton Chamber of Commerce to be held at the high school. There were twice as many fires in southern Indiana during February and March as there were during the entire year of 1945. 1941 Six bus loads of young men and women from Chicago and points west, stopped in Walkerton on Friday at noon, for lunch. None of the restaurants knew of their coming so they had all of them filled to capacity and running over. However by 12:30 the entire delegation had been served and were ready to continue their journey to New York for a huge National Rally of the American Peace Mobilization. The Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion has selected Jean Jones, Junior, as their delegate to the first Girls State Camp to be held on the campus of Indiana Central College. Indianapolis, for one week, June 14-21. Sharkskin is still tops for shirts, middy tops are new in two piece dresses. Skirts have pleats or soft front fullness. Red, white and blue and beige and brown are featured colors this season. 1931 The Walkerton Chamber of Commerce Band which has made such remarkable progress in the last few years, under the able tutelage of Ralph N. LaFeber, is to have a new home. Such was the decision of the city fathers in a recent meeting when they voted to erect an up-to-date bandstand. There new bandstand, which was planned and designed by Robert Worrell, will be 20 feet by 20 feet square, constructed of brick veneer with a composition shingle roof and will have a six foot basement, to be used for storage. Completion date is set for Wednesday, June 3. The bandstand will be placed at Place Park replacing the one there. About 75 trees and a large quantity of shrubbery have been set out in Place Park, according to the Park Commission, William Kyle, Clarence Hudlemyer and William Keck. Thanks goes to Charles MeCabe for his generous donation along with the many interested residents for their donations. Residents of Walkerton will be due for another reduction in their electric bills for power heating and lighting within the next few months if the petition to the Public Service Commission of Indiana, drawn up by Town Attorney, Roy Sheneman, gets a favorable action by the Indianapolis powers. If you want a good laugh and forget all about the depression and any other troubles you may have, don’t fail to see and hear, “The Cohens And Kellys In Africa”, playing at the Rialto Theatre on Saturday night. A Slim Summerville comedy will also be shown. MICHIANA AMPUTEE SUPPORT GROUP TO MEET The Michiana Amputee Support Group will be having their meeting Tuesday, April 22, at 7:00 p.m. in the Angela Auditorium, 410 North Notre Dame Avenue, South Bend. This support group is a fellowship of men and women who are

amputees whose purpose it is to share experiences, fears, strengths and hopes to indentify common problems. Those who are amputees, those who are about to become amputees, family members and interested persons are welcome and encouraged to attend meetings. The Michiana Amputee Support Group meets in cooperation with the Division of Integral Medicine of St. Joseph's Medical Center. FRIENDS SHARING CANCER TO MEET APRIL 17 “Friends Sharing Cancer”, a support group for cancer patients, their families and friends, will meet on Thursday, April 17, at 7:00 p.m. in room 8106 at LaPorte Hospital. This group provides information, education and opportunities to share feelings, attitudes and thoughts about cancer. New members are always welcome. There is no fee or pre-registration. Further information can be obtained from Health Quarters, 3262480. “HEARING AIDS AND HEARING HEALTH CARE” PROGRAM APRIL 22 Rod Donigan, Audiologist, of United Health Services will present a program on “Hearing Aids And Hearing Health Care” to the Stroke Cub of St. Joseph County, April 22 at 7:00 p.m. at United Health Services, 711 E. Colfax Avenue. The meeting is open to the public. For further information, call United Health Services, 234-3136. TEN COLORADO BLUE SPRUCES AVAILABLE The National Arbor Day Foundation is giving 10 Colorado Blue Spruce trees to people who become Foundation members during April, 1986. The trees are part of the nonprofit Foundation’s effort to encourage tree planting for conservation and beautification throughout America. “Colorado Blue Spruces were selected for this campaign because of their many uses in the home landscape,” John Rosenow, the Foundation’s executive director, said. “They lend beauty to their surroundings with their silver bluegreen color and compact conical shape. They can be used as individual ornamentals, an energysaving windbreak, a privacy screen or as living Christmas trees.” The 10 Colorado Blue Spruces will be shipped in April or May with enclosed planting instructions. The six to twelve inch trees are guaranteed to grow, or they will be replaced free of charge. The Foundation will give the 10 trees to members contributing SIO.OO during April. To become a member of the Foundation and to receive the 10 trees, a SIO.OO membership contribution should be sent to: TEN BLUE SPRUCES, National Arbor Day Foundation, 100 Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE 68410, by April 30, 1986. +