The Independent-News, Volume 111, Number 51, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 22 May 1986 — Page 4

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- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - MAY 22, 1988

EDITORIALS

3 POINTS OF IMPORTANCE The Walkerton Chamber of Commerce held a meeting last Wednesday evening for the purpose of hearing the Town of Bremen's reasons, methods and results of pulling away from the Public Service Commission some 10 years ago. The meeting, attended by some 20 area persons, featured Dudley Keyser, head of the Bremen Electric utility and the go-between for all departments in Bremen and the Town Board. It was obvious from listening to Mr. Keyser, that he is a man very capable of handling such assignments. His 40 years of experience starting at the bottom for the Town of Bremen, and good common sense and knowledge of what he is doing is a definite factor and is reflected by the job he is doing. In his presentation, he brought out three main items of importance. First, there seems to be no reason why a town or city has to work through the Public Service Commission for establishing local rates. This was the most important matter brought out at this meeting. He also stated that our neighboring states of Ohio, Michigan and Illinois, have no such commission in their state, furthering his feelings that the Public Service Commission is not necessary in establishing rates. Second, he pointed out that the Public Service Commission does take a lot of blame that is not due them. Mainly it gets blamed for establishing rates which it does not do. The Public Service Commission simply accepts or rejects the rates submitted by the utility, whether it be small, large, metropolitan, or privately owned. The rates still have to be submitted to the Commission for approval, but in no way does the PSC set or establish the rates. His main feeling was the concern over the time it takes to have this action completed. Third, and just as important if not more so, he emphasized that to establish rates on one’s own, they must have reliable and capable people establishing the rates and making the decisions. This is an area where Bremen has it all over most, in particular a case such as Walkerton. The expenses blamed on the PSC in ordering a study before the request to change rates and the actual expense of their workings, in Walkerton’s case totaled about $33,000. However, it was stated immediately by Board president Greg Williams, that if Walkerton should pull away from the jurisdiction of the PSC and a rate change was needed, they would hire a firm to establish the new rates. A dollar spent is a dollar spent, whether it be done by request or voluntarily. The mandadated study cost Walkerton approximately $30,000 while the PSC’s charge for the work done was around $2,700. Also disappointing at this meeting was the fact that, although the Town Board is pursuing this line of action, and a qualified person took his time to come and explain the situation they had gone through, only Board president Williams and the clerk-treasurer were present from the Town Board. It seems interest could have been higher. It also resulted in this meeting, that questions asked from various persons from the floor, very seldom were answered directly by the two representatives of the Town present. A lot of double talk and evading the direct answers was the result. We are not opposed to Walkerton’s seeking this move, but must caution that we feel the third point of Mr. Keyser’s presentation, is a must before local officials completely control the rate structuring for the Town. Despite the fact that many were ready to sign the necessary petition to put this matter on the ballot for a referendum vote at that meeting, we feel that some of these only heard the parts of the presentation they wanted to hear . . . not the complete picture, which also must be considered in the future along with this move. UMI WHEN- .ImEe

1981 The North Liberty High School Gass of 1981 has two valedictorians and a salutatorian. Valedictorians are Patricia Ann Geddes and Laorijean Golichowski, while Jay Robert Smith is the salutatorian. The commencement exercise will be held on Sunday, May 31, at the high school gymnasium. Summer recreation in Walkerton will include swimming, tennis, basketball and films along with other recreation and trips being planned. 1971 John Glenn placed third in the Northern State Conference baseball tourney held on May 20, at New Prairie. Jim town won the title bv beating LaVille 5 to 3 and John Glenn placed third by defeating New Prairie 7 to 5. The North Liberty chapter of Tri Kappa will again sponsor a 4th of July Queen contest. Applicants will be required to be North Liberty

area residents between the ages of 17 and 21 and single. 1966 At the market rib steak was selling for 69 cents a pound; sirloin at 98 cents a pound; chuck steak at 59 cents a pound; smokie links at 79 cents a pound package; pork chops at 79 cents a pound; a five pound canned ham at $4.59; three cans of Hawaiian punch for 99 cents; and four cans of pork and beans for SI.OO. 1961 At a well attended meeting Monday evening at the North Liberty High School, the four townships proposed unit of the County Committee for School. Registration was unanimously turned down by all four townships involved. The plan called reorganization involving the present school corporations at Walkerton-Lincoln Township, Liberty Township, Greene Township and Union Township. The Walkerton High School

Band will be playing their weekly summer concert series on Friday evenings in the downtown area. This is different from the past few summers and it is hoped that a larger audience will turnout to hear the efforts of the band during the series of 10 concerts. At the market a pound of bologna was selling for 39 cents; chuck steak at 59 cents a pound; ham at 79 cents a pound; sliced bacon at two pounds for 89 cents; two pounds of franks for 89 cents; chuck roast at 39 cents a pound; corned beef brisket at 55 cents; six ounces of American cheese for 29 cents; and Comet cleanser at 10 cents a can. 1956 Twenty members of the Liberty Township Civil Defense Auxiliary Police and two others not concerned with the police, received their certificates from Sgt. Michael Santa, of the South Bend Police Dept., signifying completion of the standard six-week course in first aid. A souvenir booklet was released this week by the St. Patrick’s Church as part of the feature of the parish’s Centennial celebration which will be observed on Sunday, June 10. 1951 The supervised play programs for Place Park, sponsored jointly by the public school system and the Town of Walkerton, will get underway June 11 and run for 10 weeks. It will be under the supervision of coach Don Bunge of the high school. The Daily Vacation Bible School will open Monday morning at the Methodist Church. The afternoon Bible School will begin on June 5 and will be held at the E.U.B. Church and the Presbyterian Church. Henry Ford 11, president of the Ford Motor Company, Detroit, Michigan, said his firm would be forced to lay off 10,000 workers within the next 60 days because of government materials restrictions. 1946 If you received some belated mail from Chicago on Tuesday of this week, you can blame it on the Walkerrton Boy Scouts, not because it was late, but because you got it at all! On Wednesday, May 22, a fast mail train on the B & O Railroad kicked off a catcher mail pouch for Walkerton, but it cound not be found — only by the Boy Scouts. The reorganized City Band, directed by R. N. LaFeber, will open its 20th season next Wednesday evening, June 5, for a series of 12 summer concerts. The band has been inactive for three years due to the war. Sid C. Ewing, who has worked at the barber trade in Walkerton for 56 years, has sold his shop to Herbert Hills, who has taken over its management. Leo Hostetler has leased the newly remodeled Hevel store building in North Liberty next to the VFW Home, and will be ready for business by June 5. He will specialize in well drilling, repair work and will carry a line of well supplies. 1931 At least 30 of the best dirt track drivers in the midwest took part in the Memorial Day races at Playland Park, South Bend. An unusual feature of the meet was the presence of a woman driver competing against the men. The Walkerton Chamber of Commerce Band, under the direction of R. N. LaFeber, will be playing the grand opening of the season concert in the new municipal bandstand in Walkerton as a dedication program next Wednesday, June 3, at 8 o’clock. SERVICE NOTES ARMY & AIR FORCE HOMETOWN NEWS — Kevin P. O’Neal, son of James W. and Mae O’Neal, of 509 Virginia St., Walkerton,

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has been promoted in the U. S. Air Force to the rank of senior airman. O’Neal is a munitions systems specialist in the Philippines, with the 3rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron. He is a 1983 graduate of John Glenn High School. ARMY & AIR FORCE HOMETOWN NEWS — Airman Michelle A. Sochocki, daughter of Carol A. Sochocki, of 62430 Locust Road, South Bend, and Paul D. Sochocki, of 67375 Pine Road, North Liberty, has graduated from the U. S. Air Force administrative specialist course at Keesler Air Force Base, Miss. Graduates of the six-week course learned how to prepare Air Force correspondence and reports, and earned credits toward an associate degree in applied science through the Community College of the Air Force. She is a 1985 graduate of Riley High School, South Bend. ARMY & AIR FORCE HOMETOWN NEWS — Dale J. Soulia, son of Robert A. and Patricia I. Tibbetts, of Rural Route 1, Grovertown, has been promoted in the U. S. Air Force to the rank of senior airman. Soulia is a vehicle operator and dispatcher at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., with the 92nd Transportation Squadron. He is a 1982 graduate of OregonDavis High Shool.

At the turn of the century only 22 percent of all automobiles were powered by internal combustion engines. Ron Hunt, an infielder who played with various National League teams, holds the record for getting hit by pitched balls: 243.

Harold Roush Joins Firm’s Club For Sales 'Mr „ Harold Roush, broker associate of Oak Crest Realty, Plymouth, recently joined the firm’s $25,0,000 per month club, having individual sales surpassing $250,000 for the molnth of April, according to Sam Goeble, principal broker of the real estate firm. Mr. Roush joined Oak Crest Realty in the winter of 1980, after heading his own real estate office, Roush Real Estate, for many years.