The Independent-News, Volume 112, Number 15, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 11 September 1986 — Page 4

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- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - SEPTEMBER 11, 1986

EDITORIALS

ONE FORM OF PUBLIC INPUT As the November 4 general election draws nearer, there will be one form of public input that will be talked about more and more prior to the actual voting. That is the referendums that sometimes appear on ballots. It is our understanding at this time that both Walkerton and North Liberty will have a referendum on their ballot this year to get the public’s feeling towards key issues. This not too often method of finding out the feeling of the masses, is often mentioned, but seldom used for various reasons. One of the reasons is time. However, this year the issues that will go on the ballot were timed right to be included in an election. For Walkerton, it will concern the Town’s pulling away from the Public Service Commission on utility rates. In North Liberty, it concerns zoning. There still seems to be some question however, as to what happens after the totals are counted. Only time will tell the end result. In our area, we read and hear so much about some very controversial issues in South Bend and the area. Included in these are the baseball stadium, the ethonal plant odor, a coun-ty-wide communications system, the South Shore Railroad, and others, but these are a few. It is too bad that such controversial matters cannot be put to the public before the time of decision to find out what the public’s feelings are. This is one way to get an accurate opinion of those interested enough to voice their feelings on a matter. We will remind our readers of the referendums before election day once the wording is finalized on these matters. We feel this is a good way for public input . . . then if the elected officials follow or don’t follow the sentiments of the people, it is right there in black and white for all to see. This could have a much deeper inpact than public opinions from whatever sources they now derive them.

1981 Merchant’s Appreciation Days were held September 10, 11 and 12 in the Walkerton-North LibertyKoontz Lake areas through The Independent-News. The community of Hamlet opened a medical clinic. The Walkerton High School Class of 1961 held their 20th reunion at the Holiday Inn, Plymouth, with 27 of the 43 class members attending this summer. 1971 Unofficial school enrollment figures for the 1981-72 school year have been compiled after the first few days of school. A total enrollment for kindergarten through the 12th grade for the Polk-Lincoln-Johnson School System was announced by Dr. Edward Powell, superintendent of schools, at 1,277, which is down 12 from last year for the first week of school. Due to the financial planning and efforts of the Polk-Lincoln-Johnson Athletic Boosters and contributions by many other clubs and individuals, the Urey Middle School is preparing for its first season of football. Their first game will be on September 14, when they will travel to Wakarusa. Coach for the team is Larry McDaniel and his assistant is Don Aschelman. 1966 The new addition is ready to serve both of the North Liberty Schools. Gail Ross, the most outstanding football player of teams of the smaller size in this area, paced the North Liberty Shamrocks to a lopsided win over John Glenn on Friday night in the opening game of the season for both teams, with a score of 40-0. The public is cordially invited by Dr. and Mrs. William Carter and Dr, and Mrs. Bryce Rohrer to meet Dr. and Mrs. Robert Fenstermacher at a reception next Sunday evening, September 11, at the Walkerton Medical Clinic. 1961 Last Thursday afternoon at the meeting of the St. Joseph County reorganization committee the

Walkerton petition was accepted by • the committee to release Walkerton ! from the plans of joining with a number of other school corporations to be combined with the South Bend School System. This puts Walkerton in the Marshall County plan to be grouped with Polk Township. The Town of Walkerton has let contracts to the United Bituminous Co., of Westville, for the repairing of local streets and alleys. On Sunday afternoon, September 17, at 2:30 p.m., the First Presbyterian Church, of Walkerton, will dedicate the new church manse at 104 Clark Street. Open house will follow the service until 5:00 p.m. The Cello Shirt Laundry and Cleaners, owned and operated by Giff Ridenour, has moved its entire plant to Walkerton from their former South Bend location. 1956 The Brotherhood of Saint John’s Lutheran Church adopted as their project for September, the painting of their white frame colonial church home. At the market beef roasts were selling for 39 cents a pound; club steak at 49 cents a pound; T-bone steaks at 52 cents a pound; three pounds of hamburger for 98 cents; a pound of bologna for 25 cents; sirloin, round and swiss steak for 52 cents a pound; ten pounds of potatoes for 31 cents; and a pound of longhorn cheese for 49 cents. 1951 The Galloping Teas, sponsored by the Junior Women’s Club, are now on the “run” again. Mrs. William Newhouse was surprised Thursday evening as well as Mrs. Charles Cripe and Mrs. Denslow Doll when guests started popping in. The Walkerton High School opened the new baseball season, by defeating Mill Creek, 1-0, behind the no-hit pitching of Jack Tiede last Thursday night. Tuesday night in the second game, Rolling Prairie was dropped 7-2. The Right Hand Gass of the Methodist Church will observe its

third birthday. Sunday morning, during the regular class session. 1956 A police patron at the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Illinois Streets has been established to operate twice daily, Monday thru Friday, for the protection of school children crossing the national highway. in Walkerton. Three special days for registering all citizens not now qualified to vote in the November election have been set in St. Joseph County by a bi-partisan board. The dates are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, September 19, 20 and 21. Additonal funds are greatly needed to complete the drive for 51,000 being raised by the War Mothers to be used in the erection of a suitable war memorial in the local cemetery. Indiana's 1947 wheat goal totaling 1,500,000 acres is announced by L. M. Vogler, state director of the Production and Marketing Administration. This figure is a slight increase over the 1946 goal of 1,449,000. 1941 The Rialto Theatre collected $51.65 last week for the United States Organization (USO) in its drive all over the country for funds. Mr. and Mrs. John Blazich, who moved here from Chicago three years ago and purchased a farm on Road 23, a half mile south of Walkerton, have been delighted with the progress made by their young orchard during that time. Mr. Blacich purchased and set out 1,000 young trees of various kinds and this year has seen many of them heavy with fruit. The Department of Institutions of Indiana announced this week that it would hold a second hearing in the town hall at North Liberty on the petition to organize and incorporate a state bank at that place. The new addition to the Greene Township School, which has been under construction by the H. G. Christman Co., of South Bend, is being rushed to completion as rapidly as possible. 1931 After a long and hard struggle with facts and figures Tuesday, the St. Joseph County Council voted to reduce the county tax levy by one cent, according to S. W. Pearse, member of the council, from North Liberty. Enrollment has incrased this year at the Walkertron Schools. Enrolled in grade one are 29 students; grade two, 31; grade three, 28; grade four, 34; grade five, 36; grade six, 26; grade seven, 19; grade eight, 27; freshman class has 32 students while the sophomores number 25; juniors, 26; and there are 12 seniors. Vern Hardenbrook, of Walkerton, has been awarded a South Bend level winding anti back-lash casting reel by the Brennan Sports Goods Store, in South Bend, for having caught and registered the largest fish taken from northern Indiana or southern Michigan waters this season. The prize winning fish was a six pound bass caught at Koontz Lake, by Mr. Hardenbrook, on August 19. VOICE OF THE PEOPLE “Support For The School” I have been asked recently how do parents and members of the community show their respect for the school. I was pleased someone cared enough to ask and I thought there may be others with similar questions. Schools in today’s world cannot survive unless people work with and help develop existing programs. Your interest and concern can be extremely positive for the entire school corporation. Some specific ways you can show support are: 1. Attend Parent-Teacher Conferences and talk to your child-

ren’s teachers, regardless of their grades. Teachers really do enjoy meeting people and talking to parents especially. Give them a chance to share ideas with you. 2. Attend school activities whether you have a student participating or not. There are a large number of awards nights, athletic contests, plays, art shows, etc. to choose from. 3. Become involved in committees and booster organizations that adopt textbooks, serve as advisory councils, help with fundraisers, and any number of functions that supplement or bolster school programs. 4. Take opportunities to express your opinions with school officials. Different perspectives sometimes offer more productive results. We do not have all of the answers. 5. Make positive comments about the school and its achievements whenever possible. Many fantastic things happen at John Glenn High School. Unfortunately, many people do not hear about them. 6. Volunteer whenever possible to help with chili suppers, P.T.A. meetings, special projects, dances, etc. Our school can always use an extra pair of hands and your help will be very much appreciated. Hopefully, this will give you an idea or two of how to show support for our schools. Many people are currently doing a lot of work to put our school in a positive mode. However, we can always have more community members helping to make John Glenn High School the best it can be. We welcome your backing and support. We are looking forward to another fantastic school year. Mike Shuler, Principal John Glenn High School PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, September 17, 1986 marks the One Hundred Ninetyninth Anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention; and WHEREAS, To accord official recognition to this memorable anniversary, and to the patriotic exercise that will form a note-worthy feature of the occasion, seem fitting and proper; and WHEREAS, Public Law No. 915 guarantees the issuing of a Proclamation each year by the President of the United States of American designating September 17th through the 23rd as Constitution Week, NOW, THEREFORE, 1, Gregory Williams, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of the Town of Walkerton in the State of Indiana, do hereby proclaim the week of September 17th through the 23rd, 1986, as Constitution Week in the Town of Walkerton, and urge all of our citizens to pay special attention during the week to our Federal Constitution and the advantages of American Citizenship. In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the City to be affixed at this day in the year of our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Eighty-six and the Independence of the United States of America, the Two Hundred and Tenth. Signed: Gregory D. Williams, President, Walkerton Town Board CONSTITUTION SIGNED SEPTEMBER 17, 1787 The Constitution of the United States, universally regarded as the finest expression ever made of the determination of a free people to govern themselves and to protect their liberty, was signed on September, 17, 1787, by the delegates to the convention called to draft it. The delegates had met in Independenced Hall, Philadelphia, in the preceeding May and deliberated m secret for four months before agreeing on the final draft of the document. George Washington

was president of the convention and Benjamin Franklin. James Madison. Alexander Hamilton. Gouverneur Morris and other distinguished men of the time were among the delegates. When the constitution had been ratified by the required number of states, it was taken to New York, which was the first seat of Government. When Philadelphia became the capital it was taken to that city. It has always been at the seat of government except for a short time after the British captured Washington during the War of 1812. It was then moved to Virginia. far enough from Washington to be safe. President Harding, in 1921, ordered that it be taken from the State Department, where it had been kept in a safe, and deposited in the Congressional Library. The American Bar Association states: “The Constitution, which provides a plan of Government for the enforcement of the rights proclaimed by the Declaration of Independence, is of equal value with the incompareable Declaration it self. Both documents should be well known by all American citizens. Any plan leading to a better knowledge, particularly of the rights and benefits of the Constitution. should meet the approval of all good citizens, and especially lawyers." President Grover Cleveland, on the occasion of the one-hundredth anniversary of the completion of the Constitution, said: "As we look down the past century to the origin of our Constitution, as we contemplate its trials and triumphs, as we realize how completely the principles upon which it is based have met every national peril and every national need, how devoutly should we confess with Franklin, 'God governs in the affairs of men’; and how solemn should be the reflection that to our hands is committed this ark of the people’s covenant, and that ours is the duty to shield it from impious hands. We received it sealed with the tests of a century. It has been found sufficient in the past; and in all the future years it will be found sufficient, if the American people are true to the sacred trust. Another centennial day will come, and millions yet unborn will inquire concerning our stewardship and the safety of their Constitution. God grant that they may find it unimpaired; and as we rejoice in the patriotism and devotion of those who lived a hunderd years ago, so may others who follow us rejoice in our fidelity and in our jealous love of constitutional liberty.” Orville Easterday Unit 189 American Legion Auxiliary MIDWEST SPORTS BASKETBALL LEAGUE The Midwest Sports Complex, located 7 miles west of Plymouth on Route 30, is now taking applications for the Midwest Sports Basketball leagues held on weekends and evenings. Play begins October 6 and runs for 10 weeks with a tournament held the last two weeks. Separate leagues will be held for men ages 18 and above, men under six feet tall, sth and 6th grade boys, and 7th and Bth grade boys. Players may join individually for $30.00 or as a team for $250.00, which may be paid by a sponsor or by the players. For more information or to apply, contact Tom at (219) 936-7529 or Marc at (219)936-2876. CHANGING ADDRESS? If you are moving or your mailing address has been changed, please notify our subscription department as soon as possible. Thank you. The IndependenbNews +