The Independent-News, Volume 112, Number 36, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 5 February 1987 — Page 4

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• THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS — FEBRUARY 5, 1987

EDITORIALS Ti

MONEY IS THE BIG PROBLEM The current session of the Indiana Legislature is now well into their 61 working day session. A total of 1,427 bills were filled before the filling deadlines and now the long and tedious job is being undertaken in committees and in full sessions to sort out, proceed with, and act upon whatever of these many bills will result. The majority of the bills will be disposed of in one way or another before reaching the full bodies of the two chambers. This can happen in several different ways and is not unusual as so many bills have the interest of possibly a single leguslator to satisfy some constituents back home or possibly several bills will be aiming toward the same goals only worded slightly different and elimination will take place in this fashion. Despite losing many bills in committee and further down the road being lost because of not being called before the full bodies of the legislature, still many important and controversial bills remain and will move on for final action. It is no secret that the top priority in the Governor’s effort is a big education bill that also carries a big price tag. There are about as many different views on the education issue as there are sides, no two so far seeing things in the same light. The special interest groups do not approve of what Governor Orr has proposed and until some kind of compromise can take place, education is going to remain as hot a topic as any in this session. In attempting to fund his education proposal, the Governor has called for major tax reform in several areas. To appease people, he has proposed a half-cent reduction in sales tax . . . that is the sales tax we presently have, but also to expand the sales tax to many professional services, something that is not popular at all with many special interest groups. Also a one percent increase in state income tax has been also proposed by Governor Orr to fund the education package. Tax increases never are popular with most of the public. The question has arisen whether his ideas for longer school years will result in better education. He wants Indiana’s 175 required day school year expanded 10 days and also make-up days added for school cancellations. This would also involve a little more time for the teachers in addition to the obvious, but many opponents argue that more time in the classroom doesn’t guarantee better instruction and education. Just who is to say what is right isn’t known. We do know that satisfying all factions is going to be an impossible task, and funding such an expanded program such as the Governor has proposed, or any expanded program that might develop, will take money . . . and a lot of it. For some reason it has over the years, been felt that pouring more money into problems will eliminate the problem. That is not always true by any means. Raising the money and implementing it in the right way is not an easy job. But it still boils down to the fact that if we are to inprove education, which most feel needs to be a major goal, more dollars are going to be needed regardless of who’s program finally emerges. More money . . . and a lot of it! ; SgL WHEN...

1982 The Multiple Sclerosis Mystery Sleuth and Marilyn Lightfoot, principal of Walkerton Elementary School, announced the school’s prize winner in the 1981 MS Read-a-thon. At Walkerton Elementary School 100 books were read, with sponsors paying 5278.60. Jerry McMahan was named Top Dog. Other prize winners were Richard Maher. Jr., and Jennifer Nichols. Mike Elkin, senior fullback and linebacker for the John Glenn Falcons. was honored at the JimtownGlenn basketball game Friday night as Bob Towner presented him with the “Most Valuable Player" trophy for the Northern State Conference in football this past season. This is the first time a Falcon has been so honored. Glenn was 9-3 for the season, co-champions of the Northern State Converence and a sectional winner. Elkin was also named to the Associated Press Gass A All-State team on defense. John Glenn and Urey Middle School band students participated in the District Solo and Ensemble Contest held at South Bend on Saturday, January 30. Entries involving 27 students resulted in 15 Superior ratings and 16 Good ratings. 1972

The girls basketball teams of Winamac, Rochester, LaVille and John Glenn will compete in a basketball tournament this Saturday at the John Glenn High School. the North Liberty Chapter of Tri Kappa is currently making plans for their annual style show to be held on March 24 at the high school. The theme for this year’s show will be "Her" Easter Parade, with fashions provided by Her Place, of Walkerton. The theme for the annual Summer Festival in Walkerton has been selected as "The Roaring Twenties”. A numerous amount of entries were received by the committee. The Festival will be held on June 1,2 and 3. At the market T-bone or sirloin steaks were selling for $1.39 a pound; fresh picnic roast at 43 cents a pound; stuffed sausage at 69 cents a pound; pork tenderettes at 79 cents a pound; five cans of Great American soups for $1.00; 25 pounds of flour for $1.99; 10 ounce boi of Cheerios for 33 cents; two pound can of Folgers coffee for $1.29; two pound box of Velveeta cheese for $1.09; cabbage at two pounds for 25 cents; and three pounds of Jonathan apples for 39 cents. 1952

Mr. an Mrs. Willard Knepp. North Liberty, received a telegram Sunday evening that their son. Loren, who is with the armed services in Korea, has been wounded on Saturday, January 19. On Monday they received word that their son was shot in the thigh but was receiving excellent care and would be alright. He is expected to be in the hospital for six weeks. Indiana's young people — 50,000 strong — expected to join in scores of community worship services throughout the state on Sunday, February 3, the last day of National Youth Week, to dedicate the day when one million Protestant young people across the nation will answer the call to United Christian Youth Action. They will pledge themselves to serve in projects of evangelism, community service and world service and world Christian citizenship. The March of Dimes drive in Liberty Township totals $375.35, according to Mrs. Warner Gark, chairman. The Mother’s March on Tuesday evening netted $169.95. Ford division of Ford Motor Company, announces three completely new lines of Ford passenger cars for 1952. Featuring Coachcraft bodies and more powerful engines, the new models are scheduled to go on display in Ford dealerships throughout the nation Friday, February 1. 1942 Pointing out that this and other inventories of America’s manpower will be required "to insure victory, final and complete, over the enemies of the United States”, President Roosevelt has proclaimed February 16, 1942, as the date when all unregistered men between 20 and 45 years old must enroll for possible military service. The North Liberty Merchants will play the Globe Trotters, famous negro team, on the high school floor, on Monday night, February 9. The directors of the North Liberty Cemetery Association recently purchased a tract of land located just east of the old cemetery from Mrs. Barbara West. The land will soon be landscaped and part of it laid out in lots. “War Time”, a new name for Daylight Saving Time, will go into effect Sunday night all over the United States. Just remember to turn the clocks ahead one hour. The Truckers News, a newspaper for the trucker, owned and published monthly by the IndependentNews Co., Walkerton, come into a bit of newspaper publicity recently, of the kind that comes "once in a lifetime". A photo of three truckers holding up the publication appeared in the Sunday magazine section of the Dayton JournalHerald on January 18. A double page spread of pictures and reading matter dealing with the Dixie Diner, one of the nation's leading truckstops, at Alexandersville, Ohio, also ran in the Dayton Jour-nal-Herald. 1937 Communities of northern Indiana made a generous response to the call for help for the flood victims. The big lanky Trojans of Lakeville played true to form as was predicted and ran through the county net teams rough shod to win her third championship, at New Carlisle last weekend. After defeating New Carlisle and Walkerton in the preliminaries, the Trojans whipped the Madison Panthers, last year’s champs, by a score of 57 to 26. The championship game marked the 16th straight win for the Lakeviilians and sent them on their way to the sectional tourney where they look like winners at this stage of the game. At the county tourney the Walkerton Indians met Lakeville in the semi-finals in a rather tough tussel, and Lakeville won 25 to 15. Schmeltz was knocked out in the first period when he got in front of Fox as the latter drove under the basket for a set-up shot. Schmeltz

was taken from the game where he remained until the second half, when he was put in for a brief period. His play was erractic and unsteady, causing coach Pugh to pull him from the game. Heil was out of the game in the second quarter with a twisted ankle. Walkerton first disposed of North Liberty in the second game of the meet by a score of 29 to 19. Approximately S9O was realized in the Flood Relief benefit community show sponsored by the American Legion held in the school gymnasium on Tuesday night. The response is regarded as most generous and those attending expressed their great gratification, not only in the success of the venture but also in the excellence of the program provided. Roy Parmelee writes that the Cards made him very happy when they traded him to the Cubs last fall. The big pitcher adds that he recently spent an hour and a half on the operating table while a surgeon tinkered with two muscles which had grown together on his pitching arm. Now the wing feels swell and Parmelee is sure that at last he is going to live up to all those birth predictions. VOICE OF THE PEOPLE “Electricity Rebate” As usual, when I received my electric bill for January, 1 examined it with dread, knowing full well that the amount required to pay it would deplete the bank balance once again! In this I was not wrong as the amount was surely a "Budget Buster!”. However, there was in the bill, something that was unusual, specifically, a rebate of 1.8 cents per KWH used. Seeing this caused me to review in my mind, some of the actions taken in our town during the past few months. As I recalled, that rebate represented pari of the savings realized on "wheeled power” purchased last summer from a different supplier and at a more advantageous rate than that of NIPSCO. our present contracted supplier. As 1 reflected, I was further gratified to know that Walkerton utility rates were now being set by our own elected Town Board. No longer were our rates set by an appointed Public Service Commission composed of a group of "knee jerk” bureaucrats! Further through brough to mind the time consuming and effective effort of Roy Wilcos and his Electric Power Advisory Group, and their success in obtaining a referendum on the removal of Walkerton from the utility rate making regulation authority of the P.S.C. Aided by the educational meetings held on the subject and the support of most of the Town Board members. the referendum passed, as you know by a comfortable margin.

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Thus empowered, the Town Board vigorously followed through, passing the necessary ordinances to establish itself as the utility rate making body for Walkerton. There was continued effort on the part of the Advisory Group and members of the Town Board to initiate a “refund" on the “wheeled power" savings of last summer. Expeditious action by the Town Board has now started that “refunding" process. 1 believe we, the utility customers of Walkerton, owe a large THANK YOU to Roy Wilcox and his Advisory Group! Equally, to those Town Board members who quickly, yet prudently and with professional advice, initiated the necessary action to give us relief from “horrendous" electric rates, we must also say. “Thank You, Well Done!" As we approach October of 'B7. the expiration date of the present NIPSCO power contract, another change is in the offing; one in which we all have a vested monetary interest. It is anticipated that power for Walkerton will be purchased on "short term" contracts in concert with other municipalities. These contracts will represent the most advantageous rates available at that time. Such "block power" purchases are projected to provide further electric rate reductions. The Town Board, guided by the Advisory Group, is now studying plans and methods to adjust rates at appropriate intervals in a fair and equable manner under this different system. We rate payers, with a very real monetary interest in this process, have a splendid opportunity to furnish “input” to and through our Town Board. Now is the time io present our views and suggestions and to aid in implementing a workable plan before this different power purchasing system is put into operation. A plan that uses a “projected controlled budget" at the municipal level, plus “purchased power costs” as a base for setting rates is most desireable. Having such a method in place, we could, at a continuing reasonable cost, expect to receive and enjoy the excellent electric service we have had in the past. With contribution from all sectors of rate payers, the Town Board can devise an equable, cost effective rate structure. Again, I personally wish to say “Thank You" to the Advisory Group and those of the Town Board who have made the extra effort to provide our electric service at a more reasonable cost. I'm sure that I speak for a majority of the people of Walkerton, when I say. “We encourage continued effort and attention to controlling our utility costs, so that Walkerton can continue to be “A Good Place To Live”. Roman Brehm. rate payer