The Independent-News, Volume 112, Number 43, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 26 March 1987 — Page 4

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- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - MARCH 26, 1987

I EDITORIALS L Tll l ll WIIIMWI

CART AHEAD OF THE HORSE One item of record in the Walkerton Town Board minutes of the March 9th meeting, caught our eye and presented several questions. This item was the presentation to the Town Board of the need of a new van for the Walkerton Volunteer Fire Department. There is no doubt there is a need to replace the 1971 model van which seems to have more than served its time. The part that we are concerned with is the procedures that followed the request. We would never oppose needed equipment necessary for fire protection and that is not the case here. However, the two elements that caused concern was the price tag of $45,000 and the fact that financial arrangements had already been sought prior to this meeting, and one proposal from a local bank was accepted for this purchase. We feel the Town Board has the cart before the horse. A normal purchasing procedure for any governing board of this kind to make is to decide what is needed, compile the specs of such, advertise it for bids, consider the bids and then accept or reject the bids for the purchase. After this is done, the financing, when known how much is needed, could be taken care of. Concerning the cost. Certainly we are not in a position to know the needs and costs of such a piece of equipment. However, the $45,000 price tag for a walk-in van to carry equipment raised a question. We contacted a leading area dealer and inquired about such a price. We were told that not knowing the specs on the van, but considering his companies chassis, an aluminum body (which he recommended) from one of as many as three body companies, he roughly estimated that $20,000 should be adequate. Still searching further, we contacted the John Glenn School Corporation concerning the cost of a van they bought last year, a 1986 model with an aluminum body to handle the tools and needs of the maintenance department. We were told this van, purchased from a local dealer, cost around $17,000. Now we don’t know the specific needs the fire department has, but certainly the equipment to go in the van should basically be in the present van. It may be a decision of what is wanted versus what is needed, we don’t know< The second matter of concern, the clerk-treasurer said she had received two proposals from the two banks in town on the financing of $45,000 and that Ist Source Bank’s proposal was the best one with an offer of 7.75®?0 interest for seven years with semi-annual payments. Just how and why this action was taken before the fire department had approached the Board isn’t quite understood. We feel that the method of purchasing by the Town Board for the last three years plus has been their one very weak point. Only on a very few occasions in this period of time has the Board actually approved the purchase of many items before the purchase is made or else these actions are not being properly recorded in the board minutes. For years and years the Boards authorized purchases before they were made, but it appears now that purchasing is done almost at will and the Board’s acceptance amounts to approving the claims when they are presented for payment. We are not criticizing the fire department and we don’t want them to feel that way. The need is there, and we hope it can and will be fulfilled in a satisfactory manner. However, we do hope the Town Board can get their priorities in order and in this matter as well as all other purchasing, keep the horse ahead of the cart. This is one of the main responsibilities they have in their position as Town Board members. GUEST EDITORIAL STORAGE TANK PROBLEMS By Representative Richard Mangus Many people are aware of the traditional environmental concerns associated with landfilling or the disposal of wastes. But until recently, there has been less attention to the potential for environmental problems associated with the storage of products, especially in underground tanks. Can you imagine going to your faucet to get a glass of water, but instead of water you get a stream of flames because your tap water has ignited? Or while washing your clothes, your washing machine catches on fire because the machine was actually using a weak gasoline solution instead of pure water? These incidents actually happened in a small central Indiana community where underground gasoline tanks at a local gas station were leaking and contaminating the underground water supply in the area. There are currently over 30,000 underground tanks in Indiana which store gasoline and hazardous industrial chemicals, and the potential threat of similar incidents occurring is tremendous. Officials from the State Board of Health say gasoline could remain in the contaminated water supply for a period of up to 30 years. As Chairman of the Indiana House of Representatives’ Environmental Affairs Committee, I have introduce legislation which immediately addresses this dangerous situation. This measure (House Bill 1734) establishes the framework for a state underground storage tank program which is comparable

F^TremembejcW , WHEN—

1982 The Indiana State Police want to remind Hoosiers that March thru June is tornado season in Indiana; so be prepared if a tornado strikes. Indiana Governor Robert Orr also is encouraging citizens to plan now for tornado safety by proclaiming March 15 through 21 as Tornado Preparedness Week. First, remember the difference between a tornado watch and warning. A watch is when conditions are favorable for severe weather to develop and a warning is when a tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar. Then keep up to date on the weather conditions by having a battery powered radio tuned to a local radio station. If you're at home when a tornado strikes, go to the basement or a small interior room on the lower floor of the house, such as a closet or bathroom . Just remember to stay away from windows or outside walls. If you are outside and not near a building when a tornado strikes, you can still find protection. Look for a ditch or revine and stay low in it until the storm passes. Indiana currently ranks third in the nation in both tornado frequency and the number of deaths due to tornadoes. The newly organized North Liberty Chamber of Commerce recently elected officers for a one year term as follows: Cark Kaser, president; John Evans, vice-presi-dent; Charles Bare, treasurer; and Betty Peddycord, secreiary. Those appointed to a three-year term on the Board were Darrell Cisney, Mike Knepp. Marvin Sheaks and Howard McFarland; two-year members. Betty Peddycord. Gene Bailey. Charles Bare and James Piatt; and one-year term members, Al Heim, Audine Manuel. Carl Kaser and John Evans. The 14th annual Wakarusa Maple Syrup Festival will be held on Friday, March 26 and Saturday, March 27. This small north-cen-tral Indiana town, population around 1,200, turns itself into a huge fairground of fun for everyone. 1972 The annual Arts and Crafts Contest will be held on April 22 with students from Walkerton Elementary. St. Patrick's School, Urey Middle School and John Glenn High School participating. “The Material Things Os Spring’’ is the theme of the 12th annual fabric and fashion show sponsored by the Better Homes Extension Homemakers Club to take place on Thursday, April 13, at the John Glenn High School auditorium. The annual Easter Egg Hunts will be held on Saturday, April 1, in both Walkerton and North Liberty. Delegates to the Hoosier Boys State, which will be held on June 10 to 17 at Indiana State University,

to the federal program created in 1984. The state’s passage of this bill should enhance Indiana’s ability to obtain federal funding for this program. The Environmental Protection Agency has indicated that federal allocations to states will be based upon EPA’s perception as to which states are most capable of immediate implementation and use of the funding. House Bill 1734 has essentially the same following four objectives the federal program entails: 1. The identification of underground tanks. 2. The prevention of leaks from tanks. 3. Draft measure to detect leaks from tanks. 4. Draft measure to correct problems when leaks occur. Hoosiers must always keep these objectives in mind in solving this problem. Indiana citizens are highly dependent on groundwater as a source of drinking water. Therefore, it is vital that we take steps to prevent our communities from having contaminated water due to leaking underground tanks. Indiana has been a leader in controlling the pollution of our environment. We need to keep this reputation by continually trying to solve environmental questions. House Bill 1734 has passed the House and committee stage in the Senate, where it is currently waiting for Second Reading.

Terre Haute, are Mark Northam. Bruce Day huff, Wayne Feece and Bill Payton. Alternates are Loren Capek, Tim Kazanecki, Tom Billheimer and Richard Reese. The delegates are being sponsored by the Orville Easterday American Legion Post 189, Walkerton. At the market a whole or shank half of ham was selling for 58 cents a pound; center cut slices at $1.09 a pound; a five pound Agar canned ham for $4.98; turkeys at 59 cents a pound; pork steak at 69 cents a pound; pork tenderettes at 89 cents a pound; three pounds of ground beef for $1.99 or lesser amounts at 69 cents a pound; a boneless rolled pork roast at 79 cents a pound; a pound of bacon for 49 cents; four cans of Green Giant vegetables for 89 cents; five pounds of Pillsbury flour for 49 cents; a pound box of saltines for 29 cents; 24 ounce carton of cottage cheese for 49 cents; five loaves of Bonnie white bread for 89 cents; celery at 29 cents a stalk; Idaho potatoes at 89 cents for a 10 pound bag; and mix or match three peppers, onions or radishes for 29 cents. 1952 The extra charge for large quantity purchases of the new two-cent government postcard will be dropped Saturday, according to Postmaster Gen. Donaldson, set the termination day in the wake of congressional action abolishing the 10 percent penalty for buying cards in quantities of 50 or more. The Junior Gass of Walkerton High School will present their annual class play. "A Date With Judy", on Friday evening. April 4, in the high school gym. Mrs. John Guttman is the director. This is a three-act comedy. The DePauw University 50-piece concert band, of Greencastle, will present a program in the Walkerton school gym on Thursday evening. March 27, at 8:15 p.m. Johnnie Dee. former basketball star of Notre Dame University and assistant coach at Notre Dame, will be the speaker at the annual Lions Cub dinner honoring the members of the Walkerton basketball squad and their coach at the Walkerton Town Cub on Tuesday evening, March 25, at 7:00 p.m. 1942 Contracts for the erection of eight additional dormitories and a 210-unit trailer camp on the John Cark farm at the edge of Walkerton, were let Friday in Indianapolis, according to Malcomb Sutherland, manager of the dormitories. Work will begin shortly and the trailer camp will be complete within 90 days and the dormitories within 120 days. One of the outstanding events in the history of the Masonic Lodge in Walkerton will take place tonight, March 19, when officials of the

order will burn a four thousand dollar mortgage, as evidence of the fact that the chapter has completed payment on its new home. The building was purchased in 1938 and after remodeling throughout, was dedicated in April, 1937, with special ceremonies, attended by the Grand Officers of the State. In all. the investment in the home represents better than SIO,OOO. Since announcement of Bond Sunday, a state-wide movement has been suggested to the thousands of Hoosiers who will go to the polls to pledge their savings to the war financing effort, to carry on in their patriotism one step farther from many steps, as the case may be. by walking instead of riding to their precinct polling places. The day would be even more significant if families would decide to save gasoline and tires for this one day of Defense Bond pledging. "Walk As You Pledge" on Bond Sunday. 1937 A new train has been announced for the New York Central railroad, to replace the "spark plug" run. which will begin service next Monday. The combination freight, express, mail and passenger train will leave South Bend at 6:15 in the morning, arriving at North Liberty at 6:45; at Walkerton at 7:00. Returning in the afternoon the train will leave Walkerton at 1:20 and North Liberty at 1:35. arriving at South Bend about 2:00. The Good Friday services, sponsored by the churches of Walkerton. will be held in the Methodist Church Friday, March 26. Peterborough, N.H. — Belinda of Lone Beach Farm 364348 has just completed a record which makes her queen of all three and one-half year old Indiana Guernseys in class DHT of the American Guernsey Cattle Club. “Belinda" was bred and owned by Daniel Bedkey. of Mishawaka. Indiana,, and in one year made a record of 11,127.7 pounds of milk and 548.7 pounds of butter fat. MID-SESSION REPORT FROM REP. MANGUS Legislature in Home Stretch Education reform and approval of the 1987-89 state budget are still the headline topics as the 105th session of the Indiana General Assembly heads in final six weeks of activity. The pace of legislative action is expected to pick up as the legislature head into the home stretch. Die deadline for bills to clear the house of origin was March 12. meaning any House bill which has not cleared the House of Representatives and any Senate bill which has not cleared the Senate must wait until another session of the General Assembly to be reconsidered. The much publicized education refore package has grabbed muc*. of the media attention in this session, and passage of the biennial budget is always a primary concern of the legislature. But there are other issues which have been or are being addressed in both houses that will affect the quality of Hoosier lives. Among those issues being discussed are: — A voter referendum to remove the state’s constitutional ban on a state lottery. — Higher education, and guaranteeing college tuition for Indiana’s students. — Finding new ways to fund construction and maintenance of Indiana's highways. — Investigating the possibility of extending Home Health Care, to allow Hoosiers to obtain needed care in their homes instead of in nursing homes. — Streamlining state election laws, particularly those relating to recount procedures. — Removing limitations on the (continued on page 9)