The Independent-News, Volume 112, Number 45, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 9 April 1987 — Page 4

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- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - APRIL 9. IM7

EDITORIALS I ft ... -unnnnnnnMMM—MT ""mnnmnrnnnn Ji

IT’S TIME FOR A CHANGE Basketball wasn’t born in Indiana, but today the Hoosier state ranks number 1 in the sport in many ways. Basketball is and has been for many years, away of life in many Indiana homes. Not only was basketball “the” sport when as many as 719 teams battled for the crown of basketball champion in Indiana and basketball was about the only sport, it still is the number one sport of the 400 plus high schools now that feature many sports for both boys and girls. None has replaced the game of basketball as number one. We have just completed another season with Indiana University winning the national championship of the NCAA and of course the recently completed Indiana High School state tourney had a powerhouse winner, the Marion Giants, winning their third title in a row, an almost unheard of feat in the Hoosier state. And now that the playing season is over, talk centers around some rule changes. Many feel they aren’t needed, that basketball has enough to offer the way it is and why fool with a winning thing. We differ with this opinion. It is our feeling that basketball must continue to entertain the public as well as those who participate. And in recent years, high school crowds have been decreasing somewhat unless that really good season is enjoyed. And part of the reason is that basketball has come to a point where some changes can add to the fan enthusiasm and excitement. These changes are needed in the high school ranks, the same as they were in colleges where the success of various rule changes is obvious. We can remember back in the 1950-51 season when an unheard of thing was adopted ... a bonus free throw! However, if you remember, the bonus free throw was first awarded if you missed the first of a single shot foul. This quickly was changed to be given if you made the first shot. The intent at that time, the same as some changes being considered and adopted now, was to cut down useless fouling. And you must remember, before the bonus was added in that 1951 season, a team had the option of taking the ball out of bounds instead of shooting a single free throw or if it were a two shot foul, shoot the first and take the second shot out for possession. Well, the free throws are again the thing that is at the controversy of rules changes. Too many games, and this year was by far no exception, end up not action on the court, but a free throw shooting contest. John Glenn has a reputation of being a school that has benefited greatly from this asset in recent years, but that still doesn’t add to the action and fan enjoyment of the ballgame. And this year’s home crowds at John Glenn will back up this fact. The three-point play, although criticized by many, was implemented in college basketball to loosen things up inside and it certainly did put a different prospective in a bailgame. The results were that teams that were apparently out of the game had that one extra weapon to get back into a game and time and time again this year the three-pointer brought teams back in games and made action great right up to the final buzzer. It added score and action as well as being an equalizer for many teams that didn’t have that awesome power inside. The only thing we question is whether or not the line is quite far enough back, but are willing to accept the fact that this and the 45 second clock added so much to the college game that the game really needed. And high school ball needs a similar kind of lift. With the three-pointer coming into both boys and girls high school ball, some other rule changes will also be added to help stop the parade to the free throw line late in the games. We feel that this beloved sport, king in Indiana by far, needs to continue to progress as the athletes continue to get bigger and better and the game changes along with the times. If basketball is to continue to prosper in all the high school gyms around the state, the changes are needed to keep the game alive and interesting for players, coaches and especially the fans alike. We think it is a step in the right direction. ^^EME MBER'W , ><l WHEN...

1982 The “Arkansas Gems” world wide known all-girls basketball team, will meet the North Liberty All Stars men’s team, under men’s rules — yes — men’s rules — at the North Liberty School gym on Thursday, April 8, at 7:30 p.m. The “Gems" will bring many years of road experience and nearly a million miles of travel and funmaking to town. Having played in all 50 states, as well as overseas before thousands, this world championship troupe will bring a record of 161 wins in their last 163 games. This was accomplished under men s rules and men’s teams —a record in anyone's league.

Walkerton’s annual Easter Egg Hunt will be held on Saturday, April 19, at Place Park. The starting time is set for 2:00 p.m. sharp. The annual affair is sponsored by the Walkerton Volunteer Fire Department. The rain date is set for Sunday, April 11. A community Good Friday Service of Worship will be held on April 9, beginning at 12:00 noon, for one hour. The message will be delivered by the Rev. Michael Paul Heath, pastor of the Tyner United Methodist Church. The service will be held at the Presbyterian Church, Walkerton. 1972 Ten cars of a Norfolk & Western

freight train derailed Friday of last week at about 11:00 a.m. The derailment occured just west of Tamarack Road behind Haag’s Orchard in Marshall County. No one was injured and traffic was not hindered. New rails were installed and the railway was back in operation on Saturday. TheWalkerton Jaycees are sponsoring a kite flying contest on Saturday, May 6, at 2:00 p.m. in Place Park. Prizes will be awarded for the biggest, smallest, highest and most original kites. Girls’ State delegates were chosen at North Liberty and are Darla Henry, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Henry, and the alternate is Beverly Hart sough, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Hartsough. At the market whole frying chickens were selling for 29 cents a pound; legs, thighs and breasts for 49 cents a pound; livers at 79 cents a pound; pork cutlets at 79 cents a pound; rolled pork roast at 69 cents a pound; slender sliced meats at three packages for $1.00; football minced ham at 89 cents a pound; pork links at 89 cents a pound; large eggs 39 cents a dozen; a pint of half and half for 29 cents; pound of Parkay at 43 cents; ten pounds of flour for 99 cents; four loaves of sandwich white bread for $1.00; celery at 19 cents a stalk; and a dozen oranges for 79 cents. 1952 The Easter season is always one of great rejoicing in the Christian churches throughout the world for it marks the victory of Jesus over the cross and gives promise of eternal life. Holy week in Walkerton will be observed by holding union services each week night starting on Palm Sunday at the Presbyterian Church; Monday at the Pilgrim Holiness Church; Tuesday at the Koontz Lake Church; Wednesday at the E.U.B. Church; and Thursday at the Methodist Church for the Union Communion. Friday the Good Friday service will be held at the E.U.B. Church. Also an Easter breakfast will be held at the Methodist Church beginning at 6:30 a.m. The Walkerton-Lincoln Township Parent-Teachers Association proudly presents for your inspection the new playground equipment at the grade school. A. G. Irwin, manager of Gates Chevrolet Sales, Inc., since its establishment in Walkerton, in 1949, this week announced his appointment as Chevrolet and Oldsmobile dealer in the Walkerton and North Liberty area. The new organization will be known as Irwin Chervolet Company. 1942 Six passenger cars, a school bus and two large trucks piled up in a compound accident on Road 6, six miles east of Walkerton early Monday morning. As a result on man was quite severly injured, three cars and one truck were almost completely wrecked. The whole thing happened when a truck and car collided, due to the ice and fog; another car came along and stopped to see if he could help; then a large truck came along and attempted to drive between the parked and wrecked cars and he struck the truck and then more cars came along and it was to slick for them to stop in time. Dr. C. D. Linton has let the contract for a new seven-room office building to be erected at 506 Roosevelt Road, next to the W. S. Rhodes residence. The Smith Case, which recently changed ownership, has been renamed “Victory Case”, and is now open to business with a complete change of fixtures. Eighteen new families have moved into West York this week. There are now ISO new families in the area. 1937 Doris Huhnke, using the oration, “The Homes Os People”, was declared the winner in the annual Edward O. Snethen oratorical contest held in the Walkerton school

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

“Illegal Drug Tax Bill” There seems to be misconceptions about the impact of an Indiana House bill to tax possession of illegal drugs. The bill does three important things to help law enforcement agencies. It provides another method of prosecuting drug dealers. Sometimes it is easier to convict for tax evasion than for dealing or possessing illicit drugs. Although the bill doesn’t directly address the criminal aspect of dealing drugs, it carries a vehicle to collect civil penalties from drug dealers aftge they are caught with drugs. If the offender does not pay the tax, he may have criminal charges brought against him. Second, it provides the state some reimbursement for investigating and prosecuting the drug pusher. Commissioner of the Department of Revenue, M. F. Renner. said Indiana could possible collect up to $1.5 million in revenue last Thursday evening in the presence of a fair sized audience. The Senior class has chosed as its class play, the mystery farce, “One Mad Night”. The story cannot fail to excite and amuse, moving as it does, at express train speed, with never a breathing spell from beginning to end. The action of the entire play takes place in “One Mad Night”, and what a crazy night it is. Wade Bender, of Chicago, accompanied by Thompson Turner, designer, and an expert cutter, representatives of Master Designers, a Chicago manufacturing concern, were in Walkerton Tuesday investigating the possibility of starting a small wood working factory here. The Hamlet school closed Thursday and Friday of last week because of an outbreak of scarlet fever. The school board and health authorities decided upon this course to prevent the disease from reaching epidemic proportions. SENATE UPDATE By Sen. V. Richard Miller Schools in Indiana must be held accountable for the quality of education provided to Indiana students. Achieving this goal is the intent of House Bill 1360, the proposed AT education package, approved April 3 by the Senate Finance Committee. This action followed the April 2 approval of the state’s proposed 1987-89 biennial budget by Finance Committee members. Senator V. Richard Miller (RPlymouth) endorsed the education plan as the first education bill ever to be seriously considered that focused more on accountability and improvement than simply projected need. Following the 10-5 committee vote. Miller explained that the Senate proposal attempts to take a responsible and realistic approach to the education improvement effort. When proposed by the Governor, HB 1360 presented 31 new and continued educational initiatives and carried a price tag of $372 million above the proposed budget. A sales tax on services was proposed to raise the additional revenue needed. The House-approved plan called for an additional $450 million to be spent but proposed no new funding mechanism. While the Senate-approved version of HB 1360 requires $132 million more than is appropriated for educational purposes in the re-cently-approved budget bill, fiscal analysts indicate that no overall sales tax or personal income tax increase would be needed. Action taken by the Finance Committee to halt the corporate tax phase-out, update Indiana's tax low to bring state practices in line with the new federal tax laws, and implement a 4*/j cent tax on cigarettes accompanied by an increase in the tax

with the passage of this bill. It must be noted that collection of the tax would almost always take place after the arrest. The additional funds could be used in the fight against drug dealers. Everyone agrees that the more people we put behind bars connected with drug trafficking, the less chance our children have of being confronted or propositioned by them. Finally, it gives informers an incentive to turn drug pushers into the police. It allows 10 percent of the money collected from a tax liability to be turned over to the informant. The bill is intended to be one more weapon in the war against drug abuse. This measure passed the House (88-11) and is currently in the Senate for further consideration. Richard W. Mangus State Representative Lakeville placed on some other tobacco products would provide the money necessary for the education improvement now included in HB 1360. “The bill which will be presented to the Senate next week would provide very real improvements to Indiana’s educaton program at a cost we can realistically handle’’. Miller stated. “We are all aware that our education system could stand some improvement, but simply throwing money at the system is not the answer. The bill represents a compromise between the many groups and individuals striving to achieve a better educational system for our children.” The Senate-approved version of HB 1360 reinstates the originallyproposed system of outcome-based accreditation. Schools in Indiana would be accredited based primarily on performance and achievement rather than the physical and material facilities so the institution. The measure also creates a system of performance-based rewards whereby a school would be rewarded for outstanding effort, performance and improvement. While the bill does not add any additional school days. Senate Finance Committee members did require that all 175 instructional days be completed. Project Prime Time was continued for grades K-3, and a system of statewide testing for students accompanied by remediation if necessary was funded in the bill. House Bill 1700. the budget proposal, calls for approximately $15.2 billion to be appropriated over the July 1, 1987 to June 30, 1989 period to cover the expenses of Indiana's state agencies, programs and projects. The proposed budget is based on the spending requests made by administrators of state government. "Many hours of study, discussion and debate went into the formulation of these bills, but 1 truly believe the people of this state now have before them two very beneficial and affordable plans. I hope that legislators in the House and Senate can come together and support these very important bills”, Miller added. HB 1360 and HB 1700 will be presented to the full Senate for consideration next week. If approved, the bills will be assigned to conference committees where differences in the House and Senateapproved versions can be reconciled. BENEFIT FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS AT MILLER’S MERRY MANOR APRIL 17 Join us as Miller’s Merry Manor supports the Special Olympics. A drawing for a beautiful ceramic cross painted by our residents will be held April 17, at 3:00 p.m. at Miller’s Merry Manor in Walkerton. Tickets are available. Contack Mary Jo or Judy, Activity Deparetment. All proceeds will be donated to the Special Olympics.