The Independent-News, Volume 113, Number 23, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 5 November 1987 — Page 4

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- THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS - NOVEMBER 5, IM7

WHilllli EDITORIALS

FIVE DIFFERENT STORIES The Town Election of 1987 in Walkerton turned out to be one of five different stories. In looking over the unofficial results, one sees no patterns and very few similarities other than the fact that very apparently more Democrat votes than Republican votes were cast at the polls in this town election. One thing did surface that is encouraging regardless of whether or not one enjoyed the results, that being the fact that voters are not afraid or hesitant to cross a party line and split a ticket. Voting for the individual was so obvious in this election and as we break down the five races we again state there were five different stories. Our views on these races follow. Story 1, Judge of the Town Court It is ironic that just four years ago, the Democrats swept all offices except this newly created position in which Judy Baker was a loser at the polls. However, after the victor resigned this position shortly after taking office, Judy was then appointed to fill the vacancy and not only did she take the position she had sought in the election, she has done an outstanding job. She, in her tenure as judge, has worked and studied hard and the results are very evident, a very well run and efficient Town Court is the result. She deserved her re-election to this spot and even her opponent in this election would not argue this point. She simply won by doing an excellent job in this office. Story 2, Ward 3. This contest featured a rather different set of circumstances. Four years ago the Democrat party for some reason still undetermined by many, decided to dump some of their incumbents at the caucus level. Jack Rizek had been serving on the Board from this ward for two terms and had served several years as president. He was a very sincere and hard working president, but when the party leaders wanted him out, it was a record crowd they gathered together at the caucus level and chose Cliff Ward over Rizek for the fall election. Cliff then went on to lead the Democrat ticket in the fall sweep of the Town Board seats. Four years later, Jack’s wife, Cheryl, made her debut in politics, switching to the Republican ticket and opposing Ward in Tuesday’s election. She pulled off the victory by a fairly close margin, but just possibly some echos of the past were heard and answered for the party’s dumping of her husband four years earlier after a good tenure in office. There has to be reasons for this victory and after four years service and one year as president, Cliff is now gone from the Board perhaps partially for something he had little control over four years ago. Story 3, Ward 4. We feel the big victory by Lenard Jaske over Virgil Gwin in this ward is simply a matter of age. Taking or giving nothing on personalities, we feel the 50 years or so difference in age was strictly the deciding factor. The winner either way was to be a hew face to the Board as both candidates were running for a first time for this office. Story 4, Ward 5. This was an interesting battle. Maggie Gaddis had defeated Raymond Keck four years earlier in an election that was almost predictable. Keck had been on the Board for four years, but due to his employement, he was unable to attend meetings most of 1983. His job on the night shift had to come first and after using all his legal means of getting off work to attend, he simply was almost non-existent for the better part of that year. In fact, his pay was cut due to the fact he didn’t attend meetings. Gaddis won big, by over 300 votes in 1983. With the two candidates facing each other again, it appeared it might be a different story. However, with incumbents having a tough time both this year and in last year’s two seat election when board president Greg Williams won only by a small margin, Gaddis completely dominated Keck again in this battle. Evidently the voters remembered four years back and gave Gaddis an overwhelming victory in 1987. Story 5, Clerk-Treasurer. This story has so many chapters to it we can’t begin to relate them all. However, we feel there was a few deciding chapters to this story that resulted directly in the result of this election. Kackie Chrapliwy was first appointed as clerk-treasurer following the resignation of Tom Frame, the elected official in 1975. This occured approximately 10 years ago sometime in the year 1977. In 1979, she sought her first elected term and was unopposed as the incumbent. Four years ago, she was challenged by Bob Schaeffer and won by the very thinest of margins, 368 to 366. Just one vote the “other way” would have resulted in a tie. However, this warning that was flashed as the other Democrats seeking Town Council seats all won, evidently wasn’t heeded as a warning that perhaps people weren’t all that pleased with the performance at that time. Kackie then was a victim of some circumstances. Under the old format, an entirely new board was seated, no one having any experience and in most parts even imagination of what was ahead. As a veteran of six plus years as clerk-treasurer and additional time in the office prior to her appointment, she had to assume more responsibilities than actually was hers due to the fact that the board elected in 1983 collectively, didn’t know up from down about running the Town. Add to this for many months and even well into the second year, this Board was more famous for its bickering, ridiculous arguing about the most minute of details and a constant state of confusion, Kackie had to take on her shoulders the responsibilities

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1982 Kristine Jean Kopanski. a senior at John Glenn High School, was chosen as the 1982-1983 Walkerton Area Junior Miss during the 11th annual Junior Miss Pageant. Saturday night in the John Glenn High School auditorium. Kris, the daughter of Mrs. Evelyn Kopanski and the late Mr. Vance Kopanski. also received awards for scholastic achievement and poise and appearance. The Walkerton United Methodist Church will host the Choir Festival this year on Sunday, October 24, at 7:00 p.m. The idea that the church choirs should have a chance to hear each other sing, began in 1970 and has blossomed into a community event, held each year in a different area church. The GFWC Woman’s Community Cub of Walkerton met at 10:00 a.m. Friday, October 15, in the Walkerton Community Building to lend their willing and capable hands to making of favors for the trays of the patients of Miller’s Merry Manor of Walkerton on Halloween and Thanksgiving. The chairman was Marjorie Curl assisted by her committee, Evelyn Sobat. Dorothea Brenner and Mildred Nolcheff. The Zeta Pi chapter of Tri Kappa met October 13 in the North Liberty United Methodist Church. An initiation service was held for Mary Kay Stedman, Rose Snyder, Joyce Liggett and Karen Rozycki. President Julia Carr, conducted the service, assisted by Jan Geyer, corresponding secretary, and Sheila Scott, recording secretary. Helen Loucks served as pianist and Carol Johnson as vocalist. 1972 “Her Fashion Frolic" has been chosen as the theme for this year's annual style show by St. Patrick's Women’s Club to be held on thursday, October 26, at 8:00 p.m., at the school hall. Fashions will be provided by Her Place, of Walkerton. At the market round or swiss steak was selling for 97 cents a pound; rump roast at SI. 19 a pound; sirloin tip steak at 51.39 a pound; pork tenderettes at 89 cents a pound; bulk pork sausage at 59 cents a pound; stuffed sausage at 69 cents a pound; corned beef

of running the show. However, the Board never re-assumed their duties. The clerk-treasurer basically did it all. She made up the pay ordinances, she had almost unrestricted purchasing power, she made decisions that were really the Board’s to make and actually, whether you like the phrase or not, was running the town. The reporting in word-for-word detail of those almost humorous meetings that were lasting for hours and hours didn’t help. She recorded the meetings and then entered them word-for-word in the minutes, once submitting for publication a 30 page set of minutes that didn’t contain two pages of business. There were definite sides drawn early on the Board and it was more than obvious whose side she was on. Add to this the fact that complaints were heard time and time again from patrons going into the clerk-treasurer’s office with a question or problem and very often being greeted with the answer “we’re right and you’re wrong”, rather than a considerate effort to work out any problems that might exist. An experience like this isn’t easily forgotten. Many felt the elected and appointed town officials were not working for the public they are to serve, but for themselves. On November 3, 1987, the voters made their feelings known. After a warning was given four years ago, the voters stated on Tuesday that they were ready for the Town to be run by the Town Board again and not the clerk-treasurer’s office. Personalities aside, this was a definite chapter in this story, there were many more, but this was the important one. The taking over of the clerk-treasurer’s job by Judy Hiler will not necessarily be an easy one ... but it also isn’t an impossible one. We hope the Board, the various Town departments and the public will give her all the help and consideration needed in making this conversion the best for all. After all, the sun will rise again, life will go on and the we hope the only difference will be under some new and different leadership than has been the case of recent years in Walkerton. The Board has their job to do, the clerk-treasurer and her office their job to do. We think they both can be done with efficiency.

brisket at 89 cents a pound; slicing bologna at 89 cents for a pound package; and minced ham at $1.09 a pound. In the produce department, potatoes were selling for $1.39 for a 20 pound bag: bananas at three pounds for 39 cents; radishes or cucumbers at 9 cents each; eight pounds of Jonathan apples for 79 cents; and a gallon of apple cider for 79 cents. Six cans of 7-Up were selling for 79 cents; three cans of Hawaiian punch for SI.OO and four packages of brown and serve rolls for SI.OO. 1952 A new air field, located between Walkerton and North Liberty, to serve these two locations, has been opened and is now seeking a suitable name. The field is sponsored by Bob Lonzo, Bob Reed and Roy Williams and the port is located on the old John Dish farm, one mile west and one mile south of North Liberty, at the corner of Smilax and Quinn Roads. Three hangers have been erected and a half-mile runway built. A contest is being held for the naming of the field and the winner will receive a free plane ride. Seven civic organizations in Walkerton are cooperating to sponsor the annual Halloween Frolic for the boys and girls of the community and the countryside who will mask and march in the parade set for October 30. The second anniversary of Welco Restaurant will be celebrated on October 25. with the special of the day turkey pot pie with all the trimmings for sl.lO. Also a piece of birthday cake will be served to everyone according to the owners. James and Frances Meltinos. 1942 Thirty-seven boys reported to coach Donald Wahl for basketball practice this week. In spite of a great handicap, due to the fact that the gymnasium is used for classroom work and for storage of furniture for the new school building, the practice sessions are going forward. There is on pressing problem facing the team this year and that is the matter of transportaion. State authorities have ruled that the school buses cannot be used to transport basketball teams, due to the tire and gasoline situation, so that the team must

find “other means of getting to their out-of-town games". An appeal is being made for volunteers to donate their cars with the school paying all expenses. The LaFeber & Son store in Walkerton is celebrating another milestone in its successful career this week. Established by the late Walter LaFeber in 1913, the store is now starting its 30th year of continuous service to the people of the community. Following the conclusion of World War 1 in 1918, Mr. Laheber took his son, Ralph, into the business, and changed the store name to LaFeber & Son. Upon the death of Mr. LaFeber in 1934. Ralph took over the active management of the business and has since carried on under the same name, and with equal success. A special anniversary sale in celebration of the event is being planned. Users of fuel oil and car owners will ail register for ration books on these two commodities within the next few days. Registration will be held at the school. VOICE OF THE PEOPLE “Halloween Past” Halloween is now but an Autumn memory and the Jack-O-Lanterns no longer light the porches of our streets. We still chuckle as we remember Johnny, the “bum”, wearing daddy’s old suitcoat, and reflect upon how beautiful Susie looked dressed up as an “angel"; it reminds us that she’s growing up so fast. But I have other things to reflect upon! I have other memories of a Halloween where innocent people w'ere caught up in a web of rumor. I saw friendships crumble as fear held many hostage within their own homes. I saw families and hard working business persons viewed with suspicion and fall victim to blind accusation. There were families that wouldn't let their children attend school, and some even spoke of violence, cloaked under the veil of “Christianity”. I, and other members of this department. worked with four other police agencies as we attempted to investigate and unravel the infinite number of rumors that had handicapped our effectiveness. Neighbor was telling neighbor of these rumors; no one told the police. We had calls of suspicious persons at the school; it turned out to be parents not trusting the very system that had just caught them. Vigilantes were wanting to break into homes and search indiscriminately for evidence of “witchcraft”. Yet, when faced with the possibility of arrest, they wanted to make sure that their rights weren't violated. How sad I was to watch ordinarily prudent persons begin a courtship of insanity. 1 spent a great deal of time, both on and off duty, protecting and speaking with one of the families that was indicted by allegation. 1 felt such empathy as they fought, in vain, to hold back the tears as they sent their children away because of death threats. I saw their business suffering as surely as if a plaque had beset them. 1 watched as fear gave way to justified anger as bullets struck their home and as words cut them as deeply as any cutlass could be expected to do. They could not sleep; but they could forgive. Now we begin to write the final chapter. The apologies have begun as the rumors fade, and we attempt to return to normality. Their pain is real and impossible to ignore, however we are a resilient community and our wounds are quickly healed. They want only to be part of this community, and they hold no animosity. They have been vindicated and choose to forgive — should we do any less? Richard E. Bliley, Chief North Liberty Police Department