The Independent-News, Volume 116, Number 21, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 18 October 1990 — Page 4

- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS — OCTOBER 18, 1990

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| EDITORIALS!

NEGATIVE APPROACH Back in 1968 on General Election Day, when going to lunch I set beside a very successful Walkerton businessman. He told me that for the first time in his life, he had done something on election day he had never done before. He said in the presidential race he voted for the candidate he figured was not as bad as the other. He stated he couldn’t vote for either one as a preference for the better man, but he voted for the one he thought was the lesser of two evils. In other words he voted negatively, not positively in this election. Elections and the campaigning has changed tremendously over the years. The heavy influence of television has not only made financial races out of campaigning, it has also contributed heavily to negative campaigning. All one has to do is turn on the TV today and they can soon see what we mean. The camapign for Congress in the Third District started off as a very negative campaign. One would think how nice it would be if Hiler would talk about Hiler, his accomplishments while in office and goals instead of talking about his opponent in a very' negative way to the point of openly calling his opponent a liar. Roemer responded in many instances. However, the challenger does have the option of striking out at past records of incumbents if they don’t meet what the candidate thinks is a good record in the past. Hiler talking about Hiler and Roemer talking about Roemer would be a much cleaner and informative campaign than the way they started out. It does appear very recently, issues and those inevitable campaign promises are coming more and more back into this campaign. The negative approach is one thing you never got 20 or 30 years ago in a newspaper ad for a candidate. They generally included a picture, maybe with family, etc., their name and office they were seeking plus either some sort of a platform they were running on or the record of what they had done to this point in public office. They didn’t use this space to print negative things about their opponents. This negative approach reaches over into other contested matters as well. The (we hope) now concluded race between two unions to represent the state workers of Indiana provided some mudslinging that would make the worst of candidates proud. This battle was so fiercely waged that well over $4 million dollars was spent for TV time alone. The power struggle seemed to represent a deeper feeling than just the representation of the Indiana state employees. Hence the very negative attitudes and approaches to their advertising. Election day isn’t too far off . . . but with a continued bombardment of advertising, both negative and positive, one could only wish election day were tomorrow. The recent years has found two races to be run when seeking public office, one for the office itself and the second is for the mega bucks needed for any candidate to seek office in this day of the TV advertising and long campaigns. The figures raised and spent by candidates far exceeds what the job pays as it is not uncommon at all for campaigns to be measured in the millions of dollars instead of figures the average person can apprehend. There is a lot of support for some kind of control of campaigns at all levels. However, getting the lawmakers themselves who for the most part seek re-election to their seats or seek other higher offices, would be very reluctant to pass anything that they would question as a detriment to their own campaigning. The lawmakers will take care of the lawmakers first and worry about others later. The 1990 election is important. All elections are important and give to each and every one of us a chance for a voice in our own government. This is a privilege that could be easier if a better type of campaign would be waged by all concerned as they seek either to remain in office or be elected for the first time. Talk of limiting the time a lawmaker can serve has been mentioned, but here again, asking one to put restrictions on himself is asking a lot. Maybe someday someone will come up with away to make political campaigns again positive campaigns and leave the negative factors alone. It would be a blessing for the people who must make the eventual decision. It also could start a trend away from the negative approach that has filtered into life more and more all the time. It stilb is best to be for . . . not seeking the lesser or two evils.

COME ONE — COME ALL The Keith Dipen Benefit is being held this Saturday. Oct. 20. from 12 noon un'il 5 p.m Lots of good food including roast hog. potato salad, baked beans, relish tray and pie will be served. Sounds good, mavbe I will be there. There will be games of chance, hopefully honest (I'm in charge). There are s'ill raffle tickets available from the committee. The Johnson Township Building is west of Walkenon, either via U.S 6 or State Highway

I CM. Signs will be posted. We hope to see you there. Rov and I visited Keith in the hospital, last week, in South Bend. This voung man. in spite of all his adversities, has a wonderful outl<»ok on life. Keith has since gone back to Chicago for further treatmen's. If vou have anv questions about the benefit, call anv member of the committee. Sandv Thomas. Kav Anderson or Nita Smith. There are a lot of ills in this world Yesterdav. I spent the dav a 1 a hospital, while Rov was recovering from surgery (he's doing fine and will be a' home for the next several weeks bugging me) and 'he amount «»f suffering, both mental and physical, is enormous.

People arc lonely and need someone to lis'en. Those of us who are well and able should visit those who are not. I know that many of you do 'his and hopefully will be rewarded for vour love. Most problems in our area and even the world could be taken care of by •hinking “we not me’’. Bob and Carolvn Schaffer and Al's from the lake have donated to the Keith Diper' Benefit. Thank You. Remember if vou tell others abom vour problems, they will have more than vou. and they will 'ell vou. and tell vou . . . Bring vour money and we will sec vou this Saturday at the Benefit. Sincerely Ncdra Williams “Child Care Program” I am wri'ing this letter in grati'ude to the members of seven area churches for supporting and providing supplies for the Community Churches Child Care Program at Nor'h I iberty Elementary School. As working parents, it is a great sense of security to go off to our jobs each dav knowing that our children are safe and well cared for bv 'he s'aff of this program. I'm sure some parents feci that •heir children can be trusted for the 'ime they mav be alone before and af'er school, and that mav be true depending on the individual child. Bu' s'op and think . . . can vou trust 'he o'her person? I can fell vou from a personal experience in mv family 'ha' the “nothing will every happen to me" theory is not so . . . and if a child is violated in anv wav i' can remain a factor in their personality the rest of their lives. We are very fortunate in our community to have this child care program available to us. If vou arc no' familiar with Community Churches Child Care, it is a beforeaf'er school care located in the cafceria a' North Liberty Elemcn'arv and is available to all area school children. If you would like •o learn more, an Open House will be held a’ the program November 7, h from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. Once again, thanks to these churches: North Liberty Church of Chris': North Liberty Church of the Bre'hren: Pine Creek Church of the Bre'hren. North Liberty First Bre'hren Church, North Liberty Uni'ed Me'hodist Church. St. John’s Lutheran Church and Beaver Creek Wesleyan Church. And 'he program staff. Lyn Sump'er and Norma Bennett for providing this much needed and apprecia'ed program for our children. Sincerely. An Appreciative Parent PS. Also thanks to Brent Kaufman. principal at North Liberty Flemen'arv. for allowing the program space at the school and to the John Glenn School Board for approving this program. “Red Ribbon Week” The week of October 20-28, 1990. is known as National Red Ribbon Week. It’s an opportunity for parents as well as children to heighten their knowledge about the harmful effects of drugs. Help educate our youth about the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse. Tell them to think before being pushed into something they don’t want to pushed into. Children are our biggest asset. So show your support, wear a red ribbon during this week. Convince your friends, family, and co-workers to show their support, and maybe sometime in the future we won’t even have to have a Red Ribbon week. Sandra Anderson “Beautiful Season” Fall is upon us. Many people find this the most beautiful season of the year. I would like to share with vour readers, one of the loveliest places in our area. Ancilla College. Ancilla is located in Donaldson. Indiana. When one drives into the main gate it looks like a castle. All the

trees arc in perfect rows and the building is very well kept. There are shrines on the grounds including the breathtaking statue of Mary imported from Italy. This monument was a gift given to the Sisters of the diocese. Lake Gilbraith (Gilbert) is located right off campus. During this season many Canadian geese, seagulls and herons can be found here. There are many different trees on the grounds and surrounding the lake. The hues of autumn, red. yellow, orange and brown arc all represented here. It is an awesome and uplifting experience to sec mother nature at work here. Stop in the college while you arc enjoying the beauty of Ancilla gounds. and sec what the school has to offer. The facility is excellent and will do anything they can to help you. So take a Sunday drive to Donaldson, and visit the beauty of Ancilla. Erin Harper PANCAKE AND SAUSAGE BREAKFAST The Knigh's of Columbus will sponsor a “all vou can cat" Pancake and Sausage Breakfast, on Sunday. Oc'. 21. from 9:0 a.m. un'il 1? noon. The cos' will be 5? ^0 for adul's. $1.50 for 12 and under and pre school will be free. The breakfas' will be held a' S'. Pa ricks School Hall, so come and enjoy a grea' breakfas' and bring vour appc'i'e’ FIRE SAFETY STORIES Top grand prize fire safety s'orics from North Liberty arc prin'ed below. Home Safety Bv Abbi Singleton. Grade 5 Did vou ever know how bad fires can hur' vou? Fires have killed and seriously injured people needlessly for years. Fires have killed living 'hings like animals and to many of them. To some people it always seems to be a mystery howfires s'ar'. Bu' mavbe. deep down inside, thev know how . Fires star' bv things like leaving ou' ma'ches. aerosol cans being where 'hev shouldn't, and to many plugs in one outlet. There is a wav 'o prevent fires, and here is some of 'he wavs. 1. If vou smoke, alwavs make sure vour cigarette is completely smokeless. 2. Use smoke alarms and fire detectors. 3. Alwavs remember to leave the s'ove off when you’re finished using i'. 4. Never leave things Icing around like matches, liters, and guns. 5. Alwavs put out camping fires when your done. If vou arc ever in a fire, alwavs remember to stay low. Smoke and ho' air rises. The clean air will s'av below . If you ever catch anv pan of your body on fire, remember to stop, drop, and roll. If your house catches on fire, get out as fas' as vou can. If you arc going ou' a door, check with the back of vour hand to feel if it is hot. When you get out of the burning house, go to the neighbors to call the fire department. Also, make sure vou and your family have a place to meet if your house does cat ch on fire. Follow all of these tips, and you’ll know more abou' how to prevent fires and know how to get ou’ of them. The End How To Escape A Fire Bv Shawn Alspaugh. Grade 5 A fire is dangerous. To escape a fire you need two things. The first thing is a smoke detector. A smoke detector will pick up smoke from the fire and will make a beeping sound to tell you. It is loud so it can wake vou if you are sleeping. The second thing is an escape plan. An escape plan includes a wav to get out of a building and a place to meet your family once vou get out of the building. If you are sleeping when a smoke detector goes off you should get out of bed and stay as low as possible and crawl to the

door. Feel the door with the back of your hand. If it is cold open it slightly and peck out. If the coast is clear, crawl out the door. If when vou feel the door it is warm, go to a window and open it or break it. If you have ground below, climb out. and go to your meeting place. If you arc on the second s'ory or higher, wave a hrigh'lv colored object so the firemen can see you. Thev will come and get vou. HALLOWEEN PHANTASY AT BENDIX WOODS COUNTY PARK Do certain animals make you squeemish? What arc the myths and facts about spiders and snakes? On Thursday. October 25 and Friday. October 26. St. Joseph County Parks and Recreation Dept, and the Potato Creek State Park naturalist staff, will offer Halloween Phantasy at Bendix Woods County Park. This year theme will be misunderstood wildlife. During the program, a short ride on a haywagon will be followed by a 90 minute hike through the dimly lit trails. Along the way several comical and creepy characters, including a spider, a snake doctor and a toad, will entertain participants with the legends and lore surrounding our misunderstood wildlife. A wagon ride will bring participants back to the shelter where “witches brew" (refreshments) will be available for purchase. Tours will be offered at 6:30. 6:50. 7:10. 7:30. 8:00. 8:20. 8:40 and 9:00 p.m. on a reservation only basis. All tours are strictly limited to 25 persons per tour. Duc to the length and the amount of walking Halloween Phantasy is not recommended for children age 5 and under. Tickets arc $3.50 per person and can be purchased from any St. Joseph County Park office or by mail from Bendix Woods County Park. For further ticket information call 654-3155. UREY VOLLEYBALL NEWS The B'h grade girls volleyball 'cam traveled to Wakarusa Thursday. October 4. Unfortunately, 'hev were defeated 15-12 and 15-4 Anni'ah Patrick had the best serving record with 4 of 5. All •earn members looked excellent and did an outstanding job On Tuesday. October 9. the girls plaved a tough Oregon-Davis •cam bu' were defeated two out of 'hrec games 15 12. 8-15 and 15-12. The girls hustled and gave then, a run for 'heir monev. The vollevball teams traveled to Knox for a tournament. The 7th grade rolled over their Knox opponen's in the first round to make it •o 'he championship game. The B'h grade also rolled over the LaVillc Lancers in the first game 15-1 and 15-7. The Bth grade made it to the championship game aKo. Unfortunately, both the 7th and B'h grade teams were defeated. The B'h grade held their opponen's with their excellent serves, good spikes and blocks. The girls should be proud to be runner-up 'earns in the tourney. On Monday. October 15. the Urev teams met Mishawaka Young on their court. The 7th grade was defeated 15-10. 14-16 and 15-4 despite Lisa Matz serving nine s'raight points. The Bth grade plaved tough but were defeated 15-9 and 15-3. All team members should be proud of their representation of Urev Middle School. The 7th and Bth grade teams final game for the season will be Mondav. October 22 against New Prairie a' home. Come and encourage these fine athletes. The majority of cats weigh between seven and twelve pounds. Always keep cultured buttermilk chilled. If it becomes warm, it may separate. If it does—stir it. On average. Salt Lake City, Utah gets 17 inches more snow a year than Fairbanks, Alaska.