The Independent-News, Volume 116, Number 38, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 14 February 1991 — Page 4

— THE INDtPtNDtNI NtWb — rtBKUAHY 14, 1991

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OVERLOOKED? Ihe early part of 1991 has had its share of headlines and news both nationally and locally. However, with the War in the Gulf, much news of various nature almost gets overlooked. Almost every television newscast opens with at least an update on the war situation and if special happenings have recently been present in the Middle bast, much of the new cast is centered upon this, and rightfully so. Then of course the local news always takes a share of the spotlight, especially when tragic or dramatic happenings occur. Such has been the case locally with much interest focusing on some very sad news, the case of the 16-ycar old Wakarusa girl, the continued hunt and tie-ins with the “shotgun killings” in the northwest corner of the state, local criminal cases, etc. And once again, this rightfully deserves media coverage. The one thing that seems to have taken a back seat media wise locally however, is the 1991 session of the Indiana General Assembly. This being a long-term session, the one big issue that must be settled this year is the budget. This comes up every other year in the long session and is usually settled at the very last minute. As is the case even on the national level, the desire for “no new taxes” has become almost a promise by some. However, each group still has their own wants and wishes for state funds which will cloud the issue. Several items have come up that must be considered. The IST A has asked for tax increases to support education. This could affect income, property and service taxes. The proposal to give all state employees collective bargaining is a matter that many feel would be too expensive. The National Federation of Independent Businesses is seeking a tax restructuring that would give Indiana businesses relief from the business inventory tax. This is strongly supported among small businesses and supposedly only five percent oppose eliminating this tax. There are many other “pet” projects of special interest groups and individual legislators that require more money. The lottery, while putting money in state coffers, has also been the cause of much battling for its distribution. Certainly the lottery cannot bail out everything, if in fact much of anything. And less federal money for state and local governments further adds to the problem. The make-up of the legislature this year also adds some problems along party lines. The Democrats control the House while the Republicans control the Senate so if party lines are followed on an issue, a stalemate can be reached very easily. The remaining portion of the 1991 legislative session is important. As always, if you are interested, have any comments or questions for your representatives, they are glad to hear from you and their constituents. Remember, they are your representatives, don’t be afraid to use them.

Letter From Sgt. Overton Ln Desert Storm We, in Operation Desert Storm, see in the limited amount of news we get over here, that there is a good amount of support for what we are doing here. I personally have received letters of support from some of you who read this paper. And I'd like to take the opportunity to thank those of you who support our effort and our cause. No one that I know of over here in the military' wanted a war. No one in their right mind could ever want something as terrible as a war. especially on the scale of this one. But we're doing something now that although we’d rather not; we must. We see reports of protests and anti-war demonstrations, and we can appreciate their opinions. But there is such a thing as “reality.’’ Some protesters believe we should “talk" it all out. Reality says that the world spoke, but Saddam Hussein chose not to listen. Some would say to give sanctions more time, reality says that Saddem Hussein was slowly killing Kuwait while we “gave sanctions time " Some say “no blood for oil"; reality says that is a lot more at stake here than pnees at the gas pumps And even if oil was the mam reason for the fighting. 1 would still believe we are justified tn fighting Beiause oil. like it or not. is the bloodline of the world. Whole economies were at stake.

But now it is so much more than oil. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, his reasons changed almost daily. The world raised a collective voice, asking, begging, pleading and finally ordering him to pull out of that country. The world hoped to avert war. Saddam Hussein would have nothing of peace. He opted for war. It is by his choice; not ours. We are the strongest nation on earth, and with that comes, literally, a world of responsibility . Some would say it is none of our business and we should stay out of it. But how many times have we read in a paper or seen on TV that someone was beaten, mugged, raped or killed on a city street, but no one knew anything? Because everyone turned away! Would these people, who believe that we should not be involved in the middle east as we are now, would they also turn away from that beating? From that rape? Wouldn’t these people want someone’s help if they were the ones being beaten? It’s time to quit turning away. It's time for the street-corner bullies who someday rule countries to be put in their place. It’s time to stand-up and confront instead of turning away because "it’s none of our business.” If we don’t now, will we ever? And if we turn away now, or even after some of our soldiers, sailors, airmen or marines have died, aren't we turning away from that mugging or that rape? Yes, there are domestic pressures that our government needs to work on You are a pan of that solution as you are a pan of this one; through voting and voicing your opinion to the people who make the decisions

War is a terrible thing. But there were wars which gave me the right to say all of this, and you the right to read it. In one of lifes most troubling ironies, there can be peace through war if peace is what your fighting for. But there can be no peace, either in our own hearts or in the whole world, if we merely turn away. Keep the home fires burning and the yellow ribbons flying. God bless. Sgt. Delane L. Overton 31 7 TAW (40th Tas Deployed) Det 21 15 WS Desert Storm APO New York 09617 Letter* I must be getting famous. Yesterday I received two cards from people commenting on these letters to the paper. 1 received a nice letter from Susie Teter. She is a former resident of Walkerton with many fond memories of the area. She also included an ad. It seems that Walkerton has a valentine strip show. I had noticed this ad in another paper and attempted to call, trying to sell advertising, but no one answered. Another account not gained. The same day I received a valentine from Ray and Marian Chapman. Roy also received a valentine from Ray and Marian telling him that he's lucky to have me. (I've been telling him this for many years). It’s nice to hear from people and I want to thank the Chapman's and Mrs. Teter for the notes. I now have to be careful and not get the “big head." There is a question that I would like to ask people who have come into town, either starting a new business or acquiring an existing one, why? Was it because you liked the people, the area, the laid back atmosphere? Or was it to get rich quickly? Did you think that you could make this a big town in a hurry? Or did you have a dream and a service that you felt would make Walkerton a better place? We have to answer a question, do we want Walkerton to become a large shopping area, or do we want it to remain a friendly little town? As customers, do we want Walkerton as a necessity or do we want the businesses here only as a convenience to fall back on and to support our local organizations? Where do our loyalties lie? I'm going to have a good time this weekend. There’s ham and beans at the 1.0.0. F. Hall, on Saturday. Then on Sunday the boys at St. Pat's are attempting to have pancakes and sausage again. Thursday is Valentine’s Day and the local restaurants are all having Sweetheart Specials. Now if I can get out of cooking the rest of the week. It is nice to have friends to call on to help when you need them. Nita Smith, I do appreciate your help in my hour of need. (She printed some notices for me at the last minute.) You have a nice trip west and tell your dad “hi" for me. Remember, Walkerton is a nice town in which to shop, to meet and to enjoy. I'm proud to have a Walkerton address! Sincerely, Nedra Williams Very Familiar As I sit here looking through the Independent-News, an article catches my eye. It is titled "A Bad Part-Time Job." In reading the article, I find that there are a lot of things mentioned in it that are very familiar to me. You see I also worked at this family owned store part-time for over four years and full time for one and a half years. My boss and my co-workers were like my second family. It was a real joy working for and with those people In November of 1989 when the owners decided to sell to another family owned store, I stayed at the job and did my best to help my new boss and co-workers 1 even became one of the 12 managers LaDora mentioned

CITIZENS OF THE MONTH B * J । A- -TRLw । , ||||p ■ 1 * ■ ||™ 11

The Citizenship award winners for January at Urey Middle School are Scott Rimbough and Amber Fraiser. Amber is the daughter of Tom Fraiser. 220 S. Williams St.. North Liberty. She is an eighth grade student and her favorite subjects

One night after the store closed. I was sitting in the office doing what each manager did at the end of the day, counting the money and doing the required paper work. I heard a noise and when I looked up, I saw a man with a ski mask on standing in the doorway. He demanded all the money and as I had been told by the original owners of the store, in the case of a robbery, do not argue with them, just do as they say. 1 gave him all the money. To make a long story short, no one was ever caught and no clues as to who it might be. When I went back to work, I was shocked to find that some of my new co-workers took it upon themselves to point the guilty finger at me. I would not ever think of taking money, and had never been accused of such a thing before in my life. Not only did my family have to suffer the humiliation of the whole thing but 1 was very hurt to think that my new co-workers could be such cold and uncaring people. LaDora, just be thankful your ending was as peaceful as it was. You could have had to go through all the humiliation I was put through. I am very glad you are getting out of there. You were always a very dedicated and thoughtful employee when 1 worked with you and you deserve better treatment than you have gotten there. Good luck! Jodi Wolfenbarger Sliter “Support Our Troopa" Editor's Note: We received this letter from two different parties, the exact same wording other than one had a P.S. and the other didn't. Despite the text and meaning, we will only print this letter once so if this is a form letter for people to sign and submit, it has been published here once already.) At a time when the men and women in our armed forces are facing their greatest test, we at home are facing a test as well. Our test is to maintain our unity and resolve, as our troops are doing in the Persian Gulf. We don’t want Saddam Hussein to take this country’s tolerance for anti-war demonstrators as a signal he should wait out our resolve in a long and bloody war. I’m outraged at the brutal treatment of our POW's. And I'm saddened to see the media give so much attention to the small number of anti war protesters who have sprung into action. It seems that every time a few protesters pick up their signs, the cameras swarm around them, and they end up on the news. Our soldiers have said that they have a job to do and are going to get it done. 1 feel I have a job to do, too. And that's to stand up in strong support of our troops. 1 want them to know that 1 and the American people are very proud of them We are all inspired

are English and math and her hobby is riding her bike. Scott is the son of Scott and Gina Rimbough, 303 W. Maple Ave., North Liberty. His favorite subjects are science and history and his hobbies are collecting baseball cards and fishing.

by their bravery. I hope that you’ll print my letter, and others like it, in the days ahead. Thousands of local American newspapers are reaching our men and women in uniform every day. Your newspaper may be one of them. I want the troops to know that we hold them in our thoughts and prayers every day. Howard W. Ferguson Rt. 5, Box 186 Walkerton, Ind. (and) Dr. John Kensill 3510 Wood St. Elkhart, IN (Who included this P.S.) P.S. As a former veteran, I really know how important for moral newsprint from home was to us. This is why I'm adding this P S. to this letter to condemn the accuracy of media and TV coverage given to these protestors. If it hadn't been for our forefathers fighting for our freedom in years past they wouldn't have the oppor tunity to display their signs. sth Annual Falcon Follies Saturday, Feb. 23 John Glenn High School will be presenting its Sth annual Falcon Follies talent show on Saturday, February 23 at 7:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium. This popular show benefits the John Glenn Scholarship Fund, proceeds of which will assist John Glenn graduates with furthering their education. Students acts will also compete for prize money consisting of $50.00 for first place, $30.00 for second place, and $20.00 for third place. The performances will be judged by a panel of guest judges, including Dr. Barbara A. Murray. John Glenn School Corporation superintendent, Mark Durocher, disc jockey with U 93 FM radio, and Jack Riechert and Rob Poulin, morning disc jockeys for Sunny 101.5 RM radio. The audience will be entertained by a variety of acts, including vocal and instrumental acts, dance, and comedy skits. The Jazz Band. Pom Pon squad, and Swing Choir will also appear. Admission will be $3.00 per person. An evening of great entertainment is promised right here in Walkerton, so bring the entire family and support the students at John Glenn High School. Some kangaroos live in treetops The first highways in the new world were built more than 350 years ago by Inca Indians of South America At its peak the Inca Empire extended almost 2,500 miles from Columbia to Chile