The Independent-News, Volume 116, Number 41, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 7 March 1991 — Page 4

- THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS - MARCH 7, 1991

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| EDITORIALS!

CONGRATULATIONS! Two more examples of being rewarded for achieving goals have unfolded in the last couple of weeks. Both of these pinnacles of success come from hard work and dedication on the part of the young people and their leaders in the involved situations. We are referring to the John Glenn Band being selected to represent the Slate of Indiana in Washington, D.C. for the Festival of States and the recent winning of the Sectional tourney by the basketball team and the conclusion of another great all-round season. High school students who participate in activities such as this have to have some extra drive and desire to accomplish their task. Os course there is fun and enjoyment in both ventures, playing in the band and participating in athletics. But not all students will dedicate themselves and sacrifice other interests to achieve this kind of success in their efforts. The band will venture to our nation’s capital this July 6th to 9th to participate in several activities and perform at different locations. The Falcons basketball team will travel to Elkhart this Saturday morning to make their second ever appearance in the Regional tourney, the second step along the way in an effort to claim the coveted title of State Champion. Regardless of the outcome, the team under the very able direction of Gordon Mosson, has participated very well and already brought home several laurels for this year. Taking a 194 record to Elkhart, they will meet a Warsaw team that is highly ranked in the state and certainly over the years a veteran of many post-season tournaments. These two will meet at 11:00 a.m. Saturday with the winner to advance to the regional final that night and the right to advance one step further along the tournament trail. The band’s reward comes from not just this season, but for an outstanding record over the recent years. Under the direction of Dan Fortlander, the “Falcon Pride’’ has won honors both on the marching field and also with their concert band. This honor is one that can be remembered forever by these young people. Our congratulations go to all of these students, their leaders, the school officials and all the supporters who in their own way help make this possible. This is another outstanding achievement for our local schools and young people.

“To The Walkerton Ambulance Crew” Dear Angels of Mercy. Thanking you is not enough. I thank God for your help and presence when I was shaking so hard. I was afraid my message wouldn't get through, you were here by my side immediately. 1 was so afraid Jim wouldn't live to get to the hospital, he was already reaching unconsciousness. 1 stayed behind long enough to call my family. I wanted them to be able to say goodbye. J went to the hospital the short cut and prayed all the way that he wouldn’t die and leave me. 1 praise every single one of you for your unselfish way of life, caring for others, holding your hands out for people like me to grasp and hold on to. 1 bless you not only for helping me when I thought I'd never see my Jim again, but for helping others who may not be able to thank you. You used every single method to save Jim’s life. You were there when I needed you and I’m so grateful, you are truly Angels of Mercy in all the good hearted unselfish things you do and the way you do it. Your proficiency is remarkable. 1 thank God for every single one of you. You are rare indeed. You are so caring, professional, proficient and you're all so very dear to precious to me. May God bless you all. Lorraine Mercer “Correction" Please include this in your next edition to correct some errors in quotations made by me in the school board minutes. It should be acknowledged that the John Glenn School Board minutes are edited by the superintendent and that the contents and

especially the meaning may not be correct. I suggested to the Board that their recent decisions did not necessarily represent the desires of the community. The vote at the last election obviously projected this fact whereby two school board members lost by 1,100 to 400 votes and the third did not get the majority vote. The third was Mr. Miller, who received approximately 400 votes while 600 plus were split between two other candidates. With these fact in mind I asked the school board if they, at this time, felt they were representing the desires of the school district (taxpayers). 1 also asked if the school board was planning to poll the school district about their decision. In a time when the Federal Government is continuing its spending spree, when most of our property taxes have skyrocketed, when we will be paying off the S & L scam, when the cost of living is going up and the employment is going down, when the cost of a war will surely be ours, and when the state is making enormous spending reductions, it seems very unreasonable to consider 12,000,000 dollars for a new middle school. It it is truly the education of our young that the school board has in mind, they should look at stricter discipline and backing teachers that promote this. They should look at monetarily rewarding good teachers. Parents and students that do not feel that a good education and discipline are important and feel the need to demonstrate this should be asked to find another educational facility. Abraham Lincoln learned in a log cabin and became president. Just as the clothing does not make the man, the school building does not make the student. Respectfully, F. A. Engel. Jr., D O. “Stop Signs Mean Stop” Everyday 1 watch cars jump the four-way comer near our house.

Sometimes these vehicles are traveling at a high rate of speed and when they turn, sometimes they are on only two wheels. This is a bad comer. There is always a blind side. Please slow down and stop, I really don’t like taking up flower money for my neighbors! Especially those who die because of stupidity. I get very tired of hearing of someone getting killed at a railroad crossing. We are told they are bad crossings, but many of them have lights and barriers. Maybe we should take all the lights and crossbars and put up the old stop-look-and listen. Then maybe people would become more responsible for their own safety. Fred, the wooly worm, is not dead. He's in a deep sleep, except when he awakens and has a bite to eat. We now have a total of five ^orms. 1 don’t know where Roy finds them but he does. We must have gotten to be known as a soft touch because the other day another worm was waiting by the front door. As I go through life, (isn’t that poetic) 1 listen to people. Many of the items that I write about I have taken from other people. 1 hear about their illnesses and pains and even sometimes I hear about their good days. People used to take time and visit, maybe just a cup of coffee or a chat. Everybody is in such a hurry these days (even myself. I'm sorry to say) that consideration, understanding, and just plain good manners fall by the way-side. Everything has to be organized so that we are always busy. The people have bum out and have to recuperate. Wouldn’t it be easier just to slow down and enjoy life. Look at the birds, listen to them as they go about their work, they're singing! I like to rush about so that 1 can go home and loaf. America has a lot to offer and enjoy, but I'm afraid that many Americans do not appreciate their many blessings, they expect them! Time to get this letter in so that 1 can go home and relax (ha, ha). Sincerly, Nedra Williams (^B^MEMBEB? 1986 Additional charges are pending in the stabbing death of Robert R. “Whitie” Laßere, according to Police Chief Gassensmith, of Walkerton. Laßere died on Sat., March 1, in the intensive care unit of the LaPorte Hospital following the stabbing during a burglary at his home on Feb. 14. On Feb. 14, the Walkerton Elementary Choir gathered in the gymnasium of their school to attempt to set a world’s record for holding the longest note. The note began at precisely 4:30 and was sustained by the 45 fourth and fifth graders for a total of three hours. Mrs Charles Hogan, Koontz Lake, became a member of the “Hole In One" club on Feb. 20, when she fired a shot on the 16th hole at the Pine Crest Golf Gub, Largo, Florida. Mrs. Hogan was also awarded a certificate by the club in recognition of this feat. 1981 Members of the John Glenn Thespian Society will present “God’s Favorite,” on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, March 12-14, at 7:30 p.m. nightly. Members of the cast are Sherry Klinedinst, Cary Zartman, Diena Pletcher. Tim Hanson, Dawn Pletcher, Doug Campbell, James Godwin and Mike Elkin. Church Women United will be celebrating World Day of Prayer on Friday. March 6, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church, north of Donaldson. The Polk-Lincoln-Johnson School Corporation Board of Trustees met on Tuesday and announced that a public meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 10, at 7:30 p.m., at Urey Middle School for discussion of the renovation project for Urey this summer.

1971 Each Saturday, starting March 6, a series of stories will be read or told to young children, ages 3-5, at the Walkerton Public Library, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. "New Life Awaits,” is this year's theme for the year's World Day of Prayer to take place at 8:00 p.m. at the Walkerton United Methodist Church. Plans for the fourth annual Walkerton Festival Horse Show to be held on Sunday, June 6, are underway according to Don Wray, chairman and 4-H Horse and Pony leader for Lincoln Township. At the market pork loins were selling for 59 cents a pound; pork sausage at 69 cents a pound; cube steak at 99 cents a pound; smoked hams at 59 cents a pound; slab bacon at 53 cents a pound; three pounds of bologna for SI.00; and a dozen medium eggs for 39 cents. 1966 The North Liberty PT A celebrated Founder's Day at the high school recently. Jack Hiler, seventh grade student at Polk-Lincoln-Johnson elementary School, was revealed the winner of the Walkerton Junior Chamber of Commerce's Independence Hall essay contest Wednesday at a special assembly. At the market three pounds of ground beef was selling for 99 cents; rolled beef roast at 87 cents a pound; swiss steak at 79 cents a pound; pork chops at 69 cents a pound; round steak at 77 cents a pound; bananas at 10 cents a pound; three dozen oranges for $1.00; and a pound box of Ritz crackers for 35 cents. 1961 The preliminary hearing on the water injunction has been called for Friday, with a private hearing in the judge's chambers as the attornies will meet with Judge Dempsey of the Superior Court #2, at 2:30 p.m. Busy hands and nimble fingers are being kept busy as March 18 draws closer, meaning the bazaar and smorgasbord time for the PTA. The fourth annual Minstrel will be held by the Walkerton Lions Gub, on Friday, March 10, with a show and cast that promises to make this the biggest and best. Again under the direction of Walter Denaut, the club has organized their case of end men, soloists and a chorus. The Scouts of Walkerton will be honored by the Walkerton Lions at their regular meeting as a pot luck dinner and visit from several VlP’s will make the big evening. 1956 The Chapter Star Farmers Award was won by Howard Borton of the local FFA. He will receive a small plaque and the local chapter will also receive a plaque to be hung in the agriculture room. At the market chickens were selling for 47 cents a pound; chuck roast at 39 cents a pound; picnic hams at 29 cents a pound; pork cutlets at three pounds for SI.00; slicing bologna at three pounds for SI.00; hamburger at 35 cents a pound; dub steak at 49 cents a pound; and swiss cheese also at 49 cents a pound. The committee in charge of the street and store decorations for the forthcoming Centennial celebration in Walkerton, announces they are now in the process of obtaining old objects of interest for display in the various store windows of the local merchants. Thursday, March 1, just one hundred years since men started shaving in these parts, the men folk will stop shaving (well . . . most of them) by decree of the Centennial Whisker Chief of Walkerton, Dave Lawrence, and his committee. Yes sir, starting Thursday, the Centennial Gestapo will have a weather eye open at all times for the men folks who don’t wear whiskers and the women who do wear cosmetics of varing degrees. 1951 March 2, at 6:30 p.m., the Town

Gub of the Walkerton Women’s Gub annual Bennedict’s Frolic was held. The annual affair affords members and their husbands an evening of food, fellowship and lots of fun. A total of 8,483 Indiana residents signed commitment cards last week expressing their desire to join with an Indiana Methodist Church. The action was the result of the Indiana Area Week of Visitation Evangelism lay evengelistic effort held recently. During the la\ evangelistic effort, 5,999 teams of Methodist laymen visited 21,653 Hoosiers, of this number 5,352 wished to join a Methodist Church by profession of faith and 3,131 b\ transfer of membership. 1946 A large barn of the Charles Gingenppel farm, three miles north of Walkerton was completels destroyed by fire Thursday evening. The Keen Teen Gub has been making rapid progress in prepara tion for the Keen Teen Follies This program consists of enough different types of entertainment s< as to provide complete enjoyment for everyone between the ages of 12 and 102. Henry Siebenmark, State Com mander of the American Legion, will be in Walkerton tonight to attend the induction ceremonies of the World War II veterans who will be formerly initiated into the Orville Easterday Post Home. Ruth Waldron and Florence Garke will represent Walkerton High School in the plane geometrs division of the State Mathematic contest sponsored by Indiana Uni versity and Notre Dame will host the contest. 1941 R.W. Wolfram, of the Walkerton Lumber and Coal Co., was named president of the Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan Retail Lumber Association, in an annual convention, held in South Bend. Copies of the official 1941 State Highway Map of Indiana are to be available for distribution about mid-March. At the market colby cheese was selling for 23 cents a pound; a carton of cottage cheese for 10 cents; smoked picnics at 19 cents a pound; two pounds of bologna for 25 cents; and two pounds of pure ground beef for 39 cents. GREAT LAKE AMBASSADORS BAND AND ORCHESTRA The Great Lake Music Camp is now accepting applications for the Great Lake Ambassadors Band and Orchestra’s “Great American Patriotic Performance Tour” to Washington D.C. from June 29 to July 6 Applications will be accepted from band and orchestra students who are enrolled in grades eight through twelve during the 1990-91 school year. Dr. Robert Klotman, retired chairman of the music education department of Indiana Universits and past president of the Music Educators National Conference and American String Teachers Assoc , will conduct the orchestra. Dr Robert Grechecksy, associate pro fessor of music in the Jordan College of Fine Arts at Butler Uni versity and artistic director and conductor of the Indianapolis Sym phonic Winds, will conduct the band. The eight day tour will begin with a day of rehearsals at Butler University in Indianapolis. Per formances will include concerts at the White House, the U.S. Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. In addition to touring the attractions of Washington, D.C., the students will attend the 4th of July concert presented by the National Sym phony Orchestra and Marine Corps Review presented by “The Presi dent’s Own" United States Marine Band. For a brochure or more infor mation contact Dr. Daniel Bolin a' 317-782-4562 or write Great Lake Ambassadors, P.O. Box 17625 Indianapolis, IN 46217.