The Independent-News, Volume 116, Number 44, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 28 March 1991 — Page 4

- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - MARCH 28, 1991

4

I EDITORIALS I

2 KINDS OF REDISTRICTING The term redistricting is in the news. The term re-alignment is also in the news. Whatever you want to call it, both are scheduled to be settled in the near future. Law provides that every ten years, after the official census is taken, that redistricting be done to equalize as near as possible, the congressional districts, and the State Senate and House districts. This is now in the process of being done in Indiana, a job that carries more with it than just evening up the numbers. The parties in power can dominate this task which has to be approved by House and Senate alike. If one party controls both houses, they pretty much can set the lines where they want. If, as in the case in Indiana this year, each party controls one house, compromises must be part of the overall package. There is some discussion on how the Third Congressional District will be laid out. Os course, efforts are made to follow county and at least township lines if county lines aren’t feasible. Presently six counties comprise the Third District, most of LaPorte, St. Joseph, Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall and Starke. Some adjustments will have to be made and in 1981 the District was made a little heavier in registered republicans with that party in power and Indiana having to drop from 11 congressional districts to ten. This year, with Indiana remaining constant with 10 districts, only population figures will be affected, but you can be sure each party will be watching out for their own good. The state situation will have more changes. In our area, not too much change is expected even though a slight change will be called for. House districts in Indiana, to be ideally sized, would have a population of 55,442 and Senate districts 110,883. Reaching very close to these figures is not always an easy job, especially when the political angles are included as to incumbents trying at least solidify their current political ratios. But if you really want to hear some hollering, just wait until the other re-alignment is announced. This involves one of Indiana’s most respected factors, high school basketball. The IHSAA is going to re-align sectionals throughout the state to put no more than six teams in each sectional and as the entries to this year’s tourney revealed, 63 sectionals could have six teams and just one only five. That will call for an extremely heavy amount of re-alignment in our surrounding area. Currently South Bend, Elkhart, North Judson, Valparaiso and East Noble have eight teams. Plymouth and Michigan City have six and Warsaw five. This means that a lot of switching must be done. It is not just a case necessarily of leaving the six team centers alone as the overall picture must be taken into consideration. Also, where the sites can be held with gyms adequate for such action, etc., must be taken into consideration. Whatever the result, there is going to be a lot of comments made on this re-alignment. It will be interesting to see and will in all probability break up some long standing rivalries and create new ones in future years. Whether it’s politics or sports, making changes such as this is not an easy job and is one that the results certainly will make many people unhappy. Even though others will be pleased, you will hear from those that aren’t happy with the results. It is always the case.

“A Celebrity At Last” This writer has been honored by Lea’s Restaurant to be the ticket drawer in their restaurant on Saturday the 30th of March, at 5:00 p.m., for the carousel horse, created by Beth Karasek. I will get my picture in the paper, if I bring a photographer. Maybe that’s best, I don’t really photograph well (it always looks like me). There's one place of business in the area that’s booming, Walkerton Sale Barn was really crowded on Monday. Barb Burket was clerking the little critter sale outside and talked me into buying 6 baby chicks (I only wanted 2). Talk about noisy children. Do you have your Friends of the Fourth raffle tickets yet? Remember the drawing is being held on March 31st. Betty King and her merry bunch of workers will have been organized by the time you read this letter. If you are interested in being a working member give Betty a call. Walkerton has put on one of the best fireworks display for many yean. Last Monday, I was served one of the biggest and best biscuits around at Al’s. Janet, it took six

dogs and me to eat that one. 1 always share. Thank you, Janet, you did yourself proud with that one. Remember as you travel to your loved ones at Easter to drive carefully and have a safe trip. We don’t need any more sorrow in our community. Well, it’s time to get ready for the Easter bunny. I think my big kids look forward to the baskets and toys as much as the little ones. Greg and Debbie asked if the Easter bunny was coming to our house because they were! Have a happy Easter. Sincerly, Nedra Williams R.E.A.L. SERVICES NUTRITION PROGRAM N.L. United Methodist Church Phone 656-3132 the day prior for reservations. Walkerton Youth Building Phone 586-7600 the day prior for reservations. APRIL 1-5 MONDAY Cranberry juice cocktail Polish sausage Mashed potatoes Sauerkraut Rye bread and margarine Loma Doone cookies Milk, tea, coffee TUESDAY Caterer’s choice juice

Ham and beans Spinach with vinegar on side Cornbread with margarine Madarin oranges Milk, tea, coffee WEDNESDAY Peach nectar Spaghetti with meat sauce Parmesan cheese on side Tossed salad w/shredded red cabbage, cucumbers and Ranch dressing Italian bread and margarine Fresh pear Milk, tea, coffee THURSDAY Pineapple juice Herbed baked chicken quarter Scalloped potatoes Green beans Whole wheat bread w/margarine Lemon pudding Milk, tea, coffee FRIDAY Apple juice Breaded veal pattie with mushroom gravy Rice Fresh broccoli salad Whole wheat bread w/margarine Plums Milk, tea, coffee REAL SERVICES NEWS WALKERTON We had another full week and enjoyed our chairpersons and their programs. Hazel and Harold Schweder chaired on Monday. Ervin Stuntz chaired on Tuesday and he told about some of the places he has traveled. On Wednesday, Susan Jackson, a naturalist from Potato Creek Park, talked on birds of prey. She brought mounted birds and her program was well received. We want to thank her and hope she will do another program soon. We had a lot of fun on Thursday when Virgil Gwin chaired. We had fortune cookies and with Verice Walz’s help, our fortunes were read and enjoyed. Juice winners for the week were picked and the lucky ones were Nell Patrick and Art Kreibiel. Mildred Smith is back from Florida so she served as song leader on Friday and Verice Walz played the piano for our sing-a-long. We will be playing bingo again every Tuesday and are asking everyone to contribute to the prizes. We have a lot planned for the rest of the week too. We will have a Nutrition Day on Wednesday and there will be a special drawing of nutrition items. On Thursday we will celebrate the March birthdays and also have our Easter party. Plan ahead for April 16th when we will hold our white elephant sale and also a bake sale. SENIOR GAMES SCHEDULED FOR AREA-2 JUNE 6-9 People 55 years and older are encouraged to showcase their athletic skills by participating in the 1991 Senior Games of Indiana. The Long Term Care Games will held throughout the month of May and the public events for Area-2 (St. Joseph, Kosciusko, LaPorte, Marshall and Elkhart counties) are set for June 6,7, 8 and 9, according to Beth Keultjes, chairperson of Senior Games of Indiana-Area 2. ’’This annual event is designed to provide Hoosiers 55 years and older the opportunity to participate in events that promote physical, social and emotional well-being,” says Keultjes. The 1991 sponsors for Senior Games of Indiana-Area 2 are: Life Stages of Saint Joseph’s Medical Center; Accordia Senior Benefits, Inc.; Holy Cross Care Services, Inc.; Indiana Bell and Ameritech Company; St. Joseph County Park and Recreation; and Teachers Credit Union. The Long Term Care Games will be held at participating nursing homes and adult day care sites throughout the month of May, in celebration of Older Adults Month. This division offers those people not as physically adept the chance to be involved through events such

CITIZENSHIP WINNERS

Citizenship winners for February at Urey Middle School are Jennifer Clark and Eric Bilski. Jennifer is the daughter of Larry and Susan Gark, of Route 1, Box 55, Tamarack Rd., Walkerton. Jennifer is an eighth grade student and her favorite subjects are home

as the wheelchair obstacle course, bowling, and bean-bag toss. A coordinator and site sponsor are assigned to each facility to organize the event and all participants will receive a t-shirt and certificate of achievement. In addition, medals will be awarded for Ist, 2nd, and 3rd place winners at each site. The deadline for registration for those qualified sites interested in participating in the Long Term Care Games is April 10. Any person aged 55 or older, in good physical health, who lives in the 5-county area of Area-2 can qualify for the public Senior Games to be held June 6-9. These are competitive, athletic events which focus on physical activity. They tend to attract serious athletes and require regular training and athletic ability. This year’s events are bowling, golf, race walking, a 5K run, and shuffleboard. Registration forms will be available after April 15 at local libraries, the Area Agency on Aging, the various sponsor locations and nutrition sites. The registration deadline for the June games is May 15. For more information or registration forms for either the Long Term Care Games or the public games in June, please call LifeStages Center at 233-4447. LOCAL FAMILIES NEEDED FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS ASSE International Student Exchange Programs is seeking local families to host boys and girls from Scandinavia, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, Great Britain, Switzerland, Japan, Canada, and New Zealand, 15 to 18 years of age, coming to this area for the upcoming high school year. These personable and academically select exchange students are bright, curious and anxious to learn about this country through living as part of a family, attending high school and sharing their own culture and language with their newly adopted host family. The students are fluent in English and are sponsored by ASSE, a nonprofit, public benefit organization, affiliated with the Swedish and Finnish Departments of Education. ASSE also cooperates with the Canadian Provincial Ministries of Education and is approved by the New Zealand Department of Education. The exchange students arrive from their home country shortly before school begins and return at the end of the school year. Each ASSE student is fully insured, brings his or her own personal spending money and expects to bear his or her share of household responsibilities, as well as being included in normal family activities and lifestyles. The students are well screened

ec. and math and her hobbies are horses and 4-H. Eric is the son of Mark and Rhonda Dubuque, of Route 4, Box 175, Walkerton. His favorite subjects are math and science. His hobbies are music and basketball. Eric is also an eighth grade student at Urey. Conagratulations.

and qualified by ASSE. Families may select the youngster of their choice from extensive student applications, family photos and biographical essays. Students and families are encouraged to begin corresponding prior to the student’s arrival. ASSE is also seeking local high school students to become ASSE exchange students abroad. Students should be between 15 and 18 years old and intrested in living with a host family, attending school and learning about the lands and people of Scandinavia, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Holland, Britain, Switzerland, Canada or New Zealand. Students should have a good academic record and desire to experience another culture and language through living with a warm and giving volunteer family. Academic year and shorter term summer vacation programs are available. Those persons interested in obtaining more information about becoming a host family or becoming an exchange student should contact ASSE's local representative: Gyde and Sue Patrick, 240 E. Engle Lake Rd. W., Ligonier, IN 46767, (219) 894-4370 or call 1-800-333-3802. COUNTY PARKS OFFER SWIM LESSONS Swim lessons are being offered for children between the ages of four and twelve. Swim lessons for beginners and advanced beginners will be offered at Ferrettie/Baugo Creek and St. Patrick’s Parks beginning June 10. Each session consists of 5 lessons, given daily for one week. Lessons begin at 10:00 a.m. at Ferrettie/Baugo Creek and at 11:00 a.m. at St. Patrick’s. The cost is $14.00 per session. Children may register for more than one session. A parent/toddler session will be offered beginning July 8. The cost for this session is $16.00 for the pair. A session for adults will be offered at St. Patrick’s Park only, beginning July 8, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. Cost for this session is $16.00 per person. Lessons follow Red Cross format. Beginners learn treading water, elementary backstroke, diving, plus other skills. Some water play is included. Sessions begin: June 10, 17, 24; July 8 (parent/toddler or adult); July 15, 22 , 29 and August 5. To register for any of these lessons, please call St. Patrick’s County Park, 277-4828. The first known sewing needles were made of bone and they are over 30 thousand years old. A bulbmaking capacity and the six petals to all its blooms mark all the members of the lily family. Thus, the calls, with its single bowl, is not a member of the lily family at all.