The Independent-News, Volume 117, Number 32, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 2 January 1992 — Page 4

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— THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS — JANUARY 2, 1992

EDITORIALS |

1992 WILL BE A CHALLENGE As we head into the new year. 1992 certainly will be a challenge for many. Not only will the normal challenges be lurking around the corner, but also the added challenges of a struggling 1991 that regardless of what the most optimistic say, basically was not a good year for business. Heading the list of bombs dropped during 1991 concerning business, was the big news that General Motors is going to be closing quite a few plants with job losses of up to ‘ 7 4,000 expected. This on top of what appears to be the worst year in history for the big three automakers, makes one realize that things just aren’t all peaches and cream. The astronomical losses estimated to be in the neighborhood of $4.5 billion just boggle the average mind. There can be no knowledge of just what this means. Each of the big three already have pared away millions and millions of costs, but further cuts must be made and just what the future holds for the auto industry remains to be seen. The auto industry is not everything, however. Lean times are widely spread throughout most industry and incomes have suffered this year unless one is in a specialized industry that is now expanding due to modern technology and demand. Overall things just haven’t been very bright. In our area, not just Walkerton and North Liberty, but the Northern Indiana and Southern Michigan area, some hard times have been felt as well. One of the changes that has been happening for some years now is the change from the higher paying industrial jobs that are being replaced by lower paying retail and affiliated jobs. Only the strength of the two IN Tek plants has been a real positive thing in recent years. An announcement or two of future plans is encouraging, but still the area has not shown steady growth in most respects. Statistics can be made to say just about anything a person wants. However, when it comes down to the cold hard facts, statistics don't always mean a lot. In the South Bend Tribune’s year end outlook, only two area cities or towns reported optimistic remarks, Warsaw and Walkerton. Just how much faith can be put in all of this is maybe a little questionable, but one must remember this was only the opinion of one person involved through the Industrial Fund organization. A report of retail businesses might be considerably different. It has been a hard year for retailers, regardless of painting a rosy picture locally on the industrial level. This is also the case in other areas. New business and growth can usually be counted on in given areas, but at the same time look on the other side of the picture. With the closing of the L. S. Ayers store in Scottsdale Mall, the people involved there have a big job on their hands to replace and restore this mall to the status it once owned. The occupancy is not good at Scottsdale, and other places also have empty buildings and business places. And yet down the road a little ways a new business may just be getting started or in the planning stage. Whether one really offsets the other is questionable, but how many times over the years have we witnessed such as this, closing a place on one corner and opening a new one across (he street. At any rale, it might well serve the local area if some of the words of the past are followed up by the parties involved. In the past year a statement was made the Chamber of Commerce would visit each business and discuss things with them. If this has happened, once again they haven’t figured out who or where we are. We have heard nothing and have seen little fruits of different efforts other than the downtown grant that put new sidewalks in Walkerton. The cosmetic changes, while nice to look at, do very little to attract business. This will still be the challenge most businesses will face this year, making a go of the changing times and current conditions in our small towns. Any help that could be offered would be welcome. Maybe it is time to stop patting themselves on the back and look at the overall picture. 1992 will be a challenge for many and most can stand all the help they can get. There is just a short area between a pat on the back and a slap on the butt. We hope the aim is good this year.

STATE AWARDS HIGHWAY CONTRACT Govenor Evan Bayh announced that the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) awarded more than $33.7 million in state highway construction in its December 1991 letting. The largest contract, $16.6 million. went to Superior Construction Company Inc., Gary, to rebuild the Interstate Route 80/94 (Borman Expressway)/lndianapolis Boulevard interchange in Lake County. The interchange is the third of five interchange modification contracts INDOT has awarded or plans to award on the Borman. Work is either done or underway to the Calumet Avenue and Kennedy Avenue interchanges. INDOT plants to rehabilitate the Burr Street and Cline Avenue inter-

changes, but that work's timetable depends on whether Gary Municipal Airport is selected as the site of r the third Chicago regional airport. Other substantial awards included: Resurfacing of State Road 2 from U.S. Route 20 to one mile east of U.S. Route 31 in St. Joseph County, 52.553.113.47. Rieth-Riley Construction Company. Inc., Goshen. Checklist for Litter Control Your personal environment —and the world's—can be better if you do your little bit about litter This check-list, suggested by the experts at the Foodservice & Packaging Institute, can help

Is your garbage can big enough to hold all the refuse generated between collections? Does the lid fit lightly'.’ Do you promptly remove litter left or blown onto your property? Do you keep the sidewalk and street swept? Do you keep your candy wrappers, lunch bags, receipts and the like in your hand or your pocket until you find a place to dispose of them properly 9 Do you keep—and use —a litter bag in your car? Do you participate in a recycling program involving paper. bottles, cans, plastic? The more you can say yes to these questions, the To reduce litter, use a sturdy trash container at home... less mess you’re likely to leave. Send for free information on preventing litter and protecting the environment from the Foodservice & Packaging Institute, 1025 Connecticut Ave., N W., Washington, D C. 20036, (202»822-6420. The Old Faithful geyser in Yellowstone National Park spews forth more than 33 million gallons of water each day. Spanish Olympic Coins Rich In History The country of Spain has a rich numismatic tradition which spans more than 2.000 years. THEN Although the first coins struck on the Iberian Peninsula were issued by Greek colonists, it is the Spanish coins of the 15th century that cover the most significant period of Spanish history Tw o coins in particular stand out the “silver reales" and the "gold escudos," also known as the original “doubloons" or “pieces of eight " The legendary coinage was treasured throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. NOW; The official coins of Barcelona XXV Summer Olympic Games have been unveiled in the U.S and w ill be offered in four separate series Senes 1 and II are available now Each senes includes three coins struck in pure. 24-carat gold ( 9991 and four coms struck in sterling silver (.925). The Olympic coms range in pnee depending on weight, type of metal, and type of minting process employed The gold coins have face values of SIOO. S2OO and $800; the silver coins have a face value of S2O All are legal tender The Olympic coins are the first commemorative coms ever to be struck in precious metal in Spam and are the first coins struck in gold m Spain since 1904 The issue is one of the most limited in the history of Olympic collec

tions. A portion of the face value of these coins purchased in the U.S. will go to the United States Olympic Committee. The Spanish coms are represented in the U.S. by MTB Banking Corporation. 1-800-221-5240 AMERICA! A NATION OF FATTIES AND BADLY NOURISHED CHILDREN America is a nation of fat people, fat adults, fat children, reports Health News Network. Nearly two out of every three adults, some 98 million people, are overweight, according to eight annual surveys by Louis Harris and Associations for Prevention magazine. But almost one-third of the fatties would not admit they’re too heavy; their response was "we're about the right weight." The truth is, Americans are eating vastly too much fat and sugar. School lunches in general do not get good marks. The Washingtonbased consumer advocacy group, Public Voice for Food and Health Policy, said in a recent report, that school children are stuffing themselves with food that is "alarmingly high" in fat, cholesterol and sodium and too low in fiber. Said spokeswoman Ellen Haas, "unless this changes soon we will likely sacrifice the health of an entire generation." The organization did a study of children 6-11 and found 9 out of 10 eat 30 to 40 percent more fat than is recommended and not enough fiber; and 1 in 3 children did not get even two-thirds of the vitamins needed for adequate nutrition. School dietitians around the country blame the quality of the food on insufficient funds from the federal government and they do the best they can with what they have to work with. Many school districts. especially rural districts, cannot afford to hire trained dieticians. They hire cooks who cook what they know and often, from a nutrition perspective, it is fatty and sweet "stuff" that has little or no

When 50 bakers competed last March in the Crisco American Pic Celebration. Diane Causey was there rooting on her husband. Jim, who’s "Tipsy Pic" was picked *1 at the Alabama State Fair Bakers trom escry state were vying tor a prize package topped by a full kitchen ol premium Kitchen Aid appliances Causey, from LaPinc. AL. completed with his wife at their Stale Fair for the third year "I thought hers was better than mine." Causey said "But the judges did say my crust was perfect Tipsy Pic Crust 3 c. all-purpose flour 1 tsp. salt 1 c. Crisco Shortening 6 to 8 tbsps ice water Filling 1/4 c. butter or margarine 2 cans (29 oz. each) sliced cling peaches in heavy syrup, drained 1 1/4 c. whipping cream I 1/2 tsp. cinnamon 1/4 tsp. nutmeg 3/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar 1/2 c. peach schnapps 1/4 c. bourbon 1/4 c. cornstarch I. Heat connection oven to 325 F * 2. For crust, combine Hour and salt in medium bowl. Cut in Crisco using

food value. Public Voice for Food and Health Policy said the nutrition provided by the National School Lunch program is "terrible." A recent Associated Press poll indicated that a 56% majority of adults, with one or more children under 18, said their children’s diets are healthy enough. "I’m dumbfounded," said Victoria Leonard of the Center for Science in the public Interest, another avocacy group. "While adults think kids in their home are eating fine," said Leonard, "studies show most kids are eating too much fat. sugar and not enough fruits and vegetables." Fourteen percent of adults surveyed said their children's diets are lower in fat than the 30% recommended by federal health officials, but Leonard said that is wishful thinking. No matter what some parents are saying, the overwhelming evidence from a number of sources is that the diets of children contain too many fatty burgers, salty fries, pizza, potato chips, cold cuts and sugary drinks. The American Academy of Pediatrics is pushing hard to get commercials, aimed at children on TV. banned. Dr. William Dietz of Tufts University School of Medi cine has said these kiddie commercials, which push all sorts of sugary foods, are produced just to make a profit from children, rather than promote nutritious eating. On October 18,1648, the Massachusetts Bay Colony authorized the first labor organization in the U.S. "The shoemakers of Boston" were permitted to meet whenever they wanted to choose officers and clerks Procrastination is the , art of keeping up with yesI terday. ( — Don Marquis

pastry blender (or 2 knives) until all flour is blended in to form pea-size chunks. 3. Sprinkle with waler, one tablespoon at a lime. Toss lightly with fork until dough will form a ball. Press between hands to form Iwo 5 to 6-in. "pancakes." 4. Hour rolling surface and rolling pin lightly. Roll dough for bottom crust into circle. Trim one inch larger than upside-down 9-in. deep-dish pie plate. 5. For filling, melt butler in large saucepan. Add peaches, whipping cream, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cook and stir on low heat until mixture comes to a boil. Add brown sugar. Simmer 15 min. Add schnapps. Combine bourbon and cornstarch. Stir into peaches. Cook and stir until thickened. Pour into unhaked pie shell. Moisten pastry edge with waler. 6. Roll top crust same as bottom. Lift onto filled pie. Trim 1/2 in. beyond edge of pie plate. Fold top edge under bottom crust. Hute. Cut slits in top crust for escape of steam. 7. Bake at 325 F. in convection oven for 35 min. or until lightly browned. Cool until barely warm or to room temp, before serving. •Note: Standard ovens will require 25 to 50 degree higher temperature.