The Independent-News, Volume 117, Number 34, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 16 January 1992 — Page 4

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- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - JANUARY 16. 1992

EDITORIALS

ANOTHER ACCIDENT Early this morning (Wednesday) another train-car accident occured at the Adams Street crossing in Walkerton which at this time still finds the victim in critical condition. This unmarked crossing has been the center of controversy for years as the dangerous area has produced many accidents in the past. Despite efforts made by many, this still is an unmarked crossing that is particularly dangerous because of several situations. In past years three railroads crossed in the very close vicinity of this crossing and some of the accidents have occured on all of the railroads at one time or another. With the old tower standing nearby and all the activity that formerly was present on the three railroads, it was hn area that with limited sight and no warning signals or gates, was one that just invited problems. Now there are only two railroads and even though the number of trains is less, danger still is very present with the limited visibility and no warning signals of any kind. An application for a grant to put up crossing lights and crossarms, never has had any positive action to the point of anything being done. This is still being pursued by the Town of Walkerton. This isn’t necessarily a heavily traveled street, but is one that does have guaranteed traffic with an industry and the town’s wastewater plant all across the railroads with very limited access, basically necessary over this bad crossing. One has to wonder just how many accidents and how long of time it will take to have some positive action taken. It is a very bad area and one that over the years has certainly been proven as such as the facts bear out. Any continued effort by everyone involved to help ease this situation would be welcome and certainly a big safety factor. It is too bad that such results have to happen before action is taken. It is always a possibility that it will be too late for another person or family before something is done.

1987 The purchase of land for a new Industrial Park was reported at the annual meeting of the Walkerton Industrial Fund Monday evening, January 12, at the Community Budding. The land, consisting of 60 acres located on State Road 23 and Tyler Road, in back of Teachen Credit Union, was bought from Bernard Westhues. The present Industrial Park along Highway 6 is completely filled. Blanche Ricks, 83, a resident of Miller’s Merry Manor, Walkerton, disappeared from the nursing homq /early on Friday morning, Jaadary 9. An extensive search ias^been conducted by the are^ pblice departments, state and pounty officials, as well as numervolunteer firemen from Walkerton, North Liberty, Koontz Lake, Bremen, WESMA personnel as well as many area citizens. this Thursday, from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.,> the P.T.A. of Walkerton Elementary will host an open house Jar the Reflections Program. On display in the cafeteria will be students' work of art in literature, photography and visual arts. 1982 The Walkerton Industrial Fund annual Vneeting was to have been held on Monday, January 11, but dye to bad weather, has been rescheduled for Monday evening, January 18, at 7:30 p.m., in the Walkerton Community Building. John Glenn will be host for the first and second rounds of the St. Joseph County Division of the BiCounty Tourney for the boys B teajps and the girls varsity basketball t£*ms, January 18 and 19. Oregon-Davis, New Prairie, La Ville and John Glenn teams will be playing Kenny Chapman was elected president of the Walkerton Chamber of Commerce for 1982 with Ron Fox, vice president; and Verda Karn was re-elected as secretary and treasurer. Due to the inclement weather and below zero temperatures over the weekend and into the first of the week, many meetings and activities have been postponed or cancelled.

1972 The U.S. Jaycees have set aside January 16-22 as National Jaycees Week. The Walkerton Jaycees are honoring this with a banquet on Tuesday evening. Mr. Gilbert Fujawa, head football coach and industrial arts teacher at John Glenn has resigned from the Polk-Lincoln-Johnson School Corporation, effective January 14. He has taken a position with a firm in Michigan. Bi-County Tournament tickets are on sale at the high school. Action'will be held January 19, 20, 21 and-22 at La Ville High School. The first meeting of the steering committee for the Summer Festival was held recently and the dates of lune 1, 2 and 3 were selected for the annual event. Co-chairmen of the festival are Hal Muncie and Dick Kickbush. •At the market pork chops were selling for 89 cents a pound; loin end pork chops at 69 cents a pound; oountry style pork spareribs at 69 cents a pound; bacon at 59 cents a pound; franks at 79 cents a pound; five cans of Stokely vegetables for SI.00; Ivory bar soap, four for 25 cents; five pounds of Pillsbury flour for 49 cents; giant size Tide for 63 cents; a dozen large eggs at 39 cents; bananas at 10 cents a pound; and a five pound bag of tangelos for 59 cents. 1952 Current operating costs of public schools in St. Joseph County in the 1950-51 school year amounted to $237.00 per pupil as compared to a statewide average of $219.00 per pupil according to a chart prepared by the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce. Cost per pupil in LaPorte County was $221.00; Elkhan County, $216.00; Marshall County, $210.00; and Starke County. $182.00. Wayne Burch, local chairman this year for the March of Dimes drive, urges all persons to return their contribution as quickly as possible in the folder recently mailed for that purpose. An old-fashioned spelling bee will be featured at the next meeting of the Parent-Teachers Association which will be held in the high school bym, on January 17. Pupils will be selected from the third, fourth, fifth and sixth grades. The new fire truck, recently pur-

chased by the Town of Walkerton, will be delivered next Tuesday. 1942 A campaign to release all of the scrap iron and other kinds of scrap from St. Joseph County farms will be in full swing during the week of January 19-24. Committees in each township are being set up to interview every fanner in the county and urge him to sell all of the scrap metal he can release without crippling his own repair needs. Will H. Smith, collector of Internal Revenue, issued a statement which is of interest to the motor vehicles. Attention was called to a provision of the Revenue Act of 1941 which imposses a "use” tax upon motor vehicles, which tax becomes effective February 1, 1942. Internal revenue stamps have been provided to evidence the payment of this tax and the stamps are gummed on the back so that they may be affixed to the motor vehicles. The "use” tax stamps will be on sale of all post offices and all offices of Collectors of Internal Revenue on or about January 26. Eight high school basketball teams in the county will take the floor in scheduled turn at the new John Adams High School, South Bend, on Friday and Saturday, January- 23 and 24 to determine the county championship. They are North Liberty, Lakeville, Greene Township, Madison Township, New Carlisle, Woodrow Wilson, Washington-Clay and Walkerton. Sale of bonds in the amount of $31,000.00 by the Walkerton-Lin-coln Township Consolidated School Corporation issued for the purpose of procurring funds to be applied on the cost of construction and equipment of a new school building was made Friday by the Board of School Trustees to Kenneth S. Johnson, Indianapolis, on his bid of IV6 percent interest with a premium of $102.67. The Walkerton-Lincoln Township school has been on an enforced vacation since last Thursday when trouble developed with one of the two boilers in the heating system. A new boiler is being installed. 1937 The new Methodist Episcopal Church, in Walkerton, which has been in process of construction since July, 1936, has been practically constructed and will be ready for its first services on Sunday, January 17, according to plans now underway. Rev. Walter Wilson is the pastor and Claude Stull, superintendent of the Sunday School. Two kitchen showers for the new Methodist Church and for the new Masonic Lodge will be held next week. On Tuesday afternoon, the members of the Philathea and Christian Workers classes will meet at the home of Mrs. Rhea Wright and present their shower gifts for the church. The Eastern Star members will hold their shower at the lodge hall next Wednesday evening in connection with their regular meeting. The regular meeting of the Community Club was held on Friday afternoon, with 25 members responding to roll call with helpful suggestions for 1937. Mrs. C.E. Smith, the hostess, presented as her surprise number, Mrs. Harry Doll, who sang two songs with whistling choruses and Mrs. Fred Schneiber, who gave a humorous reading. Mrs. C.M. Finch read a paper on the department of the interior of the U.S. Government, presented Claude Stull, who gave a very graphic description of Boulder Dam, one of the major projects of the Bureau of Reclamation. Mrs. Charles Bellinger gave some interesting developments of "The American Language” and Mrs. Sheldon Spear read a paper on Indian music. The dub will move •into the rooms over the Inde-pendent-News Co., recently occupied by the Masonic orders and will hold the next meeting January 22, in the new home. Shop At Home

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"Finally Snow" It finally snowed. I think that winter is one of my favorite seasons. I always have so many projects to do "when it snows," but rarely do they get done. There’s always a jig-saw puzzle or a neighbor to have coffee with, even though we can’t get out on the roads, we can still navigate the fields. It has been eight years since we have had a good snowstorm. I went to the store and got yeast for bread and rolls. Maybe now 1 can use up all the food I canned this summer. 1 goofed last week. It is Jan and Les Davidson that bought the Laundromat at Koontz Lake. 1 also found out that Merrill's in North Liberty has been closed for a month. I understand that it will be re-opening by next month. In keeping with may wanderings in North Liberty, I visited a new business. Something Old — Something New Shop, run by Bonnie and Stanley Tuttle. Stop in and visit them sometime. They are located right behind Success Realty, on West Harrison. I also stopped in at Gene's Sunoco to get the latest news of the area. I chatted with Carol Taylor at the Potato Creek Antique Shop. She is going to check on another trip throughout the county visiting shops and locations like we did last year. Sue of Sue’s Flower Shoppe was very accomodating in helping me to purchase an empty flower stem for my friend. Page, of the Cottage Restaurant. Koontz Lake has a new minimart, opened by Jack Bell. It is large, colorful, and fully stocked. It even has seating for meals. Good luck. Mr. Beu on a much needed business in the area. Remember the pancake and sausage breakfast at St. Pat's on Sunday, January 19th. Good food and good fellowship. It is now time to get on the road to deliver this note. Please be carefill driving and 1 will too. Sincerely, Nedra Williams "Weicoae 1992!” Those who make it their profession to study economic trends tell us two things: First, the Midwest fared much better in 1991 than our neighbors on the West Coast or the Northeast, and secondly, that the majority of them hold the opinion that 1992 will be a better year than 1991 was. Admittedly, retail sales locally have been sluggish and we lost DeJoss Drugs in the flames of October, but our stores have survived because they know how to serve our load market. Several individuals and companies are looking at the DeJoss building and yes, one is a pharmacy. Speaking of looking, I am currently working with three outside industries that like what they see in Walkerton. They see a good mix of business and industry, a friendly small-town atmosphere, and a growing pride. Our new downtown look is obviously a source of pride, based on the recent list of downtown store owners who have contacted the Chamber of Commerce and Redevelopment Commission. Next spring they want to repaint and improve their stores’ appearance and put up new signs to proudly announce their business. I have heard many from South Bend, Plymouth and LaPorte notice and compliment Walkerton on its new look. The St. Joseph County Chamber of Commerce printed a picture of downtown Walkerton along with excellent commentary in its new 1992 directory. A legitimate question may be raised as to whether an improved downtown look attracts new business. The Indiana Main Street Council states: "To a great degree,

business, industry and new residents are all attracted to or are repelled by a community's appear ance: in other words, what it looks like. An attractive community generates business and attracts homeowners. It has a sense of pride, a sense of caring and a sense of place." The Brass Lion's expansion project and their improvement of two Roosevelt Road building is an example of this attraction. With the increased business and community competitiveness due to the sluggish economy, our improved appearance and our industrial growth gives Walkerton the advantage at just the right time. David B. Behr Walkerton Industrial Fund TWO HOLIDAY RECITALS Mrs. Charles Richmond presented her piano, synthesizer and organ students in two holiday recitals in the sanctuary of the North Liberty Church of Christ. Those participating in the Sunday, December 15 recital were John Rotruck, Amy Carlson, Greg Engel, Amanda Chiszar, Jenni Flaugher, Joy Hynes, Jeff Aldrich, Elliott Whitmer. Tim Larsen, Elaina Denham, Beth Honaker, Erin Shindiedecker, Amanda Rotruck, Paul Palicki, Benji Woolet, Robyn Rimbaugh, Daniel Fox, Beth Claywell, Kimberly Vail and Jill Peterson. A large crowd enjoyed hearing the following students perform on Tuesday, December 17 Tara Campbell, Travis MacDonald, Eric Fox, Rachel Long, Sam Spencer, Jacob Medich, Lisa Ferency, Philip Strahm, Rachel Lung, Mellisa Lung, Emily Horner, Jennifer Urgonski, Sarah Baker, Keith Ellet, Rachel Cole and Beth Claywell. TREATING ALCOHOLISM AND ADDICTIONS Between 1978 and 1984, private alcoholism treatment centers more than quadrupled. And in the 80’s the number of adolescents treated in private facilities jumped 450%, according to the Harvard Mental Health Letter. Most of the treatment industry was sustained by federal and insurance money, paying for what was labeled a disease called "chemical dependency.” The cost is high, averaging an estimated SIB,OOO per hospital stay, and it was. and still is, a major burden on the American health care system, writes Stanton Peele, PhD, at Harvard. In a few years skepticism about these "treatment" programs developed. and the treatment boom has receded said Dr. Peele. One skeptic is Dr. Enoch Gordis, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. After intense study. Dr. Gordis, who himself administered a large hospital program, concludes "contemporary alcoholism treatment is, at best, of limited effectiveness." Other skeptics thinks "treatment programs," including Alcoholics Anonymous, lack scientific evidence of effectiveness. Illicit drug abuse is no different, writes Dr. Peele and cocaine addicts and alcoholics often say tobacco is the hardest drug of all to give up, yet more than 40 million Americans have done so. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control conducted a survey several years ago and found that 47.5% of smokers who tried to quit, did so on their own. Their success rate is twice that of those who used treatment programs. Use The Classifieds AnierKun Red Crow, + together. we can change things.