The Independent-News, Volume 117, Number 36, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 30 January 1992 — Page 4

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- THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS - JANUARY 30. IW2

I EDITORIALS J . • -- I H^ aaamnrmnrin^w^vw^-

SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION Despite the fact we are still in the month of January, the time is now for action concerning the school board election for 1992. This year, in the Tuesday, May 5 Primary, four seats on the John Glenn School Corporation Board of Trustees will be up for grabs, one in each of the four townships. The period of time for filing a petition of nomination began last Wednesday. This continues until 12:00 noon on Friday, February 21. This must be filed with the Clerk of Ciircuit Court. In our situation here, with three counties involved, this petition of nomination can now be filed with one circuit court clerk, which county will then forward the information on to the other two counties. In previous years, a candidate had to file in all three counties. The petitions of nomination are available with the before mentioned court clerks, but also may be obtained at the local office of the superintendent of schools. A petition requires signatures of 10 registered voters (who must be approved) in that school district. With more than one county involved, it is suggested to get signatures from the county one is filing in to keep it as simple as possible. For safety’s sake, more than 10 names should be listed to protect the candidate if one or more of the names of the signees is purged from the list for one reason or another. A candidate must also be a registered voter in that school district for at least one year and be 21 years of age. This year’s election in May will name the new trustees for four-year terms, one from each township. Already three candidates have filed with no formal indication at this time as to any of the incumbent members of the board. Those whose terms are up in 1992 are Mary Kay (Stedman) Millar, Donald Ludwig, David Hostetler and Jean Ann Beem. The new terms will begin the first of July. There appears to be plenty of interest in the matter once again this year as the past few months has included the controversial issue of a new or renovated middle school program. This issue, while the current board has made their decision, has caused some controversary and added that extra element of interest and calls special attention to the job of the school corporation’s board of trustees. In conjunction with this year’s election, the Indiana School Boards Association is sponsoring a series of forums aimed at what it takes to be an informed, effective school board member. With 10 such meetings set around the state, one is set for Plymouth High School on Wednesday, February 5. ISBA staff members will be leading this informative workshop that will include some of the must-know topics for school board members. These include: Roles and responsibilities of school board members; Open meetings; Executive sessions; Collective bargaining; School finance; and Mandates from the State Legislature. These are not free forums, a $25.00 registration fee (payable at the door) includes the workshop and a school board candidate’s kit filled with valuable information about becoming a school board member. The agenda begins with registration at 6:30 p.m. and the workshop actually starts at 7:00, adjourning at 9:00 p.m. Any questions can be answered by calling or writing to the office of: Indiana School Boards Association, 1 Capitol, Suite 1215, Indianapolis, IN 46204, or call (317) 291-0330. Holding a seat on a school board is an important decision and responsibility for an individual to commit to. Running a school corporation is a big business and must be approached as such with a variety of responsibilities involved. The dedication and desire of responsible people to fulfill this obligation is an important one. It is healthy for the corporation that much interest is expressed in filling these important spots. Anyone interested, should act now. Only three weeks and a day remain to get the ball rolling for any interested person. A lot of interest will be focused on this election in the next three plus months.

f^REMEMBER^^x 1987 The Koontz Lake Association board of directors held their monthly meeting at the library recently. It was stated the Koontz Lake patrol car has been updated with a newer model. Many thanks to all the area people who helped with the bake sale and the raffle, with the proceeds going to the patrol car fund. Winter means snow in northern Indiana and to celebrate this season of the year, Potato Creek State Park is the place to be on January 24 and 25. Emphasis for the weekend programs will be on winter-time activities. All activities are free upon entry to the park, excluding the Banana Belt Ski Race. The annual Knights of Columbus Free Throw Contest will be held on

Saturday, January 24, at 9:00 a.m. in the North Liberty Elementary School gym. Boys and girls, ages 11 through 14, as of January 1, are eligible to participate. 1902 Congressman John Hiler on Monday, January 18, nominated 17 Service Academies for the graduating class of 1986. From Walkerton William Michael Elkin, Rural Route 2, Box 17, was selected for the Military Academy; and Anthony Paul Roberts, Route 1, Box 44-B, was selected for the Naval Academy. Ray Chapman was re-elected as president of the Walkerton Industrial Fund at its annual meeting Monday evening at the Community Building. Donald King was elected secretary and Ed Walz, treasurer. Other members of the board of directors elected were Jack Powers, Roy DeSimone and Regg Williams. On Saturday, January 30, the

two legislators representing the Walkerton area will be in town for a “Town Meeting.” State Senator V. Richard Miller (R-Plymouth), and State Rep. Richard W. Mangus (R-Lakeville) will be at the J A J Restaurant at 10:30 a.m. to meet with any interested persons. This will be an informal session on which they will comment on the 1982 Indiana Legislature and also be available for questions concerning this session, the state, and anything in general they can help with. The John Glenn B-Team advanced to the finals of the Bi-County Tourney for the second year in a row Tuesday night as they ran away from the Oregon-Davis Bobcats 60-32 in gaining the final game. The 1982 Indiana State Junior Miss Pageant is being held this week, January 17-24, in Frankfort. The Frankfort Jaycees welcome Dawn Elaine Swihart to the pageant upon her arrival. She is a senior at John Glenn High School who won the Walkerton Area Junior Miss title earlier in the fall. She will compete for more than $12,000 in cash scholarships, $5,000 in merchandise awards and scholarships to fine colleges and universities up to $13,000. 1972 The Walkerton Dairy Queen, U.S. 6 East, Will soon be opening their new facilities. The opening date has been set for Wednesday, February 2. The new store is owned and operated by Sam and Tom Frame. Playing at the Rialto Theatre this weekend is “Beneath The Planet Os The Apes.” Coming next week will be “The Living Desert” and “The Vanishing Prairie.” At the market round steak was selling for $1.29 a pound; sirloin tip steaks at $1.39 a pound; rolled rump roast at $1.29 a pound; a half gallon of Sealtest ice cream for 79 cents; two pound can of Sanka coffee for $1.78; five pounds of flour for 49 cents; three 300 size cans of tomato sauce for 79 cents; two bath size bars of Zest soap for 29 cents; six cinnamon rolls for 59 cents; eight 16 ounce bottles of Coca-Cola for 79 cents; a pound of butter for 77 cents; two one-pound bags of carrots for 29 cents; five pound bag of grapefruit for 69 cents; and 10 pounds of Idaho potatoes for 79 cents. 1952 Troop 98 of Walkerton entered the Klondike Derby at Plymouth, on Sunday, along with troops from Plymouth, Bourbon and Bremen. The boys won second place in the derby. They will receive ribbons and patches. Dr. Bernard E. Vodnoy, of Walkerton and South Bend, will give a short talk on polio and the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, at the intermission of the basketball game at the high school gym on Friday. Also in the week ahead a house-to-house campaign will be underway for the collection of funds for the annual March of Dimes drive. 1942 Walkerton will get an additional 12 men’s dormitories and 300 trailers to house defense workers employed at the Kingsbury Ordinance Plant. This new assignment of defense workers will give Walkerton a total of 16 dormitories, housing 1,250 men, three hundred families living in trailers and 200 families in fabricated houses, which will mean in the neighborhood of 3,000 additional population. Following the “freezing” on sale of new cars and new tires by the government, the Walkerton Motor Sales will dispose of its stock of used cars and convert its enlarged showrooms into a service shop according to Omer H. Ball, manager. The annual basketball tourney will begin tomarrow with the following line up: At 2:30 p.m.. Woodrow Wilson vs. Greene Twp.; 3:45 p.m., Lakeville vs. Walkerton;

7:30 p.m., North Liberty vs. Wash-ington-Cay; and 8:45 p.m., New Carlisle vs. Madison. “Lend A Hand” This is the slogan for the 1992 Burger King Coupon Campaign. St. Patrick school children, along with other area parochial school, will be selling coupon books, this Friday, to benefit their schools. The price is $2.00 and you will receive approximately $20.00 of valuable Burger King coupons. Please help St. Patrick School by purchasing a coupon book from any St. Pat student. ITS TAX TIME AGAIN Now that over 2.5 million Hoosiers have received their 1991 federal tax forms, it’s time to get ready to file them. With few tax law changes affecting these forms, many taxpayers will be able to use last year’s return as a guide to completing this year’s return. This year most taxpayers will not have to look up their standard deduction in the tax package instructions. These amounts are listed right on the form. This change should help eliminate one of the most common mistakes taxpayers make, entering the wrong standard deduction amount on the return. Other changes include: tax brackets indexed for inflation, increased personal exemption of $2,150 up from $2,050, increased standard deduction amount and increased earned income credit. The earned income credit (EIC) has changed significantly for 1991. The amount of the credit is larger than a maximum credit of $2,020, up from $953 last year. The credit now has three parts, the basic EIC and two new credits: one for taxpayers who paid health insurance coverage for the qualifying child and another for taxpayers who had a child born in 1991. The basic credit is available to those who have a qualifying child and income under $21,250. Electronic filing of tax returns through approved preparers is available again this year. Last year over 250,000 Hoosiers filed electronically and received refunds in three weeks. Many had their checks directly deposited into savings or checking accounts in even less time. Individuals who owe can also use electronic filing and pay by April 15. IRS offers a variety of free services to assist the public with preparing their tax returns. Low income and elderly taxpayers can get help from IRS trained volunteers at area libraries, community centers and churches. Tele-tax, a toll-free recorded message service, gives callers information on over 150 tax topics. Callers can also check on the status of expected refunds four weeks after a return is filed. IRS publishes over 500 free booklets on tax topics. IRS tollfree assistance numbers are: General information: 1-800-1040, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Beginning January 25, Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Tele-tax: 1-800-829-4477. Tax forms and publications: 1-800-TAX-FORM, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. CONSUMER ALERT The sweater that was baggy once upon a time is now too snug to wear and the slacks that fit perfectly before Thanksgiving appear to have shrunk in size. Attorney General Linley Pearson says while it may be time to get in shape, don’t be taken by promises which lighten your wallet instead of

your weight. January resolutions traditionally include the promise to lose weight and get back into shape. It is the time of year many health spas get their largest number of new customers because Hoosiers want to lose a few pounds gained over the winter holidays or accumulated over the years. But Pearson says consumers should exercise caution before deciding on a health spa and jumping on the fitness bandwagon. “Check with your family doctor first and find out what limitations you have before engaging ina a full scale health workout,” Pearson says. "It would not be beneficial to join a full service health spa with all activities, including weight lifting and aerobics, if walking or jogging would be better exercise for you and more helpful to your health.” "If your physician does recommend an extended exercise program, start by shopping around for a fitness center or health spa,” Pearson says. '’Many cities have a YMCA or a YWCA or other community facilities for a minimal cost with everything you need to get in shape.” Professional health spas are also very popular but must be approached with an eye toward the health spas’ "financial health” as well its prospects for improving a consumers physical health, Pearson explains. “Many health spas and health spa chains have opened with high expectations and close soon after, leaving consumers lighter only in their wallets,” Pearson says. If your health spa closes, and is reopened by a new owner, Indiana law requires purchasers of health spas to honor any existing memberships. After deciding on a kind of club that best suits your needs, take advantage of free introductory periods to see if the dub is offering what you want. Do not be pressured or bullied into signing longterm contracts. Pearson advises. Paying the full membership cost up front may be less expensive initially but may not be a good idea if the spa or club later closes its doors. Paying a monthly fee, even if it costs a little more in the long run, may provide protection against the spa closing its doors because you can discontinue making payments if the spa closes. Pearson says consumers should also avoid the diet pills which proliferate advertisements on the airwaves and in magazines and newspapers, promising weight loss while eating anything or without exercise. "We would all like to believe we can lose weight without really working at it,” Pearson says. "The truth is that diet and exercise are the keys to losing weight and no miracle pill can change that.” The rod panda look* quite different from the black and white, bearlike giant panda. The red panda ha* long, soft fur and a bushy tail with ring* like that of a raccoon.

It keeps more than memories alive.

THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION MEMORIAL PROGRAM. £ American Heart ^^Association TN* space provided M a pubkc service