The Independent-News, Volume 117, Number 42, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 12 March 1992 — Page 4

4

■ THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS — MARCH 12. 1992

“Let’s Make Democracy Work’’ This is a call to action to the residents and taxpayers of the John Glenn School Corporation! You and 1 are now caught up in a most important step of the democratic process of expressing our desires and opinions as to how and in what amount our tax dollar will be spent for the next 20 years. As “stewards" of a major portion of our tax dollars, our elected School Board, on the evening of March 3, 1992, by a 6 aye, 1 nay vote, has initiated a new 6-7-8 grade building facility. This step was taken despite public input presentations made at both this meeting and the 1028 Public Hearing held August 22, 1991. At these meetings, responsible, qualified, and knowledgeable taxpayers of the Corporation gave opposing presentations in a preponderance of numbers. The elected School Board chose to ignore those opinions. That then brings us to the next phase of the resolution of these publicly stated differences. That is the remonstrance procedure made available by law, for a hearing before tax commissioners at the County and State level. There is now a petition being circulated to support such a remonstrance action. You may sign it for your county and township place of residence and/or owned property. A minimum of 50 signatures must be obtained. However, the more signatures appearing on the petition, the more credability will be given to it. If you wish to exercise your taxpayer rights in directing the expenditure of your tax dollars, be sure to sign the petition before April 1,1992! Additionally, be sure you are a well informed registered voter, so that you may cast your ballot for the candidate of your choice on May 5, 1992. There are four vacancies to be filled on the John Glenn School Corporation Board. You will not be required to declare your political affiliation to vote for these School Board positions. Just make sure the candidate of your choice is responsive to your opinions and has satisfactorily answered all your questions. Make sure he/she truly does understand the duties and responsibilities of the office. Determine that the candidate has the background and capability of understanding the complexities of the job and is willing to be guided by sound unbiased “expert” advice. As a concerned citizen and taxpayer, I urge you to sign the remonstrance petition before April 1, 1992 and vote your choice on Mays, 1992. Roman Brehm “Taxpayers JGSC” I am writing this article to set forth the facts regarding how our tax money was used by the school corporation and how they intend to use future tax money collected from the year 1990 through final payment on a new building in the year 2012. As the result of the 1989 reassessment tax rates were adjusted for 1990 income across the state of Indiana. In St. Joseph County all taxing units lowered their rate. Every Township, Library, School Crop., City and Town lowered their total tax rate except the JGSC. They raised our rate even though the total assessed value for the corporation went up 17.2%. For example Union-North lowered their rate 14.6%, P.H.M. 15.1% while John Glenn raised ours 6.2%. This increase raised $617,403 of which 476,605 went to the General Fund. They raised the rate again for 1991 and raised an additional $462,120 of which $215,478 went into the General Fund. That is where a good

deal of the money came from to reture the John Glenn High School bonds. We have been overtaxed because the School Board did not give taxpayers the relief other taxpayers received. As a result the Board can show the Debt Service Tax Rate going to zero in 1993 and then up to SI .68 for the new school. This is how they can say the tax rate will remain the same when in effect it will increase by $1.68 should a new school be built. That $1.68 plus state money will generate the $975,000 needed to make the initial annual payments. How will the payments be made when they reach $1,400,000 annual? They say your tax rate won’t be increased. That’s simple, you'll be re-assessed in 1995 your property value will go up, you will pay more tax money to the school corporation just as you did in 1990 so they won’t have to increase the tax rate. In the end all the money will come out of the taxpayers pocket, there's no free lunch. This will occur each reassessment period most likely every five years. Listen with care to those running for the school board who say you will pay no more taxes and your taxes will not go up. Remember what Dan Patrick said at the lease hearing that the principal and compounded interest are effectively being postponed until the last three years of the multiple bond issue and in effect are being used to preserve the myth that this new building won’t increase your taxes, “government at it worse”. I will not try and deceive you. There are other options one of which Mike Strang mentioned last Tuesday night. Some will cost money but nowhere near the $22,000,000 the Board has approved. If you have any questions or want to see how these figures were arrived at call me at 586-3795. Better yet come over see me and sign a remonstrance petition. Robert Schaeffer “Schoo! Board And Teachers” It’s funny everybody is concerned about the children getting a better education, but I don’t think we should waste so much money doing it. I’m not an architect or a college graduate but I can see that 17 outside comers and 13 inside comers is wasting a lot of room and money. A comer is more expensive than a straight wall, but 1 can see that to use $11.5 million they have to spend it somewhere, which doesn’t benefit the children a bit. except the arthitect’s pocketbook. You probably would save about $1 million if they would have less comers. Maybe they will say it will make it more tornado proof. Maybe they are going to start teaching regular math again, so the children can count the inside and outside comers for a project. We have a lot of qualified people in the school district that know this building is ridiculous. I would hate to see the roof design. I sure hope it isn’t like Stillwell’s. They have so many leaks that when school opens in the morning they issue each kid a bucket to catch the water when it rains. (Maybe that last sentence is over exaggerated.) I’ve worked on schools for the last 30 years and can see how money is wasted. That is what makes me sick. Leßoy (Dick) Adams A Taxpayer in Lincoln Township “It’s That Time Again” Yes, it’s time again for St. Patrick s Day, one of my favorite days. This is a good time for fun and festivities. 1 also like com beef and cabbage! St. Pat's is having their famous party on Saturday, the 14th, with a polk band. Roy will be in seventh heaven. Our favorite daughter-in-law, Debbie, will be down to dance with him! On March 21, the 1.0.0. F.

is planning on selling ham and beans and other goodies at the hall. Come on out and enjoy this great cooking by the gals. On Sunday morning, the 22nd, you’ll find me at St. Pat's having my usual pancakes and sausage. I was hoping that they planned on having it this Sunday. That way we could just stay over and eat breakfast after the party, but no, Tom Walter called and told me the date had been changed. Remember, the 22nd of March! I am getting more and more confused about the building of a new school. I sometimes wonder if either side is listening to the ideas of the other. If a new building is built, what happens to the present Urey Middle School? Is there a possibility that a vocational high school could be housed in the building? I'm sure that we can’t afford having an empty building on our hands. If it is to be used as a public building, it still will have to be made handicapped accessible. I understand that there were inquiries made into a vocational school during a previous superintendent’s term. At this time, it is very important to keep a cool head and an open mind, on both sides! We do not need another division of our school system. There are many good and intelligent people who would run for our board if there wasn’t so much community infighting. We are not separate communities and counties when it comes to the John Glenn School system, we are one body. We must work together for the good of our young people, now and in the future. The students in the school system now will be the one who will have to pay the final bills of a new school. Many of us will only be history then. School Board, have you asked the students their feelings on this? Have you stopped in to the Brass Lion? Ron and Sally have done a great job on their new store. It is very intimate and cozy. Good luck and thank you Ron and Sally Fox for helping in the revitalization of main street. I hope to see you at one or more of the many places serving corn beef and cabbage during the next week. Sincerely, Nedra Williams “Rethink Your Actions” To those concerned about the new Middle School, I would like to say this. lam presently attending Urey as an Bth grade student and I have been watching this issue with some interest. Normally I would not even consider objecting to any adult whether from North Liberty or Walkerton School districts. I feel this issue has gone too far. As taxpayers, parents, or people involved in this controversary in any way, you do deserve the right to express your opinions, but who are you to say we don’t need a new middle school or the new school should be in North Liberty. For those of you who think the school should be in North Liberty, I say this. Most of our School Corporation's students come from the Walkerton area. Now tell me this, does it make any sense to have to bus a larger amount for a longer time? I don’t think so. Also, for those who think there shouldn't be a new school, 1 would like to invite you to attend a couple of days in Urey when it is over 75 degrees. I hope I have given you reasons to rethink your actions. Sincerely hopeful, (signed) Please withhold my name Jennifer Kaminski Science Fair Winner At St. Pat’s What do mold and magnetism have in common? Where can you find rust and stalegtites growing: Why would anyone plant rye or mix mud with water? All these quest-

■AI L. ions are answered by projects the students at St. Patrick School made for their annual science fair. On Thursday, March 5, Professor Mario Borelli came from Notre Dame to judge these projects. Borelli left his organizing the Regional Science Fair at Notre Dame which will be held March 28, at Stepan Center. He questioned each student not only about the entry but also about the reason for each step taken. Students needed to relate their work to broader areas of scientific investigation in order to receive recognition for their presentation. Winners of this year’s science fair are: Grade 6 — Ist, Jennifer Kaminski; 2nd, Johanna Hathaway; 3rd, Alison Smith. Grade 5 — Ist, Stacy Walter; 2nd, Adam Allsop; 3rd. Aaron Davidson. Grade 4 — Ist, Ryan Holland; 2nd, Jennifer Haney; 3rd, Grace Niedbalski and Craig Wieczorek. Grade 3 — Ist, Ross Holland; 2nd, Alan Holland; 3rd, Lee Cole. Honorable mention is second grader. Justin Niedbalski. Pictured is Jennifer Kaminski presenting the mold she grew for St. Patrick School Science Fair. Officer Klemm Speaks To N.L. Fifth Graders The North Liberty School Project LEAD (Legal Education to Arrest Delinquency) Program sponsored Brant Klemm, public relations information officer of the Indiana State Police, to discuss laws, the need for laws and the role of the legal system with students in the fifth grade. Officer Klemm also talked with the students about the antiquated laws that are still on the statutes, and about new laws that will effect them today and the future. The students asked many stimulating questions and appreciated Officer Klemm's candor in answering these questions. Project LEAD’S motto is, "Let’s Build Children . . . Not Repair Adults!" With this in mind, the objectives for this program include: To demonstrate the necessity for laws and to provide students with an understanding of the legal system. To give young people on opportunity to meet with law enforcement officials in a non-threatening environment. To allow young people to see the consequences of their decisions to follow or not to follow the law. To provide opportunities for students to diScuss and explore

altemtive solutions to common problems. Through the LEAD program, the North Liberty School fifth graders will next observe a court trail at the Mishawaka Court House and tour the Police Dispatching Unit in South Bend. Walkerton Wesleyan Church 700 Van Buren Street Walkerton, Indiana Pastor Thelmon (Bud) Fugate SUNDAY 9:30 a.m., Sunday School. 10:30 a.m.. Worship Service. 6:00 p.m., Evening Worship WEDNESDAY 6:30 p.m., CYCI grades first through sixth. 7:00 p.m.. Prayer meeting. Presbyterian Church 512 Georgia Street Walkerton, Indiana 46574 Rev. William Cullen, Pastor “Everyone Welcome” SUNDAY, MARCH 15 9:30 a.m., Sunday School. 10:30 a.m.. Worship Service. “Everyone welcome”. TUESDAY, MARCH 17 7:30 p.m., Martha Circle meets. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 7:00 p.m., S.O.M.E. meets. The Pantry is in need of the following items: pork & beans, oatmeal, dry milk or canned milk. All items of food and donations are greatly appreciated. Koontz Lake Missionary Church R.R.5, 80x214-C Walkerton, IN 46574 Pastor Rob Gates SUNDAY, MARCH 15 8:00 - 9:00 a.m.. Worship Celebration I, pastor Rob Gates. 9:10- 10:00 a.m., Sunday School. 10:10 - 11:10 a.m., Worship Celebration 11, Pastor Rob Gates. 6:00 - 7:00 p.m., No Evening Service, Flock Meetings. TUESDAY, MARCH 17 6:45 p.m., Ladies Bible Study. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 6:45 p.m., High School Ministry. 6:45 p.m., Pastor Guy's Group. THURSDAY, MARCH 19 6:30 p.m., Dave and Deb Bowers Covenant Group. St. John’s Lutheran Church Riley and Pine Roads (24955 Riley Road) North Liberty, Indiana 46554 The Rev. Bert Pauluhn 656-4744 or 656-3475 SUNDAY, MARCH 15 9:30 a.m., Sunday School. 9:30 a.m., Bible Class. 9:30 a.m., Confirmation Class. 10:30 a.m., Holy Communion. 7:30 p.m., Choir. MONDAY, MARCH 16 8:00 p m.. Adult Confirmation Gass. TUESDAY, MARCH 17 9:30 a.m., WELCA. 10:00 a m.. South Bend Ministries, Bethany. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 8:30 a.m., North Liberty Ministerium, Honkers. 9:30 a.m., Sewing at Betty King’s. 6:30 p.m., Supper. 7:30 p.m., Worship. United Methodist Church 1000 Georgia Street Walkerton, Indiana 46574 Pastor Marilyn Gebert SUNDAY, MARCH 15 8:00 a.m.. Early Worship. 9:15 a.m., Sunday School. 10:30 a.m.. Late Worship. mon: “The Terrifying Dark”; text: Genesis 15:1-18, Luke 13:31-35. 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., Jr. Hi UMYF to meet at Diane Schmeltz's. 5:30 p.m.. Soup and Pie Supper. 6:00 p.m.. Lenten Service, guest speaker, Mark Fenstermacher. MONDAY, MARCH 16 9:00 a.m., Aerobic Gass. 6:00 - 9:00 p.m., First Aid Course. TUESDAY, MARCH 17 6:30 p.m., Aerobic Gass. 6:30 p.m., Worship Committee