The Independent-News, Volume 117, Number 48, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 23 April 1992 — Page 4

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— THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS — APRIL 23, 1992

EDITORIALS

HUMAN NATURE Human nature can be a funny thing. How many times have you heard this phrase connected to an action or a lack of any action. Either way, it can just be written off to “human nature”. Right now we have a couple of examples of “human nature” coming to the forefront of existing situations. In both cases, it is in all probability a healthy thing. At least, it has aroused the interest to high peaks of many people on important items. We of course are speaking both the middle school building program in the John Glenn School Corporation, and the interest to build a new plant, Stericycle, Inc., in North Liberty. The "human nature” has caused many to become not only very interested in these matters, but outspoken as well. This can really be a healthy situation, bringing out in the open the feelings of many as well as getting people actively interested in just what is going on. Look back over the years. There have been school board elections come and go that have not offered competitive battles for a seat or seats. However, throw in a controversary and, wham, all of a sudden interest is sky high. This is the second consecutive election that involves controversary. In the one two years ago it was the attempted dismissal of Dick Kickbush, and this time the new middle school building program. And in both elections, there were candidates competing for all the open seats. The proposed Stericycle plant in North Liberty has also been a matter to create a lot of controversary. Also we cannot say it is bad m either case. Certainly the people want to be assured of safety and no threat of problems from locating a plant of any nature in their community. And certainly a new industry that adds to the community would be a blessing. In this case, the questions asked are sure to force many answers and these questions and answers are certainly in the best interests of all in North Liberty, both for the pros and cons on the matter. There is still more work to be done and no conclusion should be completely drawn without pursuing the matter as thoroughly as possible, whether the future decision be yes or no. In the school situation, the election could restructure the school board considerably. The results, along with the hearing before the State Tax Commissioners, will have much to say in the final decision. This is not a question of building or not making any changes at all, it is a question of what path is the best to pursue for everyone, the students, the taxpayers and the general public. Controversary has spurred that “human nature” aspect to recognize there are decisions to be made and involvement can play a part in these decisions. At least, it is not as bad at the local level as opposed to state and national where one’s voice usually falls pretty much on deaf ears. “Human nature” is and can be a very healthy factor. This element should carry over to other issues as well. But for now it is doing a job that may well be worthwhile.

“Where De They Stand?" The snowdown is set. Some players have taken their positions. With the school board election fast approaching it becomes necessary for you, the voting public, to make decisions on who to vote for. To make an educated choice it is necessary to know what the candidates stand for. This year more than every these choices require that information. Unfortunately most non incumbent candidates will not publicly state their basic position. However, in each township race there is one candiddate whose position is clearly known. In Johnson Township, Shirley Anderson; Lincoln Township, John McGee; Polk Township. Robbie Keck; and Liberty Township, Tom Bradford, have all clearly shown their position against the proposed building project. They have each been following board activities over an extended period of time and are rightfully concerned that the actions taken by the current board are not necessarily in the best interests of the students or their taxpaying constituents. If you are opposed to the currently proposed building project, your choice on election day is clear. Shirley Anderson, Tom Bradford, Robbie Keck and John McGee clearly oppose this proposed pro-

ject. If you desire to oust the incumbents, again your choice should be clear, only four contenders truely followed the board’s activity in recent months. Vote Anderson, Bradford, Keck, McGee. Many people have worked long and hard over the past several months to protect your rights as taxpayers and voters. But it all will come down to two very important events, the election on Tuesday, May 5 and the State Board of Tax Commissioners hearing on Thursday, May 7,1992. A large turnout at both of these events is extremely important. If the opponents to the currently proposed building project win the election, that should most assuredly make the tax commissioners listen closer to our opposition position. We have all worked hard to reach this point. Don’t fall for the vote splitting tactics of the uncommitted candidates. The future of your school system demands that clear choices be made. Whatever your choice, it is your right and responsibility to vote on Tuesday, May 5 for all four school board positions. Then attend the State Board of Tax Commissioners hearing on Thursday, May 7, 1992 at 10:00 a.m. at the John Glenn auditorium. Should you decide to stay home and not vote you will have given up your real opportunity to impact the future of your schools and your taxes. Please, exercise your right to

vote for Shirley Anderson, Tom Bradford, Robbie Keck and John McGee. Shirley Anderson Tom Bradford . Robbie Keck John McGee “A Concerned Mother” I would like to take this opportunity to let Stericycle know that not everyone welcomes them to our community. Especially when one weighs the facts. 1 see Stericycle as a possible threat to the best interests of our community. It is unrealistic to compare a facilty of this nature to a hospital or dentist’s office. This is infectious medical waste being trucked into our community from a 150 mile radius. That would include Chicago and other out-of-state medical facilities. Stericycle may sound and look impressive in their literature. However, I believe we need to see a proven track record on their operation. Their West Memphis, Arkansas plant opened in August 1990 and is their longest running facility. However, Stericycle does not want us to look at this facility. Company officials say this location will be used in the near future as a research and technology center. They want us to look at their Morton, Washington facility which has been in operation for approximately four months. Officials say this is like the one proposed for North Liberty. When asked to what capacity this facility is operating, Stericycle responded that the information was “confidential”. Due to strict state laws Stericycle is not permitted to landfill in Washington state. They were permitted to build in Washington because they term themselves “recyclers”. Stericycle contacts to landfill in Or an co, Oregon. There they would be allowed to landfill up to 15 to 20 tons of medical waste per day. For the year 1991, the West Memphis plant landfilled over 11,000 cubic yards (approximately 12-13 million pounds) of medical waste at the Crittenden County Landfill. Basically everything they took in that year was landfilled. Indiana state regulations are not nearly as strict as Washington’s. If Stericycle is permitted a facility in Indiana, will they landfill here also? Do we need more out-of-state waste? Is it worth the 14 to 35 jobs Stericycle says it will bring? What kind of other industries will this bring to our area? You say we are in desperate need of jobs. Are we all in desperate need? Or are the Industrial Park shareholders in desperate need of buyers? I will be entering the job market in the near future. If it means driving to another community for a better paying job, so be it. My money will come back to my community. I love North Liberty and plan to spend the rest of my life here. If it means paying more tax dollars in the future, so be it. I will know in my heart that I raised my children in the safest environment possible. Have you noticed the growth of family homes in our area during the past year? We have beautiful Potato Creek State Park, number one in revenue in the entire state. Why can’t we take advantage of its location for the betterment of our community? We have many gifted and talented people in our area. Perhaps more specialty shops in our downtown area could be added. We should promote a positive image of our community. I for one, am not ready to chance having our community known as “The medical waste dump of the midwest”. A Concerned Mother “Election Time” America! While so many countries are striving to become more like ours, our own citizens are becoming lazy and uncaring about America. We have many excuses

for not voting in the primaries. The most common seems to be “I don’t want to declare my political party”. When we become a member of a club or organization, we usually want to promote its goals. The Primary is an nominational election. Surely you want your organization to have the best and most wanted people to be running for the offices. The common goal is to have the best for all the people. This something for all of us to strive for in this very important time. Be proud of America and get out there and vote. Now, on the John Glenn School Board election. lam getting closer to chosing my candidates. I’ve eliminated the ones that I don’t want to see in office. I’m looking for people who can make a difference in the next four years, not just on the question of school building. I’m looking for the problems, and try to correct them in the next four years. The Friends of the Fourth have changed their auction sale from April 25th to May 16th. We are still in need of your goodies to sell. Barb and Nedra will still come and get your goods. Just call Betty King. Morris Searfoss has been working very hard on placemat advertising. If you have been missed give him a call. The business people have been very generous. Candy bars are still available. Please buy. There is not a member of our committee that would turn you down. Now for the part that I like best, people. Ray & Kenny’s have the most helpful people. Maybe they think that I’m getting old, but the majority of their personnel are very helpful, including manager Carl E. Vermilyer. Thank you for your favor to me. Now just try and catch me! Let’s get busy and study our school board candidates and all the other candidates resumes and be sure and vote! Sincerely, Nedra Williams GOSPEL QUARTET TO PEFORM AT SUMPTION PRAIRIE The gospel quartet, "A New Beginning”, will perform on Sunday, April 26, at Sumption Prairie United Methodist Church, Roosevelt Road, South Bend. The church is at the corner of Roosevelt and Orange. The concert will begin at 6:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome. A love offering will be taken for the group who are from Warsaw. BRIDAL SHOWER HELD Tricia Sheneman was guest of honor at “Around the Year Mise. Shower” Saturday, April 18. The shower was given by her aunts, Gloria Kranitz, Princeton, and Sandy Riffe, Clinton, Maryland at the home of Tricia’s grandmother, Irma Nelson, North Liberty. Ninteeen guests were served brunch from North Liberty, LaPaz, Walkerton, Hamlet, Wanatah, South Bend, Niles, Mich., and Freeport and Naperville, DI. A fun time was had playing several games. Then Tricia opened lovely gifts which would be used in a particular month which the guest were assigned. Tricia will marry David Davenport in September. MARRIED 3315 West 42nd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208 is the home of Kurt D. Hunt and his bride, the former Cynthia L. Riggle. They were married in Laughlin, Nevada on Feburary 8, 1992. The parents of the bride are Betty Farnell and the late Charles Farnell, of ElSegundo, Calif. Parents of the bridegroom are Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd E. Miller, of North Liberty. Attendents were Kevin Hunt, of Phoenix, Ariz., and Linda Funk, of Plano, Texas. The bride is a graduate of ElSegundo High School, in California and is employed by IN-ARF, in

Indianapolis. The groom is a graduate of North Liberty High School and Butler University and is the marketing coordinator for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. GOLF NEWS The John Glenn Golf Team travelled to Beechwood Golf Course in LaPorte April 16, to compete against Marian and New Prairie. Marian turned in 180 total followed by Glenn at 201 and New Prairie finishing with a 221. The Falcons now have one win and three defeats. Chris Linski, of Marian was medalist with a 9 hole round of 44. For Glenn, Adam Jacob carded a 46 followed closely by Brent Hostrawser at 47. Landon Weigand and Jason Groves both scored 54’s followed by Aaron Williams with a 60. The Junior Varsity team also competed with Marian scoring a 202, followed by Glenn at 235 and New Prairie at 257. Rocky Plummer led the Falcons with a 57 while Rickey Scott and Dan Schmeitz both shot 59’s. Nathan Cripe scored a 60 and Jayson Kincaid struggled with a 65. The Glenn JV record now stands at 2 wins and 2 defeats. The Glenn Golf Team will host Knox and North Judson on April 21 and host Culver on April 23. The Junior Varsity will compete April 25 in the LaVille Junior Varsity Tourney held at Swan Lake at 7:00 a.m. UREY TRACK TEAMS FALL IN SEASON OPENER The Urey Eloys track team traveled to Bremen for a meet last Wednesday and dropped an 81-48 decision to the Lions. This was their first meet of the season. The Urey boys placed first in five events. Jason Pippenger won the hurdles, Nick Medich the 50 meter dash, Corey Ross the 200 meters, Jason Knepp the shot put and Scott Bonnell the high jump. Finishing second were: Ernie Gark, hurdles; Rusty Slater, 200 meters; Jason Dickson 400 meters; Micky Day, 800 meters; the 400 relay team of Nick Medich, Ed Pontius, Jason Pippenger and Jason Dickson. Also the 1600 meter relay team of Micky Bowen, Jason Hall, Micky Day and Scott Bonnell. Third place finishers were: Scott Bonnell, 100 meters; Rusty Slater, 400 meters; Micky Bowen, 1600 meters; Steve Savoie, discus; and Ed Pontius, high jump. The girls 7th and Bth grade teams also competed at Bremen giving a good effort for their first meet. The Urey runners who placed were: Stephanie Reinhold, first in the hurdles. Second place finishers included: Jesse Platz, hurdles; Elaine Davidson, 50 meters; Nicole Huff, 1600 meters; Yvonne Schmeitz, shot put and discuss; and Elaine Davidson, high jump. Third place finishers were: Ojeta Oke, high jump; Tiffany Hesters, 50 meters; Elaine Davidson, 100 meters; Beth Arnett, 800 meters; Sonya Johnson, 1600 meters; Corey White, shot put; and Lisa Green, discus. ANCILLA TO OFFER WOMEN UNDER THE HOOD Ancilla College will offer a fourpart workshop for women who want to learn more about basic car care and save money by doing their own car maintenance. Learn what to do in road side emergencies and how to do small jobs safely by yourself. Discover how a car works, and learn automotive terms and how to shop intelligently for parts. The class will be held on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. beginning May 5. To register for the class, please call Ancilla College at 936-8898. The traveler tree, which grows in Madagascar, stores up to one pint of water Inside the base of each of its long leaf stalka.