The Independent-News, Volume 118, Number 4, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 18 June 1992 — Page 4

4

- THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS - JUNE 18, 1992

|'EBHORIALg]

IT MAKES ONE WONDER There are happenings all the time in life that come and go, many without attracting much attention. And then there are events in life that attract everyone’s attention. How the public views these different things is often surprising. There are several incidents that come to mind in the news of today that causes one to wonder just a little bit at where we might be coming from. First and foremost on many people’s minds at this time is the upcoming presidential election. With an incumbent president running for re-election who just a little over a year ago had an all time high with the public, George Bush has not only slipped in the minds of the people, he in many cases has fallen behind an unknown political figure in public opinion at this time. Add to that the fact the other major party leading candidate, Bill Clinton, also has dropped behind the independent Ross Perot, and one has to wonder just a little bit what is wrong with American politics that a complete unknown, with absolutely no political experience, can do to generate such positive response. The answer probably is just that, no one really knows Ross Perot. Is the American public willing to put the job of president of our country in the hands of an unknown political figure? He is known for his extreme wealth, but here again, is this the chief criteria for becoming president? Money has much to do with the selection of candidates today as a person must have big money behind them to even consider a successful run in their own party. Are we to the stage the candidates are buying their way in? This is one reason so many feel the better qualified people don’t even stand a chance today. Another item of today’s news that raises one’s eyebrows just a little bit. The subject is the super soak squirt guns, the toy that has become a very hot item and one that is now being banned in some U.S. cities. For a country who likes to believe they lead the world in just about everything, the United States clearly leads everyone in deaths due to guns. In fact the rate of gun deaths in America is staggering in comparison to most other countries of the world. And what are we concened about? A squirt gun. Certainly there can be a little danger involved in bad judgement and use of these super squirt guns, enough that they are being banned in certain areas. But low and behold, don’t ever try to ban a gun that shoots real bullets ... a gun that can and does snuff out a life in an instant. Misuse of a toy is one thing, but abuse of the real thing continues and statistics continue to rise to point this out. Doesn’t this make you wonder just a little bit? Another topic we hear so much about in our local area is the train whistles in South Bend and Mishawaka. This ongoing battle has generated headlines, comments and much press for some time now as the cities try and stop the trains from sounding their whistles in those two cities. Sure a train whistle is loud, ask me, I live less than 100 feet from a railroad track. And certainly one thing some of these engineers have learned is how to blow that whistle. However, it becomes away of life. It doesn’t completely disrupt life as it is every time one blows, and they certainly do blow at night in Walkerton. It sure would change a tune or two if an objector to these whistles lost a family member and loved one to a train and car accident when a whistle didn’t blow warning of the approaching train. And you must realize, not every crossing is guarded by flashing lights and gates. Try and weigh one life against these trains issuing a warning at a crossing and we wonder how your figuring comes out. There is not much can happen that doesn’t create more than one opinion. And it isn’t hard to question a lot of the results and interpretations of the public. This will always leave room for one to wonder . . . wonder just what makes a lot of people think the way they do.

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE “lt’e Getting Ctoaer” The Fourth of July is getting closer and closer. The Friends of the Fourth have been busy all year trying to raise funds andd plan activities for the holiday. For over 50 years Walkerton has put on a great fireworks display, without government money. Every year it seems that we aren’t going to make our goal, but with all of your help, we finish up in the black. This year is no exception. The cost of our task has increased again. I don’t understand why in times of recession and lower income, why prices keep on rising. Maybe this is why it is called supply and demand, 1 have less supply of money and the merchant demands more. Back on track again, the Friends of the Fourth have lined up some interesting entertainment. There will be playoffs of the various little

league teams, the Great Swami will be here, the Amarillo Star will be dancing. Our local D.J. Wm. Beaver, will be spinning discs. Os course it is also picnic time in the park on the Fourth. I get very enthused about the Fourth of July. It is still my favorite holiday. It’s our country’s birthday. I’m mighty proud to be an American. We still have many freedoms and rights that people of other countries are willing to die for. The Friends are raffling off an afghan of red, white and blue colors. This comes with a rack for display. This is our only raffle this year, so please did down and find an extra buck for us when we ask. If this sounds like I’m begging, I am! We planted 30 lbs. of onion sets and 3 rows of plants in the garden. At the rate we’re getting done, we’ll be canning and eating tomatoes in December. Maybe 1 can decorate my Christmas tree with garden produce. Candy bars are still available

from the Friends of the Fourth. The placemats will be out soon. Wanda is going to be opening shortly. Everything is starting to look up again. Be sure and put out plenty of water for your animals and pets. Sincerely, Nedra Williams WHAT’S NEW FOR NORTH LIBERTY RECYCLING The North Liberty Recycling Committee is happy to announce that we will now be able to accept several new items at our monthly recycling dates. The next recycling dates are Thursday, June 18 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Friday, June 19 from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the North Liberty Community Building parking lot. The first new item we will be accepting is STYROFOAM. We will be able to accept styrofoam food containers, egg cartons, cups, plates and foam packing peanuts and shells. These items must be well cleaned and flattened or stacked. We ask that you please bag all styrofoam items together. Th next new item we are accepting is MIXED PAPER. This area includes junk mail (but no window envelopes) and chipboard — cereal boxes and other food boxes. We ask that you please separate from other paper and remove any liners. These items may be put into brown paper bags. In the category of OFFICE PAPER we will now accept copy paper, notebook paper, computer paper and stationery. These items must be clean, dry and bagged or boxed separately. We will continue to take the following items: ALUMINUM: Cans should be rinsed clean and smashed. Scrap aluminum such as foil and pie pans should be rinsed clean and folded up. Other scrap aluminum such as lawn chair and screen door frames should be broken down and have all screws and screens removed. The cans must be kept separate from all the scrap. NEWSPAPER: These must be dean and dry and put into brown paper bags or cardboard boxes. No magazines, glossy ads, or phone books can be taken. CORRUGATED CARDBOARD: These must be dean, dry and unwaxed. Please remove all staples and tape and fold them flat. GLASS: We can accept only unbroken glass jars — no window glass, light bulbs or dishware. Please rinse dean with warm soapy water and remove all caps and rings. We accept dear, brown and green glass. Please separate these by colors. PLASTICS: We can only accept milk jugs, soda bottles, laundry detergent and fabric softner bottles. Please remove the lids, wash with warm water and crush flat. We can only accept the item listed above — we can no longer accept other plastic items even though the code numbers are similar on the bottom. We ask that you please comply with these rules that have been requested of the committee. FOOD CANS: This category includes tin and steel cans. Please wash clean, partically cut out the top and bottom, fold lids into can and smash flat. Please leave lids partially attached to the can. We cannot accept scrap metal. Please help us out by following the guidelines that we have listed. Be sure and leave your items at the drop off site only during the recycling hours when our volunteers are working. If you do not already recycle, we encourage you to do so to help our community and the environment. Through everyone’s efforts we can continue to make the North Liberty Recycling Program a great success! If you are interested in this program and would like to volunteer a few hours of your time to help us in

this community project, we would greatly welcome you. Please write to: North Liberty Recycling Committee, P.O. Box 554, North Liberty, Ind. 46554. WALKERTON Relatives visiting Adam and Louise Mann, Walkerton, last weekend, were Lewis and Audry Clemons, Rick andd Kellie Clemons, Manuel andd June Millianses, Martins Ferry, Ohio; Mary Lou Garrett, Stella Mae, Delcia and April, Wheeling, West Virginia; Wesley and Marie Clemons, Carrie, Kentucky; Alex and Jo Ann Clemons, Walkerton; Gary and Carol Trost and Ryan, LaPorte; Adam and Sheryl Mann, Perry, Casey, Katie and Carrie Nelson, Bremen. On Sunday all attended the Gemons Reunion at San Pierre, Indiana. Also attending were Crystal Givens, Cory, Jordon and Haley, Julie Keeling, Matt and Jared, Walkerton; Sherrie Dillion, Neal and Allison, North Liberty; Tim and Kelli Oberle and Hanna, Chesterton; George Millianses, Martins Ferry, Ohio; Cynthia Ann Ritchie, Odenton, Maryland. Other relatives came from Jackson, Kentucky; Connersville, Hartford City, Knox, LaCrosse, Rensselear, North Judson, Indiana. Over 200 relatives came. Plans were started for another reunion in June 93. This was the first meeting of some relatives in 30 years. Good food, childhood memories of the “good old days” were enjoyed by all. ENJOY ALASKAN CRUISE Dorothy and Lloyd Miller, Joan and Henry Koenig returned home Monday from eating, cruising and enjoying the beautiful weather from Vancouver to Anchorage on the Inside Passage of Alaska. Monday was spent sailing all day on modem rough sea to Ketchikan, where on Tuesday we visited Toten Bight and the rain forest in beautiful weather, no rain like they usually have in the rain forest. On Wednesday, we were in Juneau, the capitol land locked city and the only way to reach is by boat or plane. We visited the city and took a motor coach trip to see Mendenhall Glacier. Thursday we were in Skagway, where we drove to White Pass Summit and lived in the past at “Soapy Smith Show.’’ Lloyd made his debut on stage with two lovely ladies of the evening. Dinner that evening was celebrated with an active gentleman, a fellow passenger for his 100th birthday. On Friday, we had sunny weather as we visited Silka and Cruise Silver Bay where we say many eagles. We cruised on Saturday to the Columbia Glacier and College Fjord where the pilot maneuvered the ship within four miles of the glacier, through the many ice floats. On Sunday, we were up early to leave the ship at Whittier, a small bay town of 250 people. We boarded buses that were piggy back on a flat cat train through a 2‘/j mile tunnel, a seven minute time of complete darkness into a lovely valley and to next one mile tunnel which took three minutes to Portage Glacier were some took a cruise on iceberg clogged Glacier Lake. The pilot worked his way for LAPORTE EXCHANGE CLUB ARTS AND CRAFTS FESTIVAL The LaPorte Exchange Cub is expanding the application for its Art & Craft Festival to other Organizations, churches, sororities and individuals who would like a space for Arts and Crafts or Flea Market items. The fourth Annual Chicken BBQ and Craft Festival will be held on Saturday, August 15, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at State Road 2 and Fail Road in LaPorte. Interested parties may contact Carole Wolford at (219) 326-0206.

a half hour through the icebergs to the glacier. We also enjoyed the many activities and meeting many lovely people as we spent seven beautiful sunny days on ship. WALKERTON BEACH VOLLEYBALL RESULTS Beach volleyball is well underway at the Washington Street Beech Volleyball courts. Last Thursday was the first night for league play. The league guarantees plenty of exercise, nothing less than a great time, meeting new friends and being a part of the country’s hottest sport! The first match starts at 6:30 and runs every 45 minutes with the last match starting at 8:45. The first week had: Ist Match — Flinstones vs. Hair Shack, winner Flinstones. Gotta Have It vs. State Farm, winner, Gotta Have It. Linda’s Hairway To Heaven vs. M.P.’s, winner, M.P.’s. 2nd Match — Wilson’s vs. Miller’s Merry Manor, winner, Wilson’s. G's Dockside vs. M. J. Package Store, winner, M. J. Package Store. Station #l2 vs. Omni Medical Ginic, winner Station #l2. 3rd Match — Flinstones vs. Gotta Have It, winner, Flinstones. Hair Shack vs. State Farm, winner, State Farm. Linda’s Hairway to Heaven vs. Wilson’s, winners, Wilson’s. 4th Match — M.P.’s vs. Miller’s Merry Manor, winner, M.P.’s. G’s Dockside vs. Omni Medical Ginic, winner, G’s Dockside. M. J. Package Store vs. Station #l2, winner, Station #l2. The public is welcome, so bring your lawn chair and help cheer the teams on. See you Thursday! HARRY FINCH REUNION The Harry Finch family reunion was held Saturday, June 13, at Potato Creek State Park with about 60 attending. A bountiful carry-in dinner was enjoyed and fellowship with Mr. and Mrs. Harold O’Connor as hostess. A white elephant was held in the afternoon which was enjoyed by all. Games for the children and ballgames were held. Mrs. Linda Finch came the fartherest, Stockton, California. The oldest was Mrs. Marget (Finch) Mason, Calvin, Kentucky. Later all were treated with homemade ice cream that Mrs. Larry Lewellen served and watermelon that was brought from North Carolina. A solo was performed by Wayne Richardson which all enjoyed before returning home. Those that travel just to be with the family were: Rev. and Mrs. David Walter, Bismark, North Dakota; Mrs. Michael Woods and daughters, Mela, Marietta and Melissa, of North Dakota; Mr. and Mrs. William Fuller and son, Jacob, Statesville, North Carolina; Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Richardson and children, Talitha, Atha and Aaron, Weleeth, Oklahoma; Mr. and Mrs. Gale Finch, Mr. and Mrs. David Finch, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Collins worth and daughter Shiva, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Finch and Marc and Matthew Lewandowski, Niles, Michigan; Mrs. Tina Meredith and nephew, Buchanan, Michigan; and Miss Rebecca Finch, Bridgeman, Michigan. Those from this area were Verland O’Connor and friend, Larry, South Bend; Mrs. Mike Granning and daughters, Terri and Mrs. Tracy Baber and sons, Scott and Brian, Fort Wayne; Mrs. Dennis Groves, Walkerton. The North Liberty families were Mr. and Mrs. William O’Connor, Mr. and Mrs. Dean Luther and family, Mrs. Norma Solmos, Mrs. Dorothy Arnett, Mrs. Nevin Gark and son Jeffrey, Mr. and Mrs. Harold O’Connor, Mrs. Leona O’Connor and Mrs. Ruth Finch. A wonderful time was enjoyed by all on a very hot day. The reunion will be held at the same place June 12, 1993 with Mr. and Mrs. Gale Finch as hostess.