The Independent-News, Volume 118, Number 15, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 3 September 1992 — Page 4

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- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - SEPTEMBER 3. 1992

EDITORIALS

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT The John Glenn School Corporation, at their regular meeting on August 18, named the Task horce that is formed to address the educational needs of middle school students in the local school corporation. This issue, probably has created as much interest and concern as any one issue for years in the local school corporation due to the fact that the new middle school plan has since been stopped by the newly elected school board. This turned out to be the focal point of the last school board election and the results clearly expressed the feelings of the public at that time. However, stopping what had been planned did not solve the problem that exists. Future plans certainly will vary from what had been planned by the previous board, but must address the matter at hand. Five committees have been formed to cover different aspects of this matter and will involve both volunteers and invited persons, teacher representatives, corporation resource people, board members and the general public. The thought behind this approach is what is refreshing at this time. We have been drifting into a period where service and community organizations have been hurting. Public responce and willingness to serve, is possibly at an all time low. The reasons are many and varied, but the results are rapidly becoming the demise of many groups who for years have been an asset to communities, the people and even governmental agencies. All one has to do is look around. Check out the participation and even the number of service organizations and clubs in today’s time. Both figures are way down. A select few still serve, but the overall cooperation and efforts of these clubs and organizations is lacking today from what it was just a few years ago. The Task Force is a little different, but it still reflects the fact that there are still those willing to serve, especially for a good cause. The results of this group of individuals from all four townships and varied walks of life, will have an affect on all of us in the school corporation, but more importantly will help make decisions that possibly before were not made known to the public as many had hoped. It appears that superintendent of schools David McKee is very conscious of public awareness and this is just one of several innovations he has suggested to help keep the public informed and involved. The overall concept is great, the actions and eventual results will be open to the public and this also gives the public a chance to express their ideas as the plans unfold, rather than a fight after the fact as was the case in the recent plans to build a new middle school. Whatever the results, as this group discovers the needs and works towards a suitable solution, we salute the efforts of Mr. McKee and the current School Board for a positive step forward in an area that has been lacking in the past. Maybe this type of involvement will spread to other groups and organizations once again as public awareness, input and involvement are very important matters in not just this, but many situations.

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE “Summer Recreation A Succees” 1 would like to thank the Town of Walkerton and the Park Board for giving me the opportunity to have a Summer Recreation Program. It had a lot of fun working with these kids and I think they had just as much fun! In having this program I hope all of the kids learned something positive as well as making new friends. I thank these businesses for their donations: Century 21 Savoie A Associates Pavey Insurance Jack's Citgo Station Modern Door Corporation Marsha’s Petals, Plants and Potpourri A special thanks goes to these people: Priscilla Felton of Just Sew Country Crafts who volunteered her time to plan crafts for the kids. Pat Gassensmith, of the Walkerton Police Department, who gave the kids a tour of the town jail. Stuntz A Hochstetler Pines, who let us use their facilities for our family picnic. Ray A Kenny’s Supermarket for donating buns for our family picnic. My aunt, Bernice Juckett, who donated money towards the kids T-shirts for the kiddies parade and who helped towards the family picnic. Gail Suter, who volunteered her

time to read stories to the kids. I would also like to thank all of the parents who have supported me. Thank you so much for bringing your kids to the park. I love all of them and I hope they have a great school year! Kids: I know you will do good because I believe in all of you. Never give up, and please be good to your teachers. Dawn Rhodes, Summer Recreation Director 1992 “Driver’s Tert” I was told not to go to Walkerton to take the driving test (which everyone after their 75th birthday has to take) because no one ever passes the first time. I thought, I can’t pass a driver’s test in Walkerton? That's crazy. I have driven since 1942, quite well 1 believe, had no accidents. I have driven to South Bend, Indianapolis, Milwaukee, Chicago (downtown), Detroit, Knoxville, Tennessee, and I could not drive around Walkerton and pass a test? I didn’t pass. I had to dose my shop and go back another day and take it again. I passed, did much better, she said, and as sure as I am writing this letter I did exactly the same thing because that’s the way 1 drive. I took my daughter, daughter-in-law and a good friend the same route. They all drive all over the U.S.A. They all agreed I did everything right and said what she

did not pass me for was crazy. It does take away some of your confidence and makes you uneasy until 1 realized she is not the only one who knows how to drive a car. Personally 1 believe she should take some driving lessons. 1 will advise no one to take the test in Walkerton. I love Walkerton and buy my groceries and do my banking there. Ruby Salyer “Under Used Words” 1 have noticed that several words are missing from the speaking process. Thank .you is a work that many people in business have forgotten how to use. Just last week, 1 was in a local store and when I had paid the bill, the clerk said “Have a nice day". Thinking that maybe this was just an oversight, I went back the next day and was given the same answer. 1 asked what was wrong with “thank you and have a nice day”. All the clerk said was, “Oh”. A customer likes to feel that it is appreciated when he or she buys. Pardon or excuse me are other words that have gone by the way. Sometimes it feels like I am on a football field walking down the sidewalk. It probably is an inconvenience for a group of young people taking up the whole walk and when suddenly someone approaches, I try to keep to my right, but if 1 bump into you, I do say excuse me. Maybe a class in manners should be included in school curriculum. Please or may I, have been replaced by I want, or gimme. Enough lecturing. I, in a weak moment, volunteed for the John Glenn Task Force. Really an editorial in this paper got me to thinking! We had our first meeting last week. When I volunteered for the curriculum department of the group, I thought that we were going to give input as to what the youth were going to be taught. But, ft seems that the biggest problem to be solved is to decide if we want a two year or a three year middle school. Also team teaching versus set classes. If any of you people have views on these subjects give me a call. Remember, I'm not on the finance committee, so I’m not interested if you want to build a new school or not. The garden is still producing. The beans have been picked for the last time. The next picking will be shelly beans. The tomatoes and peppers are abundant. On Saturday, September Sth, the Walkerton Post of the V.F.W will be selling Nelson Golden Gio chicken at Bolze Service starting at 10:00 a.m. Come on out and help one of Walkerton’s finer groups. Good eating too! Josephine Smith is at the Countryside nursing home at Knox convalescing from an operation. Her room number is 23 if you want to drop her a note. More reporting on the Task Force next week. Sincerely, Nedra Williams Planning Walk For Hospice Well Underway The seventh annual Walk for Hospice is scheduled to take place on Sunday, October 11, 1992 at 1:00 p.m. More than 500 walkers are expected to stroll the scenic 17 kilometer route (about 10 miles) through the center of South Bend. The annual event raises funds for Hospice of St. Joseph County. Each walker secures pledges for every kilometer walked. More than 85 corporations, businesses and dubs have already formed teams and there is no limit to the number of teams that may participate. Individuals and small groups are always welcome to walk as well. This year’s Walk is being cosponsored by LITE 100.7 WLTA-

FM, the South Bend White Sox, Bob's Superstore, and NIPSCO. Terrific prizes will be won by individual walkers turning in the most collected pledges by the October 21st deadline. Individual prizes include: reserve and general admission season tickets for the 1993 South Bend White Sox home games, a VCR, a portable color TV, and each walker who turns in $150.00 or more by the deadline will receive a headset radio. Teams who turn in the most money "in total” and on a "per capita Walker” basis will receive a pizza party donated by Barnaby’s Restaurants. All walkers have a chance to win prizes in a random drawing among all who walk. Prizes include merchandise and certificates donated by area businesses. The first 500 walkers who register beginning at noon at Potowatomi Park on October 11th and have at least $25.00 in pledges will received a commemorative T-shirt courtesy of WLTA and the first 500 will receive a sport squeeze water bottle made possible by NIPSCO. In addition, the Pepsi Cola Bottlers of South Bend will have a product available at checkpoints along the route and at the finish line. Volunteer chairpersons for this year’s event are: Tom Shaw, Norwest Bank of Indiana, Overall Chairperson: John McKenna, NIPSCO, Prizes Chairperson: Mary Jane Stanley, Community Leader, Team Chairperson; James Hanley, Hay Funeral Homes, Checkpoint Chairperson; Tom Callahan, Society Bank, Tabulation Chairperson; and Susan Vanonni, Memorial Regional Cancer Center, Registration Chairperson. Safety for walkers will be provided by the South Bend Police, Civil Defense, Weather Watch, and the American Red Cross. For those walkers who are unable to make the entire 17k, a "poop-out” truck operated by the Indiana National Guard will be cruising the route to provide transportation back to Potowatomi Park. The annual Walk for Hospice is an important fundraising event that helps sustain hospice care in St. Joseph County. Hospice still depends upon 25% of its operating budget to come from donations from a generous community. The Walk allows Hospice to continue to provide nursing, psychosocial, and spiritual support for persons with terminal illnesses and their famiilies, regardless of diagnosis or ability to pay for hospice services. For more information on how to participate, call Mark M. Murray, Associate Director of Hospice, at (219) 237-0340. CONSUMER ALERT Consumers who have not recently examined their credit report may want to take advantage of an opportunity to do so at no cost. Attorney General Linley Pearson says TRW Inc., one of the nation’s three largest credit reporting agencies, will now offer consumers one free credit report each year. The usual cost for obtaining a credit report is about $20.00. Pearson says TRW Inc. is making the offer after complaints to the federal government and a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission. Congress has also considered changes to the Fair Credit Reporting Act which governs credit bureaus. In the past, Pearson says, consumers were able to obtain a free copy of their report if they had been denied credit within 30 days based on the contents of a credit report. After the first free report, TRW will charge $7.50 to consumers who want more than one credit report each year. "It’s important to review your credit report because errors in that report could prevent you from obtaining a loan, securing a credit card, getting a home mortgage or even a job,” Pearson says.

Consumers who are denied credit based on information in a credit report should obtain and review their credit report before paying a company or business which promises to erase or repair bad credit for a fee. Many times these companies are unable to perform the services they promise and the money paid in fees is wasted. "Consumers should know that certain information about their credit history will remain on their credit report for varying lengths of time,” Pearson says. "Bankruptcies, for example, will remain on credit files for 10 years. Other unfavorable information can be reported for up to seven years.” Consumers should make certain their credit report contains their correct name, address and Social Security number. Also check the place of employment to make certain that information is up to date, Pearson advises. When reviewing the account profile, check how the information is reported. At TRW Inc., the initial "M” means the information arrives manually; the initial "A” means the information arrives automatically, probably by computer. Make certain the information, particularly the computer-listed information, is correct and is not in error. Consumers should also check the list of institutions fromn which they have credit. Consumers who make their payments on time will be listed as being current. Accounts that are behind 30 days or more than 30 days will also be noted. Consumers should make certain accounts on which they are paying are listed as being current. The credit report will also list the number of credit cards held bv the individual consumer. That information should be checked carefully, particularly if credit cards have been destroyed but not reported to the issuing company. Too many credit cards on a credit report could prevent consumers from obtaining credit they want because they appear to be overextended. Pearson says court judgements received against consumers will appear on a credit report. Credit reports will also show accounts which were not collected and are listed as delinquent or uncollectable. Pearson says consumers who want to take advantage of TRW Inc.’s free offer should write the company at TRW, P.O. Box 2350, Chatsworth, California 91313-2350. TRW requires a letter with the following information: Your last name, first name and middle initial and whether you are a Jr., Sr., 11, 111, etc. Include your spouse’s first name if you are married. List your address and previous addresses if you have moved within the last five years. Include zip codes for all addresses. List your year of birth and make certain you list your Social Security number. A verification of your name and address is required. TRW suggests a photocopy of a driver’s license or current credit billing statement. According to Consumer Reports magazine, the other credit reporting agencies, Equifax and Trans Union, are not offering one free credit report yearly. HEAVY DRINKING BY COLLEGE STUDENTS INCREASING (HNN) — Heavy drinking by college students — especially women — is on the increase, reports Health News Network, the news service of the Indiana Association of Osteopathic Physicians A Surgeons. According to a study by Harvard University researchers, both college men and women are increasingly drinking to get drunk; half of the men, and one-third of the women questioned. "Binge drinking is characteristic of a large proportion of college students,” said the study.