The Independent-News, Volume 118, Number 17, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 17 September 1992 — Page 4

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- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - SEPTEMBER 17. 1992

48 DAYS AND COUNTING As Labor Day passed a little over a week ago, this being an presidential election year, the time is here for the really big push for the November election. The general election this year will be on November 3 . . . just 48 days from now. Just 48 days might not sound like a lot, but in some instances, it seems forever. For many years Labor Day was an unofficial beginning of the fall election campagin. However in today’s world, it seems the unofficial campaigning for a presidential election begins the day after the presidential election four years ago. The approach is so different today than it was not too many years ago. With the electronic media, campaigns have taken a completely different look. This has also pretty much done in the party conventions as in today’s world, such as this year, both parties knew their candidates long before they gathered in New York City and Houston, Texas. An entirely different type of campaign is run today as compared to years past. The one thing that will now be forced on us more than ever is the bombardment of political commercials especially on TV. What is disturbing to many is the type of commercials now being featured in campaigns. Mud-slinging, back-stabbing, name-calling, etc., almost nothing goes untouched. A candidate’s past is scrutinized and if there is so much as a little shadow somewhere in the past, it is exaggerated, exploited and hammered on in an effort to make the opponent look bad. A negative type campaign is more often the case now than a positive campaign based on record, platform, promises, etc. And the disturbing part of much of this is the fact that those on Madison Avenue who get paid big, big bucks to unfold these campaigns and commercials, often really insult the intelligence of the public. It is very discouraging to hear one rap another, whether it be for the top office of our country or an office in our own county. The negative campaigns continue to be a very popular thing, and it must be assumed it is felt to be successful for it to continue so heavily. Personally, there are more points hammered at in a campaign than most really care to think about. Name me a person, running for president or not running for anything, that sometime in their past hasn’t had an experience that is long behind them, but one that in the public eye, some must feel should be dragged through the mud and into everyone’s lives. There are already a couple of commercials on TV that we find ridiculous and cause one to wonder just what these people think they can pound down the public’s throats. In an election, there is no doubt an incumbent has a definite advantage on several fronts, but also when they have to stand up to a record, it can be a detriment as well. But we would still rather listen to facts that are more positive about the candidate themselves, than hear all this garbage against an opponent. It just leaves a bad taste in the mouth and certainly is something that an average intelligent citizen could just as well do without. Just 48 more days . . . that does seem like forever!

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE "Community Os Walkerton” As newcomers to the area, we have been very impressed by the friendliness and helpfulness of everyone we’ve met, especially so Saturday, August 30th, when we were involved in an auto accident. Words cannot express our gratitude to the neighbors, EMT’s, police and people who just stopped to see if they could help. Although we were too “shook up” to remember many names, the kindness and professionalism of the EMT’s and the concern of neighbors who stopped to check on us and our kids will not be forgotten. It’s been my experience that one can live in an area for a long time and not feel at home. Walkerton has felt like “home” from the first day. We’re very glad to be living here. Sincerely, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Setser ‘‘Dear Parents, Teachers And All Community Members” To date the Walkerton Elementary School Parent-Teacher Association is 122 members strong. To those who have joined and been issued a membership card, we say Thank You! If you have not yet decided to join us,l hope this letter will persuade you that our P.T.A. is dedicated to the education and well being of our children. With your support we can reach our goals — one of which is —a membership of 150. We are hoping to sponsor a bus safety program for grades K-6 this year also. Some of the yearly planned programs included: a Science Fair, in which the students

prepare scientific experiments, at their grade level, to be judged by outside science teachers. A Flouride Rinse program which provides students the opportunity to rinse with a flouride treatment once a week. In December is Kid’s Korner (formerly Santa’s Secret Shop) where the children are able to purchase items to give as Christmas gifts for family and friends. These are just a few of the P.T.A. sponsored events that happen each year at Walkerton Elementary School. There are 575 students enrolled at Walkerton Elementary this year. We need a very strong ParentTeacher support system for these children. That is our main goal. Won’t you consider becoming a member of this support system and join us in our efforts on behalf of the children? Thank you very much. Sincerely, Dena Griffin, Membership Chairman P.S. Parents and teachers are not exclusive in this organization. Anyone who cares about children is invited to join! Thanks again. ‘‘Dear Friends And Patrons Os The John Glenn School Corp.” I am concerned about the politics that is occuring in our schools, namely Walkerton Bementary. A group of parents have been meeting to discuss issues that concern their children; specifically Gesell Kindergarten Testing and Tracking of children through the schools. Once a child is placed in a Track (Gifted, Average, Slow) that child remains in that Track throughout their school years. There is no room for improvement or possibly changing Tracks. The children remain imprisoned in the school system. The child is placed in a Track as early as when he is

tested for Kindergarten with the Gesell Test; which ironically Gesell Institute has come out publicly in recent time to denounce this practice. The group of parents known as JGSCPAL (John Glenn School Corporation Parents Advocacy League) has met with Walkerton Elementary School principal and the superintendent to discuss these issues and raise questions about the validity of these practices. The group, PAL, has gone through all of the channels to satisfy the superintendent. The problem is now arising with the children. It appears that the children are now being targeted and held “accountable” for their parents actions. It appears that someone is trying to silence this group. Who? What for? And why are they using the children? Can a handful of parents be threatening to the school corporation? What is scaring the administration? How can the principal of Walkerton Elementary allow such practices to occur? Is she not there to "serve and protect?” And where is the superintendent in all of th’s? I question the leadership of Walkerton Elementary and possibly the school corporation. Please, if you have ever had a legitimate concern with the leadership of Walkerton Elementary come forward now and discuss it. Neighbor talk to neighbor. If there is something real to this “ugliness” let's reveal it and dispose of it swiftly and properly. A Concerned Parent ‘‘little Bit Os Chatter” Just want to chatter a bit to let everyone know (especially Harvey’s) how tickled and grateful I am to have them stay in Walkerton, bigger and better than ever, their getting more goodies everyday. Guess how I know? Yes, they look up and there I am. I’m checking on material, crochet thread, hooks, anything to do with sewing. I found quilt blocks. I chose the birds. 1 yelled out, Oh boy, look what I found, anything I needed. This struggling little store is here for the people. It’s not selfish, it’s caring and sharing. It could not have gained (all these years barely hanging on) even enough to pay the necessary bills if some big hearted owner who stands behind the scenes didn’t care more about the people than their own gain. I’ll bet they love and have a regular association with the man upstairs. I love a bit of the past. Let’s keep it around. I’ve shopped at this little store ever since I first moved to Walkerton 31 years ago and I for one will not give it up without doing all 1 can to keep it here. The clerks are so warm and willing to help me. They make my day. Lorraine Mercer AIR BAGS ARE DOING THEIR STUFF (HNN) — Air bags are doing their stuff! They are worth their weight in gold, but they are not perfect, reports Health News Network, the news service of the Indiana Association of Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons. Overall, they have saved nearly 300 lives since they were first introduced, in very limited numbers, in 1974. But there have been complaints. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports it has received more than 600 complaints about air bags. Some, but few, have failed to open. Some opened accidently. Some drivers have slumped over the steering wheel, making it impossible for the bag to fully inflate, which takes only a fraction of a second. Some motorists have been killed when their car was hit broadside. One big misconception: many motorists think that with air bags it is not necessary to use seatbelts. Nothing could be more wrong! Seatbelts also save lives.

Noted Author To Address Public October 3 Best-selling author Jim Trelease will address parents, teachers and the general public on Saturday, October 3 at Wawasee Middle School, North Webster, Indiana, beginning at 9:00 a.m. Trelease is the author of both “The New Read-Aloud Handbook” and an anthology of children’s stories called “Hey! Listen To This”. He will speak on “Reading Aloud: Motivating children to make books into friends, not enemies.” "The decline in American literacy,” Trelease declares, "is due in large part to the fact that two-thirds of our children no longer want to read. No player in the NBA was born wanting to play basketball. So, too, the desire to read must be planted. It is a fact that reading aloud to a child is the oldest, cheapest and most successful method of instilling that desire. Shooting baskets with a child creates a basketball player; reading to a child creates a reader.” For 20 years Trelease was an award-winning artist and writer for a daily newspaper in New England. During this period he visited hundreds of classrooms as a school volunteer, talking with students about the joys of reading. In 1979, he self-published a 30-page booklet for parents and teachers on the importance of reading to children. Seeing the success of this booklet, Penguin Books signed him to do and expanded edition in 1982. That edition spent 17 weeks as a New York Times bestseller. Two American editions have followed, along with British, Australian and Japanese editions, bringing the total to 1.5 million copies in print in 1991. In his lecture presentation, Trelease uses an anecdotal style that rings with humor and enthusiasm. While the program is about children's reading, its content is aimed at an adult audience. Citing dozens of titles and demonstrating the simple techniques involved in reading aloud, Trelease traces its need from the cradle to adolescence. The father of two grown children, Trelease also warns of the dangers in children "overdosing” on television (including Nintendo and videos) and he offers a plan by which parents can fend off the TV attack on children’s living and learning. A nationally recognized speaker, Trelease has been a featured presenter for most of the major reading and library associations of America, the subject of three “Dear Abby” columns, and his 150 speeches each year are booked 18 months in advance. The conference is sponsored by the reading councils of Elkhart County, Marshall County, St. Joseph Valley and Tippke and the Indiana State Reading Association. The cost for registration is $7.50 (by September 18) or SIO.OO after September 18. The cost to college students is $5.00. For more information, please contact Judy Newberg at 936-7682. CHECK CONIFER STANDS FOR NEW BEETLE PEST State entomology experts have discovered a new pest in northern Indiana: Tomicus piniperda, a small black beetle from Europe. Called the common pine shoot beetle, the pest measures less than a quarter inch in length and attacks primarily Scotch pine and other two-needled pines. It also has been found on spruce, fir, tamarack and white pine. "People who need to be aware of this potential problem are those with large stands of conifers,” said Patrick R. Ralston, director of the Department of Natural Resources. “The general public — folks with a few pine trees in their yard — will

not be affected by the pine shoot beetle.” Considered the second most destructive beetle of pines in Europe, it has been found in 12 northern Indiana counties on Scotch and Austria! pines in Christmas tree stands and nurseries. Ohio, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Michigan also have reported the pest. In June and July, the adult beetle bores into the new growth of the host tree, generally eight to 10 inches from the tip, or near the first whorl. A small hole without frass (insect excrement) may be found where the beetle entered the stem. Once in the stem, the beetle moves toward the tip, hollowing the new growth. Infested sections of stem turn brown, then break off and fall to the ground. Heavily infested trees often appear recently sheared. After feeding on the new growth, the beetle then flies to thicker-barked, more mature trees to bore into the bark and lay eggs. New beetles emerge the following summer and repeat the cycle. Recommended controls include use of a labeled pesticide for bark beetles, which might include lindane and chloryrifos (Dursban). Growers should be aware that some brands of lindane are not labeled for use on Christmas trees. Lindane or chlopyrifos may be applied to stumps or bark or larger older trees in nearby windbreaks or landscape situations. Stumps should be chipped to ground level. Older trees damaged by Zimmerman pine moth should be removed and destroyed. Destruction of old trees prior to the mid-summer flight will kill beetles living inside them. Because the pest is new to the U. S. and Indiana, it is important to determine its present range in Indiana. Anyone finding damage on nursery stock matching the above described damage should get in touch with the local county extension agent. The agent will forward specimens to the Purdue Rant and Pest Diagnostic Lab. SERVICE NOTES LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, San Antonio — Airman Ist Class Kenneth W. Schuller has graduated from Air Force basic training here. During the six weeks of training the airman studies Air Force mission, organization and customs and received special training in human relations. In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force. The airman is the son of Lawrence J. Schuller, of Rural Route 4, Walkerton, and Carole J. Schuller, of 13645 Lamon, Crestwood, Illinois. The trouble with filling out an income tax form is that it often takes more brains to make out the return than it does to make the income. People who go around bragging about how smart they are wouldn’t if they were. Good executives never put off until tomorrow what they can get someone else to do today. 2b Years Os Professional & Personal Service • UPHOLSTERY , • CARPETING 1 ||m| * HOAIS a WW* • VEHICLES OgSKf • SE MIS (219) 586-2745 or (219) 324-4942 Call 6 00 am - 12 00 p m