The Independent-News, Volume 118, Number 37, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 28 January 1993 — Page 4

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- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - JANUARY 28. 1993

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE “Volunteer* Are Needed" Volunteers are ven special people who take time from their own busy lives for the benefit of others. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of volunteers, especially in our ambulance service. We are in desperate need of daytime drivers, as well as E M.T.’s. The Town of Walkerton furnishes us with the very best in equipment. We have one new ambulance. purchased last year, and one very good ambulance, somewhat older. Both units are fully equipped with the best emergency medi cal equipment available, including a heart monitor and defibrillator. In fact, these units are nothing short of a small compact emergency room on wheels. However, these wheels won't roll without a driver, and the emergency room is useless without a Certified Emergency Medical Technician. For these people, we depend on volunteers. It may be hard to understand why any one would undertake the responsibilities we take on as an E.M.T., or ambulance driver, as a volunteer. The answer is simple really, those people love people, and enjoy helping others when they can't help themselves. Walkerton takes pride in taking care of its own, and has several excellent E.M.T.'s, and drivers. But not enough to staff an ambulance 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without asking some of them to be on call unreasonable and unrealistic hours, some in excess of one hundred hours a week very often. In order to ease the stress of our over loaded hours, Walkerton is planning to hold and E.M.T. class here in Walkerton. In order to do that we would need to have at least 15 people in this town and Polk and Lincoln Townships that care enough to want to help, and that is the first requirement to be a good E.M.T.; to care and have a sincere desire to help ease the pain and suffering of our fellow man. Other requirements to attend E.M.T. class is a high school education, or a G.E.D. equivalent. If you are interested in attending this class, please stop by the Town Clerk's office and fill out an application. The people at the clerk’s office will see that it gets to the proper •people. I have been a very active E.M.T. on the Walkerton. Polk and Lincoln sen ice for the past four years of my life. My only regrets are, that I waited so long to get involved, and. because of my advancing age, 1 may not have another four years to give One thing lam sure of, as long as God gives me the strength to administer aid to others, I will be an active E.M T. on Walkerton, Polk and Lincoln Ambulance Service If you have a desire to help, but don’t want to take the E.M.T. class for some reason, we are also in desperate need of daytime drivers. To be an ambulance driver, you must have a valid Indiana driver's license, free of points, and confidence in yourself and your driving abilities. You would be asked to go on a few training runs to learn radio communications and learn the use of the lights and sirens. If you are not certified in CPR, you Would be required to learn CPR. We have plenty of CPR instructors Indiana Legislature TOLL FREE NUMBERS Senate 1-800-548-9517 House 1-800-382-9842

that would be more than happy to teach you. Anytime you are a volunteer, there are some self sacrifices to be made, as there is in any worthwhile cause, and Emergency Medical Service require more than others. 1 Because of the nature of our service. lives depend on it, maybe your own, or someone you love. So please get involved. Let's keep our ambulance service here in ’ Walkerton, and take care of our own people. Experience the great feeling of being a part of a life saving team. 1 can’t say being a part of E.M.S. is without stress and heartache, because we hurt inside for every person we can't help or save. We feel deep pain for the families. But, if we have given ’ 100% of ourselves, our skills, and our knowledge, we at least have the ’ satisfaction of knowing that everything that could be done for that person was done, and the patient 1 and their families have the comfort ’ of knowing they were in the care of people who really care. A gift of yourself and your time is a gift only you can give, and being in a position to give someone — anyone — another chance at life is the greatest experience anyone could have. It puts you more in tune with yourself, your friends, your family, and God. Words cannot express the deep satisfaction I have experienced on the ambulance in knowing that I have been of help and comfort to someone near death and very frightened, but knowing I really care. So, please stop by the Town Gerk's office today, and fill out an application for either a driver, or an E.M.T. position, so we can see how many people are interested and get the classes set up. If you need, or want, more information, please feel free to contact me, Jean Brownlee, at 586-3398. Become a part of one of our most vital services, our own ambulance service. Jean Brownlee 801 Harrison St. Walkerton, Indiana 46574 “A Citizen's Comments" I would like to voice my opinion in regards to last week’s “Voice of the People “In Response", written by Tammy Williams (EMTD). I, being a Walkerton citizen, am quite familiar with who runs on the ambulance service. After reading Ms. Williams’ article in which also included a quoted word-by-work letter written and sent to her by Cheryl Rizek. Walkerton Town Board president, 1 was upset. (Now we the people, find out just why we’ve lost some of our best EMTD's.) It was always comforting to know that these people were there, in case something happened to myself or any of my family members. I am to the point now, that 1 don’t want the Walkerton Ambulance called to my home, ever! To Mrs. Rizek, just what did you think you were doing, anyway? Thanks to you we’ve lost some great volunteers, not to mention the best ones we've had for years. These people were dedicating as much time as they could to help others. How can you give restrictions and requirements to volunteers? You’ve hurt this entire town. Mrs. Rizek. As for you and the rest of the Town Council members, you all better get your act together, and call for a private meeting with these EMTD's, and straighten this mess out. 1 feel you i all need to apologize to them, for acting so unprofessionally in the way in which this situation was handled (so disrespectful and inconsiderate!). । Just remember, when you or one of your family members need them, they won’t be there for you to call. - Signed A Very Concerned Citizen ‘‘Gotcha*’ i Once again the people of Starke i County arc asked to roll up their i sleeves and take another injection i of “GOTCHA”. ,

I don’t quite understand how the people of this county are responsible to pay the debts of Gifford Allen and Jack Bell. If they made an agreement with Melvin Fisher then they should pay Melvin Fisher, not you and me. We can not afford to have a government that operates on verbal out of formal decisions. It would serve the people of this County well if Mr. Allen and Mr. Bell would turn in their county salaries to pay the debts made as a result of a sidewalk decision. If this would go to court Mr. Fisher would not have leg to stand on. Gifford Alien and Don Risner knew this by the advise given the Commission by Steven Dodge, yet still settled for $30,000.00 in damages. What kind of businessman would enter into a business deal to the tune of $40,000.00 with a government without a contract? No contract, no deal! Where does Fisher get off thinking that the County owes him a living. How could our Commission agree to pay for damages due. The county is under no obligation to purchase from Fisher Asphalt. It was clear from the beginning that it was Pam Fletcher and Ray Short voting against Gifford Allen. What have we as voters done to our county? It became obvious before the primaries that Gifford was in strong support of Don Risner to fill Ray Short’s seat on the Commission. Now we know why. Now that that goal has been accomplished, hold tightly onto your wallets. It won't be long and the Commissioners and the Councilmen will be calling for another tax or an increase to the EDIT Tax. So keep an eye on the Legal notes published in the Leader because there are at least four more years of “Gotcha” to be handed out. Oh, by the way Gotcha is not free! Another issue that merits mentioning, is public opinion. The majority of the residents of Stare County are employed during the very same time that the Commissioners have scheduled their meetings. The average person can not be absent from their jobs every first and third Monday of each month to babysit our Commissioners. It would best serve the people if these meetings could be held during the evening hours. Like all of the other government officials do. That is if they truly want the public opinion. Shelly Whittaker ‘‘The laaue*" You owe me $70,000.00. 1 have to pay someone off for a mistake I made. Don’t worry, 1 won’t have to pay it back, you're giving it to me because I expect it. It’s time to settle it. It’s not that the situation in Hamlet has been going on long enough. It's been stonewalled until the Democratic Central Committee, with the help of our ignorant voting habits, finally eliminated the opposition. The non-agree-ment with Hamlet to pave the streets was clearly illegal. A majority must approve all matters in public concerning the spending of county funds. This agreement was not made in public and it was not made by a majority. When the bill came due Ray Short and Pam Fletcher both voted against paying the money as well they should. I would like to refer to a commissioners meeting where a claim was made for $300.00 to pay for a punctured tire. The person making the claim said a spike left on the county road had punctured his tire and he wanted the county to reimburse him. When this vote came up our courageous leader made the statement to just pay the money. The vote was 2-1 against paying the money. Those two votes were cast by Ray Short and Pam Fletcher. 1 would also draw attention to the last county council meeting of last year where the council voted 6-1 to repair the bell tower of the courthouse. The statement was made to “. . . prop it up and pray”, by the person

casting the opposing vote. And now this fiasco. These are the I people we are choosing to run our government. Choosing on the merit of who has the most signs and not by performance. Choosing on who can say “I think I can do a i good job” the best and not on the I issues. I Those instances referred to reI suited in a just ending. This one I did not. Hamlet is paying $16,000 । for its part in the matter. But the i money from the Economic Development Income Tax is to go for economic development not road I maintenance. The money to pay for the paving of old 30 should come from the gas tax, as all road maintenance money does. It is true the goal of the EDIT tax i is closer and the program has been • successful. We cannot let that i goal be jeopardized by wasting our i money on road repair. If the gasoi line tax is be raised because of this mistake then let it be on the shoulders of those who made it and vote them out. But in the mean i time, since we cannot trust our government to do what is right and obey the law, we must insist that we are informed. We must insist that we know what is happening when it happens. We can no - longer be satisfied with hearing about decisions made after they are i made. We must insist that when I an issue is presented to our government it is then presented to < us. We must insist that our opinion be heard and respected. We ! must insist that this be a part of our government official’s job as much as is their picking up their paycheck. i Michael L. Densmore SB Bowling Suburban League January 21 Success Realty 8 4 Budd’s Bargain Barn 8 4 Duraclean 7 5 Bolze Service 5 7 Shady Lanes 5 7 P&H Machine 4 8 ’ Egger Automotive 3 9 High team series: Jack’s Citgo 2357, Success Realty 2334, Bolze Service 2292. High team game: Jack's Gtgo 832, Shady Lanes 812, Bolze Service 806. High individual series: Tom Miller 583, Ken Bolze 534, Dan Calhoon 532. High individual game: Tom Miller 207, 206, Dan Calhoon 202. I Sunday Nite Mixed Double* * January 24 • Snafu's 13 7 Pin Busters 11 9 Last Chance 11 9 Pin Punks 11 9 BSlnc. 9 11 Bad Attitudes 5 15 High team series: Pin Busters 1723, B S Inc 1652, Snafu's 1621. High team game: Pin Busters 581, 851nc573, Snafuss7o. High individual series, men: Tom Miller 573, Roger Laßcre 525, Keith 468; women: Marv Rollings 490. Lori Becker 417, Shelly McCarty 389. High individual game, men: Tom Miller 208, Sammy Dollahan 181, Ed Hughes 180; women: Mary Rollings 192, Paula Miller 158, Lori Becker 156. Friday Morning Coffee January 25 Reflections by Karen 53 '/j 26‘/j Shady Lanes 46 34 Pioneer Seeds 4O'/i 39*/a Mouse’s Barber Shop 40 40 Ross Engineering 37 43 No Team 23 58 High team series: Pioneer Seeds 2695, Mouse's Barber Shop 2530, Ross Engineering & Machine, Inc. 2527. High team game: Pioneer Seeds 921, Mouse's Barber Shop 909, Shady Lanes 893. High individual series: Louise Whitmer 487, Donna Wood 459, Pam Cable 445.

High individual game: Pam Cable 184, Louise Whitmer 184, Donna Wood 178, Diane Feeney 166. Friday Morning Coffee League January 22 Ray & Kenny’s 57 27 Johnson’s Dairy Farm 49 , /j 35’/j Ray's Radiator Shop 46'/i 37’/i Waldrop’s Fancy Fruits4o'/j 43'/i Miller's Merry Manor 39'4 44'6 No Team 20 64 High team series: Ray & Kenny's Super Valu 2113, Ray’s Radiator Shop 2100, Miller’s Merry Manor 2034. High team game: Ray St Kenny’s Super Valu 755, Miller’s Merry Manor 714, Ray’s Radiator Shop 712. High individual series: Doris Fuentes 513, Marcia Lichtenbarger 469, Donna Wood 455. High individual game: Doris Fuentes 188, Martha Albert 169, Donna Wood 169, Marilyn Roush 168. Goof Off* January 23 Diltz 19 5 Allen’s Carpet Outlet 19 5 The Wood’s Farm 15 9 1 Shady Lanes 15 9 Moving Picture Video 13'/i lO'/j Wanda’s Place 9 15 Miller’s Merry Manor 3 21 Larry’s Quick Mart 2’4 21 ’4 High team series: Allen's Carpet Outlet 1626, Diltz 1511, Moving Picture Video 1475. High team games: Allen’s Carpet Outlet 554, Diltz 522, Moving Picture 511. Boys high series: Mike Greene 418, Chad Hostetler 412, Ryan Lichtenbarger 381. Boys high game: Mike Greene | 150, Chad Hostetler 145, Nathan ' Cripe 141. Girls high series: Theresa Schmidt 296, Jessica Cable 229, Courtney Eddinger 176. Girls high game: Theresa Schmidt 99, Jessica Cable 84, Courtney Eddinger 71. Gutter Busters January 23 Ist Source Bank 21 3 Duraclean Carpet 17 7 Preferred Auto Parts 17 7 Scott Reese’s Awards 13 11 Marsha's Flower Shop 13 11 Marsha's Flower Shop 13 11 P&H Machine 8 16 D& D Maple Farm 7 17 Success Realty 0 24 High team series: Ist Source Bank 1377, Marsha’s Flower Shop 1331. Duraclean Carpet 1320. High team games: Ist Source Bank 489, Preferred Auto Parts 469, Duraclean Carpet 468. Boys high series: Andy Schmeltz 367, Shawn Jacobson 301, Christopher Keck 278. Boys high games: Andy Schmeltz 139, Shawn Jacobson 124, Christopher Keck 105. Girls high series: Mollie Pletcher 177, Brooke Eddinger 152, Heather Cable 122. Girls high game: Brooke Ed dinger 70, Mollie Pletcher 70. Heather Cable 50. BACKWOOD BROTHERS IN CONCERT AT WALKERTON CHURCH The Backwood Brothers, from South Bend, will be in concert on January 31, at 6:30 p.m. at First Assembly of God in Walkerton. Come and enjoy some oldfashioned Gospel music. HEATHER GARDNER RECEIVES SCHOLARSHIP Three Manchester College students are the 1992-1993 recipients of the C. Emmert Johansen Memorial Scholarship. The fund was established in honor of Mr. Johanson. Among this years recipients is Heather Gardner, R.R. 1, Walkerton, a junior. Customer to new car salesman: “Can you tell me why an SIB,OOO price is modest, but a S2OO discount is substantial?”