The Independent-News, Volume 120, Number 22, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 13 October 1994 — Page 4

4

- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - OCTOBER 13, 1994

| EDITORIAL

LOCAL ELECTIONS First of all, we must apologize for not having our facts in order as we questioned in last week’s editorial the lack of publicized caucuses in Walkerton to choose the candidates for this fall’s election. Two seats are up for grabs this year, in the staggered format and both major parties have candidates filling the ballot, but did it without any local publicity. However, it was brought to our attention, that the laws have changed as they do from time to time, and a local party gathering to decide the candidates is only necessary when more than one has filed for a seat in question. In past years, this work was all done at the local level, with the local parties holding their caucuses to fill the slate for the town elections. However, now the candidates must file with the county clerk just like the county, state or federal offices, and if more than one files for the same position, then a party conference is held to determine the candidate. This evidently was not necessary this year. However, even though this might be the legal case, there is still nothing keeping the party heads locally from expanding a little on the fact that there are contested scats, and encourage anyone who is interested to be so warned. These same people who evidently didn’t want to bring the public into the picture two months ago, certainly will want the public’s attention . . . and votes next month. Ethically right, maybe yes. Doing the public a favor and keeping them informed, no. The slates are released, although not really complete in our local areas. Briefly at this time, the candidates for the two seats in Walkerton are: Ward I, Walter Heil (R) and Larry Dill (D). In Ward 2, Gene Reese (R) and Gregg Williams (D). For township trustee in Lincoln Township, Elsie Heimer (R) is seeking re-election with no candidate for the Democrats. The Township Board, Charles Travelbee and John Wathen are on the Republican ticket while Richard Awald and Randy Verkier are on the Democrat’s slate. In North Liberty, for Town Council, Gerry Brown and Tom Daugherty are on the Republican ticket while the Democrats did not fill the slate. For township trustee, Martha Lambert (R) is seeking re-election and for the Township Board, Don Eberly, Cloid Kime and Dale Sheneman are on the slate while the Democrats again listed no candidates. North Liberty’s Town Council is now at large, rather than by wards. Next year in Walkerton’s town election, two more wards will be contested and one at large candidate. We do not have the exact realignment of the wards at this time, but will try to keep you informed well before next year’s election draws near. This only makes sense as all the candidates are elected by all the voters in the town anyway, not just voting on those in the respective wards. And this will make a slate a little easier to fill in some instances. This all comes to the front at the regular election on Tuesday, November 8. In addition to the town races, Indiana will elect one senator, of course all the representatives and many state and county offices are up for grabs even though not all of them expire in the same year. Plan now to vote, your vote can make a difference! CHANGE THE PHILOSOPHY I guess that with sports becoming such a big business, and we do mean big, the philosophy no longer remains the same. Remember back when a lot of gymnasiums and schools had the famous sign: “When that one great scorer comes to mark against your name, you ask not whether won or lost, but how you played the game’’. Boy have those signs and saying been left in the past! It is a little disappointing to hear some of the things we hear today, not only about the over inflated salaries, the work stopages, etc., but coming right out of the hallowed halls of our nations colleges and universities. Our neighbor to the north, Notre Dame, is one example. It is known they lost badly last Saturday to Boston College. Couple this with the fact that Michigan had already defeated the Irish and you have what they consider a failed football season. That is too bad. It is too bad that they might have to be like an ordinary college team for a year or two, play their games, give their fans what they want and uphold the tradition of their fine university and the thrill of competition. But no, not with the coach, not with their media, not with many of their fans from students to alumni to just football fans. It is too bad they take this attitude. Do you think for one minute the players are not trying to win ... do you put down individuals, especially people of this age and desire, just because a game was lost. 1 don’t think most people and fans do, but that doesn’t appear to be the case at Notre Dame. And another new low was reached last week by some connected with the university. In the student newspaper, “The Observer’’, from Tuesday through Friday, an ad was published encouraging people to call the Boston College placekicker and give him a hard time. This is the placekicker who kicked the famous winning field goal against Notre Dame the year before, crushing their hopes for an undefeated season and number one ranking. The ad stated: “Anyone interested in wishing David Gordon (B. C. kicker) good luck, give him a call at ask for Gordo, and tell him what you think.” The ad included Gordon’s actual dorm-room telephone num-

bcr at Boston College. The Boston College people were upset with such a stunt, which should never have been accepted and run by the Observer officials. Boy think of the stories this would have generated if the shoe had been on the other foot and it was Notre Dame’s Ron Powlis whose number was published at the school of their next opponents. The university and local media would absolutely go nuts. Notre Dame itself isn’t responsible for a lot of the criticism they receive, but they do earn a good part of it as well as the attitudes and actions of their coaches, students, etc., is a reflection of the university, not just the individuals involved. The world hasn’t come to an end because of two losses. Many fine young men have come from Notre Dame teams that lost two and even more games. Just look back and see. It all depends on how you view it.

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE j

“Place park” On Saturday a lady stopped me uptown and asked about Place Park. The Walkerton Town Board gave John Glenn School Corporation an EASEMENT to use Place Park. The citizens of Walkerton will still have total use of all current facilities, and any improvements at all times. The only exception is when the school has a scheduled activity. The school proposes to improve Place Park by possibly building a new basketball court and improving the current one. Walkerton citizens will be able to use both. Plus, they propose to fix up the softball diamond which they say the Walkerton Little League is welcome to use to play games. Lastly, they want to possibly build a new football field. The school corporation will not be constructing any buildings in Place Park. The playground equipment on the hilltop will remain the same, plus improvements the Town is planning for next year. The Town will maintain the equipment. The school will mow the entire park. The school corporation has agreed not to use any harmful chemicals because of our town wells. In my opinion, cooperation with the school saves Walkerton taxpayer dollars plus providing more opportunities for our citizens. If I can answer any questions, please contact me, Gene Reese, at Marsha’s Flower Shop or call 586-7449 in the evening. Gene Reese

I Memories ... FROM OUR FILES

1984 NORTH LIBERTY PLANS HALLOWEEN SAFETY PROJECT — The North Liberty P.T.A. would like Halloween to be a safe night for the children in our community. We are selling “Halloween Safety Coupons" to be used as treats for your “trick or treaters”. The children will then have 10 days to redeem their coupons at five of our local merchants towards merchandise. These merchants are Craft Drugs, Harvey’s Dime Store, Jim’s Market, Lane's One Stop and Wilcox Supermarkets. JOHN HOSTRAWSER RESIGNS FOOTBALL COACHING POSITION — John Hostrawser, head football coach at John Glenn School for the past 13 years, is resigning his position as head football coach after the current season. The decision has been announced unofficially and will be presented to the School Board officially in the near future. WALKERTON’S FALL FESTIVAL OCTOBER 19 & 20 - Walkerton’s first Fall Festival will be held next weekend, October 19 and 20, right in the downtown area. Hours for the Festival will be from 9:00 a.m. to .6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday the festival will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Both sides of Roosevelt Rd. will have plenty to appeal to all includ-

“Friendly” Friendly is the word that I was given, during the Great Pumpkin Festival, by the vendors, to describe the people and the Town of Walkerton. Friendly, isn’t that a nice word to describe all of us? Th Great Pumpkin has arisen out of the patch and the festival is over. The committee certainly hope that you all had a fun time. They did! Believe it or not, the majority of the committee has signed on for another year. That Larry's Quick Mart has done it again! They have added Sub Sandwiches, and are they ever nice and messy. My kind of sandwich! The hot barbecue is excellent. So give it a try. I have to comment on the cooperation of the^Walkerton Utilities departments during the Festival. These people donated their time and services, prior to, during and after the festivities. A hearty thank you to the Police, Electric, Street and all others who give so generously of their time. Also a big thanks to the Town Board, who very graciously allowed us to have the Festival. You merchants who let us block your fronts and use the sidewalks, we love you for not grumbling too much. You are the greatest! Walkerton really is a Friendly Town! Sincerely, Nedra Williams The valedictorian is the graduate with the highest marks; the salutatorian is the graduate with the second highest marks.

ing art works, crarts of many kinds, candy, foods of various Christmas crafts and much more, mas crafts and much more. 1969 FIRE DAMAGES JEAN'S TRUCK STOP NEAR WALKER TON — A fire reported around 10:40 p.m. Tuesday did an estimated $25,000 damage at Jean’s Truck Stop, west of Walkerton on Highway 6. The fire completely destroyed a housetrailer, the location of the start of the fire, and gutted the restaurant adjacent to the trailer. Other buildings received only minor damage from the blaze. Walkerton Fire Chief, Charles Cripe, stated that the cause of the fire was unknown other than it started in the trailer and spread to the other structure housing the restaurant. Inspectors were at the scene Wednesday to determine more of the cause. EXPLOSION DAMAGES CAR AND SMASHES WINDOWS THURSDAY MORNING — Early Thursday, October 2, a blast ripped apart an automobile and smashed several windows due to a bomb placed on the car in front of 1007 Harrison St. No one was injured. The car owned by Joseph Hiler, 23 , 603 Mornoe St., Walkerton. The car was parked in the driveway of Mrs. Wanda Williams at the time of the explosion. Hiler’s 1968

model auto was destroyed and the Williams home and the John Linback home next door were damaged. Both houses were owned by Edward Sester. Officials revealed that explosives, thought to be dynamite, was placed under the right portion of the car. State Police have not been able to determine a motive or a suspect in the bombings. TYNER GIVES 41 PINTS FOR BLOODMOBILE — Tyner area residents gave 41 pints of blood of which 11 were replacements, during the Wednesday visit of the bloodmobile. Ray Jacobson, in charge of the Tyner Bloodmobile, expressed his appreciation to the Tyner United Methodist Church, The Tyner 1.0.0. F. and the Rebekah Lodges. 1944 THE WAR ON THE HOME FRONT — With the lesson of “dust bowls” fresh in their minds, America’s farmers during this war are using their land much more wisely today than they did in the last war, the Office of War Information reports. Airfields have caused one of th worst recent soil erosion problems. Spinning propellers caused miniature dust storms, resulting in damage to planes and injury to the men. Soil conservation experts and Army engineers, however, have worked out methods of protecting the runways and preventing these miniature “dust bowls” from getting started. SELECT CHEERLEADERS - There was quite a commotion in W.H.S. Wednesday when the student body chose three cheerleaders from the six who tried out. The contestants were Wanda Schmeltz, Rosemary Rearick, "Chuck Ferverda, Gwen Cripe, Bob Ward and Shirley Kost. The first three were chosen. We certainly wish them the best of luck in bringing out the great school spirit of Walkerton. NEWS OF OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM — Dear Mr. Finch: Just a line to let you know I am still in Newport, R.I. They keep me busy giving the ships' crews physical exercises. Never a dull moment. Last Monday Gene Krupa and his band were here in person with the Coca-Cola Spotlight program. There is going to be a big U.S.O. Show on the base tomorrow night. We enjoy the hometown paper very much and appreciate your sending it. Hope you can continue as we look forward to it every week. June and I were very sorry to read about the death of Worth Leßoy. The Town will miss his friendly smile and cheerful "good morning". The weather has been very nice here. Hate to see winter set in, as the fellows say it really gets cold in these parts. Sincerely, W. E. Baker, Sp (A) 26 R & A Dept. Unit No. 1 U.S. Naval Training Station Newport, Rhode Island PERSONALS — Bingo Party at the U.S.O. club room Friday, October 20, at 8:00 p.m. All residents of Walkerton and vicinity are invited. Ed Sester, M. B. Slick, Frank Wyland and T. R. Cline left Sunday for a week of 10 days hunting trip in South Dakota, where the daily bag limit on pheasant is 10 and 12 birds. The non-resident license fee is $20.00, which permits the shipment of 35 upland game birds. Mr. and Mrs. Donald Ewing were in South Dokata last week. Miss Inez Ayers was the guest of honor at a surprise party Tuesday evening in the home of Miss Eileen Travis. A potluck dinner was served at 7:00 o’clock followed by games. The guests were Mrs. Christine Shirley, Miss Grace Cunningham, Mrs. Betty Gilliland, Miss Elsie Steele, Mrs. Mabel Golden, Miss Elizabeth Morris, Mrs. Edwin Penick, Miss Eudora Hartman, Mrs. Genevieve Dailey and Mrs. Evelyn Purdy.