The Independent-News, Volume 120, Number 31, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 15 December 1994 — Page 4

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- THE INDEPENDENT NEWS - DECEMBER 15, IW4

EDITORIAL

LAGGING BEHIND THIS YEAR Traditionally the holiday season, basically the period from around Thanksgiving through the end of the year, is the main time for several key things. It is the time of year when retail businesses are really going strong. It is a time of the year when people do have a different attitude about many things, giving is one of them. In this time of the year, the major fund raising for many charities and organizations flourish as people caught up in the spirit of the season have a better attitude about sharing and giving. But with all good there often comes some negatives also. There is always someone somewhere that is ready, willing and able to take advantage of a situation and sometimes cast shadows of doubt on what we think should be positive things. It has been noted that donations to such’ drives as the Salvation Army kettles, so obvious at the Christmas season, are not doing as well as hoped for in many areas. Locally the funds are coming in slower than normal this year, for a variety of reasons. This is also the case in many other areas, and one of the big drawbacks is the lack of volunteers and help to man the kettles and ring the bells. It is something that has hit a lot of areas, not just our own small town. It is always desired to have volunteers handle this work, here and throughout the land. Many areas have to pay bell ringers to man the kettles to keep the donations coming in. For years that was not a problem locally, but in recent years, we are getting as bad as our more urban neighbors as volunteers and helpers for projects like this get fewer and fewer as the years go by. Thank goodness in Walkerton we have a very dedicated American Legion and great group of ladies of Tri Kappa who continue to carry on this tradition. It wasn’t too many years ago it was simple ... the Walkerton Lions Club one Saturday, the Chamber of Commerce one Saturday and the American Legion the final Saturday of the drive. And for a while the Jaycees got involved. However, one by one these service organizations are for one reason or another dropping by the wayside or dropping their combined effort to help. There is no longer a Walkerton Lions Club . . . The Jaycees have gone by the way locally, and the Chamber of Commerce some years back decided against helping in this drive as an organization. Up jumped a lot of individual volunteers . . . mostly older citizens who have helped with this task over the years. The Senior Citizens can be depended upon to help to the best of their abilities, but don’t plan very heavily on a lot of the younger adults because as a whole the help just doesn’t come. Os course there are individuals who help, and without them we would really suffer. The hour or two a week that is given means so much ... it means so much to those who will receive some assistance in one form or another this year and not only at the holiday season but throughout the year if and when the need be. The local committee scratches hard to keep the program going successfully. In addition to the Salvation Army, there are always some service and social clubs that give also. The Community Pantry that operates through the local churches, gives help each month, especially around the holiday season. Drives for food, non-perishable products and money is conducted by not only the churches, but youth groups, donations from other clubs and organizations, and this is all done without question in the name of extending a hand where needed. The holiday time is a time of giving and one when these operations flourish. But the public should still beware, there are always those few who want to take advantage of using a charity name or cause for personal gain. Before you give, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Any legitimate charity will have the proper answers and you have the right to ask how much or your donation will go to the charity as opposed to administrative and fundraising costs. There are 156 professional fundraisers currently registered with the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division to raise money for 247 active charitable campaigns across the state. Add to that the number of private organizations and clubs, churches, etc., that also seek donations and held locally, and you can see there is chance for problems to arise from time to time. Local organizations have been doing their thing for many years in their own community and established programs can use and need the help and donations given them. But remember, you still are the one being solicited whether it be by dropping coins in a red bucket outside the store at Christmas time or by a telephone solicitation by a professional. There is a need . . . but there also is a need to be aware of what and who you are helping. A TRUE FRIEND I know it is not good policy to get too personal in stating opinions and try to stay away from the same, but this past week our lives were saddened once again by the death of what 1 would have to say was “my best friend’’. The passing of Tom Ball, a former Walkerton resident, graduate of Walkerton High School, business man, father, sports fan, and just one truly nice person, was another victim of that dreaded cancer before his time should have come. 1 could go on about Tom Ball endlessly. He was a warm and considerate person, father of eight, a very religious and sincere person who really had a love for life. He loved his

family ... his friends ... he loved people in general and is truly a person I can say I knew no one who knew him that didn't like him. Tom’s passing at 62 will of course be missed much more by his eight children, wife, brothers and sisters and mother, but he also will be missed by the many people who came in contact with him during his lifetime. He truly was a friend ... a friend of everyone!

I Memories . . . [ FROM OUR HIES

1984 FALCONS AT FULL STRENGTH BLAST COUGARS 87-64 — In what might have been the finest quarter of basketball John Glenn’s Falcons have played in many, many years, the local hoopsters outscored visiting New Prairie 27-0 in the first period and coasted to a 97-64 victory Friday. With seniors Rick Hardesty and Darren Skiles, both seeing their first playing action after setting out the first four games on disciplinary suspension, the host school crushed the Cougars with a smooth functioning fastbreak and ballhawking press. “BUS STOP” TO BE PRESENTED AT JOHN GLENN — The upcoming production of the John Glenn High School Drama Department, "Bus Stop”, will be presented on December 20,21 and 22. The cast will perform at 8:00 p.m. on Thursday and Friday and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday at the high school auditorium. Members of the cast include Dick Fansler, Trish Carter, Mark Cain, Debbie Thompson, Jim Vicsik, Kris Muncie, Darren Skiles and Wesley Gearhart. To the modern viewer, the upcoming production of “Bus Stop” by William Inge, will examine the theme of the unfulfilled love which is what veteran director Robert Mulligan hopes the audience will find meaningful and memorable. Filled with warmth and humor, “Bus Stop” is a modern comedy drama that involves the lives of 8 people each trying to cope with love and life’s disppointments. 1969 CHAMBER ELECTS NEW BOARD AT THURSDAY MEETING — The Walkerton Chamber of Commerce has named Dr. Robert Hanni as the president for the 1970 year. Following the regular meeting last Thursday, the newly elected board met and choose their officers for the coming year. In addition to Dr. Hanni, the officers are: vice president, Roy DeSimone; secretary, Bob Urbin; recording secretary, Mrs. A. G. Hunt; treasurer, Russell Rhine; and membership, Leo Mahoney. ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES PLANNED FOR 2ND SEMESTER — The Adult Education Advisory Board met on Monday, December Bth, and made tentative plans for the Adult Education Classes to be offered the second semester at John Glenn High School in Walkertron. Credit classes to be offered are: Office Machines, Typing I & 11, Written Communication (English), Social Studies and Tailoring. A minimum of 10 students must be enrolled in order for a class to function. CHURCH TO PRSENT LIVE NATIVITY SCENE — The Beaver Creek Wesleyan Church will present a live nativity scene on the church lawn each evening of December 21 through 24, from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. The nativity scene will be portrayed by the youth, young adult and adult classes of the church. The church is located on St. Rd. 4 two miles east of North Liberty. 1944 CHRISTMAS PARTY FOR WALKERTON KIDDIES - All kiddies of Walkerton and West York between the ages of one and 12 years are invited to attend a Community Christmas theatre party at the Rialto on Saturday, December 23rd at 9:00 and 10:45 am. 500 free tickets will be

distributed to the school so that 250 children will attend one show. Christmas favors will be distributed to every kiddie attending the two shows. FLAUGHERS MOVING INTO NEW QUARTERS — Flaugher’s Fiesta, formerly Flaugher’s Cream Station, has rented the Grant Tank store room, comer of Roosevelt Road and Michigan Street, and is making preparation to open within a few days. For several weeks Mr. Flaugher has been making improvements in the room and installing new furniture and equipment, preparatory for his opening. SCHOOL NOTES — Convocation. This week’s convocation program given by the Junior Gass, consisted of the following numbers: two piano solos by Betty Walter, "Trolley Song” and “Always”; a musical selection by Nadine Beckman and Veryl Trost; a horn solo by Donald Daube, accompanied by Ann Leßoy; a piano solo, "Gayety Polka”, by Ann Leßoy; and a quiz program with DeLoyce Crip as quiz master. LAFEBER & SON — Christmas Trees. 300 fine mountain balsam Christmas trees (will not shatter) each with stand attached, the finest trees that are available, 65c for small trees, $1.25 for tall sto 6 foot trees. Nice selections nuts, fruits, etc.; tangerines large 176’s sweet juicy, doz. 33c; box apples, large delicious, 4 for 19c; mixed nuts, all new crop, lb. 53c; soft shell pecans, lb. 55c; English walnuts, large new crop, lb. 43c. On December 16, 1773, (he Boston Tea Party took place during which colonists, upset by unfair taxation on tea, dressed as Indians and dumped an entire shipment of tea into the harbor... December 17, 1777, France recognized the independence of the 13 American colonies from Great Britain ... December 15, 1791, the Bill of Rights went into effect... December 18, 1865, the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery, took effect ... December 18, 1878, the French steamer Byzanlin sank after a collision in the Dardanelles, killing 210 people ... December 17, 1903, the first successful flight in a heavier-than-air, mechanically-propelled airplane, was made by Orville Write near Kitty Hawk, N.C, in which he traveled 120 feet in 12 seconds; the fourth flight on that same day was made by Wilbur Wright, which encompassed 852 feet in 59 seconds ... December 18, 1917, Congress submitted the 18th Amendment (Prohibition) to the slates for ratification ... December 17-18,1944, three U.S. Third Fleet Destroyers sank during a typhoon in the Philippine Sea, causing 790 deaths ... December 16,1960, a United DC-8 jet and a TWA Jet. collided over New York City, killing 134 people December 18, 1964, the U.S. offered to negotiate a new Panama Canal treaty ... December 15, 1970, a South Korean ferry sank in the Korea Strait, resulting in 308 deaths ... December 18, 1972, full-scale bombing of North Vietnam resumed after peace negotiations taking place in Pans reached an impasse ... December 14, 1991, the Salem Express, a ferry, rammed into a coral reef in Safaga, Egypt, claiming 462 lives ... December 15, 1992, IBM announced that it would cut 25,000 jobs in 1993, after cutting 40,000 in 1992 through voluntary retirements, once a giant in the industry, IBM projected a $5.25 billion net loss for the fourth quarter.

To Your Good Health by Paul G. Donohue, M.D.

DEAR DOCTOR DONOHUE: My mother has polymyalgia rheumatics with shooting pains in her body. She has trouble sitting. One of my major concerns is a reference in my medical book about “blindness.” She has jaw and head pain. Does it run a course? Giant cell arteritis also has been mentioned. We’re confused. DEAR READER: It can be confusing. Understand first that polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and temporal arteritis are distinct, but often malevolent companions PMR has to do with sore muscles, which here are inflamed. PMR usually affects shoulder and hip muscles, perhaps explaining your mother's problem trying to sit. The vision warning is important. It recognizes the possibility of temporal (heard) arteries being involved in a wider general artery problem Temporal arteritis, thus, may involve non-head vessels. Head artery symptoms include headache and jaw pain. Immediate evaluation is important to avoid blindness, which can occur suddenly By now, your mother is well into treatment. Cortisone drugs work quickly and effectively for both problems, and any threat of blindness subsides as soon as the cortisone starts its anti-inflammation work. Some must continue treatment for extended periods See the polymyalgia rheumatic report for more Others who want this report can order by writing: Dr. Donohue — No. 45-WS, Box 5539, Riverton, N.J. 08077-5539. Enclose S 3 and a self-ad-dressed, stamped (52 cents) No. 10 envelope. C 1994 by King Feature! Synd

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