The Independent-News, Volume 120, Number 39, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 9 February 1995 — Page 4

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THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS - FEBRUARY 9, 1995

| EDITORIAL . |

PERPETUAL MOTION When in high school studying physics, perpetual motion was a fascinating thing that had foiled the efforts of mankind for years. Webster defines perpetual motion as: the motion of a hypothetical (but impossible) machine which would go on working forever without receiving energy from an outside source. We have heard the term used affectionately (and maybe not so affectionately) concerning people . . . one who is always working, doing something or never seeming to quite. Or maybe it is that young one who never seems to slow down. They are affectionately referred to as “perpetual motion’’. We think that maybe Webster will have to rethink this situation as there is one thing that never stops. Where the energy (and financing) comes from to fuel this thing, however, may come from the outside. That is the fact that there never seems to be a stop to political campaigning . . . and we are talking mainly about the presidency of the United States. Are we wrong, or did we just have an election? We had an election that surprised many people ... an election that the results of won’t be known for a long time, but still the 1996 presidential race seems now to be in full swing. Don’t we have some other business to tend to before November, 1996? Isn’t running a country, state, county, town, school corporation, or whatever you may have important enough to focus on without thinking about what is going to transpire politically down the road? Can a person who declares candidacy for such an office really focus on the job they should be doing instead of looking out continually to see how things are going in the future? It would be nice if elections could be changed . . . shorter campaigning, much less spending, less negative campaigning and mudslinging, etc. However, election campaigning will not change much because those who are involved are setting the rules. In the Republicans “Contract With America”, which really is an anticipation of what actually will happen, there is one item that if it was followed closely, might just have a great effect on our lives. That is that our legislators live by the same standards that the general public does. That would be quite an accomplishment for the general public. Regardless of the promises, the efforts made public, this also is something that isn’t going to happen easily. It might be easy to vote “yes” for such a thing, but putting it in motion is quite another thing. Our country, state, county and city governments are all facing some problems. The ripple down effect might just get clear to the bottom rung if federal programs are cut, handing more and more responsibilities to the states and cities. Despite the so-called “Contract”, saying something must be done and actually doing it is two different things. Maybe, just maybe, government itself is close to perpetual motion ... it never seems to stop going around in circles!

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“Debate Over Sixth Grade Holds JGSC Hostage” Supporting a petition drive to stop the middle school project because the sixth grade is not included will stop high school and administrative office improvements. It will continue to limit the educational opportunities for 7th and Bth graders and prevent the corporation from working on other educational needs. Continuing the controversy over the sixth grade being included in the middle school is not in the best interest of the students and the comunity. There are bigger issues facing the education of-our youth and school facilities than the placement of sixth graders in our school structure. The time has come to end the debate as to whether the sixth grade belongs in the elementary or middle school and to focus our attention on the educational needs of our students facing the demands of the 21st century. This past year a compromise solution to the middle school facility problem we forged that involves an addition and renovation to Urey Middle School, improvements to John Glenn High School outdoor physical education and athletic facilities, and a new administrative office. The addition and renovation to Urey Middle School will be the equivalent of a new middle school for 7th and Bth graders. The new and improved outdoor physical education and

athletic facilities at the high school will provide quality facilities for the students and public use. The new b administrative office will be a positive reflection on John Glenn School Corporation. The compromise solution makes use of Urey Middle School, is financially responsible to the taxpayers, and resolves other problems in the corporation. The time has come to end the debate over the 6th grade issue and move on to meeting the needs of all students in the Corporation. David McKee Superintendent J.G.S.C. “Forced Remonstrance The recent lease agreement entered into by the John Glenn School Board concerning the proposed Urey Middle School addition and renovation, without any consideration for the sixth graders, has forced some of us to file a remonstrance against this project. We have repeatedly asked the Board to address the sixth grade situation . and the overcrowding at the elementary schools, especially Walkerton Elementary School, and tell us of their long range plans. They either have no plans or they will not tell the public what they are. There are a few other reasons why we are filing this remonstrance and those have been brought out in recent articles in the paper by Jeff Johnson and myself. Whatever we

do with this Urey proposal will affect the children of this community for 40 or 50 years. We need to do it right. If you had three flat tires on you car, fixing one of them won’t do much for you. If you needed a quadruple by pass surgery operation, I don’t think you would tell the doctor, “Just do two of them now and I’ll do the other two in a couple years”. Our kids are our most important asset. They are our future. We should not short change them in providing all their needs for a quality education. There are a few of us carrying petitions to be signed by property owners who are in favor of the remonstrance. If you are opposed to the building project proposed by the Board and wish to sign the remonstrance please call: Debbie Brown at 656-8093, Jeff Johnson at 586-3293 or myself, Nilas Miller at 936-8536 and we will make sure a petition is made available to you. If you will be at the basketball game Friday night, I will have a petition with me. One last thing — to all of you employees who are taxpayers in this corporation, if you are in favor of this remonstrance, please sign. There are many who have already signed and many more who have said they will. You cannot be fired for signing this petition, it is illegal. Let the Board know that you are not in favor of this proposal. They have the people down state thinking the whole community and all the teachers and administrators are in favor of this building project and we need to show them that is not true. Nilas L. Miller Patron for quality education “Finally The Winter” Well, we are finally geting our normal winter weather, and I love it! Indiana, for many years, had seasonal changes of weather, but in the last several years, we mostly were treated to Spring and Summer the whole twelve months. But Winter is here and I am happy. I have been hearing gripes and mumbles about the lack of my letters. The holidays are not my favorite times of the year and I probably would grumble about Christmas. But here I am with a bunch of good news about Walkerton and the community. Weico’s has been acquired by a new owner and is being run by a new manager, Betty Adkins, a local gal who formerly cooked there. Give it a try, and I’m sure you will enjoy. Little Joe’s Pizzeria will be opening soon on the east end of town. There are rumors that the Sub-way Shop will be opening soon. Maybe Walkerton will have it’s own Chinese place. The Walkerton Library is going to be moving shortly, they needed more space. 1 must tell you about a great sub sandwich. Last week I stopped at Larry’s Quick Mart and he had meatball subs. I tell you, that was the messiest sandwich that I ever ate and it was delicious, just the way I like them. I took Roy into Larry’s that evening, bragging about this sub and wouldn’t you know it, they were out of them. The latest news form the Fowl Farm is that Ichabod, the turkey, now has a new lady friend, Babette, this makes three for him. In addition to Babette, there is Giorgette and Goblette. This country turkey tom seems to have a fascination with the French hens. We have had the first meeting of The Great Pumpkin committee. So be looking for raffle tickets. The next meeting will be March first, if you are interested come and join us. It would be nice if the stores and businesses on Roosevelt Road would clean the ice and snow from their sidewalks the whole length of their frontage, not just at the entrances. Not everybody gets to park right in front of their doors. Remember to feed and water the wild birds and creatures. Sincerely, Nedra Williams

VIEWPOINT 5

By William A. Rentschler Supt. Oregon-Davis School Corp. 1. GUN FREE SCHOOLS ACT AMENDMENT. In Octrober of 1994, Congress passed the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which amended the Goals 2000. The national education goals for the year 2000 were adopted jointly in 1990 by the Bush Administration and by the nation’s governors. The "Six” national education goals for the year 2000 are: 1. All children will start school ready to learn. 2. The high school graduation rate will increase to at least 90%. 3. Students will leave grades 4, 8 and 12, having demonstrated competency over challenging subject matter including English, mathematics, science, arts, foreign languages, history, and geography. 4. U.S. students will be first in mathematics and science achievement. 5. Every adult will be literate, with the knowledge and skills necessary to compete in a global economy. 6. Every school will be free of drugs and violence, and will offer a disciplined environment conductive to learning. The amendment, as a part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act included the “Gun-Free Schools Act”, which requires every state to pass a law which prohibits students form bringing weapons to school and requires a mandatory one year expulsion for violation of the prohibition. Language is included which allows the length of the expulsion to be modified on a case-by-case basis. States have one year (1995) to comply with the act in order to receive federal funds for educational programs such as Chapter I and Chapter 11. This is a change from the Goals 2000 legislation which required schools to pass policies prohibition weapons in schools and mandating one year expulsions in order to receive federal funds. 11. PROSSESSION OF FIREARM ON SCHOOL PROPERTY. The 1994 Geneal Assembly adopted P.L. 140-1994, SEA 410 into law. This Indiana law states that it is now a Class C felony to carry a handgun without possession of a license in or on school property, within 1,000 feet of school property, or on a school bus. A handgun is defined as a firearm designated or adapted so as to be aimed and fired with one hand or any firearm with a barrel less than 16 inches or an overall length of 26 inches. The law also states that it is a Class D felony for a person to possess a firearm in or on school property, in or on property that is being used by a school for a school function, or on a school bus. The statute exempts the following: 1. A federal, state of local law enforcement officer. 2. A person who has been employed or authorized by a school to act as security guard, perform in a school function, or participate in other activity authorized by a school. 3. A person who may legally possess a firearm and possesses the firearm in a motor vehicle that is being operated by the person to transport another person to or from school or a school function. A firearm is defined as any weapon that is capable of or that may readily be conerted to expel a projectile by means of an explosive. In summary, possession of a handgun or firearm on school property, or on a school bus is a felony (as well as possession of a handgun within 1000 feet of school property)s; any violations of this law will be reported to law enforcement officers.

To You r GoodHealthl by Paul G. Donohue, M.D. I

DEAR DOCTOR DONOHUE: i am 59, a woman of average buik and fairly good health. My prob* lem is that I wake up at night anc my right arm and shoulder fee like a block of ice. When I try tc move the arm, it is painful. Recently, I read that this ice-cold feeling might be a heart attack happening I was just wondering if that wai happening to me. ■ IB DEAR READER: You’re askin me to walk out onto some pretty thi ice here. I can offer general observation only. One is that most heart pai results from physical activity at th time. Further, such pain tends to sub side as the activity stops. Tha generally describes what is calle “angina pectoris” or “chest pain.” Now, it is true that there is a specif form of the problem, called “noctur nal angina.” That occurs when th person is still, perhaps in bed sleep ing. But nocturnal angina is not tha common, so you can’t leap to such i conclusion. Nor is the coldness you report i common feature in a heart attack, n< matter what you have read. The symptoms you experience oi awakening and moving your arm an more typical of either nerve o muscle compression. Perhaps i results from your sleeping posture Do you sleep on the symptom side? No matter what is going on, I cannot allow you to rely on such fragile guesswork. Remove your doubts by getting a firsthand examination tc rule out the more ominous causes. To learn more about heart attacks, readers can write for a copy of the Health Letter special report on the subject. Send $3 and a self-addressed, double-stamped No. 10 envelope to Dr. Donohue — SR79-WS, Box 5539, Riverton, NJ. 08077-5539. 01995 by King Features Synd.

Sports Quiz by Larry Duncan

1. What pro sport was played by Wilt Chamberlain after he retired from basketball? 2. What Hall of Fame pitcher was the starter for three World Series Games for the Yankees in 1962? 3. What are A.C. Milan, Ajax and Real Madrid? 4. What is the distance between the free throw line and the backboard in basketball? 5. What were Babe Ruth’s Christian names? 6. How many strokes is a tournament golfer penalized for slow play? 7. What is the name of the governing body of golf in the U.S.? 8. Who was the Most Valuable Player in the first two Super Bowls? 1. volleyball; 2. Whitey Ford; 3. soccer teams; 4. 15 feet; 5. George Herman; 6. two; 7. the United States Golf Association; 8. Bart Starr C 1995 by King Feature* Synd. CARBONLESS FORMS To Fill Your Business Needs Independent-News 601 Roosevelt Rd., Walkerton