The Independent-News, Volume 120, Number 51, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 4 May 1995 — Page 1

The Independent-News

OLUME 120; NUMBER 51

50 YEARS AFTER WORLD WAR II o AREA VETS TELL THEIR STORIES

Victory In Europe jj VE Day May 8, 1945 Victory In Japan ci VJ Day August 14, 1945 The following are stories that ‘terans from the Walkerton area ive related about their experienciin World War 11. This is the io rst of many stories that will be lublished. Look for them to continue about every other week. nThere are many veterans who have tailed but as yet have not re- > sponded with stories — please call 586-3450. Information will be iken right over the phone. JAMES W. VERKLER 2DU Naval Combat Demolition Unit MM 1 Machinist’s Mate First Gass) U.S. Navy Seabees After receiving 'combat training' the NCDU beginning in Nomber of 1943 in Fort Pierce, orida, we were sent to Salerno, ily. From there we were sent to vade the shores of Southern ance. But thanks to the French iderground we encountered no sistance at all. In fact, about 75 German soldiers came out of the Woods with their hands in the air wanting to surrender. Absolutely nothing in our basic training had - taught us about what to do with prisoners I Here were about 75 German soldiers and only 21 of us. It was a warding situation! Fortunately Home one in our group was fluent enough in German to communicate with the prisoners and put them to Work doing the same thing we were, that is 'clearing the beaches ' debris. They complied with no distance because they could see te huge ship armada off shore etting ready to land. Among ther duties we had to blast away a oncrete sea wall built to avoid each erosion and protect the road, ■he German prisoners helped haul xplosives to accomplish this with o adverse incidents! After the etonators were set we had 10 linutes to take cover — and the risoners ran with us. VROOM! L 40-foot section of the concrete -Ball was wiped out, and after we ^Aotioned for the prisoners to Return, they did! . The beach had now become a sea | of activity as the army infrantry began moving in. The troops were pouring ashore by the thousands. Somewhere amid all this confusion, ■he army took charge of the terman prisoners who had scared |he ‘daylights’ out of us. We had moved our LCVP’s out of the way as our work was completed, and we (ere awaiting further orders. We andered off to a place which »ked like it had been fortified — nd found dead Germans, about »ls of them still in their sleeping ags and others appeared to be fanning machine guns and mor- — all pointed toward the beach e had just landed on. The French nderground had saved a lot of merican lives! By early evening our orders arived to return to the transport (hip. As we were leaving the >cach area we saw the same LST vhich we were on from Norfolk to iizerte coming in to unload. We ecognized the numbers on the ship md waved at some of the crew nembers, they acknowledged the *ct that they knew us too. After (continued on Page 11)

CALENDAR OF EVENTS THURSDAY, MAY 4 4:30 p.m. — John Glenn tennis team to host LaLumiere. FRIDAY, MAY 5 4:30 p.m. — John Glenn boys basebail team to host Culver. 5:30 p.m. — John Glenn boys track team to complete in the Concord Relays. SATURDAY, MAY 6 6:25 a.m. — John Glenn bovs golf team to play in LaVille Invitational. 9:00 a.m., John Glenn girls JV tennis team tourney at Glenn. MONDAY, MAY 8 4:15 p.m. — John Glenn boys golf team to host S.B. LaSalle. 4:30 p.m. — John Glenn boys and girls track teams to host New Prairie and Bremen. 4:30 p.. — John Glenn girls tennis team to host North Judson. 4:30 p.m. — John Glenn boys varsity baseball team to visit New Prairie. 4:30 p.m. — John Glenn boys Jr. varsity baseball team to host New Prairie. 8:00 p.m. — Walkerton 1.0.0. F. Lodge to meet. WEDNESDAY, MAY 10 4:30 p.m. — John Glenn Jr. varsity baseball team to host Knox. 4:30 p.m. — John Glenn varsity baseball team to play at Knox. 5:00 p.m. — John Glenn boys and girls track teams to run in N.S.C. meet at Bremen. 7:30 p.m. — North Liberty Tri Kappa to meet. THURSDAY, MAY 11 4:45 p.m. — John Glenn girls tennis team to host LaLumiere. WALKERTON TOWN SPRING CLEAN-UP MAY 8, 9 & 10 The Town of Walkerton will hold the annual spring clean-up on May 8, 9 and 10th. Utility Department personnel will collect items from the street curbs. There will be no alley pickup. Items to be collected include appliances, furniture, televisions, water heaters, etc. Refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners will not be picked up unless the Freon has been removed form them. The item is to be certified by the company that removes the Freon, that the Freon has been removed. No tires, brush, hazardous materials or building materials will be picked up. Homeowners can contact the clerk-treasurer’s office for more information, at 586-3711. BUDDY POPPY SALES SATURDAY, MAY 6 The Veterans of Foreign Wars have been selling "Buddy’ poppies since 1922. The proceeds from ” Buddy" poppy sales are used exclusively to assist disabled and needy veterans and the widows and children of deceased veterans. On Saturday. Maj 6, North Liberty V.F.W. Post 1954 will be selling poppies in Walkerton and North Liberty. Buy one and wear it. Your donation will help those who fought to preserve the freedom you enjoy today.

WALKERTON, INDIANA 46574

CROWN ROYALTY AT GLENN PROM ■HHmk ’ ' ' • ' ' ' ' • ■ •■ . ■ ' .. '• '< • '’■

The 1995 John Glenn prom king and queen were crowned at Cheers Banquet Hall in LaPorte on April 22. Matt Church and Krista Eastburn, pictured, were chosen from the court consisting of queen candidates Cathy Arce, Emily Casteel. Amber Fraiser and Diana Norris; and king candidates Rocky Plummer, Tom Popovic, Ryan Reese and Cory Shively. The prom prince and princess were Ernie Clark and Lisa Fair. Other prince and princess candidates were Alicia Allsop, Milli Fraiser, Sara Holland, Jennifer Keck, Dave Guiseilla, Chad Ladyga, Nick Medich and Joe Pletcher. The junior board, headed by class president Tracy Limerick, and class sponsors Mr. Fansler and Mrs. Slough, did a great job preparing for the prom. It was held from 9:00 p.m. to midnight, and music was provided by Second Generation. The prom was followed by an outstanding after prom at the high school from 1:00 - 4:00 a.m. Students enjoyed sumo-wrestling, the bungee run, the velcro wall, the joust, dancing and great refreshments. Evervone had a great time celebrating the prom in a safe way! J.G.S.C. To Send Out Midterm Progress Reports The John Glenn School Corporation schools will be sending midterm progress reports home with students on Friday, May 5. All students in grades 3-8 will receive a progress report for the nine-weeks and students in grades 9-12 that are in danger of failing a class for the nine-weeks will receive a midterm report. BOOTH SPACE AVAILABLE FOR ORGANIZATIONS DURING 4TH OF JULY FESTIVAL The Friends of the Fourth committee are offering booth space to all non-profit organizations during the 4th of July Festival this year. If your organization would be interested in a money making project at the school grounds on the 4th of July, please contact Don or Brenda Ludwig at 586-9622. The state of Connecticut is so named from an Algonquin Indian word meaning on the long tidal river.

THURSDAY, MAY 4, 1995

Friends Os The 4th Plan A King And Queen Contest This year the 4th of July festivities will include a King and Queen contest. The contest is open to all area high school students. You must be entering 9, 10, 11 or 12th grades in the fall or have graduated in 1995. Requirements will be to sell raffle tickets before and during the 4th of July activities. The boy and girl with the highest sales will not only be crowned the first 4th of July King and Queen, but will also receive a cash prize of S2OO. The first runners up will receive a cash prize as well as the second runners up. All interested high school students are asked to contact Don and Brenda Ludwig at 586-9622 for further details. Watch the paper in the coming weeks to find out who the candidates will be this year and please support them by purthasing your raffle tickets from these hard working students. Spring Spectacular At John Glenn May 12th & 13th If you’re up for a night of fun. thrills, good rockin, disco or just looking for something exciting to do. the John Glenn Ryhthm Express and Jazz Band have the solution. ’’Spring Spectacular” on Friday, May 12th and Saturday, May 13th, at 7:30 p.m. in the John Glenn High School auditorium. Spectacular will feature both ensembles performing a variety of music from a 50's sock hop. a production of Thriller, to a medley from the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat”. Reserve seating is available by calling John Glenn High School at 586-3195. extension 25. Tickets are three dollars. Join the Rhythm Express and Jazz Band for Spring Spectacular on Friday and Saturday. May 12th and 13th at 7:30 p.m. for a great night of entertainment. NOTICE Anyone interested in having a craft booth on July 4th at the North Liberty Park, please contact. Marie Kryder 656-4042

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JOHN GLENN SCHOOL BOARD MINUTES April 26, 1995 Special Session CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL The Board of School Trustees of John Glenn School Corporation met in special session on April 26. 1995 at 7:30 p.m. in the John Glenn High School. All members were present. The School Board along with the superintendent and approximately 12 observers began the meeting with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. NEW BUSINESS 1. Review Bids Received on April 18. 1995 for the Renovation and Addition to Urey Middle School and Improvements to the John Glenn High School Physical Education and Athletic Facilities Kari Vilamaa with Barton-Coe-Vilamaa recommended to the School Board Oselka Construction Company from Union Pier, Michigan as the low bidder for John Glenn High School with a base bid of $1,126,396 and an alternate for visitor bleachers for $45,664. The recommended low bidders for the renovation and addition to Urey Middle School are as follows: General Congractor — Calumet Construction Company. Hammond, Indiana — Base Bid of $3,99 7 ,000; Mechanical Contractor — Industrial Maintenance & Mechanical, Rolling Prairie. Indiana — $1,740,000: Electrical — Scanlon Electric, South Bend, Indiana — $632,200; Technology — Sprint United, Warsaw, Indiana — $141,b88; Kitchen Equipment — C & T Design & Equipment, Indianapolis, Indiana — $135,500; Plastic Laminate Cabinetry — Lee Company. Inc., Terre Haute. Indiana — $184,430; Wood Science Cabinetry — Handgen Equipment, Warsaw, Indiana — $77,800; Wood Library Casework, reject the low bid of Sharp School Supply of $38,500 because it did not comply with specifications and approve the low bid meeting specifications from Handgen Equipment Company, Warsaw, Indiana — $43,100; for a sub-total of base bids of $6,951,718; recommended accepting alternate bid for a Generator, an addition to the Mechanical Contractors Bid. of $2,000 and to the Electrical Contractor Bid of $23,970; recommended allowance for asbestos abatement of $50,000; bringing the total for the project to $7,027,688. 2. Review Financing Plans for the Addition and Renovation to Urey Middle School and the John Glenn High School Projects Mr. Roger Umbaugh with H. J L'mbaugh Associates provided estimated financial information to fund the project. The estimated cost for both Urey Middle School and John Glenn High School projects including financing cost is $10,675,337 with $1,925,337 being financed through school funds and $8,750,000 being funded through the sale of bonds. The estimated term of the bond issue is for 18 years with a projected additional tax rate per SIOO of N.A.V. of $1.03. The good news is that the bond rates are at a 12-month low with the average interest rate being 5.8%. 3. Approve the Recommended Bidders for the Urey Middle School (continued on Page 16)