The Independent-News, Volume 121, Number 1, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 18 May 1995 — Page 4

4

- THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS - MAY 18, 1995

I EDITORIAI~j

A BIG PART OF HISTORY The Independent-News is in the process of running stories related by World War II veterans of “The Great War”. It is a little hard for one who lived at the time and remembers so many facts about the war, both at home and abroad, to realize that well over half the people alive today weren’t even born when World War II was being battled on many fronts in many nations, tabled as the “war to end all wars”, World War II was a big part of history, not only for Americans, but for most people around the world. It touched more nations and people than any other war in history. History is often taken for granted. When we studied history in school, depending upon the course of history involved, it always seemed like something out of the past. When history was being made at the same time, we didn’t realize the historical meaning and value of the then present events. It is partially with this in mind, we are happy to reveal some of the thoughts and memories of our local people, who were in their own way, a big part of this history. The Independent-News would like to commend and thank Helen Verkier, who is the real driving force behind this series of articles. We hope young and old alike, those who remember and those who should have knowledge of this major event in history, will take a little time and read the reports of those who were serving our country in the name of world peace. They put a lot on the line for you and for me and are very often hesitant to talk about it, but their individual efforts and those of our country on the whole, both at home and on the battlefields, wrote these pages in history that we all should be aware of and respect. With Memorial Day in the immediate future, the surrender of enemy forces in Europe in May and then of Japan in August, there could not be a more appropriate time to take time to remember and give thanks than the 50th anniversary. We hope you will read and learn from these true life stories, however simple they may seem to some, they were more than major to us all as history will bear out.

i VOICE OF THE PEOPLE |

“Express Appreciation” I wanted to write to express how impressed I am with how the community and surrounding communities have responded to the tragic loss of our two students at OregonDavis High School recently. Several schools sent flowers and cards not only to the families who lost these young men, but also to our students who experienced grief and questions about life and death. Many calls were made to us by local school counselors, parents and pastors volunteering help and support the day at school after the accident. Many prayers were offered for the families, students, faculty and for wisdom and strength for me as the counselor to help guide and touch these young lives. For all this, I am deeply touched. I don’t want to forget those people in the background who also need and deserve our support and appreciation: those E.M.S., law enforcement, fire and rescue workers at the scene of the accident (and too many accidents like these) who need to put their human feelings aside to do a job, and then get support from their fellow workers; the coroners and funeral directors who are also placed in situations which require them to put aside their feelings to do their job and be there for others in grief. Please say your appreciations to them on a continual basis, as they help to keep us safe in the sometimes dangerous, unpredictable world of ours and as they help ease the pain when tragedy strikes. Theirs is a job that’s both rewarding and stressful. Amongst all the tragedy, 1 thank God for the help and support we’ve received, and the opportunity to see lots of good in spite of bad circumstances. Kathy Frazier, Oregon-Davis High School Guidance Counselor “Take A Bow” “Way to go Nedra” — let’s not wait to sing someone’s praises

.after they are gone. Let’s tell those that we respect and admire how much they mean to us. Devon and Helen take a bow! You have our town giving you a standing ovation. John and Pat Cowger “Need Os An Apology” I’m very disappointed in a man as intelligent as Mr. Gene Reese. He evidently didn’t have the facts when he voted nay to selling poppys in the Walkerton area. First — only V.F.W. or American Legion members sell poppies, no other groups involved. Second — It wasn’t an inconvenience to motorist since they are sold in front of businesses that gave us permission prior to selling the poppys. If Mr. Reese was in the service to support the United States of America and can prove his eligibility, I would like to sign him up and bring him up to date. When you drop money in a poppy canister, you have contributed to the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Home for children of deceased or disabled veterans at Eaton Rapids, Michigan; to the National V.F.W. Rehabilitation Service in Washington, D.C.; to the V.F.W. Rehabilitation Service in your own state and to direct assistance programs for needy and disabled veterans in your own community. I have always donated to the MD A, which are taken by the Walkerton Volunteer Fire Department. These solicitations have always been by firemen from different intersections on U.S. 6. I support them 100%. Mr. Reese, I think you owe an apology to the veterans that fought for your freedom. lam proud I served my country. Past Commander, American Legion Post 363 Past Commander, V.F.W. Post 1954 Lewis Whitaker Read our Classified Ads!

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

DEAR DOCTOR DONOHUE: Please send me anything on erythema nodosum. My daughter had this during her pregnancy and is still having some problems. I think it is some kind of blood vessel disease. I would like to know how it affects your lungs. The doctor did not want to take chest x-rays. From what I’ve read, it does not appear to be a serious illness. V * DEAR READER: Readers may recall my earlier discussions of erythema nodosum, a condition marked by hot and painful skin nodules on the lower legs. Yes, the blood vessels within the nodules are inflamed. I discussed earlier a typical experience, that is of the patient who recovers uneventfully after a month or so — with no surprises. That's true of about 70 percent of cases. However, in a few, it will last longer, and in fewer still, may become chronic. Nature’s rules are there to be defied, and so nothing in medicine is set in cement. Your daughter’s case was unusual by virtue of her pregnancy alone. The reason for all the testing (another part of your letter) was to determine if the skin problem represented another disease process, something that can trigger it. Strep infection comes to mind. Drugs can cause it and so can illnesses like sarcoidosis (lungs) and ulcerative colitis. The doctor ruled out chest/lung x-rays in deference to your daughter’s pregnant state. And incidentally, pregnancy itself has been associated with erythema nodosum. Normally, anti-inflammation drugs will control erythema nodosum, and sometimes elastic stockings help. In truly serious cases, where the symptoms last for a long, long time, cortisone drugs may be brought into the picture.

Health & Nutrition by Judith Sheldon

SMOKING AND HEALING: A few weeks ago, I did a column on how smokers heal more slowly from broken bones and other trauma than non smokers. Now, there's more evidence that nicotine taken in through inhaled smoke also delays healing after surgery. This supports decisions by surgeons not to perform anything but an emergency procedure on anyone who has smoked within the six weeks prior to surgery. And that includes cosmetic surgery as well as therapeutic. A recent research program at Baylor University in Houston, Texas, used nicotine patches on people undergoing hand surgery to study how nicotine from inhaled smoke affects nerves and constricts blood vessels leading to the surgical incision. “Each time nicotine entered the nervous system, blood flow was restricted at the site of the surgery," said Dr. David Netscher, an associate professor of plastic surgery at Baylor. “The decrease in the amount of blood flow to the incision area was significant," he added. Insufficient blood flow can cause the skin to slough (a term used for improper healing and, eventually, death of the tissue). A skin graft may be necessary to deal with the condition. Sometimes the whole surgical procedure will have to be redone. P S. For those who accuse me of being part of a conspiracy against the tobacco industry which, your letters claim, is “one of America’s most successful businesses...” I will admit only to being part of a growing number of health writers who feel it’s our responsibility to get the truth out

I MEMORIES . . . . I I FROM OUR FILES

1985 DR. HECKMAN-DAVIS OPENS PRACTICE IN NORTH LIBERTY — On Monday, May 13, Cynthia Heckman-Davis, M.D., Family Practice, opened a new office practice at the North Liberty Family Practice Office at 602 South state Street in North Liberty. Her practice includes pre-natal and obstetric care as well as medical care and treatment for children and adults. A public Open House will be held at the North Liberty Family Practice office on Sunday, June 9. VALEDICTORIAN AND SALUTATORIAN AT JOHN GLENN — Lisa Parker is the valedictorian of the John Glenn High School Class of 1985. Lisa is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Parker. Amy Martin is the salutatorian for the John Glenn High School Class of 1995. Amy is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Martin. JAYCEES SPONSOR “BED RACE” HERE ON FOURTH OF JULY — “Bed down for the Muscular Dystrophy first ever in Walkerton Bed Race”. That’s right! A bed race’s and you are invited to roll along! Think we’re crazy? Read on. On Thursday, July 4, 1985, the first ever Walkerton Bed Race will take place with sponsorship from the Walkerton Jaycees and Ray’s Supermarket. The unusal athletic event will be open to any Walkerton business and civic organization wishing to participate by entering a “Racing Bed and Team”. The race will be made up of 5-man teams, who will have their own bed, which will have to meet certain specifications. 1970 BEAVER CREEK CHURCH TO HAVE 100TH BIRTHDAY — The Beaver Creek Church, located two miles east of North Liberty on highway 4, was organized May 28th, 1870 by Rev. Samuel Gettig. The church has served the North Liberty area for 100 years. Special Centennial Service will be held on Sunday, May 24th with the former pastors sharing with us in both morning and afternoon services. The morning worship service will be at 10:30 a.m. A carryin dinner will be held in the fellowship hall with the afternoon service following at 2:30 p.m. The Marion College Quartet will be bringing special music in all the services and will present a sacred concert in the 7:30 p.m. service. PLJ SCHOOL BOARD NAMES SUPERINTENDENT — The Board of School Trustees of the Polk-Lin-coln-Johnson School Corporation, Walkerton, announces the appointment of Mr. Edward Powell, as superintendent of schools. He will assume his new position July 1, 1970. Mr. Powell, presently a graduate student at Purdue Univesity will succeed Dr. Robert Hanni, who will about smoking and let our readers make their own decisions. END NOTE: Researchers in physical medicine at Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, are warning women who wear thin bra straps that they can suffer serious nerve damage. The binding from the straps causes downward pressure on the clavical nerve, located at the shoulder, which can lead to headaches and neck aches. Over time, it can cause pain radiating down the arm to the hands. This effect would also be caused by swimsuits with thin straps. To avoid problems, find good support bras with wide straps to distribute the weight more evenly. ©1995 by King Features Synd. “A painting in a museum probably hears more foolish remarks than anything else in the world.” —Edmond and Jules Goncourt

become superintendent of T«| Lakes Schools, Monticello, Indian 1945 HANSON NAMES BOM CAPTIANS — The 7th War L® Drive is in its final stages of pH paration and organization. CM tain for Lincoln Township, H Town of Walkerton and West YH have been appointed. Other woH ers will be added to the list by H captains of the various distritH Walkerton captains include MrsH N. LaFeber, Mrs. C. M. Finn Mrs. C. D. Linton, Mrs. Cljn Chapman, Mrs. W. M. DenaH Mrs. Harold Chaney, Mrs. 59 Nusbaum, Mrs. John F. SpencH Mrs. A. D. Winner, Mrs. V. L. /H and Mrs. Hortense Stolberg. West York is being organized ■ Mrs. Oscar Jackson, C. M. AlwH and Mrs. Frank Dunn. Line® Township captains are Miss DcH Bellinger, Mrs. Elmer Daube, MH Caroline Bierly, Mrs. Gus Verkin Grant Steele, Mrs. Frank Clan Mrs. Philip Waldron and mH Ruth'Smith. The business district, in chaH of A. E. Shirley and Roy HansonH being solicited at the present tin so that reports may be gotten oflH the War Finance Office by May H as this is the deadline for apH cants on the payroll savings plain apply for tickets to the Bob H<H Bond Rally at Notre Dame Stadin on May 28. To acquire tickets H the bond rally, each firm is WaH erton has a quota based on thn total payroll. The scale of ween pay deductions which would entiH one to a bond rally ticket will 9 given to all local firms. C. OF C. LADIES ARE ROY/H LY ENTERTAINED — “One of tH finest programs of entertainmH ever presented in Walkerton”, vn th verdict of the members of H Chamber of Commerce and thH guests at the annual Ladies’ Nin occasion Tuesday evening at tH high school. About 160 members and gueH were present to enjoy the delicioH dinner prepared under the dirH tion of Mrs. Ewart Farrar, aH served by high school girls un<H the direction of Miss ElizabeM Neff, Home Economics teacherH Featuring the evening’s entH tainment was the Scottish RM male choir of South Bend, ui, 9 the direction of Horace P. WelM and augmented by two talentH and lovely ladies, Helen DefreeH and Virginia Smith, vocalists, afl of South Bend. The choir presented a diversifiH program of semi-classical and poH ular music which delighted 9 hearers. Their perfect blendiM and shading of tones and their s 9 perb harmony, climaxed in t 9 rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer 9 was enthusiastically received. TM work of Mrs. Defrees and Mm Smith was also of a very high ca 9 ber. Especially appreciated we 9 the numbers of the closing group 9 which all voices were heard. Ensign Dahlstrom, of NoM Dame, who appeared with t 9 choir, delighted the group wi9 several solos. He was accompa9 ied by Mrs. Dahlstrom. Dick Bums, xylophone arti9 clown, fire-eater, and eater 9 practically everything he hac 9 work with, except the instrun 9 itself, scored heavily as he I sented his half-hour of side-s[ 9 ting entertianment. Miss M 9 Kay, petite and charming acco 9 anist, played during the din I hour and seranaded the guests v I their favorite songs as she wandc9 ed from table to table. Both Bur 9 and Miss Kay are from Chicago 9 Much credit for the success I the program goes to Dr. V. 9 Wolfe and his committee w 9 worked tirelessly to produce H outstanding entertainment tH9 was presented.