The Independent-News, Volume 121, Number 50, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 25 April 1996 — Page 9

Walkerton Town Council Minutes (Continued from Page 1) (2nd and 3rd Reading): President Williams announced to the Council that a letter was received from O. W. Krohn, the gentlemen who prepared the power tracking increase for the Town of Walkerton. In the letter he states “While the electric utility does not need to increase its overall rates and charges to produce more revenues, a cost of service analysis is an appropriate step at this time.” Along with this the Council president told the Council that in February, ’94 the line loss factor was no longer used in figuring the rates. He suffested that they begin to use the line loss factor again thus creating approximately $60,000 in revenue per year. Council member Heil made a motion to apply the line loss factor back into the rates, seconded by Hoover, motion passed with a 5-0 vote. Ordinance 1996-01 entitled “An Ordinance Amending “Appendix “A” For The Use Os And Services Rendered By The Municipal Electric Utility of the Town of Walkerton, Indiana.” died for lack of a motion on the 2nd reading. Fire Dept. Report-Larry Dill: Fire chief Dill submitted a monthly report for March. Roof Leak: Council member Hoover asked about the progress on the roof leak above the ambulance bay. The clerk said she had called Snyder Roofing however, they had not returned to fix the leak. NEW BUSINESS Hearing On Vacation Os Alley-Klinedinst: A hearing was held on vacating the alley running east and west to the north side of Larry Klinedinst. Tom Turner said that he ’ was against the vacation of the alley and that he thought all the alleys in that area should be open, that way everybody would be happy. Council member Reese said he thought Tom Turner was in favor of the vacation according to what was said at the last meeting. Olive Mankowski said that she agreed with Tom Turner. Council member Hartsell said that he was a homeowner in that area and he was not in favor of closing any alleys either. Mr. Becker said that he was in favor of the vacation of the alley. Council member Hoover made a motion to approve the vacation of the alley running east and west to the north of Larry Klinedinst at 404 Washington Street. Council

member Reese seconded and the motion passed with a 41 vote in favor. Council member Hartsell voted against the vacation. Linda Weist Complaint: Linda Weist, resident at 1230 Harrison Street voiced a complaint against property owner. Roger Holston. She was concerned about Mr. Holston doing business behind her property. He is storing heavy equipment out in the open and there are many small children in the area who might get hurt if they were to climb up on the equipment. She also complained that the area in question was unmowed and unkept. Numerous cars and building debris were left in the area. The town said they would send Mr. Holston a letter requesting him to move his heavy equipment to the far side of his property and to straighten up the area. Triax Franchise: A new franchise between Triax Cablevision and the Town of Walkerton. The current franchise is scheduled to expire on July 20, 1996. Council member Reese said he would like certain questions to be presented to Triax before a new franchise was agreed upon. He specifically would like to see 3 or 4 other local agreements to compare with Walkerton’s. Hartsell made a motion to have a public hearing scheduled for the new franchise, seconded by Reese, motion passed with a 5-0 vote. NIPSCo Negotiations-A meeting will be held on April 10th at Winamac for the NIPSCo negotiations. Willow Drive Easement Change-A discussion was held on the storm sewer easement that lies between Lot 76 and Lot 77. The original easement states 20’ on Lot 76 and 10’ on Lot 77. Council member Hoover made a motion to reduce the easement on Lot 76 to 10’ which was seconded by Hartsell and passed with a 5-0 vote. David Behr-Mr. Behr informed the council that the contracting for the Housing Grant has been let out for bid. He has elected to extend the bid date beyond the Bth of April because of the volumn of work that was being bid on. Creech Update-The town attorney informed the council that he had submitted the Creech case to the auditor’s office. The request is to apply a tax lien on the real estate. Department Head Reports: Police-Police Chief Sobieralski submitted the police report for the month of March. Sobieralski also reported on the letters that were sent out to residents who needed to remove trash from their yards. An Army Bronco was given to the Police Dept. The Bronco has 38,000 miles on it and

needs to be painted. CITIZEN INPUT Don Stahly submitted a quote to re-seed the ball diamond that was destroyed by water damage from the water tower. The town will submit the damage to the insurance company. Council member Reese made a motion to re-seed the diamond if the insurance will not take care of it which was seconded by Hoover and the vote was 50 in favor. ADJOURNMNET With no further business to come before the council the meeting adjourned on a motion by Heil, seconded by Hoover.

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

MY OPINION When I first heard rumors that certain people thought the name of Harold Urey Middle School should be changed, I felt that it would be somewhat of an insult to the man, but I was not greatly affected. Then one day in February a very polite gentleman with an intriguing accent walked into the Walkerton Library. He introduced himself as Michael Djuricich. He was a student of Dr. Urey’s. He was very excited about having the opportunity to visit Dr. Urey’s town. He knew exactly where the Middle School was because, he said, that Dr. Urey was very proud of his hometown and talked of it quite a bit. However, Mr. Djuricich wanted to know where Dr. Urey was born. I was embarrassed to tell him that I had no idea. He was surprised that the birthplace of a Noble Prize Winner was not marked with a plaque. As we began talking I realized that I did not know very much about Dr. Urey, the most famous person to come from my hometown. Mr. Djuricich began telling me that though Dr. Urey did not often stop, he did travel through Walkerton whenever he had the chance to drive from one of his homes to another. He and his wife, Frieda, would drive through together. I had always been told that Dr. Urey never returned to Walkerton. I think that this is only one of the misconceptions of Dr. Urey. Everyone is concerned that Dr. Urey worked on the Manhatten Project. In fact he headed it for a time. After reading into his life I discovered that he did not want to work on the project let alone head it. He did not like the idea that one day his research could help to kill millions of people. But he did what every other American was doing at the time, his duty to his country. He felt “forced to accept the position. And . . . “years later it occurred to

APRIL 25, 1996 — INDEPENDENT NEWS

Urey that the government probably had little faith that the atom bomb project would ever succeed, and they wanted a Nobel Prize winner around to take the blame if it failed.” After the war Dr. Urey stopped his work on radioactive isotopes and went into other research. He later became a professor and science advisor to. all the Presidents up to Jimmy Carter. Many people do not realize that Dr. Urey also worked for the space program. He was “proud to (have been) part of the effort that put man on the moon.” His work helped John Glenn get the chance to orbit the moon. It may not have been as glamorous of a job, but it was just as important. Mr. Djuricich talked and talked about Dr. Urey. He claimed Urey “saved his life.” Mr. Djuricich was a concentration camp refugee, and Urey was the first person he was able to relate his horrible story to. On the brink of suicide Urey helped him deal with the memories and go on to live a full life. Mr. Djuricich made Dr. Urey more than just a name to me. He became a caring husband, loyal friend and dedicated scientist. I believe Walkerton should be proud that such a man came from here. Taking Dr. Urey’s name off the middle school shows how little we really know about the history of our own Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Harold C. Urey. Gail Suter (Mr. Djuricich’s address and phone number are at the library. He is a very interesting person to speak to and he knew Urey personally). Quotes are from “Harold Urey: Man Who Explored From Earth To Moon,’’ by Alvin and Virginia Silverstein. N.J. John Day Co. * 1971 BEWARE There is a company calling and giving away a free carpet cleaning, which ends up being a partial cleaning, and turns into a hard sell to try and get you to buy a vacuum. So beware and don’t accept. TO THE SCHOOL BOARD I believe that if certain teachers had simply stated their reasons for changing the name of the Middle School, without the degrading remarks about Mr. Urey, then their reasons for the name change would have been better received. Maybe those who wrote the “name change” letter to the school board should study a little history. Without people like Dr. Urey, Germany and Japan could have been first with the atomic bomb. Think. As far as being “spaced

out” is concerned, I’m sure that your statements to the Tribune regarding a Urey “opponents” crude sign, will bring the Urey school some very unwelcome attention. Instead of attacking Dr. Urey, why didn’t you show the same enthusiasm in defending your school and students? The “opponent” school should issue an apology and if they can find the jerk who drew the sign, he or she should be punished. I guess it must be easier to attack than it is to defend. In light of a recent TV show (Date Line), maybe we should change the whole school corporation name to Urey. John Glenn was shown to owe millions of dollars from his failed attempt at the presidency, including $35,000.00 to a personal friend. The next time you write to Mr. McKee and the school board, I’d suggest that you have someone proof read it. I think that we should be proud of our schools and leave the names as they are. Neil Downey TIME TO REMEMBER May Trobaugh is now in a nursing home after having suffered a stroke. Her birthday is May 28th and she would be thrilled to receive a card or letter from her friends and neighbors. Perhaps the ladies from the Eastern Star and the Masonic Lodge could let her know they are thinking of her. Please try to make her day a little brighter. May’s address is Miller’s Merry Manor, 5909 Lute Road, Portage, IN 46368.

I SE THE CLASSIFIEDS. THEY RE \LEY WORK”

(Continued from Page 4) along with two daughters, Deborah Hunter and Susan Mosier, of Lakewood, Colorado; eight grandchildren; five great-grand-children and a brother, Ed Maker, of Arvada. He was a member of the Colorado Bar Association and president of Footprinters. He became Jefferson County attorney in 1967 and was appointed a county court judge in 1968 by Gov. John Love. He was very active in the DUI education program and was the first judge to receive all affirmative votes from other attorneys for re-election. He retired in March of 1986 and served the State of Colorado as a senior judge for six more years.

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