Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 109, Number 43, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 26 October 1988 — Page 3

Return from drugs...

By JULIA MAST Staff Writer Seven years ago September 14, Stan Stutzman lay near the pavement of Miami Road south of South Bend with a severe head injury, broken leg and ruptured spleen. His good friend, a big time drug dealer, had taken him as the first passenger in a brand new Porsche 911, a $27,000 fringe benefit of the trade. The Porsche was said to be traveling in speeds up to 100 mph during the ride. Both Stan and his friend had reportedly free-based a half-ounce of cocaine that morning. An oncoming car near the center line of an ‘s’ curve, scared Stan’s friend to overreact and jerk the wheel to the right The car, ever poised for action, shot straight across the road and rolled seven times spilling Stan onto the ground. The friend was unhurt. Perhaps afraid due to his drug involvements, he fled the scene and hitch-hiked home leaving Stan behind. Stan did survive. But there was a death at that accident. That was of Sian's ten year entanglement with drugs. Drugs in Nam Stan became involved with drugs

“Just Say No” is the theme this week during a nation-wide drug awareness campaign. Nappanee is participating in many ways, including special programs in the schools, workplace and churches. Choose to lead a life that is drug-free. (AN photo by Julia Mast)

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Play presented to kids

Seventh award for Hiler

Congressman John Hiler has been presented with his seventh consecutive Golden Bulldog Award for his votes to icut government spending and reduce the federal deficit. The award is given by the bi-partisan group, The Watch- , dogs of the Treasury, based in Washington. J Hiler tied with Senator Richard Lugar as the most fiscally responsible | members of the Indiana delegation. The

during his stint in Vietnam. A 1968 graduate of Nappanee High School, Stan enlisted in the Army to avoid his inevitable draft. He was number 13 on the draft list. Stan thought enlisting would spare combat. In spite of his enlistment, Stan received orders for Southeast Asia right away. In Nam, Stan was introduced to marijuana. “Everybody in the company was doing it,” he recalls. Peer pressure and curiosity were enticing. From that first experimentation, Stan’s drug use became progessively worse. It was an escape from the reality of the fighting field for Stan and his infantry friends. “It was a natural thing over there,” Stan says. In 1971, Stan returned to Nappanee as a veteran and drug user. It was difficult to associate with others. “Everyone was uptight with me because I was in Vietnam,” he felt. He found friends and companionship among the drug crowd in Goshen and Elkhart where he eventually moved. He began selling drugs on the side. Stan liked the lifestyle. “I really couldn’t communicate with anybody else,” he says. “Vietnam and drugs alienated me from regular people.” Stan was arrested with his Elkhart

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Terry Dangerfield, a cool and canny detective, arrived at North Wood High School's auditorium on Friday afternoon, to help fourth and fifth graders learn the dangers of alcohol and drugs. The presentation, “The Case of the Blue Notes," was performed by Bridgework Thea-

award is given to Congressmen who vote to cut spending at least 75% of the time. Hiler and Lugar both scored 90%. “I’m honored once again to receive this award,” Hiler said. “Everyone knows that there is massive waste in the government, and we all want to do something about it. Some people think the answer is to raise taxes, but I’ve always believed that the way to eliminate the deficit was to bring federal

roommate in'7l forpossession of marijuana and cocaine. The cocaine charge was dropped although Stan’s involvement with the drug was becoming quite heavy. The remaining marijuana charge led to six months probation and enrollment in the Michiana College of Commerce. Stan thought college would help his court appearance. The arrest bolstered his opinion of himself if anything, according to Stan. “I thought, ‘Now I’m really a criminal’”. Full time sales Stan did well in hfs accounting studies, making the honor roll. But he couldn’t find a job with just a two-year degree. In 1977 Stan decided to sell drugs full time. “I could make more money selling drugs in one day than I could working a whole week on a job,” he thought. Stan was introduced to a man, the man who was to become his friend with the Porsche, who grew psilocybin mushrooms in his basement. It was from him that Stan bought bales of marijuana for resale in smaller quantities. Soon Stan was driving semi loads of marijuana for him from the south. Stan would be flown down to Loui-

ter of Goshen. It was designed to help students identify and resist the numerous pro-drug messages that come from their peers, adults and the media. Also participating was Meagan Newcomer, Nappanee (pictured on phone), a fifth grade student. (AN photos by Sheri Bradway)

spending under control.” The award is given based on a compilation of 20 votes in the Senate and 20 votes in the House. Some of the votes in the House of Representatives included votes to modestly reduce defense appropriations; to cut appropriations for the Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary Departments, and a vote to eliminate a pay increase for Congressmen.

One man’s long journey

siana to pick up the load. While there, he led an exciting life, going to the Mardis Gras, partying and being flown in private planes. At that time he knew his friend to have a 32 foot cabin cruiser on Lake Michigan, a home in Florida and South Bend and a farm in Canada. Stan pulled three loads to the north in 1981. The last load was 13-1/2 tons of marijuana or 27 thousand pounds. “It wasn’t scary,” says Stan. “We breezed through the weigh stations even though the truck wasn’t marked right.” The accident Shortly after hauling back the last load, the accident occurred. His friend had just brought the new Porsche back from Florida. Stan still doesn’t remember the accident or anything two weeks before or six weeks after, even though he was never unconscious. “Your mind has a natural defense,” he says. After eight weeks of hospitalization, a broken leg, ruptured spleen and six inches of stitches in his head, Stan went home to be let down my another important person in his life. The girl he had been living with told him right away she was moving out. In May of 1982, Stan’s mother moved him near her home. He was enrolled in a rehabilitation cento- that fall. “I was a 31-year-old child at the time," he says of the head injury. But he was still doing drugs occasionally. Stan’s hospital bills were not covered by his friend’s insurance. He owed $39,000, a mere drop in the bucket for his friend. But because his friend was afraid of the IRS, he didn’t help. “He left me hanging there,” says Stan. “I was a child in my mind and didn’t know what to do.” Eventually Stan received help through the highway medical fund. “There was my friend, with all the money in the world. He could have paid for it just like that. But the big time drug dealer didn’t want to spend any money to pay up his own obligations,” Stan says without bitterness. Life changes Stan’s life made a major turn while in the rehabilitation center. Through his job counselor, Stan Ide, Stan learned of Christ and made a personal commitment. “That started a long process of getting right with God,” he says. In 1983 Stan made a vow to God never to touch drugs again. And he hasn’t. He is convinced that “you have to make a commitment to Christ before you can do anything. It was the only way I was able to stop (using drugs),” he says. Stan’s new faith gives him courage and a freedom from the past. “I’m permanently rooted in the Gospel of peace now,” he says. Today Stan looks back without anger

HELP WANTED • Another VERY IMPORTANT Wa-Nee School Board Meeting will be held Monday, October 31, 1988 at the North Wood High School. • A decision regarding Mr. Barney Beer’s motion will be made. (For more information about this motion, see the October 12, 1988 issue of the ADVANCE NEWS.) • The Committee for Equal Education Opportunities feels this motion, while a compromise, respects the feelings of Wakarusa residents and helps to reduce the overcrowding of Nappanee schools. • An alternate proposal made by some board members to maintain the Nappanee Middle School as an Middle school and build new elementary schools is less feasible than Mr. Beer’s proposal because the State Education Dept, requires: • 12 acres for the first 300 students in a MIDDLE school and 1 acre for each additional 100 students. or • 7 acres for the first 200 ELEMENTARY students and 1 acre for each additional 100 students. • The Nappanee Middle School is on 13 acres and therefore maximum capacity is only 400 MIDDLE SCHOOL students. (Nappanee’s Middle School currently houses 440 students PLUS 148 kindergarten students) • But a remodeled Middle School could more than adequately house students from both Central and South elementary schools! 4 ** We urgently need you to stay in contact with your School Board Members by letter and phone to express your concern AND ATTEND the next Wa-Nee School Board Meeting, MONDAY, October 31, 1988 at 8:00 p.m in the North Wood High School auditorium. The future of our children is at stake. Your voice is important! Show Nappanee cares about the education of its youth! Committee for Equal Education Opportunities.

Nappanee Advance News Wednesday, October 26, 1988

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or bitterness. “He is just a lost individu- says of himself before the accident. “I al,” he says of his former friend. As far was blinded by drugs.” as Stan knows, that person never had to Stan feels sure that if it wasn’t for the answer to the consequences of the accident he would be dead or in prison accident. now. “God used the accident for his But Stan knows he was lost as well, own glory,” he says. “I couldn’t have “I was running the wrong race,” Stan done it without him.”

LrfSgtvl Orange Roughy $3.99 ib. * §B3s>t?_ Shaved Ham in $1.82 lb. Pork Steak Arm Roast $1.27 ib. $1.69 ib.

STAN STUTZMAN

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