Nappanee Advance-News, Volume 125, Number 50, Nappanee, Elkhart County, 11 December 2002 — Page 4

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» Advance News • Wednesday, December 11, 2002

Family and friends bring joy “In youth we leam in age we understand." ~ Marie Ebner-Eschenback When I was visiting our son, David, and his wife, Sheri, this past September in Idaho Falls, they took me to see “My Big Fat Greek Wedding." Idaho Falls has recently been graced with a new theater. It is built on the order of the old movie palaces with even some added improvements. The seats are like relaxing in your favorite easy chair at home. It was in this

Remembering Loranedarfc Columnist

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is important. As children we may think our family does not quite measure up to the family down the street. When we grow older and a little smarter, we realize what a treasure we have. To all families wherever you may be we wish you laughter and merriment and good cheer. Another year draws to an end. The days grow short. Cherish one another. This morning's mail just came and with it sad news. My old schoolmate, Virginia Ruth Knoblock, died this past Oct. 3 from a heart attack. At such times, memories come flooding to the surface. In the 1930 s Virginia and I both attended Lutheran School. She sat across from me in the row to my left. Our desks had inkwells in the right hand comer where we dipped our pens. Well, sometimes too much ink would get on the pen and a big blot appeared on our clean paper ruining the whole thing. We kept an “ink rag” in our desk for these emergencies. Virginia seemed to have frequent trouble with the ink dripping and spoiling her paper. It was a pesky procedure. I’d look oveT across the aisle and she’d be getting out the old ink rag to clean up another mess. She’d glance over at me and give a half grin, a half disgusted look. I returned the look with understanding. We could both do without those scratchy pens and messy inkwells! One year Virginia and Lelia and Helen Kastner and I formed the “Giggle Club." What it amounted to was our going to each other’s home on Friday nights, playing table games and being served cookies and hot cocoa before heading for home. Mrs. Kastner served for Lelia and Helen and Mother for me. Virginia lived with her father, Fred, and older sister, Edith, as her mother had died. Edith served for Virginia. The “Giggle Club” lasted a year or so and then Virginia moved out of the area to live with another sister. Years went by. I knew Virginia had become a nurse and was also in the service. We resumed our friendship in recent years. She lived in Addison, Illinois where she attended the Oakbrook Christian Church. She loved this church and its people. A friend of Virginia’s from this church was kind enough to write to me. A memorial service for Virginia had been held at the church on Oct. 9. Her internment was in Bremen Cemetery. She lies next to her mother. School’s out for Virginia. No more scratchy old pens and messy inkwells. Happy day, it’s recess! Good-bye, dear friend. “Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there. I do not sleep... Do not stand at my grave and cry, lam not there*— Ido not die.” - Mary E. Frye, 1932 Letter to the Editor DISPLAY BLUE LIGHTS Concerns of Police Survivors are encouraging all law enforcement families, friends and law enforcement agencies to decorate in blue lights. Place a blue light in a window in your home and show your support for all officers killed in the line of duty and those who continue to work the streets of America. The color blue is a symbol of peace. Let your blue light shine and demonstrate your honor for those officers who gave their lives in service to their profession. Thank you, Teresa Elliott, Concerns of Police Survivors Letter of Appreciation I would like to thank all our friends and family as my wife Ruby went through her fight with cancer. I would also like to thank Kosciusko County Hospice and ThompsonLengacher & Yoder Funeral Home. I know she’s with the Lord. —David Wiseman The Opinion page of the Advance News is intended to serve as a public forum to address issues of concern to Nappanee and Wakarusa area residents from various viewpoints. Readers are welcome to express their views by submitting letters or guest commentaries regarding community topics. To be considered for publication. letters to the editor must be signed and include a phone number in order to verify the author. The Advance News reserves the right to edit all letters and commentaries for brevity, clarity and grammar.

Continuous Publication Since 1879 Advance News 158 W. Market St. Regional Publisher Tfrrri earth P.O. Box 230 Ragiond News Director 9cscs/ Qh«y Nappanee. IN 46550 Managing Editor Mlytwitr 574-773-3127 Reportor/Photograher Minty tal Fax:s74-773-3512 Advertising Rap &ixe fteklinid Email: [email protected] Grcuiahon Sbodtton mm USPS 370960 Periodical Postage Paid In Nappanee, IN. 46550 PUBLISHED WEDNESDAYS • Classified ads • Call Michiana Media Network at 1-800-660-55j$0 to place an ad, or for classified billing questions, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Deadline is Monday at 10 a.m. • Advertising* Call Bruce Hecklinski at 1 -800-933-0356 for rate information or to place an ad. Deadline is Thursday at 3 p.m. • Subscriptions • Annual subscription price (52 issues) is S2O in state and $25 out of state. To renew or start a new subscription, mail payment to Advance News, P.O. Box 230, Nappanee. IN 46550. For delivery problems or billing questions call the Circulation Department at 1-800-933-0356. • News Items • Submit news items and photos via e-mail or drop them off at the Advance News office. Deadline is Friday at noon. For possible story ideas, contact Holly Heller or Mindy Abel at 773-3127.

kind of comfortable surroundings we viewed the film. From its vety beginning, we knew we were in for a treat. We laughed all the way through the movie. In spite of its humorous presentation, the story made some important points. Family

Job perk helps dream come true

When our kids voice their dreams to us, as parents we want to do anything we can to see them come true. Since Ross was four, he’s loved the Duke Blue Devil basketball team. He watched their games on TV with a level of awe not seen often in the eyes of such a young child. And after every game he.d say to his father and me that one day it was his dream to see them play in person. He wanted to be a Cameron Crazy. For the past 12 years, his love of this team has only grown. He agonizes over every basket and is elated when they win. When they lost last year in the NCAA Regionals to Indiana, he was in mourning for days. Everywhere you look, his bedroom pays homage to his team. A piece of the floor from Cameron Stadium hangs on one of the walls. A Blue Devil banner adorns one of his windows. More often than not, his head sports the latest Duke hat. When asked what he’d like for Christmas or his birthday, the list always includes something from Duke. When I started moving around doing this publisher thing, he always wanted me to land some-

Christmas comes to Charley

Charley hopped off the train with his traveling clothes in a bundle on his back. “It’s a little nippy," he said to himself as he zipped up his tom jacket to the neck. “I wonder if this town’s friendly?” he added in a hopeful tone. “After all, it’s Christmas Eve and a guy doesn’t want to spend the holidays alone.” He walked the short distance to the road and stuck out his thumb for a ride. A large red car stopped immediately and a tall, light-haired man with sparkling blue eyes greeted him. “You’re just the person I’ve been looking for!” he exclaimed. “My name’s Brian and my wife and I want to spend Christmas Eve with you.” “I wouldn’t want to impose.” Charley lied. He thought to himself. I’ve found myself a “live one.” “My name’s Charley and I’m a traveling man.” “Oh, you’re not imposing at all,” Brian remarked with a chuckle, surveying the ripped jacket and frayed pants, too polite to mention the odor of the itinerant. “But you wouldn’t want to come to Christmas dinner dressed so casually on such a festive occasion. You’ve obviously traveled a long distance. You need a hot bath and a change of clothes. I can loan you some of mine until you're able to do a load of wash.” A bath? Charley hadn’t had a bath in a long time. Borrowing clothes from a stranger made his skin feel crawly. “Look, Jack,” he asserted, “why don’t you drop me off at the next stop light.” “The name’s Brian. If I let you off at the next light, you’ll miss the ham sandwiches and potato salad. I have a glass of eggnog with your name on it.” Well, Charley thought to himself, I guess I

Years Ago 120 YEARS AGO; DEC. 14, 1882 David Gentzhom and son came near having a bad runaway while on their way to Goshen from Nappanee. Mrs. R.L. Russel, residing 5 miles north of town has been sick with lung fever for about three weeks. 100 YEARS AGO; DEC. 10, 1902 A promoter interested in the proposed Nappanee line of electric railroad stated that as soon as the road is completed, direct connection by electricity Will be made with both Indianapolis and Cincinnati. Cars will be much larger than ones now in use on the Indiana Railway company line and will run 60 miles an hour. 75 YEARS AGO; DEC. 1, 1927 Fifteen Hi-Y boys and 2 local teachers traveled to the Old Boys Conference in Lafayette last Fri., Sat. and Sunday by auto and stopped at Logan sport to see the new N. Indiana Hospital for the Insane an also at Delphi to see the great dam and powerhouse on the Tippecanoe River. Those going were Gerald Stahly, Harter Wright. Robert McAndrew, Ray Hepler, Carlisle Yarian, Devon Hossler, Dale Lehman, Maynard Lehman, Russell Om, John Sechrist, John Early and Fred Culp.

Opinion

where close to Duke University. Not because he wanted to move. Not because it would be a good choice for my career. His only concern was seeing them play.

I found out in October that the Duke Blue Devils would be coming to Indianapolis on Nov. 30 to play UCLA in one of the two games featured in the annual John Wooden Tradition. The other two invited teams were Louisville and Purdue. And a lightbulb went off in my head. We are credentialed to cover Purdue. Not only could I get him into the game, but possibly put him on the

could put up with a short bath for a good, long meal. Perhaps I can talk him out of my changing clothes. “Where’re you from?” Brian asked. “Oh, from here and there,” Charley told him. “I try to spend the winters in a warmer climate. But they say there are jobs in the area.” “Yeah!” Brian answered in an excited voice. “I’ve got a position at the factory that would fit

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you just fine. It’s easy to learn and it pays well. You can start right after the Christmas holidays.” Charley had planned on looking for employment a couple of months at least So he changed the subject. “Why do you look for vagrants to spend the holidays with?” “You’re not a vagrant,” Brian explained. “You’re a potential productive citizen. All we have to do is get you some new clothes and a new pair of shoes, a new coat and some gloves and you’ll pass for a real gentleman.” Charley turned pale. The possibility of being a gentleman did not appeal to him. Brian pulled into the driveway of his house decorated with multicolored lights. “Who are all

From My Perspective Terri Dearth Regional Publisher

The Last Word Laurie Lechlitner Columnist

50 YEARS AGO; DEC. 11, 1952 A home believed to have been erected in 1878 and now owned by Mr. and Mrs. Harold Berger served as a place of safe keeping for 2 Nappanee News and a pair of baby boots for many years, these items being found recently when some of the plaster on one of the walls was being removed. The newspapers were dated Sept. 2 and Sept. 23, 1880, addressed to J.J. McDonald. Miss Phyllis Roth has been elected to represent Nappanee High School in the Indiana Society Daughters of American Revolution Good Citizen Contest. 20 YEARS AGO; DEC. 15, 1982 Army National Guard Private Harold W. Hochstetler has completed basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. v Terry Kellogg advances to state competition in the Hemisphere Pageant NWHS girls’ basketball team outscores Triton 18-8 to secure a 42-36 victory. Angie Blosser led with 11 points and Rhonda Klotz with 9. Tim Weaver is leading punt returner in NCAA Division DI Football at DePaw University. Phil Hochstetler is named Fireman of the Year. The Years Ago segments have been researched and posted by Margaret England-Neff.

floor with a digital camera in his hands to shoot the Duke/UCLA game. A dream was about to become a reality. If you read Tuesday’s paper, you saw the story written by Mike Siroky, managing editor of The Pilot News, on the games last Saturday at Conseco Fieldhouse. With the story was a photo of the teams warming up. The photographer was my son. He’s still floating on Cloud Nine almost a week later. He saw his team warm up while he took photos, watched them play while sitting with his dad and then attended the press conference after the game with Mike where he heard Coach K speak. Not from the TV, not from even the back of the room. Close enough, according to Ross, to count the hairs on his head. I’ve had several perks at times with publisher gigs. But this time in Indiana will always and forever be remembered by my son as the time he saw his team play. Dreams are wonderful to have. Having a hand in seeing a dream come true warms anyone’s heart. Having my son rendered speechless made it all worthwhile.

those people inside?” Charley asked as he surveyed those gathered around the Christmas tree framed by the picture window. “We’ve been picking up folks who need a little company on Christmas Eve all afternoon,” said Brian. "Why, there’s Evelyn, the cleaning woman at the office. She’s a widow with her three children. Harvey’s wife kicked him out over the holidays and won’t let him see the kids. Susie’s staying with us this Christmas. Her foster family was called out of town on an emergency.” Charley paused while Brian made his way to the front door. “Are you coming?” Brian asked the man who was cradling his backpack like a babe in arms, shielding himself from any unwanted overtures of friendship. “I’ll be there in a minute,” Charley answered as he unzipped his bundle. Buried in his belongings was his own flask of Christmas cheer. Leaving the front door ajar, Brian greeted the rest of his company inside while Charley took a swig to calm his nerves outside in the shadows. Looking both ways to see that no one spotted the direction he was heading, Charley ran for his life. Failing to admit even to himself that he didn’t want to take a bath or go to work, he simply remarked, “Who wants to spend Christmas Eve with a bunch of misfits when you can enjoy it out under the stars?” Transferring his pack to his back and pulling his ragged hood over his head to guard against the biting cold, Charley was concealed in the darkness from any other “good souls” who might spot him that holiday season.