The Mail-Journal, Volume 8, Number 8, Milford, Kosciusko County, 24 March 1971 — Page 1

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VOLUME 8

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Thursday Bank Robbery Joggs Memory Os Many

The robbery at the First National Bank’s Milford branch last Thursday afternoon jogged the memory of many of the citizens in this Lakeland town. Many remember back to September of 1922 when cashier James T. Shepard foiled an attempted robbery of the Farmer’s State Bank. Still others remember a night robbery near the turn of the century when the town’s night watchman and a doctor were tied and left in the bank by bandits who helped themselves to the money in the Miles and Higbee bank. We doubt if any on the scene last Thursday will ever forget the robbery of March 18, 1971. 1

A dozen ar more federal, state, Kosciusko county and Elkhart county police officers converged on Milford's bank within minutes after the daring, daylight robbery last Thursday afternoon. Road blocks were set up at several points in an attempt to capture the robber. Milford chief of police Don Drake reports it was 12:45 p m when the alarm triggered in the Milford bank sounded at the Warsaw police station. Drake and deputy sheriff Ron Robinson of Syracuse were first to arrive at the scene. State trooper James Risner of Milford was off duty at the time but reported to the bank to help with the investigation The lone bandit was described as five feet, six inches tall, 160 pounds, between 50 and 60 years of with thinning gray hair. He was wearing glasses and dark gray or green work clothes. A picture taken in the bank by a newly-installed camera proved this to be correct and early Friday morning John DeMoss, Sr.. Nappanee, was taken into custody and booked at the Saint Joseph county jail in South Bend. Has Hand Grenade Upon entering the bank he approached one of the teller’s windows, showed Mrs. James < (Pat) Hackworth a hand grenade and asked if she knew what it was. She answered in the affirmative and began to obey his matrurtMM. Mrs. Hackworth stated he also gave her a note but she failed to read it in its entirety because he told her what he wanted and (Continued From Page d, Sec. 1)

The Mail,@JoiiriiaJ L, ~J

Contolidation of THE MILFORD MAIL (Est. 1888) and THE SYRACUSE - WAWASEE JOURNAL (E*. 19(17)

CASHIER FOILS ROBBERY OF IW2 A prisoner who gave his name as Tom Collins of New York was captured in the Hastings' barn by armed citizens sonfe 30 minutes after be attempted to bold up the Farmer's State Bank located on the corner of Catherine and Main streets in Milford (the old telephone building) in September of 1922. His attempted robbery, according to the old Milford Mail files, was foiled by cashier James T. Shepard. A report of that attempted robbery follows for those citizens of the area who had their memories jogged when Thursday's robbery occurred: “A lone bandit entered the Farmer’s State Bank here Saturday forenoon about 11:15 o’dock and attempted to rob the bank. “As be entered the bank be drew an automatic revolver, commanding the cashier, James T. Shepard and the two assistant cashiers, Mrs. Blanche Parks and Mrs. George Fdkner to ‘stick ’em up*. Both Mrs. Parks and Mrs. Fdkner hdd up their hands at his command while Mr. Shepard quickly dropped to the floor just inside the counter, worked his way toward the west office door where be also seized ids rifle. "The robber, seeing that Mr. Shepard had escaped him and not knowing just what to expect from him, fired, the bullet striking one of the copper rods in the front window grill and glanced off (Continued From Page *, Sec. 1)

MRS. JAMES (PAT) HACKWORTH

A DAY SHE WON’T FORGET — Thursday, March IS, 1911 is a day Mrs. James (Pat) Hackworth of Leesburg isn’t likely to forget. That’s the day when the tone robber entered the First National Bank’s Milford branch and demanded she hand over the money, constantly warning her against setting off the alarm and threatening her life and the lives of the others in the bank with a hand grenade. The camera used to take the robber s photograph is shown in the upper left of this photo. Mrs. Hackworth and others who work in the bank were back into the routine of their regular duties the following morning and it was business as usual, well almost usual anyway. However, whenever someone mentions the words bank robbery in the future Mrs. Hackworth *s memory will be jogged and for years to come she’ll recall what happened in the usuaUy quiet town of Milford last Thursday afternoon.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1971

KINDERGARTEN ROUND-UP AT MILFORD APRIL 12 Milford elementary school principal Lewis S. Immel has announced the school’s annual kindergarten round-up will be held on Monday, April 12. Parents who have children who will be five years old on or before September 1 of this year, and who do not have older children in school are asked to contact the Milford elementary school for further information concerning the round-up and enrollment in kindergarten for this fall. The letters will go from school this week with children who have pre-school brothers and sisters at home.

Rehearsal Set For Tonight For Show Boat A dress rehearsal will be held tonight (Wednesday) for the annual Syracuse Business and Professional Women’s Show Boat. Rev. Ralph Karstedt of Milford will serve as master of ceremonies. The director of this year’s production is Varner Chance. Proceeds from the event go to the scholarships for the School Band of America and for other civic projects. The Show Boat production will je presented to the public in the Vawasee high school auditorium un April 2. Mrs. John Craw, chairman, and Mrs. R. C. Tytler, publicity chairman, along with the Jubileers will appear on Homemaker’s Time on channel 22, South Bend, at 9 a.m. on Monday, March 29. The ladies will tell about the Show Boat production and the Jubileers will present a number or two.

Lease-Rental Agreement Is Approved Here Members of the Lakeland Community School Corporation’s board of trustees passed a resolution Tuesday night at their meeting held in the board room of the administrative offices at Syracuse to enter into a leaserental agreement with the Lakeland School Construction Co., Inc. for the purpose of new construction at Wawasee high school and at North Webster. Prior to the passing of the resolution William Brammer of Syracuse asked the board what the interest rate would be on the lease-rental program. Attorney Robert Reed stated it had not been set but was to be equal to the market rate for municipal bonds on the Monday prior to completion of the project plus % of a per cent to underwrite same. Asked by William Beemer if the project was to be paid by a public bond Reed stated it was by private bond with a Fort Wayne company. The total amount that can be borrowed is $1,700,000. The next question was as to whether or not this would cover all the proposed projects. It will not. It only covers the new construction. Remodeling at Milford and Syracuse will be covered by general obligation bonds. The total estimate of both projects is set at $2 million. Also prior to the passing of the resolution Mr. Beemer presented a copy of a news item that appeared in the Fort Wayne paper last December. Ittold reasons for keeping a school open all year. He asked the board to consider this before passing the resolution. He strongly feds a 12-month school would reduce the cost of school corporations. C. W. Kroh, a member of the board, reported he had attended school in Massachusetts where, there were three terms offered. That school, he said, has since gone back to the nine month system. Superintendent Don H. Arnold said there are arguments for and against 12-months schooling. He (Continued On Page Two)

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Ball State University Singers To Appear AtWawasee High

By far, one of the most popular performing groups on the Ball State university campus, is the University Singers. They will be appearing at the Wawasee high school auditorium this Friday, March 26, at 8 p.m. For the second year this young group, ranging from sophomores through graduate students, is being sponsored by the SyracuseWawasde Rotary club. tickets are available at the First National Bank. Milford; Farmer’s State Bank, North Webster; State Bank of Syracuse; and rotary members Bill Cutter, W. T. Jones. Jerry Ganshom, Jay Peffley, Tom Prickett and Tom Swartz., on a first come-first served basis. 31-Collegians This year’s 31 collegians making up the group are as versatile as they are energetic and their format has something

Open House At New Poultry House Thursday Open house festivities are scheduled to be held Thursday, March 25, at a newly constructed cage growing poultry house, operated by Mr. and Mrs. Richard Anderson, Warsaw. Located north of Warsaw on state road 15 to 200N., east miles to 175 E., then south to 175 N., east on 175 N. mile on south side of road. Hours for the open house are 10 am., until 4 p.m. and the public is invited to attend. Refreshments will be served. Key personnel from the Kosciusko Farm Bureau Cooperative will be. available throughout the day to greet visitors. The new house, designed and constructed by the Kosciusko Farm Bureau Cooprative is 42 feet by 300 feet and when in full operation will bouse 23,000 growing pullets. This is the second such cage growing house to be constructed in this area by the local Farm Bureau Co-op. It features such innovations as total automatic feeding, watering, and environmental ventilation controls to assure the growth of strong and healthy pullets. The first such cage growing operation was established one year ago and is operated by Mr. and Mrs. James Hearn, also of Warsaw. The new house will handle and care for chicks until they are 20 weeks old, at which time they will be sold by the Kosciusko Farm Bureau Co-op to area poultrymen for caged layer projects. Such projects as this are one of the many areas in which the local Farm Bureau Co-op serves fanners. Other services include fertilizer, feed and petroleum. The local Farm Bureau Co-op currently has two outlets serving Kosciusko county. A plant in. Warsaw and one in Milford. General manager is Joe Barrett. The poultry service man supervising the poultry operations, both layers and started pullet production, is Del Nelson.

for everybody. They move easily from pop and rock tunes to spirituals and comedy songs, and include soul and folk music plus Broadway show tunes in their repertoire. Director Larry Boye has also discovered dancing and instrumental talent in the group for a true pot-pourri of music and entertainment. An amateur organization, in the last two years, they have apppeared on programs with Lome Green, Dionne Warwick, Bobby Darin, Jimmy Durante and The New Establishment, along with Jim Gerard at Indianapolis and Bob Braum television shows. They have also toured Indiana and neighboring states for various performances with presentations lasting from 16minutes to hours. In addition to being full-time

Rejuvenation Os Business District Topic In Syracuse

Rejuvenation of the main uptown business of Syracuse was the main topic of discussion for the Thursday morning meeting of the Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce with tentative plans for a governing body to be established for co-ordinating in theme purposes. A spokesman for the Chamber said this week that much interest had been shown for the rejuvenation with prospects hopeful for the burned-out Pickwick block area. James A. Clouse of Nappanee explained how a few minor changes and in some instances, a little paint, can change a building to go along with an over-all theme. At the present time, the State Bank of Syracuse is in the process of purchasing a number of buildings along the Main street ii was reported. Richard Maresh reported there was no response or immediate interest shown for an industrial fair for the area. He added letters went out several weeks ago to industries in the Leesburg, Milford, North Webster and Syracuse areas and when no response was shown, a calling committee made contact with negative response to a fair. Slight Injuries In Wednesday Accidents Three persons were slightly injured in a two-car collision at Second and Pike streets in Goshen last Wednesday. Almeda Berkey, 72, of r 1 Syracuse, driver of a 1970 Chevrolet, received a left knee injury, and Bernice Mauzy, 79, of r 1 New Paris, a passenger in the car, sustained a bump to the head. Driver of a 1965 Dodge, Henry Hershberger, 40, r 2 Goshen, complained of pain of the left arm

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NUMBER 8

university students and performing with other campus organizations, they keep busy! Fifth Album January is recording time and they cut their fifth album this year. The introductory number which is sung in the early part of every concert was written by the members themselves. The group formed in the winter of 1964 and emerged the following spring to perform to a sell-out crowd of 3,£00 in Emens auditorium on the university campus. They take credit for all their own choreography with many movements and outfit changes. All proceeds from performances by the singers go to scholarships at Ball State university. High school students will be seeing them in a Friday afternoon convocation at Wawasee high school.

Tourist Booth Don Runge volunteered services in connection of a tourist booth to be constructed for the summer season and the youth center administrators will be contacted regarding persons to work in the booth for the season. Maresh, chairman of the fireworks committee, announced plans have been made for the annual July 4 fireworks display at the city park at a cost of SBOO adding that additional funds will be needed. A letter is to be sent to the local airport in support of a request for removal of high wires near the landing field for safety purposes. Flotilla Discussed Plans for the annual Flotilla this year are being changed. Scheduled for the Father’s Day week end for the past years, it is being held this year in July with tentative plans for a 10 day run starting July 9 with a teen dance at the Lak eland. You th Center and ending with boat races on July 18. New activities are being planned for the affair along with the previous ones including the water parade. A letter from the local Camp Fire organization was read regarding plans for clean-up week in the community April 1824. and ribs but declined medical attention. The mishap occurred as the westbound Berkey auto slammed into the driver’s side of the southbound Dodge. Damage was estimated at $1,400 and continues under investigation. CAR SEVERS POLE, DRIVER LEAVES County and local officers continue investigation for operator of a car who struck a utility pole early Thursday near the Frog Tavern south of Syracuse, knocking out dectricity in the area for nearly four hours. Driver of the car did not stop or report the mishap.