The Mail-Journal, Volume 10, Number 22, Milford, Kosciusko County, 27 June 1973 — Page 1

PHONES: 658-4111 And 457-3666

VOLUME 10

Big things are happening -

28th Mermaid Festival

Now in progress, parade Saturday

The 28th annual Mermaid Festival is in full swing at North Webster with finishing touches being put on the gigantic parade on Saturday and the cutie activities that are being planned for this evening (Wednesday). The festival is the undertaking of the North Webster Lions club who now enlists the help of the Lady Lions and numerous other area residents to assist them in the long hours of planning and work that are necessary to insure the success of the festival. Secretary of State Larry Conrad will serve as parade marshal on Saturday. The parade will move out at 4 p.m. with thousands of people expected to line the streets of this tiny Lakeland town for what promises to be one of the best parades ever. Trophies will be given in several categories including the best school bands, best decorated convertibles and floats, best walking unit, oldest car, color guards, mounted units, baton corps, clown, novelty and best cutie conveyance. The winners will be announced at the Lions building on the festival grounds at 7:30 p.m. One of the biggest highlights of the parade each year is the arrival of the reigning “Queen of Lakes.” The 1972 queen is Miss Rhonda Butts who entered last year’s contest as “Miss Lakeville Lions.” Rhonda will concede her jeweled crown later in the evening when she crowns her successor. The finals of the annual beauty pageant will be held in the North Webster junior high gym. beginning at 8 p.m. Members of queen Rhonda’s court are Miss Connie Atkinson of Albany, Miss Teresa Beer of Milford, Miss Chris Cay wood of Syracuse and Miss Lana Welty of Etna Green. Competition for the contest began on Tuesday when the girls met at a reception. The reception, not open to the public, gives the judges their first look at the girls. It also gives the judges a chance to meet the girls personally and to talk with them. Bathing suit competition will be held at 8 p.m. on Friday in the school gym. This is the first time the girls will appear before the public Cuties Tonight Tonight (Wednesday) is cutie night at the festival. The annual parade will be held at 7 p.m. on the town’s main street. The parade is open to children between the ages of four and six. The Cutie if King and Queen contest will be held in the gym at 8 p.m. Also scheduled for tonight are the Youth League eliminations at ,6 p.m., the talent contest on the festival grounds at 7:30 p.m. and the basketball tourney eliminations at the school, also at 8 p.m. Tomorrow * Activities on Thursday begin at 6:30 p.m. with a pony pull. The event is held annually on the festival grounds and is sponsored by the Four County Pony Pulling association. It is open to residents of Kosciusko county and is for 48 inch and under ponies. At 7 p.m. persons attending the festival will 7 have their choice of events to watch. The Youth League finals will be played on the ball field north of the festival grounds. The basketball tourney eliminations will continue at the school, the talent contest finals will be held on the festival grounds and there will be a coin hunt in the sand on the festival grounds.

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Consolidation of THE MILFORD MAIL (Est. 1888) and THE SYRACUSE - WAWASEE JOURNAL (Est. 1907)

Cutie parade to step off promptly at 7 o'clock tonight

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GRAND MARSHAL — Secretary of State Larry A. Conrad will be in North Webster next Saturday and will serve as grand marshal of the parade. Conrad joins other state dignitaries in being chosen as parade marshal. Past marshals include US Senators Birch Bayh and Vance Hartke and International Kiwanis president Lorin Badskey.

At 7:30 p.m. the finals of the horseshoe pitch contest will be held. The finals of the basketball tourney will be held on the school grounds at 7 p.m. with the “Queen of Lakes” swim suit competition in the school at 8 p.m. At 8:30 p.m. the Indiana state professional short track championship motorcycle races will be held at Trojan race track south of North Webster on state road 13. Saturday’s events begin with the tournament of knights contest at the north end of the school at 1 p.m. The Knights of the Middle Kingdom will perform at half time. The Webster Lake Ski club will present shows on the lake at 2 and 7 p.m. This group has won the state championship each year since 1966. The parade will move out at 4 with awards totaling $3,750. Busy Week It has been a busy week at North Webster with the festival officially opening at 9 p.m. Friday with the annual Mermaid ball at the Lions building. The Mock Twins orchestra provided music, i Saturday the horseshoe pitch begun as did the basketball tournament and the North Webster and Mid-Lakes Lions clubs teamed up to sponsor a chicken bar-b-q. Sunday the basketball tourney eliminations were held at 7 p.m. with a firemen’s waterball contest at 2 p.m. The midway-opened on Monday as did the merchant’s building. The Youth League tourney began as did the talent contest and the basketball tourney continued. A giant treasure hunt with prizes being dropped from the sky onto the festival grounds was also held on Monday. A greased pole contest was held on Tuesday and eliminations in the various contests were held as well as the reception for queen candidates. President of the North Webster Lions club is Rex Miller. Gary Eastlund is chairman of the festival with Elson Wilson serving as co-chairman. Mrs. Eastlund is serving as secretary.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1973

Vars Buren and Turkey Creek township Democrats organize

Turkey Creek and Van Buren township Democrats are attempting to firm up their twotownship organization as a part of the new thrust of the countywide advisory group, a brainchild of Stanley Nice, new Democratic county chairman. A meeting of precinct committeemen and women was held Sunday night at jthe Syracuse town hall with Charles Kunkle, Wilbur Smith and Arch Baumgartner, members of the advisory committee, in charge. The purpose was to acquaint committeemen and women with the new organizational structure and the aims of the advisory committee. Appointed to serve on an ad hoc fact-finding committee were Charles Kunkle, chairman, Bill Cobum and Faye Hollar. The group discussed a position to be taken on the recently imposed half cent local option tax, which will be communicated to the full body meeting of the advisory committee to be held in Warsaw Thursday night. Meet Larry Conrad The county Democratic central committee is hosting a noon luncheon Saturday, June 30, at the Holiday Inn in Warsaw for

Secretary of State Larry Conrad, who will be in the county as parade marshal of the Mermaid Festival Saturday afternoon. Anyone wising to attend the luncheon is asked to contact John Kleeman or Robert Murphy. Also, a reception will be held at 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the South Shore Pavilion for Mr. Conrad, and anyone interested in meeting the Secretary of State personally is urged to attend. Lions plan fish fry The Syracuse Lions club has announced plans for their annual fish fry to be held Friday, July 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the scout cabin in Syracuse. George Bushong, general chairman for the event, and Jim Fry, plan a menu of fish, baked beans, cole slaw, bread and butter,- coffee or a cold drink and ice cream. Ticket chairman Paul Rush has distributed tickets to all members. At the Lions club meeting, reports were also received concerning a community service project which is presently being studied by a special committee. The project committee is to make a report to the board of directors as soon as details of the project are available.

AUXILIARY MEETING IS RESCHEDULED The regularly scheduled July 3 meeting of the Ancil Geiger American Legion auxiliary at Milford has been postponed due to the July 4 holiday and will be held on Tuesday, July 10. A special practice meeting for installation of new officerselect wjll be held on July 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the legion home.

Syracuse Lions install Bushong

In a brief but impressive ceremony, George Bushong was installed as the Syracuse Lions club president for 1973-74, last Wednesday evening. Lion Paul Kizer of Milford served as the installing officer for ‘Bushong and other leaders of the Syracuse club. Other officers for the upcoming year include: Vice presidents — Bruce Frey, Harold Kline and Paul Wilkinson Treasurer — Noble Blocker Secretary — Paul Rush Lion Tamer — Jim Trantor Tail Twister — Jim Hughes Directors — Deloss Weaver, Jack Ridings, Everett Edgar, and Charles Haffner. Outgoing president James Fry expressed appreciation to the club membership for effort and’

Miss Rhonda Butts Reigning Mermaid Festival 'Queen of Lakes' It?’. V .. 4 Wow , w wL - F *

cooperation in making the past year a success. Among the accomplishments during his year as president were the usual social activities of the club including a club trip with their wives to the playhouse, the annual Christmas party for the Lions and their ladies, and hosting the very successful District 25-G Lions golf tourney. Support In the areas of donations for the year, Lion Fry recalled continued support of the Leader Dog program, the Indiana Lions Eye Bank, and the Indiana Lions Cancer Control. Locally funds have been provided for cub scouting, the scout cabin, the Little League program, 4-H program, helping the blind and others.

EARLY DEADLINES FOR NEXT WEEK Due to the fourth of July holiday falling on press day, all news copy and advertising must be in by 5 p.m. on Monday and the newspaper will be printed on Tuesday instead of Wednesday.

Thurman Rinker to read resolution As the Knight of the Scroll of the International Palace of Sports, Inc., Thurman Rinker will read the following resolution, as presented and passed at the June 12th meeting of the Knights of the Round Table: “Be it resolved that hereafter an annual award of at least SSOO be made in the name of our first “King of Sports,” Mark Spitz, to the charitable organization sponsoring the Sir Lancelot Du Lac first place winner, of the annual tournament of knights.”

NUMBER 22

July Fourth at Syracuse The Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce is planning a fireworks display for the community again this year. The display will be held at the Syracuse city park at dark on the fourth of July. According to the committee the costs of the display will be around $1,200 and contributions are needed to carry on the activity. It has been an annual event since World War 11. Arranging » this year’s celebration are Bob Mauzy, Tom Prickett and John Kroh. WEEK END GUEST Margi Shupp of Mishawaka spent the week end at the Lyle Childs residence, Milford.