The Mail-Journal, Volume 10, Number 42, Milford, Kosciusko County, 14 November 1973 — Page 1

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Phones: 658*4111 & 457-3666

VOLUME 10

* i Tl I -' jTrr fcVTR « lOt • L sun- tT “k’ - jA.< JKI flbffip' ■ U •■ 30 Ml I »WO I " MB v- iMMI w I sKI U' F ITV jf H ■*■ ’ » I < < *w«m JH J CUT BEN FRANKLIN RIBBON — On hand to cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the new Ben Franklin store on Pickwick Road, Wawasee Village, Syracuse, is the group of company officials shown above. From left are Terry Eaton, real estate and marketing for Ben Franklin stores; scene Whitaker, store operations manager; Vern Rigsby, vice president of Mid-American Stores, Inc.; Robert C. Marion, manager of the new Syracuse store; James E. Fiege, retail sales manager; and Gene Allensworth, fabric co*ordinator for the store chain.

BZA approves five variances, denies one

The Syracuse board of zoning appeals approved five variances and turned one down at their meeting at the Syracuse town hall last Thursday evening. Approved were the following: 1. Roy Clow to erect a temporary (ap. one year) 1969 20-foot travel trailer on a 131 by 151 lot on the northwest corner of SR 13 and CR 1200 N, where the former Syracuse Ready-Mix plant was located. A 36 by 120 permanent building is planned. 2. Harold Poscharschy, builder, appeared for Joan W. Smith and received approval to erect a garage two feet from a property line, with a foot overhang, on the Smith property in the South Park Addition on Waco drive. 3. Thomas S. and Marie J. DeCero received approval to erect a modular home dwelling, in compliance with Ordinance 73-

50, M.P.H. ■ K.®' ; I 50 MILES PER HOUR — If you’re noticing motorists driving slower these days, it’s because a slow down is part of the President’s message to congress to conserve energy. Federal and state vehicles have been asked to. slow down to 50 miles per hour as part of the emergency program, and a goodly number of motorists have voluntarily followed suite. There’s a better than average chance that the 50 mph speed limit will soon be law, so motorists are well advised to get used to the slower speed.

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

23 as passed by the Syracuse town board the previous night, having a roof pitch of at least 312. 4. Marsha C. Vanover received approval of a variance to conduct and operate a business for baking and firing of ceramics and pottery in the basement of her home in the Freeman Orchard Addition south of Syracuse. 5. Clifford and Mabel Walton received approval fra the installation of a mobile home dwelling on a lot presently having a residential dwelling thereon. The lot is on the northwest corner of the intersection of the Syracuse-Webster road and CR 120 N (known as “crazy corners”). The mobile home is to tie in with a septic system already in use in the permanent dwelling. Deny Heckaman Request The board denied a request of Iva M. and Mona Lou Heckaman to erect 11 double-family modular

dwelling units on a 3.86 tract of land on East Chicago avenue, which the Heckamans recently purchased from Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Oyler. The lots on which each unit would set measure 70 by 100 feet, according to Larry Heckaman, son of the Heckamans and an officer in Heckaman Industries of Nappanee. Speaking for the Heckaman interests was Dave McGrew, realtor. He said the units were to have one bedroom plus a small bedroom or sewing room, suited for retired people or young marrieds. According to Ivo (“Pete”) Heckaman, the entire complex would cost approximately $250,000. McGrew said the area needs the tax base and that it is important to provide housing for retired people in the area. He also spoke of valuable land in the area of city water and sewer. Favoring the denial of the request on a motion by Dee Stiver, seconded by Charles Kroh, were James Tranter, Dee Stiver, Charles Kroh and Bill Pipp. Against the motion for denial were chairman Bill Coburn, Meyer Maidensberg and John Brewer. Member Charles (“Bud”) Miller abstained from voting.

Fire department to get new semi-tractor

The Turkey Creek township fire department will have a new semi-tractor for the water tanker following a meeting held last Thursday night at Syracuse whereby bids for the unit were opened by trustee Joseph Shewmon. Although McCormick Motors of Nappanee did not have low tad, McCormick was awarded the contract after a study of proposals from four businesses showed the Nappanee firm more readily met specifications needed, including size for space available for housing of the unit.

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1973

Street sweeper to be delivered

Members of the Milford town board gave their approval to the delivery of a street sweeper on Tuesday or Wednesday of this week during their meeting Monday night. In other business the board agreed to a day’s trial on sewer cleaning and gave Baxter and Woodman approval to complete detailed plans for the new sanitary sewer system proposed for the town. The street sweeper was owned by the town of Portage and is being traded-in on a new one by that town. Salesman Terry O’Brian of Wabash who had approached the board with information on the machine at the October meeting said the town could save $250 if they took the machine now since it could be delivered directly to Milford instead of being taken to his company’s Indianapolis plant. The main concern of the board was whether or not funds were available for the purchase of said machine. O’Brian said if funds are not available the town can lease the machine until funds are available. With the approval of town attorney William I. Garrard the town agreed to this arrangement since the machine is needed. The machine can be used on the town’s 20 blocks of curbed streets. It will pick up sand, beer cans, leaves as long as they are not in large piles and other litter. Street and water confmissioner John Martin estimated he took 14 ton of litter off a three-block area last spring. Trial Day Board members agreed to allow Ed Ousnamu of Sewer Tech, Inc., Fort Wayne, bring his equipment into town for a day’s trial period. The $260 mentioned last month will be in effect, however, it will allow board members to observe the operations of the company, to see how much good the cleaning would do and would be of help to Martin since the lines which are in the worst shape will be worked on during the trial day. Ousnamu will advise the town board members in advance as to when he plans to crane into town. Sewer Plans L. E. Woodman of the engineering firm of Baxter and Woodman, Crystal Lake, 111., was present and said a representative from his firm was in town earlier in the day to check the construction at the sewage treatment site. The project, he said, was ready to be sealed. Woodman asked for and received plans to draw details for the proposed sanitary sewers in town. Preliminary plans were drawn earlier and a federal grant has been applied for to help finance the project. Currently Milford has one sewer to serve both as a sanitary and storm sewer system. If the grant is approved the old system will be used as a storm sewer. The town is currently 174th on the priority list. However, it is the feelings of the engineer and the town board that once the plans are filed with the state the town will move up on the list. It will take about one year for the plans to be completed. (Continued on page 3)

Delivery is to be within 30 days. Other bidders were W & W Truck Sales, Warsaw, $15,475; C. S. Myers Ford, Syracuse, $16,820; and K & K Truck Sales, Goshen, $20,250. McCormick gave a bid of $19,460. Payment is to come from federal revenue sharing funds. A public hearing is set at town hall in Syracuse at 7:30 p.m. on November 14 to consider an additional appropriation of $25,000 to purchase the unit and pay rental fees on a tractor now being used until the new one arrives.

Fall art exhibit is this week The annual fall exhibit of Lakeland Art association begins Thursday, Nov. 15, at the women’s building, Kosciusko county fairgrounds. The show will be open daily, Thursday through Saturday from 1 to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. All artists willing to compete on on adult level are invited to submit works, which will be accepted for hanging Wednesday, Nov. 14, from 1 to 8:30 p.m. Winners of the competition will be selected by popular vote and announced at a tea and critique on Sunday, Nov. 18, 3 p.m.

Community Thanksgiving services November 21

The annual community Thanksgiving service sponsored by the Milford Ministerial association will be held at the First Brethren church at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 21. Chadwick Woodburn, pastor of the New Salem Church of the Brethren, will be the evening’s speaker. 'Circumstantial evidence' in boat accident “We have only circumstantial evidence,” said Kosciusko county deputy prosecuting attorney Bruce Frey in Syracuse this morning when questioned about the state police report concerning the Labor day accident on Syracuse Lake that claimed the life of 20-year-old Bruce Williamson of Niles, Mich. Frey said the report from the Indiana state police laboratory in Indianapolis was returned some time ago and that a number of area youths were questioned concerning the accident, but that nothing was conclusive. “It’s evident that there was an accident,” Frey said, “and that the parties we questioned did not know the boat they occupied was involved.” “When they read newspaper accounts of the accident they began asking one another if their boat might have been involved,” Continued On Page 15)

Plan commission OK's development

The Turkey Creek township plan commission put its unanimous stamp of approval on a 36-lot development on old road 13A and county road 1050 north last Thursday night. Bill Beemer chaired the meeting that approved the new Seaview Estates 18.017-acre plat and issued a certificate of approval. Secretary Joe Gray read

BARTH UNITS — This photo shows part of the 43 self-contained Barth motor homes that left the Milford plant early Tuesday morning for Houston.

Wonderful world of outdoor living —

Barth, Inc., drive away over two miles long

The largest drive away in automotive history took place promptly at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday from the Barth, Inc., plant on road 15 south of Milford. A million dollars worth of motor homes were involved.

Forty-three self-contained

Bashor Auxiliary meets at home The Bashor Home Auxiliary met Monday morning, Nov. 12, in Arbogast Center. A program on occupational therapy at the Elkhart General hospital was given by Mrs. Michael Keech. Mrs. Keech said their goal is to help the patient suffering with arthritis or those needing rehabilitation following a stroke or surgery learn to function as independently as possible. She also related the use of crafts in teaching physical and emotional problems. The women of the Albion Asbum United Methodist church were hostesses for the coffee hour. Some of the women remained after the meeting to help with a mailing. Deer causing Tuesday accident Approximately $250 in damage was estimated in an accident at 8:45 Tuesday night as a deer ran onto US 6 west of Indiana 13 at Syracuse, and into the side of a 1972 Pontiac driven by Jack Schlotterback, 43, of r 4 Syracuse. The Syracuse man reported the deer ran from the south side of the roadway into the left side of his auto with impact throwing the animal into the side of a semitruck traveling east on the state highway. Damage was to the Schlotterback vehicle. Syracuse police were called to investigate.

the minutes of the previous meeting. Herbert A. Underwood, engineer was present to submit detailed plans of the development for the commission’s approval. Attending and approving the matter besides Beemer and Gray were Carl Myrick, Maurice Crow, Charles (“Bud”) Miller, Bill Pipp and Mike Umbaugh.

Barth motor homes left the plant and headed south on road 15 for the two-day trip to Houston, Texas, where the units will be sold. Driving the units at 300-foot intervals were Chevrolet dealers from the greater Houston area, making up a caravan of over two miles. Kosciusko county sheriff Dave Andrews and deputies from his office escorted the unprecedented caravan, to the county limits. At Warsaw the group went to 1-69 at Fort Wayne via road 30, then went to Indianapolis and south. Barth president Mike Umbaugh accompanied the group to Nashville, the first night’s stop, then returned to Milford. The units driven were 1974 20foot, 26-foot, and 33-foot motor homes and 1974 19-foot mini motor homes. The drive away is a promotion of General Motors, Chevrolet Division, and top officials from the company’s central office in Detroit were on hand to see the caravan off under slightly overcast skies. Sans Celebrities Seventy-five Houston area Chevrolet dealers and a number of wives arrived at the South Bend airport early Monday and were taken to Milford in char-

F llw Mill jr W Hlv' ' GET HEADS TOGETHER — On the right, above, is Mike Umbaugh, president of Barth, Inc., Milford motor home manufacturer, talking with Al Olson, Chevrolet Assistant General Sales ManagerTrucks, left, and Richard O’Brien Chevrolet Houston zone manager, at the Monday night dinner at the Warsaw Holiday Inn.

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NUMBER 42

tered Indiana Bus Company buses for a tour of the prosperous Milford Barth plant. In the evening the group met at the Warsaw Holiday Inn dining room for dinner, and the visiting group was to be met by Houston native race driver A. J. Foyt and ABC sportscaster Chris Schenkel. Foyt was unable to attend due to a hepatitis attack and Schenkel, who makes his home on Lake Tippecanoe, was unable to be present due to the extraction of a tooth. Speaking at the dinner were Richard O’Brien, Chevrolet Houston zone manager; Al Olson, Chevrolet Assistant General Sales Manager-Trucks; and Mike Umbaugh, president of Barth, Inc. Dignitaries among the guests were introduced, as were Milford area dignitaries. Speaking for Governor Otis R. Bowen was Eldon Campbell, director of economic development ot the Indiana department of commerce. He welcomed the Texans to Indiana and was given a huge Texas-type hat by Mr. O’Brien following his remarks. Campbell left the podium giving the Texas Longhorn sign. Employees of the Barth plant were outside the plant to see the huge caravan move out.