The Mail-Journal, Volume 10, Number 42, Milford, Kosciusko County, 14 November 1973 — Page 12

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., Nov. 14,1973

12

to THE EDITOR

Coach Trav says 'thank you'

Dear Fans: I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for the enthusiasm and support that you have -give^the Warriors of WawSsee'this fall. In my 15 years of coaching, I have never seen a community that\ has rallied behind a team like this before. We are naturally disappointed

(EDITOR’S NOTE: The two Letters to the Editor appearing below concerning what has become known as the Front street controversy in Syracuse will be the last to appear in The Mail-Journal on this subject. We feel the controversy has been sufficiently aired in these columns, and t|iat further discussion here could only be divisive to the and not in the best interest of the town of Syracuse.)

I'm willing to learn

Dear Editor: I don’t know anything about politics, but I’m willing to learn and I am a fighter. I’d like to know everything that is going on within our town administration, good and bad, and will welcome any information from anyone regarding present and past experiences. There is something very wrong when a handful of people, that I know to have a negative, do-nothing philosophy, controls our planning commission and board of zoning appeals. We have received inhumane treatment for wanting to rehabilitate property that is adjacent to two industrial factories, a noisy railroad, a public boat ramp, across the street from a public resort with cabin rentals, down the street from a lake lot with a trailer on it, on a street with several old rundown apartment buildings and many houses that are sadly in need of repair. To have stringent zoning restrictions such an area is to ask for a further deterioration of the neighborhood. Any place else in the world would bend over backwards to have private money

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that we did not bring home the state championship but we are proud of what we did accomplish. It would be impossible to thank all of you individually so I thought this way would reach the greatest number of you. Again, I say thanks. Coach Trav

rehabilitate such a place. There has to be an iceberg underneath this pinnacle of ridiculousness. In the meantime, the citizens our community should know the truth regarding the often published lie that we do not have sufficient footage at 807 Front St. Mr. Retz, the surveyor who was hired by the Ad Hoc Group, came up with much less footage than there actually is. I have pictures that show his shore flag markers as much as 7’ in from the shore line and if you multiply 7’ x 210’ of shore, you can see what a mistake this can add up to. Further, the seawall permit from the state has requested that we even out the shoreline, giving us additional footage. Finally, the land on the east side of the road was not included in the surveyor’s figures and there is room for docks and boat mooring. This substantial amount of footage should add up to more than enough land to satisfy the present zoning requirements, as stupid as they are. But, if our zoning board is not satisfied, we can legally claim the land that the city took when they moved the road that goes

over the bridge. The Law of Eminent Domain, a part of the 4th amendment, states, “The people or government has a right to take private property for public use upon payment of compensation.” This land has never been paid for and stands in our deed and on the plat books and maps at the Kosciusko county recorder’s office as part of our property. The road today is not where it appears on the map,

A little monotonous

Dear Editor: This writing letters to the Editor is getting a little monotonous and boring but as long as it is necessary I will continue. There are many items in Lola Finney’s letter that appeared in last week’s edition of The Mail Journal that need clarifying. 1. The minutes of the May 3, 1973 meeting, as they were printed, were not accepted. There was a correction. The exact wording escapes me but it was to the effect that Mr. Peters and Mr. Herbison agreed to the stipulation by Attorney Gutman only if the ground he claimed was available for building was actually there and that all other regulations of the zoning laws be complied with. 2. The statement of the Boa¥d of Zoning Appeals having two members residing outside the city limits was incorrect. To quote Mrs. Pinney “a simple phone call would have verified this”. Evidently she does not take her own advice to the Editor seriously. 3. The statement that Mr. Pipp in all fairness should have abstained from voting is ridiculous. Why should he be singled out to be the fair one. If it had not been for an illegal member sitting on the town board the night this was first brought to their attention, who by his own admission thought he had no right to be there, yet did not abstain from voting, this whole thing might have ended then. The legal advice received that night was to fire the building commissioner and revoke the permit. 4. The statement that there were four members of the plan commission on the Board of Zoning Appeals while two are specified is correct. Why? Easy to explain, there are very few citizens willing to devote hours of time with no compensation but the satisfaction that they are serving their community. When one is unable to recruit new members, the ones who are willing have to serve in double capacity. I am sure that the town officials would be overjoyed to have a few people volunteer to fill vacancies as they occur. I know for a fact that Mr. Pipp would be more than willing to relinquish his place to anyone willing to take it. 5. The term “slums of Syracuse” is an affront to every person in the community. As I thought my conception of the word must be incorrect I took the time to look it up in two dictionaries. Thorndyke-Bamhart, “a crowded, dirty part of a city or town, where the poorest people live”. Webster, “highly congested or crowded area marked by deterioration and unsanitary buildings”. In the last twenty years I have failed to see

it is on our property. We have preferred not to press this latter issue, for it means additional litigation and as major taxpayers in Syracuse, we already strenuously object to taxpayers’ money being spent by the city to fight us over such a silly issue. We’d rather see the city employees get a raise. Sincerely, Lola Pinney

an area in Syracuse this applies to and I defy any one to point one out. It is true that some of our areas are less affluent but slum conditions, in the true sense of the word, never! “Run down area”, a term used in reference to the Front street site is also a poor choice of words. Definition by Webster, “falling to pieces, partly ruined”. The only place that seems ruined is 807 Front St., where weeds two feet high flourish and piles of rubble are scattered about for the past several months. The term “run down” naturally offended a good many people in the vicinity. Though many of us do not have the financial means to simply “bull doze” our homes and start fresh we do make every effort, as money becomes available, to repair, improve and beautify our residences. Many, many of dollars have been spent in the last few years on remodeling and improvements. It is a certainty that every improvement in the town is appreciated by all residents but it does not follow that everything that is suggested or done is an improvement and appreciated. I do not feel that by-passing the zoning laws to construct an income building, multiple dwelling in a primarily single family dwelling, residential area is an improvement. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and not everyone agrees that an apartment house is a thing of beauty. I would say that from the attendance at the meetings concerning this situation, I am not alone in my opinion. On canvasing an area, on another matter, that is not in the immediate vicinity, I found the feeling to run about 50 to 1 for revoking the permit. That the feeling is that removing all the trees and constructing an apartment dwelling is not an improvement and does not add to the beauty. There are many well to do residents of this area who have contributed generously to help those in less fortunate circumstances than themselves with medical bills, etc., have supported needed projects, backed business ventures, with no thought to financial return or gain yet did not applaud themselves publicly or expect public acclaim. Their compensation was in the good feeling that they had helped. These are the true public spirited people. Eleanor B. Pipp P.S. It might be added that Mr. Pipp, by not abstaining when the voting took place at that meeting, did not affect the outcome as the vote, with 5 members present, was four for revoking the permit and one abstention.

** IM •’ : Ji » v M _ HONOR CORSO — Chuck Myers of C. S. Myers, Inc., Milford, is shown above with Indiana university coach Lee Corso in Bloomington. The occasion was to honor Corso and welcome him to Indiana on behalf of the Ford Dealers of Indiana. Mr. Myers is a member of the board of directors of the Indiana district Ford dealers advertising fund. The Ford advertising group sponsors Coach Corso’s television show which runs Sundays across the state.

Tips on how to conserve fuel

WEST LAFAYETTE — Few things bring “cold chills” faster than reports Hoosiers may face energy or fuel shortages this winter. Therefore, it behooves all of us to think in terms of conserving heating fuels and of good household insulation. “With each household redoubling its effort to minimize usage, a fuel shortage may never develop,” says W. H. Friday, Purdue university extension engineer. “Not only will such steps aid in conserving fuel and energy, but they can also trim the homeowner’s heating bill,” he adds. Os course, insulation in the walls and attic is the best protection, but this is not always easily installed once a house is constructed, particularly in the side walls. Attic insulation is the most effective and easiest to do. Storm windows and doors or plastic covering over door and window screens where storm units are not available also do much to keep out cold air. And don’t forget weatherstripping. Properly applied, weatherstripping, it is estimated, can seal out air so effectively that fuel costs may be cut as much as one fourth in an average fiveroom house. Caulking is another relatively simple step that can seal cracks that leak air. Closing vents at ground level and tightening basement windows are other safeguards against heat loss. Concrete applied to cracks in foundations also helps assure against cold air seeping under the house. Take an inventory of your dwelling now while fall weather permits work to be done in reasonable comfort. You may find patching and plugging will alleviate your heat loss. And reduced fuel consumption can save you dollars. During the winter, change furnace filters regularly, be sure your home has adequate humidity, close off unused spaces

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and see to it that furniture, drapes, etc., do not block warm air vents. God's Children are versital, hard working The North Webster United Methodist church has a talented youth group known as God’s Children. This group is comprised of over 50 energetic, hard working and industrious young teenagers who are “doing their thing” witnessing at school, work and play and by performing at various churches and organizations throughout the country. They have made bus tours and have performed in Illinois, Michigan, New York, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia and Florida as well as many {daces in the Hoosier state. Their latest project is the tearing down of the old Farmers State Bank building to make money to purchase a bus for their travels. Eight from county graduate from Indiana ik Following is a list of Indiana university, Bloomington, summer graduates from this county. In all, 1,664 Hoosiers completed degree requirements during the summer. The total number of graduates was 2,377. Graduates from Kosciusko county are: Beth Ellen Allen, Leesburg, certificate; Sandra Kay (Burnette) Hoskins, Warsaw, MS in education; George Raymond Leslie, Claypool, BS in physical education; David Clell Matthews, Warsaw, BS in business; Arlene D. Olson, North Webster, AB; Sandra L. Yeager, Syracuse, AB; Jesse Ernest Eschbach, Warsaw; BM; David B. Strieby, Syracuse, MBA.

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