The Mail-Journal, Volume 12, Number 21, Milford, Kosciusko County, 18 June 1975 — Page 1

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VOLUME 12

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Wawasee Preparatory school to close due to various problems

An announcement has been given by the Provincial V. Rev Richard John of the closing of Wawasee Preparatory school as a school facility, however, the summer schedule already planned will be held. The decision was reached on June 12, at a meeting of the provincial chapter of the Crosier Order, that the personnel and financial resources of the Crosier Order were not adequate to maintain the school. All 1975 summer programs will continue as scheduled, according to Rev Robert Rossi. (JSC. president A Crosier community will remain at Wawasee in the months ahead (see story elsewhere' while a provincial committee conducts a study of alternative apostolic possible uses for the Wawasee facility Situation Studied Rev Richard John, provincial at the Crosier Province of the United States, said a group had been studying the situation for sometime and “it looked more and more difficult to keep the school running We decided it would be much better to close quickly than to draw it out We feel very sad ” The spacious facility was built in 1924 and operated as the Spink Wawasee Hotel, being located on Lake Wawasee's north shore The building and property was purchased by Bishop Noll of the Fort Wayne-South Bend Diocese in 1947 and formal establishment of Our Lady of the Lakes Seminary took place. Thirteen Crosiers were assigned to the new Wawasee Crosier community in 1948 with Father Leo Kapphahn as prior. He had already served as such for one year of his term at Fort Wayne. Our Lady of the Lake Seminary opened its doors for 123 students in its four years of high school and two years of college During the following two years. Crosiers cleaned and fixed-up the former hotel building and started organizing a seminary At this time, the chapel-classroom addition was built and the gymnasium. Father Frank Pitka was elected as prior in 1950 A new policy in 1952 made it necessary for priests to attend summer school for their education credits and the following year a new policy was made that one priest per year should take one year off to get his degree Changes Noil passed away in 1954 and Bishop Leo Pursley took over as Bishop of the Fort Wayne Diocese Father John Smerkl was elected as prior of the seminary at this time. (Continued on page 14)

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

Facts about closing of Wawasee Prep There is considerable local concern and speculation about the sudden closing of Wawasee Prep The Mail-Journal asked the Order to supply it with facts surrounding the closing and possible future use of the facility. What follows is their statement: 1) The decision was made by the Crosier Provincial Chapter, which meets every two years, and which is the highest legislative body of the (.'rosier Province of the United States. There were 31 delegates at this Chapter, which met at Wawasee Prep the week of June 9-13. 2) Reasons for the closing: the Crosier Province decided that they no longer had adequate personnel and finances to maintain the Prep Schorl. The Provincial and his Council had been studying the situation of the school this past year. 3) Only the school part of the total institution was closed. The summer programs of 1975. organised under the department of Host Programs, will continue as scheduled. 4) The local Crosier community will remain at Wawasee until some future decision is made by the Crosier Province about how the Crosiers can use these facilities. $> The Provincial. Very Reverend Richard T. John, has established a Province Study Committee to study alternative uses of the facilities at Wawasee. The first meeting of this committee will take place on Monday. June 23. Hopefully this committee will be able to make some recommendation to the Crosier Province within three or four months. 4) The Provincial has established a list of priorities for determining the alternative use of the Wawasee property. First, the Crosier Province itself will study whether it can use the buildings for another apostolate. Second, the Crosiers will ask the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, if they want to use the Prep for any Diocesan program. Third, other religious Orders in the country will be asked. Fourth, other educational groups. And finally if there is no interest from any of these groups, the Prep will be turned over to the general market. 7) The public s interest and enthusiasm lor the alternative apostolate that might be selected by the Crosier Province will be a very important factor in a final decision. The public is en-

couraged to make their ideas and feelings known to the Crosiers at Wawasee by calling Father Robert Rossi. Prior or by writing to him at Wawasee Prep. Route 1. Syracuse. Ind. 46567. Hearing this morning on Runge suit A hearing was set for this morning (Wednesday) in the Kosciusko superior court requesting a preliminary injunction against the enforcement of the Syracuse zoning ordinance for Turkey Creek township. The suit was filed on June 5 by Don Runge against the town of Syracuse and the plan commission. Runge, a Syracuse land developer and builder, contends advice was not properly followed, that the procedure set forth in statutes under which the zoning refinance and master plan were adopted by the town board upon recommendation. He also contends that the plan commission did not file the limits of the area to be covered by the master plan and zoning ordinance. It also did not file as required with the county recorder Runge also outlined other area of grievances to be taken out in the hearing. Syracuse man found guilty in burglary A Syracuse man. Steven Lee Cox. 26. was found guilty last week in a hearing on burglary, held in Allen county. Two Ligonier men. Gregory Loewen, 27. and Larry Bert Taylor. 29. testified against Cox at the trial testifying they were with the Syracuse man the night of the burglary at Babe's Tire Service. Ligonier. Taken in the break-ins which totaled three times were an estimated 50 to 75 tires, valued at about 42.000. The jury took slightly over one hour to reach the guilty verdict Autos collide at intersection Autos driven by Bruce Stephens. 18. Leesburg, and Dennis Garner. 20. Mishawaka, collided in Leesburg Monday afternoon at the intersection of Indiana 15 and Van Buren streets. There were no injuries County officers investigated and damage was estimated at S3OO to the Stephens car and S3OO to the Garner vehicle

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18. 1975

Instructors are named by board

A list of instructors and supervisors for the summer recreation programs at the various schools, summer school and 4-H has been released by the Lakeland school board. Final approval was given by the board for the summer employees at its special meeting held last night (Tuesday). The instructors and supervisors are as follows: Driver’s training — James Alford, Terry Frank. Vernon Zurcher, Jerry Minton, Harold Traviolia. Robert Heady, George Vitaniemi, Tony Clouse, Don Storey. Marcia Carpenter and Don Scholer Instrumental — Jim White. David Blackwell. James DeLay. Mark Fuller and Steve Bailey 4-H leaders — Colleen Bryant, Sara Rhodes, Betty Greider, Helen Harris, Stanley Hoopmgamer, Joyce Morehouse, Lora Buhrt, Kay Kuhn, Kerk Kuhn, Ted Davis. Bonnie Kammerer and Lester Krull Swimming instructors — Karen Jones, Linda Baumgartner, Mike Harris, Larry Stidham

Waubee Lake Property Owners visit duck farm

The board of directors of the Waubee Lake Property Owners met June 9 in the home of Glen Bixler. Responding to the invitation to visit the Maple Leaf Duck farm were Steve Kaiser, Jim Stork, Francis Herr. Glen Bixler. Lawrence Sawyer and Clarence Kike Special interest was given to the disposal system and the lest records. The courtesy of tour leader. Brick Meinert, was appreciated. Prior to the board meeting on June 6, the lake was treated with copper sulphate in line with the tests made by Purdue

i t" fcl air; jM HANDS OVER ROTARY GAVEL — Gray, immediate past president of the Syracuse-Wawasee Rotary dab. right, is presenting the dab gavel to WUUam H. Cable, who was installed as president at the Tuesday meeting. Other club officers include Rick Pinney. vice president; Al Tehan. secretary; and Roy Price, treasurer. Directors indude Cable. Robert Deabl and Charles F. Kroh. At the meettag. the “Sounds of Hope” schedule was announced, including a 5:34 p.m. ladies' night banquet at Oakwood Hall on Wednesday. July 23. Cub member Lewis I. Immd is in charge of ticket sales.

and Betsy Hoffman Lifeguards — Marlys Staley. Julee Staley. Missy Sorenson, Connie Hoopingarner. Julie Thibaut. Karin Lamle, Dianne Deck, Jane Simpson, Jennifer Longenecker and Joe Elam Pool director — Cynthia Peterson Recreational programs — Ned Speicher and Glenn Miller, Milford; Leroy Rapp, Dan Caskey and Ed Caskey, Syracuse Bob Harding, Larry Robbins and Rob Zurcher, North Webster. Basketball clinic — Bob Heady Wawasee — Bob Heady, Jerry Lambert and Larry Stidham. Other Business In other business before the board a hearing was held on an additional appropriation for re lighting of the Milford elementary school. Superintendent Don H. Arnold recommended employees for Wawasee high school for the 197576 school year. Ann Bushong was approved as choral director and Ted Mahnensmith was approved for the math position.

university. Some consideration was made in the building of a silt trap above the inlet to the lake. It was decided to review this with the members at the annual meeting to be held at the fire station on July 8. at 7 p.m. The dye tests of septic tanks around the lake is almost complete. It was decided to make the report to the health department on July 31 of all systems which did not pass the test providing correction is not underway. The weed harvester is ready for service where weed cutting is desired. ..

0 * IB 5f »J1 I lU’ - 1 r .■kill i CLARKSVILLE RIBBON CUTTING — A ribbon cutting preceded the tour of Clarksville Pioneer Village, billed as Indiana's newest and largest privately owned historical restoration and state recreation center, at North Webster on Tuesday. Appearing cutting the ribbon is Mrs. Fred Clark. Sr., who with her hospitalised husband, and her son. prime mover of the pioneer village, appears with her. Characteristically garbed waitresses and local dignitaries appear in the above picture. Speakers at the luncheon included Phil Sprague, community affairs director for second district congressman Floyd Fithian; Walter P. Helmke. fourth district bicentennial committee chairman; Sheri Dunnington, state department of commerce, division of tourism and development; and Lorin Badskey. past president of Kiwanis International and a resident of North Webster.

North Webster Lions plan 30th festival

Plans for the 30th annual Mermaid Festival in North Webster are being finalized by the local sponsoring Lions club. This year's Mermaid Festival will have the beautiful “Queen of Lakes" Miss Tern Branson of Muncie, reigning over the festivities The fast approaching festival will be in full swing from June 20th, at the Mermaid Ball, to June 28. when Miss Branson crowns her successor during the

Final crop insurance reporting date June 30

Area farmers who are Federal Crop Insurance corporation policyholders are reminded that the final date for reporting their acres of crops for insurance purposes is June 30. Any crops that are reported after this date and suffered previous damage could result in no insurance coverage, explains Albert

Rainbow blamed for causing *5,900 damage

K rainbow late Thursday afternoon was blamed for causing a total of $5,900 damage and the hospitalization of Darrell D. St earl ey, 36. r 2 Southbrook park, Warsaw. He was admitted to the Murphy medical center suffering bruises and lacerations of the face.. Stearley was looking at the rainbow as he was traveling north on SR 15, north of Milford. He collided with a truck operated by Darrel R. Custer, 27. r 3 Syracuse. Custer was also heading north but had slo wed to make a turn into the driveway at Custer Excavating.

Queen of Lakes beauty pageant following the giant parade. As before, the week's activities will begin with a colorful and entertaining Mermaid Ball on Friday, June 20. The Circus City 6 of Peru under the direction of Don Grubbs, is a well recognized performing band throughout the midwest. The dance will be held at the festival building on the Mermaid Festival grounds in North Webster, from 9 to 1 a m.

Dalton, Jr., director of the Contract Service center, Indianapolis. In the five states serviced out of the Indianapolis center, Federal Crop Insurance corporation has approximately 22.000 spring crop contracts with farmers, protecting their crops against all natural hazards from planting until harvest.

State trooper Michael Pershing set damage to the Custer vehicle at $2,500. Stearley 1974 auto was a total loss with damage estimated at $3,400. Treaded by first aid Lynn Serstad. 19, Fort Wayne, was treated by members of the Syracuse first aid unit on Saturday at 12:42 p.m. Those on duty were called to the Bishop Boat company to treat Serstad for an upper right arm abrasion suffered as a result of a skiing accident The wound was dressed and Serstad released.

NUMBER 21

Tickets are available from any Lions club member or by writing to Mermaid Festival Headquarters, box 11 North Webster, Ind • 46555. Miss Branson. "Queen of Lakes" will be an honored guest along with the 1975 Queen of Lakes contestants. Entries for the pageant are now being received by the Mermaid Festival headquarters. ■ K

MISS WAWASEE HIGH SCHOOL — Rhonda Graff. 18-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Graff of Milford, has entered the “Queen of Lakes” contest as Miss Wawasee High School. Rhonda is a 1975 graduate of Wawasee and is being sponsored by the class of 1975. She has hazel eyes, brown hair, weighs 115 pounds and is five feet, six inches taU. Rhonda enjoys painting, sketching and ceramics. She is a member of the Good News Sensations singing group which is sponsored by the Milford Christian church.