The Mail-Journal, Volume 12, Number 30, Milford, Kosciusko County, 20 August 1975 — Page 1

Indiana State *; lb rarv li;O North Senate Aven Indianapolis, I> U6201+

| y _l A . .'.-7— _ fjr'l-* TWlt.i,’i« -- V-Mfc. - ?r Jfail 45 3446 k s ”1 > 9 Consolidation of THE MILFORD MAIL (Est. 1888 f and THE SYRACUSE-WAWASEE JOURNAL (Est. 19071

VOLUME 12

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SYRACUSE GOP NOMINEES — Nominated for seats on the Syracuse town board and for clerktreasurer Monday night at the Syracuse Scout Cabin were the Republicans shown here. Seated from left are David Nine. John Cripe. Betty Dust and Darrell Grisamer. Standing are James Tranter, left, and Cliff Nicodemus.

Syracuse GOP caucus unseats 2 on town board

The Syracuse Republican party, meeting Monday mgnt in caucus at the Scout Cabin, managed to unseat two members of the current town board and to insure that the seat in the third ward is filled The third ward seat fell vacant when Manon (“Doc”) Miller resigned last summer, and it has never been filled ‘Full House* About 75 town GOP faithfuls turned out for the caucus, the first since' 1971. and was described as a “full house ” Ronald Sharp, chairman of the town s Republican committee, presided over the meeting which saw three new faces put up for nomination Sharp explained the purpose of the caucus, also described as a primary or con venlion, and told the group the names nominated would be placed before the electorate m the fall election Board Members Returned In Nomination Darrell Grisamer, 113 S. Brooklyn street and current board president, was returned in nomination in ward 4 as was clerk-treasurer Betty Dust, 107 West North street Neither had any opposition David Nine, r 2 Syracuse and a pharmacist with Thornburg drugs for the past seven years, was nominated without opposition in the first ward Contests Develop Two contests did develop, however, which saw the defeat of two current board members In the second ward, board member Carl Myrick was (Continued on page 9)

‘Big black cat’still at large in Syracuse-Milford area

There are continuing reports that there is a “big black cat" loose in the Syracuse-Milford area, and at least one person is doing his bit to track the critter down. The story of the animal's appearance ranges over the past three months, but took on added meaning during the past week Sure Evidence The only sure evidence of the animal, thought by some to be a Mountain Lion, came recently when Robert Wooten, in charge of horses on the Carolyn (Augsburger) Curtis farm just south of Milford, displayed a horse that was severely clawed about the neck. He turned the information over to the Kosciusko county humane officer Nate Konkle Later a hunt was organized south of Milford

Loren Knispel to resign from Syracuse board

In a surprise move. Lorin Kmspel. town board member at Syracuse from ward 5, announced his planned resignation at the Tuesday night meeting of the board He was defeated in the Republican caucus on Monday night by townsman John Cripe for the post m the fall election. In remarks to those assembled for the meeting he said he was resigning so there would be some continuity to the board after the fall election.” All members will be new except the president, Darrell Grisamer. if the Republicans win the fall election, and Clifford Nicodemus. Nicodemus was selected to represent ward 3. that ward has not had a representative for many months Mr. Nicodemus was the choice of the caucus for the post and is to be seated as soon as possible after town attorney Robert Reed returns from vacation Kmspel stated that the town board president would have his written resignation yet this week and also a recommendation that Cripe be seated m his place as soon as possible He said there were many decisions to be made with the sewer expansion and other planned items yet this year and felt it w ould be better if Cripe could be a part of those decisions. He further stated that he has enjoyed his brief tenure on the

which failed to turn up anything Wooten reported it took 80 stitches to close a gash in the neck of a Pa la mi no which was clawed He said the slashes looked like they were done with a razor The incident occurred on August 4. he said He said a neighbor reported that he had spotted a large cat at least “five times the size of a tom cat,’* but did not say anything until he beard about the Curtis horses. Later horses that were tied up near the barn on the Augsburger farm were frightened so bad they broke the hook on the line. Wooten said. A horse has to be pretty scared to want to get away bad enough to break one of those hooks. Syracuse Story A similar story of the ap-

Wawasee Village Sidewalk Days Friday and Saturday, Aug. 22-23

board and while there have been disagreements at times,.he has never felt any personal animosity (Continued on page 9)

*ILIw twl MILFORD TOWN GOP CANDIDATES — Robert Geller, left, and James Brooks are nominees for Milford town board of trustees, nominated at a town convention at the Milford fire station last night with 22 present. Geller to from two. for a seat now held by Norman Lovell, and Brooks is from ward one. for the seat now held by Bessie Sunthimer. Brooks to now Van Buren township justice of the peace, but that office will be phased out December 31 by law. Dr. T. A. Miller, the current board's president, was nominated for re-election. Harry Schulti. current clerk-treasurer, declined to run for re-election. No one was nominated for that post by the Republicans. Harold Young, town Republican chairman, conducted the meeting, assisted by Mrs. Norman Lovell, secretary.

pearance of a "tag black cat” has persisted in the Syracuse area. Earlier this week Mike and Pam Smith, who live on the Bill Sloan farm on the county line road north of Syracuse, spoke I about the animal Smith went so far as to set a trap in a wooded grove with some bones and is doing his best to track down the elusive beast The Smiths moved into the Sloan farm house in May and some time after that neighbor Mrs. Rick Baker told them she “saw the biggest black cat" in the lane back of their house. Mike Smith said he sat in the lane off and on for two weeks trying to verify the big black cat tale, but to no avail. Pam Smith says the animal is huge — “about the size of a German Shepherd dog” — and has a tail about 30 inches long.

WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 20, 1975

Plan S IO,OOO reward in Laurel J. Mitchell case

A group of interested and concerned citizens met August 19 at the home of Greg Smith, North Webster, to form an organization to be known as "Citizens For Law Enforcement ” This action has been instituted as a result of the apparent murder of Laurel Jean Mitchell. 17 year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Mitchell. North Webster As a result of the citizens meeting the group has authorized the raising of a reward in the amount of SIO,OOO to be paid for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person, or persons, responsible for the death of Laurel Jean Mitchell. Miss Mitchell s body was found August 7 in approximately four feet of water in the Elkhart river, just beyond the bridge over Noble county road 600 N. She was last seen shortly after 10 p m August 6 after leaving her job at Cokesbury Inn, Epworth Forest She was observed at 10:10 p.m. walking on Epworth Forest road toward the North Webster amusement park on state road 13, where she was to meet several friends. She never arrived at the amusement park. Police believe she was taken by car from the Epworth road to Noble county road MON. A distance requiring a M minute drive.

She said the cat’s tail stands straight up and bends forward. She admits to having seen it bound about in the pasture behind their home. She said the cat “screams like a woman being murdered.” Mrs. Baker called the Smiths two weeks ago and reported the screaming of the elusive animal Neighbor Charlie Searfoss said he saw some big cat tracks but thought nothing of it. Also reported bearing the "ungodly screams" were other neighbors, the Harvey Aglers and Bud Smiths. Mrs. Smith said on one occasion the horses in the pasture seemed to be “going crazy," obviously disturbed by some unusual creature. Upon investigation. no marks of any type were found on the horses Another neighbor reported

An autopsy revealed that the girl had been raped but cause of death was listed as drowning. Authorities are searching for a blue T shirt with the words "Indiana State’’ across the front that the girl was reportedly wearing at the time of her disappearance. Approximately 30 concerned citizens were present at the meeting. Some of the community organizations expressing interest and support are: North Webster Church of God, Lakeland Kiwanis club. North Webster Lions. Epworth Forest Foundation, Masonic lodge, Pythian Sisters. Fraternal Order of Police, Firemen’s Association, Psi lota Psi and Beta Psi Sororities. North Webster Lake Association. Heart of the Lakes Business Association. North Webster American Legion and Auxiliary. Church of the Brethren. Hoss Hills Bowmen. Barbee Con* servation club. North Webster United Methodist church. American Red Cross and North Webster Music boosters. Committee Os Three Greg Smith. Stu Walker and Mrs. Jack (Beckie) Rhoades were elected a committee of three by “The Citizens for Law Enforcement” to enact the following: 1. Contact local banks for the purpose of acting as trustees for

the Laurel Jean Mitchell reward fund. 2. To draft reward notices. 3. To act as receivers of ORGANIZATIONAL pledges It was agreed that the organizational pledges would not be due and payable until conviction of the person or persons proven responsible for the death of Laurel Jean Mitchell. Any organization wishing to pledge funds may contact Mrs. (Continued on page 9) LCSC REGISTRATION DATES THIS WEEK Lakeland Community schools will officially open on Monday Sept. 2. Registration starts this week. Wawasee high school students will register from 8:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. on the following days: senior students, Thursday. Aug. 21; junior students, Friday, Aug. 22; sophomore students, Monday, Aug. 25; and freshmen students, Tuesday, Aug. 2S. Milford schools will be registering students from 8:00 a.m. till 4:00 p.m. on Monday. Taesday and Wednesday, August 25. 26 and 27. Families new to the community should enroll their children during this week. Registration at North Webster school will be Thursday, Aug. 21, kindergarten and first grade; August 22, second grade; August 25, third grade; and August 26, fourth grade: August 27, fifth grade and anyone who missed registration on the above dates. North Webster junior high studrats will register as follows: August 25, sixth pnde; August 26. seventh grade; August 27, eighth grade. Syracuse junior high students may enroll on August 25,26 and 27 between the hours of 8 till 12 a.m. and 1 till 4 p.m. Syracuse elementary students enroll August 18, kindergarten; August 10, first grade; August 20, second grade; August 21, third and fourth grade; August 22, fifth grade and special education; August 25, anyone missing registration on the above dates. The school office will be open daily from 8 a.m. till 4 p.m. Kindergarten orientation at all schools will be held September 3. Kindergarten classes begin September 5.

having two sheep killed, and of making a plaster cast of a footprint of the animal., Mrs. Smith said she reported the cat’s appearance to the Kosciusko county conservation office, but that no one appeared to discuss it. Syracuse chief of police Ron Robinson made a similar report to the Elkhart county conservation office, and an officer came to Syracuse to investigate but found nothing conclusive. By now neighborhood curiosity is running high in the areas where the animal has been reported Perhaps the trap Mike Smith set will do the job. Mrs. Smith is determined in her report to this paper. She says, “I’m not kidding, there’s something back there,” as she points to a wooded grove on a knoll in the pasture.

MAO DAZE J PRICES GO DOWN — Becky Doll of Doll’s Decorating Crater is shown above as she marked prices down for the special sale which began this morning in downtown Milford. Businessmen in the town are sponsoring Milford MAD DAZE through Saturday with many bargains to be found throughout the town.

MAD DAZE begin today at Milford

MAD DAZE begin today at Milford and will continue through Saturday of this week with businesses and organizations alike planning special events and sales. Spearheading the event is Mrs. Arnold ("Becky”) Doll, owneroperator of Doll’s Decorating (inter on Main street. Becky’s shop will also be the site of two bake sales — one underway today under the sponsorship of the Silver Thimble club and one being sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary on Saturday.

Phend and Brown low bidder on state road 15 overhead

INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana State Highway commission held a special meeting last week in line with chairman Richard A. Boehning's desire to accelerate the building program before the winter months and Phend and Brown of Milford is the apparent low bidder for the bridge construction on state road 15 north of Milford. The overhead crosses the B & O railroad 1.25 miles north of town. A representative of the con struction company said it may be

K I - NOT KIDDING! — Mrs. Pam Smith pe*"* to • as trees «■ the Bill Sloan farm north of Syracuse where she reported seeing a “big black cat*’ she thinks is a Mountain Lion.

NUMBER 30

She and C. V. (‘‘Tiny’) Holderman of Lavon’s Variety Store, also located on Main street. have contacted representatives of many organizations in town, hoping they too will be participating in the four-day event. The Milford Emergency Services. Inc., volunteers will have their building open during the event and will be serving coffee and giving literature out to those who want to know more about this new and very helpful service to the community.

as long as a month before the actual awards will be made. Contractors from throughout the midwest bid on 22 proposals covering new pavement, new grading, resurface, bridge reconstruction, railroad warning signs and railroad crossing pavement markings. A total of $24,038,231.41 was bid on 21 of the\projects with a bid price below that estimated by the highway commission engineers. Phend and Brown’s bid of $1,172,050 was below the engineer’s $1,692,829.79 estimate.