The Mail-Journal, Volume 13, Number 51, Milford, Kosciusko County, 12 January 1977 — Page 2

THE MAIL-JOURNAL—Wed., Jan. 12.1977

2

betters i : to the 1 ■ • UMttOf ■ « — editor Vtai kjm a a » a t n umi » ii xoimj iamao*

Awaiting outcome

Dear Editor: I, along with many others of the Syracuse community, am awaiting with great concern the outcome of the legal maneuvering involving the socalled destruction of the wetlands adjacent to Lake Wawasee. The apprehension and action of the number of environmentalists is to be applauded, and it is hopeful that the courts will support their position. The callous disregard shown by these developers, our present day land barons and spoilers, is most reprehensible. These dank areas must be protected and preserved. The fact that the land is owned by these borderline rascals, and it is and has been subject to the usual property taxes, does not justify the rapacious despoilment cf these beautiful areas. Let,us look forward to the inevitable conclusion of this land

Giving and sharing

Dear Editor. When it comes to giving and sharing, our little town just can't be beat! We set out to try and make 25 children have a happier Christmas. Several auxiliary members worked various evenings before the holiday wrapping gifts, collecting donations and buying food and candies for our boxes. We received fine donations Larry Yoder insurance field rep. ’ Larry Yoder, r 1 Syracuse, (Lake Wawasee) has accepted employment as a field representative with the Statesman Group Insurance g Company. He will call on independent insurance agents in northern Indiana. He will continue in real estate sales on a part time basis, and the Yoders will continue to live in the Syracuse community.

Ray Buhrt GENERAL CONTRACTOR Residential & Commercial Building Phone: 457-3431 Road 13, Syracuse LOOK FOR THE LWE Furniture, Appliances & Carpet "GREEN” January Clearance Circular In This Week’s Kosciusko County MtioaOf 'the paper' Across From The Post Office Uptown Syrocuse

- — /FIRST CHARTER S.. INSURANCE S® AGENCY JOHN K. WALKER Ss S= JEfL-£ I Manager SyracvM Mitford 1844 457-44 M 454-4155

reclamation. Large areas will be made suitable and attractive for residential construction. This activity can only increase our assessed valuation and tax loss, and result in additional revenue, a ghastly outlook. New people will be attracted and our local merchants will be farced to accommodate these aliens Greater delays at check out counters will further vex our shopping A new condominium might even appear to disgrace our skyline. There is another frightening aspect of this wanton action. The elimination of these wetlands maypose the specter of an endangered species. The natural habitat of our mosquitoes will be destroyed. What will be a resort and vacationland without a mosquito? Yours very truly, j. D. Shewmon

from Ben Franklin, Star Store and Little People Shoppe for new clothing as well as cash donations, canned foods, etc., from various individuals in town It is impossible for us to thank each individual personally. We are very grateful and sincerely know you will be blessed by your generous donations. Syracuse Fire Department Auxiliary June Penick, President Richard Smith to Pease AFB DENVER, Colo. — The son of a Cromwell couple has been assigned to Pease AFB, N.H., following graduation from the special weapons mechanic course at Lowry AFB, Colo. Airman Richard L. Smith, son of Mr. and Mrs. Don Smith of r 1, was trained to assemble and repair special weapons and will now serve with a unit of the strategic air command. The airman is a 1976 graduate of Elwood Community High School

Buck ERA — j (Continued from page 1) “And if they aren’t,” John F. Augsburger said “we should do it.” If certain areas need reform, Mrs. Jones said she would endorse specific laws dealing with the reforms. But of ERA she said, “It's too ambiguous in how it can be interpreted.” Mrs. Jones cited a statement by several constitutional law authorities who have found the amendment can only be interpreted by constitutional law authorities. s> j Reject — (Continued from page 1) Martin received a SI,OOO raise in 1975 with a total of SI,BOO for the two years. He also commented that the clerk s raise was 33 and one-third per cent Board member Jean Troesh said Mrs. Brooks knew what the salary was when she ran for the office. Discussions continued on the salaries with Brooks continually stating be thought the $10,600 salary for Jordan was too high. Mrs. Treesh said she thought Jordan deserved the $10,600. She also questioned Brooks as to whether or not he would be opposed to the increase if it were for someone other than Jordan. Brooks said. “Yes.” Miller said the salary was not out of line, based on other towns. However, he said he was against paying for a dispatcher (a topic discussed at an earlier board meeting) and thought the marshal should carry this responsibility since there is no money in the budget for it. Miller made the motion to accept the appointments at the salaries and wages listed. Mrs. Treesh seconded the motion and both voted in favor. Brooks went on record as casting a no vote, stating he would vote yes on all except the marshal. Re-Dbcum Resignation Miller reminded board members and town employees that no official action can be taken at executive sessions and happenings at such sessions should be kept confidential. He referred to an item in this paper on town marshal Melvin Jordan's resignation. Brooks said officially no action had been taken on the resignation and people wanted to know why if he (Jordan) bad resigned the resignation wasn’t accepted Brooks also commented he had not read the resignation. He was told by both Miller and Mrs Treesh that the resignation had laid on the table during the executive session and Brooks could have read it at any time. After the session it had been returned to Jordan since neither Miller or Mrs;. Treesh wanted to accept it. A lengthy discussion followed with Mrs. Treesh making a motion to “officially” not accept the resignation. Miller gave the motion a second. Miller said the board had had discussions, petitions, etc. and was at a stalemate. He said he thought the board should pledge to forget the past and look to the future and do something worthwhile for the town. Mrs. Treesh said, "Amen.’ 1 Brooks again commented on the fact he luuLnot read the resignation. Jordan gave the board a copy, stating be had submitted it tiecause he did not want to be filed because of his personal life. The resignation was read aloud. Mrs. Treesh said she did think personal life should enter into the policeman's work. She agpin made the motion that Jordan’s resignation not be accepted. Miller again seconded the motion stating personal problems were out of order and out of place at a town board meeting. This motion also carried 2-1. Millet Re-Elected Miller’s re-election came with a unanimous vote. Miller accepted but wanted to go on record as saying he would not take the job in 1978. Board members complimented John Martin co the job be is doing in keeping the streets cleaned during recent snow storms. Martin and the board members also discussed salt and potash on the streets with Martin saying he has no place to store salt. He said

if be had a place to store salt it could be purchased in a large quantity from the state at considerable savings. Board members will see if they can find an empty garage or other building for such storage. Mrs. Brooks said a letter bad been received from the state saying road and street fund monies on deposit there must be used prior to May or the town would lose them. This is the money to be used to pave Smith Street. MiURr will check with Robert Brown to make sure the project will be done by May 1 to insure the money is not lost. Mrs. Brooks also stated the town is in need of a new American flag and board members agreedio purchase one from the local Legion post. A short discussion was held on insurance for the firemen. The subject was tabled for talks with the fire chief, William Lee mon. Old Business Under old business, discussions were held on the fact that HUD grant application for the water department had been filed and the letter had been sent to Joe Hamsher on his water problem on January 7 with no answer being received as of the meeting. Don Ahrns was recommended for re-appointment by the county commissioners to the Milford Economic Development Commission. Mr. Ahrns. currently on vacation, had been contacted and said he would accept the reappointment. Approve — (Continued from page 1) Mr. and Mrs. Charles S. Perrin of Leland Shores, about the lack of control on Howard (“Hop”) Haabs school bus. Lantz was requested by the board to investigate the situation. Regular business, approved by the board, included the financial report as of December 31, 1976, extra curricular reports, claims and all minutes.

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/•ROUND J

The dolls, currently on display ia tike NIPSCo window, are those from the Camp Fire Doll Derby, mentioned in last week's M-J. From here, they will be sent to the Goodwill Industry in South Bend for judging. The Syracuse Street Departmeat was hard at work Tuesday, in the bitter cold, removing snow from city streets. A whole battery of equipment was used, from shovels, to garden tractors, to front-end loaders. Thanks guys! The Turkey Creek Conservation Club will be sponsoring the hunter safety program, beginning February 1, 1977, at 7:30 p.m. at the Clubhouse on the east side of Lake Wawasee. Further details concerning the classes are included in an article elsewhere in this issue. One we couldn’t print —a delightful photo of two-year-old Brian Grothaus, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roger P. Grothaus, r 1 Syracuse, sitting on his pottie reading the latest copy of The MJ. You know . . . family newspaper, not wanting to offend the sensitivities of our readers, and all that stuff. Townsman Clem Lisor calls this winter we’re having “one in fifty.” (Continued on page 14)

Ruling in 30 days on wetlands issues

The ruling on the wetland issue sought by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources from LaGrange Circuit Court Judge Jack Dunten will be given 30 days from Thursday, Jan. 6, when formal hearings concluded at the .Kosciusko Circuit Court. The DNR sought to prove that property landowners Mrs. Mary Mason and Richard Ver Wiebe illegally encroached upon the water of Lake Wawasee by land fill at Johnson’s Bay and is attempting to gain an order to force the landowners to remove the fill. Landowners, according to Rollin Thompson, Indiana Deputy Attorney General, by filling have changed the shoreline without aquiring a permit to fill from the DNR. Thompson contends the land filled was designated wetlands by the state and thus is the responsibility of the DNR to preserve. Late last year an attempt by the DNR to acquire a temporary restraining order from Kosciusko Circuit Court Judge Gene B. Lee to stop the filling was unsuccessful. Judge Lee’s ruling

Computerized crop workshop to be held

A grain crops workshop will be held at the Elkhart County Extension Office, fairgrounds, Goshen, January 20, 27 and February 4. Farmero will have an opportunity to study the cropping program on their own farms, visit some other setups in the area and get a computerized

allowed fill in behind the legally established shoreline of the lake. DNR Witnesses Testimony of Dean Jessup, DNR wild life biologist, serving the Tri-County Game Preserve, included a statement of observation of the beginning of the land fill and photographs of work in detail. Carl Eisfelder, DNR wetland wild life biologist, stated that land filled in at Johnson’s Bay amounted to one per cent of the wetland in the bay area. Further Testimony Ver Wiebe holds that the shoreline has not been encroached upon, therefore no permit to fill was needed. A court order several years ago established the legal line of Lake Wawasee at 858.59 feet above sea level. Robert Neibert, summoned by Ver Wiebe, testified that he observed a state survey rod man take readings after the rod had been pushed as far as possible into the ground. Jack Mason, upon request of

analysis of their cropping system. Registration is on a first come first serve basis. Contact either tiie Kosciusko or Elkhart County Extension offiee for more details. ~& A good lie finds njpre believers than a bad tnfth. —German Proverb

how he determined where to fill, indicated he had utilized the DNR maps that Richard L. Sides of the Corps of Engineers testified, last year during a hearing in South Bend, were accurate. Also he kept all fill behind stakes that Herbal A. Underwood, Wabash County Surveyor, had established. Rebuttal In rebuttal of testimony heard for the landowners a surveyor for the DNR, Greg McCullough, rod man and supervisor of other rod men during the area survey, stated he did not observe a rod pushed into the ground. The two maps prepared by the U. S. Geological survey in cooperation with the DNR, referred to by Mason, were intended for the use of determining depth of lake for fishing, stated John Simpson, head of several DNR sections including map sales. Thus the maps for construction or shoreline determination are inaccurate according to Simpson. With the completion of evidence presented by the attorneys for the DNR and landowners, the proceedings concluded Thursday at noon. Attorneys were permitted 30 days to file post-trial briefs with Judge Dunten before his final ruling will be made on the wetland issue.

THE MAHJOURNAI Published by The Mail-Journal every Wednesday and entered as Second Class matter at the Post Office at Syracuse. Indiana 4*547 Second class postage paid at 103 6 Mam street. Syracuse. Indiana 44547 and at additional entry offices Subscription: 57 per year in Kosciusko county; $4 outside county. vVEIZv