The Mail-Journal, Volume 14, Number 4, Milford, Kosciusko County, 16 February 1977 — Page 5

Open Door Weekly Report From Senator John B Augsburger

Although the Senate met for only three days the week of February 8-11, several key bills were considered and passed. On Tuesday, Feb. 8, the Senate approved a concept (SB 209) which has been used during the past few years by the Federal government. If Senate Bill 209 is passed by the House and signed by Governor Bowen, taxpayers this year will have the option of designating 11 or 12 of their state taxes, depending on whether individual or joint returns are filed, to a significant political party of their choice, or they may indicate that it may be distributed equally among qualifying parties. "Significant party" is defined as a political party which nominated candidates for the top five state offices and that in the most recent election received at least two per cent of the vote. The chairperson of the central committees of the recipient parties must account for the use of the funds within 45 days after a general election to the state election board The Senate also took action on enacting legislation to cure the police and fire pension matter by passing SB 202 on February 8. It was approved on the Senate floor after being amended in committee three times (two merely dealt with phraseology). The substantive amendment entitles a surviving dependent parent, if there is no eligible child or spouse, to receive 50 per cent of the monthly benefit. SB 202 pertains only to 0 employees hired after May 1. 1977. It establishes pension relief whereby S2O million annually beginning in 1978 would be appropriated to reimburse local governments for pension expenditures. $lO million would be appropriated for 1977. The new pension plan would change some benefits. Retirement eligibility would remain at 20 years of service but payments would not commence until the retiree reached 55; the benefit would be computed on 50 per cent of the first-class police or firemen’s salary (computed on the first-class base salary in the year of retirement > up to a maximum of 74 per cent for service of 32

Nomination Certificate For Milford Man Os The Year — Woman Os The Year I am greatly honored to place in nomination for the MAD Council annual Citizen [ ' ] ■ , . < of the Year award the name of r . Address _, ; — who has contributed so greatly to the improvement and the development of our city as a better place to live, to work and to play through the following ( achievements: ~ ’ I I ■ ' ‘ ‘' 1 — ■ I am willing to the best of my ability, to furnish to the committee additional in- * formation concerning this nominee. ( , NAMF j - -- j . - ADDR ESS \ < PHONE , (Note: To insure complete secrecy, please return this ballot in an envelope addressed to the attention of Man-Woman of the Year Award Committee, MAD Council, Box 40, Milford, Indiana 44542.) Deadline Date: Friday, February 18,1977 At 12 Noon

years or more. Some legislators were concerned that this may create a need for a tax increase and questions arose on the age when benefits should commence; however, in the end. a majority of the senators felt this bill was a good place to begin correcting the problem of adequately supporting the pension needs of public servants. (I voted yes on SB 202.) On Tuesday, the Public Employee's Labor Relation Bill passed the Senate by a vote of 28-22. The bill adds a new chapter to the law, which was declared unconstitutional in 1975. The bill, .if enacted, will allow agency shop, open scope bargaining and binding arbitration. Those who opposed the bill did so usually because of the presence of one or more of these provisions in the bill. (I opposed the above bill.) In order to provide consumers with more adequate representation before the Public Service Commission, the Senate gave unanimous approval to providing a full-time public counselor. SB 351, in addition to making the position full-time, extends the authority of the counselor in that he would be able to appear on behalf of rate payers, patrons and the public at proceedings before federal agencies and may. on his own motion, initiate an appeal on orders of the PSC. The bill further gives the counselor unlimited access to materials relating to any investigation before the commission and the authority to employ the services of experts in the field with the approval of the governor Senate Bill 352, which also passed unanimously, allows the Public Service Commission to admit into the record of a hearing the testimony, reports and audits of any person appearing. It also requires that any such witness shall be subject to cross examination. Both Senate Bill 351 and 352 were recommendations made by the Governor's Energe Commission. The 1976 Penal Code found added strength when SB 84 passed on Tuesday. The Senate bill corrected weaknesses in the code and enacted changes that bring the death penalty in

accordance with recent US Supreme Court decisions. There were Democratic efforts to delete the death penalty provisions but they were rejected. SB 84 also increases the penalties for the crimes of robbery, burglary and professional gambling and increases the number of categories of murder for which the death penalty may be sought. When and offense calls for consideration of the death penalty, the t'rial must consist of two parts; The first part of the trial to be on the merits to determine innocence or guilt; the second part will be to determine if the death penalty is warranted. In the event the death penalty is imposed, provision for an automatic appeal is provided. The bill will also delay the effective date of the Code from July 1,1977 to October 1,1977. The additional time will allow judges, prosecutors and defense counsel a sufficient period in which to closely study the code. A bill to alter the action taken for violation of an ordinance was passed by the Senate February 9. SB 199 alters the power of counties, towns and cities, including consolidated cities, by taking away their power to imprison persons for violating ordinances and that a fine for violation of an ordinance may not exceed SI,OOO The bill also provides that no action may be exercised by a county, town or city for a violation that is covered under state law. SB 200 provides for classification of offenses relating to abortion', weapons, explosives, voyeurism and pornography according to the penalties set forth in the new Penal Code and was made a part thereof by a vote of 44-0. The Senate provided further for the protection of Hoosier citizens with the passage of SB 379 this week. The bill offers persons protection from the hazzards of hobbyists and hunters who make use of their firearms and bow and arrows in county parks that have not been clearly designated for the sold purpose of their use and nature preserves. Violation of this law could mean up to 180 days in jail and a SI,OOO fine. The bill does clearly define that a county board of parks and recreation may designate areas solely for the purpose of firearm and archery hobbyists. McClellan quits Gen. George B. McClellan resigned his commission in the United States Army on Nov. 8, 1864.

North Webster . men booked Two North Webster men were booked at county jail over the week end for separate charges related to alcoholic intoxication* Arrested for driving while under the influence of intoxicating beverages was 29-year-old Terry L. Kiser. He was released on his own recognizance. Raymond L. Smith, 38. was arrested for public intoxication and released on SIOO bond. Syracuse house is entered A break-in to a house owned byMaurice Lung, r 3 Syracuse, was reported to county policed The house was entered sometime between February 4 and 9. Upon investigation, glass doors were found broken, but nothing was found missing from the house. Tools valued at $ 2,199 are taken The R & R Auto Sales building in Syracuse was broken into Saturday morning between 12:15 and 8 a m. and tools, valued at $2,199.30. were taken. Entry was apparently made through a garage window on the north side of the building. The window was found broken by the county police. Bret Clow, son of the owner Roy Clow, had left the parking lot around midnight and returned the next morning finding the theft. Car stripped of its wheels A car parked in front of the John Young residence at Chapman Lake Park, Warsaw, was stripped of its four wheels early Thursday morning. The car owned by Lee Bidwell of r 3 Syracuse had been driven home by Young, the service manager for Bruce Petro OldsCadillac. for a test drive. Instead of returning the car that evening he left the car parked in front of his bbtne.

____ Hr - t ''j it ' ** * - * , FI A . - ~' j-- .v* ■ ■- Sfe* '■ ■ •> * -** \. ♦ „

Sh The Column Jg Mg A Sideshow Os iKj Events In Milford 89

THIS PHOTO is the property of Larry Mellott and is one we have never seen before. It shows a crew laying the old interurban track in Milford. A ciuse look at the right side of the photo shows the late W. E. Grove watching the crew as it took time out to pose for the photo. WHATEVER HAPPENED to the large hog that was struck by a car in front of the Neil Cory home? This is a question a number of people would like to have answered.

Kosciusko County 2d in state in CROP drive

Kosciusko County CROP chairman Larry Haney has received notid*Vrom Gerald L Wilson. Indiana Regional CROP director. Indianapolis, stating the county ranked second in the state this year having a “best ever” CROP year. Elkhart. County placed first. CROP, the Community Hunger Appeal of Church World Service, had a total incane of $5,239,360 in 1976. Indiana is one of 19 CROP regional offices in the country, received $398,423 to rank third nationally behind Kansas and Illinois. This was Indiana CROP’S best year ever, exceeding by about $2,000 the previous aU-time high in 1975. Others in the top 15 state-wide —- behind Elkhart and Kosciusko counties — were Miami, Porter. Knox. Allen. LaGrange, Daviess. Noble, Wabash, DeKalb. Randolph. Huntington. Posey and White. Chairman Haney stated, “You did it again' I don’t knowhow it got done, but praise the Lad fa people like you who give of your time, energy, and money.” in talking to those who canvassed, walked and contributed

WNNKSEE SEPTIC TANK CLEANING 457-3320 Syracuse SEWER ROOTER SERVICE °® r Yew,y We Also Install s?"** Risers Serving h»«*’ '* B jh Syracuse, lake Wowasee North Webster Milford And Cromwell Areas CaN CoNect Anytime

The hog was hit by a passing car on the icy road on Saturday night, Feb. 5. The motorist who hit the hog called the Leon Tucker home, assuming the animal belonged to the Tuckers. When Tucker arrived at the scene some time later, there was no hog in sight. It seems safe to assume someone has a hog hanging in a locker somewhere in the area. The hog presumably walked over the top of a fence on the drifted snow.

Haney listed a breakdown of totals as follows for the county: Walk fa Hunger - $3,000 Friendship Farm in Jefferson Twp. — SI,BOO Bowl-a-thon in Syracuse — $2,800 Canvasses in townships — Clay $750. Etna $1,350, Jackson $750. Monroe $220. Scott $1,250 and Tippecanoe S7OO Plus other donations and gifts from around the county Haney stated another Friendship Farm of 20 acres a so was being planned for next year Also being planned for the year are a bowl-a-thon in another area, a public auction fa CROP. Bible School projects and more canvassing townships. Persons with other ideas should contact him. CROP is an ecumenical action program centered around volunteer leadership recruited from the Christian community. It honors designations to other hunger-related agencies such as Mennonite Central Committee. Lutheran Wald Relief. Catholic Relief Services and the Wald Relief Commission of the National Association of Evangelicals. Most of the resources contributed are used in

Wed., Feb. 16, 1977 — THE MAIL-JOURNAL

LARRY HANEY of r 2 did another outstanding job as CROP chairman for Kosciusko County in 1976. The county again topped its previous record and, it finished second in the state. Haney credits the success of the drive to those who gave of their time, energy and money that others might be helped. DON’T FORGET that Friday is the last day for ‘Citizen of the Year’ blanks to be filled out and sent in. Blanks are found in the several stores of the area and elsewhere in this issue. Everyone in the community should take an active part in this MAD sponsored project and vote for the citizen of his or her choice. MILFORD HAS an active park board and spring must be on its way with the board holding a meeting on Monday night and another one is scheduled for this coming Saturday. OUR TOWN was a busy place on 1 Monday night with many celebrating Valentine’s day in different ways. The town board held its regular meeting. The park board met.

self-help and food-for-work projects in developing countries, set up on a people-to-people basis, but with governmental approval and support. A significant amount is used by Church Wald Service, too, in direct disaster relief. The Indiana CROP office is located in the Jnterchurch Center, 1100 W. 42d Street. Indianapolis, Ind. 46208.

457-382 S - SYRACUSE, IND. CONCRETE CONSTRUCTION Basements — Foundations —* Slabs — Walls Bonded — Insured Runge Development Corp. □ S Member: 99 99 American Society For Concrete Construction Lowground-Wetlands Or Your Land? It was revealed February 9, 1977, at Indianapolis that the Wetlands Conservation Act Bill HB 2074 was misleading to the farmers and landowners of Indiana. Plan now to attend the special informative meeting covering this legislative bill. MONDAY, FEB. 21 At 7:30 F.M. Women's Building, Kosciusko Co. Fairgrounds, Warsaw This Bill Will Affect Every Farmer In Northern - Indiana | COME AND HEAR THE FACTS

Basketball officials met at the Milford Junior High School. Members of the Columbian Reading Circle met in the home of Mrs. Ron (Gloria) Baumgartner. u And, I’m sure we missed a meeting or two someplace along the line. MEMBERS OF the Bethel Church of the Brethren report a large crowd was on hand Sunday evening to hear The Fifth Season present its first ever concert in director Dennis Rumfelt’s hometown. SPEAKING OF the Bethel Church, its members and those of the First Brethren Church have begun practice for their Easter Cantata. VERY LITTLE flooding reported in the Milford area with the thaw which began last week. Many persons have set their minds toward spring which can’t be too far away even though many say we are in for some "below normal" temperatures and yet another blizzard before winter gives way to spring. Only time will tell, meanwhile area residents are enjoying the slightly warmer temperatures.

r 7 SIABAUGH’S W CANVAS SHOP One Mile North, 3 Miles West Os Milford • Pick-Up Covers • Boat Covers • Tents lf • Regular Tarps • Fitted Tarps Or Apy Kind Os Cover Made To Order, Also Weather Proofing And Repair Open 6 Days A Week 8 A.M.-8 P.M.

5