The Mail-Journal, Volume 14, Number 27, Milford, Kosciusko County, 27 July 1977 — Page 9
Lakeland Living
Park restrooms dosed due to vandalism outbreak
As of Monday, July 18, the restrooms in the Syracuse city park and in the park on Medusa Street in Syracuse have been dosed until further notice. This decision has come about due to the excessive vandalism that has occurred. Police Chief Ron Robinson said the vandalism at the park has been going on since it opened in the spring Robinson said that most of the vandalism has taken on the form of knocking out windows, kicking in the doors, writing on the walls and plugging up the stools with clothing. The vandals are believed to be a group of kids between the ages of 12-15 Robinson said. At first the park restrooms were open from 10 a m.-9 p.m. Then, a> the vandalism started increasing, the hours were changed to 6 am.-8 p.m., and then to 10 am.-6 pm. and finally to closing them down permanently. Robinson said as far as he knew this is the first year the restrooms have been dosed at the park. He isn’t sure whether the restrooms will be reopened before Labor Day, when the park doses, he said that decision is up to the toWn board. doses, he said that decision is up to the town board Robinson also said as far as he knew this is the first year the vandalism at the park has been this bad. He attributes it to the increasing amount of idle time the kids have "A lot of kids have
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- c F 73 '■- T £ t c , 7 ' CLOSED — Restrooms at the Syracuse city park were closed Monday, July 18. until further notice. Extreme vandalism caused the closing.
a lot of idle time. With young kids unable to work at certain things, that person gets a lot of time to think about what to do.** Robinson said another reason for the vandalism is the lack of parental supervision. He said, “It would be much easier if parents would keep an eye onXheir kids ’ He said he usuallyxnly has two officers on duty at a time and “you can’t be everywhere.’’ He mentioned that prevention, patrolUng and chasing after kids is a “never ending battle." Other forms of vandalism that have occurred at the park
besides the restrooms are damaging the pay telephone, newly installed this year, damaging the newly installed sign and the newly purchased picnic tables. Enforcement The police chief said the main form of enforcement his department is taking concerning the vandalism is patrolling. He said they patrol the park about once an hour. Once a vandal is caught, the case usually has to go before the juvenile > ourt said Robinson
Waubee Park problems lessen
people continue to abuse the privilege. “It's just a matter that if people want those privileges, everybody will have to help out," Acton stated. 1 “There's a lot of things that need to be done yet," Acton said of the park refurbishing. More painting and roof fixing is still needed. "There’s been many positive things and we’re real pleased with that,” Acton commented. Acting Milford Town Marshal Richard Fehnel said since he has been on duty, he has answered only two cals at the Waubee Lake Park. _He termed both minor problems, a loud disturbance call and the concession stand was missing a book. Fehnel said be does patrol the park at intervals, but the two problems are the only he has encountered
because the vandal is often under 18 years of age. Before the case gets to court, the police first have to gather the information and then get the parent’s consent to talk to the child. Then, if they receive the consent, the police officer will talk to the child. All the information is then put together and taken to a juvenile officer, who then takes it to the prosecuting attorney, who then takes it to the juvenile court. Robinson said the process gets kind of frustrating because many of the kids get off on probation. He said, “all we can do is file the report.’’ This week the department filed a report to Tom Roe, juvenile officer, on four juveniles believed to have been causing some of the vandalism. The case will next go to the prosecuting attorney and then to juvenile court. Robinson said there are only a handful of kids in Syracuse causing the vandalism. “Most of the kids in town are good kids,’’ he stated. He still doesn’t know what the answer to the problem is. He said “a lot of kids need a little supervision, need tender loving care.” As to the park restrooms, Robinson said he doesn’t know what could be done there to keep them open. The only solution he could see would be to keep someone in the restrooms all the time.
The problems at the Waubee Lake Park have been reduced, says park board president Marion Acton. "Os course, we’re hoping it will become nonexistent," Acton explained. "It’s been. I’m sure much better this year than previous years,” Acton said. No one has broken into the concession stand this year and only minor problems in the restrooms have occurred, he said. The restrooms are open when the concession stand is open at the park. “We try to keep it locked and have the people ask for a key," Acton outlined the system. The person is also made sign a clipboard with their name, "So we have an idea who might be causing a problem,” Acton commented. Members of the park board have even contemplated charging for this service, if
Local girls have caps set on county fair queen title
By LESLIE WHITMAN and SUSAN BENNETT Hoping to become Miss Kosciusko County Fair Queen for 1977 is Kathy Brouwer, 17, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jay Brouwer of r 4 Syracuse. Kathy has entered the contest as Miss Syracuse and is being sponsored by the Lions Gub. The Wawasee High School senior said she has been preparing for the contest for two months. So far, she has held a car wash, several bake sales and has gone around and talked to various clubs in Syracuse trying to get some support. “It’s been good,” is what she had to say for the support so far. Kathy entered the contest because she wanted to help a good cause. “I wanted to work and the money goes to. a good cause.” She was picked from six girls from the high school to be Miss Syracuse. Since becoming Miss Syracuse, Kathy has gone to many parades, parties and other functions. She has also met 12 new girlfriends who are also hoping to become Miss Kosciusko County Fair Queen. “I’ve met some new girls that are real nice,” Kathy stated. One Big Project Miss Syracuse feels that each of the queen contestants should have one big moneymaking project. She said she won’t be able to have one because she didn’t think of the idea in time. She also feels the contestant’s sponsor should elect a committee to help arrange where the girt
'Ulfl Ji A p r ' T it MISS MILFORD— Miss Milford, Rachel Morris moves down the parade route in last Saturday’s Pioneer Days Parade in Warsaw.
should go and get more support. She said the Lions Club has helped her go speak to a few dubs. Kathy will collect money up until August 6 when the queen is named. A reception and coronation is held on August 6 at the fairgrounds in Warsaw. Even though she hopes to win, Kathy feels the most important aspect of the contest is collecting money to help the Cardinal learning Center and the Speech and Hearing Clinic. “It gives you a good feeling," she said. Kathy also feels the money is important since she has a cousin who is deaf living out in California. She said, “When you have someone like that, you want to help more." Kathy is a cheerleader at the high school and is a member of the girls sports club and National Honor Society. She also enjoys tennis, gymnastics, water skiing and sewing. Rachel Morris, Milford’s candidate for county fair queen, too, has been preparing various moneymaking projects to contribute to the charities. The most recent activity was a Mexican dinner this last Saturday. Other moneymaking projects were a Memorial day bake sale and a car wash. The next venture will be a door-to-door solicitation by family, church members and friends. A dance marathon is also being considered, if a facility is approved by authorities. The United Mexican-American Union is also assisting Rachel by •riring for pledges over the Spanish hour on an area radio station. But Rachel says the fund raising to win doesn’t concern her. She said some of the candidates are concerned more with raising a large amount to win, rather than raising a large amount to benefit the charities. And some fund raising activities have been discounted by
ip* I d bJE-’ & XT® t TT MISS SYRACUSE — Kathy Brower, Miss Syracuse and her floral umbrella were a part of Saturday’s Pioneer Days Parade.
Rachel due to their nature and her religion. She would never have a raffle nr kisses booth. “I’m doing wholesome activities far the family,” she commented. “It’s not a beauty pageant at all, because they don’t judge you on beauty,” Rachel said. The Milford Area Development group obtained a list of junior girls from the Milford area through the
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Wed., July 27, 1977 — THE MAIL-JOURNAL
Wawasee High School guidance department and chose Rachel. Last April, Rachel received
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letters asking her to participate in the Indiana Rose Festival, and another one from the Indiana Teenage Festival. She declined both and when MAD notified her she was their choice for Miss Milford, “I was really shocked.” She has had previous experience as a contestant in last year’s Mermaid Festival, when she was Miss Wawaseeßand. “They’ve given me a lot of support,” Rachael says of her sponsor, MAD. “They’ve really helped a lot.” Besides the union. MAD and * others helping, Rachel’s family has spent a great deal of time together, counting pennies an<T> staying up until the wee hours making paper flowers. But its all for a good cause, she says, and even with the hard work, she’d do it all over again. Rachel is the daughter of Mrs. Mary Morris, Milford Those perfectly contented with themselves are blinded by selfsatisfaction Being born poor need not be a permanent handicap but only hard work will it. The best way to get relief from a monotonous task is to think up ways of improving tit.
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