The Mail-Journal, Volume 15, Number 35, Milford, Kosciusko County, 20 September 1978 — Page 1

Phones: 658-4111 & 457-3666

VOLUME 15

Plan retail division . . . also —

Seek to re-vitalize Chamber of Commerce

By ARCH BAUMGARTNER The Syracuse-Wawasee Chamber of Commerce will be coming in for a re-vitalization if their new officers have anything to do with it. At least this seems to have been the spirit of things at the Chamber’s meeting last Wednesday night at the South Shore. President Robert McNary sounded the upbeat note when he said, “We’re going to have a more active Chamber of Commerce next year. We’re going to be recruiting more members. We hope to increase — perhaps double — our membership.’’ McNary said the new officers plan to involve the general membership in quarterly meetings, adding, “We want criticism and participation of members and potential members.”

United Way holds

1 st report meeting

Volunteers for the 1978 United to reach their SI,OOO goal. Jim Way Campaign in Kosciusko McCleary is chairman of the County met last Wednesday for a Small Business Division, luncheon meeting in Warsaw. John Ellison reported $l7O in Various reports were heard on funds collected and pledged from funds pledged and collected for the In-Plant Division. Don the first week of the campaign. Franklin is the chairperson for Kay Beam reported $566 in this division. funds pledged and collected from A total of $11,301 was pledged the Small Business Division, and collected for the first week of During the first week of the the United W'ay Campaign, campaign, she and her volun- Future meeting dates for teers contacted 10 of the 25 reports are September 20, 27 and business firms assigned to them. October 4, all at the Lucky Steer Mrs. Beam stated she expected Restaurant, Warsaw. Bob Spencers purchase Ruch Lawn Mower Service

Bob and Sandy Spencer, who recently moved to Syracuse from Phoenix. Ariz., have purchased Ruch Lawn Mower Service on SR 13 in Wawasee Village from Frank and Donna Krantz. The Spencers took over the management of the business on Tuesday of this week. Mr. Spencer says he has been working with the former owners for the last three weeks. The Spencers will continue the business with the same name, and will offer new and used lawn mowers, as well as repairs on mowers, and small engines, and will be sharpening cham saws, hand saws, circular saws and band saws. Mr. Spencer is a native of Indiana, born in Crawford County, and attended Purdue University at West Lafayette. They moved to

*By 1 W A IK A

WEDNESDAY MORNING ACCIDENT — Milford Town Marshal David Hobbs estimated a 1972 Plymouth driven by Robert E. Fisher, r 6 Warsaw, to be a total loss after it went off the road and into a creek early this morning south of Milford. The car is owned by James Kellogg, r 2 Warsaw. Fisher was traveling north on SR 15 when he went off the road. Damage to two sign posts was 150. Fisher was not injured.

The Mail

Consolidation o/THE MILFORD MAIL IE st. 1888) and THE SYRACUSE-WAWASEE JOURNAL <Est. 1907)

Accepts Rotary Challenge He said the Chamber of Commerce planned to accept the challenge of the SyracuseWawasee Rotary club to raise SI,OOO to match the Rotary’s SI,OOO for new Christmas decorations for the community. “This will be an active year,” president McNary prophesied. He said the Chamber wants to clean up the median strip along road 13 and perhaps to plant some trees. Also on the list were small business seminars on estate taxes and the like. He even touched on a group insurance plan for Chamber members. Teri Caskey, director, urged those in attendance to attend a special board meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 4, for the purpose of organizing a retail division of the Chamber of Commerce.

Phoenix, in 1964. They have two sons, Bobby, eight; and Tony, six. A daughter. Laurie, 22. still resides in Phoenix. The Krantzes are buying a house near North Webster. Mr. Krantz is employed at the U. S. 30 Truck Stop at Pierceton, and his wife works in the office at Kosciusko Community Hospital, Warsaw. Jewelry taken Mrs. James Rabb, r 2 Leesburg, told county police that a diamond necklace, diamond earrings and a diamond ring, worth SSOO, had been stolen from her residence on CR 750 N, sometime between August 29 and September 11. According to County Patrolman Gerry Moser, no signs of a forced entry were found.

Hear Warsaw Mayor The main program of the Chamber meeting vas a color slide presentation by Warsaw Mayor H. Dale Tucker, focused on industrial growth of the Warsaw community. It is a presentation he has given in a number of Hoosier cities in an effort to interest businesses in locating in Warsaw and or Kosciusko county. It was a professionally prepared piece. Mayor Tucker said his office door is always open to anyone in the county when it comes to attracting new industry to Kosciusko county. James Benzenberg, executive secretary for the county-wide United Way drive, spoke briefly to bring home the importance of the drive which has as its goal the raising of $315,000. There were about 75 present OK for Billy, not for Kintzel Alcohol-gas-groceries are sold at Billy Carter’s gas station in Plains, Ga., but that doesn’t make it so for this county. The Kosciusko County Alcoholic Beverage Board denied David S. Kintzefs request for this type of service. Kintzel is the president of the Gast Fuel Service Inc. in Warsaw. The board opposed the first application because of a possibility that all other service stations in the county would try for a permit to sell alcoholic beverages. The application was sent in March to the State Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a transfer of ownership and a transfer of location of a beer and wine dealer permit, which at this time is owned by the owners of Howell’s Supermarket, North Webster, Morris and Madge Howell. Three board members. Bob Robinson, Oscar Werner and Rudolph Sierk, questioned Kintzel about the operation during the September 13 meeting in the county courthouse. A question by Robinson on their intention to sell beer and wine as well as gas brought an affirmative answer by Kintzel adding only if the permit would have been approved. Open on Sundays Board members questioned the fact about the sale of beer and wine on Sunday, since the service station would be open on Sundays. Kintzel replied that the stock could be covered to prevent sales on Sundays. There are two grocery stores (Continued on page 2)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20,1978

A — ‘ k i Al

LEESBURG UW CHAIRMAN — Richard R. Betz, vice president of the GTI Corporation and general manager of the corporation’s Leesburg Division, has accepted the responsibility as United Way chairman for the town of Leesburg and Plain township in this year’s drive for funds, according to Nancy Prickett and Barbara Mort, cochairmen of the area known as North Communities. Betz, who has been general chairman of the North Communities for the past two years, is organizing the area at the present time in an effort to raise $7,700 toward the county-wide UW drive to raise $315,000. The new Leesburg chairman has been general chairman of the Leesburg plant for the past four years, coming here from Ludington, Michigan. Milford woman injured when truck hits car A 1977 Ford, driven by Everett H. Edgar, 58, r 4 Syracuse, was involved in an accident the night of September 12 in Elkhart County, which resulted in injuries to a passenger in the Edgar auto. Mary B. Coy, 60, of Waubee Lake, r 1 Milford, sustained a laceration of the forehead and complained of a back injury, police said, when the Edgar car struck a disabled garbage truck., The truck was parked partially on SR 15, south of CR 50, near Goshen. Sheriff’s officers said Edgar was southbound on SR 15. He attempted to pass the truck, which was partly on the highway, but was forced to swerve back due to oncoming traffic. Mrs. Coy was taken to Goshen Hospital for treatment and released. The truck was operated by Kenneth L. Bellman, 32, of Mishawaka, who was not hurt. Damage was set at $2,000. 5 3,000 damages as car hits tree Damage to the 1976 model car, driven by Scott A. Rensberger, 16, r 2 North Webster, was estimated at $3,000 after it hit a tree September 12. Rensberger suffered a cut above the left eye in the mishap which occurred at the intersection of CR 650 east and CR 350 north, west of Big Barbee Lake. Police said his car approached a curve, went out of control, slid sideways, tipped on its side and struck the tree. He was northbound on CR 650 east. Also damaged to the extent of SSO was a lawn owned by Cliff Jamison, r 1 Warsaw. Lakeland budget cut Kosciusko County Tax Adjustment Board members cut $13,946 from the Lakeland Community School Corporation’s tax levy when they met last week. Don Arnold, school superintendent, said, however, an appeal will be made and the amount reinstated. He said the law provides for this when the state reviews the appeal and establishes what the levy will be. The proposed $4.63 per SIOO assessed valuation includes $3.37 for general fund; 86 cents debt service, and 40 cents cumulative building fund. The board of trustees of Lakeland Community School Corporation is meeting at noon Thursday to make the appeal for the reinstatement of the tax cut.

Visiting hours 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. —

Public open house at $2 million Maple Leaf Feed Mill Saturday

By LESLIE WHITMAN What started as a small producer of ducklings 20 years ago has now grown to a totally integrated operation. Maple Leaf Farms, Inc., with main processing plant at r 1 Milford and new $2 million feed mill on the Syracuse-Milford Road, invites visitors to help celebrate two decades of business this coming Saturday, Sept. 23, from 9 am. tosp.m. The open house will be held at the feed mill. Visitors will be able to tour the facility. A large tent will also be erected at the site to display Maple Leaf products. Duckling will be awarded to some visitors throughout the day. Maple Leaf was founded by the late Donald E. Wentzel in 1958. Wentzel helped organize the National Duckling Council and served as its first president from 1960 to 1968. In its first year of operation, Maple Leaf produced 280,000 ducklings. By 1964, over a million ducklings were being produced annually. The company currently produces approximately 3.5 million ducklings in the United States. Besides the main processing plant and new feed mill, a sales office is located in Chicago. Leading Producer Maple Leaf today ranks as America’s leading independent grower, processor and marketer of duckling. Its duckling products are shipped nationally and internationally and are sold and served in supermarkets and restaurants in all 50 states. Serenade Foods, Inc., an affiliate of Maple Leaf, also located near Milford, processes more than 30 duckling and other poultry specialties, primarily for the foodservice market. Terry Tucker, president of Maple Leaf, reports both companies have plans of expansion in the near future. “In only 20 years, the Maple Leaf Farms organization has developed an entirely new industry in northern Indiana. Total employment for both companies exceeds 350 people, and, with the construction of a new hatchery in this area later next year, as well as expansion of other facilities, we may be employing up to 500 people by 1980.” Serenade will double its plant facilities to 22,000 square feet sometime this autumn. Its staff is expected to increase from 100 to 150 by next year. Maple Leaf Farms has plans to build a $1 million hatchery late next year within 20 miles of the Milford plant. This new 24,000 square foot facility will repace its Wayne, Ohio, operation. 200 Tons of Feed The pride of Maple Leaf’s new operations this year is the feed mill. The mill can use 3,600 bushels of Indiana corn daily and with soybeans and other ingredients added, produces 200 tons of feed daily. The mill is of slip-form concrete construction and has drying and storage facilities totaling 250,000 bushels. It also has a 200 horsepower pellet machine with an annual capacity of 50,000 tons. A second pelleting line could double production. Tucker said, “Corn is our principal feed ingredient and w? will use corn from 8,000 acres of Indiana farmland each year. Soybeans are also important and it will take 16,000 acres of soybeans to meet our annual requirements.” Another operation added to Maple Leaf recently is a new irrigation program which augments its water sanitation control system, long regarded as a model for the duckling industry. Maple Leaf has received a citation from the State of Indiana for its model program. Water used in the processing plant is pumped at the rate of 700 gallons per minute to a traveler irrigation device which sprays the water over a 165 square foot area. The firm irrigates 150 acres of its own cornfields and is the only U. S. company to employ this system. (Continued on page 2)

e/oifffiflf

Ift V ■ \ JB >ig " ■ X HkWg? X Z- •• ♦ ’ - B * BH ®“ oc “ ITIBI Ml.

NEW FEED MILL — This picture shows the new $2 million feed mill of Maple Leaf Farms, located on the Syracuse-Milford Road. The mill has the capacity to produce up to 200 tons of feed daily. Maple Leaf is celebrating its 20th anniversary this Saturday from 9 a.m. to S p.m. Visitors are invited to tour the mill.

Water project 97% complete, problems with installations

The problem of installing water meters in town was discussed by the Syracuse Town Board at some length Tuesday night. Dye Plumbing and Heating, contractor, has said the project is 97 per cent complete. Darrel Grisamer, board member and John Cripe, board president, expressed concern that the town might have to pay Dye more for some installations. A total of 80 meters have yet to be

Jeremy McClintic killed in farm tractor accident

Jeremy Douglas McClintic, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry McClintic, r 1 Milford, was fatally injured Saturday morning, Sept. 16, around 8:30, when he fell from a tractor, on which he was riding, landing in the path of the large wheel. The tractor, according to police, hit a rock throwing the young boy from his grandfather’s arms. The accident occured on the Devon Davis farm, located on CR 900 N and CR 200E in Kosciusko County. Kosciusko County Police Lt., Richard Mikel and Ptl. Jeff Bronsing investigated the accident. The Emergency Medical Service of Milford was notified and transported the boy and his grandfather to Goshen Hospital. The young child died at 11:55 a.m. in the hospital. Davis was treated for shock. According to Elkhart County Coroner Marvin Riegsecker, young McClintic died from a skull fracture, internal injuries, a broken pelvis and a broken leg. Jeremy D. McClintic was born in the Goshen Hospital on January 5, 1976, to Jerry and Barbara (Davis) McClintic. Other survivors include a brother, Chad, at home; the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs.

installed and Dye is experiencing problems. One such problem is having to install the meters in a pit instead of in the house. This involves houses in town that are built on slabs. Cost for these installations is about S6OO. Dye had contracted to install the meters at $265 each. Mrs. Betty Dust, clerktreasurer, commented she feels it is the contractor’s responsibility to pay for the extra cost. She said,

Bruce McClintic and Mr. and Mrs. Devon Davis, all of Milford; and great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Virgil Anglin, Nappanee. Private funeral services were held Monday morning, Sept. 18, in the Mishler Funeral Home, Milford. Rev. Everett Owens, pastor of the Milford United Methodist Church, officiated and burial was in the Milford cemetery.

WWs In The News ... 'We will use corn from 8,000 acres of Indiana farmland . . Tucker ■■ Homemakers Safari offered £ £ TiMi Tor vfomGn woman Political Potpourri Peg* 7 /

20‘

NUMBER 35

“When someone bids for these meters they are required to put in that many meters at that price. It’s someone else’s responsibility to see where the money is coming from.” Dye is also having problems getting in to some houses. Charlie Dye, present at the meeting, said “We aren’t trying to back out. We’ve been in town a year. We want to finish the project.” The town will help get Dye the permission to go into some homes. A claim from Dye totaling $17,692 was approved. This leaves a balance due of approximately $13,000 for work left. Total contract cost from Dye is $449,887. Town engineer Jerry Lessig said the project should be completed within a few weeks. (Continued on page 2)

PARK BOARD TO MEET Members of the Milford Park Board will meet at 7 p.m. Ott Thursday, Sept. 21, in the home of Mrs. Ro® Smith.