The Mail-Journal, Volume 15, Number 41, Milford, Kosciusko County, 1 November 1978 — Page 13

tfitlZlN AROUND CUSfe

WHILE NEXT Tuesday’s election has proven a mundane, Alfonz-Gaston affair so far, at midweek there has been a modicum of public interest. The increased interest has been sparked by a stepped up effort of the several candidates who are being contested. Os particular interest in the northeast part of Kosciusko County, appropos to the election, is the race for seats on the Lakeland school board. Without this we could all fold our tents and steal off into the night, and no one would know the difference, and a few would care less. Even the few races that head the Tuesday ticket have been lackluster, reminiscent of the spring primary when as low as 12 per cent of the registered voters went to the polls in one district; others did little better through Kosciusko County. This public apathy is pathetic, and viable candidates are striking out in several directions to latch onto issues that might excite the public interest and make the offices they seek something of a prize. And So, Here Goes With this in mind, we thought we’d use this column in this way this week and make some long shots in the form of predictions. No one knows better than we do the risk one takes at making election predictions: And our record is not all that good, if years past can be any judge. But we like the challenge, and without it where would any of us be? In this regard making election predictions — if one is 51 per cent correct, this is good. Pollsters constantly tell us, that if a candidate wins 55 per cent of the vote for office, he has a landslide on his hands. So . . . perhaps 51 per cent is not so bad, after all. These are our predictions, and once made, we’re likely to leave town until the election is long forgotten: For the Lakeland school board, we predict victory for John F. Kroh, Marguerite Hoerr and Robert Morgan. For Kosciusko county sheriff, we predict victory for incumbent John E. Hammersley. For congressman from the second district, we predict victory for incumbent Floyd J. Fithian. And for state representative, we predict victory for incumbent Thames L. Mauzy. Other contested offices we will not comment on. All these predictions are based on our reading of the politican weather vane, nothing more. For instance, school board candidates are running on a nonpolitical basis. Os the others two are Democrats, one Republican. Politics aside, this is the way we see it. Let Us Explain Take the school board candidates, for instance. We think John Kroh will win inasmuch as he is a well known incumbent and hails from the most populous district, the second, in the school corporation. We’ve had differences with John during his time on the board. For instance, we crossed swords with him on his venture to allow the school to enter the private sector in raising funds for wrestling mats. We felt this was wrong, and still do, and that John knows it’s wrong, but went along with the crowd on that one. His abstaining from voting on several occasions was not right as we saw it, and John knows how we and others feel about this matter. Many others have expressed similar points of view about his voting But on balance we feel John has developed into a good board member and will do better in the future. John is the only candidate who track record against which one can exercise judgment. Many think it will be beneficial to have a woman on the school board, and so do we - and for this reason we think Marguerite Hoerr of district three, will be elected. She’s a mature woman of

five grown children, a fine woman with an excellent family background. A woman’s point of view might be real refreshing on the school board. The question has been asked: "Can she get her dander up when she disagrees with a board decision and let it be known, or will she simply acquiesce to a decision she really doesn’t want to go along with?” We think she can (get her dander up), but her metal has not been proved. It’s worth a chance, and we think a lot of other people think so. We think Marguerite will be elected. Bob Morgan, of district one, has had considerable experience in the business world, and he’s a fellow who will speak out. No one is going to intimidate Bob, or get him to agree to something when he thinks otherwise. In short, he’s his own man. Bob is a business man who knows administration. In fact, he's been so involved in his own business that we’re concerned that he’ll have enough time to give to the board’s activities. We’d like to think he’ll find time. A word about Stewart Walker and David Carey, whom we don’t think will get elected. Both are fine, conscientious people. They are both business men, but are not well known. Neither has had the experience in administration, but then neither has Mrs. Hoerr. A voter would never need to apologize for voting for either Stu or Dave. Another time around the voters might see this differently. For Sheriff We think sheriff John E. Hammersley will be re-elected. He’s a working sheriff with a lot of schooling and experience in law enforcement. He’s done a real job in putting the sheriff’s department on a business-like basis. For some reason Kosciusko County and Elkhart County, both Republican counties, elect Democratic sheriff’s, so the record would indicate. And when a sheriff has done a creditable job, he’s usually re-elected. We think John will be re-elected. As for Al Rovenstine, he has gained a lot of experience in lawenforcement, but is less well known than Hammersley. He comes from a longtime Atwood family influential in Republican ranks. He has grown in stature considerably as the campaign progressed. Watch out for Al four years from now . For Congress Incumbent Floyd J. Fithian campaigned in Syracuse on Monday morning following an appearance before the Lakeland Kiwanis Club at North Webster earlier in the morning. He appeared completely relaxed as he informally spoke at the Breakfast Club at the Syracuse Case. Is this a matter of confidence; could it be over-confidence? We think he’ll win over our good friend J. Philip Oppenheim, and this will be unusual in a traditionally Republican district. Charlie Halleck held the district for 36 years, then Earl Landgrebe of Valparaiso held it several terms until he ran afoul of voters in the Nixon fiasco when he said over network television concerning the impending Nixon impeachment: “Don’t confuse me with the facts.” That did it. On a second try against Landgrebe, Fithian, a Purdue history professor with a doctor’s degree, won. Then two years ago he defeated urbane Will Erwin of Etna Green in what many thought was an upset. Did the town meetings do it? Many thought so. Oppenheim is making this his second congressional campaign. He was defeated by Erwin in the primary two years ago, and was uncontested in this year’s primary. He’s spending a lot of money, as is Fithian, and covering a lot of ground. But 14 counties includes a lot of ground. A lot of Republicans speak well of Fithian — that he answers their mail, comes around once in a while, and is about as conservative as any Democrat they’ve seen for a long time. In short, he thinks Second District. The Lafayette Journal and Courier, Fithian’s home town (Republican) paper, states, “The

principal objection to this premise (that Fithian is doing a good job) that his energetic opponent, Phil Oppenheim, has tried to raise — that Fithian is a free spender and a flaming liberal — just won’t hold up.” Chuck Kline of the Republican Congressional Committee, the Journal and Courier writes editorially, states, "Fithian votes fiscally quite conservatively." And John Teare, another GOP analyst, states, “The fact is, Fithian is not a big spender. He’s very tight on spending.” Oppenheim’s campaign really hasn’t caught afire. We aren’t sure why. Maybe it’s a sign of the The lack of public interest has manifested itself in other congressional races as well. Oppenheim is staking his race on the fact that he’s a small businessman. We need more of these in Congress, that’s for sure. We think Phil would work hard at being a good congressman, but from what we sense there won’t be enough people who think that way. And Now Mauzy This one could be a toss-up, decided in the few final days prior to the Tuesday election. The reason: His opponent, Gerald M. Romine, a general electrical contractor from Mentone, is coming down hard in newspaper ads and radio, scoring incumbent Mauzy for voting for the fuel adjustment clause which a lot of homeowners are adamantly against. Os course, Mauzy, a Warsaw retail furniture store owner, seeking a seventh term, states he didn’t vote for the added fuel charge. It’s a real sore spot, make no mistake about it, and the debate is bound to hurt Mauzy. Democratic county chairman Stanley Nice also scores Mauzy for his failure to get one of his own bills out of committee when his party is in power. “This alone shows Mauzy has no clout in the legislature,” Nice crowed this week. There are others who think Mauzy has been in the legislature too long, and so there’s a quiet “throw the rascals out” sentiment in the Mauzy-Romine race. Romine has had no legislative experience, but then who does when they run for a House seat? According to a poll conducted recently among registered voters in Kosciusko county, it’s a 50-50 split in this race. The rhubarb concerning the fuel adjustment cost, and the public response to this sore point is an unknown factor at this point. (Note: See poll story in another column on this page.) We think Mauzy will win, but by no landslide by any means. As the Tennessean said, “Them’s our predictions.” We may not be available Wednesday for any Monday morning quarterbacking. AND NOW this... When Susie and David Butler learned that Dr. Dale Aeschliman, a Fort Wayne physician, would have $15,000 in the old bank barn they tore down on the Bowser Road and reerected on a Fort Wayne tract of land, the enterprising young couple (especially Susie) jumped for joy. The reason: They tore down a similar structure and had it put back for a home, and had the remarkably low sum of $250 in it. They found the beamed 36x48 structure in Whitley county, near the Whitley-Noble county line, and paid SI.OO for it. It was taken down with each beam marked, wood pins and all, and re-erected at Quaker Haven, on the east shore of Dewart Lake. Susie says Steve Crow was hired with his crane truck, and “other than that it took a lot of work and the help of some very good friends.” The structure is up and is being finished out into a four-bedroom, three-story home where the Butlers will make their home with Tammy, 12, Robbie, 10, and Jon, 7. THE HOBBY of Dr. David

JOHN KROH Lakeland School Board District Two

Mauzy not 'safe' in Tuesday's election Incumbent state representative Thames Mauzy is not considered “safe” in Tuesday’s election, if one can believe the results of a current poll. This word comes this week from Stanley Nice, chairman of the Kosciusko county Democratic central committee, and is based on a random sampling, taken between October 20 to 25. Nice said the poll was very similar to the ones taken in 1974 when Floyd J. Fithian ran for congress against Earl Landgrebe and the one taken in 1976 when Fithian ran for congress against Will Erwin. In each case the poll results were not off more than two percentage points, Nice commented. How Conducted The poll consisted of 500 completed telephone calls representing only registered voters from all precincts in the county. Names were selected from a precinct polling list. All those counted in the poll indicated they would vote in the November election for state representative and county sheriff. (Note: The poll results as released by Nice did not include figures for the Second District congressional race between incumbent Floyd J. Fithian and J. Philip Oppenheim.) Os those polled 195 were Republican voters, 100 Democratic voters and 195 consider themselves Independent voters, Nice said. The results were as follows : For State Representative — Romine 190 — 39% Mauzy. 169 — 33% Undecided 144 — 28% For Sheriff — Hammersley 235 — 47% Rovenstine.. ’ 145 — 29% Undecided 120 — 24% Chairman Nice commented that by projecting the undecided vote on a 60% Republican, 40% Democratic basis (as registered voters appear), the vote in the Tuesday election should be as follows: For State Representative — Romine 50% Mauzy 50% For SheriffHammersley 57% Rovenstine 43% Nice said a concerted drive is being made this last week before the election to make voters aware of Mauzy’s vote on the approval in the legislation of the fuel adjustment charge which has so many homeowners upset. “By making this known to the public,” Nice said, “we hope to tip this balance in favor of Gerald Romine for state representative.”

Robinson is fixing clocks. A personal delight of his is scouring public auctions for old clocks. If the word gets out that he can fix clocks, woe be unto the good doctor. READERS OF this paper will have to look elsewhere if they want to know what’s playing at the Pickwick Theater in Syracuse. When our publishers recently notified Vore Theaters The MailJournal would no longer print WAWA Theater ads they found objectionable and in bad taste, the theater owners “struck back” by withholding Pickwick Theater ads. Area people continue to find WAWA fare objectionable and have written our publishers to look into the WAWA bill and determine for ourselves. We did, and decided not to run the ads any longer. C’est la guerre. IN AN attempt to drum up some Halloween interest, two local business women dressed in far-out garb and made the rounds of the business houses Friday. DORIS (MRS. Lawrence) Thwaits, of r 1 New Paris, has decided to go back to school and study to become a nurse. And so she enrolled at Ivy Tech in South Bend with her daughter Patty, and the two drive to South Bend daily for classes. Doris is a 1955 graduate of New Paris High School, while daughter Patty is a 1976 graduate of Fairfield. What’s wrong with that? MERL AND Maggie Smith and Bob and Mary Jane Knudsen were in Lebanon Friday to participate in the high school marching band directors golf outing at Uhlen Country Club, and Bob (wouldn’t you know!) won the guest trophy with a score of 83. Bob has had a field day showing the handsome trophy around early this week. More important, was witnessing the University of Illinois marching band perform, its director being Gary Smith, handsome son of Merl and Maggie. POLICE CHIEF Ron Robinson is enlisting the support of allboys and girls 9 to 15 years of age to participate in the annual gun safety class at the Scout Woods on County Road 500E. Time: 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4. It will be put on by the Penn Trap Team and sponsored |by Syracuse police. —op-

MARGUERITE HOERR Lakeland School Board District Three

voters IN Turkey Creek Precinct Two are on notice that they will be voting at Glon’s Furniture Store in Wawasee Village on Tuesday, and voters in Precinct Three will be voting in Town Hail. —o— ALICE (MRS. Milton J.) Karesh, 712 South Lake St., is the new face in the Syracuse post office, replacing Betty Lawson who is now working at the South Bend regional PO. Mrs. Karesh began her new duties a week ago Monday. —o— THE MEMBERS of the Breakfast Club at the Syracuse Case are planning a surprise (no longer a surprise!) breakfast for Lew Craig, a regular at the morning Koffee Klatch, on Nov. 13th, his birthday. —O'DONNA (MRS. Jerry) Johnson ran aground in her efforts to put together a women’s jogging class, but is reported doing well with her exercise classes at the Lakeland Youth Center. —o—“DOC” MILLER of Wawasee Village was glad Arch was not in the Syracuse Case Tuesday morning when he nearly got out the front door without paying for his coffee, and the waitress from across the room asked him if he planned to pay. Seems he thought he might get his name in the paper, or some sort of thing! —o— TEACHERS WERE given a chance to ask questions of the five Lakeland School Board candidates Monday night at a meeting held at Wawasee High School. A total of 25 persons attended. —o— THE LUCKY 7 CB’ers at Syracuse are sponsoring a coffee break at the Syracuse American Legion Home on Sunday, Nov. 12, from 11 to 5, with proceeds going to the Syracuse EMS. —o— JOHN AND Pat Mansfield of “Top of the Stairs Booksellers” at Syracuse have made changes again by changing the name of the business to “The Book Nook” and moved their facilities from the original location in Pickwick Place to the downstairs building formerly housing The Little People Shoppe. —o— A NEW face at Skylark Realty, but not new to the area by any means, is that of L. James Butt, having completed his necessary schooling and training this past summer.

ROBERT MORGAN Lakeland School Board District One

II PRB ' COFFEE WITH THE BOYS — Second District Congressman Floyd J. Fithian spoke before the Lakeland Kiwanis Club at North Webster Monday morning, then shook some hands in uptown Syracuse before dropping by the Syracuse Case for his morning coffee with some Breakfast Club regulars. From left are sheriff John Hammersley (barely seen), Robert Knudsen, congressman Fithian, Bill Beemer, Richard Ditmer, Merl Smith and Lou Craig. Later in the morning Fithian spoke at Grace College, then campaigned in Warsaw and was at Merrillville for a noon luncheon speaking engagement.

Milford, Syracuse joined by Goshen for OES inspection

Joint inspection of Kosciusko, Syracuse and Goshen Chapters, Order of the Eastern Star, was held last Thursday evening in the Milford Masonic Temple with Kosciusko serving as the host chapter. Master Bob Richardson and his warder served a 6 p.m. dinner to approximately 60 people. Christian Beer, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Beer of Milford was dedicated by the worthy grand matron, assisted by grand organist Fred Rowe of Lakeville, past grand matron Mildred Y. Smith of Warsaw, district deputy Patricia Ridenbock of Nappanee and Kosciusko’s associate matron Che 1 Brunjes. Awards oi gold were presented to Marian Snyder and Katherine Myers of Kosciusko Chapter and Lois Schleiter of Syracuse by worthy grand matron Betty Coffel. They were escorted by Larry L. Laird graduates from NCO school Master Sergeant Larry L. Laird, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Laird of r 3 Syracuse, has graduated with honors from the Strategic Air Command Noncommissioned Officer Leadership School at Barksdale AFB, La. The sergeant received the Commandant’s Award for outstanding noncommissioned officer qualities. The sergeant, who was trained in military management and supervision, is an intelligence eplloitation superintendent at Offutt AFB, Neb. Sergeant Laird, a 1959 graduate of Syracuse High School, has studied at Indiana University in Bloomington. His wife Janet, is the daughter of Mrs. Virginia Richards of Sunapee, N.H. Scout stolen from Webster service station A 1961 International Scout that was taken last Monday night or early Tuesday morning from the Crystal Flash Service Station, SR 13 North Webster, has been recovered by North Webster police. The truck was found at approximately 3:30 a.m. on Saturday at the foot of a hill on the traveled portion of CR 800 N, about one-fourth mile west of the service station. The vehicle, owned by Jim Miller, was at the service station for repairs when it was taken. Crystal Flash station authorities told police that the Scout had no gas tank and would have had to be towed or pushed. A license plate was removed from the truck, County Patrolman Roger Fellows reported.

Wed., November 1,1978— THE MAIL-JOURNAL

JOHN HAMMERSLEY Kosciusko County Sheriff

past grand matrons Christine Oberly of Bremen. Suzanne Lisor of Syracuse and Priscilla Myers of Syracuse. Kosciusko Chapter conducted the opening, Syracuse did the initatory work and Goshen did the closing. A total of 100 persons were present, representing 12 chapters. Decorations carried out the emblems of the worthy grand matron and the worthy matrons and patrons of district 20. After the closing a reception was held with doughnuts and cider being served.

4 *** A VOTE FOR JOHN HAMMERSLEY For Sheriff Os Kosciusko County As the election campaign comes to a close, I realize I am not able to get out among the voters as much as I would like — .particularly is much as I did in 1974 - and that I weald I like to take this means of asking you for your support. The duties of being sheriff of Kosciusko county are heavy, and it is difficult to leave the post of sheriff and make a thorough But I do want the people of Kosciusko County to know I have been a working sheriff, and will continue to diligently perform the duties of the office if you favor me with your vote for another four years as sheriff. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SUPPORT Paid For By John Homm.r»l.y, 621 Pom St. Worww. Ind. 46580

FLOYD J. FITHIAN U.S. Congress Second Indiana District

THAMES MAUZY Legislature 17th District

November 10 final reporting date for wheat Northern Indiana farmers who are Federal Crop Insurance policyholders are being reminded that November 10 is the final reporting date for the 1979 seeded wheat. Any acreage reported after that date, which may have suffered previous damage, could result in no insurance protection. Forms for use in reporting acreage and planting dates have been mailed to each policyholder. Or he has the privilege of calling the county office to report, or ask for assistance in filling out the form. The location of the office is 513 Main Street, Rochester.

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