The Mail-Journal, Volume 15, Number 50, Milford, Kosciusko County, 3 January 1979 — Page 1

Phones: 658-4111 & f 457-3666

VOLUME 15

Bt S ■ ■ LOUIS MKDIWO

Mediano takes over as Syracuse sergeant

0 As of midnight, Louis Mediano assumed his new duties as sergeant of the Syracuse Police Department. He took over the head position vacated by former Town Marshal Ron Robinson The Syracuse Town Board at its December 26 meeting failed to select a new town marshal and instead created the position of sergeant to head up the department. The board felt none of the 8 applicants for town marshal had the proper administrative capabilities. Mediano will be receiving a yearly salary of $12,157. No Changes In discussing his appointment. Mediano, who resides at 1013 Sixth Street in Syracuse, commented, "I was glad to get it; glad I was given the chance to do the job which I think I can do." So far, Mediano is just trying to get organized. He said. “Ron had it pretty well organized I'm not planning on making any changes at this time." Sergeant Mediano is glad the board created the new position of

Pot Finton ends distinguished Marine career

By NANCY SEARFOSS Captain Pat Finton, son of Mr. and Mrs. Steve (Wava) Finton of Syracuse and a 1953 graduate of Syracuse High School, retired on December 1 after 25 and one-half years of military service. He received the Navy Commendation Medal at a retirement ceremony held at 8 a.m. in front of station headquarters at the Marine Corps Air Station, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, where he served as facilities engineer of the Public Works Office The citation read as follows: * “For meritorious service while serving as facilities support engineer from September 10,1974 to November 20, 1978. Throughout this period, Captain Finton consistently performed his demanding duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner. Because of his consistently high level of efficiency and constant attention to duty, maximum effectiveness and accomplishment of projects were derived from the supervision and coordination of several Seabee deployments. By his exceptional professionalism and dedication to duty, Captain Finton upheld the highest tradition of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service.” 5 „ „ Although retiring as an officer, Captain Finton led a colorful career as a Marine enlisted man. After serving a short stint with the Indiana National Guard, he began his enlistment tour in recruit training at Marine Corpis Recruit Depot,

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Consolidation of THE MILFORD MAIL <Est. 1888) and THE SY RACUSE-WAWASEE JOURNAL )Est. 1907)

sergeant. “That position we needed for a long time. Syracuse is getting a lot bigger. It's hard for one man to keep up with everything " Mediano said he hopes the board will keep on a sergeant when a new town marshal is eventually hired Would he like to become town marshal of Syracuse? “I would like to be chief." he said. ’‘l would like to someday be given the chance " The former Milford Town Marshal and his wife,,Nora, have one daughter. Paula, age seven. Blood Pressure Day at Milford if The monthly blood pressure day will be held at the Chatter Box on Main Street in Milford on Saturday, Jan. 6. AH are welcome to attend and have blood pressure checked at no charge.

Orn Nursing Home, Milford, to become outreach center

Orn Nursing Home in Milford has been sold to a family from Goshen, according to Phil Beer of Beer Realtors, Syracuse. Mr. and Mrs. Noble Swihart ofGoshen and their three children have bought the home and intend to use the home as an outreach of Swihart's missionary work. The home will not be supported by state or local tax dollars but there is a chance, said Beer, the

Ihjured in North Webster accident

Two area women, /Margaret Kiser. f? 0 of North Webster, and her mother. Rosie Hertleg. 89. r 2 Columbia City, were In an auto mishap Nit the intersection of SR .13 and Sobth Barbie Drive, about three miles south of North Webster, on Tuesday afternoon of last week. Both women were passengers in a car driven by Elton L. Kiser. 69 of North Webster, which was northbound on dhe state road when a car in front of Kiser made a sudden stop in the roadway for a left hand turn. Kiser was forced to swerve off the road, then skidded back onto the roadway and was hit by a truck operated by Michael Troyer. 18. Syracuse.

Wawasee Motel sold

The Wawasee Motel, located in Wawasee Village south of Syracuse, has been sold. Owners David and Carolyn Smith have sold the 15-unit motel to Bill and Jane Musser of 1205 East Marion Street. Nappanee, and the new owners took possession on Monday, Jan. 1. The Smiths have owned the motel since July 1.1977, and have done considerable remodeling

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San Diego, Calif., and infantry training at Camp Pendleton, Calif. ► From there he proceeded to Camp Fuji, Japan, for on-the-job training with Company A, 3rd Engineer Battalion. This was to be only the first of four tours in Japan. During his third tour in Japan, he met Chieko Sakae, a seamstress, and in January of 1958, they were married in the American Consulate at Yokohama. They have two children, Steve, 19, and Kimberly, 18. Turning Point The turning point in Captain Finton’s career was during his assignment to the Republic of Viet Nam where he was a Staff Sergeant with Company L and showed exemplary knowledge and valor. In several commendatory letters, Finton was decribed as “highly professional and diligent in his work; instrumental while assigned to install and record extensive mine fields; and noteworthy during his active role in Operations Starlight, Piranha, Triple Play and Blue Marlin.” During one operation, Finton was wounded by a punji stake in the muscles of his lower leg, but refused to be evacuated and continued to supervise the demolition of a large network of Viet Cong tunnels and bunkers. On yet another operation, he uncovered the first reported Chinese claymore mine of the conflict.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3,1979

Juvenile Justice Task Force in Kosciusko County w ill be working with hinvin the support. What the Swihart’s intend to do is to give shelter for abused or disadvantage children. This will involve the w hole Swihart family. Currently the Swiharts are living on the west edge of Goshen and are awaiting the closing transactions around February.

The vehicle which caused the mishap due to the sudden stop and not signaling, left the scene without stopping. Mrs. Kiser sustained a facial laceration and Mrs. Hertleg was treated for leg injuries at Kosciusko Community Hospital. Both were released.

Damage in backing mishap

Syracuse police investigated a minor rpishap in the parking lot at Klink’s Market at 3:55 p.m. on Sunday. There were no injuries. Forest A. Smith, Jr., 55. r 2 Syracuse, backed from a parking space in his 1971 Chevrolet truck

since taking possession. Mr. Smith plans to spend more in his profession as an insurance adjuster and with Mrs. Smith in their real estate sales. Milford Native Bill Musser. a native of Milford where he graduated from high school in 1961, is sales manager for WKAM:AM and WKAMFM, a job he plans to continue. He graduated from a one-year

Closed Last Year The Orn Nursing Home closed its doors last year when it failed to meet medicaid standards. A new nursing home for Milford has recently been given state ok with groundbreaking to occur sometime in the spring. N. John Perry and Orvil t Fritz) Kilmer were responsible for getting the go ahead for the new nursing home which should be located on the west side of SR 15.

< Kosciusko County officers investigated and set damage at SI,OOO to the 1974 model car driven by Kiser, and $1,500 to the truck belonging to Classic Techniques, r 3 Syracuse. North Webster Town Marshal Charles Parker assisted in the investigation.

and bumped a 1969 Pontiac Operated by Stephen L. Baker, 31. r 1 "Syracuse and owned by Anita Shumaker, r 5 Syracuse. Damage to the Pontiac was set at SIBO. with none to the Smith truck.

course at the Midwestern Broadcasting School in Chicago. While in Chicago, Musser worked at the YMCA Hotel in the Windy City. f Mrs. Musser. the former Jane Lakins of Nappanee. graduated from Nappanee High School in 1962. The Mussers and their 10-year-old daughter Heidi plan to move to the motel in the very near future.

It was these and many other actions which led to his receiving the Bronze Star with Combat V, and an even higher honor in August of 1967, to become one of the first Marines to receiye a battlefield commission since World War 11. He was promoted from gunnery sergeant to lieutenant. Other awards aftd decorations credited to Captain Finton are the Purple Heart Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal, United Nations Service Medal and the Combat Action Ribbon. Projects While assigned in Hawaii, he headed such projects as building the small arms remote target systems range, the new H-3 gate, station bus stops, the concrete Tori at the HS Squadron office and many others. Current work was with the Seabees on the new station marina. Captain Finton and his wife are retiring to Phoenix, Ariz., where he will be a civil engineer technician for the Maricopa Highway Department. His son, Steve, is presently in his second year at the United States Coast Guard Academy and Kim, who graduated from Hawaii Baptist Academy, plans to remain in Hawaii. When asked why he is retiring, Captain Finton could only say, “I’m 43 years old and it’s time to move on. This new job is a good opportunity for me and besides, it’s time for me to relax, and watch television.

RAMSER HONORED — Forrest L. Ramser. senior vice president of Chore-Time Equipment. Inc., Milford, was honored recently for 25 years of service. He is shown above receiving a gold watch from Howard Brembeck. president. Ramser. along with Brembeck. was one of the founders of Chore-Time in Milford, which manufactures poultry and swine equipment and cage s\stems. Both originalh Worked for the United Cooperative in Alliance. Ohio and then branched out. Ramser also received a special award from the state for his endeavors in international trade. Chore-Time, which employs 250 people, sells equipment to 77 different countries. ‘ Ramser. now of Athens, Ga„ and his w ife. Helen, have two children: Fred of Athens and Janet of Oregon. j» . • '

Community meeting at Milford

Residents of the Milford community are invited to a corrlmunity meeting at 7 p.m this Thursday. Jan. 4, in the home ot Mrs. Glen (Jean) Treesh. 307 Emeline. This meeting, said Mrs.

Held without bond on intoxication charge

Terry M. Hixson, 27. r 3 MidLakes Trailer Court. North Webster, was booked at the Kosciusko County Jail over the

In The News.. Cluireh 9 Classified-Legals 10-11 Cruzin 5 Community Corner ....... 6 Main Street . *• 3 Sports j-- • 8 A special series featuring church workers is beginning on the church page this week. See the feature on Rev. Phil Frew outlining a minister s duties on page 9. Did you know there is a budding movie star in our

Treesh. is to “get the ball rolling' for a bazaar scheduled for the tirst week end in April W bazaar will raise funds to benefit the Milford Emergency Services. Inc Mrs. Treesh hopes to have one

week end for public intoxication, operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, and resisting arrest He was booked and held without bond

midst? See the comments on Mike Silveus of Lake Wawasee on page 5. More and more people are making their New Year's resolutions for 1979. The MailNorth Webster reporter. Mary Lee Wiflman, gives her resolutions on page 7. Are you for or against the US. opening relations with Red China? Max Beer gives his views in a letter to the editor on page 3.

* | /V j * * S. • / -7 1 V f i. CAPTAIN PAT FINTON

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representative from every town organization present She "We want everyone in the community participating The emergency service is seeking funds to purchase needed advanced life support equipment.

Two injured in county accident Mr and Mrs David Coy. r 3 Syracuse, both sustained injuries in a one-vehicle accident at 3:23 p m .on Thursday on the Syracuse Webster Road near 500 K Susan Coy. 19, sustained a laceration to the eye. loose teeth and a' bruised ankle. She was transferred from \ioshen Hospital to Fort Wayne for a possible head injury and observation Her husband. David. 20. and driver of the vehicle, received, cuts to the face and abrasions and was treated at the hospital. The 1973 Ford driven by Coy slid out of control on icy pavement for 120 feet before hitting a tree Damage to the vehicle was set at SI,BOO. Syracuse police officer Jack Zimmerman assisted county officers in investigating