The Mail-Journal, Volume 16, Number 3, Milford, Kosciusko County, 7 February 1979 — Page 4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., February 7,1979

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Editorials An important issue Even though the issue of a town manager for Syracuse has been temporarily put on the back burner by the Syracuse Town Board, we feel it is still an important issue which should be kept before the community. James C. Tranter, former board member, who instigated the idea, also seems to feel the same. He voiced his opinion in a letter to the editor January 24. A town manager would be in charge of all the departments in Syracuse. He would be available during the day to help with everyday problems which arise. He would, however, still have to answer to the town board. We feel a town manager would be very helpful to the Syracuse community. The Syracuse Town Board, even though it is an organization which seems to keep the town’s best interest in mind, is still a part-time board. All of the members have full-time jobs, and are often unavailable during the daytime hours. And, because of this, the board is often unaware of what actually happens in the various departments. They have to depend on department reports, given once a month in town board meetings. A town manager would have another asset — he would be someone the public could turn to; someone who might help a resident immediately instead of waiting for a town board meeting. The town board has decided to let the public vote on a town manager during this year’s general election. Even if you are against this issue, vote! The town board needs to know what you, the people they represent, want. I Come on fellas ... * A group of Milford citizens is seeking community support for the Advanced Life Support Community Bazaar to be held in that Lakeland town April 6,7 and 8. All funds for the bazaar, to be held in the Milford Junior High School gym;* will be used to purchase needed equipment for the Milford Emergency Services, Inc. The EMS unit is currently undergoing a fundraising drive to purchase the equipment. Goal: $20,000. They are seeking the help of everyone, Milford citizens and others. They need projects to work on and people to do the work. Thus far area church women, the senior citizens, homemakers clubs, sewing circles, literary clubs and the Legion Auxiliary have joined the women of the EMS in working on the bazaar. But, we have heard nothing of the men of the community. Where are they? Are they going to join in the project? Are they going to do their part? What about the Lions? What about the Legion? We know the bazaar is quite a ways off but waiting until the first of April to start a project is too late. The time to start is now! We know the women are busy holding workshops and collecting materials for items to be made and sold. What we don’t know is what you fellows are doing . . . come on, tell us please! Since we wrote the above editorial we have learned that the Kiwanis Club of Milford has plans for a pancake and sausage breakfast on Saturday morning, April 7, and the Milford Volunteer Firemen will be serving barbecued chicken on Sunday. Good for them! What are the rest of you doing? 'Happy Birthday' BSA Scouting today is a lot more than you think! It’s achievement, fun, citizenship, emergency preparedness, fitness and adventure for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts alike. And, it’s dedicated men of the community, giving of their time to work and play with the boys. This week the Boy Scouts of America are celebrating their 69th anniversary. The organization came to America, from England, in 191O.The first troop was chartered on February 8 in Washington, D. C. Locally troops are celebrating thdir special week with window displays, projects and by attending church services in a unit. “Be prepared,” the Scouting motto, helps young boys prepare for life. A life of achievement, fun, good citizenship, emergencies, fitness and adventure. We salute the Scouts and their leaders and say, “Happy Birthday.” What others say — Why teens drink j He’s a teenager who always earned good grades, participated in sports and had fun. Then it stopped; his grades fell; his football stayed in the closet; he grew distant. He was drinking, perhaps just for kicks, then because he couldn’t communicate with his parents, still later because he couldn’t stop. He’s not alone. He’s one of the 3.3 million youths nationally with a drinking problem. Many mix liquor Nobody can quite say what causes teenagers to drink any more than, they can say for certain why some adults become alcoholics and others don’t. People who work with alcoholics in the Los Angeles area say there are a variety of reasons. — Teenagers see their parents drink, sometimes to excess. — Children who cannot communicate with their parents, either because they feel that their parents cannot help or because they won’t take the time to listen, may turn to drinking. — Peer pressure to drink can be intense. — Slick liquor ads help convince kids that drinking will make them sophisticated. — Teenagers are learning the lesson about drugs. They don’t trust much of what they can buy. Sometimes drugs just cost too much. So some young people are turning back to liquor, but with a new passion for getting very drunk, not just high. — Whatever s<he cause, it produces some grim statistics. Six out of every 10 accidental deaths among teenagers involve alcohol. — Los Angeles Times

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BOY SCOUT ANNIVERSARY WEEK FEBRUARY 4-10

Court news

CITY COURT The following violations were assessed in Warsaw city court, Milo Lightfoot, judge: Reckless driving — Mark A. Regenos, 21. Leesburg, S4O Speeding — Dedrick Miniear, 19, Leesburg, S4O COUNTY COURT The following are the violators from Kosciusko County Court, Loren Collier, judge. Violations Speeding — Frank Gatke, 38, Milford, S4O; Ruth Shepherd, 31, North Webster, S4O; David Shields, 31, Syracuse. $35; James Thompson, 26, Syracuse, S4O; George Gonzales, 19, Milford. $35; Opal Miller, 52, Syracuse, $45 Public intoxication — Luis Cervantes. Milford, $35; Lee Barton, North Webster, S3O Failure to inspect vehicle — Craig Coffin, 17, North Webster, $35 Improper registration — George Gonzales, 19, Milford, $35 Operating vehicle in unauthorized area — Steven Yoder, 22, Milford, $35 No snowmobile registration — Lisbeth Jones, 33, North Webster, $35; Anthony D’Angelo, 19, Milford. $35; Millard Hire, 41, Syracuse,s3s > LEESBURG MAN BOOKED AT JAIL Rocky Lane Hunter, 22, r 1 Leesburg, was booked at the Kosciusko County Jail, Thursday, Feb. 1, on a court warrant for failure to comply with a court order and is being held without bond. Hunter was arrested for furnishing an alcoholic beverage to a minor, ELKHARTCOUNTY COURT The following person was fined in Elkhart County Court Goshen Division: Failure to have vehicle inspected — Jay L. Kitson, 22, Syracuse, $33 GOSHEN CITY COURT The following persons have been fined in the Goshen City Court: Speeding — Stuart L. Jackson, Extensive damage in van-truck crash Monday Over $3,000 in damage was listed in a truck-van mishap on Huntington street in Syracuse at 5:25 p.m. Monday when one driver was caught in a deep ice rut causing him to lose control. John R. Harwood, 29, r 1 North Webster and driver of a 1975 Chevrolet truck was northbound on Huntington when losing control in an ice rut and spun around hitting a 1977 Dodge van belonging to Frederick Inah, 73, r 4 Syracuse. Syracuse police set damages at $2,500 to the van and S9OO to the truck.

THE MAIL JOURNAL IU.S.P.S. 325 840) Published by The Mail Journel every Wednesday and entered as Second Class matter at the Post Office at Syracuse, 'lndiana 44547. Second class postage paid at 103 E. Main street, Syracuse, Indiana 44547 and at additional entry offices. Subscription: S» per year in Kosciusko County; »11 outside county. POSTMASTERS: Send change of address forms to The Mail Journal. P.O. Box IM, Milford, Indiana 44542.

21, Milford, $36; Cathy S. Fox, 25, Milford, $36; Pamela S. Place, 20, Milford, s4l; Michael R. Grotz, 22. Syracuse, $46 Disregarding automatic signal — Allen R. Slabaugh, 32, Milford. $36 Expired plates — James K. Allen, 24, Leesburg, $32 SMALL CLAIMS Complaints General Motors Acceptance Corporation vs Douglas L. Jordan, r 1 box 253 Milford. Plaintiff asks judgment for $1,285.73 plus accrued interest or late charges in the amount of no dollars, additional interest at the rate of 17.92 per cent from September 25, 1978. attorney’s fees in the amount of SSOO and all costs with relief. Damages Doris Curry, administrator of the estate of Irmith R. Curry, deceased, vs Franklin and Arlus Schaeffer and C. S. Metal Fabricators, Inc., P.O. Box 94 North Webster. Plaintiff asks for judgment against the defendant

Letters to the editor

Times are changing

Dear Editor: After reading Mr. Tranter’s fine letter in your publication dated January 24, 1979, I felt a strong desire to express my feelings concerning the so-called controversy surrounding the subject of a town manager for Syracuse. Having lived in Syracuse my entire life, excluding schooling at Purdue University and The University of Dayton, I have had the joy and pride of watching Our Town grow into a successful community. This has occurred, as most everyone knows, through a concerted group effort; with much praise due the members of the town board who have spent long hours working to turn our community into the fine corporation it has become. • ’ Yet, times are changing to such an extent that there is now a strong need for Syracuse to be guided by more than a part-time governmental unit. I am in total agreement with Mr. Tranter that the Syracuse community has much to offer to a diversified population. From industry to recreation to an excellent educational system, the opportunitites are there, and they

Our Christian freedom

Dear Editor: Our Christian Freedom is threatened and we are too involved in worldly things; (materialistic, social and sport activities, and other things that feed the flesh) to be concerned about our spiritual needs. We know, we are not fooling God, we love the world more than we do Him. Laws we have right now in the State of Indiana could start closing Christian Schools; license Sunday School classes; take children away from their parents and put parents in jail. I think it’s time for the Christian people to stand up and be counted. We love our family so we do things to please them seven days a week. Should we do no less for the Lord? In all the history of the United States, the courts have always ruled that the constitution demands that the state keep out of church business. Equivalency Bill S.B. 164 (introduced by Senator Joan Gubbins) would take it out of the hands of the Commission on General Education to rule on whether the Christian School is equivalent to the Public School, that the child is entitled to attend, and what is

in the sum of $10,496, for punitive damages of $30,000, for interest, attorney’s fees and costs of the action and all other proper relief. To Vacate Jean Rogers, Bonnie Workman, Loa and Dahl Bikely and Ruth Socks, Syracuse vs the Town of Syracuse. Petitioners respectfully request the court for an order closing and vacating the aforesaid portions of public roads in Bachman’s Second Addition to Potawatomi Park, Syracuse and for all other proper relief in the premises. MARRIAGE DISSOLUTIONS Wiggs — Irma L. Wiggs. Pierceton and Duane L. C. Wiggs, r 1 box 127A Pierceton. Married July 19, 1958, the couple separated January 25, 1979. Petitioner asks for her marriage to be dissolved, that the care and custody of the children be awarded to her, for an equitable division of the property and for all further relief in the premises.

must be taken advantage of if Syracuse is to continue in its present expansion. This is why I feel a strong need for Syracuse to seek an appointment of a town manager. It is now time for the people of Syracuse to look to an individual who can . guide our community in a managerial capacity; someone who can look to the future and make plans for the continued growth of our rapidly expanding area. A town manager could fill the so-called “top spot” without a political appointment, or the controversies which constantly surround small-town governmental positions. A non-partisan position is exactly the spot a town manager is to fill; it is his, or her, job to only run the community at sjts most productive level, not to Tinvolve himself in the petty quarrels or feuds that often times will cause expansion to cease and allow deterioration to set in. This is a condition I would not like to see Syracuse fall into. Like Mr. Tranter, I take pride in my community and art highly pleased at the growth and strength our community is attaining. Michael W. Bitner

and what isn’t education. Day Care Bill H.B. 1289 (introduced by Rep. Mac E. Love) will eliminate the necessity of state licensure for church operated pre-schools. Unemployment compensation bill H.B. 1473 (introduced by Rep. Paul E. Burkley) will free church operated schools from present unemployment compensation laws. The Church Freedom Packet consists of these three bills. Please write to Governor Bowen, your State Senator and State Representative. Ask them to support these bills. Christ. threw the moneychangers out of the temple (church), and overthrew their tables (Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15; Luke 19:45; John 2:14). The government has no proper place in a true house of God, where there is definitely a deep conviction in Christ. Christ would surely throw the government out. Should we do any less? Christ gave it all on the cross for us, why can’t we sacrifice a little for Him. I pray we can keep our churches free until Christ returns to us. Chauncey L. Bennett

ICftJZIN around CU£

The TIME: Wednesday, Feb. 7,1979. The Place: Your favorite coffee shop. The Subject: Almost anything. In every town across America this morning people of all walks of life are gathering at their favorite coffee shop — or “watering hole,” as one in our midst chooses to call it. The morning coffee stop has become a bit of Americana that has afflicted all communities, large and small. It’s the place where the moving and shaking is done. It’s where local basketball and football coaches are chosen, usually long before the school board has announced its most recent replacement. Town board affairs are settled — “although those rascals at town hall don’t always heed our advice.” Europe has its ice cream parlors where the mighty and the humble drop off, usually at midmorning and again in mid-after-noon to have ice cream and a cookie and quietly talk over community affairs; Germany has its beer stubas where townsfolks drink the frothy stuff, throw arms around one another and lustily sing a ballad to the glorious fatherland; - the Japanese have their tea houses where shoes are removed and there is a certain amount of bowing and scraping before a delicious hot mint tea is imbibed; Washington has its cocktail parties (where the per capita consumption of the hard stuff exceeds that of any other city in the world); and New York and Los Angeles have their threemartini lunches. Actually, we know of no one who drinks three martinis for lunch (well, with one possible exception), but back to the local coffee shop, now that’s another thing —about as American as apple pie. In Syracuse, for example, there’s the Syracuse Case, usually open at 5:30 for the early risers. Most of the “breakfast club” regulars begin assembling a little later than that, but the gathering crowd continues with a turn-over of clientele until about 10:30 a.m. Others stop on a regular basis at Bill and Ruth Hartman’s coffee and donut shop on South Huntington Street, many at the Bakery in the Village, and a like number at Three Flags, also in the Village and operated by venerable Jack Oswald. For that matter, coffee can be had at numerous other places in the community, but these will qualify as “favorite watering holes.” Coffee ranges from 25 cents to 35 cents per cup, with refills at no extra charge, and in each establishment conversation runs in the same vein, ranging from the high and mighty issues that plague our national leaders to the inane. “Who bothers to gather for this idle chatter?” you ask. One would be surprised. We can count among those prestigious daily callers a lawyer and his lawyer son, a doctor, a retired General Motors executive, a DuPont executive, a utilities executive, a postmaster, numerous realtors, even a newspaper reporter, and others. When Second District Congressman Floyd J. Fithian is in town and asks, “Where can I get the pulse-beat of this community?” he is invariably referred to one of the coffee houses. And when he did show up at one such session, he came in for a rousing, old-time grilling about all the unsolved problems of our country, and when he left, comments were heard like, “He isn’t such a bad fellow, after all, is he?” If you can take it, you’re in. This scribe’s wife asks, “What do you fellows talk about morning after morning?” An answer to this one isn’t easy, and to say, “About the same thing yuu women talk about in the beauty parlor” falls far short of the mark and is unacceptable. Women usually have their own table at the coffee shops, but when they do breach the wall of the “strictly men’s sanctum sanctorum,” conversation takes a discreet turn for the better, which even shocks some of those who resent the intrusion. And when a pastor chances to sit down at a table with these rousting veterans, he does so at his own peril. His august presence.does not nlwav« ’«itrp

a Sunday School approach to the subject at hand. It should be noted, no one is immune from the give and take, and if he can’t take it, he shouldn’t sit down in the first place. One regular commented, “We’re just old friends who like to visit and insult one another — and to tell tall tales. It’s a social thing for us.” You think these men are “power brokers?” Forget it. No such thing occurs at these morning sessions. You say, '“Liars Club?” Well, that’s more like it. And the stories go on and on. They are even warmed over day by day. They don’t necessarily have to be true to make the morning discussion. We especially, liked this comment: “In fac£, if bull were music, these fellows would make up the Norman Luboff Choir.” One would think, if he showed up at the coffee shop he would escape the slings and arrows of his peers, but no one can be assured of this. On the other hand, if one does show up. he can rest assured of his minute or two of innocent insults. One must suffer this moment of indignation until the next person shows up. Problems that rock the world and are the weekly grist of national newsmagazines get an even-handed going-over, though they are usually quickly dismissed from lack of wide expert knowledge by the coffeeswigging contemporaries. More often than not, however, subjects like. “Who’s going in that empty building in the Village?” captures the attention of listening ears, while weightier subjects go begging. One fellow commented, “I don’t get to make any decisions at home, but I’m always assured an audience here.” Time teaches that no one escapes the good natured epithets of his fellow-guzzlers — all are treated with equanimity. It would do well for coach Mike Jones, or, in season, Hal Traviola to frequent these tables. Criticism would outweigh praise, to be sure, for their fighting Warriors, and it would come in unvarnished form. As a reporter, one cannot afford to miss these sessions, even on a daily schedule. “What’s news?” is usually heard when said reporter does show up, but the reverse is true, for news usually hits these bull sessions before it finds its way into local print. But experience has taught us, anything we hear at these floating coffee sessions requires checking out, for the truth is handled here with reckless abandon. No one is under oath. More than ntft, there’s alot of flipping of the coin to see who buys today. It’s “tails out” if there is more than two matching. If not, it’s either “You match me” or “I’ll match you,” and the coins go up in the air. It’s an even bet that, if continued long enough, one buys his own coffee. Our advice: Don’t ever let Judge Hagen con you into his favorite “Queen Bee” game to see who buys! What will ruffle local feathers as much as anything with these coffee-drinking regulars is for one of these emporiums to close without previous notice. That scatters the tellers of tall tales to the four winds. This happened at the Syracuse Case on Thursday, Friday and Saturday of last week when Cherrie Caldwell prepared to resume ownership and management of the establishment and it has happened previously with several of the r others. Bill Hartman, the folks at the Bakery and the Three Flags had to pick up the slack, but it isn’t the same. One regular groused, “Why, even the chairs seem different.” Our guess is: “So it ever was, and so it ever shall be.” THE NEW owner of a 40x60 metal building in Wawasee Village, formerly occupied by Wawasee Appliance and TV, has been sold to Jack Mayholter of Enchanted Hills, and will be used for a body shop. Mayholter is an experienced body man and expects to move his operation to the new location soon. —o— SOME AREA history: the name of a

neighboring community in Elkhart County, is actually an Indian name, meaning Knee Deep in Mud. —o—- — TOWN of Syracuse is among those in the area ttyrt are late in taking down their Christmas decorations. Others include Milford and Goshen. Inasmuch as the SyracuseWawasee Chamber of Commerce had a fund-drive to purchase new decorations, it would seem that more attention should be paid to the preservation of those on hand. — o— THE WILL, the want, the need, the space, all are there — at the Syracuse Police Department — for a dark room to develop their own photographs taken during investigations. The most important thing is funding, which does not seem to be available at the present time. IT'S OFFICIAL that the annual Syracuse High School Alumni get together will be held on Saturday night. May 26, a decision derived at last year that the event would always be held on the Saturday closest to Decoration DayPhil Beer, Milford alumni president, said a committeeofficer meeting is scheduled forthis month and an announcement is forthcoming soon on the date for that town’s annual event. Larry Stover of Tackle Specialties, new in Wawasee Village, reports response to his opening has been tremendous, especially the fact he is open on Sunday mornings. He opened in the former Elder Real Estate building just off SR 13. IT WILL be nice when Syracuse firemen finish their new look, at the fire station meeting room. 1 Work was started on Sunday of' paneling the meeting room and plans call for a drop ceiling. It’s beginning to look warmer already. JANIE FRICKE was viewed by many on television Saturday, with special interest in the Lakeland area. A native of South Whitley, Janie recently received the Bullet Award given by Country Music Magazine and was selected female vocalist of the year in the magazine. A rising young star in the music world, she was a roommate of the former Sue (Traster) Hussey, daughter of the Fred Trasters of Syracuse, at Indiana University where she obtained a degree in teaching and has kept in contact with Sue. The Country Music Association nominated Janie for Top Female Vocalist of the year at its 12th annual awards event and she has recorded with many artists such as the late Elvis Presley, Crystal Gayle, Ronnie Milsap and Dolly Parton. She earned her way by singing jingles for many commercials and has one album out with a second soon to be released. -oMatthew Didiep on dean's list at Columbia COLUMBIA, Mo. - Matthew Didiep, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Didiep, r 3 box 258 Syracuse has been named to the dean’s list at Columbia College, Columbia, Mo. The dean’s list is an honor reserved for those Columbia College students who have attained a 3.5 or better scholastic average on a 4.0 scale for the previous semester, while enrolled for a minimum of 14 credit hours of study. Columbia College is a private, four-year coeducational college offering a liberal arts education with career-oriented programs. The College offers both a twoyear associate of arts degree as well as baccalaureate degrees with majors in administration of justice, art, business, administration, dance, education, English, fashion, history government, music, psychology, public administration, social work and individual studies, individual studies. Shoplifting reported A case of shoplifting at The Stout Boutique in Syracuse on February 3 was reported ter Syracuse Police. Taken was a blouse valued at $26. The shoplifter was apprehended and restitution is to be made. No charges have been filed tn date