The Mail-Journal, Volume 16, Number 18, Milford, Kosciusko County, 23 May 1979 — Page 4

4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., May 23,1979

Editorials < ■ Memorial Day J 979 Next Monday Americans all over the country will pause to remember loved ones who gave their lives in the service of their country and others who have gone to their last reward. ' ’ What has become the first long week end of spring began as a national observance during the Civil War, first in Mississippi (Columbus and Vicksburg), Virginia (Winchester) and other states and by 1865 was observed nationally. That year the Adjutant General of the US Army suggested graves be decorated throughout the country. M Christianity, idealistic and moral principles and philosophies withstanding — unless a free nation contains men willing to fight and die, ir necessary, for country and freedom, liberty cannot long survive. These are the thoughts which should engage us on Memorial Day, 1979, To those who responded to the call of duty and gave their lives, the nation is indebted. It’s too much to expect each individual soldier, sailor or airman to pass individually on the rightness or wrongness of the foreign policy of his government and act accordingly. This would produce chaos. Think on these things and say a prayer for those who gave their lives during World War I. World War 11, the Korean War or in Viet Nam. Summer June 21 may mark the official arrival of summer but Memorial Day marks its unofficial arrival in the Lakeland area. Summer is swimming in one of the many lakes in the area. Summer is the Flotillas being planned on Lakes Wawasee and Tippecanoe. Summer is picnicking at one of the several parks in the area. Summer is the Mermaid Festival. Summer is waterskiing. x Summer is the Milford Area Development Council’s MAD Day. Summer is tennis. Summer is the county fair. Summer is a good book from the local library. Summer is boating. Summer is fishing. Summer is... Parking meters again Either they haven't been listening, they don’t care, or they’ve examined the facts and have come to different conclusions. We refer to the decision of the town board of trustees to enforce the uptown parking meters during the summer months. This paper has editorialized against the meters and will continue to do so until they are removed. Operating from a short-sighted point of view, the town board and its vocal clerk-treasurer have continued to point out the revenue gained from the meters. Not once do they consider the business lost to uptown merchants because shoppers refuse to pay the stipend to park while they shop. " Evidence of this is the continuing businesses that are closing uptown or moving to the Village. Goodness, this isn’t hard to discern. Other neighboring cities — Warsaw and Goshen as examples — have taken 0 their meters out. We think Syracuse should, also. Driving age to 19? Gary Wills, the columnist, suggests we raise the legal driving age to 19, both to reduce the slaughter on the highways and to conserve fuel. It’s a sound suggestion and one hopes many states will act on it. Statistics show teenagers to be the Cause of more fatal accidents than any other age group. In rich, affluent America, parents have in post-war years adopted, partly as a status symbol, the custom of giving high school children cars. That’s absurd in today’s fuel crunch, Wills believes. Youngsters should once again go to school in buses or on bikes — to save fuel, and lives. What others say — The inflationary spiral It costs a lot more to do things these days. Sleeping, eating, working, playing and even dying all cost more than just a few years — or even weeks — ago. It would appear that in the minds of many all we have to do is keep the price of meat down and everything will be OK. A recent story in one regional newspaper is typical. The headline read: “Record cattle prices won’t help housewife.” The first paragraph said: “This story is good news if you’re in the cattle business and bad news if you’re a housewife trying to stay within a food budget. Cattle prices hit record levels at the Omaha stockyards Tuesday.” Wait a minute! Consider this: Isn’t everything at record level prices? Why don’t we analyze the entire situation. How much have your taxes increased? Aren’t they at record high levels? What about the fuel you put in your car or pickup — have you ever paid more? Priced houses lately? How about the interest you’re paying on your mortgages and notes? And utilities, they’re going clear out of sight. How many times have you seen a tag fastened to the menu in a public eating .place that reads, “due to the rising cost of meat you’ll find the prices on this menu higher.” Brother! That’s false advertising. Why don’t the folks in the food business also say that their fixed costs have increased, their taxes have gone up, their employees want more money, their insurance costs more, maintenance of kitchen equipment has increased, tableclothes, dishes, spoons and all the rest cost more to replace. AH we ask is honesty; is it the price of meat that caused the menu prices to increase? I don’t thinkjso. To prove my point that meat is getting an unfair slap from consumers, government and anyone else that wants to hang the high cost of living onto another segment, let’s check the sale items in the newspaper. You can buy tires on sale for just s7l each, plus tax and your old tire. Isn’t that a record high? What about clothing? Men’s shoes on sale for $22.80 (regular prices $35 to S6O) — don’t tell me shoes aren’t high priced. Tennis shoes are just $14j99 on sale, or how about this —a hi-fi system reduced $240 to a low of $499. The least costly new car listed was a subminiature compact with no radio at a trifling $3,751. And you’re complaining about the “high” cost of hamburger? But to be certain I’m not being unfair, let’s look at the sale items you can purchase this week end at the local supermarket. Toothpaste and shampoo are just 20 cents an ounce. Vitamin tablets four cents each, razor blades 30 cents each and deodorant at 36 cents an ounce. Be honest now — how many of these items do you buy each week and include their cost in your so-called “food bill?” And how about furniture polish at 15 cents an ounce, trash bags at 15 cents each, toilet paper at 20 cents a roll? But what about the actual cost of food. USDA Choice sirloin steak this week end will cokt you 12 cents an ounce, milk less than three cents an ounce, pork steak just nine cents an ounce. Ice milk is on sale at less than a penny an ounce. I ask you, as you sit in front of your S6OO color TV set in your $17.95 slacks, $14.95 shirt, $19.95 slippers and sip your five cents an ounce beer, while the other half of the household goes to the store in your $4,000 plus automobile burning 70 cents a gallon gasoline and using dollar a quart oil to purchase some TV dinners, a carton of cigarettes, a six-pack of beer and three copies of the latest gossip magazines, don’t complain about the cost of food. Please, let’s put the blame where it belongs and enjoy the best buy in town — good wholesome meat. — Written and aired by Jim Ross, farm editor of radio KMA, Shenandoah, lowa

k ■ ' American Legion Posts throughout the greater Lakeland area will join in paying tribute to this country's war dead on Monday, May 28. Above, members of the North Webster Past prepare for their town's observance.

Letters to the editor

Salvation Army helps

Dear Editor. Did you know? that more than 929 local residents were given aid in 1978. 121 were sent to camp. 386 transients were helped. 492 persons were given a Christmas. All this was done by the Kosciusko County Salvation Army. Now the Salvation Army needs our help An addition to the citadel is a dire need The Ad visory Board is trying to raise

Credit where credit is due

Dear Editor. Credit should always be given where credit is due. Too often we are busy with our everyday work, and fail to really notice or appreciate some special things that are done for us Today we are taking the time to try to rectify this. For four years out of the five years that the Pickwick Place building has been opened, the ladies of the Syracuse Garden Club have provided and planted the many dozens of plants that brighten and beautify the area They have done this without any special recognition or thanks.

Thanks for discretion

Dear Editor: I want to commend you for the discretion and tact you used in writing and printing last week's article on the Syracuse Town Board meeting and specifically, the resignation of one town employee. Your reporter showed the utmost professionalism in not repeating the accusations and hostilities directed towards me by that employee. And. as the reporter apparently knows, leaving out the “airing of dirty laundry” (that another newspaper chose to print) did not detract one thing from her story. Thank you. editor, and thank

Court news

ELKHART COUNTY COURT The following fine was assessed in Elkhart County Court: Speeding — Phyllis J. Roberts, 36, Syracuse, $37 GOSHEN CITY COURT The following fines were assessed in Goshen City Court: . Speeding — Jon fl. Miller. 21. Syracuse, $36: Wanda M. Bur nett, 30, Syracuse. s4l; Beth A Myers, 34, Syracuse. $36 Following too closely — Philip Bontrager, 16, Syracuse, $36 Vehicle blocking intersection and crosswalk — Ren M. Clark. 18. Milford, $36 Improper passing in violation of clearly marked and visible signs and markings — Homer E. Bachtel, 48, Syracuse, $36 Failure to have vehicle inspected — Barry A. Coy, 21. Syracuse, $32 THE MAIL-JOURNAL (U.S. PS. 325 M 0) Published by The Mail Journal every Wednesday and entered as Second Class matter at the Post Office at Syracuse, Indiana 44547 Second class postage paid at 103 E. Main street, Syracuse, Indiana 44547 and at additional entry offices. Subscription: 510 per year in Kosciusko County; 512 outside county. POSTMASTERS: Send change of address forms to The Mail Journal, P.O. Box 188, Milford, Indiana 44542. 10. H

money for this building program We need $46,500 and have thus far raised $21,964 79. Please send your contribution now Help us to continue and expand our help to the needy Sincerely. Margie Gast Daisy Lou Baum . Chairman. Building Committee

considering this to be part of their civic duty to the town. Saturday morning Doris Singer. Mary and Prieilla Rhode spent from until 1 cleaning and weeding the area and planting a lovely assortment of flowers that all of us will be enjoying all summer Once again we say to all these fine ladies. “Thanks For Brighen'in Up The Corner Where We Are! Sincerely. Mim Speicher and Gerry Bauer MY STORE

you. reporter Deb Fox. for putting a human being’s feelings above sensationalism. Sincerely. Deborah D. Dull R. 3 Box 74-A Syracuse. IN 46567 Enclosed is a copy of a letter sent by my superiors to the newspaper that printed the slanderous remarks. Use it as you see fit. (EDITOR’S NOTE: Inasmuch as the letter by Mrs. Dull’s superiors referred to an article that appeared in a neighboring newspaper, we chose not to publish it here.)

No operators license — Francisco Moran, 26. Milford. $36 Disregarding automatic signal — Clark J. Hostetler. 16, Milford. $36 MARRIAGE DISSOLUTIONS The following couples have filed for a dissolution of marriage in circuit and superior courts: Neterer — Marilyn J. Neterer, 805 North Johnson, Warsaw and Lester I. Neterer. Warsaw. The couple was married November 22, 1962 and separated April 21. 1979. Petitioner asks that her marriage be dissolved, that she be granted the custody of the minor chidren and the respondent would pay a reasonable sum of money for support of the children; that the court would make an equitable division of the property, for the costs of the action and all other relief proper. Gaerte — Maria Gaerte, r 2 Syracuse and Richard D. Gaerte, r 2 box 407 Syracuse. The couple was married April 12, 1975 and separated May 7.1979. Petitioner asks that t her marriage be dissolved, court make fair and equitable division of the property and all other relief proper in the premises WOMAN BOOKED A Syracuse woman was booked oh two charges of probation violation (Class A misdemeanor) in connection with two incidents of check deception. Deborah Ann Mast, 19. r 5 Syracuse was held without bond. BOOKED AT JAIL Fred Dillinger, 43, North Webster, was booked on charges of public intoxication and resisting arrest last week.

tfiUZIN around CU£

| > THEY CALL it Woman Power. Every community seems to have among its numbers several. women who, irritated by procrastination and double-talk, finally take matters in their own hands. .And it is then that the wheels of progress finally turn. This occurred in our neighboring town of North Webster recently. When the women of that i community became sufficiently I perturbed about the condition of i SR 13 through their town, they got up a petition, secured over 2,000 j* signatures, and with petitions in hand, bombarded the office of Governor Otis R. Bowen, members of 4he state highway department, the office of State Representative Thames Mauzy and State Senator John B. Augsburger. Heading this positive action group were Lila Strombeck. who as dispatcher in the police office, could look out her front window and see the worst part of the bad road. Another was Beverly Coldren. They reported seeing youngsters step off school buses into puddles of water, even reported autos “all over the road trying to dodge ruts in the road.” Others called it “a circus to watch.” Well, it all bore fruit during the past week. According to the strident females of North Webster. state highway department crews showed up Thursday morning and went to work. In the accompanying photo workmen are sealing the strip of road past the North Webster Junior High School, where reportedly the road is at its worst. And in the bottom photo, stand six highway trucks loaded with hot mix ready to go to work And so. if you're a motorist traveling that route and are pleased with the smooth ride of at least that much of SR 13. you have Lila Strombeck and Beverly Coldren to thank. —O'SYRACUSE TOWN Board president Paul Isbell is a working member of the town board of trustees who seems to be taking his job seriously. Taking a hard look at all facets of community life, at least where town official affairs are concerned. he showed up last ’ Wednesday a.m. for a ground- • breaking at the big Spicer Axle Division of the Dana Corporation, and is shown here, left, during a tour of the plant, talking to John Lee Hess, general manager of the company's two axle division plants, the one here at Syracuse and the other at Fort W ayne. —o— JOHN AND Pat Walker and family plan to move the last of June from their WE Long Drive home in Syracuse to the new home they are building in Fort Wayne at 5914 Mirando Drive. Walker was general manager of First Charter Insurance Company in Syracuse for nine years before taking a position with the Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company in Fort Wayne. —O'LAGRANGE COUNTY friends of John C. Hagen are trying to persuade the effervescent judge to move to.their county and seek to fill the remaining year in the third term of Judge Jack Dunten, whois resigning. Hagen has all the credentials, having been judge in neighboring Noble County from January 1. 1963 to December 31, 1974. There's a better than average bet he won t give up his legal work in his Ligonier and Syracuse offices for the post —o— THE WAY they tell it in the coffee shops, one person who has a leg up on the rest of us in the gas crisis is Dave McGrew, owner of Lakeside Realty. Several years ago Dave bought the Union 76 Service Station at 312 South Huntington Street, operated for a number of years by Bob Penick, did considerable remodeling and turned it into new offices for his Lakeland Realty. The thing is. underneath the drive are two 6.000-gallon gas tanks and one 4,000-gallon tank. “1 had them filled with water." .McGrew said this week, but added coyly. “I might have to fill them up vpith gas if things get much worse.” x As an after thought he said, “Goodness, don’t put that in the paper or I’ll get ripped off.” —o— THE MCGREWS are just home from Belleview, Wash., where they were babysitters for son David and daughter-in-law Judy while the younger McGrews were on a week's vacation trip to the southern tip of Baja, California,

z a

PAUL ISBELL Learning his job with Judy’s parents. Indiana Governor Otis R. and Beth Bowen of Bremen. The McGrews were reported to have gotten along famously with their three grandchildren. —oTHE SYRACUSE High School x class of 1959 is planning a 20-year reunion on July 14 at Goshen The committee is current!' trying to locate several members of the class — Martha Jones. John Ardinger, Nancy Pletcher and Leandra Teague. Persons with information on these four persons are asked to "contact Sue (Herdrich i Meek or Barbara (Bitner) Miller —o— ANOTHER BUMPER sticker declares: Pass with care. 1 chew tobacco. LOCAL MARINAS are not all that alarmed by Mae impending gasoline shortages, according to our survey. During the 1973-74 oil embargo there was a flurry of concern among marina owners, but it all passed without undue damage to their businsscycle W’e’re told by those we've contacted that it would appear marinas will be among the last people hurt if and when a gasoline shortage actually descends upon the midwest. “There will be some downsizing,” one marina owner allowed. He went on to say there will certainly be a trend toward smaller cars, which means they will be pulling lighter boats to the lakes. Sounds reasonable. THIS COMING week end — what we call Memorial Day week end — will bring an influx of people to the lakes area. Traditionally, it is the opening of the summer season in this area

A; < <' AT YOUR SERVICE — Dick Waterson. Don McCullouh and Terry McCarty are shown with the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s boat which serves Lakes Wawasee and Syracuse. It carries a full complement of law enforcement and rescue equipment.

Good weather should bring an influx of boaters and bathers to the area, and the admonition would be to be careful to prevent boating and swimming accidents. Wouldn't it be nice to enjoy a full summer without any serious accidents on the lakes? „ Local merchants are and should be courteous to this influx of visitors. We love them and want them to enjoy their stay in our midst. We want them to leave shouting the praises of a summer at the north central Indiana lakes. —o— THE LAKELAND Youth Center committee is ecstatic over their “find" as a center director in the person of Mrs. Jill Stanley who comes to the community highly recommended. See her photo and story on page 1. this issue. —O—THE SCOUT Cabm in Syracuse is having a new canopy erected x over its front door this week The old one literally fell off. a worker said. Contractor on the job is. Jim Wine, but Mike Markley seemed to be doing all the work when this reporter showed up on the job. —o— THE WHEELS are turning for Ron Hibschman. well known local auto salesman, to open his own used ear lot in Wawasee Village, on the site of the former B & B Motors, operated by Bill Scarberry He would like to be open by June 1. Ron has had 19'. years experience hi the auto sales business, most of these with Cutter Chevrolet with Bill Cutter. His wife. Elaine, no longer a commercial teacher in the high school, w ill be his bookkeeper. Silver Lake Days June 22, 23, 24 The third annual Silver Lake Days festival will be held June 22. 23 and 24. at Silver Lake. Carnival and helicopter rides, parades, races and more have been planned for these days. South Central Kosciusko EMS. Inc., will again put on a smorgasboard. beginning at 11 a m It will run until 6:30 p.m. All proceeds from this will go to South Central EMS for insurance purposes. This event is sponsored each year by the Silver Lake Lions Club and the Silver Lake Jaycees ‘ ♦* ♦ * A matter of principle is I often a cloak to conceal an exhibition of selfishness.