The Mail-Journal, Volume 16, Number 46, Milford, Kosciusko County, 5 December 1979 — Page 4

4

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., December 5,1979

Editorials

Shop in the Lakeland area With Christmas shopping foremost on almost everyone’s mind, we are taking this opportunity to urge our readers to Christmas Shop in the Lakeland area this year. • You can find the best selections of gifts and values in the shortest amount of time with the least effort in your own community stores. • When you spend at home, most of the money stays in your community where it helps stimulate employment and progress. Where does your gift dollar go after you have spent it out of town? • There isn’t one week of the year that goes buy that the Lakeland merchants aren’t asked to support someone’s favorite charity or community project and, there are few times when he doesn’t come through with the money requested. • And, the operation of your automobile is something to be considered nowadays. So, shop at home and save! December 7 We know today, thirty-eight years after the surprise Japanese aerial attack on the U S. battle fleet at Pearl Harbor, much more about the dilemma confronting Japanese government and military leaders in 1941 than we appreciated at the time. The United States had applied such economic pressure that Japan had either to fight or to end its expansion in China and elsewhere. The Japanese, a proud and talented people, reacted to the economic war imposed by Washington, London and The Hague by choosing to fight. That doesn’t make the attack on Pearl Harbor, an attack without a declaration of war or any of the traditional international niceties, any less dastardly. But then Japan was taking on the two greatest naval powers of history, plus the Dutch. i Japan’s success in the first six months of that war seemed to justify the gamble. But industrially Japan was no match even for the United States alone; and while her surface ships and fighter aircraft were of a very high standard, she was fatally handicapped at the outset of the war on many counts. In addition to the inadequate industrial production base, her army had no top-quality tanks. There were no really top-quality four-engine bombers. Worst, there were vastly inadequate training facilities for pilots. Japanese submarines were not up to German or U.S. standards. Her naval forces were sadly deficient in anti-submarine warfare. Her antiaircraft artillery was inadequate, and the tactics of both the air force and army were in many ways obsolete. Thus, despite superb moral and almost unquestioning loyalty among the soldiers, sailors and airmen, Japan soon found herself (after Midway and Guadalcanal) irreversibly on the defensive, her relative strength declining monthly. But Japan has learned, and even profited, from her defeat. She is today stronger economically than ever before. That cannot be said of the Untied States. And in retrospect, one has to consider the shape of things today as they would have been if Japan had attacked Russia instead of the U.S., Britain and Holland. She and Germany would almost surely have finished off Stalin and Russian communism. And there might not have been any communism in the world today if history had taken that course. That, then, might have been Japan’s greatest strategic mistake. That dawn attack in Hawaii thrity-eight years ago might have signaled this fatal error. But Americans remember it as the shocking beginning of America’s greatest war, her greatest triumphs and her rise to unrivaled preeminence in the post-war world, as the strongest power militarily and economically on earth. Another harsh winter? The National Weather Service, in response to a query from the Department of Energy, says the coming winter will likely be severe. That would mqan, for much of the eastern United States, a fourth consecutive harsh winter. California and the west coast in general enjoy the prospects of a mild winter, according to the bureau, but most of the states east of the Rockies can expect bitter winter weather. There’s a good chance, however, some of the northern Great Plains, New England and along the Middle Atlantic Coast will be spared. And, of course, the Weather Service can seldom predict the pattern for southern Florida — since that depends on exactly how far southward cold systems push.

What others say —

Citizen legislators Leaders of the 101st Indiana General Assembly have announced their intent of adjourning the upcoming session in February, 1980, well before the statutory deadline of March 15 for even-numbered years. Such efficiency would certainly be commendable even though it may be motivated in part by politics. Legislators want to take few risks in an election year. They would prefer to get on to the May primaries. Indeed, despite such good intentions there has been a trend in recent years to conduct more, not less, business in such off-year meetings, called “short sessions’’ because they have always ended well ahead of the regular April 30 adjournment in odd-numbered years. As originally conceived, the idea for short sessions was to deal only with budgetary matters and emergency issues. But since the first such session in 1972, they have grown in length and complexity. From 1871 until 1972, the assembly met only in odd-numbered years and was disciplined by a constitutional limit of 61 days per session. A constitutional amendment, approved by Indiana voters in 1970, allowed annual sessions and grant-legislators the right to determine the length and frequency of sessions. But after nearly a decade of experience, it would appear that Indiana legislators have not only failed to keep short sessions to their intended limits of time and substance but have generated momentum for longer, more costly agendas which create circumstances that play into the hands of those who might favor fulltime legislators. Indiana’s citizen legislature is now chiefly composed of people who make their living at other work and so bring a variety of talent, experience and viewpoints to bear on the issues of the entire state. And unlike congressmen, whose service as fulltime lawmakers takes them away from their constituents most of the time, citizen legislators within Indiana’s state government have remained more accessible to the people. “Unfortunately,” the Indiana Chamber of Commerce has noted, “the switch to annual sessions has already cost this state the legislative services of some capable persons, and may well prevent others from seeking election to the General Assembly. Any lengthening of the current sessions would result in greater losses of this kind. ’’ Already such groups as the chamber, the Indiana State AFL-CIO and the Indiana Farm Bureau are concerned with this issue. No wonder. In states like California, where taxpayers finally revolted at the polls, the record of fulltime legislatures has been one of higher expenses and enlarged government activities. Others like Kentucky have proved that biennial sessions can be retained and legislative business still conducted adequately. “Many legislators give lip service to the idea of stopping the drift of the Indiana legislature toward a full-time body,” says State Sen. John M. Mutz (RIndianapolis), “but some of them are unwilling to take action which will be truly effective.” If the present members of the assembly are sincere in their desires to be efficient statesmen in the service of Indiana voters, they should support an amendment now to restore specific session limits in the Indiana constitution, — The Indianapolis Star

“ m

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas — only 20 days to go !

Letters to the editor

Commend 'Great Enthusiasm'

Dear Editor: I would like to commend the VYawasee student body for their great enthusiasm in cheering the Warriors on in these* past four games. No matter how you say it. when you get a group of fellows helping out the group, it seems to make the cheering go just a bit better In the past year or so. it has seemed like the adults were doing a better job than the students, but not so this year. IT IS GREAT I just have one small

On North Wood 'Transplants'

Dear Editor: This letter is written to express our appreciation for the recent article published in The MailJournal regarding the MilfordSyracuse “transplants" to the Wa-Nee Community Schools. I have very fond memories of my childhood days in the Syracuse community and teaching and coaching at Milford High School. The Lakeland area is a great community to live and work and 1 certainly appreciate your communitv and itscitizenry

A bad example

Dear Editor: In reference to the picture of a man holding a dead deer in the November 28th issue. Above the picture it says “Sports”. I think that this is the worst example of sports that I’ve ever seen. It’s bad enough that people have to go out and shoot a beautiful animal like a deer, but posing for a picture and even putting it in the new spaper is very disgusting. For once I’d like to look in the paper and see an animal holding a person! Just because animals are not people, everyone thinks it's all right to go and Shoot them. If someone shot a man. he would

Another opinion

Dear Editor: I would like to reply to Dr. Meyers' letter of November 14. I am a practicing Roman Catholic; I attend Mass weekly and consider myself a “good" Catholic. However. I do not subscribe carte blanche to all the teachings of the church. And I know that I am not alone in my beliefs. I believe that divorce, abortion, birth control and many other “teachings" of the church should be a matter of individual conscience. These beliefs, which have come to be viewed as dictates of the Church, are not a part

TNI MAIL-JOURNAL (U S P S 325 840) Published by The Mail-Journal every Wednesday and entered as Second Class matter at the Post Office at Syracuse. Indiana 46547 Second class postage paid at 103 E. Main street. Syracuse. Indiana 46567 and at additional entry off ices Subscription. *lO per year in Kosciusko County; *l2 outside county. POSTMASTERS: Send change of add ress forms to The Mail Journal, P.O. Box 188, Milford, Indiana 46542.

request, kids could you ALL try and Ik* at the WawaseeVYarsaw game the night of the 7th to show those Tigers that our roar is a whole lot better than anything they can do? Our team and coach are going to need all the help we can give them and if cheering is it. let's really let them have it that night Keep up the super work Sincerely, Barb Clouse

Arch, it was most thoughtful of you to run a special feature regarding our talented basketball players and great parents who have their heritage in the Lakeland community. We are very proud of these young men and their fathers as well as Coach Firestone Your interest in our school corporation and kind words have been most appreciated! Thank you. Sincerely. William F!. Dorsey Superintendent of Schools

go to prison, but if he shoots a deer, he gets his picture in the paper and a slap on the hack I think if people want to go out and kill so badly, let them. But don't put it in the paper. I hope I am not the only person that feels this way. I just can’t stand to see someone with a big smile on his face just because he killed something. Maybe one of these days, they'll finally realize what they are doing. Probably when all the deer have been killed! Teresa Kitson 800 E. Chicago Syracuse

of Canon Law of the Church. They are interpretations of the teachings of Christ. Unfortunately, as this is my personal opinion, we are stuck with a terribly conservative Pope. And as long as he Holy Father, many of these outdated teachings will be upheld by the church. And many good Catholics will be tom by conscience between doing what they feel they need to do and what their church tells them to do. And this poses a serious moral dilemma for many, many devout Catholics. The church has already lost a large percentage of her priests and will continue to lose more if this attitude of ignoring the problem of celibacy continues to exist. And I know from personal experience the heartbreak felt in a family when a man is forced to make this decision. And world population will continue to grow if the issue of birth control isn’t re-examined. The Holy F'ather has come from a country that is terribly conservative on these issues. But the rest of the world, and particularly Catholic America, is a bit more realistic about some of the problems it is facing. Perhaps it is time that the church and Pope John Paul 11, get in step with the real world! Respectfully, A Concerned Catholic

£(3JZIN around CU£

% % 'V*

IT MIGHT have been fun to some (if you’re young and sporty enough to call it fun) but it was serious business to most people: This sliding over the ice over the week end. Serious enough, that is. to cause concern to motorists when it came to negotiating stops at a large number of icy corners. One such corner was the T-road near the Leon Tucker farm home on the Milford-Syracuse road. Each year this corner is the site of numerous minor accidents, and Tucker finds himself with the job of repairing the wooden fence on the north side of the intersection. The tracks in the snow, shown in the above photo tajken Saturday morning, illustrate our point. , According to Syracuse dispatcher Debbie Dull. Saturday morning “was a mess." She said "fender benders" were reported through the county, to a point where investigating officers could hardly keep up with them. "Most of them were snow and icerelated," she commented. Saturday afternoon, the sun melted the ice just enough to give the icy roads a sheen, and when the early evening snow-fall became a reality on the “new ice.” motorists were in trouble. — o — ALL OF' this spells good times for snowmobilers. Harlan Sizemore, owner of Sizemore's Cycle Land in VYawasee Village for the past five years, reports he has sold nearly 55 Ski-Doo snowmobiles in the area since September 1. Sales of snowmobiles is the hottest thing going right now. he says. Sizemore says Kosciusko county has nearly 15.0tt0 snowmobiles registered with the state of Indiana, with the lion’s share of them right here in the lakeland area. In the last several years snowmobilers have played an important part in community life during the heavy snow-storms, and house-bound residents want this point emphasized. Down on State Hoad 13. at County Hoad 500 North. Larry and Joyce Head claim to have sold‘“close to 200" snow mobiles in the last three to four months. They would be one of the largest dealers in the county, with a good service and parts department and four mechanics on duty. They handle three types of snowmobiles. A bad omen for these outdoor enthusiasts, however, is the fact that the remainder of this week is supposed to be warm, with no snow. Good news for most, but bad news for snowmobilers. — o — ROXA NN A IIA DLE V . manager of the Syracuse License Branch, has in her possession the first personalized Indiana auto license plates. Others are to come to her office soon. They are a beautiful plate: w ith 81 INDIANA in bright red letters, the name in black lettering, and across the bottom of the plate is a colorful rainbow in yellow, orange and red Mrs. Hadley, and Donna (Mrs. Richard) Workman. her sidekick, stated patrons have until December 31 to apply for a personalized plate. Cost: S4O, over and above the cost of the license. Some they have on hand now include: LTS, SUSAN M. DANNY M. JEANNA, R FROST. CORD. PIERS and JOHNNY — o — NOT EVERYONE is enthralled by the game of basketball. Witness six-year-old Kim Asbury. daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roger Asbury. 72« Hiawatha Drive. Elkhart, all dressed up in

TRACKS IN THE SNOW TELL THE STORY

||&V’* *RK — jßrti rifrftilTt -ii it v * ■

A YOUNG FAN OBLIVIOUS TO IT Al l

a cheerleader’s outfit hut oblivious to the close game Saturday night between the Wawasee Warriors and F.'lkhart Memorial Chargers. She caught the eye of Lee Trover and wife Mary Lou at the gym's north entrance where Lee. an auto mechanics instructor at WHS. w as taking tickets — o — CONTRARY TO what some think, if the Lakeland School Corporation plans to install elevators, one would be put into thC high school building only. And this would be done under the new law that requires public schools take over educational responsibility for handicapped students. According to superintendent Don Arnold, at least one junior high school in the corporation would be required to have an elevator or ramp facility. The Syracuse Junior High has a ramp, thus it would qualify and no elevator would be limit'd here F! leva tors would Ik* required byJuly DBO. Arnold said Some have lorgetten. but the new gym at WHS was built to satisfy Title IX which comes under Federal Laws 504 and 04192. calling for equal opportunity facilities for girls and boys in athletics. Superintendent Arnold added this week that the new gym has allowed for an expansion of the athletic program in the corporation’s three junior high school gyms. — o — MIRIAM (MIM > Speicher. manager of My Store in Pickwick Place, and her sister. Becky Doll, owner-manager Doll's Decorating Center. Milford, arrived home last night from Naples. Fla.. where they spent a week decorating a condominium owned by Paul and Marilyn Moore of Nort h Shore Drive. — o — BARBARA (MRS. LaMar) Clouse, of r I Leesburg, called this column long distance from her office in the court house (she’s the county nurse) to praise the enthusiastic cheering section of the Wawasee Warriors.

||j| &k£| S;

DUCKS NEED LOVE. TOO

“They’re really something to be proud of." she enthused. Barb, a Leesburg high graduate with the class of 11MK. is the daughter of the late Glen Longeneeker. who was at various times principal at Leesburg. Syracuse and Warsaw. Barb, who has been an enthusiastic Warrior follower, was seen on the side lines Saturday night with three' year old granddaughter Amber Esenwein. the daughter of Phil and Stephanie Ksewein. teaching little Amber to be a Warrior tan. too o IN SPITE of their unabashed love for this area. Meyer and Margaret Maidenberg. nine year residents of Morrison Island (Lake Uawaseei, are moving the end of this month to their new home at IfMH Carolina Ave. \K. St. Petersburg. Ela. Meyer gave failing health as the reason for the move. With a long interest in the area, Meyer served on the Board of Zoning Appeals as an active member, was instrumental in the purchase of the Enchanted Hills Sewer and Water 1 Co.. and the forming of WawaSee Regional Sewer and Water Board, along with Jack Vanderford. Bill Saiin. Bill Spurgeon and Ben Wilson. Formerly from Marion. Meyer owned and operated the National China and Equipment Corp., a restaurant equipment and supply firm serving institutional feeding establishments. One of the last jobs the firm had before being sold to Continental Coffee Co. was outfitting the Windjammer in Wawasee Village. — o — IT SEEMS again this year we are presented with the problem of the duck in the channel. Already about 150 ducks are frozen on South Huntington Street channel and the winter has barely begun. W T e were talking with Everett Ketering this week and he had approached the conservation department about the problem but they don't seem very willing to help. (Continued on page 5>